7-0

I am on cloud nine because my Pittsburgh Penguins are 7-0 in the NHL playoffs so far this year. They are the first team to start the playoffs undefeated in seven games since the '94 Rangers. This so happens to be the team they are currently taking to school. The Pens didn't even have their best game tonight, and still managed to pull five goals out of their hats. The first game of this series was probably the most exciting game I've seen in sixteen years (since the '92 cup) and I am starting to think they can hoist Lord Stanley's prize this year. They look that good. They look so good, I'd almost rather they lose one just so they can see a little adversity. Then again, sweeping their way to the final wouldn't kill me.

This playoff season is the reason for the scarcity of blog posts lately. I don't have a ton of time in between moving, organizing, working, and taking care of the lawn. I'm getting closer to being organized, though, and I'll be glad when everything is put away 'in its home' as K would say.

My buddy Dave with FSPD came by tonight to see our new place, and I'm sure the neighbors are already thinking I'll be a problem neighbor. This side of town is so quiet, they don't usually see cop cars in the driveways of the neighbors.

I called in an order recently for my old friend Woody. I called it into the CMP, which is based in Anniston, AL.

http://odcmp.com/about_us.htm

They stockpile a lot of military weapons and ammunition that is no longer used by the armed forces. They have had or still have a ton of Garands, Carbines, practice Mossberg 22s, and several million rounds of Lake City (recently sold out) and Greek HXP 30-06 ammunition. They make it available to the civilian market in order to promote gun ownership, training, and safety, especially with the youth of America. Woody had some requests for some ammo from a few customers, and I told him I'd get some for him because they always seem to somehow screw up his orders. Anyway, for some reason, there has been a HUGE increase in both price and demand for ammunition of all kinds from all sources. Luckily, my call got us in before a planned price increase, and the CMP says they've seen an increase of ten-fold on ammunition orders in the last few months. When people freak out about fuel, the economy, and everything else, they also freak out and buy guns, gun parts, and ammunition by the arsenal. It's not a bad thing, except when it means price increases are inevitable. Woody will hold some HXP for me for a while, and I've got plenty, but you can never have too much ammo in my opinion. I'm getting some things organized for my first trip to the range with JD, and I'm getting anxious. Can't wait to blow some things up. CZ

Eye Candy

"Oooo, I like her dress, and her shoes!" Robin was wearing a nice little dress that showed off all of her nice assets, and is probably the reason Headline news has gone to more casual, standing camera shots of her reading the news. She's easy on the eyes, and that is important to viewers for obvious reasons, even for women. Shortly before retiring back to the bedroom to dress for work, Karen asks, "Baby, some people are saying that the United States might crash like Russia. Do you think that could happen to us?" This was directly after changing the channel to CNBC since she knows I usually watch Squawk Box in the morning.
I'm still very groggy from my recent slumber, so I think I just shook my head no. I know this was probably frustrating for mi chica, but fresh from the sheets in the morning is not when I do my best work. It takes a little while for my oven to warm up, my engine to get up to operating temperature, if you will.

My engine is now operating at near full throttle, and I'm completely prepared to answer Karen in a direct and the normally human way she would want and deserves. Problem is, she's not here, and I'm at work. So, long story short, I thought I'd post an article I found this morning. This article is the first one I've read in a long time that states everything clearly about what is going on with the economy in both our home country and the world. First and foremost, the United States of America is THE center of the world, economically speaking. Any economist worth his salt will tell you this. We are nowhere near a collapse like that of the Soviet Union. Mr. Kaletsky writes very well and has explained everything very clearly, and far more eloquently than I could. The cloudy haze through which most of us have seen this economic mess is cleared up almost completely by this article, and there is no need for anyone to rush out and buy their limit of rice from Sam's Club.

Oh, and if you're sitting on your hands just waiting for the moment to get into the equities market, there is one signal that the media and anaylists are just now starting to talk about. Not to blow my own horn, but I mentioned to Craig a while ago that we should look for 1400 on the S&P 500. The market has danced around this magic number for weeks, but has never closed above this mark. If and when this happens, it will send a signal to all traders that we are knocking loud and hard on the barn door that finally leads to The Bull on Wall Street. I'm ready for the ride.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article3784907.ece

The Original

I'm on a political high this morning after getting an email from one of my best friends last night. JohnL, now from Omaha, originally a Cheese Head, refuted the evidence given by the guy in my recent post about gun owners being happier people. I realize everything one reads on 'the interweb' should be taken with a grain of salt and should be heavily researched before stating it as fact. I never thought that story was absolutely true, and I just posted it as something fellow gun owners would like to read. Everyone likes to read 'studies' that support their belief, and that's all I was doing. So, now, I'm going to post something I absolutely believe in, and I will post quotes that can be "googled" forevermore.

