The Barron Blog

Top Ten T-Shirt Sayings

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:10:37 -0500

Throughout the years, people have communicated with funny stuff on T shirts. Here are some of my favourites.

I Got a Rock in my Head and Roll in my Mouth. Oh Ya.....Rock and Roll.
Moe (Picture of Three Stooges' Moe) Knows Hockey.
When God Created Man, She Was Only Kidding.
FU: Flamingo University
69 The Breakfast of Champions
I Killed a Six Pack Just to See It Die
Filthy Stinking Rich... Well, Two Out of Three Ain't Bad
I Used Up All My Sick Days... So I Called In Dead
Be Nice to Your Children... They'll Pick Your Nursing Home
I Am the Person Your Parents Warned You About

If you want to find more interesting T-shirt sayings, check out this page.

The person who sings the song below created some of TV's most popular game shows.

Turning The U.S.Housing Market Around

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:08:27 -0500

For anyone buying or selling a house in the United States, "Flip This House" should be required viewing. In today's marketplace, the value of a house doesn't appreciate naturally, it happens with blood, sweat and a fair amount of cash.

Armando Montelongo is the star of the show and he handles his clients with tough love, a tight budget and gritty determination.

The episode that I saw yesterday, really left an impression in my mind. This couple bought a crummy house for $92,000.This was $50,000 more than it was worth. It was dirty, the walls were cracked, it was rat infested, the plumbing didn't work, a room was off center, etc. etc.

Armando had to kick of the butt of the husband to get the garage cleaned up and get other work done on time.

It wasn't an easy job and Armando swore a lot which resulted in more money for the couple's renovations.

At first, the couple wanted to sell the house for the original cash value, but after two weeks of all out renovating, they developed "Pride Of Ownership" and decided to keep it.

The house was independently appraised for $125,000 which was better than expected.

There's no easy journey to a value added product like a restored house. It requires a vision by the owners and mortgage lenders to make it happen.

Get Energized With Momma Mia

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:15:38 -0500

It's been a tough year economically for the U.S. and the world, rising food, commodities and oil prices have taken their toll. Added to the above are the continuing subprime crisis/credit crunch and concerns over Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.

Fortunately, the feel good movie of the year has arrived in "Momma Mia". I saw stage productions of Momma twice in Toronto and enjoyed both productions immensely. Louise Pitre as "Donna" was a standout in Toronto and New York.

From the reviews, I've read, Meryl Streep did a fine job in the lead role. Apparently, a fan letter to the New York cast in 2001 helped her to get the main part.

The Abba songs tell the stories how Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog met, fell in love, married and divorced Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson.

All the excitement and adventure of discovering new relationships are there in the music and the story line.

"Grease" of the 20th century has now been replaced by "Greece" in the 21st century.

The Fun Side Of The Credit Crunch

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:59:24 -0500

Buy U.S. Subprime Beef. It's cheaper than you think.
Try ABCP Toilet Paper. It's guaranteed by The Federal Reserve.
Many U.S. mortgage officers are now in Canada working for The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Their job is to shred sensitive documents.
The biggest garage sale in U.S. history is starting now in used bank stocks and foreclosed houses.
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae sound like hillbilly loan officers from "The Dukes of Hazzard". Is Boss Hogg, their manager?
Zimbabwe may run out of paper to print more money, but the Fed, definitely, will not.
Your home may be worth...less than you think.
"When you (i.e. loan manager) reset my mortgage, I'll reset your teeth."
The Canadian "Trailer Park Boys" started the subprime crisis.
Be thankful that financials are less than 5% of the Dow.

Oprah, Fundamentalism And New Age Christianity

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:27:15 -0500

Christian fundamentalism has never escaped the box of the Council of Nicaea in the 4th century.

The bishops of this council were regarded like prophets of the New and Old Testament by fundamentalists. They took the inner spiritual path of Christ and dogmatized it into a man-made religious insurance policy for getting to Heaven.

The battle of the "Gospel Within" (i.e. The Gnostics) and "Gospel Without" (i.e. The Roman Church) reached a turning point at Nicaea. The emperor, Constantine, threw his support behind the Catholic Establishment. The Gnostics were branded as heretics going to Hell and the followers of the Roman bishops were blessed and going to Heaven.

Fundamentalists have always been very critical of those that don't share their literal and dogmatic views of scripture. This is seen in their condemntion of Christian sects like the Mormons or the Jehovah Witnesses.

This criticism even extended to Oprah Winfrey who discussed some of her religious views on her TV show. They mocked her and said she started her own religion, "The Church Of Oprah".

My own particular fixation with Christianity was the whereabouts and condition of the early church from 100 AD to the present/2008.

