Support Liberty and Peace in Iran!

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As there has been no meaningful statement of support from President Obama, I am making the one on behalf of freedom-loving Americans.

People of Iran,

May God's peace be upon you in your struggle for liberty and peace!

America and Americans support you! Stay strong and courageous!

Liberty is the right of all people, as well as peace. Sadly, your ancient nation has suffered at the hands of tyrants and radicals in recent years. As you struggle to assert your dignity and God given rights, know that America and all Americans support you! May peace and liberty come to your land. May you be safe in your homes and places of worship, free from terror and oppression.

In the final words of one of our beloved, patriot songs:

From every mountain side, LET FREEDOM RING!

Class Warfare at the Wall Street Journal

Good grief, the Wall Street Journal is now printing class warfare stories on the front page. In the 19 June 2009 daily edition, below the fold, there is a story titled, "CEOs of Bailed-Out Banks Flew to Resorts on Firms' Jets."

My first response is "who cares?" I sure don't. Corporate jets are whipping boys in the current game of nationalizing industries and taking the country down the road to socialism. There I said it. The current administration and Congress are turning this country into Venezuela! Special Sign Up Bonus: FREE rollover minutes. Order Today!

From the article:

"Disclosure of the flights comes at a t time when the Obama administration is setting limits on how banks that receive federal money may compensate their executives... Aid recipients' use of corporate jets, even for business, has been a sensitive matter since last fall."

Did you get all of that? The Executive Branch is setting limits on the compensation of publicly-traded companies. What? Who is "sensitive" to the matter? President Teleprompter who takes a $27,000 dollar flight to go one a date with his wife? But wait, you say, he is the President, he has to be protected. I agree, he does. But what about the President of a company that employs 250,000 people and generates over $97 billion in revenue? 
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That person would be Ivan G. Seidenberg, CEO of Verizon Communications. According to their most recent proxy statement:

"The Company provides certain aircraft and ground transportation benefits to enhance the safety and security of certain of the named executive officers."

For Bank of America's Ken Lewis, he too is entitled to use the corporate jet for "...primarily for business travel." If you read the proxy statement of any major corporation, they will say roughly the same thing, as well as noting it as an element of compensation. If you were paying an executive $1500 an hour, would you want them standing in the security line at JFK for 45 minutes? I sure wouldn't! Cheap? No. 100% Free. Trade stocks for free on Zecco.com. The Free Trading Community. www.zecco.com

The fact of the matter is that most people won't ever fly in a corporate jet or earn what a CEO earns. While it is nice to dream those dreams and work hard to try to fulfill them, it probably won't happen. If you begrudge them, then don't invest in their companies. If you feel locked in because your tax dollars went in the form of a bailout, then vote the bums out! Frankly, I am sick of the whining.

Is Wind Worth It?

No one can deny the seriousness of interest in alternative energy. This dedication is leading to advances in technologies to make alternative energy economically efficient.

Most recently, Gizmag.com reported on a new wind turbine for the home. Weighing in at just 95 lbs (43 kg), it can be mounted on a pole, or a roof. The Honeywell Windgate wind turbine from EarthTronics is six feet across (1.8 m) and is able to generate power in wind speeds as low as 2 mph (3.2 kph).

These statistics are significant as most of the continental U.S. is in low wind areas making traditional wind turbines futile. The unit will go on sale with an MSRP of $4500, which is said to be a third of traditional wind turbines. Additional costs include the need for an automotive battery and a licensed electrician to hook the turbine into the house distribution panel. Mountain House Freeze-Dried Food

Do the numbers work? Will I put one up? Not yet. The turbine is said produce "...to up to 2000 kilowatt hours (kW) of power per year, which is about 15 percent of an average household’s energy needs." These numbers assume an average annual consumption of 13,333.33 kW hours. The average price per residential kW in the U.S. is $0.1138, thus making the annual average electric bill $1517.33. The wind turbine could reduce that amount by as much as $227.60 annually. Assuming only the cost of the turbine, it would take at least 19.77 years to get your money back. Cheap? No. 100% Free. Trade stocks for free on Zecco.com. The Free Trading Community. www.zecco.com

The only thing that is making this turbine interesting is the prospect of a federal tax subsidy. The subsidy itself varies between 0-100% for the cost of the turbine alone, depending upon location. CNN reports the subsidy is 30%. Let's run the numbers again. With the 30% subsidy, the turbine now costs $3150 and would take 13.84 years to recoup the cost of the turbine alone. TGC Get 4 books for $1 each

In my personal opinion, this would not be on my list of capital expenditures. It would be close, as my new HVAC system is going to take 12 years for total payback. If you have $4500 and money for an electrician, you may want to do this. Of course, the elephant in the room is whether President Teleprompter and his Congressional sycophants are going to impose a "cap and trade" energy mega-tax. If that tax brings up the price of electricity, which it surely will, this wind turbine may be just the ticket.

