Beautiful Day

Do you know what? It's a beautiful day today. Its about 80 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, I've got a good amount of money in the bank (real liquid assets), I've got some great people in my life, I'm going to openning day at Dodger Stadium, I'm living in one of the top 10 or 20 countries in the world, I'm in good health, I have freedom to do whatever it is I decide to do today, tomorrow, and the foreseeable future, and I have no reason to believe things won't get better from here.

I don't live a fantasy life by hollywood standards - but by most standards my life is pretty close to what most people would consider pretty amazing. I do most things I want.

Life is about finding a balance of being happy with what you have - being conent - and improving your situation when you think that you are capable, but more importantly, when you want more. There is no absolute level of achievement or money that maximizes ones happiness. Some would say the journey to achieve those things is more valuable than reaching such arbitrary goals. I would include myself as one of those people.

I am in an office sitting at a desk - but the sun is shinning through my window on my face and I feel alive. It's a beautiful day.

afternoon break

1) got hungry
2) made power move decision to tell bros here i wanted to go to mcdonalds
3) walked ~ 10 min to mcdonalds
4) said "lemme get the mcdouble and the iced coffee mccafe pleeze"
5) got the mcdouble and mccafe
6) ate it within 2-3 minutes and wished I had ordered more
7) walked back to the office
8) feel real good about what happened
9) still sippin on the iced coffee mccafe tryin to make it last

dream

Had a dream regarding work last night. This is of note because interestingly enough I dont often have dreams involving work people. The dream was as follows: I remember my friend here was going to college with me and was very disruptive and talked and interrupted all the time. Then, I remember that one of the guys here who I think is gay was sitting on my back and trying to crack it because it was stiff while I was waiting in line at McDonalds for a McCafe. Then some little hoppers came up and stole my drink (but the guy did crack my back and if felt good).

coffee break

Today I threw my coffee break a little curveball. Usually I get some sort of coffee from famima or coffee bean or sometimes starbucks - but some analysis told me I wasn't operating optimally. The damn McCafe at McDonalds is like 1.89 and it is the absolute best thing since the progressive tax system. I am a fiend for these things. And, it is not about them being cheep (though that is tight too). Most has to do with the fact that they are better than any other coffee type drinks I can get elsewhere - regardless of price. So at coffee bean today I got the iced tea. Can justify the more money for an inferior product. Japanese bloom iced tea. Pretty good and hopefully good for me as well.

work relationship

Remember the guy that called me the morning I began my vacation back in December? No? Anyway.... He called me right now "just to give me a heads up." We are back working on another project together and its really going swell. He calls me into his office on the reg. Comes into my office on the reg. We shoot the breeze regarding yields, escrow account, and all issues regarding bonds. The point of his call? Nothing really just wanted to let me know the latest on a deal that we are working on (from home he called). Really nice to have an older man take you under his wing...

victorville/high desert story of the week

Decided to start devoting a regular post here that is devoted to my home - Victorville. In some cases, I will include stories from neighboring cities. Todays entry is a commentary on the state of immigration. Read about this immigrant family who stole a stove. It happened, and problems like these and others could easily be settled if we could more easily deport these people. Something I want to highlight is to make sure to read the comments below these stories because they are most often more interesting than the story itself. Victorville and the High Desert in general is an absolute cultural melting pot - quintessential "America" as we know it. You'll see what happens when all these people live in such proximity and interact with people they otherwise would not. But thats enough from me, check it out:

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/son-26657-stolen-arrested.html

The highlighted comment of the day is:


vvdude
4:27 PM on March 21, 2011

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Andrew Dement, 24, and his mother, Kimberly Dement, 48,
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

those immigrants, they give some a bad reputation!

Deport them!

 5 replies

sniperdoc760
6:31 PM on March 21, 2011

unfortunately, they are not immigrants. they are white as hell

nerakk
7:24 AM on March 22, 2011

I think that's dudes point. :D Silly boy dude.

meburrito
9:11 AM on March 22, 2011

white is the worse kind of illegal!!!!!

konasurf
4:43 PM on March 22, 2011

I know. It's outrageous and uncalled for. With minorities it's a given and an accepted cultural norm.

breakthrough

I drink alot of water through the day because it is healthy and keeps me up and about. So any efficiency improvements involved in the process of me acquiring/consuming water plays a pretty vital role in my life. Today I was informed of one of those things that essentially doubles my efficiency. There are two spouts on the water tank. One is room temperature. One is cold water. The cold water is too cold for me so I usually go for the room temperature water. However, a colleague showed me today that the two spouts are spaced such that both can be used -with one hand - to fill a cup simultaneously. Boom. Cup filled two times as fast. Also, I get a more palatable mix of temperatures of water. Something between cold and room temperature. Honestly, a pretty big moment for me.

