The Age of Envy- The Sunday Collage

It was kind of a strange week around here.

We had one of the worst GDP reports of the last decade and our Federal Reserve's stock market hardly took notice. Our markets are so distorted and zombified that they don't even pretend to respond to economic stimuli anymore. Only money printing.  

Gold mining stocks, after years of getting their asses kicked, are starting to rise. A gal I hardly know and that was some years ago, called me this week wanting to know where I would park a large sum of money. I told her my money was parked in a gold stock with options (Pretium Resources, PVG) and gold and silver bullion. Pretium has about 7.5 million ounces of gold and about five times that in silver. It is a huge, proven deposit with excellent management and instead of trading at 15-20 bucks where it should be, it trades at 8 bucks. It's almost a certainty that one of the giant miners with dwindling reserves is going to come after Pretium and I think that will happen soon.

I once had a guy tell me when speculating on real estate- figure out where everyone wants to live and then make sure you get there first. I apply that logic to all of my investments.

My "little" brother turned 40 this week and satisfied a bucket list item by playing in a World Series of Poker event. He is getting married in a couple of weeks and this is bringing about an interesting family reunion. Some old family animosities will be present as well as relatives I have never met. I am looking forward to this.

Each week during my travels, I try to remember those things that attract my attention- things worthy of writing about. Several days ago, Hillary Clinton's pronouncement that the Clintons left the White House dead broke- was probably the most ridiculous statement I heard all week.(With the possible exception of that IRS official who claimed the IRS lost Lois Lerner's emails.) Not only have the Clintons' made 100's of millions in dubious fashion, but Bill and Hillary were able to scrape up a million dollar down payment to buy a NY residence so that Hillary could carpet bag the Senate.They were also able to buy a couple other properties- one in the Hamptons- and provide daughter Chelsea with a 5 million dollar wedding. Chelsea's New York apartment cost 11 million. Who knows how that was financed. Maybe Chelsea is ringing up the register trading cattle futures like her mother.

What motivates Hillary Clinton to speak about her financial woes does not interest me in any significant way. Yet,  I find her fascinating. What does interest me is a phenomenon I have been witnessing for the last 20 years. To call it a blend of entitlement and greed is too simplistic.

Now stop and think about this. You are one of the luckiest and richest human beings on the planet. You have won life's lottery. You have had the best education.You have lived in the Governor's mansion, the White House, and you have dined with royalty- literally flown all over the world. Your husband has made 115 million in speaking engagements since 2001- not to mention all of the other income sources- like charging taxpayers rent to house Secret Service agents on your property or the cushy jobs you and your daughter have had like carpet bagging the senator gig in New York. The two taxpayer funded retirements with health benefits that you both enjoy probably seems like small potatoes. You have immediate access to any event in the world. You have your very own entourage of tax payer funded security and multiple homes including one with a pool in the Hamptons.

Hillary Clinton is stricken with the same disease that afflicts many people in this country. Complete and utter unconsciousness coupled with extreme self centered-ness, an enormous sense of entitlement, an absolute lack of gratitude for receiving the best gifts available to anyone on the planet and the callousness of a human being that could let people die in Benghazi without lifting a finger or even uttering an apology. Hillary Clinton is a sociopath and a monster. She is a terrible human being. But that's not what I want to focus on here.

The incessant wanting of our culture has almost bred gratitude out of our societal DNA. We think we are entitled to whatever we desire and when we want something- we think we should have it now. We throw pity parties and tantrums when we don't get what we want. We become spiritually sick.

This incessant wanting causes resentments as we perceive others to be the proximate cause when we don't get what we want. We never find fault with ourselves.

Years ago, we had a young police officer eligible for a promotion. He was clearly the best choice in terms of job performance. However he was so immature at that time that I simply could not see him in a leadership position nor can you really explain that to someone like him without having a confrontation. I think the timing was just bad. So when he discovered he was not being promoted he threw an angry fit and tossed a few chairs around thus validating my immature opinion of him. That was the first time I witnessed a sense of entitlement in full bloom.

In America right now, there is this sense that the enemy is anybody who has achieved something that we covet. We envy others. We envy their education and money, their homes and second homes, (Romney has 5) their motorcycles and cars, their jobs, and their trophy wives with nice boob jobs. This sickness manifests itself in many ways but I think the pentultimate example of it is someone like Hillary Clinton. Completely self absorbed and unconsciousness. Unaware of how the world sees her. I can't find a lot of pity or sympathy for Hillary Clinton- there are so many people, kids dying of cancer- that are never going to get the lottery ticket that Hillary picked up. She woke up on third base and probably thinks she hit the triple.

