92501 (22)
92503 (81)
92504 (59)
92505 (31)
92506 (28)
92507 (33)
92508 (23)
92509 (93)
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Ramblings, thoughts, musings, etc...
I know that it seems like I don't like Barack Obama, but the news out of Washington this week has been ludicrous. Before we talk about the two issues from this week...let's remember that more than one of Obama's appointees has had tax issues. Yes, the irony there is thick...American people, we need you to accept higher taxes. However, we forgot to pay ours.
From this week...
1.) There are rampant rumors that many of the companies that received TARP money have committed fraud. Yes, companies that needed our money to meet their obligations have not used the money appropriately.
Side note: companies like Liberty Mutual and Hartford Financial (Insurance agencies) were allowed to buy tiny banks (less than $10 million of assets) and then allowed to partake in the TARP funds. Probably not what was intended by the spirit of the bailout...but definitely fits into the "too big to fail" category. To quote John Rich the more I read, the more I get "fighting mad."
Side note II: most of the media is liberal...most of the media crucified George W. Bush, and these stories are getting out...I wonder what they are not releasing!
2.) The government made a HUGE deal to let us know that they are going to cut the budget by $100 million. I was watching Fox News and they were defending this action...like it was an act of goodwill. Like Obama deserves some credit for this...NO WAY! This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard...no wait, saying that they can cut $50 million from the budget by buying office supplies in bulk (5 years worth - where are they going to store enough office supplies that is so large that they are able to cut it by $50 million?). Hey look at us, we just cut $100 million from our budget...oh wait, we added $3.95 Trillion right? $3.95 Trillion...that is "tr" not "b" nor "m"...it is equivalent to this...
"Hi honey, I know we need to work on our family budget (we make less than $50k a year). So, I decided to buy a leer jet ($14 million), BUT I also got a six pack of Dr. Pepper for $3.19 instead of the $3.21 we normally pay."
Barry gets no respect for this...but he does deserve all of the credit.
From this week...
1.) There are rampant rumors that many of the companies that received TARP money have committed fraud. Yes, companies that needed our money to meet their obligations have not used the money appropriately.
Side note: companies like Liberty Mutual and Hartford Financial (Insurance agencies) were allowed to buy tiny banks (less than $10 million of assets) and then allowed to partake in the TARP funds. Probably not what was intended by the spirit of the bailout...but definitely fits into the "too big to fail" category. To quote John Rich the more I read, the more I get "fighting mad."
Side note II: most of the media is liberal...most of the media crucified George W. Bush, and these stories are getting out...I wonder what they are not releasing!
2.) The government made a HUGE deal to let us know that they are going to cut the budget by $100 million. I was watching Fox News and they were defending this action...like it was an act of goodwill. Like Obama deserves some credit for this...NO WAY! This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard...no wait, saying that they can cut $50 million from the budget by buying office supplies in bulk (5 years worth - where are they going to store enough office supplies that is so large that they are able to cut it by $50 million?). Hey look at us, we just cut $100 million from our budget...oh wait, we added $3.95 Trillion right? $3.95 Trillion...that is "tr" not "b" nor "m"...it is equivalent to this...
"Hi honey, I know we need to work on our family budget (we make less than $50k a year). So, I decided to buy a leer jet ($14 million), BUT I also got a six pack of Dr. Pepper for $3.19 instead of the $3.21 we normally pay."
Barry gets no respect for this...but he does deserve all of the credit.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Jukebox VIII
Last Friday one of my buddies left for Arizona...he isn't off to Iraq or Afghanistan (I guess this is where the War on Terror is now going to be fought - I wonder if Obama is going to get the same backlash that Bush has gotten for Iraq over Afghanistan?)...but he has left in order to continue his service of our country. Daniel (he has been my friend since 1993) has allows been about the military. In high school, we regularly trekked over to El Toro or down to Miramar (which I have to watch Top Gun after every trip down there) to watch the air show. These are some of the best memories of my childhood...A Few Good Men is still one of my favorite movies...and part of it has to do with Daniel, his love of the military...and I think my subconscious love too. Daniel is not my only tie to the military...my brother served for 7 or 8 years...so I have deep affection for those who serve.
Therefore, most of these songs really hit home with me...they evoke all of the memories of air shows with Daniel, going to see A Few Good Men on a rainy day in February of 1994 with Daniel...they remind me of my brother...so I hope you enjoy these songs...oh, I understand that not everyone enjoys country music.
1. God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood
The epitome of a patriotic song.
