Greetings All!
Like the rest of my life, the things I tried to be successful at I failed at miserably.
And the things I scoffed at and merely tried as hobbies or recreational activities...
I succeeded at incomprehensibly.
Enter in Asshole Consulting.
The problem I faced was I was receiving a ton of e-mails requesting advice that I just plain did not have the time to answer. Out of controlled, but polite frustration, I started telling the seekers-of-free-wisdom that it would not be free. And that though I would love to help them, I personally did not have the time to answer all of their questions without being compensated.
And so what I thought would end up being a polite financial disincentive to turn people down for free advice ended up becoming a genuine and actual market to capitalize on.
People are willing to fork over a couple bucks for some quick and dirty advice.
And thus Asshole Consulting was born.
Many of you have already contracted my services, but for those of you who haven't I'll explain it very simply:
You have two choices when seeking advice.
1. Pay for a professional consultant to lie to you because their goal is to extract as much money from you as possible and will therefore NEVER solve your problem, but merely perpetuate it as long as possible
OR
2. hire an asshole who doesn't give a damn about your feelings, already makes enough money on the side that he doesn't need your money, which means he doesn't have any incentive to lie to you, and therefore will tell you the honest truth...which ultimately means a cheaper and more effective solution to your problems.
And Asshole Consulting is option #2.
Most of the people who have hired me are looking for a TIDBIT of advice. Not a ton. And after what usually amounts to a 5 minute e-mail and a $20 tab, I slightly correct their path in life to a path that is much more profitable and happy. So consider the ole Captain when you have a question in life. A $20 consultancy may be just the nudge or epiphany you need to make the remaining 50 years of your life easier, happier, and financially more profitable.
That's ASSHOLE CONSULTING.
Because only assholes will tell you the truth to your face.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Good News for Somali Women
and other female participants in the more extreme sects of the "religion of peace."
I Am Not Sisyphus
Though I humbly and with great gratitude appreciate the comparison.
On a horribly off color note I present this crass and tangentially related music video.
On a horribly off color note I present this crass and tangentially related music video.
Podcast Corner
Three podcasts.
OK, well, in reality ONE REAL podcast and then two guys who use Youtube as the medium to record and publish their podcasts thereby forcing me to convert it into an audio format by which I can listen to on my MP3 player
Just kidding guys, just kidding.
Podcast 1 - Ed Driscoll interviews Kathy Shaidle about her new book "Confessions of a Failed Slut"
Podcast 2 - Two episodes I missed from Aurini while travelling. #1 and #2.
Podcast 3 - The Bechtloff's second foray into podcast world.
OK, well, in reality ONE REAL podcast and then two guys who use Youtube as the medium to record and publish their podcasts thereby forcing me to convert it into an audio format by which I can listen to on my MP3 player
Just kidding guys, just kidding.
Podcast 1 - Ed Driscoll interviews Kathy Shaidle about her new book "Confessions of a Failed Slut"
Podcast 2 - Two episodes I missed from Aurini while travelling. #1 and #2.
Podcast 3 - The Bechtloff's second foray into podcast world.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Saturday Night Linkage
Predatory cultures taking advantage of empathetic cultures. How much you want to bet the UK was all affirmative actiony with this guy?
Is it possible to enjoy the decline, part 1.
Precious. A worthless academian who never worked in the real world rues the trend of companies getting rid of HR departments.
Is it possible to enjoy the decline, part 1.
Precious. A worthless academian who never worked in the real world rues the trend of companies getting rid of HR departments.
What You Can Learn from Matt Forney
Congratulations are in order for Matt Forney who because of a recently acquired independent gig, is now 100% completely independent from all forms of employment.
However, Matt's recent success has a lesson for all men in it and I wanted to highlight it.
I personally like Matt but am lukewarm about the material he puts out. It's a bit too crass for me and I like books more than I do what amounts to essays (ergo why I liked his hitchhiking book and not much of his other stuff). This isn't to say that he material is bad, it's just not for me.
But here is the point:
Matt didn't start out a great writer (he is) and a good podcaster (he's improving). Like you, like me, like every other person out there, he started out sucking. But persistence pays off. And just like I had 5 women walk off the dance floor from me whilst learning dance, over time, I ended up becoming an accomplished dancer.
Matt has achieved the same success.
Of course, there is no doubt in my mind that Matt received a lot of guff and flak. Both for his choice of material, opinions, and daring to aim to become an independent writer/blogger/podcaster. But who is laughing now?
