Happy Holidays to All!

Happy Holidays to all my readers!
(Even the ones that send me flaming emails every day.)

That includes Chanukah, Christmas, Quanza, Ramadan, Feasitvus etc.

MasterPo is taking the rest of the year off (yea, I know I said that for the summer but this time I mean it).

I'll be back in January.

Have a happy and safe New Year to all!

What's In Your Plumbing? (or Who Really Cares About Web Browsers?)

As of writing this the EU has dropped its long running anti-trust legal battle against Microsoft over the Internet Explorer web browser. As usual, the argument was that having Internet Explorer come as part of the Windows operating system gave Mr. Gates an unfair advantage over other software companies trying to get people to use (and therefore buy) their own version of web browsers.

The EU's lawsuit claimed that consumers weren't given the choice as to what web browser they wanted to use. IE was forced upon them as a default since it came with Windows.

This article isn't about how fair or not Microsoft's marketing and publishing strategies are. That's been well debated in countless articles, blogs and on TV.

The point of this article is: When all is said and done, who really cares about their web browser??

I'm sure there are some specific situations where say Firefox would work better for this or that website than IE (or visa-versa too). And I'm equally sure that some techies and software gurus will prefer this or that browser over IE because of whatever technical reasons.

But so what?

People who do have the knowledge to know that "A" is better than "B" because of XYZ reasons also have the knowledge and skills to go out and get another browser, install it and use it. So IE coming with Windows isn't going to be a big obstacle to them.

But for the rank&file home and business PC users, they just don't care!

Sure you'll find people who gripe about how IE doesn't play well with their favorite movie or game site (or porn!). Or how it crashes, runs slow blah blah blah. All of which are usually more caused by some other software or setting on the user's PC rather than IE itself. But I'm not here to defend it.

The bottom line is this:

Asking most people to choose which browser they want at the time of purchasing a PC is like asking people what brand of pipes they want in their home plumbing.

They just don't care!

All that most people want to know is when they open a faucet, turn on the shower, start the dishwasher etc. water is there. Period.

Same with a computer. Most people simply do not have the technical savvy to know (much less care) about brands of web browsers. They just want to connect to the web and start surfing.

In the generic sense it seems like a good idea to have a more open competition between software providers. But if all this is being done in the name of helping the consumer, let's not loose sight of what the Joe Average consumer really wants to be able to do.

Is The "New World Order" and "One World Government" Finally Here??

To begin with, MasterPo is NOT a conspiracy theorist!

Never have been.
Never will be.

But 1+1 still equals 2 (no matter how much they try to re-write school books and impose "outcome-based" education over the three R's!).

Before you think I've gone completely over the cliff, with Kool Aid in hand, please read on.

During the November 27, 2009 broadcast of the Glenn Beck show on Fox News Glenn spoke with an economist/financial advisor Damon Vickers of Nine Points Capital who previously had been interview on CNN and brought up the topic. Glenn was shocked the CNN reported wasn't surprised when Mr. Vickers connected the current economic problem and the massive U.S. government borrowing and spending with the establishment of the often claimed "new world order" and "one world government".

Normally I don't put any stock in claims of these things. These kinds of conspiracy theories hold that this has been a goal of various groups for centuries. If there was a conspiracy to take over the world spanning centuries they sure aren't doing a good job of it!

But now, with the economy and government spending what it is, I agree with Mr. Beck that it is possible to connect the dots (though still not at all a certainty but well worth exploring).

Consider this:

As of writing this the U.S. Federal government has spent and/or committed to spending $13 TRILLION over the next 10 years. That is in addition to the $12 TRILLION in outstanding debt the U.S. Treasury already owes right now! Let me add it up for you: That's $25 TRILLION!!!

And that's before any sort of National Healthcare plan, additional stimulus and/or bailout funding, emergency/disaster spending, war spending (if "war" is even in the American official lexicon anymore), pet projects and wanna-do's, etc etc etc.

ALL of this spending has been financed by the Federal Government borrowing money from overseas (at this time, mainly China) in the form of selling U.S. Treasury Bonds.

$13 TRILLION!!

Just try to imagine the kind of economic grow and tax revenue generation that will be needed to pay down even merely half of that debt! Remember that people were so deeply concerned about a national debt of "just" $12 trillion at the end of 2008.

Meanwhile, national unemployment is over 10% and expected to rise even more (state/local unemployment is nearly 20% in a great many places!).

So where is all this money going to come from to pay even just half of the new (never mind the existing!) $13 TRILLION debt??

The answer is really very simple: It doesn't exist!

Not now.
Now ever.

When debt gets that high the concept of any sort of meaningful ability to pay it down (much less pay it off completely) become pointedly absurd. In other words, it simply can not be paid down any meaningful amount. Even if all forms of taxation doubled and "the rich" were taxed 80%-90%-even 100% at certain income levels there simply is not enough money to make paying it down a reasonable – or even rational – concept!

(Not to mention the stake though the heart of the American economy such taxation would do thereby killing the very source of the tax revenue stream needed to pay the debt!)

So what does all this mean?

One word: Receivership

"A type of bankruptcy a company enters when a receiver is appointed by bankruptcy courts or creditors to run the company." (my bolding)

(Source: receivership. (n.d.). Investopedia.com. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/receivership)

Replace "company" with Nation and I think you begin to see the "new world order" and "one world government" angle.

With receivership comes being insolvent.

"Having ceased paying or unable to pay debts as they fall due in the usual course of business; having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value of assets held; insufficient to pay all debts."

(Source: insolvent. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/insolvent)

Even in such a bad economic state we still are a HUGE consumer base, military base, technology and information services base. So, as the current popular jargon likes to say, the United States is just "Too Big To Fail".

Who is the creditor of the United States?

China mainly but also Europe, Russia, Japan, even the Saudis!

If the U.S. is deemed insolvent the rest of the world will not simply say "Oh well" and walk away. They gave us mega $$$ and expect all or at least as much as they can back! (so would I!)

Probably through the IMF and the UN the world would point the U.S. into receivership.

Remember what happened to General Motors, AIG, Citigroup, Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, et al when the U.S. government had to bail them out. The bailout came with a steep price:

- The government now owns 60% of GM.
- The government has mandated pay and benefit cuts for AIG, Citi and Chase
- The government has made Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley key cogs in the system of selling U.S. Treasuries to overseas government (they already where but they did have a choice before, now they don't), etc.

