wallpaper I don't feel like a winner. My NaNo efforts this year were junkier than ever before. Worse than I remember of last year's which was so bad that I've yet to reopen that file to abuse my eyes upon it. That feeling of disgust combined with the death of my laptop just a few days later followed by several weeks of zero access to my files contributed to my not writing any fiction (except for a few days dabbling with a script concept for Script Frenzy in April) for eleven months. So here's to my barfing up another 50K of muck for my mind monkeys to make mud balls to throw at me.
wallpaper Here's Mud In My Eye
wallpaper I don't feel like a winner. My NaNo efforts this year were junkier than ever before. Worse than I remember of last year's which was so bad that I've yet to reopen that file to abuse my eyes upon it. That feeling of disgust combined with the death of my laptop just a few days later followed by several weeks of zero access to my files contributed to my not writing any fiction (except for a few days dabbling with a script concept for Script Frenzy in April) for eleven months. So here's to my barfing up another 50K of muck for my mind monkeys to make mud balls to throw at me.
wallpaper The Cost of Capital
Just a quick note for tonight.
The Cost of Capital
There has been a strange dynamic in play for about a year now in regards to the cost of capital. In normal markets rates are set by various inputs that in the end give both the borrower and the creditor a feeling that they are getting "fair value" both in taking the loan and in making it.
That is not how things work anymore. What would a mortgage written by a bank cost right now if they were left alone to set rates? With the double dip in home prices already here and a slew of inventory on the books, I think the 10 year US Treasury number would not even be in the ball park. Of course policy now is to make sure those rates stay ultra low.
CDS spreads have gone crazy for many European countries, but I have been watching CDS spreads for some time and they fail to make me take them too serious. What is serious is even a troubled state like Portugal is looking at rates going up to the 7% level(up from 4% in March) but along comes the ECB and they say "that is not right, we will lend money at 4% or 5%". The US FED has done much the same here. Add to this troubled US states like California have been taking advantage of US backed muni debt sales at rates far below what a open market would demand.
Now I think we all know that distortions cause problems....eventually. Easy money has a nasty habit of finding poor places to live. You can get things like bubbles or woefully miss priced instruments of all kinds that imply a lack of risk that simply does not exist. I think this should be clear. But let's look at another point.
If creditors are forced by the will and actions of government to lend at lower rates than they might want to, they are going to push rates where they can much higher. I would ask you all to review your credit card rates over the past year and see how they are moving. I just got a huge letter from my bank explaining the monster fees and penalties that will result now if I go into overdraft or miss any kind of payment on anything. Of course no one speaks for the little guy here, we will all just pay high rates and fees because that is where the banking system has pricing power now. They will chase return where they can.
Taking a step back, when you read that Ireland or whomever simply cannot pay debt back at such "high rates" as 7%, or even 10% there is an issue there. If a US state is on the verge of going bust over a 2% difference in a loan rate that is really walking a fine line. Yes, I know we are talking big bucks and it adds up, but really? I have argued that artificial low rates are now a structural necessity, not a short term support mechanism. Can the 10 year really be at 6% in 2 years without major issues? I would ask that the readers ponder what steps will be needed to keep rates of all stripes at all time lows for the next 5 years at a minimum and write them down or write them in the comments. Going further, ponder what avenues will be used by creditors to balance out their "fake risk" book with their "real risk" book. I think the answers will be useful in making investment decisions going forward.
Have a good night.
The Cost of Capital
There has been a strange dynamic in play for about a year now in regards to the cost of capital. In normal markets rates are set by various inputs that in the end give both the borrower and the creditor a feeling that they are getting "fair value" both in taking the loan and in making it.
That is not how things work anymore. What would a mortgage written by a bank cost right now if they were left alone to set rates? With the double dip in home prices already here and a slew of inventory on the books, I think the 10 year US Treasury number would not even be in the ball park. Of course policy now is to make sure those rates stay ultra low.
