Retahrd...... Old An Inna Way... 



Busy Week. May Post Some... May Not. Prolly Post Some.





I got two buddies. One thinks Obama personally stopped oil drilling and fracking in Colorado and cost him his retirement plans.The other buddy thinks that once pipeline capacity south was fully subscribed, no one drilled for oil that they couldn't move. Did you think that the Keystone oil pipeline Canadian oil would stay inna US at bargain prices? Hell, US oil doesn't stay here.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-2 ... aper-.html

Another buddy is of the steadily shrinking population of educated persons who conflates a political position with a scientific one. Global warming is happening and the consequences are serious and must be dealt with.
http://www.businessinsider.com/100-perc ... ght-2014-4

More Politics Position Masquerading As Reasoned Policy....
http://www.businessweek.com/printer/art ... prosperity

Money
http://www.businessinsider.com/where-do ... rom-2014-4

Houses
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2014/ ... eases.html

Data Point
http://www.businessinsider.com/earnings ... eak-2014-4




















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Jes' Another Old Retahrd Broked Down Welder Wanna Be.... 

"Some men worship rank, some worship heroes, some worship power, some worship God and over these ideals they dispute, but they all worship money."
--Mark Twain



A Different Interpretation....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWnE8XzynNg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B19eX3UjqV8
But, Sometimes The Same Ol'Same Ol' Works Jes' Fine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuxHvlD1t-c






Ahm jes' anudder ol' broked down retahrd union pipefitter.
I retired in September of 2013 after 40 years in the trade, five years after this picture was taken. At the time, there was only one retired pig inna picture. Now there would be two...



I had started actively managing my 401 in 2004, after leaving it untended and with the minimum contribution since its inception in 1991. I was too busy raising a family, building America, and riding, racing and writing about motorcycles to pay any attention to saving for retirement. After all I had my Defined Contribution Plan and an IRA or two. What more could I need? Big mistake. I had contributed the minimum amount to the Defined Benefit Plan and left the funds in the default Balanced Pooled Fund. But between 2000 to 2003, I had to straighten out a coupla my IRA's after the dotcom-9/11 financial crash had crushed them, and as an afterthought, I then applied the same kind of evaluation to my 401 account and to my defined benefit pension fund. I found both to be in desperate straights. I was able to help turn both around. The story of both my IRA's and 401 are in part on my website.
Once I was able to get decent returns from my 401, I increased my contributions until I was maxed out and started to save some serious coin and to make serious returns for my retirement. It worked out really well... So far.
I have a nice income from my defined benefit pension plan and Social Security. Today. But my pension plan has no cost of living adjustment.
"What Is Hip Today Might Become Passe'"
-- Tower Of Power

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN8pWdZhVaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vauqRuvzVgs

Only 30% of my pension income, the Social Security part, adjusts for inflation. The continued wellbeing of my wife and I is dependent on how I handle my retirement savings.
Since retirement, I've given almost all of my 401/IRA balance over to professionals. But not all. I've kept $10K in my Union 401 account to provide a benchmark for the professionals and to keep the 401 account open should I decide to take management of the funds back. Here's where I have the money allocated, how I've done this year and since I started managing my 401(table), and how I've done since I started managing my 401 post retirement in 2013 (chart).
Note that this is my personal 401 account, managed for and by me, as I see fit, for my headspace and my perceived needs. I have Social Security and a defined benefit pension for regular income and I am looking to generate serious returns on my retirement savings for future use when my fixed pension income falls seriously behind my cost of living inflated needs. I am aggressive in nature but with three generations (wife and I, kids, and grandkids) to think about, I gotta make the right moves. I can stand the volatility of this approach, the gains are proven, and it is a plan. It's my plan..









I've made a copy of the Excel spreadsheet I use to track and manage my 401 available to download on my website. If you are not in my Local, the spreadsheet can be adapted to other 401s and other mutual funds by someone with a modicum of Excel experience.
I post here what I read that I find of significance or interest. I allocate funds within the 401 between aggressive and conservative allocations as circumstance and inclination require based on what I read and some professional level subscription data. Running the blog keeps me honest with myself. Putting it in writing makes sure I really have a grip on the handle.








From A Guy Whose Work I Respect... Norm Conley Of JAG Advisors. CLICKONNIT!!


Note The Long Term Nature Of The Chart, The Amber Line, And Where We Are...







Hometown Stuff,
http://www.businessinsider.com/new-hous ... ate-2014-4


HUGE....
http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2014/0 ... ond-rings/



http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2014/04/4t ... oil-spill/




I've been pretty much fully invested in stocks for the last year and a half. I've backed down to 75% recently on increased risk/reduced reward. We will eventually have a more serious correction and also a bear market. At those times I will look at buying the dip for the correction, ror reducing exposure to stocks further for a bear market. I'm staying put for now... Stay tooned....