So guess what happens when America is deemed to become insolvent and is put into global receivership?

Now China et al via the the UN and IMF can flex muscle and do things like want to "approve" the national budget, dictate domestic (and foreign) policy, even alter the tax code!

Just imagine China saying "No U.S., you're spending too much on military this year. Cut your military budget in half!" or "You want to give a tax cut? We don't think so. In fact, you should raise taxes more to help better pay us back!"

New World Order.
One World Government.

It may be closer then you ever thought!

This is the discussion between Mr. Beck and Mr. Vickers. Please watch it in it's entirety.

(Special note: I am not endorsing or supporting the website/group that put put this video segment on YouTube. Merely, this is the only complete piece of the video; Other sources cut it into 2 or 3 sections.)

Are you REALLY THAT Poor?

As of writing this the government healthcare bill has passed the first round of voting. Still a long way to go from being law but it's crawling there.

As is my way, I'm not going to rehash all the same problems and issues of the proposed new massive government entitlement program. That's well documented on other sites.

But I will say this:

If someone (individual or family) is sooooooooooooo poor they can't afford any kind of health insurance coverage, even just major medical or accident insurance, and they live in daily fear that a mere illness or broken limb will send them to the streets when they have to pay for their own care then if they take the government plan – paid for by you and mean Joe Taxpayer American – then in my opinion this person or family must be required to live under certain rules.

If these people are just soooooooooo poor they need you and me to pay for their healthcare for the rest of their lives (and ours!) then I say these people need to have none of the following:

No cell phones for anyone under 18.

No ring tones other than whatever basic sounds come with the phone.

No iphone or blackberry or similar.

No streaming video, music or internet.

No cable or satellite television other than absolute basic programming.

No pay-per-view services.

No DVR service.No Xbox, wii, Game Boy or Play Station.

No big screen TV's; If they have one and it breaks get a small tube!

No new DVD, CD or stereo equipment.

No new computer unless it's needed for work or school.

No internet service unless it's needed for work or school.

No new car (buy or lease); get a used one.

No changes or modifications to existing autos except for needed repairs.

No vacations more than 3 days long and/or more than 50 miles from home.

No boat, RV, jet ski etc. ; If they already own such it must remain unregistered and unused or sold.

No eating out – ever! – even just to McDonalds.

No season tickets for anything.

No going to the movies.

No subscription based movie service such as Netflix.

No magazine subscriptions unless required for school or work.

No club or association memberships unless required for work or school.

No playing the lottery!

No buying beer, wine, or liquor of any kind for any reason.

No smoking (cigarettes, cigars etc).

No home improvements or remodeling other then needed repairs.

No new home appliances other then replacements of similar kind for broken devices.

No personal beauty or cosmetic services (hair dresser, finger nails, spa etc.)

And, to mix it up even more – They can not have any additional children! If a pregnancy occurs the child must be given up for adoption unless they can obtain health insurance coverage with in a short period of time after birth.

I think these rules are very fair and reasonable.

If a person or family is sooooooooo poor and healthcare is sooooooooo much a concern they must take public assistance then these are pointless and frivolous expenses they should be required to give up.

If you can afford the things on this list then you can afford to buy your own health insurance!

Period.

Biting The Hand That Feeds You? (Why a Government-Run Healthcare System WILL Destroy Your Freedom!)

There already has been so much written about the pros and cons of a government-run healthcare system. I'm not going to rehash the same old-same old that can be found all over the blogosphere and forums. But there is one aspect of such a system that I have rarely seen addressed that I do believe must also be taken into consideration.

How can you have freedom of speech and protest against the same government that you rely on to provide for your and your loved one's health??

Think about it.

In a government run healthcare system you need the government to review and approve all your healthcare requests. Especially serious, chronic life&death treatments that are usually time consuming and very expensive.

So how can you bee free to voice opposition, much less strong impassioned opposition, against the same government that you then need to turn to in order to save your life or the love of someone you love?!

The answer is simple: You can't!

Just imagine an outspoken critic of the government then needing a major medical procedures – or worse, someone in their family needing it – and now having to apply to this same government that they have been soooooooo critical of to approve the treatment and payment. One would hope that politics remains out of the decision process but nothing in government is without some measure of politics.

Just imagine someone like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannety, Mark Levine, Bill O'Reilly, Lou Dobbs, Dick Morris, Laura Ingrham, et al. suddenly needing cancer treatment or a organ transplant or perhaps life time treatment for something like MS or Parkinson's. Do you really think the government would be so quick and eager to provide it? I don't.

Not that government would outright say "No!" to the treatment (they might, who knows what politics will be like in the future!) but through weeks and months and possibly years of bureaucracy and the red tape government is famous for treatment will be delayed, withheld, or denied.

When you rely on someone else for literally your very life and the life of the people you love and care for how can you speak freely in criticism of them?

You can't!

Thus is how freedom dies.
Not with a gun shot.
But with something much worse – good intentions.

Executive Jobs Are Jobs Too!

On Tuesday November 17th (this year) I saw an interview on Fox News between Neil Cavuto and some Congressman (a Democrat) about job creation in this recession.

The Congressman was touting the usual claim of "jobs created or saved" by the stimulus, specifically all the roads and bridge work that supposedly is taking place. I say "supposedly" because at least in my area I haven't seen any new roads or bridges being built or re-built since the stimulus was passed. But I digress…

Neil Cavuto made a great comment. He asked the Congressman (paraphrase):

What about all the white collar professionals out of work in this recession?
People like technical staff at Boeing and United Technologies?
And business people like corporate Executives and managers?
Do you expect these people to pick up a shovel and start laying concrete?
What do they know about building bridges?!

This is an excellent comment that I've heard Neil and others make before and yet never gets answered!

But more over, it was the Congressman's reply that struck me, quote "I'm not concerned about jobs for Executives!" he said with a smile and a laugh.

Well, he ought to be very concerned!

Are Executives and senior level managers any less employees?
Are the jobs of Executives and senior level managers any less part of a healthy, growing economy?

Are the bills, mortgages, food, clothing, transportation, tuition etc. paid for by Executives and senior level managers any less important than someone else's bills?

No one has ever increased the value of an economy by cutting off people at the top!

And given how President Obama is eager to tax the stuffing out of "the rich", where do you think he's going to find all of "the rich" when highly paid Executives and senior manager jobs are gone?

