Ohhhh Mexico....

The Cap'n was talking to the General (my father) the other day, and I heard this brilliant take on the Arizona immigration fiasco:

Let's say you have bought a ticket on Southwest Airlines to take a trip. Your credit card has been charged, you checked in over the Internet, went through TSA, and are now waiting in line.

As you board the plane and get to your seat, you find that it has been occupied by a non paying customer who boarded the plane through the rear entrance after managing to walk through an unguarded entrance from the terminal to the tarmac. (Sort of like Burbank)

This non paying customer refuses to give up their seat. It is not their fault nobody was guarding the entrance to the plane, even though there are certain standardized entrance and exit points.

It is also noted that they have brought four more non payees aboard with them and in doing so, not only have you lost your seat, but four more paying customers have lost theirs also.

They have also brought numerous bags for the overhead bins, so paying customers must check in their baggage or send it on a later flight.

The cabin crew refuses to dismiss these people (even though a few crimes have just been committed), but offers to find "reasonable" accommodations on the plane for you and the others by charging the entire plane $50.00 more per person.

If not, you are just shit out of luck.

Sound Familiar???

I found it to be spot on, and would love to hear a logical counter that does not include "racist" because this model is race/gender neutral.





- the Cap'n

An Early 4th of July Thought....

It seems like everybody is miserable.

This seems to be a universal position. Everybody is bitching and moaning about something. If you are a Communist Lefty you are unhappy with the Right and continued ineptitude and failed policies of your Savior. If you're on the Right, you are incensed about Obama and his trashing of the Constitution and middle finger to Allies like Israel and Great Britain. If you are out of work, you are like 30% of the rest of the country and wondering when benefits will run out and whether a job opening will surface for which you are not over qualified. If you own a business, you are wondering when the government will finally back off and allow you to operate in a "semi" free market economy and not add to the unemployment numbers. If you hate Summer, you are bitching about the heat. If you hate big business, you are bitching about BP and the Gulf fiasco.

If you hate....you get what I mean.

The point I am trying to make is that it seems nobody is happy. At a time when the sun comes up in the East everyday, you can still draw a deep breath, and your children still love you....why is everything so exacerbated and full of intolerance and dare I say hate??

I'll tell you why: Americans took our hands off the wheel and allowed all the mother fuckers in government (Donkeys and Elephants) to sell us out. Factor in an infantile President for the last 20 years (present office holder included) and we have had this recipe for disaster brewing.

The American people have become more concerned with watching Lost or American Idol, then what their Congress has passed or failed to regulate over the last two decades. We have willingly been led to the altar and sacrificed as we were lured in by the Tech Bubble, the Real Estate Bubble, the Mortgage Bubble without ever questioning the fundamentals behind them.

We have no stomach for a protracted conflict in the Middle East because it is not convenient to us--regardless of big picture consequences. We would rather fall for bull shit straw men by complete idiots like Michael Moore, Bill Maher or Sean Hannity than actually study an issue and come up with an informed opinion. (I will not include Jon Stewart in the mix because although I do not agree with his politics, I do not find him an idiot.)

We have allowed our excess to make us insulated from the real world. Mind you, I am a hardcore capitalistic, fiscally conservative but socially liberal Republican. I will tell you from years of business ownership that once you relax, you become the second place finisher. We have relaxed through the Bill Clinton (an era of absolute nothingness), Bush (a lack of fiscal responsibility) and now Obama (to be remembered as our worst president EVER).

In doing so it has left us angry--angry at everything we perceive as different or threatening to our little lifestyles.

That is just plain wrong. We should be angry at ourselves. We the American people allowed this to occur. Nobody else is to blame.

We control our own lives, not the government.

We control our destinies, not some mentally retarded legislator.

We are ultimately the caretakers of this nation.

Whether Left or Right, if you love this country you understand this basic right.....

As we near the 4th of July, we should ask ourselves one question: What would the greatest era of our time have done? When confronted with tyranny, they took it on their shoulders to kick the crap out of everything and anything that came in the way of freedom. No ocean too wide, no mountain too high, no enemy too fierce.

We are still those people, we just forgot it along the course of some very fat years and even fatter legislators who preach discord from the top.

We are still the people that stuck it to the English in the beginning, and never looked back. Period. From Korea to Iraq, we are still the baddest asses on the planet who will kick your ass to the dirt, and then pick you up, dust you off, and help get you back on your feet.

That is who we are.

It is time to honor our forefathers by becoming those people again.

Happy Fourth of July!

