Now while I'm gone I want all of you good hard-working Americans to work extra hard and pay those taxes so I have nice, smooth roads to drive on when I get back.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Lake Maggiore and Gotthard Pass
Some more pics of Europe for those interested. As always embracing the suck. Drove from Zurich over the Alps into Italy over the "Gotthard Pass." Was allowed to hold, but not shoot, a European gun. And then the picture of Lake Maggiore from my hotel in Stesa. More pics on the way.
Now while I'm gone I want all of you good hard-working Americans to work extra hard and pay those taxes so I have nice, smooth roads to drive on when I get back.
Now while I'm gone I want all of you good hard-working Americans to work extra hard and pay those taxes so I have nice, smooth roads to drive on when I get back.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
More Fear and Suffering In Europe
Greetings All!
Today was adventure in a genuine Citadel in the town of Besancon, France. It was also an adventure because my host is a pilot and I got to fly a plane around the French country side. And yes I did get to fly the actual plane!
However, sadly, I must provide one bit of editorial. The citadel that I visited, which was once a mighty and nearly impenetrable fort in this French town, has since been converted into a zoo.
Yes, a fucking zoo.
So where once proud French soldiers stood defending the town against various assaults, they have now turned their barracks into housing quarters for kangaroos, pigs, rats, roosters, rabbits, and other creatures that are now shitting where they slept 300 years ago.
It frankly pissed me off to see such an achievement of engineering and militarism reduced to being a tourist trap that relies on captured animals to draw the crowds. Ergo, I took no pictures of the animals because I thought it beneath the men that served there.
But on a happy note I did tell a French, street punk, millineal, tatted panhandler to "fuck off" when he came begging to ask me to forfeit some of my life in the form of currency so he wouldn't have to. He understood me quite clearly, and was actually shocked and irritated that somebody would refute him so boldly. Still, after a bit of bravado, he stood down, moving on to parasite off of some young naive females who believed he was genuinely disadvantaged. They poured out their finite life blood in the form of their finite time in the form of their finite currency because...well... they never studied economics too seriously or perhaps were intimidated. But still, it's good to see leftist women taking care of leftist men.
They deserve each other.
Today was adventure in a genuine Citadel in the town of Besancon, France. It was also an adventure because my host is a pilot and I got to fly a plane around the French country side. And yes I did get to fly the actual plane!
However, sadly, I must provide one bit of editorial. The citadel that I visited, which was once a mighty and nearly impenetrable fort in this French town, has since been converted into a zoo.
Yes, a fucking zoo.
So where once proud French soldiers stood defending the town against various assaults, they have now turned their barracks into housing quarters for kangaroos, pigs, rats, roosters, rabbits, and other creatures that are now shitting where they slept 300 years ago.
It frankly pissed me off to see such an achievement of engineering and militarism reduced to being a tourist trap that relies on captured animals to draw the crowds. Ergo, I took no pictures of the animals because I thought it beneath the men that served there.
But on a happy note I did tell a French, street punk, millineal, tatted panhandler to "fuck off" when he came begging to ask me to forfeit some of my life in the form of currency so he wouldn't have to. He understood me quite clearly, and was actually shocked and irritated that somebody would refute him so boldly. Still, after a bit of bravado, he stood down, moving on to parasite off of some young naive females who believed he was genuinely disadvantaged. They poured out their finite life blood in the form of their finite time in the form of their finite currency because...well... they never studied economics too seriously or perhaps were intimidated. But still, it's good to see leftist women taking care of leftist men.
They deserve each other.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
"Can't Leave the Country Without It Going to Pot" Linkage
Fed has their own Snowden now. How much you want to bet it's a bunch of Keynesians desperately trying to keep their faith?
Drop her off with ISIS. She'll lose weight.
Female conservatives finding out they're NOT obliged to have children. Oh noes Sean Hannity! Who will fight your unwinable culture war in the future!!???
It is easier to join ISIS become a "glorious, exciting rebel" than it is to hit the books, study calculus and become an engineer. Besides women find dangerous men more sexy.
Drop her off with ISIS. She'll lose weight.
Female conservatives finding out they're NOT obliged to have children. Oh noes Sean Hannity! Who will fight your unwinable culture war in the future!!???
It is easier to join ISIS become a "glorious, exciting rebel" than it is to hit the books, study calculus and become an engineer. Besides women find dangerous men more sexy.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Montreaux, Switzerland
Visited Montreaux and what I'm learning about Switzerland is that I would likely get arrested in a place like this. Not because I wish to break laws, but because there's so many to break. It explains why the ENTIRE country (that I've seen so far) is like a large library. Quiet, obey by the rules, don't act out. There is nearly complete SILENCE even though there are people everywhere. It's quite eerie actually.
Anyway, some pics just to remind you of how much western culture sucks:
Anyway, some pics just to remind you of how much western culture sucks:
Thursday, September 25, 2014
IQ vs Insonomia
I present this for my readers not as ass kissing but for genuine concern and intellectual digest
I also present it because its 4AM in Switzerland and I'd arrogantly would like to think myself a genius.
I also present it because its 4AM in Switzerland and I'd arrogantly would like to think myself a genius.
A Plague of Dunces
Aussie executive speaks the blunt truth about the utter craptastic quality of "graduates" colleges are graduating today.
Now all of you thin-skinned college graduates do your knee jerk thing and tell us how he's mean, how you can't put a price on education and all the other preprogrammed stuff you've been brainwashed to say.
Now all of you thin-skinned college graduates do your knee jerk thing and tell us how he's mean, how you can't put a price on education and all the other preprogrammed stuff you've been brainwashed to say.
Greetings From Switzerland
I have no idea where I am or where these pictures are. Switzerland, if you haven't been here, is basically an entire country of small interlinked villages that even with a map I am getting lost in.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
The Ass Kicking of "It's On Us"
Not that you had a choice to notice it or not, but if you or anybody with even the most elementary of "social media" accounts, you no doubt had the "It's On Us" nazi propaganda "PSA" shoved down your throat.
Did you rape anybody? No?
Tough shit, we're lecturing you.
Did you make an unwanted advanced on a person of the female persuasion? No?
Tough shit, we're chartering you with the responsibility anyway.
The good news, and this is GOOD NEWS, is the response "It's On Us" has received.
It's be negative!
Despite all the money, funds, celebrityship, and even THE PRESIDENT OF THE FUCKING UNITED STATES, the American people took this trash and threw it back in the faces of the verminous leftist socialist scum.
Just look at the "like/dislike" ratios of the following videos.
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
You can continue and view all the videos but what you'll invariably see is the American public upchucking the shit that was shoved down their throats. NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY is swallowing this piece of leftist propaganda whole. They're revolting against it!
Now, if you wanted to tell the originators of this evil posing as "leftist moral crusaderism" you can't. "It's On Us" has no "comment" or "contact" section.
But oh my god
by golly
look at big titted Molly
THEY HAVE A "DONATE" button!!!!
Seriously.
You don't have to "kill" or "assassinate" or knee cap some leftist douche to fight the fight against the socialist onslaught on this country. You just have to vote against all those videos and mock and ridicule them.
I mean, think about it. These videos have the "cover" of being against rape and sexual assault.
Which EVERYBODY is against.
AND STILL!!!!
It's SOOOOOO fucking obvious they have a political motivation that people are voting them down.
For once, just ONCE, take the minute or two to vote these verminous leftist, Hollywood scum down and put these fuckers in their place.
Did you rape anybody? No?
Tough shit, we're lecturing you.
Did you make an unwanted advanced on a person of the female persuasion? No?
Tough shit, we're chartering you with the responsibility anyway.
The good news, and this is GOOD NEWS, is the response "It's On Us" has received.
It's be negative!
Despite all the money, funds, celebrityship, and even THE PRESIDENT OF THE FUCKING UNITED STATES, the American people took this trash and threw it back in the faces of the verminous leftist socialist scum.
Just look at the "like/dislike" ratios of the following videos.
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
You can continue and view all the videos but what you'll invariably see is the American public upchucking the shit that was shoved down their throats. NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY is swallowing this piece of leftist propaganda whole. They're revolting against it!
Now, if you wanted to tell the originators of this evil posing as "leftist moral crusaderism" you can't. "It's On Us" has no "comment" or "contact" section.
But oh my god
by golly
look at big titted Molly
THEY HAVE A "DONATE" button!!!!
Seriously.
You don't have to "kill" or "assassinate" or knee cap some leftist douche to fight the fight against the socialist onslaught on this country. You just have to vote against all those videos and mock and ridicule them.
I mean, think about it. These videos have the "cover" of being against rape and sexual assault.
Which EVERYBODY is against.
AND STILL!!!!
It's SOOOOOO fucking obvious they have a political motivation that people are voting them down.
For once, just ONCE, take the minute or two to vote these verminous leftist, Hollywood scum down and put these fuckers in their place.
Latest Podcast!
How women pamper you when you're sick...or not
Cappy prepares for Italy
Sick of the virgin posers in the manosphere/redpill community
Roundhouse kicking chick cop show
All men love a motherly woman
AND MORE
In this latest episode of The Clarey Podcast
Cappy prepares for Italy
Sick of the virgin posers in the manosphere/redpill community
Roundhouse kicking chick cop show
All men love a motherly woman
AND MORE
In this latest episode of The Clarey Podcast
Sunday, September 21, 2014
The Week Leftists Got Their Heads Out of Their Asses
I don't expect this to be a trend, but
Example #1 of a leftist getting his head out of his ass
and
Example #2 of a group of leftists using the free market to get their heads out of their asses as well.
Who knows! In 6-700 years maybe they might learn something from economic history and finally flesh out the rabbit hole to realize just how wrong they are!!!
Example #1 of a leftist getting his head out of his ass
and
Example #2 of a group of leftists using the free market to get their heads out of their asses as well.
Who knows! In 6-700 years maybe they might learn something from economic history and finally flesh out the rabbit hole to realize just how wrong they are!!!
Paypal vs. Patreon
Let me tell you of a dream I have.
I have this dream where the amount of work that is to be done is finite. And I got it in my head that if I just:
knock out one more e-mail
make one more video
cut up another chord of wood
replace one more brake pad
the work will end, I'll cross the "finish line" and will be able to play video games and goof off until I'm done.
While I'm consciously aware that this is a dream and the real world doesn't work that way, unconsciously my work ethic drives me to race towards that finish line that never gets closer. So i'll burn through 10 hours of "work," only to have the next day be filled with unexpected chores, repairs, and the cornucopia of shit I have to do that never ends.