Further, where is the incentive to work hard? To get an education or advanced training? To put in effort and to strive?

Sure, keeping a job is important. But if you have to work 2-3-4-5 times as hard just to keep your job and not advance, what kind of value does that add to your life and the economy overall?

In spite of what many liberals think of the American population, on the whole we aren't dumb. People simply aren't going to put in the time and effort and cost (in all definitions of the word) for little or nothing back. And that is not how you grow an economy out of a recession!

A rising tide must lift all boats.

Executives are Americans too!

When Paying is NOT "Affordable"!

"Afford" :
· To be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect.
· To be able to meet the expense of; have or be able to spare the price of.

(source: afford. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/afford (accessed: July 24, 2009). )

In recent times it has become all the fashion to tell someone "You can afford to pay more" or "You can afford to pay for this-or-that."

Do NOT confuse the ability to find the necessary money to pay for something with that something being "affordable".

To put it another way, just because a person is able to buy for a product or service does NOT mean they can afford to buy it!

"Affordable" means the ability to repeatedly pay for a product or service without impact on your other expenditures. Almost anyone can spend a lot of money once in a while (especially if you put it on credit!). But that doesn't make it affordable. Likewise, if in order for purchase A you have to reduce or eliminate your purchase of B then A is not affordable. You can only pay for A by reducing your cost of buying B. If A were affordable you could buy both A and B.

For example, during the summer of 2008 in my area of Long Island the price for a gallon of regular gasoline was approximately $4.00. I had to buy it. I had no choice. My car is the only practical mode of transportation for me to/from work (see my prior article about Green Travel). Even if gas had continued to go up to $6 or $8 or more a gallon I still would have needed to buy it.

But that does NOT mean I can afford $4, $6, $8 etc. per gal for gas. I was able to pay $4/gal in large part by not making other purchases that summer. In other words, the money I would have spent on something else I now had to use to buy gas to get to work. And as a result of taking money from other intended purchases the providers of those products/services lost my business! (i.e. my money) There just isn't enough for me to pay for both (without going into debt and I wasn't going to do that!)

So when you hear someone say "Oh, that person is 'rich', they can afford it!" sure they might be able to pay what your talking about – but only at the cost of not paying for something else!

And that is not how an economy grows and prospers. Taking money from one place to put somewhere else is just a paper shuffle. It does not great jobs or economic growth. Those things happen when people have the ability to pay (on a regular basis) for both things!

Taking $1,00 out of one pocket and putting it in the other doesn't give you $2.00

Why Not Here?? (or, This Is Progress??)

I was watching a show on Discovery channel about amazing buildings and feats of engineering.

Truly cutting edge designs and grandeur.

I found myself thinking: Why aren't any of those things built here in the United States?

Then I got angry.

For the reason was clear: Politics.

No, not the awarding of contracts or zoning issues or crony-ism etc.

But the BS of environmental "save the planet" politics!

All these great structures have H-U-G-E physical foot prints.

Nope, can't have any of that.

All these great structures took tons and tons of concrete and steel and wires etc. to make.

Nope, can't have that either.

All these great structures took vast and awesome heavy-duty machinery to build.

Nope, can't have that too.

All of these structures change the landscape to some extent.

Nope, can't do that.

So we can't have world-class cutting edge buildings here in the United States.

No advancements of engineering for our civil engineers.
No advancements of materials for our materials engineers.
No advancements of construction for our builders.
No thousands of new jobs to build it, and thousands more to operate and maintain it.

Just think about aaaaalllll the law suits and demonstrations that would ensue if someone just proposed building one of this super towers or other similar structures.

Just imagine the angry and hostility towards such a project because it's big and uses a lot of resources to make and resources to operate.

So we don't do it here. Others do it who don't have such compunctions about moving forward.

This is progress??

I don't think so.

Cutting To The Bone (or Where Oh Where To Save Some Money??)

Cut back.
Due more with less.
And my favorite: We all have to make sacrifices. (Gag me!)

These are just some of the currently trendy terms our politicians (and liberals) love to spout about how you and I as citizens need to get by with less money while they tax and spend like drunken sailors. Sickening isn't it?

But this article isn't necessarily about the politics. It's a realistic (because that's what I always am) view of what exactly can be cut back and "sacrificed" on to save money in your life.

I can only speak from my own life so the observations made here may not completely apply to you.
For a long time (long before President Obama and VP Biden made "sacrifice" a patriotic act) I have been looking at what me and my family could cut back on to put some more cash$$ into our pockets each month.

And this is what I have come up with: Not much!

Traditionally I have always been of the belief that no matter how close to the bone your financial life is there is always something you can reduce to save a few bucks. But lately I am at a loss for ideas. Or rather, the ideas I do have result in mere pennies of savings by comparison to the greater dollars of the cost of living.

There are few things we could do.

We could drop our Netflix account (about $5/month).We could drop our XM radio (about $10/month).We could drop our Tivo service (about $12/month). (*)

(* This option would then require me to replace our Tivo device with a cable converter box and our cable service company would charge me about the same $12/month for the box. So the savings from Tivo and the cost of a replacement box pretty much net out to nothing saved.)

And that's about it!

So even if I did cancel these things (even the Tivo, not including the replacement cable box), at best I am saving about $30/month. Big deal. That isn't going to help pay my mortgage or put my kids through college. It's not such terrific savings that is going to have an impact on my life.

We don't have premium cable channels like HBO.
We don't go out to dinner on any sort of regular basis (and even when we do it's dinner at the corner diner or maybe Applebees half-price appetizers, not a Peter Luger steak house).
We rarely go to the movies and even then we get tickets half price or free as part of our cable service.We don't have season tickets to a sports team, opera, theater, etc.
We don't have a swimming pool (gave that up years ago already, but it was nice when we did! Wouldn't mind having one again some day.)

On the positive side:

We already switched about 80% of our light bulbs to CF's for the energy cost savings (long before it was so popular now).
We added a second layer of insulation to the attic.
Anytime we have replaced an appliance, a window or door it has been with an Energy Star efficient model.
In the summer the central A/C is set at 75; In the winter the heat is set at 67 (which is still damn cold!).

So where to cut back?

Lights? (like that Domino's commercial)
Clothing?
Medicine?
Food? (kinda already am; couldn't tell you the last time we had brand name orange juice in the house!)

So where to cut?