2. American Soldier - Toby Keith
I love this song...speaking about the commitment of American soldiers. My hat goes off to them...
3. Where Were You When the World Stop Turning - Alan Jackson
I talked about this song a few weeks ago.
4. Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (Angry American) - Toby Keith
Same as this one...
5. Travelin' Soldier - Dixie Chicks
A song about Vietnam. Tells the story of a young soldier who has no one trying to find someone who he can write letters to while he is gone. Pretty gut wrenching...
6. Letters From Home - John Michael Montgomery
Great song.
7. Arlington - Trace Adkins
A song about the final resting place of our fallen heroes. The 21 gun salute, the folded American Flag...Mackenzie is a huge fan of the American Flag...I am not sure where her love it comes from...but it is definitely there. Maybe it is the love that her daddy has for it...
8. Shuttin' Detroit Down - John Rich
I already talked about this song..."they are selling make believe and we don't buy that here"...GREAT line!
Therefore, most of these songs really hit home with me...they evoke all of the memories of air shows with Daniel, going to see A Few Good Men on a rainy day in February of 1994 with Daniel...they remind me of my brother...so I hope you enjoy these songs...oh, I understand that not everyone enjoys country music.
1. God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood
The epitome of a patriotic song.
2. American Soldier - Toby Keith
I love this song...speaking about the commitment of American soldiers. My hat goes off to them...
3. Where Were You When the World Stop Turning - Alan Jackson
I talked about this song a few weeks ago.
4. Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (Angry American) - Toby Keith
Same as this one...
5. Travelin' Soldier - Dixie Chicks
A song about Vietnam. Tells the story of a young soldier who has no one trying to find someone who he can write letters to while he is gone. Pretty gut wrenching...
6. Letters From Home - John Michael Montgomery
Great song.
7. Arlington - Trace Adkins
A song about the final resting place of our fallen heroes. The 21 gun salute, the folded American Flag...Mackenzie is a huge fan of the American Flag...I am not sure where her love it comes from...but it is definitely there. Maybe it is the love that her daddy has for it...
8. Shuttin' Detroit Down - John Rich
I already talked about this song..."they are selling make believe and we don't buy that here"...GREAT line!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Bank Owned Homes
So, my week has been busy. I had dinner with a buddy of mine, who is leaving for Arizona this week, on Monday - after I spent all day in L.A. at Opening Day for the Dodgers. LONG DAY!
I spent yesterday driving all over the planet - to Riverside for D'Elias for lunch, then to Placentia for an emergency at a NPO that I volunteer at, then to Calimesa to check on our house (the need...some kids, we assume, broke in and trashed the place). I got back just in time to watch American Idol and have dinner with friends.
So my Repo List is a couple days late...anyway, the surprising thing is the shrinking inventory. If you have looked at any of the old Repo posts...some of the posts in Riverside and Moreno Valley had 100+ new homes on the market per week, areas like Corona consistently were in the 30-40 per week. However, over the last 3 weeks the numbers are dramatically smaller. I am going to do some more investigations about this tomorrow...and will report back with what I find.
Here are the "new" Repo Lists:
Corona
92879
92880
92881
92882
92883
Mira Loma
91752
Norco
92860
Riverside
92501
92503
92504
92505
92506
92507
92508
92509
Moreno Valley
92551
92553
92555
92557
I spent yesterday driving all over the planet - to Riverside for D'Elias for lunch, then to Placentia for an emergency at a NPO that I volunteer at, then to Calimesa to check on our house (the need...some kids, we assume, broke in and trashed the place). I got back just in time to watch American Idol and have dinner with friends.
So my Repo List is a couple days late...anyway, the surprising thing is the shrinking inventory. If you have looked at any of the old Repo posts...some of the posts in Riverside and Moreno Valley had 100+ new homes on the market per week, areas like Corona consistently were in the 30-40 per week. However, over the last 3 weeks the numbers are dramatically smaller. I am going to do some more investigations about this tomorrow...and will report back with what I find.
Here are the "new" Repo Lists:
Corona
92879
92880
92881
92882
92883
Mira Loma
91752
Norco
92860
Riverside
92501
92503
92504
92505
92506
92507
92508
92509
Moreno Valley
92551
92553
92555
92557
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Ramblings, thoughts, musings, etc...
* I can't wait for USC Football to begin - I am trying to clear my schedule to make it to the Spring Game on April 25th.