"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself! They are the American people's Liberty Teeth and keystone under Independence. From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurances, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security, and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable. The very atmosphere of firearms everywhere, restrains evil interference -- they deserve a place of honor with all that's good!" President George Washington, in a speech to Congress. 7 January, 1790

"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government." -- George Washington



That's the original president of the United States of America, people. The first. There were several in his circle that saw this young country just as he did (Jefferson, etc), and unfortunately, our leaders of today can't seem to see the light. All they need to do is pick up a book or click on their computer to see what has happened to myriad countries that have taken their citizens' arms away.

I won't ever see this because I know that nobody will ever take my guns....or my freedom...


CZ

Rare Breed

I found another blog today, through Kim Du Toit, that actually had me laughing. This, my friends, is rare indeed, and I hardly ever find a place that is worth going to more than once. I'll be adding it to my link list. Read " Oy.." from 4/13. It had me snickering at work, and that always looks good as I try to assert my managing skills to my cohorts.

http://thelawdogfiles.blogspot.com/

Monkeys are always funny....even when they toss fecal matter with reckless abandon.
CZ

Ruchnoy Pulemjot Kalashnikova

Those that don't have much common sense get their jollies by deriding those of us with a veritable arsenal. My buddy Scott sent me this yesterday. Further proof of what I've believed all along.

http://mobile2.wsj.com/device/html_article.php?id=77&CALL_URL=http://online.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB120856454897828049.html%3Fmod%3Dopinion_main_commentaries

Thanks, Scott.

Here's a pic of an RPK. This one is Russian, but the Romanians are nearly identical, and a total blast to shoot. There's a reason the Kalashnikov rifles are the most prolific in the world. They work. And they look good doing it.

CZ

Chin Music

I'm taking it on the chin today, along with thousands of other traders. Delta (DAL) is killing me when I thought it would be doing better than this. It's already taken half of my profits that I bought the contracts with last week. This is one that I may have been really wrong on. Of course, the contracts don't expire for two months, and that's plenty of time for the price to get up in the money above $10 a share. Cross your fingers for me. Damn Delta. I should make it a rule not to buy controlling interest in companies I don't like. That's what's making it hard for me not to be establishing a position with Microsoft (MSFT). Many people are pegging it to be a good boat to be on this year. We'll see.

Movin' on up... To the East Side

"How you doin? I'm Kino, that's my supervisor, Justin. Go ahead and show us what we're moving."

"Fridge, Armoire, dinner table, bed, couches, hutch, and the washer and dryer."

"Cool, cool."

This was Kino after jumping from the big truck and taking one last drag from a Black & Mild. Kino appears fairly young, my guess would be a few years younger than me, and is wearing the ubiquitous white K-Swiss shoes and jorts that seem dangerously close to slipping all the way down around his ankles. As I would soon find out, Kino (not sure of the spelling) is actually from here as well, and is a fellow graduate of Northside High. Since his graduation in '96, two years after me, he's apparently been a very busy man. He was already showing his cards as being very chatty.

Forty-five minutes later and a short trip to the new castle:

"Cool place, man, it's a nice improvement over that duplex."

"Thanks, I appreciate it. It was too good to pass up. It's a buyer's market right now."

"How many rooms is it?"

"Four."

"Man, I didn't realize there was all this back here. How many kids you got?"

"None."

"You got plenty of room for two or three, huh?"

"Well, one maybe someday."

"I got four kids, man. God said be fruitful, man, I'm just doin' what he's sayin'."

He even emerged from the back of the moving truck two minutes after this brief exchange to tell me he forgot. He has five kids.

"I got one in Benton, she's with her momma."

"She's 'posed to be comin' down here this summer for a little bit."

Kino was a very friendly guy, and the move went without a hitch. Hart to Hart was the company, and these two were doing a good job of taking care of all of the heavy wood. Everything was tied, padded, and transported without damage. Best money spent during the whole move. All we have left are small things from K's duplex. It's been a long and arduous move, but we're finally almost finished. I got the armoire --I hate that word. It's kind of like Potpourri and schmorgasboard and is an entire blog unto itself.--

I got it filled with the fun stuff- DVR, Playstation, LCD TV, audio receiver, etc..Now we have a real great room with good sound and video. Our first cookout at the Nash's will be a good time.

Encore

At the behest of my beloved sister, I shall proceed with another blog. It has been a few days, but busy doesn't begin to describe my schedule of late. It seems like I've been moving either myself or Karen for months, now. I'm at the new house now, but I'm still organizing and 'finding a home' for everything I own. I own a bunch of stuff.