But if there's a particularly irksome "never ending chore" in my "career" that I have, it's keeping up with the latest social media fad/craze. Just can't stick with blogger, nope you need a youtube channel. Can't just have a youtube channel, nope you need twitter. Can't just have twitter, nope you need instagram. And you fool, you just can't have instagram, you need tumblr!
Add to this list of perpetual painassery - Patreon.
First exposed to it by Davis Aurini's project, a fan suggested I look into it as I would make more money on my youtube videos if I were to use Patreon. Somewhat confused how it works, he was kind enough to explain it to me, essentially saying I would be looking for "patrons" to sponsor my work. This would allow me to work on my "work" and not worry about making ends meet. However, I was more interested in it because, frankly, when you go down this path you ostracize yourself forever from any kind of "normal" employment, not to mention anger people who are prone to launch political "campaigns," "lawsuits," "firing missions," etc. in an attempt to destroy your personal finances. Ergo, if people wanted to "thank" you for doing the work they can't while you put your own self at risk defending their beliefs, they could become "patrons" and help you out.
So I looked into it, always happy to take a new source of money. But upon further review (unless I'm missing something) Patreon just doesn't make any sense. If for any other reason, paypal and other crowd funding sources already exist and do what Patreon claims to be doing. Not to mention Patreon just highway-robs you in fees.
Patreon charges you 10%
While Paypal charges around 3%
And if you want to be technical, Bitcoin effectively charges 0%
Again, I may be missing something, but I don't think so. And if I'm not, then I'm slightly miffed in that I wasted, yet again, another 20 minutes of my life chasing after that finish line that can never be crossed.
Regardless, the point is if you want to help a blogger you like, a youtuber you're a fan of, or just an artist whose art you enjoy, forget Patreon. Just donate to them via Paypal and make life a lot easier for every one.
I have this dream where the amount of work that is to be done is finite. And I got it in my head that if I just:
knock out one more e-mail
make one more video
cut up another chord of wood
replace one more brake pad
the work will end, I'll cross the "finish line" and will be able to play video games and goof off until I'm done.
While I'm consciously aware that this is a dream and the real world doesn't work that way, unconsciously my work ethic drives me to race towards that finish line that never gets closer. So i'll burn through 10 hours of "work," only to have the next day be filled with unexpected chores, repairs, and the cornucopia of shit I have to do that never ends.
But if there's a particularly irksome "never ending chore" in my "career" that I have, it's keeping up with the latest social media fad/craze. Just can't stick with blogger, nope you need a youtube channel. Can't just have a youtube channel, nope you need twitter. Can't just have twitter, nope you need instagram. And you fool, you just can't have instagram, you need tumblr!
Add to this list of perpetual painassery - Patreon.
First exposed to it by Davis Aurini's project, a fan suggested I look into it as I would make more money on my youtube videos if I were to use Patreon. Somewhat confused how it works, he was kind enough to explain it to me, essentially saying I would be looking for "patrons" to sponsor my work. This would allow me to work on my "work" and not worry about making ends meet. However, I was more interested in it because, frankly, when you go down this path you ostracize yourself forever from any kind of "normal" employment, not to mention anger people who are prone to launch political "campaigns," "lawsuits," "firing missions," etc. in an attempt to destroy your personal finances. Ergo, if people wanted to "thank" you for doing the work they can't while you put your own self at risk defending their beliefs, they could become "patrons" and help you out.
So I looked into it, always happy to take a new source of money. But upon further review (unless I'm missing something) Patreon just doesn't make any sense. If for any other reason, paypal and other crowd funding sources already exist and do what Patreon claims to be doing. Not to mention Patreon just highway-robs you in fees.
Patreon charges you 10%
While Paypal charges around 3%
And if you want to be technical, Bitcoin effectively charges 0%
Again, I may be missing something, but I don't think so. And if I'm not, then I'm slightly miffed in that I wasted, yet again, another 20 minutes of my life chasing after that finish line that can never be crossed.
Regardless, the point is if you want to help a blogger you like, a youtuber you're a fan of, or just an artist whose art you enjoy, forget Patreon. Just donate to them via Paypal and make life a lot easier for every one.
Weekly Sponsor
This week's sponsor is Andro-Plus.
If you are looking for a testosterone supplement, but don't want Obama's permission via your doctor to get it, consider trying Andro-Plus. It is a fraction of the cost it would take for you to get it via 3 doctors visits and a trip to the pharmacy, and you'll find out whether testosterone supplements even work for you on the cheap.
However, be aware that there are lawsuits being filed (as there always is) that claim there are negative side effects OR no effects at all. In short you take this stuff at your own risk.
Again, I've used Andro-Plus and saw no effects (good or bad), but others have used it and swear by it, so see if it isn't for you.
If you are looking for a testosterone supplement, but don't want Obama's permission via your doctor to get it, consider trying Andro-Plus. It is a fraction of the cost it would take for you to get it via 3 doctors visits and a trip to the pharmacy, and you'll find out whether testosterone supplements even work for you on the cheap.
However, be aware that there are lawsuits being filed (as there always is) that claim there are negative side effects OR no effects at all. In short you take this stuff at your own risk.
Again, I've used Andro-Plus and saw no effects (good or bad), but others have used it and swear by it, so see if it isn't for you.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
I'm Calling Bullshit on All The Fake Mental Disorders
Yes, language warning. do not play at work or in front of children.
I Am Not Responsible for Sexual Assault
Boys, I don't know about you, but I'm getting awfully peeved at getting lectured for shit I didn't, never have, and never will do. I'm also sick and tired of the fake "sexual assault" epidemic and the outright lie about 1 in 5 women being sexually assaulted on campus which, intentionally or not, slippery slopes into painting all men as potential rapists, sexual deviants, not to to mention, dramatically increases their chances of a false rape accusation.
Want to fight back?
Well, if you notice the downvotes on this video that is fully endorsed by
Hollywood
The Democrat Party
The MSM
and even
President Obama
is getting a full 1/3rd downvote.
That's impressive. This was a professionally orchestrated piece that has the FULL BACKING of ALL THE INSTITUTIONS (media, government, academia, etc.) of the United States, and it STILL is getting a full 1/3 down voted.
Let's make it at least 1/2. Visit the video, watch it, and if you get the feeling you're being accused of being a rapist or are somehow part of the problem, down vote it. It would be a rare triumph of the voice of the people over those who wish to be our moral superior and dare to have the gall to lecture us about a problem that is completely political and not our fault, and therefore, not our problem.
Want to fight back?
Well, if you notice the downvotes on this video that is fully endorsed by
Hollywood
The Democrat Party
The MSM
and even
President Obama
is getting a full 1/3rd downvote.
That's impressive. This was a professionally orchestrated piece that has the FULL BACKING of ALL THE INSTITUTIONS (media, government, academia, etc.) of the United States, and it STILL is getting a full 1/3 down voted.
Let's make it at least 1/2. Visit the video, watch it, and if you get the feeling you're being accused of being a rapist or are somehow part of the problem, down vote it. It would be a rare triumph of the voice of the people over those who wish to be our moral superior and dare to have the gall to lecture us about a problem that is completely political and not our fault, and therefore, not our problem.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Beware the Girl Who Actually Likes You
An interesting observation.
What if the vast majority of your experiences with the opposite sex when trying to court them is largely one of you
fooling
cajoling
convincing
arguing and
teeth pulling
them to go out with you?
That you always operate from the premise the girl does not on her own, willingly want to go out with you? That such a fuss, fight, and resistance is put up, that you accept as premise women are incapable of liking men on their own.
Well, two very sad and tragic things will happen.
1. You'll believe that it's not possible for girls to just "like you." That they'll always need to be convinced or tricked otherwise. And
2. You'll fail to recognize the few girls that actually do genuinely like you, misdiagnose them, respond erroneously to them, and they will likely be "the one that got away."
Regardless, this thought is more thoroughly thought out in my latest piece at ROK. (Also, I recommend reading the comments. No limit to the number of virgins doing their academian, theoritician Monday Morning Quarterbacking tough talk.)
What if the vast majority of your experiences with the opposite sex when trying to court them is largely one of you
fooling
cajoling
convincing
arguing and
teeth pulling
them to go out with you?
That you always operate from the premise the girl does not on her own, willingly want to go out with you? That such a fuss, fight, and resistance is put up, that you accept as premise women are incapable of liking men on their own.
Well, two very sad and tragic things will happen.
1. You'll believe that it's not possible for girls to just "like you." That they'll always need to be convinced or tricked otherwise. And
2. You'll fail to recognize the few girls that actually do genuinely like you, misdiagnose them, respond erroneously to them, and they will likely be "the one that got away."
Regardless, this thought is more thoroughly thought out in my latest piece at ROK. (Also, I recommend reading the comments. No limit to the number of virgins doing their academian, theoritician Monday Morning Quarterbacking tough talk.)
We Beat the Marxists
Between long distance road trips, mountain climbing, working out, semi-daily runs, and pre-winter maintenance on the house, I insist on keeping my brain fed. And the way I do this is by downloading and consuming an inordinate amount of podcasts. I recently devoured about 5 hours of documentaries on WWI and am always on the hunt for more. However, since I switched the hosting service for my podcast to "Podomatic" I discovered if you sign in through facebook you can scour their selection of podcasts.
This new trove yielded some interesting podcasts like Sooper Mexican, among others, but there was one that I listened to that was just HORRIBLE. I couldn't immediately understand why as I was pre-occupied installing a new door, but whatever they were saying was mind-numbing, academic pablum. Even if I wasn't pre-occupied I doubt my mind would have been able to pay attention to it. But soon I understood why, even with undivided attention, nobody would have been able to stay awake listening to it, when one of the hosts said,
"Well I'm a marxist."
That jarred my frontal lobes enough to now pay attention and I wished it hadn't. For what I was now paying close attention to was a podcast between two marxists who specialized in "advanced intellectualism."
My brain was then treated to two self-proclaimed intellectuals agonizing over concepts and ideas that were so removed from reality and practical application to the real world that it was only in their theoretical world that such concepts could be discussed. They used words that I had never heard of before, but knew could only exist in a philosophy that existed only to serve itself. And all of this discussion was with the arrogant air of pseudo-intelligence that would even put NPR hosts to shame.
It was the epitome of everything wrong with academia and lefter leaning "intellectuals:"
Dumb people
Using made up words
In a fabricated philosophy
With no real world practical application
Solely for the purpose of
Making themselves sound smart
And rationalizing the theft of other people's money
(You know, kind of like religion without a church.)
Anyway, the whole reason I sampled their podcast was because they were the highest ranked podcast in Podomatic's "philosophy" category. And though I rued wasting what time I did on listening to it, I do have to emphasize a silver lining.
They WERE the highest ranked podcast.