Good Friday

http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2014/ ... -year.html
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2014/ ... te-in.html
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... z-edition/


Sunday...
http://www.businessinsider.com/american ... ent-2014-4
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ ... story.html
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/e ... ld-me.html
Politics...
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014 ... fact_lizza
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/0 ... lly/?p=all
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magaz ... ime-rates/


Tower Of Power Tuesday...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLSS1vq8c4o


Thursday
Gambler's Fallacy.... Yeah, But...
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-gamb ... and-2014-4


Friday
http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-d ... ing-2014-4
http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-downgrade-2014-4

Yep, Seen This Movie Before.....
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/25/opinion/b ... ?hpt=hp_c2




















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Jes' Anudder Broked Down Ol' Retahrd Pipefighter 

Nothing helps a bad mood like spreading it around.
-- Bill Watterson




Low Down Dirty Bloos... Sloe Gin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1_6yCHnSI4
Ana Chaser...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbI19ttJqWI
Here's The Dessert...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnG7SR6kl2w







I retired in September of 2013. I had started managing my 401 in 2004, after leaving it untended and with the minimum contribution since its inception in 1993. I was too busy raising a family and building America to pay attention. I had contributed the minimum amount and left in the default Balanced Pooled Fund. But between 2000 to 2003, I had to straighten out a coupla my IRA's after the dotcom-9/11 financial crash crushed them and as an afterthought, I then applied the same kind of evaluation to my 401 and my defined benefit pension fund. I found both to be in desperate straights. I was able to help turn both around. The story in part is on my website.
Once I was able to get decent returns from my 401, I increased my contributions until I was maxed out and started to put away some serious coin and to make serious money for my retirement.
Since retirement, I've given almost all of my 401/IRA balance over to professionals. But not all. I've kept $10K in my Union 401 account to provide a benchmark for the professionals and to keep the 401 account open should I decide to take management of the funds back. Here's where I have the money allocated, how I've done this year, and how I've done since I started managing my 401 in 2003.




I've made a copy of the Excel spreadsheet I use to track and manage my 401 available to download on my website. If you are not in my Local, the spreadsheet can be adapted to other 401s and other mutual funds by someone with a modicum of Excel experience.
I post here what I read that I find of significance or interest. I allocate funds within the 401 between aggressive and conservative allocations as circumstance and inclination require based on what I read and some professional level subscription data. Running the blog keeps me honest with myself. Putting it in writing makes sure I really have a grip on the handle.






















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Jes' Another Old Broke Down Retired Pipefitter..... 

I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.
-- Winston Churchill






It May Not Feel Like It, But It's Over....











I retired in September of 2013. I had started managing my 401 in 2004, after leaving it untended and with the minimum contribution since its inception in 1993. I was too busy raising a family and building America to pay attention. I had contributed the minimum amount and left in the default Balanced Pooled Fund. But between 2000 to 2003, I had to straighten out a coupla my IRA's after the dotcom-9/11 financial crash crushed them and as an afterthought, I then applied the same kind of evaluation to my 401 and my defined benefit pension fund. I found both to be in desperate straights. I was able to help turn both around. The story in part is on my website.
Once I was able to get decent returns from my 401, I increased my contributions until I was maxed out and started to put away some serious coin and to make serious money for my retirement.
Since retirement, I've given almost all of my 401/IRA balance over to professionals. But not all. I've kept $10K in my Union 401 account to provide a benchmark for the professionals and to keep the 401 account open should I decide to take management of the funds back. Here's where I have the money allocated, how I've done this year, and how I've done since I started managing my 401 in 2003.




I've made a copy of the Excel spreadsheet I use to track and manage my 401 available to download on my website. If you are not in my Local, the spreadsheet can be adapted to other 401s and other mutual funds by someone with a modicum of Excel experience.
I post here what I read that I find of significance or interest. I allocate funds within the 401 between aggressive and conservative allocations as circumstance and inclination require based on what I read and some professional level subscription data. Running the blog keeps me honest with myself. Putting it in writing makes sure I really have a grip on the handle.




All This New Age Shit.....
http://www.upsidetrader.com/2014/03/27/ ... ype-drive/

Thinking.....
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/estonia- ... er-ukraine

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/ ... e_fed.html
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/ukrain ... ses-invade
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... que-album/

Saturday...
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/ukraines ... -challenge
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/moldov ... tradiction
http://www.businessinsider.com/russias- ... eak-2014-3

Wu Tang...
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... que-album/

Big Time 401 Shit...
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/busin ... 1-k-s.html

Nah, It Ain't A Bleedin' Heart, It's My Piles Bleedin' For De Pore Rich Folks...
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/27/opini ... akers.html

Happened At Berkeley Too, Big Time Wrong...
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10671809
http://www.sbnation.com/2014/3/30/55635 ... iclebottom
Make It Real...

That's A Republican Political Position, It Has Different Characteristics Than Science...
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-h ... z2xTUxB867


Tuesday
http://www.businessinsider.com/r-west-s ... cs-2014-01


The Issue Is With Inequality Creating A Political Tipping Point...
http://pragcap.com/thoughts-on-thomas-pikettys-capital



My old neighborhood....
http://www.businessinsider.com/noe-vall ... 014-4?op=1
Not my old place...