CDS spreads have gone crazy for many European countries, but I have been watching CDS spreads for some time and they fail to make me take them too serious. What is serious is even a troubled state like Portugal is looking at rates going up to the 7% level(up from 4% in March) but along comes the ECB and they say "that is not right, we will lend money at 4% or 5%". The US FED has done much the same here. Add to this troubled US states like California have been taking advantage of US backed muni debt sales at rates far below what a open market would demand.
Now I think we all know that distortions cause problems....eventually. Easy money has a nasty habit of finding poor places to live. You can get things like bubbles or woefully miss priced instruments of all kinds that imply a lack of risk that simply does not exist. I think this should be clear. But let's look at another point.
If creditors are forced by the will and actions of government to lend at lower rates than they might want to, they are going to push rates where they can much higher. I would ask you all to review your credit card rates over the past year and see how they are moving. I just got a huge letter from my bank explaining the monster fees and penalties that will result now if I go into overdraft or miss any kind of payment on anything. Of course no one speaks for the little guy here, we will all just pay high rates and fees because that is where the banking system has pricing power now. They will chase return where they can.
Taking a step back, when you read that Ireland or whomever simply cannot pay debt back at such "high rates" as 7%, or even 10% there is an issue there. If a US state is on the verge of going bust over a 2% difference in a loan rate that is really walking a fine line. Yes, I know we are talking big bucks and it adds up, but really? I have argued that artificial low rates are now a structural necessity, not a short term support mechanism. Can the 10 year really be at 6% in 2 years without major issues? I would ask that the readers ponder what steps will be needed to keep rates of all stripes at all time lows for the next 5 years at a minimum and write them down or write them in the comments. Going further, ponder what avenues will be used by creditors to balance out their "fake risk" book with their "real risk" book. I think the answers will be useful in making investment decisions going forward.
Have a good night.
wallpaper That's Mighty White of You, Mr. President
In fairness, these aren't Obama's words, but those of the editorial board for The Achorage Daily News:
So President Obama has volunteered his work force -- 2 million federal employees -- to live with a pay freeze for two years as a contribution to reducing the $1 trillion-plus federal debt.Now I really like the idea of volunteering others' income to cut the national deficit. I personally would like to volunteer that everyone pays FICA on all their income, not just the first ~100K. I'd like to volunteer 50% of long-term capital gains to be taxed as income, not just 15%, or 20% as it was before the Bush tax cuts. I'll also volunteer all members of the financial sector to pay a flat 50% rate on all bonuses and stock options above and beyond their declared salary. The freeze on federal employees' salaries is estimated to save 2/3 of 1% of the next decade's deficit. I'd be happy to bet a very substantial sum that my generous volunteering of other people's incomes would save a hell of a lot more than that.
wallpaper Gustav Klimt beyond The Kiss
wallpaper 
wallpaper I remember when the first search engineer appeared and the few answers we had.
It is amazing that now we are able to find many paintings of an artist, of course still far to have all works of each one, but I believe that in the future we will be able to see all 200 works Gustav Klimt left and much more.
Klimt's most famous oeuvre is The Kiss* and comparing his work having as much as we can would be great.
"Whoever wants to know something about me -- as an artist, the only notable thing -- ought to look carefully at my pictures and try to see in them what I am and what I want to do."Gustav Klimt
*The Artchive was the first initiative to create a database of paintings on the WWW and I remember when it's founder Mark Harden had to start putting advertisements to continue the project.
wallpaper Up on the Rooftop
wallpaper (Christmas story, fiction online, free fiction, story online, stories online, Cindy Lynn, C.L. Beck)
This Christmas story was written by a "friend" of mine named Cindy Lynn. Quite coincidentally, she's about 5' 4" tall, with blue eyes and facial features that are strikingly similar to mine. She even owns a dog named Corky Porky Pie! Now that's freaky and seems to go beyond coincidence, doesn't it?