Christians have "The Mind of Christ" and we're connected to each other like a grapevine. This should give us access to the memories and experiences of millions of Christians who went before.

I have written many blogs on my visions of the Christian Brotherhood as it now exists. Please check the entries on the right panel.

I believe we've made first contact with "The Federation Of Jesus Christ". All it took was "One Moment In Time".

No Easy Money On The Worlds' Stock Markets These Days

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:53:39 -0500

But isn't it great to hear the sound of speculators losing billions of dollars on market volatility.

Has oil topped out? Have financials bottomed out? Has stagflation set in? On and on, investors ask economists and financial gurus these questions. The experts look into their "crystal balls" and come up with the usual long or short winded explanations of what is happening and what is going to happen.

This fortunetelling makes good press releases, but it really doesn't tell anyone whether we're going to hell or making a recovery.

Whether you're bull or a bear depends on the mood you're in.

What is reported in the media are fixations over commodities, energy futures and financial incompetence.

Personally, I think we've reached the end of an age (i.e. The 20th Century Oil Based Economy). The 21st century will be based on alternate energy sources like solar power.

Some companies are getting into the new industrial age in a big way like General Electric and Toyota while some are being left behind like Ford and ExxonMobile.

If I had the money to invest in the stock market, I would definitely go green with companies like "Nanosolar", "Suntech" and others.

Stock markets always look into the future and for "the next big thing."

Speculators and investors are clinging to what they have or trying to get back what they've lost.

The old stock market game is over and the new one has begun.

I Love Gambing But..

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 21:54:06 -0500

I'm on a limited buget these days because I'm trying to pay off the mortgage on my house.

I orginally started off playing backgammon for money many years ago. I won more than I lost but gradually my buddies moved away and my gambling interests turned to blackjack, craps and sports gambling. I won a little bit at blackjack and craps, but not sports betting.

Presently, I play "Hold "Em Poker" for free at Poker Stars. I've amassed $35000 in play money over the last month. When I was playing for real money, I made $10 to $15 dollars playing in nickle and dime tournaments.

Most of the time, I play within a designated limit like $50 in any gambling game.

I'd love to buy some good green stocks and see them double in price, but right now, my extra cash is spoken for. I'm not going to go in debt to place a bet on some trendy energy or tech stock on the TSX, the Dow or anywhere else.

My number one investment is my house and that takes precedent over "a gambler's rush on a big bet".

Happy 400th Birthday To Quebec City

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 21:57:43 -0500

Quebec City is called the Paris of North America. I've never been there but those who have say it has an old world charm that's quite beautiful.

Quebec was the second permanent settlement (July/03/1608) started by Europeans in the 17th century. The first was Jamestown, Virginia (May/1607) which was an English settlement.

Except for Native North Americans we're either immigrants or we came from immigrants to the New World. The natives taught the French and the English how to survive in the harsh climates of Canada.

Quebec became a trading center for the natives and the white man in the 17th century.

The French culture was never assimilated by the British, but survives very well in the province of Quebec.

Over the years, Canada has become a truly multicultural country that celebrates differences between cultures and demonstrates that people of different races, religions and cultures can live in peace with each other.

Decreasing The Demand For Oil

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 20:03:36 -0500

The fastest way to decrease the demand for oil is to increase the demand for "alternate energy vehicles" nationally and internationally.

"The Progressive Automobile X Prize Race" that seeks to create the above by 2010 should be put on a fast track to obtain its goals quicker. The best way to do this is through a Hollywood reality show that lets the audience vote on the most fuel efficient cars.

The race would both entertain and educate worldwide audiences in high tech automobiles of the 21st century.

"The Progressive Automobile X Prize Race Reality Show" would do for the auto industry what "American Idol" has done for the recording industry.

Canada's 141st Birthday

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 21:17:41 -0500

It's ironic that oil closed at $141 a barrel on Canada's 141st birthday. Somebody is thinking of us.

Of the many things that I love about Canada. comedians and "funny" actors/writers top the list. These include John Candy, Mike Myers, Jim Carrey and William Shatner.

Sure Canada has some great wilderness, but what can beat Bob and Doug's "Great White North, Two-Four Anniversary". It's just so..........Canadian!!!

The Barron Blog

<b>Top Ten T-Shirt Sayings<b>

<b>Turning The U.S.Housing Market Around<b>

<b>Get Energized With Momma Mia<b>

<b>The Fun Side Of The Credit Crunch<b>

<b>Oprah, Fundamentalism And New Age Christianity<b>

<b>No Easy Money On The Worlds' Stock Markets These Days<b>

<b>I Love Gambing But..<b>

<b>Happy 400th Birthday To Quebec City<b>

<b>Decreasing The Demand For Oil<b>

<b>Canada's 141st Birthday<b>