Wednesday

I'm A Union Guy....
http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonald ... pay-2014-4

Thursday
http://www.businessinsider.com/russias- ... ato-2014-4















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Jes' Yer Friendly Neighborhood Brokedown Ol' Retahr'd Pipefitter...... 

A bubble is a bull market in which you don't have a position.
-- Eddy Elfenbein




More 'Fats. Hollywood Fats W/ Canned Heat '79, The First Woodstock Ten Year Reunion. Not The New Improved Marketing Event Version. Blues An' Boogie Like An Old Favorite Shirt. Tattered and Oh So Comfortable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Kq_qzdLbo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XezIHzwuF04
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1LGBO4o9sk







I retired in September of 2013. I had started managing my 401 in 2004, after leaving it untended since its inception in 1993. I had contributed the minimum amount and left in the default Balanced Pooled Fund. But in 200 to 2003 I had straightened out a coupla IRA's after the dotcom-9/11 financial crash and as an afterthought, applied the same kind of evaluation to my 401 and my defined benefit pension fund. I found both to be in desperate straights. I was able to help turn both around. That story is on my website. Since retirement, I've given almost all of my 401/IRA balance over to professionals. But not all. I've kept and $10K in my Union 401 account to provide a benchmark for the professionals and to keep the 401 account open should I decide to take management of the funds back. Here's where I have the money allocated, how I've done this year, and how Ive done since I started managing my 401 in 2003.




I've made a copy of the Excel spreadsheet I use to track my 401 available to download on my website. If you are not in my Local, the spreadsheet can be adapted to other 401s and other mutual funds by someone with a modicum of Excel experience. I post here what I read that I find of significance or interest. I allocate funds within the 401 between aggressive and conservative allocations as circumstance and inclination compel based on what I read and some professional level subscription data.





I come from an era of a morning and evening paper and three and a half TV channels.There is so much more available now.... Some ludicrious, some of dubious value, some real actual news, some insightful, some more history than news, Some recycled so much that it is beyond homogenized; Take yer pick.
http://www.debka.com/article/23764/US-R ... t-attack-.
http://www.businessinsider.com/crimea-r ... sia-2014-3

Look At This And See That Not Much Has Changed Since Last Week....
Still...









I don't think that the Ukraine situation will effect the economy that much, but it will affect peoples' mindset. I may lighten up a little more come Monday afternoon. I'm up 11% since 9/1/13 and taking money of the table and getting some fresh air and a walk don't seem like such a bad thing... especially when there is uncertainty inn air.





Alternate View...
http://www.lakeviewasset.com/investment ... n-ukraine/

More Good Investment Advice....
http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/03/ ... -know-now/


Tuesday
Very interesting....
http://www.businessinsider.com/malaysia ... ire-2014-3
http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-gal ... elf-2014-3
Off To De Record Cabinet For Sum R.L. Burnside. I Believe That Is His Grandkids On Drums And Bass...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9oAAyHrnIs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf_nL5KWcWM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54PV_921LtU
From The Same Movie...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYY06G4R7zY
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... ssia-bond/























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Jes' Yer Friendly Neighborhood Retahr'd Ol' Pipefitter...... 

Humility, along with the ability of those who have been wrong to acknowledge their mistakes, are at all-time lows and, sadly, trending lower still. Ideology can apparently hold sway against reason, facts, and data for longer than I’d imagined.
-- Invictus




Miles to go. Tutu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dq1dv6xY6w
'Masa RCFP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKnwgPdfeA4
Back Inna Day, We were All Cold Blooded...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLb6rUZlJ7A





http://www.businessinsider.com/robert-r ... urn-2014-3



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHWLpJRlBYA#t=11 Tha'sjes 'na whayetizzzz..... Greezel.






I retired in September of 2013. I started managing my 401 in 2004, after leaving it untended since its inception in 1993. I had straightened out a coupla IRA's after the dotcom-9/11 financial crash and as an afterthought, applied the same evaluation to my 401 and found it and my defined benefit pension fund in desperate straights. I was able to help turn both around. In part, that story is on my website. Since retirement, I've given almost all of my 401/IRA balance over to professionals. But not all. I'm kept and am managing $10K in my Union 401 account to provide a benchmark for the professionals and to keep the 401 account open should I decide to take management of the funds back. Here's where I have the money allocated, how I've done this year, and how Ive done since I started managing my 401 in 2003.




Here's an Interactive Performance Chart of the funds I have available to me in the 401 and how they've done since 9/1/13.





I've made a copy of the Excel spreadsheet I use to track my 401 available to download on my website. If you are not in my Local, the spreadsheet can be adapted to other 401s and other mutual funds by someone with a modicum of Excel experience. I post here what I read that I find of significance or interest. I allocate funds within the 401 between aggressive and conservative allocations as circumstance and inclination compel based on what I read and some professional level subscription data.