We were really busy at work Saturday, which is a good thing because it seemed for a couple of days that the economic worries were real. I couldn't tell Saturday with the way people were slingin' the money at us for motorcycle goodies. Come on in, people, come on in.

K and I went over to the Crooks again to have another evening filled with good times, good people, and good food Saturday night. We all sit around, drink a little, eat a lot, and then play games. It's usually Wii golf, bowling, and baseball for the men, and some card game called Nertz for the womens. I have never heard of this game, but they seem not to tire of it.

There was a funny add by my little sister a few days ago that she may bring her Glock with her when she comes up this summer. I had to laugh when K asked what a Glock was. Oh, dear...I have tried so many times to get Karen to embrace the blued steel tools of joy, but alas, I have not yet succeeded. Someday, maybe. I recently wrapped up the rebuild of a rifle of mine- a nice AES10-B Romanian RPK. I just disassembled, cleaned, and re-finished the laminated wood stocks, but it is a vast improvement over the cosmoline-encrusted pile I got from the importer. I have also had a parts set and receiver from NDS to build a Romanian AKM, but I've not had time to start on it yet. I need to get cracking, because in my most recent "project A.D.D." switch, I've really been into the weapons of the Eastern Bloc and all Avtomat Kalashnikova variations. These guns varied in quality from absolute $#*!, to extremely nice milled receiver gems. The Romanian guns fall somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, are relatively inexpensive, and are a total blast to shoot. I don't own any museum wall-hangers that don't get fired. I shoot everything I own and love every second of it.

I'm meeting with some professional movers in the morning to have them move the big heavy stuff K owns. Washer, Dryer, Fridge, Armoire, etc. I'm not a young, spry fellow anymore, and some things are just better left to others that accept cash money for services rendered.

Karen and I finally agreed to a destination for our honeymoon in June. Wohooo! Lake Tahoe it is! Even though I'm a little apprehensive about supporting anything in the Socialist Republic of California, I'll make an exception since the lake is technically in both states and I can do some gambling in Reno while we're there.

It's beautiful outside right now, and I think I'll concoct a tasty beverage and enjoy it on my new screened in porch. I don't have a hammock, but I'll suffer through nonetheless. I'll probably chime in tomorrow, since there will be plenty of activity in the equities markets this week because of earnings reports. I'm looking at EMC (bought a position Friday), MSFT, WB, and of course, Craig- Visa. We'll see what happens. As my good friend Sean Bernard Brown likes to say- And Good Day!

CZ

Throwback

The year was 1992, and I was working at my very first job. KPOM TV24 was where my Uncle Keith (aka Carbo) and his girlfriend at the time worked. Beth called me one day soon after I hit my sixteenth birthday because she knew I needed a job to pay for insurance and gas for my hooptie '78 Grand Prix. I was hired as a camera operator for the news and in the field for a crazy church service in Van Buren on Sunday mornings. That part of the job was not fun, but working with my uncle and a guy named Mike Hart was entertaining to say the least. Mike is still one of my good friends to this day and is one of the funniest people I know.

This job only lasted about six months because the corporation decided to go without news. They were going to be strictly broadcast television. Toward the end of my brief stint at this company, I would get to watch hockey at night between newscasts because there wasn't much else to do from 7-9. This is one of my best memories from my first job because it was also the year the Penguins won Lord Stanley's cup for the second year in a row. They swept the Blackhawks easily , and I got to see every game because Carbo would tune in the Pittsburgh broadcasts on a spare sattelite. This was my first introduction into one of the most exciting sports I know. I didn't get to watch hockey growing up because it just wasn't available on television here in the south. My family history in Pittsburgh is what keeps my fire lit for all of professional sports in Pittsburgh- even the lowly Pirates. Getting to watch the Penguins dominate with Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr in front and Tom Barrasso in net was an experience that I'll never forget.

Last night, I was a little disappointed when I couldn't watch the Penguins wrap up their first four game sweep in the playoffs since the '91-'92 season. It's only a sweep in the first round, but it is very symbolic because they swept the team (Ottawa Senators) that ousted my young Pens last year. Perfect retribution, and it should be a good sign of things to come. They get to kick back and wait for their next opponent on thier road to hoisting the Stanley Cup again soon. This time around, Lemieux isn't on the ice, but in the owner's luxury suite having handed the keys to the car over to a young captain by the name of Crosby. If this young team is able to raise the cup again, it will be just as sweet as it was in '92.