Funny how government tells us the people to cut back yet they buy themselves new jets, take trips to Europe, and always seem to be wearing new sharp clothes. Let me see your budget. I'm sure I can make some cost cutting suggestions.

As for me and mine, if anyone has any significant cost saving ideas please let me know.

(note: Moving to a cheaper living area, while I would love to, simply isn't practical at this time so don't suggest that.)

Affordability Does NOT Mean "Rich"!

For some years now there has been a growing state of thought in this country that is a person can afford to buy something they must be "rich" in the sense they have more money than just the purchase price. So if someone buys a $1,000 item, the thinking goes, they must have more than just a thousand dollars.

For example, in the current so-called healthcare reform proposals people with high end "Cadillac" health insurance plans will be required to pay a tax on them. That presumes people with such coverage can afford to pay the insurance premiums plus a tax on it!

Another example: Back in the 1980's a "luxury tax" of 50% was imposed on items such as boats.

This presumed that someone who could afford a nice boat had extra money to pay a 50% tax on it at the time of purchase! In other words, if you have the money to pay $50,000 for a new boat then you must (so the philosophy goes) have an extra $25,000 to pay the luxury tax on it!

This thinking is patently not true!

Like most rich vs. poor philosophies, this one fails on several accounts.

It doesn't take into account the possibility the buyer may be spending every last penny they have to afford whatever the product (or service) is. The person may have saved, scraped by, borrowed every penny they could in order to be able to make the purchase. There simply is not any more money to pay a tax with!

Or, it could be the person has made the decision to cut waaaaaaay back on other expenditure in order to have the money to pay for this product or service. In their decision process this thing is worth the reduction in purchases of other items in order to be able to have the funding.

Or, it could be the person is working extra long, extra hard, maybe even a second or third job to be able to have the money to buy whatever. To them the product or service is worth the additional work effort to get the money to have it.

Or, it could also be the person really can't pay for whatever in the long run and will eventually need to sell it or discontinue the service. But at least for a little while they have it.

Whatever the reason, the fact remains that just because someone is able to purchase something does not automatically mean they have additional funds to pay big taxes on the product or service. Such think only serves to continue to foster the notion that "the rich" have been and always will be "rich" regardless of what government forces them to pay.

Even "the rich" don't have money coming out their butts!

Lessons From The Colony – Part 1: Taking Without Giving (or Ask Not What You Can Do To Help)

Last night (that is, at the time I wrote this article) the Discovery Channel aired the final episode of "The Colony". I had reviewed this series in a prior article and still give it 2-thumbs up. Now that the show is over (hope they do something like it again!) there are several lessons from the show that I believe are totally applicable to life today in our present society. In particular there is one scenario they showed that I want to discuss first.

As before, SPOILER WARNING.

Continue at your own risk.

When the colonists first arrived in the warehouse it was clear that someone else had been living there. No one was around but there was bedding items, some canned food on shelves, a couple of this and that trappings of very basic life, etc. A few episodes later the now-former residence returned.

A man and a woman, Andre and Elizabeth, came in a back door with a key and surprised the colonists. Both are obviously actors like the rest of the outsiders the colonists meet. But they played their roles very well.

"Andre" is a very large and muscular man, clearly more a fighter than a thinker. The woman called "Elizabeth" seems to be playing the part of a scared and physically vulnerable woman alone in a world of anarchy. We (the audience, nor the participants of the Colony) don't know what either person was in life or did for work before the disaster that is the back drop for the show, though it's clear that dog-eat-dog has been their philosophy since then. It also isn't clear what the relationship is supposed to be between the two. Are they married? Lovers? Or just loosely banded together for mere survival? (Towards the end of the series Elizabeth appears at the door of the Colony alone asking for food and water; Later Andre comes in alone threatening the colonists; So it appears the two went separate ways soon after initially meeting the Colony participants.)

The Colony participants, after getting over the initial shock of their sanctuary being so easily "invaded" realize these are the people they thought had been living here when the show first started. Andre doesn't like that the colonists are in "his" warehouse and Elizabeth immediately starts sizing up what can be taken.

The colonists do try to be the better people and welcome them, albeit cautiously. The two claim to have been on a long range scavenging trip and now are just returning. The colonists show them around, show them all they have done to improve the warehouse, all they have so far created like filtering water, growing some food, producing electricity from wood gas powered generators etc. The colonists offer them food and the chance to stay as members of the colony. But with the understanding that the two follow the same rules and conduct as the rest of the colonists.

And there in lies the problem: Andre and Elizabeth (especially Andre) do not want to follow the rules! Andre goes so far as to say over dinner "What if I want to stay but not follow your rules? Just do my own thing?"

They want the benefits of living in the colony – the food, water, shelter, electricity etc – but refuse to take part in the operation, organization and work to advance the colony's survival. Things quickly come to a big confrontation as Andre and Elizabeth are found stealing food and other supplies from the Colony and the colonists are forced to physically drive them out of the building.

I think this episode more than any other of the show is an excellent example of the problem we face right now in today's society. That is, more and more and more people want to take the benefits of living in the American society yet fewer and fewer and fewer are willing to obey the rules and laws, and especially fewer and fewer are willing to contribute to the society by hard work in education and later vocation that adds value to the society!

More and more people just don't see the "need" to contribute to society. I am not referring to the tired old liberal saying "Give back to the society that made you." That's a rallying call for taking resources away from building a society by usurping the energy and vitality of people that otherwise would have been put towards advancing the economy which in turn helps all.

I'm referring to "contributing" by going to school (or vocational training) and earning your diploma or degree, getting started in a career (as oppose to languishing for years and years at a minimum wage Wendy's or Starbucks job), voting and taking part in your community, saving and investing for your own future and that of your family, maybe even starting a business or buying into a business etc. That is how people contribute and "give back" or pay back society from which they take the benefits of living in.

But too much now people, especially (and frighteningly!) young people just don't see the importance much less the need to break out of the "fun zone" of youth and start building for their own futures. Then they complain that others have things and/or more things than they do.

You don't build an expanding, healthy economy or society when there are more takers than givers.

And you certainly do not advance a growing healthy society when government forces people to give "contribute" by taxation of those people who have worked hard for what they have.

Liberals often say that a society is measured by how well it cares for those who can't care for themselves. I don't know where that brain-fart of a line came from. Nevertheless, there is a big difference between caring for someone who can't care for themselves vs. caring for someone who is capable yet unwilling to provide at least some care or input for themselves!