good deed

I hate to toot my own horn, but I think I am going to. Bought a homeless man a coffee right now. A good coffee from Coffee Bean. He is outside my office every day and is missing a leg. I think I have mentioned him here before - and explained that he has been to many performances at nokia/staples (Pink Floyd etc.). Also, he is always up on the scores, politics, everything. But he asked me for a coffee, and said he'd pay, and I got it for him. What good thing you do today?

pop quiz

First one to tell me the error on 7.12 gets a free ipad 2:

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-735-double-affine-hecke-algebras-in-representation-theory-combinatorics-geometry-and-mathematical-physics-fall-2009/lecture-notes/MIT18_735F09_ch07.pdf

the lottery

Just want to take a second and give thanks for the many "lotterys" I have won that have put me in the position I am in now. For those who weren't as lucky - and thats exactly what it comes down to - as I to be put in all of these circumstances, I am sorry.

To be able to grow up as a white man in suburban upper middle class america is something that I had no control of. However, I now see that my life is utter fantasy - and mainly due to things that were out of my hands.

Thank you.

three-fifths compromise

Well, the poll has closed. Want to thank the thousands of you for voting. Due to a technicality, looks like BM's votes only count as 3/5ths per - meaning Matija's son is the winner of the next guest blog post. My people we be getting in contact with Matija's sons people soon having him sign the requisite wavers of liability and such.

Pretty excited at having a young American, Persian, Croat point of view on the blog! Hopefully it will bring in more of that demographic that I have really been trying to reach out to!

last night activities

Went to McDonald's last night with a few friends. Got the mcdouble and the 20 piece mcnuggets and an iced coffee (3rd coffee of the day).

But most importantly saw a budding Gordon Gekko operating out of the McDonalds itself. This mid 20's guy was making his money work. Disheveled to be sure - but zero concern for the order numbers being called out every few seconds, and the ruckus being caused by the children's playplace a few meters away. Had the laptop plugged into the roof (the only outlet available). Had the land-line type phone (with cord and all) and was wheeling and dealing from a booth in the corner. Had papers strewn about and was really giving someone an earfull on the phone. A wise business decision? Zero overhead? The background noise of a true trading floor? In any case a pretty fantasy operation going down on the corner of Overland and Venice.

work politics

Someone snitched at work recently. As I have described in previous posts, one of my managers has missed approximately 30% of the last three or four or five months. We get alot of PTO here, but nothing like the amount he has taken. Apparently, the compliance guy here went and talked to an MD here regarding the fact that he has little to no PTO time left (which is shocking that he has any, im saying fraud). Thats snitching yo. Don't know what we should do.

Crying

In light of recent events I want to talk about something grown men shouldn't do. Cry. Its not progressive or even hip to show you're weak and cry. Do I have alot more to say about it? No. That's it.


"This is the NBA: No Boys Allowed," Jackson said. "Big boys don't cry. But, if you're going to do it, do it in the toilet where no one can see."

Spending Money

Well friends, first of all I would like to thank Dinky for really giving us something great this morning. I think it was a great addition to the blog, and we will see soon who the next guest is!

Now that thats out of the way, I want to discuss a new attitude I have on spending money: I'm trying to do more of it. Sure I bought the fly ass watch yadda yadda. That was yesterday. The next grown up thing I am doing (to show both my grown-manness and ballingess) is buy a slick briefcase. No modern business man is complete without one. Do I have anything to put in it? Most definitely not. But that means nothing. What means something is when I walk in the office, or into an interview, or after work for a power dinner - I will have it in hand and everyone will know I mean business. So down to business. I have narrowed it down to three selections and would like some feedback on where to go from here. The image I am going for is called "Doing it with power all day." So let that (somewhat) guide your reasoning.

Here they are:

1) http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=469&Product_Id=1515554&Parent_Id=228&default_color=BLACK&sort_by=&sectioncolor=&sectionsize=#null


2) http://www.jackgeorges.com/others/for-him/genuine-ostrich-double-gusset-920.html

3 http://www.cartier.us/show-me/accessories#/show-me/leather-goods/l1000698-pasha-briefcase

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

What's Up With That: Volume 1, Stop Snitchin'

First of all let me say I am honored to be given the opportunity to guest blog. I know these kind of gifts do not come around often, so I am taking full advantage. If it wasn't for Blogmaster's courageous will and determination I would never have been given this opportunity.