The solution for all of that madness of course- is a sense of gratitude for all of the things I already possess. Reasonably good health, a good education, a decent retirement income. My family are all reasonably healthy and alive. I have my little bungalow, the Elantra, Elvis the Roadking, my part time job, and freedom to do just about anything I want when I want it. Hell, I retired at 46. Who can do that? Right now, I've got the dream trip.

So I'm pretty grateful. I don't covet bigger houses or any of that bullshit that seems to drive most of our culture. I understand how lucky I have been to have been born to my parents in this country. I didn't select those circumstances and I am well aware of the billions of people who unlike me- did not win the birth lottery or land in countries as great as the U.S. once was.

I got lucky. There is a real sense of humility in realizing that you and your big ego really had nothing to do with the environmental circumstances that lead up to your successes. There are a lot of people who could use that lesson.

Happiness occurs when you accept that life is not fair nor was it ever meant to be. Real happiness occurs when you quit comparing your insides to someone else's outsides. I often wonder why it took me so damn long to figure all of this out and then I think, " Well, just be grateful that you did." I mean it could have been far worse. I could have been born Hillary Clinton. Now that would have been some bad luck.

Melrose- The Sunday Collage

Late last week, I was forced to cut my motorcycle trip through Montana short. The weather was so cold and rainy (and forecast to get far worse) that riding a motorcycle through it was miserable and getting a little unsafe. As I viewed the forecast for the following day which was Sunday- it looked like my only shot at getting out of there. Sunday's high was supposed to be 61 and that looked a lot better to me than the 50 degree highs forecast for Monday and Tuesday. As it happens, it snowed in Butte on Tuesday. I doubt Butte ever saw 50 degrees that day.

I left Butte right around 11 a.m. on Sunday and figured I'd stop in Dillon which is about 70 miles south. About 30 miles south of Butte is a little town called Melrose. Melrose has always been a mystery to me. Montana is full of towns like Melrose- towns that blossom with some possibility of becoming important social centers and then ultimately- they yield to obscurity and survival at some subsistence level with people who are determined to stay. I always wonder how people make a living in places like Melrose.

I decided that I would take the Melrose exit. I cannot remember the Melrose of my youth but common sense tells me that I must have been there. Maybe some memory would come flooding back. 

The main drag has a few buildings, a fly fishing shop, and some sort of restaurant/bar at the very end. All in all, it's maybe 3 or 4 blocks long. Across the way is a little plat with 6 streets running east to west and two streets running north and south. I pointed Elvis in that direction and found myself on the second street named "Hecla" which I have always associated with mining. All in all, there are maybe 40 homes in Melrose, some vacant. I can't imagine that more than 100 people live here.

The real attraction in Melrose is the Big Hole River. It is a world class fishing venue. Folks in Montana live in Montana because of places like the Big Hole. I fished it a few times as a kid. Back then, I took fishing for granted. I had no idea as a child that Butte sits near the heart of four or five of the greatest blue ribbon trout streams in the United States and that one day- it would attract so many sportsmen. The banks of the Big Hole River in my youth were largely vacant and undiscovered. Judging from the number of RV's, campers, trucks and trailers at the local boat ramp on the edge of Melrose- I realize that has all changed. I pointed Elvis in that direction just to get a better look at the river.

That's when it happened. Something so simple that it just never happens anymore. A time machine moment.

As I was approaching the river, there was a young boy walking along the side of the road. He was a tall, skinny kid, no more than 11 or 12 years old. He was wearing jeans, a short sleeved shirt, and he was carrying a fishing pole and a tackle box. As I passed him he turned and looked directly at me and he smiled and waved. He caught me completely off guard. His hair, or more precisely his bangs, were uniformly covering his forehead. For a brief moment in time, I actually thought that kid was me. That is exactly what I would have been doing. That is exactly how I used to look. Acknowledging someone else's presence with a polite smile and a wave is exactly what I might have done 40 years ago. But not today.

As I arrived at the boat ramp, I noted that it was unpaved. I swung a u turn on the paved part of the road to avoid adding a layer of dust to Elvis. The parking area was full. As I turned to exit the area I drove past the young boy a second time. He glanced up at me but did not wave again. Having been caught off guard the first time, I nodded and waved as I drove past him.

Standing between Melrose and Dillon is 40 miles of road. On a motorcycle, there is just you and your thoughts. That's why I love to ride.

When was the last time that I was anywhere, where a young boy or girl was not completely distracted with some electronic gadget? What kid makes the effort to smile and wave at a stranger? When was the last time some strange kid smiled and waved at you? Who does that anymore?