Remember that even the Roman Empire wasn't conquered but collapsed from with in as more people demanded services and fewer were willing to work for those services.

History is sometimes prolog.

The New Selfishness

We have turned the corner.

Maybe the corner had been turned years before but now we can see the corner clearly behind us and oblivion in front of us.

That corner being: Looking out for others is more important than looking out for ourselves and our dependents.

This is the new definition of "selfishness" : Putting the needs and care of yourself and your dependents (those who you are responsible for like your family) first before someone else is now being "selfish".

How did we get here?

How did we get to a point where it is considered "selfish" to look out first for your own needs and well being and those you have responsibility for before trying to care for someone else?
Every day I see people working longer and harder than ever before and still slipping in their ability to care for themselves and their families. Yet these are the same people who are being lambasted for not doing enough to help others.

What are these "others" doing to help themselves?

Few would argue against a helping hand every now and then. I certainly won't.

But there is a big difference between a hand to help you up and an arm to carry you all the time!

So what have these people done to at least reasonable try to avoid needing help?
What are they doing now to ensure they will no longer need help as quickly as possible?

The truth is that in a great many cases the answer is: Nothing!

The hard workers have to support themselves and their own responsibilities and others who just don't think or try as hard. And when the hard workers balk they are called "selfish".

If more people just concerned themselves with how to provide for their own lives and their own families (as was once the norm in this country) we'd be so much better off.

If that means I am "selfish" then be it.

So sue me.

Cause and Effect: A Systems' Point of View

When I was in school we were taught that a "system" is a set of interrelated parts working together towards a common goal or purpose. Each part may or may not know what that goal or purpose is.

They may not even be aware of any other parts of the system. That is, each piece operates independently of the others (more or less) but all are part of the total overall function of the system.

As such, the work of one part of the system may not know what the impact of its work is on the overall goal of the system. Equally, if the work of one part of the system changes it may or may not know the impact that has on the overall operation of the system.

For example, the driver is the controller of the system we call a car. The goal of the system is to get the driver from A to B. The car system is made up of many smaller parts (sub-systems). Each knows what it has to do but doesn’t have a clue what the overall goal is of how it's work (or non-work) affects the other parts. So when the drive steps on the brakes the brakes know to slow and eventually stop the car (I know it's an inanimate object but work with me).

But the brakes don't know why they are being called upon to stop the car. It could because the car has reached its' destination. It could be due to traffic. Or it could be to avoid hitting another car! The breaks don't care as long as the car slows down.

Similarly, if the brakes fail to slow the car the brakes don't know the ramification on car system. The brakes don't know that not doing their job means the car bumps the curb or smashes into a tree! It doesn't care either way.

This applies to people systems as well as mechanical systems. One agency, office, department is just part of an overall system of the organization which itself can be part of a larger organization. The work done or not done can (and usually does) ripple throughout the overall organization and impact the results. Often with unexpected and very negative consequences.

As an old saying goes: Garbage in, garbage out.

This concept applies very well to laws and regulations. It is in that context I continue.

To say there is much debate about what the proposed healthcare plan, specifically H.R. 3200, does and doesn't do, covers and doesn't cover, and what the impact may be is an understatement.

My views on the plan as it is currently proposed in H.R. 3200 have been well document on other sites so I'm not going to rehash it now.

I do, however, want to address the great unknown of the plan in the context of systems and unforeseen outcomes.

Chaos Theory
The Butterfly Effect
Law Unintended Consequences

Whatever you wish to call it the fact is that sweeping laws and regulatory changes often come with a barrel of unintended and unforeseen events. While I agree that isn't a reason not to undertake certain changes, when dealing with such sweeping and far reaching changes haste and get-it-done attitudes are not what is needed.

The problem didn't form overnight. Neither should the answer.

There is a saying: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Out Gunned, Out Classed

For the first time I competed this year in the spring Jamaica Bay Kayak Fishing Tournament. The 6th annual tourney attracted 250 kayak anglers not only from New York but from New Jersey, CT, PA, Mass – even from Canada!

I don't usually fish tournaments. I'm not a competitive fisherman. I fish for the fun and sport. But this tourney is as much a competition as a 3 day social event (the tourney itself was Saturday but the area was open for practice on Thursday). Many members of my kayak fishing club came (some have been doing this tourney since the first event) and it's always good to see others you don't get to hang out and fish with often.

As you would expect there were all kinds of anglers with all kinds of fishing kayaks. Some even had a few home made wood yaks. As long as it was a human-powered craft it was eligible to compete.
For me (and I'm sure others too) that's part of the fun of a grand event. Seeing all the different kayaks brands and models, and even more interestingly take note of how anglers have rigged their yaks. You never know where a good idea will come from that you want to copy!

But it seems the majority of anglers had some model of Hobie kayak. The Revolution and Adventure appeared to be most common.

I'm a paddler. My kayak, the Goldfish, is a Heritage Marquesa 14. It has served me very well in the 3 years I have been in the sport. I've caught many good fish. I even won the Kayak Fishing Association's first annual "Angler of the Year" award in 2008 fishing from the Goldfish.

But this time I was out gunned by the Hobies.

Chiefly it was the speed and drive power that won the day.

The day of the tourney the weather turned bad and stayed bad. The wind kicked up early and just grew stronger all morning long. And naturally the wind was blowing right out of the direction you wanted to go in for the prime fishing spots! I still managed to cover a lot of water that day (over 9 miles according to my GPS). But it was slow going and hard against that wind. Plus with so many other competitors on the water speed to quickly get to where you wanted to fish before others got there was key. As it was it took me nearly an hour of paddling to get across the channel from the launch ramp to the far side of Ruffle Bar. That's an hour of lost fishing time.

So, with more than a bit of regret I have to admit defeat. I can't fight it any more. No mas. There's no sense denying the truth. Sometimes it has to be painfully exhibited for you. The power of the Dark Side is too strong. The Hobies have it.

I'm probably not going to give up or sell the Goldfish. It's still an awesome kayak fishing platform for many locations (like the freshwater fishing I also enjoy doing). But I think I'm going to have join the Revolution or Adventure.