For now, I am sticking with coal, natural gas and nuclear, as they provide the most consistent and least expensive power. If the economics of wind improves, I will certainly think about it.

Some Good News for a Change

After months of bad economic news, I want to share some good news.

The Toronto Star reports somebody dropped off two paintings by a Venetian master, Federico Del Campo, at Goodwill Industries.

For those who aren't familiar with Goodwill, here is who they are and what they do:

"We are North America’s leading nonprofit provider of education, training, and career services for people with disadvantages, such as welfare dependency, homelessness, and lack of education or work experience, as well as those with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. Last year, local Goodwills collectively provided employment and training services to more than 1.1 million individuals. We believe that work has the power to transform lives by building self-confidence, independence, creativity, trust and friendships. Everyone deserves a chance to have these."

People who want to help Goodwill donate items that are sold in their thrift stores. All of the work to collect, sort, and sell the items is done by those Goodwill is helping. In this particular case, the manager, Helen Zhuang, recognized the paintings were not your everyday donation. Stop Looking for a Job! Let RiseSmart help you find your $100k dream job! www.risesmart.com

Ms. Zhuang notified management and the paintings were sent to a local auction house to determine their value. When the unique nature of the works was determined, the were put up for sale. The paintings fetched CDN$80,700 and CDN$78,400, respectively. The paintings were bought by an anonymous buyer, somewhere in Europe. Protect your Medical Identity with TrustedID. $1,000,000 Warranty & Great Customer Service

As each of us struggles with the bombardment of bad economic news, as well as the suffering of those around us, it is important to have hope. Hope reminds us that despite appearances, evil will never triumph over good. Despite the gravity of our situation and the suffering we encounter, good is coming from it. Maybe not for us, or in our time, but good will always emerge from suffering. Take heart and have hope! If you can, consider donating time or money to charity. If you can't, pray for those who suffer and provide spiritual relief where you can.

The Truth about Chrysler's Nationalization Comes Out

If it weren't already clear that President Teleprompter wanted to run Chrysler into the arms of the UAW and Fiat, the "Wall Street Journal" ran a front page piece on June 6, 2009 that clearly spells it all out.

The article, titled "U.S. Pushed Fiat Deal on Chrysler" discusses emails that show Chrysler and its advisers were very concerned about off-balance sheet joint ventures Fiat was involved with, as well as a lack of financial disclosure on the part of Fiat. Cheap? No. 100% Free. Trade stocks for free on Zecco.com. The Free Trading Community. www.zecco.com

The emails, which you can read for yourself, demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt the level of personal involvement of President Teleprompter. Here is just a taste:

"Its over. The President doesn't negotiate second rounds."

Absolutely breathtaking. These emails came to light in discovery as the Indiana pension funds sought to stop the nationalization plan. As of June 8, 2009, the federal Appeals Court has allowed the nationalization to continue, though it is delayed to allow Indiana's lawyer, Tom Lauria, who Treasury refers to as a "terrorist," to file with the Supreme Court. Gift Cards - Jeep Parts & Accessories

In the end, the issue is whether bankruptcy law in the United States will be followed or if the President to exercise extra-constitutional duties. As is clearly the case, the rule of absolute priority is not being followed in Chrysler's case. The failure to abide by the rule of law is destroying trust in the economic system of the United States.

Solar Saves Lives

Although this blog is focused on value and money, there is nothing more valuable than human life. That's why I am pleased to write about a nifty gadget that uses solar energy and plastic to bring clean drinking water to the poorest of the world.

Both Gizmag.com and ecofriend.org have articles about the Solaqua, an inexpensive device that uses the sun to purify water. Water Barrels and Storage

It was designed by "...Jason Lam, a student at the University of New South Wales in Australia. It was runner-up in the student division of the 2009 Australian Design Award - James Dyson Award announced on May 29."

Simply, the device has a central funnel with a filter, that then distributes the water to 5, two liter bottles. The bottles have black bottoms to concentrate the rays of the sun, and the plastic is designed to reflect the UV rays of the sun. This method is known as SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection) and is recommended by the World Health Organization. Discover Top Rated Mighty Leaf Herbal Tea. Tea lovers love our delicious herbal tea blends. You will too. Save 25% on your first order!