That kid in Melrose does.

I went to Melrose thinking that I must have been there before. Truth is, I have absolutely no memory of the place. But I remember that kid. I remember being polite to people. I remember acknowledging someone else's presence and making the little effort that is required to smile and wave at someone. I quit doing that and I can't tell you why. The world was a kinder, gentler place back then and I miss it. The Montana of my youth might still be alive in places like Melrose. Wouldn't that be cool?

I hope that kid caught a few fish last Sunday. Maybe even a big lunker.

The Fourth Turning

I first read about this phenomenon a couple of years ago. I did some research on it, agreed with the premise, and wrote about the fourth turning on this blog.

Essentially the four turnings or cycles occur every 80 years. Like the seasons, the fourth turning occurs in the last 20 years of the 80 year cycle and marks a sort of winter, or death phase if you will. A cataclysmic ending to the events that preceded the onset of the fourth turning in the first 60 years of the cycle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss%E2%80%93Howe_generational_theory

Many people including myself believe that we entered the fourth turning in 2008. Nothing in today's events are slowing this belief down- in fact- this President, Congress, and Supreme Court seem to be accelerating the fourth turning.

If you don't read anything else this week- read this. It is very well written and explains with precision how the events of today are nothing but lies and distractions and that ultimately- the shit really is going to hit the fan.

http://www.theburningplatform.com/2014/06/16/fourth-turning-accelerating/

Can Cold Temperatures or Brown Fat, Lead to Weight Loss?

I noted a weird thing today. I thought I'd throw this up and see what you guys thought.

Brown fat? Ever heard of that? Don't you dare say...Well, I knew this big Samoan once...I run a family blog here in the trailer park.

All thru May and the 10th of June, as reported here in "41 Days of Hell", I did the meat and cheese diet (Atkins) which included upwards of 36 eggs per week.

On June 9th I weighed 252. On Jun 11th, just before taking my Iditarod motorcycle ride as noted in "Donner, Party of One" I weighed 254. Today, I stepped on the scales at 247. Today marks the first day since my return. Not only is that weight loss significant but it occurred on my gym's scales which are conveniently slanted upwards 5 pounds or so. I did not eat particularly good or bad on the 4 day trip and I did not exercise. As I mulled over the possibilities and what happened- it dawned on me that I was freezing my ass off most of the trip. Three days of at least 3 hours (5 hrs. on day 2) of bone chilling temps on the bike.

It begged the question. Could all of that freezing my ass off- have the unexpected benefit of weight loss?

I came home and googled this. Pretty interesting. Who knew? http://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/health/how-cold-temperatures-cause-weight-loss-20140226

The Education Scam- The Sunday Collage

A week or so ago, I was on one of the sites that I frequent, but for the life of me I can't think of which one it was. One of the commenters, a particularly ego driven guy, had written a long comment about how people should shut up and quit whining about the lack of good jobs. For his part this commenter said that he had gone back to college at age 42 and had gotten re-trained for a new occupation and that he was sick of hearing people whine about the lack of jobs. He did not specify what his new occupation was.

I have to tell ya, I sensed a little bullshit. So I asked him, "how did you pay for it?" Instead of just answering with the truth- he said something cynical about taking out loans for his education like everyone else. I wasn't able to open up a dialogue because he is just another guy out there in angry land.

With over a trillion in student loans due and payable- politicians and King Obama are now modifying the interest payments for outstanding student loans. Therein lies the crux of what I'd like to talk about today.

Doesn't it seem a little odd that with this fantastic economy that we are supposed to be enjoying- that millions of students can't pay back their student loans?

The field of education has been very fertile ground for predatory lenders. They know that people want to improve their economic standing and their lives. Standing to gain just as much if not more- were colleges and universities who could ratchet up tuition and fees to astronomical levels if lenders simply financed students in advance.

You want to talk about inflation? There is no other sector anywhere, including health care, where the costs have gone this parabolic. How does 500% since 1985 sound? On an annualized basis, student costs have been driven up nearly 18% per year for the last 30 years.

Talk about unsustainable. Maybe the government will pass another law forcing us to buy college tuition next.

There is nothing that compares to this. Interestingly enough, our government statistics regarding consumer price inflation do not include the insanely rising costs of education nor the interest people are forced to pay. Here's a great chart from Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-26/college-costs-surge-500-in-u-s-since-1985-chart-of-the-day.html

The credentialing of America is one of the greatest scams of our lifetimes.