At any rate, Cindy Lynn likes to dabble in stories online, and writes articles for Associated Content under a pen name. Why a pen name? Because writing Internet articles requires a certain amount of repetition of key words, so the articles read differently than other work she might do. But ... enough about
Up on the Rooftop
"I believe in Santy Claus, and any one who doesn't is a danged fool!" Shorty made the statement and then stared at the man named Jake, sitting next to him in the half-empty, Royal Flush Saloon. Shorty squared his shoulders, waiting for the inevitable jeering and the fist fight that would follow his words. "I might be short, but I ain't puny and I can whip any man twice my size ... so don't try convincing me with a bunch of fancy talk about how there ain't no Santy."
As Jake looked at him, Shorty could've sworn he saw something intangible flit across the guy's face. Not a smile, exactly, but more like an invisible nod. Shorty laid his Stetson on the bar in hopes it wouldn't get mashed in the soon-to-be fight and steeled himself, waiting for the first punch.
Jake's arm snaked out, Shorty jerked to the side while bringing up his gnarled fists ... and Jake patted Shorty on the shoulder. "I'm not trying to convince you of anything; we're just having a conversation. Why don't we take this outside?" Jake stood up and nudged the cowpuncher away from the oak bar.
Shorty's brow creased and he clenched his jaw. "Quit shoving. If you want a fight, it don't matter to me where, but I don't take kindly to bein' pushed around like some ornery longhorn about to be branded."
As they stepped through the door, the cold, Christmas Eve air took Shorty's breath away. I got about two minutes to handle this tin horn before I'll be too stiff in the joints to even move—dad-blamed ol' bones.
He took a swing at Jake's nose, but the guy sidestepped, slipped behind him, wrapped his arms around Shorty's chest and squeezed. "Listen to me, you old galoot! We aren't out here to fight. I want you to help me with something."
Shorty gasped for breath. "Well, you shore got a funny way of askin' for help—squeezin' me until my eyeballs pop."
Jake loosened his grip and Shorty turned to face him. "Give me one good reason why I should help you."
"Well, let's just say that it's because you still believe."
Shorty eyebrows raised a notch, and he brought his fists up again. "You makin' fun of me?"
"No. I need you to help me get it down." Jake pointed up the road.
"Get what down from where?" said the ol' cowboy, cocking his head and feeling confused.
The moon sparkled on the new fallen snow as Jake scuffed at it and said, "My vehicle. It's stuck on the roof of some old building."
Shorty laughed, then doubled over and laughed some more. "I think you had yourself a mite too much to drink there, fella, but it's all right. Ol' Shorty will help you out. I've pulled trucks out of ditches and cars out of creeks, but this'll be the first time I ever pulled a pickup off a rooftop!"
They climbed into Shorty's truck and Jake give directions for Shorty to drive to a field a mile away. Sure enough, at the end of the field sat an old wooden building with a dented, Ford F-150 sitting on the roof.
Shorty stood below, shaking his head in disbelief. "You musta been nippin' at the bottle waaayyy too long. And I can't even begin to figure how you did this."
As they climbed up to the vehicle, Jake said, "Let me get in and start the engine, then you give it a push and that should do it."
Shorty stopped in mid-climb. "Well, I'll be corn-swaggled if that won't just end up droppin' that pickup off the roof and then rollin' it. Are you sure that's what you want to do?"
Jake's eyes twinkled in the moonlight and he laughed. "Yes, you'll see."
It was no easy climb, going up an old, rickety building but Shorty finally made it and hunkered down behind the truck. As the motor roared, Shorty gave the biggest push of his life and muttered, "I don't know why I'm doin' this. Some days I don't even have as much sense as a hop toad havin' a picnic on the highway."
The vehicle slid down and to the right, causing Shorty to pitch forward. Catching himself with his hands, he looked up just in time to see the pickup transform into a mahogany sleigh pulled by eight reindeer and driven by Jake—whose jeans and plaid shirt had turned into a red and white suit topped off by a stocking cap.
Shorty scratched his head in amazement. "Well, I'll be ... that truck was just a disguise, and Jake is Santy Claus!"
The sleigh moved into the air, and Santa waved. "Thanks for your help getting it unstuck, Shorty!"