Food fer thought...
http://schaefferstradingfloor.com/why-t ... r-15-years

If Could Only Read And Act On One Post A Week...
http://oldprof.typepad.com/

Major Seriousness About 401's
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ ... story.html

Monday
Ya Think????
http://www.businessinsider.com/ponzicoin-2014-3



Thursday.
Nothing is as it seems....
http://www.businessinsider.com/update-o ... ght-2014-3















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It's Exciting Getting Old. Everyday It's A Brand New World!!! 

“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson



Hollywood Fats Band

I first heard Fats (Michael Mann) at the The Boarding House in SF. He was backing up Jimmy Witherspoon and GAWD He Was Smokin' Hot!!!! Super tight band, kick ass backing for 'Spoon and when Fats stepped up, it was incendiary. Yeah, that is "The Mole",on bass. Check out the SRV and Albert King riffs in the text on these You Tube entries. I had a tape of the Blues Afternoon from the Monterey Jazz Festival where Fat's was on his own and later backed up Etta James and then Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. I wore the tape out.Hollywood Fats died way too soon. He is missed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HquyEt8UXvY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6s8khM5wO4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pANbCHSd4Tc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlzk10Cq85o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST2-28u3mds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ivX5ECliEU
I just acquired Canned Heat at the Parr Meadows 10 year Woodstock celebration. It was recorded for the King Biscuit Flour Hour. Fats was Heat's guitarist at the time and it is one of the best examples of his talent available. Missing is the small club/theatre dynamics and interplay with a vocalist on serious blues, but in his genre and era, that ain't to be had, 'cepting cassete tapes and obscure TV footage.



I retired in September of 2013. I started managing my 401 in 2004, after leaving it untended since its inception in 1993. I had straightened out a coupla IRA's after the dotcom-9/11 financial crash and as an afterthought, applied the same evaluation to my 401 and found it and my defined benefit pension fund in desperate straights. I was able to help turn both around. In part, that story is on my website. Since retirement, I've given almost all of my 401/IRA balance over to professionals. But not all. I'm kept and am managing $10K in my Union 401 account to provide a benchmark for the professionals and to keep the 401 account open should I decide to take management of the funds back. Here's how I've done this year, and since I started managing my 401 in 2003.



I've made a copy of the Excel spreadsheet I use to track my 401 available to download on my website. If you are not in my Local, the spreadsheet can be adapted to other 401s and other mutual funds by someone with a modicum of Excel experience. I post here what I read that I find of significance or interest. I allocate funds within the 401 between aggressive and conservative allocations as circumstance and inclination compel based on what I read and some professional level subscription data.








http://buttcoin.org/extended-dormancy-mt-gox-erupts
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2014/03/truisms/


Monday...



Wed
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-0 ... -jobs.html

Josh is a guy I listen to and put money with. Stuff like this is in part why.
http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2014/0 ... explained/

















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I'm Having So Much Fun I Can Barely Stand It. 

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Wasn't Gonna. Now I Hafta... 

The importance of disconnecting and shutting off the computer — I still haven’t figured how to actually do it, but I learned that it’s important.
-- Joe Weisenthal



Young Joe;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpUP8PegEOQ#t=27

I was once a Young Joe, but my talents lay in another area...

Young Eric, Jack, and Ginger;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEWAEUTwSUA
At 12:30 in, hear the man who was there before everyone else; A King among guitarists...
At 20:20, My family code for the kids knowing a message delivered by a stranger was really from the parents was the "Outside Women Blues" riff.
30:30 Lovin' Spoonfull: Mississippi Blues/Top 40 Upstate New York jug band pop = Laughing Purple Fishes...




InFuckin' InCredible!!!!!
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2014/01/td ... e-machine/



http://rpseawright.wordpress.com/2014/0 ... f-charade/
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik ... z2rX0Q1d7R



Monday

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/busin ... .html?_r=1



Thursday
http://www.businessinsider.com/boehner- ... eri-2014-2




















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Post No Bills ...... If You Know What That Means, Yer Old. Really Old... 

Speaking Of The Bills That Used To Be Posted On Walls And Telephone Poles....

Kick Ass Concerts. They handed out free posters for the next week's show. I saw these shows, among others. Didn't get the posters for these. Got them for the upcoming show and gave them away. Oh Well....





The story goes that Albert King said he was playing in bowling alleys when Graham called him up on the basis of his "Born Under A Bad Sign" LP being played onna local radio. He showed up by himself and opened with Steve Miller's rhythm session IIRC, for Hendrix and Mayall. Next time we touch bases, buy the round and I'll tell you a story about that night.






http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... omebuyers/
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ti ... 53020.html
http://wealthometer.org/US/calculator1.html


http://www.businessinsider.com/the-futu ... ave-2014-1
Money Games
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... r-edition/

Yet AGAIN!!!! Do They Stick Laura And Leslie With These Deliberately?
http://www.businessinsider.com/clean-te ... ead-2014-1














Smokin'
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/compani ... 2D11912418

As A Side Note, My Generations Influence Is And has Been Beyond Wide Spread And Pernicious. Years Ago I was Watching a Cable Financial Show And One Of The Guest Economists/Analysts On The Show Spoke Of The Economy "Being Down To Seeds And Stems". No One Blinked.....