To all my listeners - MANY thanks for your support.
If you want to listen to The Clarey Podcast (which you do, you just don't know it yet) you can download it here or get it through iTunes here.
This new trove yielded some interesting podcasts like Sooper Mexican, among others, but there was one that I listened to that was just HORRIBLE. I couldn't immediately understand why as I was pre-occupied installing a new door, but whatever they were saying was mind-numbing, academic pablum. Even if I wasn't pre-occupied I doubt my mind would have been able to pay attention to it. But soon I understood why, even with undivided attention, nobody would have been able to stay awake listening to it, when one of the hosts said,
"Well I'm a marxist."
That jarred my frontal lobes enough to now pay attention and I wished it hadn't. For what I was now paying close attention to was a podcast between two marxists who specialized in "advanced intellectualism."
My brain was then treated to two self-proclaimed intellectuals agonizing over concepts and ideas that were so removed from reality and practical application to the real world that it was only in their theoretical world that such concepts could be discussed. They used words that I had never heard of before, but knew could only exist in a philosophy that existed only to serve itself. And all of this discussion was with the arrogant air of pseudo-intelligence that would even put NPR hosts to shame.
It was the epitome of everything wrong with academia and lefter leaning "intellectuals:"
Dumb people
Using made up words
In a fabricated philosophy
With no real world practical application
Solely for the purpose of
Making themselves sound smart
And rationalizing the theft of other people's money
(You know, kind of like religion without a church.)
Anyway, the whole reason I sampled their podcast was because they were the highest ranked podcast in Podomatic's "philosophy" category. And though I rued wasting what time I did on listening to it, I do have to emphasize a silver lining.
They WERE the highest ranked podcast.
To all my listeners - MANY thanks for your support.
If you want to listen to The Clarey Podcast (which you do, you just don't know it yet) you can download it here or get it through iTunes here.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Lust in the Time of Heartache
Davis has finally released his short video that he submitted to a "short film" competition and won funding. For a rookie it's actually quite good and the $10,000 budget he received can only go so far.
Naturally, to follow up on this he and a colleague are raising money for another film, but this one is a documentary about the various forces of the left trying to invade and ruin the video game industry. If you're trying to figure out why this might be something you'd want to donate to, I recommend listening to the latest Bechtloff Podcast where he interviews Davis about the project.
Naturally, to follow up on this he and a colleague are raising money for another film, but this one is a documentary about the various forces of the left trying to invade and ruin the video game industry. If you're trying to figure out why this might be something you'd want to donate to, I recommend listening to the latest Bechtloff Podcast where he interviews Davis about the project.
Job Post for Cappy Cappites
Alex over at Academic Composition is looking to hire some marketing staff to sell his services on Craig's List.
Not glorious work, but you don't have to commute, it can be done from home or the coffee shop, and it's a great way to make ends meet if you're in need of immediately employment. Here are the details (you can contact Alex for more information):
Not glorious work, but you don't have to commute, it can be done from home or the coffee shop, and it's a great way to make ends meet if you're in need of immediately employment. Here are the details (you can contact Alex for more information):
Requirements
A. Create a Gmail account
B. Set up the forwarding features of that account so all incoming messages are re-directed to Academic Composition
C. Use that gmail account to post CL ads
Compensation: You will be paid for each day that your ad stays live on the forum and it usually stays live up to a month.
You
will also be paid bonuses for each person who will reply to your post.
If the prospective clients signs up, you will receive an additional
bonus.
1. Honolulu, HI
2. Houston, TX
3. Dallas, TX
4. Denver, CO
5. Los Angeles, CA
6. San Franciso, CA
7. New York, NY
8. Hartford, CT
9. Philadelphia, PA
10. Pittsburgh, PA
11. Atlanta, GA
12. Raleigh, NC
13. Chicago, IL
14. Phoenix, AZ
15. St. Louis, MO
16. Minneapolis, MN
17. Boston, MA
18. Toronto, ON
19. Vancouver, BC
20. Ann Arbor, MI
Aleksey Bashtavenko
Academic Composition
Academic Composition
Owner & Principal Writer
(540) 300-1253
(540) 300-1253
Thursday Day Happy Hour
Since I've been busy with "Repair and Auto-Maintenance Hell" this past week some REALLY good links were sent my way.
My interview with Wall Street for Main Street.
I'll say it again for the cheap seats - The US is NOT a capitalist economy.
Amazing how monopolies look like government. But you know, more government is always the solution.
Forcing the Canadian taxpayers to subsidize worthless people with worthless degrees.
Spot the Beta.
What on earth made people think this was a legitimate field and study will forever elude me.
Video game geeks should replace the Federal Reserve. (it's actually QUITE GOOD)
Paul Krugman has been cashing in on this since forever.
Janet Yellen says something stupid.
My interview with Wall Street for Main Street.
I'll say it again for the cheap seats - The US is NOT a capitalist economy.
Amazing how monopolies look like government. But you know, more government is always the solution.
Forcing the Canadian taxpayers to subsidize worthless people with worthless degrees.
Spot the Beta.
What on earth made people think this was a legitimate field and study will forever elude me.
Video game geeks should replace the Federal Reserve. (it's actually QUITE GOOD)
Paul Krugman has been cashing in on this since forever.
Janet Yellen says something stupid.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Why the Death of Small Town America is a Good Thing
My travels and adventures largely circle around mountain climbing and hiking. This means I must traverse the great expanses of the great plains, inching my way to the Rockies and the thousands of miles of geologic beauty that lay to the west. Aside from Denver and Salt Lake City, there are very few large metropolitan areas so the majority of time you're either crashing at a hotel or getting gas it's in a small "traditional" American town.
Unconsciously, this meant I was not just pursuing the latest greatest hike, but conducting a near-10 year study on small town America and its corresponding economy. At first my observations were simple ones, primarily noting, even ruing, the demise of these small towns. You typically have a "main street" where old buildings from the 1880's to 1920's have the date they were built etched into the headstone. Their architecture is beautiful, usually brick or stone and it doesn't take much imagination to see what a bustling town it was over a century ago. But by my last back-of-napkin estimation nearly 70% of these gorgeous buildings are empty or up for rent. And the towns I revisit because they're on common throughways I use, you can usually bet at least 20% of the buildings that were occupied have switched tenants. It's a sad sight to see, a quaint little town that was once a genuine, tight-knit bustling community, now approaching ghost town status, but in the demise of these small towns there is hope as it is a testament to genuine progress in America, as well as a lesson for our economic future.
The first thing to realize about small towns is that they were largely built based on an agricultural economy. There were enough farmers and ranchers in a certain area that there was enough economic demand for a town that provided wares, equipment, machinery, banking, etc. (notice how a lot of small towns, though decimated, still have a John Deere dealer?). However, as time went on and technology advanced farming techniques become multiples more efficient, not only increasing yields, but requiring a lot less labor.
Overall this is a good thing for the country. Food becomes cheaper, the bane of hunger and starvation that plagued human kind since 200,000 BC is defeated, and farmers don't have to toil as much as they used to in the mule and ox days. However, the town itself suffered. With farmer Joe able to do thrice the work with 1/10th the labor, demand for labor fell and with it the population of these small towns. Couple that with transportation technology and the managerial efficiency of large retail stores (Wal-Mart, Costco, etc.), not only was your population decreasing, but the local hardware store, grocery and butcher were no longer needed. Thus why those beautiful buildings sit empty in small town America, and anybody born there usually leaves for the city.
While we may lament this natural horse-replaced-by-car death of small town America, there was another thing I noticed about these small towns. The businesses that WERE in business and replacing the grocer, the butcher, the mechanic, etc., were a testament to how these advances in technology, farming methods, and other general improvements in economic efficiency were making the lives of everybody easier. People were no longer running hard businesses like "butchering animals" or "repairing tractors," but "fun" businesses like opening a coffee shop, an art store, or (my favorite) the small town dive bar.
I didn't fully connect the dots until I started taking pictures of the various small town bars I was visiting as kind of a hobby. But the more time I had on the road to sit and think it through, the more I realized that technological advances were making it so people in these towns today could live more leisurely and enjoyable lives than their ancestors did 100 years ago. And that the empty brick buildings on main street that were being replaced with antique stores, bars, and restaurants was a good thing and not a bad thing.
There is just one "thing," however. And that is what this trend in small town America portends for the rest of the country. And most Americans are not going to like it as it directly addresses and destroys what they hold most dear - their egos.
Realize that what is ultimately driving this change in small towns is the replacement of labor with machines. I've addressed this before in a post about the Roboticized Economy, where more and more humans are rendered obsolete as they are essentially replaced by robots. On the face of it this seems like a great thing. Robots doing all the work, humans just kicking back doing nothing. It's so utopian it has inexperienced, leftist academian morons orgasming over their latest half-baked idea of a "minimum guaranteed income." But there's a problem with this new economy. While it may feed the human stomach, it won't feed the human ego. And people, especially Americans, value their egos above all else.
Realize this new REAL WORLD economy and what the latest generation has been brought up to believe about itself are like two runaway trains heading towards a horrific collision. Because of technology the new economy does not need unskilled, untalented human labor. It needs technicians, engineers, programmers, doctors and all related professions that go into supporting the increasingly-roboticized economy. However, kids today are increasingly brought up to believe the world bends to their wills and desires. That they can "follow their heart and the money will follow." So they major in the most worthless and un-intellectually-challenging subjects. And upon graduation when their skills (or lack thereof) do not match up with what is in demand in this new economy, they sit their, their dreams destroyed, unemployed and with a crippling level of debt. They may have been a runaway freight train, but the real world economy was a much strong, faster, and powerful one.
Naturally, this does not sit well with a generation brought up to be the most spoiled and entitled of them all. They protest, they demand student loan forgiveness, they demand other people's money, anything and everything, whatever it takes, they demand their pound of flesh because they've been brought up to believe they're entitled.
But understand the real reason for their anger.
While the real world economy demands doctors, engineers, specialists, programmers, etc., to keep this roboticized economy going, and all these people work hard, attend school, and study rigorous subjects to make this technological miracle reality (AND make it so NONE of the talentless people go starving or without shelter) this new economy still has SOME demand for unskilled labor. However, since technology has advanced so much (and will continue to do so) the jobs that remain for the unskilled/overeducated class are deemed "insulting."
Barristas
Food service
Nanny/baby sitting
Etc.
And given the overeducated mindset of today's latest labor market entrants it's like slapping them in the face. They have no real skills. They have no real achievements. The only thing they "have" is their education. And in refusing to hire them for jobs they think they're entitled to, but rather give them the only jobs they're qualified for, you insulted the only thing they have in their lives - their worthless educations.