The ol' cowboy looked down to see a brightly wrapped present at his feet, with a tag that said, "To Shorty, who has always believed." He picked it up and with a jump, slid off the roof and waved at the sleigh. "Thanks, Santy. And ya better stop along the way to get yourself a new pair of glasses ... otherwise you'll land on another outhouse fer sure!"
------Up on the Rooftop and photo © C.L. Beck------
wallpaper Wiki Leaks et al...
On one hand, it is kinda funny to me that notes from the State Department have achieved the same level of publication as the previously leaked Military information. Makes me wonder why people expect to have the Government take care of their safety when it is pretty clear that they can't take care of themselves. In this day of worldwide connectivity, how on earth can anyone expect what they put in writing to be "Secret". If the Governments of the world can't put a plug in the Wiki Leaks, how can they really stop anything important? Another question is who really gives a darn what was said a few years back? I am not sure I really care what the State Department says today so long as China can keep the North Koreans in check.
It seems like yesterday that everyone was up in arms about the airport screenings and it was building to be a bigger deal on the heaviest travel day of the year. Big friggin deal. I wonder what the next big deal will be.
Barb thinks that Sarah Palen is getting way too much press lately. She was in Wichita at a Dillon's store doing a book signing and it made the news big time. On a scale of 10 this whole report was about a 2. I think it must have been a slow news day and I'm glad that there aren't a lot of really big deals that hog the front page or lead off the news.
Oh well, have a great day!
MUD
It seems like yesterday that everyone was up in arms about the airport screenings and it was building to be a bigger deal on the heaviest travel day of the year. Big friggin deal. I wonder what the next big deal will be.
Barb thinks that Sarah Palen is getting way too much press lately. She was in Wichita at a Dillon's store doing a book signing and it made the news big time. On a scale of 10 this whole report was about a 2. I think it must have been a slow news day and I'm glad that there aren't a lot of really big deals that hog the front page or lead off the news.
Oh well, have a great day!
MUD
wallpaper Tuesday?
wallpaper I just don't have any good name for a Tuesday Blog. I guess Tuesday is just a day that garners no respect. We all hate Monday and Wednesday is Hump day and Friday is the last day of the work week, Wait! I'm retired, almost all days are alike and it matters little what day of the week it is. There are days that if it wasn't for the days on my pill case I wouldn't notice what day it is. Most days start the same way and I generally know from the size of the paper what day it is. A good hot cuppa coffee and the paper starts most days for me.
Yesterday I hauled off the retired couch and a recliner that we really didn't use. They charge about $33 to take a pickup load to the dump. Worth every penny. Mom would generally sit in that recliner when she would come over but that hasn't been for a couple of years. Besides, the new Flex-Steel couch has built in recliners on both outside seats. When Dave was over the other day he gave us a stamp of approval on the couch. Now if I can just get the walls pretty and find a way to hang curtains.
For several days now, we have had the turkey flock show up here in the yard. There are about 8 hens that flock together and they stir up leaves looking for food. I was tempted to get some feed and start feeding them but I'm not sure I really want to start that. If I did that, then what do I do with the deer, the coons and the possums. Oh well, we see them enough without any additional feed. It isn't a matter of money but more of going out on cold days to haul feed to "wild" animals.
Better run and get something done. Or a nap, which ever comes first...
MUD
wallpaper How to Keep a Cat Happy
wallpaper Your guess is as good as mine.
My Merlin is giving me fits. He is constantly on or grabbing at whatever item I'm trying to use (book, netbook, crochet thread or hook, mouse pad, headphones, pillow, blanket) or at my hand or arm. My right hand is covered in scratches. He's got food and water. He even has freedom (after 0pm) to leave the room and roam about the living room and kitchen, drink from the doggy water, sleep on Bruiser's bed, the couch or any one of four cushiony chairs. But no he has to plant himself by my right hip and play cat and mouse with my elbow as I type or mouse-click.
I guess he's feeling neglected.
As I type this, 24.2 hours left of NaNo.