As an American, I am used to clean drinking water from the tap. However, having traveled to China, Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries without clean drinking water, I know just how blessed we American's are. Water borne pathogens kill millions of people each year, with children and the elderly hardest hit. A simple system such as Solaqua can help prevent many of these deaths, cheaply and easily.

The true value of any innovation is how much it helps promote human life. To Jason Lam and SODIS.ch, I salute you and encourage you in your work! I also encourage my readers to take active steps to promote clean drinking water to the poorest among us.

Solar Does Make Sense, For Small Applications

Although I am critical of solar energy for power plants, I do believe it is efficient for low voltage applications.

To that end, Sharp has released the "industry's thinnest" solar module. Measuring .8mm thick, this module is currently being used to power its Solar Ketai, a solar-powered, waterproof cell phone.

What I like about this story is that solar is being used to power low voltage-requiring applications. While this has been done with calculators for years, it is finding new applications to power, like attic fans (which I have in my house and it works great).

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Were I an investor in solar companies, I would focus on these types of applications, as they quick wins. Additionally, they incrementally remove devices from the grid as the technology improves. However, I still believe the use of solar for large-scale electrical generation is nowhere near ready for prime time.

When one calculates the cost of producing the photovoltaic cells, mirrors, and associated equipment, then batteries, transformers, and storage, it is staggering. Then, one has to use vast tracts of desert, which can be environmentally sensitive, to deliver a limited amount of power during a limited period of time to an insufficient grid.

For more on the specifics, read "Nuclear, American Style," and the other 7 articles on this topic I have written. The keyword is nuclear.

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But good for Sharp! I am excited to see more and more devices efficiently using solar power.

Did Bondholders Learn from Chrysler?

The Wall Street Journal ran a front page story on their May 27, 2009 edition titled "GM-Union Deal Raises U.S. Stake."

Although the piece deals largely with the U.S. government getting a 70% share of GM, with the UAW taking a reduced, 17.5%, it mentioned that bondholders could reject a debt-for-equity swap ($27 billion in unsecured debt for 10% of the company).

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It turns out that the bondholders did reject the swap and now GM is highly likely to enter bankruptcy on or around June 1, the government deadline for restructuring.

Although I have written about evils of the nationalization of auto industry here, here, and here, the GM bankruptcy process has been somewhat different.

In the now-failed deal, the senior creditors were to be made whole with $6 billion. Sounds good so far. The union, according to the Wall Street Journal, reduced their stake because they "...were concerned about GM's prospects..." also sounds pretty sane. However, GM's bankruptcy is more complicated because it is so large and has no single buyer in the wings. People who switched to Allstate saved an average of $396 per year. Quote Now!

These conditions will make for a good court fight. Why is this a good thing when the consequences are so bad for so many? It is good because it serves as a reminder to the current Legislative and Executive branches that government has no business trying to run the auto business. A good court fight will allow the stake holders to duke it out and have the market best decide the fate of a failing company. Try RingCentral Fax FREE for 30 days

Further, this bankruptcy will show all future lenders to U.S. companies that the business climate of the U.S. is transparent and operates under the rule of law. This concept has been put in grave doubt by President Teleprompter's interference with Chrysler and GMAC.

Finally, a long bankruptcy will put the brakes on the socialism express this country has been on since January, 2009. If free markets are to succeed, no company can be sacred, and no industry too important.

Tax the Economy to Health, yeah Right!

Nothing reduces consumption faster than rising prices. Lower consumption leads to lower overall economic growth. So what idiot would propose raising prices to "avert fiscal calamity?"

According to Lori Montgomery of The Washington Post, the idiot(s) would be:

"... a roomful of tax experts pleaded with Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner to consider a VAT."

A VAT, or Value Added Tax, is sales tax, usually a fixed amount added to the purchase price of any good or service sold. Ms. Montgomery continues that the poor are most hurt, but should promote a VAT because:

"VAT advocates say those negatives could be offset by using the proceeds to pay for health care for every American -- a tangible benefit that would be highly valuable to low-income families."

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Ahh, now I understand, to add health care to the list of nationalized industries, President Teleprompter needs some extra cash. Is it not clear to the 50% of us who pay income tax that even darker economic times are yet to come??

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Let me provide the fastest and easiest way to get this country out of its economic trouble, REDUCE GOVERNMENT SPENDING!!! Additionally, reduce fees and regulatory burdens on business, as well as eliminating the death tax and capital gains tax. Did I mention eliminating corporate taxation?

Lest anyone forget, this VAT being discussed is ON TOP OF existing federal income tax, and will likely be raised, just like state sales taxes are. Again, higher prices equals less consumption. Less consumption leads to lower industrial and economic production. Lower production leads to unemployment and economic degradation. Stop this VAT nonsense!