Invervention

I've got an addiction and I can't figure out how to stop. Every time I think I'd be better off going liquid and staying away from equities for a while, the market gives me an opportunity I can't pass up. Today's opportunity is something everyone is familiar with: Delta Airlines.

I'll be the first to say I'm not a fan of Delta. There are several of my friends and family that have been hung out to dry by this airline. Late flights, canceled flights, lost luggage, you name it. I've almost always flown American myself, but I'll be the first in line to take profit if the opportunity presents itself.

A few days ago, Delta announced a planned merger with Northwest airlines. This would make them the largest fleet in the air in the United States, even bigger than American. I know the outlook for all airlines has been bleak because of skyrocketing fuel prices. There's only one problem: People will always fly. At any given moment, there are anywhere from 2500 to 4000 planes in the air over the United States. That's a ton of traffic and a boatload of fuel being burned. People don't care as long as it gets them to their destination-fast.

Both NWA and Delta stock prices are lagging. Delta is down today as a matter of fact, even though the Dow is riding high with a 200+ point gain already. I checked my new favorite web site today:
http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/commentary/content/option+skews+-+yahoo+ebay+thornburg+mortgage+emc+corp+amazoncom+jds+uniphase+cree+mbia/trading_floor_blog.aspx?single=true&blogid=84034#84034
Check out the call skews for Delta (DAL)
The contracts being bought representing people that think DAL will be going up is at 27,036
The contracts being bought representing people that think DAL will go down is 248.

Wow. That's the same sort of discrepency that made me buy a put contract for Bear Stearns right before their fallout. I cashed in for a nice gain on that one because of the this call/put skew chart.

Long story short, I'm looking for Delta to go up nicely as the deal with NWA gets closer to being final, and when it does, I should be sitting pretty.

CZ

Market Fun

Just when I was thinking about liquidating and going cash and coin for safety, the market takes a big jump today. The PCZ May 45 Call I bought just a couple of weeks ago is now posting a 189% gain and is still climbing. Bid/Ask prices still indicate strength with it looking to break the moving average. I'm excited, to say the least, but I'm also itching to get out as soon as there's an indication of a pullback. I'll set a stop limit to be safe on the downside. The crazy oil prices are the cause of this upswing, and I'm a little torn. I don't like paying more at the pump, but if I can at least profit on the upswing, I'm buying a ticket for this roller coaster ride.

CZ

Merry Christmas to me...

The NFL just released schedules, and Scott and I have tossed around the idea of going to the 'Burgh to see the Stillers whip up on the Cowgirls. December 7 is the day, and I already know what will be on my Christmas list. Tickets, please....CZ

Outsmarted

What in the world? I've never seen anything like this before. Deposit a quarter in the lock, pull back, and remove the cart. There are two cute old ladies trying to do the same.

"I don't know how to do this. My husband always does this part, and he left to get a haircut!"

"Let me see, maybe it's just stuck", says cute old lady number two. They're not related, but happened to walk up the instant I did.

"Have you got yours figured out, young man?"
I struggle with mine because it seems the quarter won't go in far enough to 'pop' anything loose. I can't believe I've never even seen anything like this in my thirty two years of living and going to the grocery store.

I hear a click and an "ahaaa", but it isn't from me.
Old lady number one just got hers to work. "How did you do it?", asked the shorter one. "Just take the metal thing and really push on the quarter. Like this"
as she demonstrates. There you have it. Two old ladies manage to free their grocery carts from the Alcatraz of shopping cart lockup before I can manage to break mine free. The second old lady tries to help me, but it seems my lock is particularly stubborn.

At this point, the contraption has taken my quarter and laughed at me for trying, as if my ego wasn't trampled enough after watching two seventy-somethings David Blaine their way into shopping cart pushing bliss.
Pop, click, slide. It's out. Just as old lady number two gives up trying to help me.

I can put in a fuel injected, computer-controlled motor into a 1982 Jeep CJ, but I can't work the stupid lock on the shopping cart. Hmmm..

So, this was the beginning of the weirdest grocery shopping experience ever. It's a place called Aldi. I came here once when it opened a couple of years ago, but they didn't have the 'deposit' shopping carts. Anyway, it's small, but they have almost everything your name-brand retailers have in generic names. Almost everything is cheaper than say, the big monster I hate feeding: WalMart.
I can't say exactly how much I saved, but I know I got a pound of ground chuck for $2 when it would have been $3 at the monster. Pork chops were $5 for 6, when I normally pay that for 4 chops. The jury is still out on the quality of everything, but I'll let you know. The chopped ham and artichoke hearts I bought were put into my Taboli this afternoon. It was fabulous, so there's reason enough to make a return trip. Milk wasn't any cheaper, and I didn't need any milk, but I'll get some there to see if I can taste a difference since it doesn't say 'Hiland Dairy' or anything.