Don't know my word count. Don't want to know. Haven't looked since my birthday on the 13th.
wallpaper Monday Morning Musing
I saw a picture Barb posted on Facebook and it was different that I remembered the flock looked. She cropped out one bird and turned him completely around. She has the turkey going east when the whole flock was headed west. Just goes to show you that you cannot trust any thing you see. It is completely all right to edit pictures and photoshop is a great tool.
We are going to spend some time working on the house this winter. Barb is pretty sure that I need to shore up the supports for the roof to help the walls stop moving as much. I am pretty sure that in Kansas, walls crack and all the reinforcement in the world isn't near as good as a little dirt work on the outside. Get that mean old water away from the foundation and it will stop walking as much. Our niece Carrie has agreed to come over and take a look at things and to give Barb ideas. She is the architect that designed Barb's ideas into reality.
I just finished a book about a returning Iraq veteran with PTSD. It was kind of hard to not put myself into the story and feel too involved. In the end, the PTSD was mostly a smoke screen for a mystery. I do understand that surviving combat was traumatic and the mind game you had to play to survive did make it kind of hard to re-adjust when I got home.
For me, it was tough to find the place where I had enough adrenalin flowing to make me alert enough to stay out of trouble without crashing between the highs. It was tough to need naps and not take them out in the jungle. There were days that I just sat down and cat napped after a day of humping from location to another. I think it was the nights that were the hardest for me. Staying awake when you are way tired was hard enough. Being out where things go bump in the night is tough.
Oh well, better shut this down and go see if Barb can find a color for the end wall.
MUD
We are going to spend some time working on the house this winter. Barb is pretty sure that I need to shore up the supports for the roof to help the walls stop moving as much. I am pretty sure that in Kansas, walls crack and all the reinforcement in the world isn't near as good as a little dirt work on the outside. Get that mean old water away from the foundation and it will stop walking as much. Our niece Carrie has agreed to come over and take a look at things and to give Barb ideas. She is the architect that designed Barb's ideas into reality.
I just finished a book about a returning Iraq veteran with PTSD. It was kind of hard to not put myself into the story and feel too involved. In the end, the PTSD was mostly a smoke screen for a mystery. I do understand that surviving combat was traumatic and the mind game you had to play to survive did make it kind of hard to re-adjust when I got home.
For me, it was tough to find the place where I had enough adrenalin flowing to make me alert enough to stay out of trouble without crashing between the highs. It was tough to need naps and not take them out in the jungle. There were days that I just sat down and cat napped after a day of humping from location to another. I think it was the nights that were the hardest for me. Staying awake when you are way tired was hard enough. Being out where things go bump in the night is tough.
Oh well, better shut this down and go see if Barb can find a color for the end wall.
MUD
wallpaper Sith Lords of the Star Wars Expanded Universe
I spent the better part of the last two days fixing up the half bathroom on the first floor. New counter vinyl covering, new light fixtures, and new bathroom sink and faucet. The sink was quite an issue as the supplied gasket for the drain would not seal and I went all over creation trying to find a larger gasket to fit the larger sink. I think I have it done now, but what a path to get there. At least the bathroom looks good and I also changed the hallway ceiling lights as well. Time for a break!
Sith Lords of the Star Wars Expanded Universe
Most of you know I am a monster Star Wars fan, especially for all things Sith related. I understand that not many know of the characters of the Expanded Universe, so here is a gallery and quick note on some Dark Lords of the Sith you may not know.
Darth Sion
One of the three members of the Sith Triumvirate in the game Knights of the Old Republic: The Sith Lords, Darth Sion was held together by his embrace of the darkside of the force:
wallpaper
Darth Traya
Another member of the KOTOR Triumvirate, Darth Traya is as cool a character as there is in Star Wars:
wallpaper
Darth Bane
The Sith Lord who made "The Rule of Two", Darth Bane is perhaps the greatest Sith in the Expanded Universe:
wallpaper
My personal favorite.