I'll stick with the Goldfish for this year. But at the end of the year I'll look for a close out or end of year special at one of the local yak dealers and if the deal is good I'll get a Hobie. Probably a Revolution. That seems to be a good middle choice between the Outback and Adventure.
Won't be cheap. The hull alone can be $1,500 even on sale. Then add in the turbo fins, larger sailing rudder etc. And I need a new fish finder (maybe now is my chance to get the side scan unit I've talked about!). Going to take a while to outfit it but I have all winter.

I don't regret at all getting the Goldfish. I had no idea how much I was going to like this sport or have time to fish it. Of course had I known then what I know now I would have probably gone with a Hobie then. But I didn't. No different that starting with a basic surf out fit than later going for the custom rod and VS reel after you learn what everything is about.

Viva La Revolution`!

Updated: Well, I finally did it. After 3 years of kayak fishing I couldn't hold out any longer. I finally came over to the Dark Side and got a 2009 Hobie Adventure on special. It's sweet! Everything I had wanted – Speed, tracking, maneuverability. Well worth the investment.

Watch out fish – here I come!!

Why Ron Paul Would Be An Ineffective President.

Ron Paul.


The name has become as synonymous with alternative politics nearly as much as Obama's.

While I do agree that Congressman Paul does have some good points to make and good ideas to try to implement, if he ever were elected as President he would be ineffective at best. An abject failure (in term of his state policies) at worst.

I know there are a lot of Ron Paul minions out there but before you flame me follow:

While a President does set the agenda, to make real, substantive change a President can not do it alone. A President also needs a supporting Congress. A political party, to be successful, needs both a President and controlling majority in the Congress (Senate too would be helpful).

Ron Paul would have neither.


Presuming Ron Paul ran as an Independent and somehow managed to win the Presidency (someday, he isn't getting any younger!) while he would no doubt have the support of some in Congress, "independents" are not a party and as such do not have the party unity needed to control a body like Congress. Ron Paul would have to work at best with a so-so supportive Republican Congress or very adversarial Democrat Congress. The only President to succeed in the latter with in the last 50 years was Ronald Reagan. And Ron Paul is no Ronald Reagan.


A President can not act alone. Even with the power of Executive Orders the President does not have the authority to issue EO's for things like taxes, budgets, military procurement, social programs etc. That ceases to be a President and becomes a dictator. Not something America wants regardless of how blind many people are.


If Ron Paul somehow won the Presidency as a Republican candidate, given his very outsider and controversial history he sure would not have the full unity of the Republicans in Congress behind him either.


So while I like and even agree with some of his stated goals and policy changes, the reality is that if he were to be President he would fall far short of the hopes so many have placed on him. For change may start at the top. But change needs support from below too.


No man is an island.

Looking A Gift Horse in The Mouth

Beware of people offering you favors. Not everyone who says they are doing you a favor is in fact doing a good thing for you. Even if the concept is good the final result may not be so great.

Case in point:

Recently my wife's company started a policy where you could work from home 2 days a week. They said it was to help people off set the costs of commuting to work. Initially that sounds like a great idea! Sounds like a good way to save some money in these tough times.

Well, not really. At least not for us.

When you add it up, having my wife work from home 2 days a week doesn't save us anything.

First, her commuter train ticket into New York City is a monthly pass. To pay by the week, by the 10-trip, or even by the day would cost at least $100 more a month. In other words, there is no cheaper train service to her job. So she is stuck buying the monthly ticket even though she would only be using it three days a week.

Commuter parking at the train station is also monthly so there is no savings there either.

The train station is only a few blocks from our home so any savings for gas to drive to/from the station is literally pocket change at best.

And we will still have to take our children to day care even when she is home because you can't conduct phone calls and get much done with a bunch of crying kids around (in spite of what you see on TV commercials about the person who left the big office and work from home – it just doesn't work that way).

So at the end of it all the "favor" of letter her work from home 2 days a week is an empty gesture at best for us. I'm sure that others in the company will find this a great benefit. But you can't prove it by us.

Facing Mortality: We All End Up That Way In The End

One of the many aspects of the human personality, at least the Western/American personality, I just don't understand is the lack of acceptance of our own mortality. No one will live forever (not even sure I would want to if possible anyway). Sooner or later we all will die. Hopefully much much later than sooner. But, as the ling-run economists say, in the end we're all food for worms.

I can understand that realizing your inevitable death isn't a pleasant thought for many. And when you're young that day seems sooooooooooo far way (though an accident can befall anyone at any time and bring that day to now). So the very young I will give a temporary pass to on the subject.

But for the rest – Wake up!

I just don't understand how grown people - supposedly adults – married, often with children, a house or other significant property/assets, just refuses to deal with the reality of their eventual demise.

Even if you don't care about yourself what of the rest of your family? Your spouse? Your kids?
But no. Won't lift a finger to have a will made even by one of those cheapo online services much less go to an experienced estate planner or lawyer.

I had a conversation with a woman who was recently divorced after 20 years of marriage. She had custody of her 3 early-teen children, one of whom had a physical disability. I mentioned to her the idea of needing a will now that she was the sole legal caretaker for her children. She said she didn’t' see the need. I mentioned that at least with a good will she could protect the money she received from the divorce and ensure her wishes as far as final arrangements were planned out. She said she didn’t want a big funeral but instead a simply service and cremation. When I pointed out that even a basic service at a chapel and cremation could still cost thousands of dollars she gave the typical deer-in-the-headlight stare. I then added who did she expect to pay for all that – her teenage kids? To which she responded by shrugging her shoulders and saying "Eh." I didn't bother going on from there.

In her case I try to cut some slack figuring she's going through a very stressful period and may be overwhelmed at the moment. But the fact remains she is the sole provider now for her kids (child support from her ex-hubby not withstanding) so I would hope she'd have a better answer that just "Eh"! Not holding my breath that she will change her attitude later.

But she is far from alone in this I-don't-care attitude. Perhaps it's just part of the apparent evolution of our culture in that fewer and fewer people care to bother taking responsibility for themselves and their lives; That more and more people have the attitude that "someone" (probably government) will take care of them. There are more important things to concern yourself with like having a good time playing Xbox and going to the beach.

The end is coming for all of us eventually. Choose to meet it like the adult you're supposed to be!

Death of a Ferrari Salesman

Do you know anyone who owns a Ferrari? Or a Porsche? Or any other high end car?

I don't.

But so what?

Some people do and that's none of anyone else's business.

In the America of Obama "the rich" are the enemies of the nation. "The rich" are more a threat than any terrorist or foreign power. What with their fancy-shmancy high priced cars and toys.