I'm going to do a little more research on this place to figure out what gives. If any of my readers know, feel free to chime in.
If you're thinking about going, though, be sure to bring boxes or something to put your groceries in because they don't have bags. Yep. Nothing. I piled everything into the front seat of the Taco for the two minute drive back to the house, but next time I'll be prepared with a quarter and some cardboard.

CZ

Breaking it in

Eyes are cloudy with the remnants of a heavy and deep sleep. It took only a few moments to realize I was in an unfamiliar place. I peered through my half-shut eyelids to see a beautiful sunrise. The sun had yet to peek over the horizon, but was painting the calm morning sky with beautiful hues. Splashed with blue, yellow, orange and red, I knew from the first time we saw the place I would have to sleep in a room that had windows. It is a very simple pleasure, but one that I cannot go without. I love to embrace a new day with the sun filling the room. Even on days when I have to go to work, it makes for a perfect beginning.

This was my new home. Our home. Karen and I purchased the house that will be a place to rest our heads for many years to come. This morning's sunrise was a perfect metaphor for the sunrise of our life. The married years.

I tried to watch the Penguins in their second game of the opening playoff series against the Senators last night, but Versus chose to air a different game. It was a great game, but it still wasn't my Pens. The Capitols and Flyers was the game they chose to air, and it didn't disappoint. The Caps had a one goal lead early in the second and watched it evaporate to a two goal deficit (4-2) by the second intermission. They came out on fire in the third and tied it 4-4 in order to open the curtain on the stage for Ovechkin's performance. The second best player in the league stole the puck and scored the winning goal with little more than four minutes to play. Awesome. I love to see the Flyers lose. They're the Ravens of the NHL. Hate 'em. I loved the fact that the Devils lost to the Rangers, too. I hate them, too, and they're the team in the East that worries me. If the Rangers take care of them first, I would feel much better about our chances for the cup.

Another first in the new house was the visit to The Office. All of my male readers should completely understand what is to follow. Now, some of you females out there are probably aware that there are two distinct types of commodes out there in the world, well the American world anyway since we're not in a third world country where they do business in a hole. There are round bowls and elongated bowls here in the states. The latter is eloquently described by one particular web site: a classically styled oval shape for maximum comfort. These are the types that are usually used when space is not a concern. This type is luckily the type in our master bathroom. For some reason, this commode was a little loose. The two nuts on the studs weren't tight and I guess I was either too lazy to find a wrench or was too concerned about making a deposit to take the time to tighten them properly. Off to the spare bathroom in the hallway. I had already noticed before, during our initial walk-through of the house before purchase, that this particular depository was of the round variety. Granted, this bathroom is a little smaller, but had ample room for a more adequate oval bowl. Was two inches really that much more expensive? I'm not terribly concerned since this bathroom will not be the one that I use the most. When I sat down, I was immediately disappointed. Most of you guys out there, and even you girls that were around for one particular beer-laden discussion, know of the problem of which I speak. That icy cold feeling when the third appendage touches the cold and wet internal area of the bowl is far from pleasant. Oh well. I guess I asked for it since I was too lazy to fix my john in the master bath. That will be wrenching priority number one tonight.

To sum it up, the first night to sleep in the new home was a good one. I will have to get used to all the walking involved in getting from one end of the house to the other. It seems there are more corners to turn and more carpet and tile to cover when leaving the bedroom for the kitchen. Maybe the twenty-three hundred square feet will sink in eventually. It's a good thing and I'm loving it already.

CZ

1985

I just saw a guy come into the shop wearing these. His were probably a knock-off of the original Oakley Razor Blade. Wow. So there really are people that think this look is still cool. I guess it's the same as wearing a mullet. He's probably out shopping for some socks to go with his new mandals on this beautiful spring day.

CZ

Armageddon

There is a growing number of people in the world that firmly believe the end of the world will begin with the lack of water and lack of food. I happen to be among these people. There are signs of it already in Haiti, Africa, and several other parts of the world. When people start fighting over rights to water and start killing over food, things go bad very quickly. There are battles on a non-violent (so far) scale even in this country. One of my closest friends writes for the Associated Press, and this is one of her stories:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/09/AR2008040902491.html

This is a small town in the USA, but it is happening everywhere. Fights over resources will continue to be at the forefront of issues in the near future. Oil, water, and food will be the biggest cause for concern, and if we don't work together to solve the smaller problems, they will become very large and life-threatening problems very soon.