More On BitCoin
http://buttcoin.org/easy
http://buttcoin.org/easy-like-sunday-morning
http://buttcoin.org/easy-come-easy-go
http://buttcoin.org/bitcoin-really-accepted


WEDNESDAY

Here We Go Again!!!!
http://www.businessinsider.com/china-ja ... war-2014-1
http://www.businessinsider.com/shinzo-a ... pan-2014-1
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2014/01/if ... they-lose/




Thursday


HUGE http://www.salon.com/2013/12/30/the_mid ... low_today/


























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Due Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Due.... Manfred Mann 

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Got Through The Big Holiday. New Year's Next.... 

There was this Electra sampler LP back inna day. Kinda rare. I bought it for the Butterfield Blues Band cuts. There were these cuts by an oufit called E C And The Powerhouse, had this guy named Winwood inna band I guess along with this Jack Bruce guy. The song, "Steppin' Out" by James Bracken, appeared here and on the Clapton/Mayall LP. Joe is smokin' here on his version, but the teenage Clapton version is really special and much more to my taste than the Bluesbreakers version... The What's Shakin' LP also had "Crossroads" on it... nice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe767OgdOa0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkulcvRkd4I
http://grooveshark.com/#!/search?q=clapton+stepping+out








http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2013/ ... ittle.html

http://www.businessinsider.com/dogecoin ... al-2013-12
http://dragonflycap.com/2013/12/27/tues-pm-35/

May You Have A Long And Healthy Retirement. And To Manage Your Retirement Funds Successfully Enough To Avoid This Kinda Crap...
http://pragcap.com/the-unintended-conse ... -abenomics

If You Plan To Save A Lot Of Money And Then Retire, This Is Important...
http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2013/1 ... -advisors/

Now That I'm Retahrd, Maybe I Got Time To Do Some Of These Things. Or Not...
http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com ... 90x742.jpg


There's this thing called Bitcoin....
http://buttcoin.org/easy
http://buttcoin.org/easy-like-sunday-morning





I'm Retired Now.... I've Got Time To Beat All My Wireless Devices and Entertainment Systems Into A Seamless State Of Operability With My Network. Fuckin' Right!!!




Monday

DAMN!!! I hate it when my suspicions are confirmed...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-3 ... -cope.html

Very Disquieting To A Guy Who Made His Living In The Capital Goods Industry...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-3 ... onomy.html

Reality sets in...
http://www.businessinsider.com/americas ... ss-2013-12

Ugly...
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2013 ... usalis.php

Cool...Evidence Keeps Piling Up...
http://www.businessinsider.com/homes-in ... 13-2013-12

























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I'm Retahrd, Fixed Income Is Hard, Ah Didn' Win Da Lotto, All You Gets Is A Christmas Cahd 

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Yer Friendly Neighborhood Broke Down Ol' Pipefitter... Got My Case Of Peppermint Bark. All Is Good. 

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Jes' Another Brokedown Retahrd Ol' Pipefitter..... 

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Still Yer Friendly Neighborhood Ol' Retahrd Brokedown Pipefitter... 

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STILL YER FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD BROKE DOWN OL' PIPEFITTER...  

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Still Your Friendly Neighborhood Brokedown Retired Ol' Pipefitter.... 

It makes me cringe to have 'experts' tell us not to fear the Fed. You don't fear the Fed but you do fear a market that fears the Fed. If the rest of the world is selling because they are afraid, justified or not, you respect the price action and move out of the way.
-- James “Reverend Shark” DePorre





I was channel surfing for some old Lawrence Welk music videos when I found these. They are not quite as old but still appeal to the senior citizen I've become.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rdmG0k8S8k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHbNU9WuVgw




SIGNIFICANT


She may or may not know that, but the editors of the Wall Street Journal certainly do, and for them to put her story out as if her insurance problems would disappear if only the Affordable Care Act ceased to exist is nothing short of malpractice.

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik ... z2kD0Uesyb

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-this ... an-2013-11

Debka... 30% Crazy Shit, 30% YOU'LL Never Be Connected Enough To Find Out If This Is True Or Not.... and 30% Seen There A Day Or A Month Before Major News Sources...
http://www.debka.com/article/23434/Iran ... d-is-bare-







http://www.businessinsider.com/details- ... or-2013-11










http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2013/11/ab ... revisited/
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/990 ... al-history
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/magaz ... l&_r=0





Nest Of Snakes
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-hous ... al-2013-11

Wed
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/17/magaz ... ;_r=1&

Do I Think Of My Self As One Of The Almost Gone Generation Where The Floor, When All Else Failed, Was To Show Up Every Day At A So So Job, Still Be Able To Buy A House, Raise Kids, And Retire With Dignity? Some Times...
http://www.npr.org/2013/11/12/242999770 ... revolution
http://www.businessinsider.com/actually ... an-2012-10

Fuckin' "A" Tweetie
http://www.salon.com/2013/11/12/elizabe ... ext_phase/



















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Waka Jawaka. Black Napkins. Zap (pa) 

You will never know if someone is an asshole until he becomes rich.
Nassim Taleb






More Than The Mothers Of Invention And Yellow Snow...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q0nImsfMvE
Frank Does Allman Bros...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi-dm1JU4no







http://pragcap.com/the-us-government-is ... n-the-hole
http://pragcap.com/the-not-so-great-rotation



http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... ont-trade/
















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Yo.... 