-The Cap'n

When MTV was the S#!+...

As the Cap'n was taking a drive into work the other day he had the satellite radio on 80's on 8. I know I'm dating myself, but that was the pop music I grew up with. It is my only musical vice and I enjoy the hell out of it.

As the country is turning to shit with the evolution of Barack Obama's vision of Bolshevism, I am growing increasingly nostalgic. Well, Obama's destruction of America as we know it, getting older, seeing family members die, having friends come down with horrible conditions, etc. etc. etc. is probably an exact description of my feelings of nostalgia....

Anyway...I was singing along to Golden Earring's "Twilight Zone" and started thinking when was the first time I heard this song. Amazingly, it was in 1982 when I was eleven years old. It was also the first time I watched MTV on cable television.

Wow....1982..It actually came back pretty clear. I was with my grandparents in San Francisco at their friend's house in Pacific Heights during the Christmas season. They had stopped by to have a drink and visit, and the family's daughter brought me upstairs to hang out and get out of the way. She was in her late teens, so she was heading out, but turned on MTV and gave me the remote.

Awesome! I'd never even seen cable TV before, and MTV was only talked about on the schoolyards. Hell, we were lucky to be able to watch Friday Night Videos on NBC if Mom and Dad let us stay up, or taped it on the vcr.

Now, I had music videos coming on one after another after another. First one: Golden Earring's Twilight Zone. Truth be told, it was like watching the Holy Grail. I was mesmerized watching all these different videos and cool VJ's from a room in New York.

If we ever got cable television, I would never watch anything else. MTV was the coolest thing I had ever seen.

I also got to thinking how times were just simpler back then. No Internet, XBOX360, 500 channel cable systems, on demand anything for instant gratification, I Phones, etc.

Back then it was just 5 or 6 television stations, your radio, and your friends you hung out with. Maybe an Atari 2600, and if you were lucky a Commodore 64.

Back then our enemies were the Commies. Now it is our self.

Back then it was Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Now it is Avatar.

Back then you read a newspaper. Now you read a blog.

Back then it was records. Now it's mp3's.

Back then my heroes played baseball. Now they wake up every morning and go to work to make sure their family is taken care of.

Back then MTV was the coolest. Now it is my kids.

Stay Strong,

The Cap'n

WTF?

I always hated that little bit of texting heaven. It's just another cute way of dropping an f bomb without having to say it. Stupid. Still, it seems that any and everyone will try to drop in an occasion to curse without REALLY saying it.

What kind of B.S. is that?..

With the obvious pun just above, why even say it? If you want to say "what the fuck", then man (or woman) up and let it fly. Do not even throw out an excuse of whether it is appropriate or not because you are just trying to be cute. If you are going to curse, then goddamn do it. Otherwise, use another expression and move on.

It's like tattoos now. Tats used to be for rebels and real anti-society types. Now it's just for pieces of trash who think they look cool. In fact, if you are not in a band or a slut, you shouldn't even have them. Period. Sorry Johnny wanna be a rapper white kid.

Speaking of that, what says "Please hire me" more than a moron in baggy jeans, a sideways hat, tats, and piercings. Better hope they don't legalize pot or you're out of one of your few career choices.

Ouch. Career choices. What is actually going to be left if Obama keeps steering the ship? Let's see....Welfare recipient, government worker (maybe), the military (if it's not dismantled), unemployment recipient (see above), landscaper, professional television watcher/gamer with my government issued flat screen from my stimulus check, and my favorite: stripper!

Now there is something that makes no sense: California wants to outlaw flat screen televisions that use too much energy. You mean you are telling me that I no longer have the right to buy the biggest t.v. possible--just like an automobile. I can see it now- Flat Screen Energy Consumption Stations. Just like a smog check you will have to have your Plasma (or LCD/LED) certified in order to use it or face fines. Maybe then, you could buy energy credits which allow you to play your NHL10 on the Xbox 360...oh, oh..I'm onto something...

Which leads right to that piece of floating excrement Al Gore. If there was ever a bigger con man in this nation (please do not insert the obvious), I would love to know. He's got a great scam working. Stoke the fears of the populace. Set up a system for energy cap and trade which you are the principal shareholder of the brokering company. Invest in ancillary companies. Get them government contracts. Stoke more fears as you travel the world. Repeat process. Do it with a straight face as you try not to snicker under your breath. Damn..How was I not a child of privilege?