Matt is now 100% his own man. He answers to no one and now has his entire life ahead of him ALONG with the right to spend it however he damn well pleases. And he did so not by starting a billion dollar company or even getting a one hit wonder book. He did it with multiple lines of revenue, pursuing minimalism, persistence AND ignoring the naysayers.
It is a feat many young men should emulate.
However, Matt's recent success has a lesson for all men in it and I wanted to highlight it.
I personally like Matt but am lukewarm about the material he puts out. It's a bit too crass for me and I like books more than I do what amounts to essays (ergo why I liked his hitchhiking book and not much of his other stuff). This isn't to say that he material is bad, it's just not for me.
But here is the point:
Matt didn't start out a great writer (he is) and a good podcaster (he's improving). Like you, like me, like every other person out there, he started out sucking. But persistence pays off. And just like I had 5 women walk off the dance floor from me whilst learning dance, over time, I ended up becoming an accomplished dancer.
Matt has achieved the same success.
Of course, there is no doubt in my mind that Matt received a lot of guff and flak. Both for his choice of material, opinions, and daring to aim to become an independent writer/blogger/podcaster. But who is laughing now?
Matt is now 100% his own man. He answers to no one and now has his entire life ahead of him ALONG with the right to spend it however he damn well pleases. And he did so not by starting a billion dollar company or even getting a one hit wonder book. He did it with multiple lines of revenue, pursuing minimalism, persistence AND ignoring the naysayers.
It is a feat many young men should emulate.
Friday, April 11, 2014
New Sponsor Uplift X
New sponsor everybody - Uplift X.
Instead of drinking Red Bull or the like and ruining your kidneys try Uplift X instead. Bottles have 30 capsules, take one a day and see if it doesn't replace your coffee habit. The combination of caffeine and L-theanine improves mood and energy.
Unfortunately, only available for sale in the US.
Instead of drinking Red Bull or the like and ruining your kidneys try Uplift X instead. Bottles have 30 capsules, take one a day and see if it doesn't replace your coffee habit. The combination of caffeine and L-theanine improves mood and energy.
Unfortunately, only available for sale in the US.
Viewing Cities as HOA's
Whilst adventuring out west I was able to download podcasts from my favorite talk show, Garage Logic. And so, though 2,000 miles away and in the most remote regions of the US, I was still able to hear about the latest stupidity of Minneapolis, this time our newest mayor's desire for Minneapolis to go "zero waste."
Naturally some standard observations and criticism can be made:
1. the municipal left's propensity to blow money on consultants.
2. the blindingly obvious fact that the left has ran out of genuinely good ideas on governance and are instead pursuing the political religion of going green
3. the lack of funds needed to do basic things like pave streets
4. and the poetic justice of the idiot citizens who vote for such idiocy, but get to suffer it
There is more, but the important lesson to take from this is not one of leftists policies turning every major metro into Detroit, but rather one where it pays every potential home owner to step back, clear their eyes and look at cities for what they really are:
Large home owners associations.
I never liked the idea of HOA's because to me it seemed like another layer of unnecessary government. But if you're going to live in a development or a condoplex, HOA's are a necessary evil. However, cities or municipal government are EXACTLY THE SAME THING, just on a larger scale. And just like you would want to investigate who is in charge of the HOA's, what kind of people live in the association, etc., etc., so to do you want to investigate the city you're about to drop $300,000 purchasing a home in.
First, who are your neighbors? Most regular HOA's are filled with boring, law-abiding citizens who live in the burbs or are professionals in the city. Sure they may play music a little loud or perhaps they don't tidy their yard, but in general they are people you can get along with. Contrast that with a major metro area where it is practically guaranteed you have criminals, drugs, racists, dumbass drunkard youth, graffiti artists, all of who are practically guaranteed to be leftists.
Second, because of the city-HOA's populus' propensity to be leftists, you can expect a city council of unimaginable ineptitude to be voted in. All they have to say is the right thing, advocate the rich pay their fair share, beg the state for more money, and spend money on bike trails, art, community centers, and light rail trains. Consequently...