* Speaking of April 25th - why does everything have to happen at the same time? The 25th of this month is the Festival of Books (an event that Hanssie and I have been volunteering at for 5 years), the USC spring football game, and Kenny Chesney is at Stagecoach the next day...and I think Hanssie has her last concert of the season...CRAZY!
* Despite what ESPN says, the Lakers should be the favored team to win the NBA title. I know 'Bron and Co. will end up with the best record, but they are not as good as the Lakers
LeBron v. Kobe - even
Williams v. Fisher - Williams
West v. Ariza - even
Gasol v. Varejao - Gasol
Bynum v. Illgauskas - Bynum
Bench - Lakers
Coach - Lakers
* All of the Realtors in the Riverside/Corona area who think that we are in a buyers market are myopic. The inventory has shrunk by almost 60% since the summer of '08. Most homes have multiple offers. These are not the circumstances of a buyers market!
* I have said it many times before and it is worth repeating...if I printed money when I ran out (like the Federal Government does), I would be in jail.
* President Obama is doing away with a large portion of the tax write-off for donating to charities (or NPOs). On the surface this doesn't make sense, but when you consider that Obama wants to create government jobs that do a lot of what charities currently do...it makes sense that he would eliminate his competition.
* I hate the double standard that celebrities/athletes get to experience. Donte' Stallworth, a professional football player, hits and kills a man on the road in Miami. Stallworth's BAC was .126, clearly over the .008 legal limit. However, it takes nearly 3 weeks for charges to come and his charges are DUI manslaughter and DUI. Nick Adenhart a major league pitcher is killed in a car crash this past week. The man who killed him was allegedly drunk (rumor is that his BAC was 3 times the legal limit). He was charged the next day with 3 counts of murder, 3 counts of DUI manslaughter and DUI. Expected sentence: Stallworth 2 years, Gallo 55 years minimum. I know that the man driving the car that killed Adenhart had prior convictions etc...but Donte' Stallworth has taken the life of a human being.
* Speaking of the lunacy of the media - Michael Vick's arrest, trial and imprisonment dominated ESPN, dominated sports talk radio, even dominated mainstream media for weeks, months (for financing and murdering dogs)...and Stallworth who killed a human being isn't even the top story. I guess it shouldn't surprise me...how many unborn babies do we kill every day in America?
* Speaking of April 25th - why does everything have to happen at the same time? The 25th of this month is the Festival of Books (an event that Hanssie and I have been volunteering at for 5 years), the USC spring football game, and Kenny Chesney is at Stagecoach the next day...and I think Hanssie has her last concert of the season...CRAZY!
* Despite what ESPN says, the Lakers should be the favored team to win the NBA title. I know 'Bron and Co. will end up with the best record, but they are not as good as the Lakers
LeBron v. Kobe - even
Williams v. Fisher - Williams
West v. Ariza - even
Gasol v. Varejao - Gasol
Bynum v. Illgauskas - Bynum
Bench - Lakers
Coach - Lakers
* All of the Realtors in the Riverside/Corona area who think that we are in a buyers market are myopic. The inventory has shrunk by almost 60% since the summer of '08. Most homes have multiple offers. These are not the circumstances of a buyers market!
* I have said it many times before and it is worth repeating...if I printed money when I ran out (like the Federal Government does), I would be in jail.
* President Obama is doing away with a large portion of the tax write-off for donating to charities (or NPOs). On the surface this doesn't make sense, but when you consider that Obama wants to create government jobs that do a lot of what charities currently do...it makes sense that he would eliminate his competition.
* I hate the double standard that celebrities/athletes get to experience. Donte' Stallworth, a professional football player, hits and kills a man on the road in Miami. Stallworth's BAC was .126, clearly over the .008 legal limit. However, it takes nearly 3 weeks for charges to come and his charges are DUI manslaughter and DUI. Nick Adenhart a major league pitcher is killed in a car crash this past week. The man who killed him was allegedly drunk (rumor is that his BAC was 3 times the legal limit). He was charged the next day with 3 counts of murder, 3 counts of DUI manslaughter and DUI. Expected sentence: Stallworth 2 years, Gallo 55 years minimum. I know that the man driving the car that killed Adenhart had prior convictions etc...but Donte' Stallworth has taken the life of a human being.
* Speaking of the lunacy of the media - Michael Vick's arrest, trial and imprisonment dominated ESPN, dominated sports talk radio, even dominated mainstream media for weeks, months (for financing and murdering dogs)...and Stallworth who killed a human being isn't even the top story. I guess it shouldn't surprise me...how many unborn babies do we kill every day in America?
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