Darth Zannah
Darth Bane's apprentice and eventual conqueror, Darth Zannah is a master of Sith Alchemy and uses a double bladed lightsaber:
wallpaper
Darth Plagueis
The master of Darth Sidious, it is thought that Plagueis was the first to create life through influence on midichlorians (Anakin Skywalker) and next year there will be a new novel about this mysterious Sith Lord:
wallpaper
Naga Sadow
An ancient Sith Lord, Naga Sadow pictured here with his meditation Sphere:
wallpaper
The ancient Sith used Sith Swords which were created with alchemy and could withstand lightsaber battles.
Freedon Nadd
One of the first Sith Lords to have the ability to imbue his spirit to remain, Freedon Nadd is a curious Expanded Universe character:
wallpaper
Of course the Sith used Holocrons like the Jedi, but Sith artifacts were triangle in shape:
wallpaper
Nifty.
Of course the greatest of all the Sith, Darth Sidious, was a master of influence. Here is a picture I love of Sidious and the future Darth Vader:
wallpaper
Have a good night.
Sith Lords of the Star Wars Expanded Universe
Most of you know I am a monster Star Wars fan, especially for all things Sith related. I understand that not many know of the characters of the Expanded Universe, so here is a gallery and quick note on some Dark Lords of the Sith you may not know.
Darth Sion
One of the three members of the Sith Triumvirate in the game Knights of the Old Republic: The Sith Lords, Darth Sion was held together by his embrace of the darkside of the force:
wallpaper Darth Traya
Another member of the KOTOR Triumvirate, Darth Traya is as cool a character as there is in Star Wars:
wallpaper Darth Bane
The Sith Lord who made "The Rule of Two", Darth Bane is perhaps the greatest Sith in the Expanded Universe:
wallpaper My personal favorite.
Darth Zannah
Darth Bane's apprentice and eventual conqueror, Darth Zannah is a master of Sith Alchemy and uses a double bladed lightsaber:
wallpaper Darth Plagueis
The master of Darth Sidious, it is thought that Plagueis was the first to create life through influence on midichlorians (Anakin Skywalker) and next year there will be a new novel about this mysterious Sith Lord:
wallpaper Naga Sadow
An ancient Sith Lord, Naga Sadow pictured here with his meditation Sphere:
wallpaper The ancient Sith used Sith Swords which were created with alchemy and could withstand lightsaber battles.
Freedon Nadd
One of the first Sith Lords to have the ability to imbue his spirit to remain, Freedon Nadd is a curious Expanded Universe character:
wallpaper Of course the Sith used Holocrons like the Jedi, but Sith artifacts were triangle in shape:
wallpaper Nifty.
Of course the greatest of all the Sith, Darth Sidious, was a master of influence. Here is a picture I love of Sidious and the future Darth Vader:
wallpaper Have a good night.
wallpaper Sunday Funnies, Part II
wallpaper Noise to Signal
wallpaper Bits and Pieces
wallpaper My First Dictionary
wallpaper Criggo
wallpaper Balloon Juice
wallpaper The Far Left Side
wallpaper Criggo
wallpaper 
wallpaper The High Definite
wallpaper 
wallpaper Married To The Sea
wallpaper Sofa Pizza
wallpaper The High Definite
wallpaper Skull Swap
wallpaper 
wallpaper The High Definite
wallpaper The High DefiniteThe Daily What
wallpaper Blackadder
wallpaper God Hates Protestors
wallpaper 
wallpaper 
wallpaper 
wallpaper Buttersafe
wallpaper Bits and Pieces
wallpaper Clay Bennett
wallpaper Great White Snark. "It drives me nuts that I’ll never know whether this is a costume or not."
wallpaper Blackadder
wallpaper Blackadder
wallpaper ChannelAte
wallpaper 
wallpaper Sober in a Nightclub
wallpaper The Daily What. So do you feel lucky, Voldemort? Well, do you? Voldemort? Available as a tee here; see TDW link for discount hint.
wallpaper 
wallpaper Joy of Tech
wallpaper Blackadder
wallpaper 
wallpaper Criggo
wallpaper 
wallpaper What Would Jack Do? (Note: Worth1000 is a photoshop competition site; this is not real)
wallpaper Sofa Pizza: life just keeps going and going...
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