CZ

Tainted

I think I'm going to be sick. Hitlery was at Heinz Field last night. She's touching the hallowed Black & Gold. I couldn't think of a more disgusting image to see first thing this morning. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

http://www.post-gazette.com/

Entitlement State

What has caused the general majority of the United States population to become so callous as to expect to be entitled to money anytime something bad happens to them? I read this morning that the families of the victims in the Virginia Tech massacre are "settling" for 11 million dollars. Why do they get money because their family members died? They chose to go to school there. They weren't forced into anything. The fact that they were deprived of the right to self-protection and unable to carry concealed weapons is something they knew when they signed their enrollment papers. Do people that die from lightning strikes get money from somewhere? Do they sue weather people for not predicting a storm properly?

Let us say I happened to be in an establishment that doesn't forbid CCW holders from carrying on the premisis and I was minding my own business, picking up some eggs and milk. Some joker walks in the front door at the very moment I'm purchasing my products and aims a weapon at the cashier and everyone else yelling at them to get down. I would normally have a weapon on my person if I didn't plan on consuming alcohol that day. Let's say that on this particular day, I left my gun at home. If said imbecile then proceeds to shoot and injure me, would I sue someone? Absolutely, positively NOT. Is it the store's fault this guy has an IQ of a grilled cheese sandwich? No. Is it their fault he decided to pull a robbery at that exact moment and I happened to be a victim in the wrong place at the wrong time? A resounding no. The only blame to be placed is on me for leaving my weapon at home. Plain and simple. I was raised well enough to know what is right and wrong.

I still to this day don't understand why families of the people that worked in the Twin Towers are "entitled" to money. I understand it was a horrible tragedy, but nothing anyone could control directly. Nobody is responsible for their deaths except Al Qaeda and Bin Laden. We can't get money from them, so I'm guessing lawyers convinced the family members that SOMEONE is responsible. The state, the government, somebody. Why? It was a freak accident. If a plane crashed into my place of business today and I perished, I would hope that my family would understand it was a freak accident and not try to sue anybody.

I wish we weren't such a litigious society, but we are. 24 hour news, and people like Nancy Grace pound it into our heads that there are "those responsible" for anything and everything, and tort lawyers do everything in their power to drum up business. If that means representing several families because their loved ones were gunned down for no reason, so be it. These swine justify it in their minds because they are "helping the victims" cope with their loss, and bringing "justice". No, in reality, it is to bring home the bacon. It is a money making opportunity, and money makes the world go 'round. Greed only compounds the issue. What is the reasoning behind a lawyer charging upwards of $500 an hour to represent someone? Where does all that money go? They live well, to say the least.

There's my rant for the day, and I'm sure I've pissed a lefty or two off with my views, but I don't apologize for the way I see the world. Maybe I'll bring some sunshine later.
CZ

PC is BS

The market is slow today, and Merck did what I suspected. My stop-limit was triggered and I had to settle for 75% on my contract. Good enough. That covers my Put option purchase on Amazon a month ago or so. It went up when everything in the market pointed to it going down. Then, of course, the media and analysts all talk about how AMZN defies traditional analysis. Duh. Crazy stock market. Also, Visa is taking a little dip like I needed it to, so I may be shopping for a good deal in the next few days.

I'm watching Sportscenter this morning and I see that Pat Summit won another championship for Tennessee to make it an even number at 8. Go for ten, then you can retire. Of course, recruiting shouldn't be a problem at this point, so she should have nothing but the best to work with until she calls it a day and hangs up her basketball nets. The one thing that is bothering me during both genders of basketball this season is the use of MOP instead of the traditional MVP. What the hell? Who wants to be the MOP? Sounds like you're somebody that cleans up messes, not the best player on the court, field, ice, or whatever. I think this is probably some bullsh#@ politically correct move by some marketing guru to help people think they're trying not to hurt anyone's feelings. Man, if I had a nickel for every mamby pamby whiney-ass effort to not hurt feelings, I'd be a billionaire.

I hear from my step-brother that coaches a little league team that it's getting ridiculous for kids in that age group, too. They've gone so far as to not have "winners" and "losers". They just keep a score to satisfy parents and call them runners-up and stupid crap like that. Even last place teams get trophies. What good is that? Give them something to strive for, some goals, and maybe even something as crazy as winning! Competition shouldn't be goody-goody all the way around. I remember losing as a kid and hating it. It made me work harder. I got pulled from a baseball game after hitting two batters (I pitched because I had the strongest arm-not necessarily the most accurate) when I was in Pony league. They put me on first base and the next guy that got on base is a friend of mine to this day. I saw him at a bar a couple of weeks ago. He talked about the good times we had in school and on the ball field back in the day and how I had the strongest arm in Church League that year. That made me feel good, but I distinctly remember him taunting me at first base after I got pulled by the umpire, and I turned around and popped him in the face. I gave him a bloody nose and he quit because he was too busy crying about it. That's passion, and that's what is missing because everyone is too busy trying to be politically correct.