Third, what are your association dues aka "property taxes" like and what is their trend? Again, it is no secret that while living in Minneapolis my property taxes went up 400% in 8 years. If I remember the math right, I was shelling out around $350 a month, up from $90 a month when I first purchased the home. Not only did I not enjoy an increase of 400% in city services, the perpetually increasing property taxes made it so my rental property no longer cash flowed AND consequently drove its value down. I could only imagine what $350 per month would get me in one of the posher suburban developments.
and finally
Fourth, if the HOA posing as a city is so poorly managed, are you even going to be able to sell your property if you decide you no longer wish to be a part of that HOA? Ask anybody who had a significant real estate investment in Detroit during the 60's if they got their money back or lost money on their property. The problem people face, especially in large metros, is that home ownership really isn't a benefit, but rather a liability.
The larger point is that no matter how big a city is, when you decide to purchase property within those city limits you are consciously or not joining a "club" or an "association" the members of which consist of the entire city's population. This population, like a HOA out in the burbs, will determine the quality of life you have, not to mention the ultimate financial cost associated with owning a home in that municipality. If the people are high quality people, you can expect quality services, a quality standard of living and low HOA's fees. But if it's the typical vermin that populate our major metros you can expect to pay through the nose for bad roads, crime, people bigoted against conservatives/libertarians, and a perpetuity financial liability that forever will increase, rendering your home worthless. The choice is yours.
Naturally some standard observations and criticism can be made:
1. the municipal left's propensity to blow money on consultants.
2. the blindingly obvious fact that the left has ran out of genuinely good ideas on governance and are instead pursuing the political religion of going green
3. the lack of funds needed to do basic things like pave streets
4. and the poetic justice of the idiot citizens who vote for such idiocy, but get to suffer it
There is more, but the important lesson to take from this is not one of leftists policies turning every major metro into Detroit, but rather one where it pays every potential home owner to step back, clear their eyes and look at cities for what they really are:
Large home owners associations.
I never liked the idea of HOA's because to me it seemed like another layer of unnecessary government. But if you're going to live in a development or a condoplex, HOA's are a necessary evil. However, cities or municipal government are EXACTLY THE SAME THING, just on a larger scale. And just like you would want to investigate who is in charge of the HOA's, what kind of people live in the association, etc., etc., so to do you want to investigate the city you're about to drop $300,000 purchasing a home in.
First, who are your neighbors? Most regular HOA's are filled with boring, law-abiding citizens who live in the burbs or are professionals in the city. Sure they may play music a little loud or perhaps they don't tidy their yard, but in general they are people you can get along with. Contrast that with a major metro area where it is practically guaranteed you have criminals, drugs, racists, dumbass drunkard youth, graffiti artists, all of who are practically guaranteed to be leftists.
Second, because of the city-HOA's populus' propensity to be leftists, you can expect a city council of unimaginable ineptitude to be voted in. All they have to say is the right thing, advocate the rich pay their fair share, beg the state for more money, and spend money on bike trails, art, community centers, and light rail trains. Consequently...
Third, what are your association dues aka "property taxes" like and what is their trend? Again, it is no secret that while living in Minneapolis my property taxes went up 400% in 8 years. If I remember the math right, I was shelling out around $350 a month, up from $90 a month when I first purchased the home. Not only did I not enjoy an increase of 400% in city services, the perpetually increasing property taxes made it so my rental property no longer cash flowed AND consequently drove its value down. I could only imagine what $350 per month would get me in one of the posher suburban developments.
and finally
Fourth, if the HOA posing as a city is so poorly managed, are you even going to be able to sell your property if you decide you no longer wish to be a part of that HOA? Ask anybody who had a significant real estate investment in Detroit during the 60's if they got their money back or lost money on their property. The problem people face, especially in large metros, is that home ownership really isn't a benefit, but rather a liability.
The larger point is that no matter how big a city is, when you decide to purchase property within those city limits you are consciously or not joining a "club" or an "association" the members of which consist of the entire city's population. This population, like a HOA out in the burbs, will determine the quality of life you have, not to mention the ultimate financial cost associated with owning a home in that municipality. If the people are high quality people, you can expect quality services, a quality standard of living and low HOA's fees. But if it's the typical vermin that populate our major metros you can expect to pay through the nose for bad roads, crime, people bigoted against conservatives/libertarians, and a perpetuity financial liability that forever will increase, rendering your home worthless. The choice is yours.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
OK Cupid and Mozilla's Anti-Free Speech Idiocy
I liked Mozilla's Firefox. I really did. But when they showed they were not real Americans and kowtowed to the slightest bit of criticism from some Nazi anti-free speech assholes, I have no respect for them
This, then begets the standard request of dumbass, oblivious SWPL republican Americans to actually inconvenience themselves from their posh lives and boycott the evil that plots against them. But I know, I know, that's too much to ask from the sedated class.