And finally....how privileged do you feel to watch it all going wrong on your watch? In some eyes it's going right and that is a scary shame. Somewhere in there is a middle ground which needs to be hammered out. It's like a marriage. If it's going to work you better find a compromise or you are headed for divorce.

Well, if we're going to go down all Planet of the Apes style, then I'll go with one of these:

And a little music to end the day....be sure to find your way home.

-The Cap'n

What Happened When I Was Sleeping?

Wow, the Cap'n comes back from Daddy time with the kiddies for a few months and the whole place has gone to hell. It was arguably the most trying yet fulfilling weeks of my life, but I wouldn't trade it back for the world...I miss the little buggers during the day already!


Well, instead of musing on one probably over dated subject, lets throw some thoughts out for consumption:

* Did you know that in my hometown there are 35 medical marijuana dispensaries within 15 miles of each other. You have got to be kidding me. Throw in the probable 350 dealers in the same grid and you have one hell of a business running during the day. No wonder the Feds and Local want a piece of this cash economy. My question: How much of the daily population is on a controlled substance to make it through the day? Factoring in prescription meds, the Cap'n says probably around 75%.....

* Is Robert Gibbs retarded? Well, that's an easy one...How about: If you are a crooked son of a bitch, is it standard operating procedure to have a retarded dis-information officer to just piss everyone off and make them go away?

* Why is the left so hot to trot with health care? Medi Care is a joke. VA hospitals are a crying shame. Social Security is a fucking nightmare. Hmmmm....lets now take the wrecking ball to the economy again with an overhaul of the health care system. To all you over educated, broke ass lefties: Quickly--name anything the federal government has run successfully and at a profit? Or, even in the estimated loss brackets? Good luck. I feel much better about health care now.

* Quick Econ lesson for all you PHD holding lefties also: Sub Prime mortgages were all written in '05, '06, and '07. All come due in '08, '09, an '10...Do you think the economy is going to rebound? Thank your local congressman for that one (and especially Frank, Barney)....but there is more-- commercial real estate defaults are now coming in late 09, 10, and 11. There will be ABSOLUTELY NO RECOVERY until 2012 at the earliest unless the banking system relaxes lending rules and allows bridge loans. Better get used to 10-15% unemployment and small business being eradicated.

Why? Your great leader and his bull shit stimulus plan hasn't put any money into the true economy. All it's done so far is grease the palms of his constituents.....In '11 when it kicks in to full effect ( if it ever does-- the Repubs will sweep out the Dems in '10 and the plan will get demolished) it will be to late.

If you are a conspiracy theorist and believe in a NWO, this is one hell of a playbook to get there.

* Why are there absolutely ZERO good movies out to bridge the gap between summer and Thanksgiving?

*Why do I have an unending picture in my head of the old Wiemar Republic and a man lugging a wheel barrel down the street full of Deutschemarks going to buy a loaf of bread?

*Neil Young is still one sick dude! A living legend!

Regardless of left or right, it's about freedom....Keep on Rocking in the Free World!!!!!

-The Cap'n

Morons

Well, I was all set to do a post on my buddy Fang (who has a wonderful liberally slanted blog ), his back problems, and how he will see the quality of his care reduced if Das Leader gets his way. Instead, I wanted to focus on Mr. 52.7% sidekick.

Look at this whopper:

"I say, 'Don't let your opposition to the Recovery Act blind you to its results. Come see what I see everywhere I go: workers rehired, factories reopened, cops on the street, teachers in the classroom, progress toward getting our economy back on the move.'"

-Washington Post.com 7/17/09

Workers rehired?

As of the end of May 2009, California's job losses were quantified as :

California's year-over job losses totaled 739,500 (4.9 percent) in May 2009. This was the State's largest year-over job loss on record. Unofficial historical data suggest that California's 4.9 percent year-over job loss in May 2009 was the State's largest since March 1946. Year-to-date in 2009, California's nonfarm job losses totaled 348,000 jobs, or an average of 76,800 jobs a month. This was nearly twice the average monthly loss of 38,500 jobs in 2008...

http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/article.asp?ARTICLEID=1258&printerFriendly=true

But there is more:

Nationally, the largest job loss was in manufacturing (156,000). Three additional industry sectors lost more than 50,000 jobs: construction (59,000); trade, transportation, and utilities (54,000); and professional and business services (51,000). Notably, each of these three industries had averaged job losses of well over 100,000 jobs over the six months prior to May. Information (24,000), natural resources and mining (10,000), government (7,000), and other services (1,000) were the other U.S. industry sectors that lost jobs in May 2009.