Which brings me to the subject of this post: BYU has dismissed F Brandon Davies from the basketball team for "a violation of the school's honor code." The "violation" was that said basketball player had sex with his girlfriend. Now the merits of the school's honor code, said player's dismissal, said player's alleged infraction, and the impact on BYU's chances now that they are without said player's 11.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg (team-leading) are all debatable. Reasonable minds can disagree over these things and therefore they will not be the topic of this post.

I think there are two very important things that can be taken from this experience.

1. I have to say Amare Stoudemire seemed to hit the nail right on the head. via Twitter: "Don't ever go to BYU, they kick a Young Educated (Black)Brother OUT OF SCHOOL. The kid had premarital sex. Not suspended, Not Release. Wow!"

I have to say I totally agree with Amare (although after speaking with his lawyer, Ben Marty Finkelberg, he toned down his comments considerably).

2. Rumor has it that said player's indiscretions were found out as a result of . . . . a player on the team SNITCHED. (See picture above for the most important thing to take from this experience) Obviously said SNITCH must learn from his experience and keep it sealed up from now on. If SNITCHES aren't held accountable for their actions we may have a problem on our hands. Having too many SNITCHES without the requisite consequences/punishments is not good. That is like having a market that is saturated with saturated products and there is very little fluidity and condensation in said market.

What's Up With That?

Guest Bloging

Well, the people have spoken. And in the spirit of avoiding potential political uprisings, I will give them their wishes (as I see fit) and allow the guest blogging experiment to commence (possibly with heavy editing). Please enjoy, comment, and respect the fruit of the labor of our first guest blogger which you should be able to find very soon!

day off pt 2

Taking another day off guys. Pretty good so far. Woke up ~ same time I do for work and went to couch. Now going to go get my hair cut. Also going to put on my watch before I do so - so that anyone who sees me in between me going there and coming back, knows I mean business. Probably going to do alot of stuff today. Indeed it is confirmed that not being at work > being at work.

lets cut it all!

Recipe for republican dominance:

1) cut taxes.

That's all thats needed. Why? If you cut taxes in the good times, meaning lots of revenue is coming in either way, revenue is growing faster than government spending (local, state, federal, whatever you want) no one will notice, and you will be hailed for lowering people's tax burdens. At the same time you give these tax cuts, you purposely don't alter the spending that you are doing. Why? Because then voters would have to make a judgement call on how their government is ran. Not relating to the size of the government (which is what republicans want you to think the discussion is about right now) but about the role of government. To be succinct, what services do you want your dollars to pay for. If you don't cut spending commensurate with your tax cuts coterminously - then you get a red herring effect and pushing the tough decisions into the future, when you will be allowed to frame them in a more beneficial manner. Now, when the business cycle hits a trough - or more noticeably a recession - it appears government has been living beyond their means. And they have, but its not because of a ramp up of services or spending - but because of the tax cuts a few years ago. Now the discussion is not whether we want to help infants have food because their mom is a crack head, but that we have to "decrease the size of the government."

A wise plan indeed - if you are of the type that sees sacrificing the good of our cities, states, and federal governments for political dominance. But at least there is one thing we can be glad about that is happening because of this:

Camden, N.J., which has one of the highest crime rates in the country, has dismissed nearly half its police force.

conference call

Funny thing just happened on the call! The guy thought he was on mute (he was just real boring and no one had much to say) so he pressed mute to un-mute it, but in trying to un-mute the mute he actually activated the mute. Then he really did have to un-mute it!

new watch

Took off my jacket for the first time in a couple days and someone came in my office and saw me wearing my watch. He started busting up laughing and made a big scene and fell over on the couches outside of my office laughing at the watch and how absurd it is. Literally laughed for a solid 3 or 4 minutes and had trouble breathing.

Guess im just flossin like that...

thoughts I have gleaned from daily work periodical

IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD NOT FAIL, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Write, direct and stage plays in a medium-sized neighborhood theater with a vibrant audience and an unlimited budget. I guess this also answers "make a good living doing anything."

IF YOU COULD VISIT ANY PLACE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU GO AND WHY?

elBulli, in Spain. One of the most impossible reservations on the planet, especially now that Ferran Adrià is closing the place down (in its current form, at least).

(Does anyone know this person?)

business acumen

Today I want to do something a little different. I want to teach you guys some things. I know there is a particular follower of the blog who has been doing some freelance startup business consulting - so he may or may not have alot more to add in this arena. Nevertheless, I thought i might contribute something, and then let the comments section really solidify the process. Please see the following graph:

The area I really want to focus on is directly east of the y-axis. This is the area where you come up with a breakthrough idea, before other people do. In all of your business lives this is a kind of rule of thumb and you'll thank me later.