They will still attend Leondardo DeCaprio movies.
They will still buy Starbucks coffee.
They will still use Firefox.
They are so stupid, ignorant and lazy they are the real reason the US will collapse.
Still, I insist on making my little commentary here for posterity so that I may die with a clean conscience 30-40 years from now.
So here's the basics:
Boycott OK Cupid if (for some reason) you have an account with them.
Also:
Get rid and uninstall Firefox if you're using it and replace it with Chrome, Explorer or some other browser.
This, then begets the standard request of dumbass, oblivious SWPL republican Americans to actually inconvenience themselves from their posh lives and boycott the evil that plots against them. But I know, I know, that's too much to ask from the sedated class.
They will still attend Leondardo DeCaprio movies.
They will still buy Starbucks coffee.
They will still use Firefox.
They are so stupid, ignorant and lazy they are the real reason the US will collapse.
Still, I insist on making my little commentary here for posterity so that I may die with a clean conscience 30-40 years from now.
So here's the basics:
Boycott OK Cupid if (for some reason) you have an account with them.
Also:
Get rid and uninstall Firefox if you're using it and replace it with Chrome, Explorer or some other browser.
Late Night Aurini
Well actually it's early morning and I just woke up, so whether you're a late night night clubber or an early to rise farmer, I present you with Aurini's latest.
Making the final leg of the journey home. Posts/material will return to normal starting tomorrow.
Making the final leg of the journey home. Posts/material will return to normal starting tomorrow.
Wednesday, April 09, 2014
Spoiled American College Students
From a reader in the field:
Dear Aaron,
Agent in the Field #47
Dear Aaron,
I agree with you about the college cost bubble. IIRC, we both graduated in three years of cheap in-state tuition.
But you seem to be missing the demand side. Students want luxury
dorms. I remember when we had phones in the hall that only called campus
numbers. Students want trips abroad. They want the five-year college
experience with easy majors. And they want athletics.
Much
of the inflation comes from administrative salaries, including
fundraising and all these new customized extras. I guess students are
rich and lazy. Seriously, in 1960, students attended class around 15
hours per week and studied around 25. Now they study (or do homework)
around 12 hours. It's like high school or an executive education
conference where you just show up and get baby-sat/entertained.
Enjoy your trip out west.
Agent in the Field #47
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
Tuesday Day Linkage
What did I tell you about Warren Buffett oh....about 3-5 years ago?
Glorious Karl reviews "Nixon's Guide to the Multiverse." It is that good, you can buy it here.
Lipstick on a financial pig. Lipstick on a pig. It's about as wise as printing off more money to solve all problems.
This is the natural consequence of governments intervening in social policy.
I loathe the boomers I "interned" under who lied about the job duties and the lack of pay. But when they steal ideas from youth ESPECIALLY WHEN TELLING THEM THE IDEA WAS STUPID, I get furious.
Glorious Karl reviews "Nixon's Guide to the Multiverse." It is that good, you can buy it here.
Lipstick on a financial pig. Lipstick on a pig. It's about as wise as printing off more money to solve all problems.
This is the natural consequence of governments intervening in social policy.
I loathe the boomers I "interned" under who lied about the job duties and the lack of pay. But when they steal ideas from youth ESPECIALLY WHEN TELLING THEM THE IDEA WAS STUPID, I get furious.
The Captain's Las Vegas Stripper Story
the Born Again Christian/Churchianity version of "Jesus Loves Me This I Know"
why Aaron and his brother are ending the Clarey line forever
the saddest stripper in the world
reminiscing about Grandpa and what the 50's must have been like
AND MORE!
On this episode of The Clarey Podcast!
And remember kids, you can get all the archived shows here for your listening pleasure!
why Aaron and his brother are ending the Clarey line forever
the saddest stripper in the world
reminiscing about Grandpa and what the 50's must have been like
AND MORE!
On this episode of The Clarey Podcast!
And remember kids, you can get all the archived shows here for your listening pleasure!