So they should be taxed out the butt for daring to have sooooo much money.


This appeals to a great many people. Manipulating class envy is a skill well honed by liberals.


But before you say this doesn't affect you stop and really think about.


Someone has to be the salesman who sells "the rich" the car.
Someone has to be the owner of the dealership that offers these kinds of cars.
Someone has to be the mechanic that services these cars.
Someone has to be the seller (and possibly manufacturer) of the parts that are used to repair the car.
Someone has to be the insurance agent that sells the policy to the own of the car.
And yes, someone has to be the seller of the evil gasoline the car uses as fuel.


That is also not to mention the government gets a boat load of tax revenue at each of these transactions in the form of sales tax, import tax, registration tax, excise tax, etc.


So when "the rich" buy a Ferrari or other high end car a lot of people have jobs selling and servicing that car.


Now tax away the extra money "the rich" might use to buy such a car and a lot of people loose work. A lot of non-rich people.


The point being that when "the rich" buy the products and services they can afford that makes jobs and incomes for many others too. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Perhaps not the people that some would like to see have jobs, and perhaps not paid what some think they should be paid (though what person is every totally satisfied with what they are paid?!) but that is an economy.


A lot of people's jobs, income and very livelihoods depend on "the rich" spending their excess money on things not immediately essential but are extra to life. More over, no economy in history has ever grown and no nation has ever been financial strong by just supplying the mere basics of daily life.


Look around your own neighborhoods. I guarantee that at least 75% of the shops and stores and services sold in your area are extra to life, not basic fundamental necessities. Even the food you buy can be cut down to one or two basic supply stores. Not the wide range of specialized (e.g. Italian, Chinese, BBQ, deli, pizza, etc) that is common even in the smallest towns.


No person ever got their own lives better by taking away freedom of choice from someone else (unless they are a dictator).


If you know someone who has let me know.

MasterPo Reviews "The Colony"

Normally I would not think of doing an article about reviewing a TV show. MasterPo is NOT a television show critic. Look on other blogs for that. But in this case I feel it is worthy of an exception.

If you haven't seen "The Colony" and intend to be forewarned there are spoilers in here.


You've been warned…

"The Colony" is a quasi-reality/docu-simulation/study/experiment TV show on the Discovery channel.

The basic plot is simple and timely:

A virus plague has struck and wiped out more than 90% of the world's population. What kind of virus, where it came from, was it natural or a WMD attack is not stated. I suppose that's part of the point, to keep it general as all these could be scenarios. Now, a small group of uninfected people have found each other, been able to acquire a few basic materials by scavenging an already looted department store, and have found what appears to be a recently abandoned factory facility to call home.

Along with the group of people there is a catastrophe historian/survival expert and a psychologist from the Discovery channel that make periodic commentary about the events simulated on the show.

The story takes place in Los Angeles but could easily be any other city in the country (if not the world). The building itself is real. The property is owned by the Department of Homeland Security and is used to train for urban disasters.

Supposedly the people are real everyday Joe's and Jane's, not actors (although I suspect at least one is acting a role). Though each one very conveniently has specific hands-on technical skills and knowledge that would be crucial to survival in such a situation (more on that shortly). Also very conveniently the abandoned factory has just enough working hand tools, supplies, components, even a bit of food that can be used by the group to start building at least some basic structures and devices such as water filtration and some electricity.

Throughout this series spanning several weeks the group is challenged with a number of tasks and obstacles that it is believed would be real problems in the event of such a catastrophe. Problems like making drinkable water, personal hygiene and sanitary needs (i.e. the bathroom), good, generating electricity, and securing their sanctuary from raiders (portrayed by other people I believe are actors but the participants may or may not know that).

As of writing this review only the first episode has aired and I like it. Sure it's TV and as such there will be holes in the events as well as some very contrived situations.

For example, I already mentioned that everyone in the group has some specific skill or ability that is a crucial contribution to the overall group survival. There is a mechanic, an electrical engineer, a construction contractors, a handyman, even a doctor and an ER nurse. In reality there is no way to cherry pick people with such great skills. In reality there would be someone who works at Wendy's or The Gap; There would be a lawyer or a CPA; There would be an art teacher; There would be a mailman, etc. None of which have professional skills or knowledge (perhaps personal/hobby but not professional) that I can see in any way contributes to the groups survival, other than being a physical body that can be instructed to perform a task or labor.

There too the plot falls short. There are no babies or children. Surely some would have survived and they don't have any skills to contribute nor can do any real labor to help the group. Obviously the show can't put babies and children at risk but it is a hole in the reality concept. Same with someone who is handicapped or injured and unable to work productively in the group. Such a person may have knowledge or skills crucial to the groups' survival and therefore makes them of value to the group. But they might not.

And there are no panic stricken, hysterical people either. Perhaps the intent of the show is to take place several days or weeks after the totality of the disaster such that anyone panicking or hysterical has gotten over it or simple fallen victim to their own breakdown. But in a real disaster people who are in an uncontrollable hysteria are a real likelihood and danger to your own survival. Also, people who have not been able to accept and adapt to the reality of the situation but instead have gone literally insane from the reality will also be a real danger.

It's likely the producers just didn't want to tackle these issues on the show: What do you do in a survival situations where food, water, medicine, even secure shelter is so scares yet you have people who can not provide any productive contribution to the groups' survival? Do you still keep them in the group, consuming valuable food/water etc while not contributing anything helpful in return? Or do you turn them away from the group? It's a deep moral question but when day by day life hangs in the balance of one more or less mouth to feed it becomes a razor sharp issue.
I do find the show thus far creative and, with the items above taken into consideration, a real attempt at some thing like a true simulation of a major collapse of modern civilization. It certainly does not (yet) appear to have been designed for drama and personal conflict the way other reality TV shows are, such as "Survivor".

However, there remains one point that I do feel needs special addressing:

Raiders

It seems throughout the show the survivors' refuge will be periodically assaulted by others outside their group. In this pilot episode along the compound was first visited by a lone stranger during the night who was looking for a way in but was unsuccessful and appears to have left discouraged. Then two large men on motorcycles buzzed around the back door of the factory during the night. Is suspect they are really scouts for a much larger raider force yet to be seen. And the original group as joined by an additional smaller group of survivors but some don't trust the new arrivals. One of the new arrivals admits to having served time in prison for drug smuggling (whether this is true or he is just playing a role is unclear at this time).

