Marks Blog

As a matter of course, I have completely failed to do anything with my 401K in the light of the "crisis" on Wall Street. Sure, I saw I was down around $40K over the past month. Anytime I see my future decline I worry.

Still, my patience has more to do with how heavily invested I am in this means of retirement. I have another 20 (-ish) years before I reach retirement age. I have a Roth IRA I am running in parallel with my 401K, and it is contained within the "sure thing" of my financial institution (insured by the federal government - oh, I feel safe now).

I am not about to make any changes. Today I saw signs that traders are searching for deals, and those deals are out there. Strong companies exist, and price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios are at a peak.

It could be that this is indeed the worst we could face: A full market crash that drags everything down. Perhaps, but unlikely. Why? Again, P/E ratios. If consumption declines - a big "if" when compared to requirements of consumers - I would consider changing my course.

For now, I'm all for keeping a close watch on the market. Indeed, I am much more concerned that the governments of the world might overreact. The conservative within me wonders if they already did...

I don't know about you, but I would avoid this hospital in the future.

I wonder what he will name the baby?

I had a conversation with a very trusted friend regarding Iraq today. As most of us who actually care about the status of United States credibility know, we have a narrow path to tread regarding Iraq, and in some ways Afghanistan as well.

The question is "must we be the world cop?"

I spent several years in the US Navy. I was part of many missions designed to advance US foreign policy. Indeed, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Restore Hope (Somalia - infamously caricatured in "Blackhawk Down"), and many other missions assigned by the Pentagon.

My question to my friend was, had these missions not been performed, who would have done them? More importantly, were they worth it?

Just asking...

In a microcosm of what is wrong with our illegal immigration policies, I read this story about a woman who applied for work at one of our local hospitals using a fake social security number. Hospital officials contacted police, and eventually the woman, and illegal immigrant, was deported.

Nothing wrong with that in my opinion. What is wrong is the following:

A spokeswoman for the medical center here contends the hospital was simply following policy and has a responsibility to report criminal activity, including possible identity theft.

It may be hospital policy, but employers aren't required to report a worker or applicant suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, say immigration attorneys and enforcement officials.

Isn't that part of the problem? Employers are not "required" to report them. Great! That also means there is no constraint on the employer reporting them, and thus employers should go ahead and report them.

I may make Trinity Medical Center my hospital of choice from this point forward...

I'm stumped. Why would anyone target Labrador Retrievers as a vicious breed of dog? Labradors are more likely to lick you to death than attack.

Prince George's County Police Chief Melvin High said Wednesday that Calvo and his family were "most likely ... innocent victims," but he would not rule out their involvement, and he defended the way the raid was conducted. He and other officials did not apologize for killing the dogs, saying the officers felt threatened.

I'm sympathetic to assertions that officers felt threatened, but Labradors? I can't wait for the jury to approve the massive amount of money this couple will ask for in litigation. Will Prince George's County change anything? After losing millions, I bet they will.

I don't want to cause any exudus, but given that I inhabit this realm, it appears i have been infected by a computer virus. It might have been any number of news sites I visit, but the only one I visit which has individual and anonymous input is this one. Be careful clicking on links and make sure your firewall and antivirus software is up to date.

Update: Apparently it was one of those types that pops up with a very valid-looking warning message and gets you to do something. It was relatively benign, but I'm scrubbing my hard-drive anyway.

Just updating an earlier blog found here, I have taken steps to reduce the amount of gas I use in my daily driving. As noted in my previous blog, I am now averaging ~26 MPG just from doing the following: I allow my automatic transmission to start my car from a dead stop and accelerate without punching the gas; I coast into red lights; I never allow my car to come to a complete stop in highway traffic (where possible); I drive somewhere in the vicinity of the speed limit on highways (usually this means the flow of traffic).

I already plan my drives, meaning I complete a basic circuit: on the way home from work I stop at the market and any other needed specialty (bank, gas station, driving range) before going home. These are planned according to proximity. 