This is why I don't mind seeing the local coffee store, art store, antique store or dive bar taking over beautiful small town America. Those people actually get it. They don't know how to program a tractor to self-reap a 100 acre field. They don't know how to repair a diesel engine on a John Deere. And they don't know how to route a computer network for the local feed lot. But they can pour a decent beer, cook a quality stew, and provide decent customer service.
The question is whether the vast majority Americans today have the intellectual temerity and honesty to realize and accept the same thing. That their "Masters in English" is not of any value, that they have no sought after skill, and that their future is not one of greatness or participation in the cutting edge of economic development, but rather one of customer or "vanity" services servicing other humans. And if they don't like that, then they need to let go of the ego, work harder and go into fields where they will be in demand.
Of course that would require a genuine work effort, a passion for rigor, and...dare I say it...math.
But wait, let me guess. "You're just not good at math?"
I'll have fries with that.
Unconsciously, this meant I was not just pursuing the latest greatest hike, but conducting a near-10 year study on small town America and its corresponding economy. At first my observations were simple ones, primarily noting, even ruing, the demise of these small towns. You typically have a "main street" where old buildings from the 1880's to 1920's have the date they were built etched into the headstone. Their architecture is beautiful, usually brick or stone and it doesn't take much imagination to see what a bustling town it was over a century ago. But by my last back-of-napkin estimation nearly 70% of these gorgeous buildings are empty or up for rent. And the towns I revisit because they're on common throughways I use, you can usually bet at least 20% of the buildings that were occupied have switched tenants. It's a sad sight to see, a quaint little town that was once a genuine, tight-knit bustling community, now approaching ghost town status, but in the demise of these small towns there is hope as it is a testament to genuine progress in America, as well as a lesson for our economic future.
The first thing to realize about small towns is that they were largely built based on an agricultural economy. There were enough farmers and ranchers in a certain area that there was enough economic demand for a town that provided wares, equipment, machinery, banking, etc. (notice how a lot of small towns, though decimated, still have a John Deere dealer?). However, as time went on and technology advanced farming techniques become multiples more efficient, not only increasing yields, but requiring a lot less labor.
Overall this is a good thing for the country. Food becomes cheaper, the bane of hunger and starvation that plagued human kind since 200,000 BC is defeated, and farmers don't have to toil as much as they used to in the mule and ox days. However, the town itself suffered. With farmer Joe able to do thrice the work with 1/10th the labor, demand for labor fell and with it the population of these small towns. Couple that with transportation technology and the managerial efficiency of large retail stores (Wal-Mart, Costco, etc.), not only was your population decreasing, but the local hardware store, grocery and butcher were no longer needed. Thus why those beautiful buildings sit empty in small town America, and anybody born there usually leaves for the city.
While we may lament this natural horse-replaced-by-car death of small town America, there was another thing I noticed about these small towns. The businesses that WERE in business and replacing the grocer, the butcher, the mechanic, etc., were a testament to how these advances in technology, farming methods, and other general improvements in economic efficiency were making the lives of everybody easier. People were no longer running hard businesses like "butchering animals" or "repairing tractors," but "fun" businesses like opening a coffee shop, an art store, or (my favorite) the small town dive bar.
I didn't fully connect the dots until I started taking pictures of the various small town bars I was visiting as kind of a hobby. But the more time I had on the road to sit and think it through, the more I realized that technological advances were making it so people in these towns today could live more leisurely and enjoyable lives than their ancestors did 100 years ago. And that the empty brick buildings on main street that were being replaced with antique stores, bars, and restaurants was a good thing and not a bad thing.
There is just one "thing," however. And that is what this trend in small town America portends for the rest of the country. And most Americans are not going to like it as it directly addresses and destroys what they hold most dear - their egos.
Realize that what is ultimately driving this change in small towns is the replacement of labor with machines. I've addressed this before in a post about the Roboticized Economy, where more and more humans are rendered obsolete as they are essentially replaced by robots. On the face of it this seems like a great thing. Robots doing all the work, humans just kicking back doing nothing. It's so utopian it has inexperienced, leftist academian morons orgasming over their latest half-baked idea of a "minimum guaranteed income." But there's a problem with this new economy. While it may feed the human stomach, it won't feed the human ego. And people, especially Americans, value their egos above all else.
Realize this new REAL WORLD economy and what the latest generation has been brought up to believe about itself are like two runaway trains heading towards a horrific collision. Because of technology the new economy does not need unskilled, untalented human labor. It needs technicians, engineers, programmers, doctors and all related professions that go into supporting the increasingly-roboticized economy. However, kids today are increasingly brought up to believe the world bends to their wills and desires. That they can "follow their heart and the money will follow." So they major in the most worthless and un-intellectually-challenging subjects. And upon graduation when their skills (or lack thereof) do not match up with what is in demand in this new economy, they sit their, their dreams destroyed, unemployed and with a crippling level of debt. They may have been a runaway freight train, but the real world economy was a much strong, faster, and powerful one.
Naturally, this does not sit well with a generation brought up to be the most spoiled and entitled of them all. They protest, they demand student loan forgiveness, they demand other people's money, anything and everything, whatever it takes, they demand their pound of flesh because they've been brought up to believe they're entitled.
But understand the real reason for their anger.
While the real world economy demands doctors, engineers, specialists, programmers, etc., to keep this roboticized economy going, and all these people work hard, attend school, and study rigorous subjects to make this technological miracle reality (AND make it so NONE of the talentless people go starving or without shelter) this new economy still has SOME demand for unskilled labor. However, since technology has advanced so much (and will continue to do so) the jobs that remain for the unskilled/overeducated class are deemed "insulting."
Barristas
Food service
Nanny/baby sitting
Etc.
And given the overeducated mindset of today's latest labor market entrants it's like slapping them in the face. They have no real skills. They have no real achievements. The only thing they "have" is their education. And in refusing to hire them for jobs they think they're entitled to, but rather give them the only jobs they're qualified for, you insulted the only thing they have in their lives - their worthless educations.
This is why I don't mind seeing the local coffee store, art store, antique store or dive bar taking over beautiful small town America. Those people actually get it. They don't know how to program a tractor to self-reap a 100 acre field. They don't know how to repair a diesel engine on a John Deere. And they don't know how to route a computer network for the local feed lot. But they can pour a decent beer, cook a quality stew, and provide decent customer service.
The question is whether the vast majority Americans today have the intellectual temerity and honesty to realize and accept the same thing. That their "Masters in English" is not of any value, that they have no sought after skill, and that their future is not one of greatness or participation in the cutting edge of economic development, but rather one of customer or "vanity" services servicing other humans. And if they don't like that, then they need to let go of the ego, work harder and go into fields where they will be in demand.
Of course that would require a genuine work effort, a passion for rigor, and...dare I say it...math.
But wait, let me guess. "You're just not good at math?"
I'll have fries with that.
Cappy Comes to Europe
Howdy All,
Going to be heading to Europe for the first time for two weeks. I have no major plans except to spend most of it doing nothing and relaxing primarily in Italy. However, I'll be in Switzerland as well and maybe roadtripping it to France even.
Anyway, I know a lot of you are in Eastern Europe and we even have two schmoes running around Morocco, but if you're around and in the area, let the ole Captain know.
Won't be landing until the 24th. Will obviously post pictures whilst traveling around Europe.
Cappy
Going to be heading to Europe for the first time for two weeks. I have no major plans except to spend most of it doing nothing and relaxing primarily in Italy. However, I'll be in Switzerland as well and maybe roadtripping it to France even.
Anyway, I know a lot of you are in Eastern Europe and we even have two schmoes running around Morocco, but if you're around and in the area, let the ole Captain know.
Won't be landing until the 24th. Will obviously post pictures whilst traveling around Europe.
Cappy
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
New Book Babe
It is once again that time where we have to leave economic charts and graphs and instead look at pretty girls posing with my books.
I know, I know. I don't like it any more than you do, but we're going to "have to" look at this Chicagoan beauty. I promise, we'll get back to the charts and graphs shortly, but in the meantime this HAS TO get done.
Also, for any of you ladies out there that want to become a Book Babe it's very simple. Contact me and I'll send you free books. Your pictures help brighten the days a thousands of men across the world who appreciate old school, traditional beauty.
I know, I know. I don't like it any more than you do, but we're going to "have to" look at this Chicagoan beauty. I promise, we'll get back to the charts and graphs shortly, but in the meantime this HAS TO get done.
Also, for any of you ladies out there that want to become a Book Babe it's very simple. Contact me and I'll send you free books. Your pictures help brighten the days a thousands of men across the world who appreciate old school, traditional beauty.
Monday, September 15, 2014
The Captain Is Once Again Victorious
Good news everyone! I entered the dance competition at Mississippi Mayhem with my dance partner and took first place.
Of course, we were the only people who signed up...
And they had to pull teeth to get two elderly couples to compete as well...
And the trophy was a hodgepodge of welded 1940's auto parts with a shoe...
But hey! Still placed first!
Anyway, some additional pictures.
Of course, we were the only people who signed up...
And they had to pull teeth to get two elderly couples to compete as well...
And the trophy was a hodgepodge of welded 1940's auto parts with a shoe...
But hey! Still placed first!
Anyway, some additional pictures.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Friday, September 12, 2014
Mississippi Mayhem
Heading to La Crosse Wisconsin for "Mississippi Mayhem.". Posts will be sparse over the weekend, though i might get a podcast in.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Thursday Constitutionals
If you want to play a joke on some friends of mine (The Black Brigade) "like" this page. It's an inside joke and if you listen to their podcast you'll laugh your ass off. Otherwise, if you just want to participate in a little prank "like" the page, but DON'T tell them I sent you.
Negative interest rates is like a hot chick coming up to you and asking you to go home and sleep with her. It isn't natural and you know there's something wrong.
Diversity! Imported from a third world country near you!
Oh come on Ed!!! Play some video games!!!!
Grandma hasn't paid off her student loans yet for her Masters in Social Work.
Negative interest rates is like a hot chick coming up to you and asking you to go home and sleep with her. It isn't natural and you know there's something wrong.
Diversity! Imported from a third world country near you!
Oh come on Ed!!! Play some video games!!!!
Grandma hasn't paid off her student loans yet for her Masters in Social Work.
If I Were to Do It Again, I'd Become a Leftist Politician
aka "It Doesn't Pay to be Moral"
aka "Be Immoral, But Not Illegal"
aka "Be Immoral, But Not Illegal"
Asset Prices Outstripping Economic Growth
Two of my favorite charts (and I'm sure they're yours) is the S&P 500 PE ratio and dividend yield. It is the basic comparison of what you're paying for a stock relative to what it pays you.