Four California industry sectors experienced losses of more than 100,000 jobs over the last year: trade, transportation, and utilities (191,000); construction (149,200); professional and business services (126,100); and manufacturing (122,200). Two additional California industry sectors lost more than 50,000 jobs over the last year: leisure and hospitality (62,300), and financial activities (51,600).

Three more California industry sectors lost more than 10,000 jobs over the last year: information (29,200), other services (15,500), and government (14,200). Year-over losses in natural resources and mining totaled 1,400 jobs. Three U.S. industry sectors lost more than one million jobs over the last year: manufacturing (1,570,000); trade, transportation, and utilities (1,193,000); and professional and business services (1,139,000). Year-over job losses in construction totaled 990,000 jobs.

Two additional U.S. industry sectors lost more than 300,000 jobs over the year: financial activities (397,000), and leisure and hospitality (328,000). Information (152,000), other services (123,000), and natural resources and mining (31,000) were the remaining U.S. industry sectors that lost jobs over the last year.

And then the kicker: Nationally, two industry sectors experienced year-over job gains in May 2009: health services (417,000), and government (140,000).

http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/article.asp?ARTICLEID=1258&printerFriendly=true

Thank you California EDD for the Labor info in a May 2009 article.

Well Pinocchio, what does this mean?? It means you are full of fecal matter.

"Workers re-hired":

If you are what? A nurse or government employee? It would make sense for the health workers since everyone is either stressing out or numbing themselves to the insanity coming out of Washington. I'm damn well sure the number of heart attacks, alcoholism, and suicides will go up the next few years all due to the insane economic policies coming from this administration. Just try to get life insurance at a decent premium..

"Factories reopened":

Look at how hard the manufacturing sector has been hit you moron. There isn't an idiot in the room who would dare open one here in California. Hell, I just shut mine down because of OVER REGULATION AND OVER TAXATION. The state of California is insane. It is the gold standard for how liberal and over the top environmental regulation DOES NOT WORK. It strangles any chance a small business has. Now we will have cap and trade--economic suicide! Throw national health care on top of that and it's 8% non compliance penalties--Hello more layoffs!! Get ready Pinocchio, the sky is about to fall!

"Cops on the street":

There were too many layoff links to post, but this one struck me as interesting:

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=10415019

75 cops laid off in Toledo led to mass gun buys. Well, at least there is a plus to the situation

"Teachers in the classroom":

Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Joins Educators in Recognition of Record Number of Teachers Receiving Layoff Notices.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr09/yr09rel40.asp

26,950 teachers have received pink slips so far...

I could only think of one way to wrap this one up.....

-The Cap'n

Cap'n House Husband!?!

Well, you never know what life is going to throw you. After the Cap'n told the State of California where to stick it by selling his business, he know finds himself at a crossroads.

Once a Cap'n of Industry, it looks like he will now be Cap'n of the house for the next six to eight weeks as the wife goes back to work and my mother in law waits to retire.

What a weird turn of events.

Some background: After the business was sold, there was definitely work to be done selling equipment, cleaning buildings, selling inventory, etc. etc. etc. That took about a year, and was painfully sad as well as challenging. During that time I looked at other opportunities on the horizon.

The problem was that they were all in unrelated fields and there was really no opening for "37 year old ex-vice presidents" with 18 years experience in management, production, marketing, and sales. I was a jack of many trades but a true expert in none (except production).

Still, being that "A" type personality, I wanted to keep charging forward and have absolutely zero downtime. BIG MISTAKE!!!

In doing so I jumped into a start up during a recession/depression while at the same time trying to shorten a learning curve by about 10 months. Now, I have never quit anything in my life. No matter how bad I get beaten, I am too stubborn to walk away a loser. I always figured the difference between a quitter and a loser was in the spelling.

I am however starting to change my mind as my perspective has changed. Why? My kids.

After having a beautiful set of twins, my personality changed on the spot. My anger (which fueled my success) was gone. My impatience had waned. My overall want to destroy every obstacle in my way had dissipated.

In a word, I was "anew".

Don't get me wrong, the Cap'n loves money...but he has money. What he is missing now is the logical next step in his progression. For most people, CEO/President/VP is the culmination of a career..That was done by age 32....now what?????

Well, for the next eight weeks it is this:

And I tell you, I am psyched.

I really think this time will allow me to get my thoughts together and look at the future in the right frame of mind. Although I have definite fears about current goings on in our state and in D.C., there is always the optimism of and for youth which I see every morning.

I'll also get to see a little of this:

-The Cap'n