Here in Boise, at Boise State University, it costs 21,000 dollars a year to attend school. It would cost me 10,000 dollars to attend and my house is close by. The university forces students to purchase health care insurance, and how they are able to get away with that or have any standing in my health care needs, is beyond baffling and fodder for lawyers. Here's their cost schedule sans the force placed health insurance. http://admissions.boisestate.edu/cost/

Colleges and universities are driving up costs wherever they see opportunity. 

One of the latest scams is the "Commercial Driver's License" or CDL. Back in my day, you simply took a written test and they added heavy trucks as an endorsement on your driver's license. Not any more. Now that the Federal Government has gotten involved, getting a CDL will cost you about 5000 dollars. The College of Western Idaho offers a course for that amount. http://cwidaho.cc/program/professional-truck-driving

Let me be clear here. I don't mind that the government wants to license educated drivers. What I do mind is that bankers, colleges, and the government are conspiring and exploiting people for vast sums of money to learn how to drive a truck- something we used to be taught to do in a week of so. Learning to drive a truck is not rocket science.

The Williston Basin is absolutely screaming for water truck drivers and paying them 70-100k annually. They can't get them because of ridiculous costs and regulations such as this.

For those of you who have read "Atlas Shrugged" the author, Ayn Rand, may seem like a prophet. All of this was predicted by her decades ago. 

Which brings me to the heart of the matter. How is it that American corporations are able to demand credentialed employees while averting all of the costs of the education that they demand? How is it that they've been able to place the financial burden of education on prospective employees with not even a firm job offer?

Therein lies the greatest con of them all. You get to go out on a limb, pay 100 grand or so, to obtain whatever education corporate America demands- and then beg them for a job. Once hired, you find yourself in a 100 thousand dollar hole and you can't even afford an entry level home. Worse yet, you become an obedient little sheep. You do what you are told because if you don't- they'll jettison you for a vast pool of people most of which will be happy to become the next good little sheep and you'll wind up committing resume' suicide.

That in a nutshell, is the state of affairs in America. I'd like to leave you with one last thought.

When I graduated high school in the late 70's, you could land a good job with nothing more than a high school diploma and a lot of hard work. Since that time, corporate America took all of those jobs and off shored them. Think Apple and GE.

Ya wanna know what I think their next trick will be? As soon as they are able, American corporations will offshore all of the white collar jobs as well. At Boeing in Seattle, they are bringing in the Chinese. Someday soon, perhaps when 40 million or so educated Chinese or Indian people enter the workforce, you will see corporate America drive down the salaries of tenured and experienced employees. The educated people making decent money are going to be laid off and replaced with folks making half the salary of the workers they are replacing.

Without strong unions, there is no stopping this.

That's the false sense of security that comes with a 100k education nowadays. Employees are disposable and easily replaced. It happened to the high school graduates, it's going to happen to the college grads just as soon as their replacements have been trained.

Ross Perot predicted all of this and I'll be damned if the American sheep public would know what a decent human being looked like even when he told the truth. Instead we got Bill Clinton. We probably deserve all of this.

Somewhere in Texas, Ross smiles.

  

Donner, Party of One

Very often, while traveling hither and yon on my Harley, I spot some man or woman or both trapped in a vehicle. Maybe their kids are screaming or they are screaming. Maybe they are scowling or looking out the window maybe even playing the "I am not going to talk to you game" that 70% of adults use to solve their differences. Or maybe I hear the sounds of Milli Vanilli playing on the radio.

So in some smug, sort of secret way- I find myself feeling sorry for the occupants of cars. Unfortunately, today was not that day. Today, I felt sorry for me. Mr. Donner. The moron who decided to scale Lolo Pass from Lewiston to Missoula on his motorcycle. "Look honey, that guy must be freezing!"

Today the tables were turned.

There have only been two times in my riding life where I have had to throw on everything in the bag. Today was the second time. The first time occurred in Sept. 2007, during a blizzard which extended from Taos, New Mexico to Snowville, Utah. Back then, that was the pinnacle of dumbassery. With four inches of slush on the road- that day is still my crowning achievement. Today, just gets a silver medal.

As I am writing this, you should know that the heater is on high in my room. I have draped my jeans over that heater- jeans which actually got wet through my chaps.

The weather was a perky fifty five degrees or so which plummeted as I climbed the 215 mile pass. The declining temperatures were aided by multiple rain showers which together conspired to turn my nuts into a couple of caraway seeds. That I am able to even type right now is a testament to my dedication and commitment to my readers here at FG.  

Still free and worth every penny.

We tried to kill them- they killed us.

On top of Whitebird Hill where the cavalry got whipped

Lochsa River- approx. same temp as photographer

Snow on Lolo Pass

Like the Grizzly Motif

 

The Hillary Clinton Fund for Broke Politicians