But every once in a while I like to go really macro and compare the country's economic growth to its asset prices. In theory (bar international investments and trade) asset prices should not be increasing faster than economic growth in that all profits must come from economic growth. Therefore, both asset prices and economic growth should grow at the same rate, otherwise we know there's either a bubble or a (well...it's been so long...what was it again we call stock markets that are cheap....um....oh! That's right!) steal.
So I took it upon my beleaguered economist ass to go and pull the data comparing the annual returns of the S&P 500 and subtracting out from it nominal economic growth which should in theory always be 0.
Heh, yeah right.
Naturally there's going to be oscillations and bubbles and troughs in any economy. But given what we know about the PE ratio now being 70% higher than it should be, I just wanted another data set to view this from a different angle. And this one didn't disappoint.
We see, during the economic crash, stock prices crashing even more sending the net difference between asset prices and economic growth into negative territory. This meant asset prices were growing slower (crashing faster, actually) than economic growth was. However, this only lasted one year (2008) and in 2009 where the economy contracted on a yearly basis by 2.9% the stock market punished this performance by awarding this slowing economy with a 25% increase in valuation.
This is like your kid coming home with straight F's and you increase their allowance by a a full fourth.
Since then the disconnect between economic growth and asset prices has continued as asset prices have averaged annual gains of 15% while the economy has managed just under 3%.
I'm going to say it again for the cheap seats and hope to god some future historian looks this up and sees it, but this is just another bit of proof that Americans are more interested in baloney asset bubbles than they are actual economic growth. It is the modern day epitome of American psychology where we want all of the rewards, but without having to expend any of the work.
Does it matter that stock prices are being driven by retirement dollars and not profits?
Does it matter that equities are being driven by QE and low interest rate monetary policies which prompt corporate buy backs?
Does it matter economic potential in this country is so low corporations would rather buy back shares than invest and create jobs?
No, because prices are up and that's our super happy fun juice!
I know the federal reserve is powerful and that the world economy is already structured around a US dollar reserve currency. But neither are more powerful than the forces of math and reality. I just hope to see that reality manifested before I die. In the meantime, Enjoy that Decline!
But every once in a while I like to go really macro and compare the country's economic growth to its asset prices. In theory (bar international investments and trade) asset prices should not be increasing faster than economic growth in that all profits must come from economic growth. Therefore, both asset prices and economic growth should grow at the same rate, otherwise we know there's either a bubble or a (well...it's been so long...what was it again we call stock markets that are cheap....um....oh! That's right!) steal.
So I took it upon my beleaguered economist ass to go and pull the data comparing the annual returns of the S&P 500 and subtracting out from it nominal economic growth which should in theory always be 0.
Heh, yeah right.
Naturally there's going to be oscillations and bubbles and troughs in any economy. But given what we know about the PE ratio now being 70% higher than it should be, I just wanted another data set to view this from a different angle. And this one didn't disappoint.
We see, during the economic crash, stock prices crashing even more sending the net difference between asset prices and economic growth into negative territory. This meant asset prices were growing slower (crashing faster, actually) than economic growth was. However, this only lasted one year (2008) and in 2009 where the economy contracted on a yearly basis by 2.9% the stock market punished this performance by awarding this slowing economy with a 25% increase in valuation.
This is like your kid coming home with straight F's and you increase their allowance by a a full fourth.
Since then the disconnect between economic growth and asset prices has continued as asset prices have averaged annual gains of 15% while the economy has managed just under 3%.
I'm going to say it again for the cheap seats and hope to god some future historian looks this up and sees it, but this is just another bit of proof that Americans are more interested in baloney asset bubbles than they are actual economic growth. It is the modern day epitome of American psychology where we want all of the rewards, but without having to expend any of the work.
Does it matter that stock prices are being driven by retirement dollars and not profits?
Does it matter that equities are being driven by QE and low interest rate monetary policies which prompt corporate buy backs?
Does it matter economic potential in this country is so low corporations would rather buy back shares than invest and create jobs?
No, because prices are up and that's our super happy fun juice!
I know the federal reserve is powerful and that the world economy is already structured around a US dollar reserve currency. But neither are more powerful than the forces of math and reality. I just hope to see that reality manifested before I die. In the meantime, Enjoy that Decline!
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Best Rant Against Sports Addicts Evah
You all know my personal disgust not with professional sports, but rather the people who base their vicarious and meaningless lives on them. I've had a good rant or two in my life about it, but nothing like this most recent podcast from Bill Burr. Starts at the 14 minute mark and lasts a good 20 minutes.
Waaaaa!!! Why Can't I Find a Maaaaan?????
There’s no door-holding, no hand-holding and definitely no free drinks.
There’s no taking off hats or courting through invitations. There are no
smooth moves, no jackets to dinner. There are no flowers, no tables by
candlelight. But, most importantly, there are no dates.
Ummm...that's because there's no women left. But by all means, misdiagnose the problem.
In the meantime gentlemen, carry on. Carry on gentlemen.
Ummm...that's because there's no women left. But by all means, misdiagnose the problem.
In the meantime gentlemen, carry on. Carry on gentlemen.
How Do You Make a Miley Ray Cyrus Song Sound Good?
Simple, you don't have her sing or be around:
The sound is unreal.
The sound is unreal.
Tuesday, September 09, 2014
Monday Linkage
No, Bill, you don't get it. I don't like any religion.
The left is evil while the republicans are stupid.
Uncle Bernoo's poker story.
Aurini has a good podcast up about socialists, crusaders and the video game industry.
Corporations will start to ask, "where have all the good men gone?"
The left is evil while the republicans are stupid.
Uncle Bernoo's poker story.
Aurini has a good podcast up about socialists, crusaders and the video game industry.
Corporations will start to ask, "where have all the good men gone?"
Why Tesla Never Married
Amazing. Jaw dropping prescience. Over 100 years ago and Nikola Tesla was more or less accurately predicting what is happening today.
Monday, September 08, 2014
The True Risk of Rape Culture
As I've said before, it pays to step back, clear your vision, and look at something with fresh eyes And one such instance that required me to do this happened recently. Namely, how my view of rape has changed.
I personally have not gotten all that much into the "rape culture" thing because there's enough people covering it and it's also too "dramaticy" for me. The feminists lie about the "epidemic" of rape on campus, saner heads point out to the obvious risks men face with false rape claims, add to that I'm viscerally repulsed by rape so I have a natural predisposition to avoid the topic. However, with the "Yes Means Yes" legislation being pushed through California's legislature, I was more or less compelled to address it or at least look into it because of the obvious increase in false rape claims and its potentially disastrous consequences for men.
I made a link, mentioned it on a podcast I believe, addressed the obvious slippery slope such legislation presented, etc., etc,. But it wasn't until I read this article did I realize how my view of rape had changed. And not for the better.
My reaction to the article was what you'd expect of my typically dour and cynical nature:
"Oh yeah, right, you were 'raped'."
"Oh wow, what are the chances she's doing that just for her thesis."
"Uh huh, more attention whoring."
"Worthless degree."
"Oh! There it is! The 1 in 4 lie!"
But that's just it. Think about it.
20 years ago had I heard about a girl being raped I would have been appalled and angry. I would have been concerned if she was alright. I'd be demanding the guy be tracked down and castrated. Heck, I'd probably go and hunt him down myself.
But today my natural, default reaction is...
disbelief and distrust.
And this is the VERY important point I'm trying to make. Because feminists in their desire to create a false "rape epidemic," to make every man on campus a potential threat and every woman a victim, to get to the point they are intervening in innocent private sexual lives to this extent has so alienated most men (and saner women) that they are suffering from "false rape claim burnout." So much so people no longer focus on rape, but whether they're LYING about being raped.
The consequences are typical of feminism and leftism - they harm the people they claim they're trying to help, specifically in this case, GENUINE rape victims. The TRUE victims of rape can no longer rely on immediate support from the community and sane minds. Thanks to leftists, feminists and their gender politics, real victims of rape are immediately greeted with cynicism and disbelief. In some circles the trust has been so eroded people just assume every rape claim is false.
Sadly, this is where many of us need to step back, rub our eyes and look at things clearly. Just because feminists and their "rape culture" have tainted the reputation of self-proclaimed victims of rape, you need to remember that rape does happen, it is a horrifying experience, and there are genuine victims that do need help and support. The trick is to reserve judgement until the facts are in.
In the meantime men, get that "after sex text" and avoid university campuses that are insane enough to instill a "Yes means yes" policy.
I personally have not gotten all that much into the "rape culture" thing because there's enough people covering it and it's also too "dramaticy" for me. The feminists lie about the "epidemic" of rape on campus, saner heads point out to the obvious risks men face with false rape claims, add to that I'm viscerally repulsed by rape so I have a natural predisposition to avoid the topic. However, with the "Yes Means Yes" legislation being pushed through California's legislature, I was more or less compelled to address it or at least look into it because of the obvious increase in false rape claims and its potentially disastrous consequences for men.
I made a link, mentioned it on a podcast I believe, addressed the obvious slippery slope such legislation presented, etc., etc,. But it wasn't until I read this article did I realize how my view of rape had changed. And not for the better.
My reaction to the article was what you'd expect of my typically dour and cynical nature:
"Oh yeah, right, you were 'raped'."
"Oh wow, what are the chances she's doing that just for her thesis."
"Uh huh, more attention whoring."
"Worthless degree."
"Oh! There it is! The 1 in 4 lie!"
But that's just it. Think about it.
20 years ago had I heard about a girl being raped I would have been appalled and angry. I would have been concerned if she was alright. I'd be demanding the guy be tracked down and castrated. Heck, I'd probably go and hunt him down myself.
But today my natural, default reaction is...
disbelief and distrust.
And this is the VERY important point I'm trying to make. Because feminists in their desire to create a false "rape epidemic," to make every man on campus a potential threat and every woman a victim, to get to the point they are intervening in innocent private sexual lives to this extent has so alienated most men (and saner women) that they are suffering from "false rape claim burnout." So much so people no longer focus on rape, but whether they're LYING about being raped.
The consequences are typical of feminism and leftism - they harm the people they claim they're trying to help, specifically in this case, GENUINE rape victims. The TRUE victims of rape can no longer rely on immediate support from the community and sane minds. Thanks to leftists, feminists and their gender politics, real victims of rape are immediately greeted with cynicism and disbelief. In some circles the trust has been so eroded people just assume every rape claim is false.
Sadly, this is where many of us need to step back, rub our eyes and look at things clearly. Just because feminists and their "rape culture" have tainted the reputation of self-proclaimed victims of rape, you need to remember that rape does happen, it is a horrifying experience, and there are genuine victims that do need help and support. The trick is to reserve judgement until the facts are in.