"The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists."
--Joan Robinson




No New Chartz, No New Table Zup... I'm RE TAHRD!



http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-kru ... ts-2013-10

History Lesson..
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-2 ... ateur.html
Alternative Views To The Accepted Misunderstanding Of How Thing Work In This Country...
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2013/10/makers-and-takers/
http://oldprof.typepad.com/a_dash_of_in ... story.html



Lower Left To Upper Right.
All long/all in inna 401. (The remnant I still have there). This will end and I will reallocate. But for now it looks good.




Monday
http://pragcap.com/first-fall-in-us-man ... ulls-ahead
http://philosophicaleconomics.wordpress ... rgin-debt/

Found That Alternative Investment, That Collectable That'll Hold it Value Regardless. Like Say Mark MacGuire's Home Run Record Breaking Ball... Or Maybe A Painting?
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... rt-market/


Tues...

Girl Doing Crazy Stuff...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW1TBU9EoBM
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-2 ... le-go.html
















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Just Another Old Broke Down Ree-Tahrd Pipe Fitter.... 

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Gone Fishing... Got my Trout Grenades and my net. 

"Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone."
-John Maynard Keynes







Interesting... But I didn't read the last coupla paragraphs... Too long; Lost interest.
http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2013/09/ ... ate_t.html


Sunday
http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2013/1 ... the-taper/
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial ... um=twitter

Twelve years ago, I asked the General Contractor at the Cell Genesis job for the MSDS on the epoxy floor coating being installed. The rep brought back a one page copy from what was supposed to be a multi page document, indicating that the product was benign. The page was from the MSDS for latex paint. The box holding the flooring epoxy components said "Do Not Open Product Unless You Are Wearing A Respirator Suitable To The Chemistry Of The Product." I can relate it to this NFL riff. There were dollars involved vs health and safety. I know what some people think takes precedence.
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2013/10/league-of-denial/

Anybody else have a problem with this?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ ... story.html

Schedule for Armageddon...
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/10/0 ... -due-when/

Mon
Bill McBride is da man...
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2013/ ... o-see.html
Shutdown/Non Default Porn
http://www.businessinsider.com/debt-cei ... lt-2013-10
Something Pleasant Instead
http://www.businessinsider.com/marvin-g ... on-2013-10
No Shit
http://www.businessinsider.com/mike-row ... on-2013-10

http://pragcap.com/goldman-sachs-shutdo ... gdp-by-0-5
http://pragcap.com/demand-for-a-third-p ... -new-highs
http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2013/1 ... owth-rate/

Huge... http://www.pionline.com/article/2013101 ... etirement#


http://larrysummers.com/the-battle-over ... ong-fight/

Here's Grover Norquist on Ted Cruz:
"He pushed House Republicans into traffic and wandered away."


WONK WONK...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/won ... s-failing/
Fires don't reverse and burn backwards...
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... ady-begun/




Wed....
Hmmmm....

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/20 ... think?lite


http://www.nbcnews.com/business/debt-cl ... 8C11390916
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-1 ... dgame.html


But sometimes, it’s been said, the greatest courage is displayed in standing before a crowd and affirming that two plus two equals four — now the main Republican challenge. Political morality is determined not simply, or even mostly, by intentions, but rather by results. There is a virtue in achieving what is achievable — in actually making things better than they are.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/analyst- ... z2hoSM3GLo


http://www.businessinsider.com/goldman- ... 17-2013-10
http://pragcap.com/can-we-stop-with-the ... se-already

I'm an ex Catholic. And there ain't no ex quite as ex as an ex Catholic. And I can't even imagine what kinda load the enslaved and molested Catholics are carrying. But I check out what's happening every so often... and I find that I like the new Pope's modus operandi.
Boston College theology professor Thomas Groome said, "I think it will be a real test for conservative Catholics," he said. "They have always pointed the finger, quoting the pope for the last 35 years. Suddenly, will they stop quoting the pope? It'll be a good test of whether or not they're really Catholics."


http://www.businessinsider.com/why-cong ... wn-2013-10
http://ibankcoin.com/mr_cain_thaler/201 ... ment-72109

http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2013/ ... sting.html
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/ ... goal/?_r=0


http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/ ... goal/?_r=0

Thurs
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-1 ... -lost.html





















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Pretty Much Ree Tahred.... 

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DUDE!!! Way Retired! Knarly! 