As far as I am concerned, these particular changes have provided me with the equivalent of two extra gallons per tank. I intend to keep it that way, but I am not going to drive under the legal speed limit. Some "hypermilers" are just plain crazy, and I don't intend to be one of them...

I woke up to some bad news today: Tony Snow, dead at 53.

I loved watching Fox News Sunday when he chaired the program. It seemed Fox was capitulating to their leftist critics when they dumped him in favor of Chris Wallace as moderator. Eventually replacing Scott McClellan as Press Secretary, Tony brought a rare flair to that office which contrasted favorably with the previous Secretary who couldn't find the right words even when they were dictated to him.

Tony will be missed.

a·pol·o·gist (-pl-jst) n. A person who argues in defense or justification of something, such as a doctrine, policy, or institution

I'm just saying...

After reading over this news item, I was wondering - is it just me, or are the people of Seattle out of sorts? First, the news article articulates Haq was "mentally ill"...a term all too often used in courtrooms across the country. We already know that those who commit crime are not exactly brain surgeons. Further:

"Haq faced 15 criminal charges including aggravated murder -- which could have locked him away for life -- as well as attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary, unlawful imprisonment and hate-crime charges."

This was a Democratic wet dream. All the bases covered including racial hate. Yet he was not convicted. If I were a Jew, I'd be very afraid...after all, the police either can't or don't protect, and the citizenry who might protect and defend them (not to mention define justice in cases that arise) care more about abstracts.

I have always been an aggressive driver. Don't you dare attempt to get between me and the vehicle I am following! I know road rage well enough to revisit all the words in my Sailor lexicon!!!

Well, gas is hitting $4 per gallon. Isn't it funny how money dictates behavior? Scott McClellan is a very happy man now that he has money from his book, which is most certainly marketed to all the kool-aid drinkers out there. My guess is he moves to California soon, much like Jed Clampett. Sorry, this is meant to be "news" but discussing politics in news happens all the time.

So, how am I stretching my $40 dollar refills (based on $4.00 gas)? First, a little background: my vehicle is rated as 24 mpg HWY. On just about every drive I take, I am driving the city routes, making my vehicle average somewhere close to 21 mpg. Worse, I am the driver I described above. Aggressive and inclined to rage when I feel a driver has "cut me off" or traffic is not acting in the manner of the Red Sea when Charleton Heston spreads his arms.

That is, until I was half-way through a recent tank of gas. I saw the term hypermiling (meaning found here) used in a news article. I googled the term and arrived at the above link. For the rest of that tank of gas I have dutifully followed several of the tips included. I refilled my tank with 10 gallons of 87 octane (I never let my tank fall below 1/4 tank) and checked my trip meter: 241.3 miles. Do the math.

I am on my first full tank of gas trying the hypermiling techniques. If my math is correct, I may reach 26 mpg or better. What does that compute to? 50 more miles per fill-up. Couple this with my weekly tire pressure check/optimization and I am cooking with motor oil (tire pressure is directly related to friction - the underinflated tire can cost 1-2 mpg or worse).

The big question I had with starting the hypermiling regimen was: How can I, Mr. Impatient, contain my usual reaction to drivers who act, well, like the old me? Surprise! I had a job to do at DFW today and taking the GHWB at rush hour was completely different from my other trips. I used to fight my way into the other lane, only to see it stop. Today, I drove with a huge amount of space between my car and the car in front of me. True, there were a couple of zealous speed-demons who pulled into that space, only to make a complete stop as I continued to maintain my vehicle momentum.

I'm a convert, but only because it saves me money.

After several million dollars and not a single resolution to any case, our government proves how incompetent it is (how is that any different from any other day?)...One has but to look at the ruling from the Austin-based Texas Supreme Court to decide this question: Is CPS rudderless?

When a case of this magnitude falls appart with such apparent ease, it becomes obvious that whoever is running this show needs to be shown the door. Perhaps even several someones...

A fabulous actor when given the right part, Harvey Korman leaves this world for the next.

That man made me laugh, and still does as I - from time-to-time - rewatch his previous masterpieces.

RIP

Man, I am getting old...