In the meantime men, get that "after sex text" and avoid university campuses that are insane enough to instill a "Yes means yes" policy.
Sunday, September 07, 2014
How American Women Could Pay Off the National Debt in 5 Years
I am happy to announce I have found a simple, easy and painless solution to our national debt problem. Easily the largest economic problem we face is officially over. Everybody can relax, the US and by extension the world economy will be saved and, frankly, we can look forward to very bright economic futures across the globe. And it will be women who lead the way into this glorious future no less!
I happened upon this solution walking through the mall and realized that nearly all of the stores are for women. I fused this observation with the fact women spend the majority of their money on things that are
really
truly
just not needed.
So instead of blowing their money on Jimmy Choo shoes, hand bags, flirtinis and the cornucopia of other worthless trinkets they like to stockpile in their unnecessarily large apartments, we force them instead to cut checks to Uncle Sam that would immediately go to debt reduction.
Looking at consumer spending data from the BEA I estimate that women waste around $3.2 trillion annually (estimates will of course vary). Dividing the current $17 trillion in debt by this means we could have the national debt paid off in a mere five years. But better yet, it's without any genuine suffering or real decrease in standards of living.
Naturally there will be some resistance to this brilliant economic plan. However, since women disproportionately vote for democrats and to "help others," I'm sure they'll find it within their charitable nature to "do the right thing" and help save America's future for the children.
What's funny is this REALLY would work. And it really would be painless. Sadly, that frivolous spending is just too addicting and women place more value on competing against other women than the country's finances.
Oh well, Enjoy the decline!
I happened upon this solution walking through the mall and realized that nearly all of the stores are for women. I fused this observation with the fact women spend the majority of their money on things that are
really
truly
just not needed.
So instead of blowing their money on Jimmy Choo shoes, hand bags, flirtinis and the cornucopia of other worthless trinkets they like to stockpile in their unnecessarily large apartments, we force them instead to cut checks to Uncle Sam that would immediately go to debt reduction.
Looking at consumer spending data from the BEA I estimate that women waste around $3.2 trillion annually (estimates will of course vary). Dividing the current $17 trillion in debt by this means we could have the national debt paid off in a mere five years. But better yet, it's without any genuine suffering or real decrease in standards of living.
Naturally there will be some resistance to this brilliant economic plan. However, since women disproportionately vote for democrats and to "help others," I'm sure they'll find it within their charitable nature to "do the right thing" and help save America's future for the children.
What's funny is this REALLY would work. And it really would be painless. Sadly, that frivolous spending is just too addicting and women place more value on competing against other women than the country's finances.
Oh well, Enjoy the decline!
Saturday, September 06, 2014
College Is Not a Means Unto Itself
A realization I had about a month ago was that children, most of their parents, and a scarily high percentage of the rest of society view college not as a tool or a way to improve one's career, but rather a means unto itself. That college itself is the goal and whether anything comes after that is irrelevant.
If this isn't bad enough, I fear it's gotten much worse. For while there's no limit to the "you can't put a price on education" type rationalization coming from liberal arts majors, any time I've tried to talk reason, sense, logic, foresight and math into young kids today (and many of their parents) about the risks of majoring in a worthless subject the response is typically vehement if not violent.
This leads me to believe that media, the education system, government, and (yes) parents have convinced children college is not only meritorious unto itself, but an entitlement, a life-purpose, a life-dream and a birthright. Every child/student/young person DESERVES an college education and that education is the most important thing in their lives.
And that's not hyperbole or rhetoric. It's true.
Consider your own personal experience when you were about to attend college. 20 years ago in my case I was led to believe that college was the solution to all of my problems. That when I got to this magical world called "college:"
Everybody would be more mature
Girls would throw themselves at me
I'd go to great parties and make great friends
My degree would guarantee me a job
My then 18 year streak of poverty and lower-middle income existence would finally be over
No doubt your expectations of college were equally bullshitty.
But also go back to when you were 17 and ask yourself what else did you have to look forward to in life? What else was there in life? You were just as ecstatic to go to college as your entire educational life up until that point was to make it to the Holy Land of College.
Now imagine today's kids, with thrice the amount of ass-kissing, "you can do anything-ism," "you're all winners" and the elimination of trophies, GPA's, valedictorians, and any other form of competition and you can see how college is all they have in life. And anytime anybody dares to critique their dreams or deliver a dose of reality, their rabid reaction belies their insane obsession with college.
Sadly, no matter how psychotically and irrationally wedded to college they are, does not mean we don't at least owe it to society to point out the truth. And scream and pout and stammer their little feet all they might, somebody has got to stand up and point out the obvious:
College is NOT a means unto itself
College is NOT meritorious unto itself
You CAN put a price on education
And that price is when your investment in time and money does not result in more of the same in return
College is a TOOL to advance your career first and foremost. And the second you treat it as anything other, especially a luxury good or an entitlement, you only serve to destroy the 70% of your life you have yet to live post-college.
Naturally I speak to the choir here on this blog. I don't think anybody here is going to disagree that with tuition running at $70,000 you should demand a fiscal return on your investment. But the sad truth is this message will fall on deaf ears because those who so desperately need this lesson are not sane. They are fanatics. They are junkies. They are as zealous as ISIS is to Islam as they are to college. And nothing will get the way of achieving their dream.
To that end there is not much left to do than what we're already doing. Mocking people who major in the puppetry. Laughing at people who are $120,000 in debt with women's studies degrees. Telling the MA in Music that yes, we would indeed very much like fries with that. And in short, living better lives than them. But I hope that in your own realm, within your own sphere of influence, that there are some youth or some friends or some family members who are at least receptive to reality, sanity, and math. That they haven't been fully duped and brainwashed into thinking their lives are so worthless a "college degree" is the best thing they can achieve. That the college degree is tool to help them achieve greatness, and often and optional tool at that. And if you can get them not to destroy their futures like the College ISIS Fanatics then you've done a world of good in genuinely saving some lives.
If this isn't bad enough, I fear it's gotten much worse. For while there's no limit to the "you can't put a price on education" type rationalization coming from liberal arts majors, any time I've tried to talk reason, sense, logic, foresight and math into young kids today (and many of their parents) about the risks of majoring in a worthless subject the response is typically vehement if not violent.
This leads me to believe that media, the education system, government, and (yes) parents have convinced children college is not only meritorious unto itself, but an entitlement, a life-purpose, a life-dream and a birthright. Every child/student/young person DESERVES an college education and that education is the most important thing in their lives.
And that's not hyperbole or rhetoric. It's true.
Consider your own personal experience when you were about to attend college. 20 years ago in my case I was led to believe that college was the solution to all of my problems. That when I got to this magical world called "college:"
Everybody would be more mature
Girls would throw themselves at me
I'd go to great parties and make great friends
My degree would guarantee me a job
My then 18 year streak of poverty and lower-middle income existence would finally be over
No doubt your expectations of college were equally bullshitty.
But also go back to when you were 17 and ask yourself what else did you have to look forward to in life? What else was there in life? You were just as ecstatic to go to college as your entire educational life up until that point was to make it to the Holy Land of College.
Now imagine today's kids, with thrice the amount of ass-kissing, "you can do anything-ism," "you're all winners" and the elimination of trophies, GPA's, valedictorians, and any other form of competition and you can see how college is all they have in life. And anytime anybody dares to critique their dreams or deliver a dose of reality, their rabid reaction belies their insane obsession with college.
Sadly, no matter how psychotically and irrationally wedded to college they are, does not mean we don't at least owe it to society to point out the truth. And scream and pout and stammer their little feet all they might, somebody has got to stand up and point out the obvious:
College is NOT a means unto itself
College is NOT meritorious unto itself
You CAN put a price on education
And that price is when your investment in time and money does not result in more of the same in return
College is a TOOL to advance your career first and foremost. And the second you treat it as anything other, especially a luxury good or an entitlement, you only serve to destroy the 70% of your life you have yet to live post-college.
Naturally I speak to the choir here on this blog. I don't think anybody here is going to disagree that with tuition running at $70,000 you should demand a fiscal return on your investment. But the sad truth is this message will fall on deaf ears because those who so desperately need this lesson are not sane. They are fanatics. They are junkies. They are as zealous as ISIS is to Islam as they are to college. And nothing will get the way of achieving their dream.
To that end there is not much left to do than what we're already doing. Mocking people who major in the puppetry. Laughing at people who are $120,000 in debt with women's studies degrees. Telling the MA in Music that yes, we would indeed very much like fries with that. And in short, living better lives than them. But I hope that in your own realm, within your own sphere of influence, that there are some youth or some friends or some family members who are at least receptive to reality, sanity, and math. That they haven't been fully duped and brainwashed into thinking their lives are so worthless a "college degree" is the best thing they can achieve. That the college degree is tool to help them achieve greatness, and often and optional tool at that. And if you can get them not to destroy their futures like the College ISIS Fanatics then you've done a world of good in genuinely saving some lives.
New Lieutenant - Bearded Backyarder
You will visit. You will read. You will enjoy.
Compliance is mandatory. Conformance is not optional.
You will obey.
Compliance is mandatory. Conformance is not optional.
You will obey.
Friday, September 05, 2014
A Serious Request for International Readers
Greetings All,
After a summer of hiking, road tripping, Vegas....Vegas....and Vegas once again, it's time to get back to work (only because everybody else is) and get serious.
Posts, as you may have noticed, have taken on a more serious and meaty tone, projects have been achieved, and things have been tidied up. Since this "house cleaning" is done, now we can move on to "strategic planning" which I promised myself this year would be expanding or at least making inroads into different countries.
I know the majority of my readership is from the US and Canada, but I also know we have a fair number of lieutenants in Eastern Europe, the MidEast, Asia, Russia. Heck, we even have two schmoes running around Morocco.
My simple request is this.
If you are a reader of Cappy Cap and know of sites in your home country that are similar or conducive to our various "beliefs" or "platforms" here, I would very much appreciate it if you would post their links in the comment section below.
DO NOT just send me "My friend Bill's" page. I want significant players in your respective countries as I don't think a lot of effort has been made to puropsely seek out and network different groups in different countries.
I know this sounds "hokey pokey" and "touchy feely," but it is quite strategic and purposeful and any help would be greatly appreciated (especially from you Aussies and Kiwis down south who think you're special because you're in the southern hemisphere)
Anyway, you recommendations and suggestions are greatly appreciated,
Sincerely,
Cappy
After a summer of hiking, road tripping, Vegas....Vegas....and Vegas once again, it's time to get back to work (only because everybody else is) and get serious.