"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down."
--Mary Pickford






http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-2 ... drugs.html
Fuckin' "A" Tweetiebird... http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... ve-ramsey/
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/1148 ... bt-default

I've read Cramer's site sine 1999 and it is amazing how many very significant investment pro's have passed through. I've followed the keepers. Jeff is one of them. How can you make any money without qualified information?
http://oldprof.typepad.com/a_dash_of_in ... l#comments


Why Am I not Surprised? http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/ne ... s-20130926

http://www.businessinsider.com/not-rais ... sis-2013-9

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/won ... heres-why/

Light My Fire...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/opini ... Ggsb5Ba0Jw




Tues
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... s-arrived/
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/arc ... ay/280107/


Wed...
Fuckin' True Believers. Do you know why the old Dutch word "sabot" is the root of a contemporary English/ American word?
http://www.businessinsider.com/governme ... er-2013-10
http://www.businessinsider.com/top-repu ... re-2013-10
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/c ... raphy.html
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/c ... raphy.html

Thurs...
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/1 ... o&_r=1
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/S ... c=soc_twtr
Morons. As Was Explained To Me By A Lawyer; "That what you wrote was True is considered an acceptable defense."
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/S ... c=soc_twtr
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/s ... ns#slide-1































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STILL Retired.... 


If I say Nike Hercules and Mount Tamalpais and the San Francisco Bay, do you know what I'm talking about? And do you know the intended purpose of the Nike's?
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09 ... veals?lite



http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2013/0 ... the-storm/





Huge: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/j ... ed-up.html







http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-wa ... und-2013-9

Twisted Sifter:
http://twistedsifter.com/2013/02/pencil ... rkahegyzo/





Lower Left To Upper Right. Above the 50 DMA, But Way Extended W/O A Correction
And Counting On Congress Not To Fuck It Up. Staying Wary....


'Nother Day Onna Bay...
http://www.businessinsider.com/24-stunn ... 013-9?op=1




From The Fabulous Furry Freak Bros To This...
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-grea ... 011-2013-9


My God... http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09 ... uptcy?lite












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RETIRED "." 

"However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results."
--Sir Winston Churchill





In Yo Dreams.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfnLewb7 ... =endscreen







http://www.rickferri.com/blog/



Cheap and Easy Self-directed Investment Options

Congress provides US taxpayers with many different tax-advantaged options for retirement saving. Qualified self-directed employer sponsored retirement plans are some of those options. They included 401(k), 403(b) 457 plans, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, and others. There are trillions of dollars invested in these plans. This is a good thing for workers and for America.

What Congress didn’t provide was a short list of investments that plan participants could put their money into. That was a mistake. As a result, many plans are load up the a wide range of costly investment products that pay Wall Street billions of dollars in annual fees and, to make matters worse, kick-back some of those fees to the employers in the form of administrative services.

My radical idea is for Congress to create a very short list of three (3), government approved, low-cost, diversified index fund options for participants in qualified self-directed plans – and that is it. Every plan in the country were employees are able to save tax deferred would be required to offer these three funds, and only these three funds in their plan to keep their tax exempt status:

Conservative growth: 25% total global stock index fund + 75% total US bond index fund.
Moderate growth: 50% total global stock index fund + 50% total US bond index fund.
Aggressive growth: 75% total global stock index fund + 25% total US bond index fund.
The default for all employees would be the moderate growth fund. They would then have the option to invest in Conservative Growth or Aggressive Growth. Fund providers would compete for then qualified plan business on cost only because the funds would be all the same. There would be no incentive to compete based on performance of their funds. This will drive investment costs down to only a few basis points, a level enjoyed by participants in the government’s own Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

There would be no need for middle-men such consultants who earn fees by recommending investment products. It will also end the flow of cash from fund companies back to plan sponsors. Administrative costs would be paid fully by either the employer or employees. All costs would be fully disclosed. Finally, this idea will end most lawsuits against plan sponsors for impudent investment decisions.

The government created qualified self-directed employer sponsored plans with the thought of helping Americans save and investment for retirement. They did not do it so that Wall Street could get rich. Limiting all plans to these three extremely low-cost portfolios is a prudent move for employees and their beneficiaries, and it’s also prudent for employers who wish to have safe harbor from litigation due to bad investment decisions.



Rick Ferri


Somebody Should Do Something...





More food for thought:

http://www.streettalklive.com/daily-x-c ... g-bet.html




Sunday Night

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2013/09/tr ... wing-name/

Here’s what President Barack Obama‘s statement on Lawrence Summers‘s decision to withdraw his name from consideration to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve would have looked like after 40 milligrams of Sodium thiopental:

“Earlier today, I spoke with Larry Summers and accepted his decision to withdraw his name from consideration for Chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Larry was a critical contributor to the radical deregulation that was one of many causes of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. It was in no small part because of his lack of expertise, false wisdom, and inept leadership that the economy crashed and burned and even today is still failing to be to back to its full growth potential.......



Relevant

http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... -treasury/





Coming up outa the dark...
http://www.businessinsider.com/obamacar ... nts-2013-9




WED...
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-enti ... aph-2013-9


Thurday... Bummer. Get Used To It.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/19/busin ... l&_r=0

A needed slap up alongside da head. A click whore post.