There's my rant for the day, and maybe something else will start swimming in my head later so you'll have something else to read.

CZ

From Under a Rock

It seems all of the mental midgets in the area are crawling out from wherever they hide in the winter. The first winner to bless us with his presence was a guy "lookin' to buy" a Polaris from "this ol' boy", but it won't shift into reverse. "Do you know what might be wrong with it?" Yes, he really asked me that. What kind of short bus regular thinks I'll be able to troubleshoot a POS that I haven't even seen? The next one, on the phone, said he just bought a brand new CV joint for his Polaris. He put it on only to find that now his four wheel drive won't work. "What's wrong with it?", he asks. This business never ceases to amaze me with the people we deal with. I'm sure it's ten times worse in places like Auto Zone, and I'm lucky for only having to deal with it occasionally. I would have lost my job if I worked at Auto Zone or any place like that. I have a low tolerance for idiocy. One of my crew is gone for the day, so I'm helping out on the counter. Flashbacks, for sure.

While the getting's good

My boy Craig in 'The Lou' just sent me a link that talked about options being opened on Visa (V) last week. I noticed this last Friday, but when Craig brought it up again, it piqued my interest enough to check out the options chain on my broker's page. It's looking like the ratio of Calls to Puts is heavily weighted on the call side ( 4:1 at least for expirations in June). This means traders are looking for Visa to do well in the next quarter. Today alone, the difference is a gain of 25% for two or three particular contracts. The increase in the base price of the stock is only 2% so far on the day. Now you see the appeal for options. 25% or 2%, which would you choose? I'm looking for a decent opening to take advantage. That means, I need Visa to take a little dip in the next few days. I jumped in on a dip like this with Merck last Monday when they got hammered by bad news and I'm about to close my position with a 75% gain (unless it goes up, since I've got a stop-limit trigger on it). Have fun on your next roller coaster ride, kids!

CZ

It does a body good

As many of my friends are fully aware, I'm a huge fan of protein. Beef, peanuts, chicken. If it has protein, odds are good that I like it. We had another meat-euphoric cookout at the Crooks' hacienda Saturday night, and it was glorious. Nice and pink in the middle for the burgers, mustard onions, and a little Bratwurst to wash it down. Yum. We love kickin' it with Jason and Angie because we don't have to go out to mess with crowds and smoky bars as often as we did back in our early years. They have two very chill and very cool kids (toddlers-and thus the reason for events and gathering at their place) that are nothing like the whiney spoiled brats that I see coming in the shop with fathers and mothers that exhibit parental skills of teenagers in the throes of puberty. This was the perfect prelude to a full weekend of moving, mowing, and general activities revolving around a new home.

I started first thing Sunday morning with a full load in the Taco. That would be my sweet lil' Toyota Tacoma for you helmet-wearers out there. Two or three trips later, we began assessment of the lawn and garden situation and fired up the beast Toro. She is a good mower and she performed masturfully for mi chica after I did only a smaller, difficult section of the yard. K volunteered to do the rest so I could get in more trips to the old duplex to transport my abundance of Jeep hardware, furniture, et al. She's a good woman, that Puerto Rican flower. We had our first at-home visit by neighbors, and I must say, I took notice of the sound of an impact wrench (two houses over and across the street) before Carl even stepped over to introduce himself, his daughter Haley, and Jess the pooch. I think it was a setter. Anyway, while the nice neighbor man was in the midst of his "good to have some youth in the neighborhood" intro, Scott and Jen pulled up in his TJ sans doors. Perfect for the weather outside which was 75 with sun high in the sky. They were "in the neighborhood" because they were going to Lowes to do what seemed like half of Fort Smith does in April.

Speaking of Jeeps, I moved my CJ over to the casa neuva today. Quite an easy task when you know someone with a trailer and winch. Willie, my number one at the bike shop, is also a four wheel geek and has access to all the cool toys and things needed for toys. We had my lil' CJ over there in little more than an hour, so we decided to go ahead and throw the bed, recliner, and a few other things into the back of his empty Chevy dually. Everything worked perfectly, and this was between about four other trips with a full load in the Taco. Suffice it to say I am absolutely bushed this evening. I had K pick up deli sandwiches from Arby's for dinner so we wouldn't have to lift a finger cooking. Wise decision, because it really hit the spot. There's no twisting of the wrist when I recommend Arby's because she is a sucker for the curly fries. They're good, but she thinks they're out of this world.