Posts, as you may have noticed, have taken on a more serious and meaty tone, projects have been achieved, and things have been tidied up. Since this "house cleaning" is done, now we can move on to "strategic planning" which I promised myself this year would be expanding or at least making inroads into different countries.
I know the majority of my readership is from the US and Canada, but I also know we have a fair number of lieutenants in Eastern Europe, the MidEast, Asia, Russia. Heck, we even have two schmoes running around Morocco.
My simple request is this.
If you are a reader of Cappy Cap and know of sites in your home country that are similar or conducive to our various "beliefs" or "platforms" here, I would very much appreciate it if you would post their links in the comment section below.
DO NOT just send me "My friend Bill's" page. I want significant players in your respective countries as I don't think a lot of effort has been made to puropsely seek out and network different groups in different countries.
I know this sounds "hokey pokey" and "touchy feely," but it is quite strategic and purposeful and any help would be greatly appreciated (especially from you Aussies and Kiwis down south who think you're special because you're in the southern hemisphere)
Anyway, you recommendations and suggestions are greatly appreciated,
Sincerely,
Cappy
Another Leftist Lie About the 1950's
As you all know the 1950's by every technology and inflation adjusted measure was not only better for everybody, but was hands down the pinnacle of US achievement and capitalism.
Because of this the left does its best to rewrite history, besmirch it, criminalize it, villainize it, and (as if it's not the most tiresome and broken record in their playbook) is remind us just how sexist and racist it was. The 1940's and 1950's just simply cannot exist accurately in the history books for it is everything that the left hates and the most compelling and damning empirical data that proves socialism wrong.
Because of this I like to bring up the 50's occasionally, citing data and statistics and presenting logical, unemotional arguments as to why it was indeed the best decade in US history. And today's leftist argument we're going to debunk is;
"Oh yeah!?? Well...umm....you know what...the WORLD WAS DESTROYED after WWII and the US was the ONLY country left to build stuff for them. That's the only reason the 50's had such great economic growth. It wasn't capitalism! It was because the world was our bitch! So..umm...yeah, so there!"
So young lieutenants, economists, Cappy Cappites, and book babes, let us do what the left refuses to and look at the actual data.
To see whether or not the true cause of the booming economic growth in the 50's was due to the rest of the world being destroyed, I decided to look at exports as a percentage of GDP. To be honest, I truthfully thought there was "some" credibility to the left's claim, and so I was more than willing to adjust US economic growth to account for exports. However, after pulling the data, I realized I didn't have to bother:
Exports as a percentage of GDP have actually GONE UP SINCE WWII.
Yes, during 1947 exports were at a relative high, but after a 2 decade decline and stagnation, exports have consistently been going up since the 1970's. Keep in mind a lot of this has to do with services (which were not as prominent in international trade as today), but the argument that the whole world was "just destroyed" and was helplessly dependent upon US exports which explained the booming economic growth we enjoyed in the 50's is just a lie. And if we consider exports are nearly TWICE the percent they were back in the 50's, it's actually a damning testimony against the creeping socialism we've had since the 1960's (as well as American spending habits that we IMPORT even MORE resulting in a trade deficit).
The primary lesson to take from this though, ladies and gentlemen, is that you can almost always assume the left has never bothered to look up the "facts" they spew. You, sadly, just have to assume whatever they say is either intentionally or unknowningly false and be willing to spend the 5 minutes to look up the actual data.
Because of this the left does its best to rewrite history, besmirch it, criminalize it, villainize it, and (as if it's not the most tiresome and broken record in their playbook) is remind us just how sexist and racist it was. The 1940's and 1950's just simply cannot exist accurately in the history books for it is everything that the left hates and the most compelling and damning empirical data that proves socialism wrong.
Because of this I like to bring up the 50's occasionally, citing data and statistics and presenting logical, unemotional arguments as to why it was indeed the best decade in US history. And today's leftist argument we're going to debunk is;
"Oh yeah!?? Well...umm....you know what...the WORLD WAS DESTROYED after WWII and the US was the ONLY country left to build stuff for them. That's the only reason the 50's had such great economic growth. It wasn't capitalism! It was because the world was our bitch! So..umm...yeah, so there!"
So young lieutenants, economists, Cappy Cappites, and book babes, let us do what the left refuses to and look at the actual data.
To see whether or not the true cause of the booming economic growth in the 50's was due to the rest of the world being destroyed, I decided to look at exports as a percentage of GDP. To be honest, I truthfully thought there was "some" credibility to the left's claim, and so I was more than willing to adjust US economic growth to account for exports. However, after pulling the data, I realized I didn't have to bother:
Exports as a percentage of GDP have actually GONE UP SINCE WWII.
Yes, during 1947 exports were at a relative high, but after a 2 decade decline and stagnation, exports have consistently been going up since the 1970's. Keep in mind a lot of this has to do with services (which were not as prominent in international trade as today), but the argument that the whole world was "just destroyed" and was helplessly dependent upon US exports which explained the booming economic growth we enjoyed in the 50's is just a lie. And if we consider exports are nearly TWICE the percent they were back in the 50's, it's actually a damning testimony against the creeping socialism we've had since the 1960's (as well as American spending habits that we IMPORT even MORE resulting in a trade deficit).
The primary lesson to take from this though, ladies and gentlemen, is that you can almost always assume the left has never bothered to look up the "facts" they spew. You, sadly, just have to assume whatever they say is either intentionally or unknowningly false and be willing to spend the 5 minutes to look up the actual data.
Thursday, September 04, 2014
Yet Another Reason the Stock Market Is Overvalued
In my online stock valuation class I teach, The Analysis and Valuation of Stocks
, I have my students grab the annual report of a company of their choosing and use it for analytical purposes in the class. Over the now 12 years I've offered this class, I've seen trends in the different companies they've chosen.
Garmin, remember them?
Palm? Those were fun times!
Blackberry? Ah, the early 00's.
However, of even more interest was the financial trends that were spotted when we'd get into the nitty gritty of it. Most recently two trends that are related
1. "Cash Flow from Operations" continually exceeding "Cash Flow from Investing"
and
2. A almost nearly always guaranteed repurchase of shares.
Before you fall asleep let me explain these things to you and why they are very relevant to everybody today.
First, "Cash Flow from Operations" (CFO) and "Cash Flow from Investing" (CFI) are two "boring" financial statistics that all companies have. Most people focus on "net profit" or the bottom line, but savvier analysts know to look at CFO and CFI.
The reason is (without going into a long and boring detailed explaination of non-cash accounting) CFO is the amount of actual cash the company is generating while CFI is the amount the company spends on maintaining and expanding it's operations. Ergo the "cash from OPERATIONS" goes to pay for the "cash expended on INVESTING."
These two numbers I believe tell you more about a company than any other financial numbers. First, it tells you if the company is profitable and not just on paper, but actual cash (CFO). Second it tells you if the company is expanding or contracting (CFI should be a negative number showing the company IS expanding and investing). And third, it tells you if it can finance its expansions and operations with the money it generates internally. Ergo, if CFO generated exceeds the amount spent on CFI this is a GREAT thing because the company neither has to borrow money or issue new shares to expand. It is SO PROFITABLE it can do it in house.
There is a problem, however.
As I noticed most of my student's companies were generating a lot more CFO than they were expending on CFI. Yes, profits have recovered from the depths of the Great Recession, but this economy wasn't booming. And most of the profits I knew came from cost cutting, not investing in new plants and equipment, expanding operations, and thus employment. Ergo, what the financial statements of these companies were telling me was the reason for such excess CFO over CFI was not because of healthy CFO, but rather low expenditures on investments and CFI. This is why corporations can have these "record profits," but employment growth and private investment is not forth coming.
Second, now enter in stock repurchases.
Say you're a CEO of a corporation that is generating a lot of cash flow, but not expanding or investing a lot. Well, you're left with the enviable position of having a lot of extra cash on hand. But if you're not going to invest that cash, you have to do something with it. So what do you do?
Stock repurchases.
Repurchasing a company's stock is NOT investing and does NOT show up in the CFI. Additionally a company repurchasing its shares does NOT create any ACTUAL investment. No factories are built, no facilities constructed, no people employed.
It does however boost the price of your stock because it "undilutes" the amount of shares outstanding. This not only boosts the stock price and makes your shareholders (who indirectly vote you into your executive position) happy, but also makes your stock options much more valuable.
Ergo, the trend you see of companies with excess CFO who like to repurchase their shares.
It is here I would like to show you the S&P 500's "statement of cash flows," but unfortunately you have to pay for such research. Instead I'll merely pull some key, large companies we're all familiar with and highlight this phenomenon on their cash flow statements.
Though your eyes may be glazing over, if you look at the highlighted (red) sections you'll see these companies (Colgate, Exxon, and Apple) making tons of money (CFO), but not fully reinvesting it (CFI). The remaining cash is (primarily) used to repurchase shares (and sometimes pay dividends) or buy other stock's shares (highlighted in blue).
These corporate actions not only speak volumes as to what the "holy trinity" of corporations, investors and employers (all 3 in 1) think about investing in the US, but also have serious ramifications for US stock valuations.
First, they're saying, "Are you nuts? Invest here? Sorry, we're going to spend what we have to to ensure our current investments don't rot, make what meager investments we see that are truly profitable, but sorry, economic growth and the investment climate is just not worth it. We're just going to repurchase shares because THAT'S OUR BEST USE OF OUR MONEY."
Second, in doing so they further inflation a stock market bubble that is already inflated with trillions of 401k, IRA, 403b, and other pension/retirement fund money. This has driven the S&P 500 well beyond it's historical PE of 15 to a now dizzying 26 implying a 73% overvaluation that only idiot Americans would cheer for and IRA Zombies invest in.
Ultimately, though, there is a hidden lesson corporations and investors are indirectly telling the American public (and western civilization citizens in general). And that lesson is one of:
"Fuck you."
I don't know how long it will take "corporation hating" Americans to realize that those same corporations who they love to loathe and blame theirlaziness and lack of work ethic problems on are also the primary source of:
1. Jobs
2. Careers
3. Economic innovation and growth
and
4. Retirement wealth
in this country. And the fact they have made it so inhospitable financially, politically and socially to be a corporation here that corporations would rather
1. Spend money repurchasing their shares
2. Spend money buying other companies' shares
3. Open factories overseas
4. Bribe/lobby politicians
5. Pull a Medtronic or Burger King
than hire and invest in the US should be a wake up call to all the Obama-supporting college graduates working as barristas for $9/hour. i.e.- even the dumbest of leftists should have the mental capacity to understand these basic lessons of economics and human incentive.