Huge

http://www.institutionalinvestor.com/Ar ... jtEMdKTiSo

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2013/09/we ... ns-shadow/
















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De Doh Doh Doh , De Dah Dah Dah , Is All I Want To Say To You.... 

"The salary of the chief executive of a large corporation is not a market award for achievement. It is frequently in the nature of a warm personal gesture by the individual to himself."
-John Kenneth Galbraith





Saw 'em @ The Uptown. Definitely an uptown experience. I ain't the only grey haired geezer still out der...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W1jn0ZAjU8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPfgazmuC24


Klick Onna Video Tab. Racer Porn.
http://www.rushmovie.com/










http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ ... story.html

My tax dollar at work;
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-2 ... ogram.html
Yours too, if yer old enough....


Syria War 401 news;

Volatility is gonna be up bigtime. The potential for things to go wrong is huge. Russia and Iran vs Saudi, Israel, France, US, Turkey. The actual arena of war is small and isolated by US standards. But it is in the mideast, there are oil powers involved, chemical weapons too, and it is like a barfight where there exists the possibility of the loser grabbing an oil lamp and screaming "The Guy Next To You Is A Child Molester!!!" and throwing the lamp into a mountain of bottles behind the bar. This could get messy.

That said, going into Labor Day is the slowest time of the year, markets get whipped around, This PROLLY gets dealt wit', and a month down the rad things look cool. That said, ya can take some off the table and get a little conservative, it wouldn't hurt much. But, things stay rocky for a coupla three weeks, then clear up, STAND BACK!!! We come into the end of the year, seasonality is in our favor, Wall Street DESPERATELY needs to run stocks up, and we could come back up like that garden rake you stepped on when you were a kid. Or we go to hell inna handbasket and we got bigger problems than the 401. I'm standing pat. Fer Now...


http://oldprof.typepad.com/a_dash_of_in ... -fear.html

http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2013/0 ... -of-humor/
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2013/08/one-party-state/
http://www.mauldineconomics.com/outside ... t-schmexit










Stay Tooned...











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Pretty Cool....... I'm So Excited I Can Barely Keep My Eyes Open.... 

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Dare I Say It Out Loud? ................ Ya Know.....I Really Don't Care Much For Long Emotional Goodbyes........... SO....... ADIOS, MOTHERFUCKERS!! ... THIS IS IT!!!! .....I'M PULLING THE PIN!!!... I'M OUTAHERE!!!!!!! I'm Retiring As Of This Week. The Paperwork Is Inna Works. Now....About The Blog And Whom So Ever Read Or Might Wanna Continue To Read It... Hmmm.... Stay Tooned. 

One of the most difficult investing skills to master is being persistent and confident while not crossing the line to being stubborn and obstinate. It is a very fine line and you will never get it quite right now matter how hard you try.
Reverend Shark



Hey! If Yer A Member Of 342 And Need Some Help With The 401, Get In Touch With Me.
If You Are Using The Blog To Run Yer 401 Outa Another Local, And Would Like To See The COFG Continue, Lemme Know Through The "Contact Me" Link Above.
If You Just Like Comics And Music, Lemme Know That Too.
If All These Hits Onna My Blog Are Issues W/ Fat Fingers, And You Don't Give A Fuck.... Turn Around And Go Quietly, Nothing To See Here..... Move On....








Monetary Musical Hi Jinks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xD-XOVUaNQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW9mDyFgh1o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3geBEc2cJGs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8PwqQ5guYk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-10i8-mtCw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj86Ysao ... r_embedded



"Are You Experienced?" Have You Seen The "Silver White Light"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEkoxVUl2RA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS1ncEkIeQ8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnzuyR2iT3I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=updTFU9I ... =endscreen
Back Inna Day, It Was All Hair 'N No Studs Or Hoops And Only The Occasional Tat'.






Here's Where I've Gotten To... Grant Me A Victory Lap....

Here's Ever Since I Started Self Managing My Account.




Here's YTD.




Here's During The Bad Year...






Not A Bad Place To Close De Do'. Up 11% Plus In 8 Months... A Little Short Of 10% A Year Over The Last 9 Years.



























Note:

I'm moving a substantial proportion of my money from my 401 to an account managed by a professional money manager in the near future. I will retain money in my 401 account and manage it as I have always done. I will be able to measure what my fees are getting me and roll the money back into the 401 should I decide to. But in the meantime, the distribution of funds among the investment options is mostly about easy tracking and transfer. I'll keep you posted on when that changes.









Don't Tell Me Wells Don't Run Dry An' It's All A Liberal Socialist Conspiracy. I Was On The Sahara Forest Logging Project Back Inna Day....
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/drough ... us-aquifer


TUESDAY

http://pragcap.com/4-questions-for-a-fe ... y-a-nobody
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2 ... f-the-fed/
http://fundamentalis.com/?p=2378
http://www.businessinsider.com/fred-wil ... ger-2013-8
http://pragcap.com/quite-the-qe-conundrum

Thursday:

http://business.time.com/2013/08/15/ame ... nt-advice/






Stay Tooned...





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Dem Changes .... Again 

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