Why Scandinavians (and Naive SWPL Americans) are Suckers
I am always amazed how Scandinavians (and many Americans) allow people in from other countries (as well as people within the country already) who have no intention but to take their charity for granted and parasitically live off of the taxpayer. However, Molyneux has an OUTSTANDING and MUST LISTEN rant in this podcast about why that is. It's around the 51:00 minute mark and it goes for about 25 minutes of non-stop rant.
Sunday, April 06, 2014
Day One Canyonlands
Instead of just driving around, ended up hiking AND drove down the most terrifying stretch of road I've ever been on:
Prof. Fritz McDonald, Meet David Lereah
David Lereah, if you don't know, was the chief economist of the National Association of Realtors and his claim to fame was swearing up and down that there was no housing bubble until it invariably popped. His outlandishly optimistic and naive predictions and arguments showed how an association like the NAAR was a biased entity and should have been hiring real economists like me instead.
However, there is a new bubble about and it is the education bubble. And while there is no forefront media spokesperson type of guy like David Lereah for academia, an agent in the field sent me this article written by one Fritz McDonald. An excerpt:
I understand that many of you work full time, sometime many jobs. Here is my advice to you: do as little work as you possibly can outside of college. College is a full-time job. It might be the best full-time job you ever have. Go ask your parents for more money, if they have it. Spend less money on your car or clothes. Don't waste your time working at Abercrombie and Fitch or Taco Bell. Spend more time at OU.
The entire article is not so much the standard propaganda of "follow your heart and the money will follow" or "you can't put a price on education," but has taken a new twist of highlighting the social and cultural benefits of attending Oakland University. This is a new twist to the strategy of getting naive children to part with their (or their parents') money in that it suggests that you cannot have a social life nor be cultured outside of that precious and necessary academia.
You know that college experience of drinking at an underage party?
Nope, can't enjoy that unless you're in college.
Road tripping out west?
Nope, can't do that unless you're in college.
See a play at the local theater?
Nope, can't do that unless you're in college.
My agent in the field wrote a response to Prof. McDonald here, but I'm going to be a bit more succinct:
Fritz is nothing more than one of thousands of academians, unionized workers, support staff, TA's, and all the other people that make up the nearly trillion dollar per year education industry. And like most of his peers, he realizes there's a bubble and it's about to burst.
However, this would force him, and nearly everybody else in academia to live their worst nightmare:
LEAVING ACADEMIA AND GETTING (GASP!!!! NO!!!) A REAL JOB!!!!!
This is what's behind the increasing number of academian-originated pieces out there advocating the "benefits" of a college education.
And just like it was wise to know David Lereah was biased, so too should you know all academians and professors are biased too.
However, there is a new bubble about and it is the education bubble. And while there is no forefront media spokesperson type of guy like David Lereah for academia, an agent in the field sent me this article written by one Fritz McDonald. An excerpt:
I understand that many of you work full time, sometime many jobs. Here is my advice to you: do as little work as you possibly can outside of college. College is a full-time job. It might be the best full-time job you ever have. Go ask your parents for more money, if they have it. Spend less money on your car or clothes. Don't waste your time working at Abercrombie and Fitch or Taco Bell. Spend more time at OU.
The entire article is not so much the standard propaganda of "follow your heart and the money will follow" or "you can't put a price on education," but has taken a new twist of highlighting the social and cultural benefits of attending Oakland University. This is a new twist to the strategy of getting naive children to part with their (or their parents') money in that it suggests that you cannot have a social life nor be cultured outside of that precious and necessary academia.
You know that college experience of drinking at an underage party?
Nope, can't enjoy that unless you're in college.
Road tripping out west?
Nope, can't do that unless you're in college.
See a play at the local theater?
Nope, can't do that unless you're in college.
My agent in the field wrote a response to Prof. McDonald here, but I'm going to be a bit more succinct:
Fritz is nothing more than one of thousands of academians, unionized workers, support staff, TA's, and all the other people that make up the nearly trillion dollar per year education industry. And like most of his peers, he realizes there's a bubble and it's about to burst.
However, this would force him, and nearly everybody else in academia to live their worst nightmare:
LEAVING ACADEMIA AND GETTING (GASP!!!! NO!!!) A REAL JOB!!!!!
This is what's behind the increasing number of academian-originated pieces out there advocating the "benefits" of a college education.
And just like it was wise to know David Lereah was biased, so too should you know all academians and professors are biased too.
Saturday, April 05, 2014
Scouting Canyonland
Did some reconnaissance today to scope out a hike in Canyonland National Park. The sad truth is that there's just way too many options:
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