Sadly, however, western minds have been so damaged and polluted with self-pitying victimization and laziness they'd rather sit and mope, feeling sorry for themselves, blaming those "white-male-ly" corporations, and thusly condemning themselves to a life of poverty and mediocrity, than spend the energy it would take to get a basic education in accounting and economics. But, hey, at least they "weren't part of the system man!" and stuck it to those "corporations, man!"
Regardless, for all those Americans who hate corporations and are too busy to be bothered with cash flow statement accounting, enjoy listening to "Rage Against the Machine" when you're 50 and maybe, MAYBE, making that last payment on your student loans.
Garmin, remember them?
Palm? Those were fun times!
Blackberry? Ah, the early 00's.
However, of even more interest was the financial trends that were spotted when we'd get into the nitty gritty of it. Most recently two trends that are related
1. "Cash Flow from Operations" continually exceeding "Cash Flow from Investing"
and
2. A almost nearly always guaranteed repurchase of shares.
Before you fall asleep let me explain these things to you and why they are very relevant to everybody today.
First, "Cash Flow from Operations" (CFO) and "Cash Flow from Investing" (CFI) are two "boring" financial statistics that all companies have. Most people focus on "net profit" or the bottom line, but savvier analysts know to look at CFO and CFI.
The reason is (without going into a long and boring detailed explaination of non-cash accounting) CFO is the amount of actual cash the company is generating while CFI is the amount the company spends on maintaining and expanding it's operations. Ergo the "cash from OPERATIONS" goes to pay for the "cash expended on INVESTING."
These two numbers I believe tell you more about a company than any other financial numbers. First, it tells you if the company is profitable and not just on paper, but actual cash (CFO). Second it tells you if the company is expanding or contracting (CFI should be a negative number showing the company IS expanding and investing). And third, it tells you if it can finance its expansions and operations with the money it generates internally. Ergo, if CFO generated exceeds the amount spent on CFI this is a GREAT thing because the company neither has to borrow money or issue new shares to expand. It is SO PROFITABLE it can do it in house.
There is a problem, however.
As I noticed most of my student's companies were generating a lot more CFO than they were expending on CFI. Yes, profits have recovered from the depths of the Great Recession, but this economy wasn't booming. And most of the profits I knew came from cost cutting, not investing in new plants and equipment, expanding operations, and thus employment. Ergo, what the financial statements of these companies were telling me was the reason for such excess CFO over CFI was not because of healthy CFO, but rather low expenditures on investments and CFI. This is why corporations can have these "record profits," but employment growth and private investment is not forth coming.
Second, now enter in stock repurchases.
Say you're a CEO of a corporation that is generating a lot of cash flow, but not expanding or investing a lot. Well, you're left with the enviable position of having a lot of extra cash on hand. But if you're not going to invest that cash, you have to do something with it. So what do you do?
Stock repurchases.
Repurchasing a company's stock is NOT investing and does NOT show up in the CFI. Additionally a company repurchasing its shares does NOT create any ACTUAL investment. No factories are built, no facilities constructed, no people employed.
It does however boost the price of your stock because it "undilutes" the amount of shares outstanding. This not only boosts the stock price and makes your shareholders (who indirectly vote you into your executive position) happy, but also makes your stock options much more valuable.
Ergo, the trend you see of companies with excess CFO who like to repurchase their shares.
It is here I would like to show you the S&P 500's "statement of cash flows," but unfortunately you have to pay for such research. Instead I'll merely pull some key, large companies we're all familiar with and highlight this phenomenon on their cash flow statements.
Though your eyes may be glazing over, if you look at the highlighted (red) sections you'll see these companies (Colgate, Exxon, and Apple) making tons of money (CFO), but not fully reinvesting it (CFI). The remaining cash is (primarily) used to repurchase shares (and sometimes pay dividends) or buy other stock's shares (highlighted in blue).
These corporate actions not only speak volumes as to what the "holy trinity" of corporations, investors and employers (all 3 in 1) think about investing in the US, but also have serious ramifications for US stock valuations.
First, they're saying, "Are you nuts? Invest here? Sorry, we're going to spend what we have to to ensure our current investments don't rot, make what meager investments we see that are truly profitable, but sorry, economic growth and the investment climate is just not worth it. We're just going to repurchase shares because THAT'S OUR BEST USE OF OUR MONEY."
Second, in doing so they further inflation a stock market bubble that is already inflated with trillions of 401k, IRA, 403b, and other pension/retirement fund money. This has driven the S&P 500 well beyond it's historical PE of 15 to a now dizzying 26 implying a 73% overvaluation that only idiot Americans would cheer for and IRA Zombies invest in.
Ultimately, though, there is a hidden lesson corporations and investors are indirectly telling the American public (and western civilization citizens in general). And that lesson is one of:
"Fuck you."
I don't know how long it will take "corporation hating" Americans to realize that those same corporations who they love to loathe and blame their
1. Jobs
2. Careers
3. Economic innovation and growth
and
4. Retirement wealth
in this country. And the fact they have made it so inhospitable financially, politically and socially to be a corporation here that corporations would rather
1. Spend money repurchasing their shares
2. Spend money buying other companies' shares
3. Open factories overseas
4. Bribe/lobby politicians
5. Pull a Medtronic or Burger King
than hire and invest in the US should be a wake up call to all the Obama-supporting college graduates working as barristas for $9/hour. i.e.- even the dumbest of leftists should have the mental capacity to understand these basic lessons of economics and human incentive.
Sadly, however, western minds have been so damaged and polluted with self-pitying victimization and laziness they'd rather sit and mope, feeling sorry for themselves, blaming those "white-male-ly" corporations, and thusly condemning themselves to a life of poverty and mediocrity, than spend the energy it would take to get a basic education in accounting and economics. But, hey, at least they "weren't part of the system man!" and stuck it to those "corporations, man!"
Regardless, for all those Americans who hate corporations and are too busy to be bothered with cash flow statement accounting, enjoy listening to "Rage Against the Machine" when you're 50 and maybe, MAYBE, making that last payment on your student loans.
Wednesday, September 03, 2014
Book Review of Roosh's Latest Book
The reason I don't mention the title is because that's my primary complaint about the book (and a lot of books/writing in general in the Manosphere/Alt Right/Red Pill world) - it's too crass. It's titled "Poosy Paradise."
If you read through it you can see how it couldn't be titled any other way. It's the latest chapter in Roosh's life as he allows you to vicariously live through his as he travels Easter Europe chronicling his exploits and adventures in getting laid. However, what originally started out 5 years ago as a random adventure to ensure his life was going to be different (starting with a trip to South America), Roosh's experiences are rapidly coalescing into an actual professor/career - that of an international playboy. This evolution and honing of his life/career naturally leads him to the more esoteric and philosophical aspect of the book - precisely what do you do after you create your own job getting paid to travel the world and seduce women?
This is where I think Roosh's future lies and where I wish he put more emphasis on in the book. Like the Voyager spacecrafts, he is pushing the limits and boundaries literally going where no one has gone before. And I say this not out of worship or ass kissing, but because it's true and I predict others will be following his lead. Understand, he and MANY OTHER modern day men who dared to think out side the box, insist on better and different for their lives, are not only becoming very successful and leading lives of luxury and interest, but at too young an age (Roosh is 33) are being forced to ask questions rich men retiring in their 60's are asking. And this fact shows in Roosh's logic following his behaviors and actions, leading him not to conclusions, but questions that most likely cannot be answered.
Sadly, as mentioned before, this is a small minority of the book, essentially the last chapter. The rest is what you've all come to know and love Roosh for. Detailed and entertaining accounts of his daily and nightly expeditions to find girls and get laid. I personally enjoyed the tactical and strategic discussions as he would explain why he did something (sit next to a plant) and how he would interpret a text. But then this high-level discussion would quickly deteriorate when he'd go into unnecessary, almost Harlequin Romance Novel level of grotesque detail about the sex he was actually enjoying.
Perhaps that is why his books do so well and he has the followership he does. It is just my personal opinion his future does not lay in writing male-harlequin fantasy porn, but philosophy and pushing the limits of human existence.
If you read through it you can see how it couldn't be titled any other way. It's the latest chapter in Roosh's life as he allows you to vicariously live through his as he travels Easter Europe chronicling his exploits and adventures in getting laid. However, what originally started out 5 years ago as a random adventure to ensure his life was going to be different (starting with a trip to South America), Roosh's experiences are rapidly coalescing into an actual professor/career - that of an international playboy. This evolution and honing of his life/career naturally leads him to the more esoteric and philosophical aspect of the book - precisely what do you do after you create your own job getting paid to travel the world and seduce women?
This is where I think Roosh's future lies and where I wish he put more emphasis on in the book. Like the Voyager spacecrafts, he is pushing the limits and boundaries literally going where no one has gone before. And I say this not out of worship or ass kissing, but because it's true and I predict others will be following his lead. Understand, he and MANY OTHER modern day men who dared to think out side the box, insist on better and different for their lives, are not only becoming very successful and leading lives of luxury and interest, but at too young an age (Roosh is 33) are being forced to ask questions rich men retiring in their 60's are asking. And this fact shows in Roosh's logic following his behaviors and actions, leading him not to conclusions, but questions that most likely cannot be answered.
Sadly, as mentioned before, this is a small minority of the book, essentially the last chapter. The rest is what you've all come to know and love Roosh for. Detailed and entertaining accounts of his daily and nightly expeditions to find girls and get laid. I personally enjoyed the tactical and strategic discussions as he would explain why he did something (sit next to a plant) and how he would interpret a text. But then this high-level discussion would quickly deteriorate when he'd go into unnecessary, almost Harlequin Romance Novel level of grotesque detail about the sex he was actually enjoying.
Perhaps that is why his books do so well and he has the followership he does. It is just my personal opinion his future does not lay in writing male-harlequin fantasy porn, but philosophy and pushing the limits of human existence.
Tuesday, September 02, 2014
Today's Location Independent Office
is brought to you in part by;
Socialism! With taxes like that why work at all?
Debt Slaves! Why work hard when people with mortgages, car loans and spend-happy spouses have to work hard and pay taxes?
Corporate America! We'll lie about the job description and everything else!
HR! Degrading people with real skills by forcing them to interview with 24 year old ditzes since 1975. HR-when you really don't care to recruit the best!
Socialism! With taxes like that why work at all?
Debt Slaves! Why work hard when people with mortgages, car loans and spend-happy spouses have to work hard and pay taxes?
Corporate America! We'll lie about the job description and everything else!
HR! Degrading people with real skills by forcing them to interview with 24 year old ditzes since 1975. HR-when you really don't care to recruit the best!
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