This part is probably the most realistic aspect of the show. And the most frightening to me.

Raiders (aka looters, bandits, thugs etc) will be a fact of life in any disaster survival situation. Remember the images of the locals in New Orleans after Katrina? And that was just a big rain storm! Police, National Guard and Federal forces responded very soon after the event (I'm not going to debate the government's response to Katrina in this article so don't email me about it, the fact is Federal and State forces were there quickly).

But what if the disaster had been much more wide spread and total?
What if the government itself, at least in part, was gone?
What if the emergency relief and security forces counted on just aren't there anymore?
And, no insult intended, what if some of the very people you count on to help you (police and soldiers) themselves have gone "rogue"? (i.e. have taken matters into their own hands for their own survival).

I regret that in this day and age raiders will be as great a threat as starvation, cold, and disease – maybe even more!

Along similar lines, so far the raiders have not been shown as being armed. Again it could be Discovery Channel just doesn't want to deal with the issue of guns. It's their show and they can set the limitations they want. But that isn't reality.

I fear in a real disaster where there is a partial or total government collapse heavily armed raiders will be everywhere. Some may even steal the uniforms of police, security and soldiers to try to pass themselves as such in order to gain confidence before attacking.

I don't know if future episodes of "The Colony" will address these concerns. Probably not. They probably don't want to be that controversial and in the day and age I can't blame them too much.
But I do believe these are very real concerns that anyone watching "The Colony" should keep in mind since they may not be addressed on the show.

Two-thumbs up from MasterPo!

Missed Opportunities (or, A Dream or A Right?)

On another site the question was recently put to me:

What about a person who didn't buy a house 30-40 years ago when prices were cheaper and not has to pay nearly a mortgage payment itself to rent a small apartment or just a room in someone else's house? How can they even think about retiring or just slowing down work in their senior years?

My answer was simple: It was a missed opportunity they now have to live with.

Presuming the person did in fact have the means to buy a house 30-40 years ago (sure prices were lower back then but so were salaries) and didn't pull the trigger for whatever reason, it's a lost opportunity.

Life is full of these.

I should have bought Amazon.com stock at $14/share and Wal-Mart stock at $19/share but didn't (my wife still reminds me of that!).

I should have gone on to post-graduate school for a PhD but really didn't interest me much at the time.

I should have take a certain job opportunity some years ago but didn't and that decision lead to 4 years of pure Hell!

The wreckage of decisions and choice litter the sides of the road of life. Nothing we can do about it living a linear existence. And even if we could go back and make different decisions, sure it would have changed our lives and possible solved certain problems, but a whole new set of never-imagine problems may have arisen to take the place of the old problems.

With regard to the hypothetical person in the question above, at the risk of sounding cold, I don't see anything that can be done for them. Nor should it. They made their decision long ago for whatever reason. Holding out hope that somehow, someway in their later years a miracle will happen and they can now afford to buy (and operate!) a house is unrealistic, unless they win the lottery.

Home ownership may be the American dream but it isn't a given right that everyone will own a house. It's the attempt to have made the dream a right that lead straight to the real estate bubble and crash and the resulting historic record number of foreclosures we are still seeing today (as of writing this anyway).

Whether you accept Chaos Theory or The Butterfly Effect or some other life guidance philosophy, the decisions you make or not make today can have major repercussions on your life in years to come.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with but a single step.

Tread gently for it is my dreams you are walking on.

Another Year Past, But Far From Forgotten! (September 11th Tribute)

September 11, 2009 marks 8 years since the murderous terrorist attacks on America that claimed nearly 3,000 civilian lives in a matter of minutes. My memory of that day will forever be etched into my mind. I was there in downtown New York City, working just off Wall Street. Just a scant few blocks from the South WTC tower. The while thing unfolded in front of me like a surreal movie.

But this article is not about me.

It's about them: The men and women who were murdered in cold blood on 9/11.

• It is about remembering their lives and the cruel circumstances of their deaths.



• It is about remembering the brave heroes of Flight 93 who stood up for themselves and showed what a true free American is.





• It is about the men and women of the American military (all branches) that have fought and died since then to stop any further attacks from happening.



• And it is about the men and woman who have done countless missions and activities layered in classification and secrecy we will never know about but have also stopped major death and destruction from being wrought on America and Americans.

In 2009, September 11 falls on a Friday.


As you go about your weekend activities having fun and being with your friends & family, please take a moment and remember the 3,000 American civilians who did not go home on 9/11/01 to their families and friends. Remember those men and women whose lives were stolen from them by Islamic religious zealots (yes I said it! If you don't like that, screw off!) who took pleasure and delight in casually putting out the lives of unarmed, undefended civilians.

And remember the heroic men and women of the American military who have volunteered their lives to protect you and me and out families, sometimes at the cost of their own lives. No comic book character could ever be more "super" than the American soldier.

Please
Do not let the images and video of that day fade into just a few pages in some history books!

God Bless America!

If I Knew Back Then What I Know Now…

"If I knew back then what I know now I would have done things differently."

This is a common philosophical saying people use to express how they wish they could have changed something(s) in their life. Perhaps they feel they had a bad decision, did something they shouldn't have done or didn't do something they should have. It could be as simple as turning right instead of left at some juncture in life. Who knows. It's not important the details per se.

What is important however is that while it is a good topic for discussion and self awareness, the reality is that in all likelihood things would be different from the start. All you think you would change probably wouldn't happen anyway. If you could go back and re-live the last 10-20-30 years knowing what you know today at the first point in time where you feel you made the wrong decision and now choose what you think would have been the right decision, then from that point on everything else will be different too! All the other bad or wrong moves and decisions you had subsequent to this will probably never happen.

By changing that one single decision your path from that point in time onward will probably have changed so completely that all the other bad/wrong decisions will probably never come up! Instead, life will deal you an entirely new set of problems and decisions you didn't have to face before. And, just as before, 10-20-30 years later you will look back and think about these decisions. Some you will certainly deem to also be bad or wrong ones too.

So while I think it's good to have some introspective on what you think you did wrong (and right), dwelling on how much better your life would have been had you made some other decision is pointless. Even if you could go back and redo that decision everything else will so be changed by that redo in ways you can't imagine.

Sooner or later you'll be back to saying "If I only knew then what I know now…"

Carpe Diem!

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