So, to sum up the weekend, it was lacking in good blog material, but it's all for a great cause. I get in a little needed exercise, which does a body good, and our new house is indeed beginning a slow transformation into a fine castle. You'll all see it soon, I'm sure.
CZ

Kicking Myself

The day was 3/20 of this year and I had recently started taking notice of Schaeffer's Research blog

http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/commentary/content/option+skews+-+ja+solar+baiducom+inc+google+barrick+gold+lehman+brothers+amazoncom+sirius+satellite+radio/trading_floor_blog.aspx?single=true&blogid=83480

because of the way it was working out positively for me. The put/call skews were of particular interest to me because options buying was HEAVY to the Put side right before Bear Stearns crashed on the 13th of March. I noticed this and bought a contract to join the ride on the 12th. BOOM. It hit paydirt a day later. I got out with 100% profit another day after that. Well, if I would have held on a few more days, I could have cleared a 600% profit. Damn the luck.

What is reminding me of kicking myself in the arse is the fact that there was another company I've been watching that I HAVEN'T bought into. JA Solar (JASO) I even recommended it and talked about it on the 20th and 25th because it's a company that Scott would really like. Well, stupid me, I didn't buy in and I don't exactly remember why. I think it was my dreamy little PCZ that I took a shine to. Yeah, I just closed that position yesterday for a 75% profit on Petro-Canada, but I want to take a look at what could have happened with the call contract for JASO that I DIDN'T buy. Ech..

Looks like on 3/20 when I first talked about noticing the company again, it closed at $14.99 a share. A single contract for an APR 15 Call was 2.50. That's $250 cost to me (since it's a contract to control 100 shares). SO, five days later, the stock is trading at $17.13. Nice. I could have cleared a couple hundred profit. Damn. It gets worse. Today, I notice the damn thing just got upgraded by a few brokers, and is now trading WAY up at $22.46. Crap. That same APR 15 Call now has a bid/ask of 7.10/7.50. Yep, move the decimal points over two to get what I could have sold it for had I bought it back on the 20th. Almost a 200% profit. Oh well, that's how the cookie crumbles, eh?

My head hurts. I'm going to go worry about something simple, now, and contemplate when I'm going to fit in some lawn mowing time this weekend. At least the weather is supposed to be nice.

CZ

Sensory Overload

Just when it seems life can't get any busier and crazier, there's another pile of pooh flying your way. K's car broke down last night after a few weeks of acting a little funny. We had intended to take it in, but were putting it off. I know. Stupid. Anyway, that $75 annual membership to AAA she pays for came through with flying colors. That annual cost wouldn't even have covered the towing expense. Money well spent in my book. The car's gear shift locked itself into Park and wouldn't budge. Turns out the truck they sent out is owned by a good friend of mine, and I had them take the lil' 626 to his shop, Sports & Imports. The owner is a motorcycle junkie like me and appreciates the finer things in life. He's a Greek import that came over here with a suitcase in hand and nothing else. He and his brother built a very profitable used car sales and repair shop from hard work and little else. The true American Dream. He now owns between 20 and 30 motorcycles and lives in a half million dollar home. It pays to know good people in this town. John just called me to tell me the tranny linkage fix would be $75 + tax, and he had a list from his A-tech of what we should do to fix our 'running rough' issues. New valve cover gasket set, spark plugs, and wires. I told him to go ahead and do everything to make her purrr like a kitty again.

I wanted to apologize for the lack of posts lately, but it's been ridiculously hectic here at work as well. Things are getting busy since the weather is awesome, and this means three times the business we have normally. This is three times the problems, three times the accounting for me to do, and three times the pace of the day. YEAH!! I'm actually okay with it because it makes my check fatter. It's all good in the end.

We had a fantastic time this past weekend celebrating Scott's 40th. I'll drink a pint in tribute to my girl Jen (left to right-Angie, Me, Jen, Mi Chica in the above pic) that put up with weeks of organizational stress for the surprise and even blew chunks out of stress. Awesome. Pretty soon, we'll be busier than a lawyer at Neverland Ranch with moving, arranging, organizing, and general upkeep of our new digs in the coming weekends. I'm not looking forward to mowing this weekend, but I've got to pay the price for owning a home. We'll see how long it takes me to push it before I start pricing nice zero turn mowers. Please forgive me, but posts may be scarce for a few days. I love the fact that my blogs are getting good reviews and are asked about when they go missing-thanks again.

CZ