I am considering talking to my investment firm and asking if they will just park my money in cash. Invest in NOTHING. Because I think today could be a sign of things to come. I've invested in bond funds though, and high quality ones at that (according to me, not according to the "unexpectedly" economist crowd).
If you have any money invested in stock market index funds, two days ago (before the debt deal/business as usual plan passed) was the time to pull out. Do not pass go, do not lose another $200. If I were invested in stocks I would be getting out in approximately right now or sooner.
Tomorrow may see a rise especially early on, or it may slide sideways. It would also not surprise me to see it fall off a cliff again, after an initial bump. So . . . good luck with that.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Radiant Barrier: Helps.
This weekend I went up with a brother from church and put a couple hundred additional square feet of radiant barrier in my attic. The easy bits were done already. All that remains to cover are the Very Hard Parts. This Saturday was the Hard Part. I have
never
ever
felt claustrophobia. EVER. This weekend I had to chill myself out when I was trying to insulate a particularly awkward spot. I couldn't really move well, without falling through my ceiling. I was supporting myself on the 2x4 rafters, in a space barely higher than my shoulders are wide, and rebreathing my own stale air. This was Very Bad, and if I didn't have the presence of mind (thanks God I did have) to realize nobody would be able to come rescue me, I would have just freaked right the heck out and panicked.
The next day, my Darling Wife said the house was cooler than it would normally be. EVERY little bit helps. This afternoon, the air conditioner was only able to hold 77º when the thermostat said it was 105º outside. For those who don't know, that is something like a theoretical maximum effectiveness for regular air conditioners. And we have single-pane windows, 4" of attic insulation at best, and the walls are not well insulated.
After we were done, my helping buddy asked where to get the stuff he had been working with, as he was thinking of doing his own attic (something tells me a favor might be called in...). I showed him how the price at atticfoil.com is less than half what I could find at the big box home improvement stores. The quality of the product from atticfoil speaks for itself.
never
ever
felt claustrophobia. EVER. This weekend I had to chill myself out when I was trying to insulate a particularly awkward spot. I couldn't really move well, without falling through my ceiling. I was supporting myself on the 2x4 rafters, in a space barely higher than my shoulders are wide, and rebreathing my own stale air. This was Very Bad, and if I didn't have the presence of mind (thanks God I did have) to realize nobody would be able to come rescue me, I would have just freaked right the heck out and panicked.
The next day, my Darling Wife said the house was cooler than it would normally be. EVERY little bit helps. This afternoon, the air conditioner was only able to hold 77º when the thermostat said it was 105º outside. For those who don't know, that is something like a theoretical maximum effectiveness for regular air conditioners. And we have single-pane windows, 4" of attic insulation at best, and the walls are not well insulated.
After we were done, my helping buddy asked where to get the stuff he had been working with, as he was thinking of doing his own attic (something tells me a favor might be called in...). I showed him how the price at atticfoil.com is less than half what I could find at the big box home improvement stores. The quality of the product from atticfoil speaks for itself.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch Airport
There are thousands of FAA employees sitting at home, jobless, because their agency has not had its funding reauthorized.
There are hundreds of construction projects now on hold, and those workers are ALSO not getting paid and contributing to the economy
Congress is off for 5 weeks' vacation.
Congresscritters say they are for job creation, but when they could, with ONE bill, literally get thousands of people back to work - they go on vacation?
The 2012 elections will tell us quite a lot about our national character.
There are hundreds of construction projects now on hold, and those workers are ALSO not getting paid and contributing to the economy
Congress is off for 5 weeks' vacation.
Congresscritters say they are for job creation, but when they could, with ONE bill, literally get thousands of people back to work - they go on vacation?
The 2012 elections will tell us quite a lot about our national character.
Too Hot To Think
Humidity High
Temperatures in 107F territory (in the shade)
Even inside in the A/C the effect lingers
Not good. Praying for cooler temps.
Temperatures in 107F territory (in the shade)
Even inside in the A/C the effect lingers
Not good. Praying for cooler temps.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Quote of the Day 08/02/2011
"Coming from an administration of proven international gunrunners, should we take that as a professional opinion?" -Mike Vanderboegh
We're all terrorists now, eh.
Yes, this is "just" foot-in-mouth Joe Biden. Unfortunately, he got sewed into President Obama's coat tails as assassination insurance, and the guy calling YOU a terrorist is also the Vice President of the United States.
Sorry 'Bout That
My infected-disgusting-tooth antibiotics give me gas sometimes. If you are the new employee where I work who was surprised by the volume of my wind-breaking, welcome to the company.
Filters Up!
It is good to have a mental filter to prevent you saying things you ought not to say. Tonight I wanted the older children hurried up because it was pushing 22:00, I was tired, and they were still doing Bedtime Business. I was giving #4 his bottle and said to my Darling Wife:
"Go put a boot up th-" and stopped, then continued "Go tell the kids to hurry up, please."
If you never served in the military, you will have missed it, but those who served will be chuckling.
"Go put a boot up th-" and stopped, then continued "Go tell the kids to hurry up, please."
If you never served in the military, you will have missed it, but those who served will be chuckling.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Don't Be Buffaloed
The double-dip in the current Depression is coming. The press will try to pin the tail on the elephant just in time for the 2012 election, but remember: the economy was tanking already in 2011. The deficit "crisis" was a circus sideshow and all the long-term players knew we would never default or fail to boost the debt ceiling in SOME kind of a deal, even if it's not the current no-cuts* 'compromise' under consideration.
Q1 2011 was revised downward to GDP +0.4% growth. Q2 was initially called at GDP +1.3% but this is certain to be revised down also. China is widely claimed to need 8% growth in order to stave off an effective recession. How much growth does the USA need?
More than this.
********
*No, no cuts. They are [deleted]ing and moaning about cuts to projected increases. See, you thought cut meant spend less but you are a rube in flyover country. Cuts in D.C. mean spend less than you wanted to, but more than last year by a lot. This compromise has THAT kind of spending cuts. Note that just holding to current spending levels balances the budget in seven years - but this is not a topic for polite conversation, so you did not hear it from me!
Q1 2011 was revised downward to GDP +0.4% growth. Q2 was initially called at GDP +1.3% but this is certain to be revised down also. China is widely claimed to need 8% growth in order to stave off an effective recession. How much growth does the USA need?
More than this.
********
*No, no cuts. They are [deleted]ing and moaning about cuts to projected increases. See, you thought cut meant spend less but you are a rube in flyover country. Cuts in D.C. mean spend less than you wanted to, but more than last year by a lot. This compromise has THAT kind of spending cuts. Note that just holding to current spending levels balances the budget in seven years - but this is not a topic for polite conversation, so you did not hear it from me!
Wow, That's Dirty
I use an optical trackball at work, and I work in a dusty, dusty place. It is an optical trackball, so dust is usually not a problem. Today, the cursor was not responding properly. I pulled the ball out of its cradle and there was a dust bunny BLOCKING the optical sensor. Knocked it out and kept on truckin'.
Gross.
Gross.
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