Spin, hamster, spin! Faster, faster, faster!

February 19, 2008

Spin, hamster, spin! Faster, faster, faster!

44 comments:

Princess Mononoke said...: OMG! Thank you Keith... You have me totally LMAO! ;); February 19, 2008 8:49 AM
Frank R said...: That picture should be Scottsdale's official new logo. Along with the "SS" emblem to represent their corrupt police.; February 19, 2008 8:55 AM
Princess Mononoke said...: On a serious note, this is how I refer to people who ALWAYs appear to be busy, super busy and are the most in-effecient workers and NEVER get anything done!; February 19, 2008 9:04 AM
Anonymous said...: In "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," Robert Kiyosaki paints the most gruesome, depressing picture of the typical middle class debt slavery hamster wheel.

In a lot of respects, I'm not a big Kiyosaki fan. However, his portrait of the typical American accruing lots of consumer/mortgage debt and spending a lifetime working longer and longer hours to pay it off is very disturbing.; February 19, 2008 3:33 PM
Jim said...: great picture, great caption = extremely funny post. Way to go Keith. Cheers!

-SRI; February 19, 2008 3:54 PM
Anonymous said...: Happy renter in the Bay Area California.

Just got home from walking my 6 year old to school. Nothing better in the world than holding hands with my daughter and taking her to school. Wife is making breakfast for the other two and getting ready to take them to classes.

Wealthy computer types have already blown out of their house so their Spanish speaking or Vietnamese speaking nanny's can take over the child rearing. Or both mom and dad have left for work. They have to work because they have to cover their mortgage.

Meanwhile, I maxed out my 401K already in 2008 (that's 15,000) and I will continue to save like a depression era grandma.

No rat wheel for me.

And they all thought I was nuts or poor or both for not buying the last 7 years.

We'll see who is laughing in the end.; February 19, 2008 4:42 PM
Jim said...: Meanwhile, I maxed out my 401K already in 2008 (that's 15,000) and I will continue to save like a depression era grandma.

FYI the max amount to defer into a 401K for 2008 is %15,500. Enjoy those walks ;)

-SRI; February 19, 2008 5:22 PM
Anonymous said...: >> We'll see who is laughing in the end.

Answer: the One World Government folks. Laughing at you, me, Jobs, Gates, etc.

Enjoy the tranquility - it's going to end sooner than you think...; February 19, 2008 5:41 PM
Anonymous said...: Vietnamese speaking nanny's

Those are likely Filipinos; February 19, 2008 5:46 PM
Ed said...: Mr. fancy pants with the 6 year old daughter:

Good for you. If you can contribute $15K in 2 months you obviously make a good living and could have afforded a mortgage and taken your daughter to school.

The people leaving the kid with the nanny aren't doing it so they can cover the mortgage. They are doing it because they are bad parents who have a need to work 14 hour days.; February 19, 2008 6:50 PM
Anonymous said...: "No rat wheel for me.

And they all thought I was nuts or poor or both for not buying the last 7 years.

We'll see who is laughing in the end."

Preach Brother Preach!

First thing friends at dinner parties ask us is:

"when are ya buying another house?"

"seen anything you like - is it CHEAP enough for you YET?"

Can't stand the fact that we sold in '06 & sitting on a wad in the exurbs of DC.

Happy Renter - thanks God you get to raise your own kids!! No one will be seeing your kids breaking the law. Yours aren't being raised in a day care center & were properly nurtured as infants!!; February 19, 2008 7:39 PM
Anonymous said...: "I maxed out my 401K already in 2008 (that's 15,000)"

Sure. K.; February 19, 2008 7:43 PM
Anonymous said...: The Hamster on the wheel made me think of work.; February 19, 2008 8:28 PM
Anonymous said...: Oil just hit $100 / barrel.

Are you really surprised geniuses, after putting two oil men in the White House TWICE?

And no, there's no coincidence here. It was a preconceived plan by the shady group. Let me refresh your memories:

Price of oil right before you voted Bushco into office = $8 / barrel

Price of oil now after you geniuses voted twice for Bushco = $100 / barrel

If you voted for Bushco, please don't breed! I guess Nostradamus' Black Pope is gonna save you, huh?; February 19, 2008 9:03 PM
Anonymous said...: Not all forms of debt equates to slavery. My 40K in college loans means I make 100K/yr instead of 45K. And the professional ceiling is much higher with my specialized degree. My lifetime earning potential has increased by millions because I took on this debt. If I didn't take on this debt, I'd be eating ramen noodles 3 times per day like all the out-of-work realtors.; February 19, 2008 9:16 PM
Anonymous said...: If you have to leave your kids all day with a Vietnamese nanny, why having kids at all?

Is that like a video game that you play with it for a few hours after you get home from work?; February 19, 2008 9:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Ed said...

Mr. fancy pants with the 6 year old daughter:

Good for you. If you can contribute $15K in 2 months you obviously make a good living and could have afforded a mortgage and taken your daughter to school.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I CHOOSE to contribute 100% because I CHOSE NOT to have an idiot's liar loan. And you are wrong about being able to afford a mortgage AND take my daughter to school ie spend as much time with my kids as possible. If I had a mortgage on the home I rent, my costs would be close to 4000 a month AFTER TAX savings. I would have to work 5 days and my wife might have to work part time. For what?
For abandoning our kids? No way. The rest of this sick country can do that. They are the losers.

I CHOOSE to drive olds cars, not shop, have old analog TVs with no cable service, do my yard myself, iron my own clothes, use mostly handmedown clothes for my kids etc etc etc.

My household income is near the Median of the town I live in. Nothing extreme.

Nothing smarty pants about me. Its all very basic choices.; February 19, 2008 10:02 PM
Anonymous said...: Iraq has greater than the sauds in remaining oil with a lifting cost of $1 a barrel.

what a prize it will be if exxon had control of the worlds largest reserve at a production cost of a $1 A BARREL.Reserves, about 100-300 billion barrels.

or about 10-30 trillion, based on $100 oil!! 2 trillion dollar war is nothing for the goodies this place holds! If America can hold and keep her, God bless the Empire will continue, for my lifetime, another 50 years. Otherwise, look out below!

Hell in every space in every place....Kiss your lifestyle goodbye.

Intuitively, this war is great if the prize is won, otherwise it is game over man , game over, that is why they are fighting so hard, because this is the last battle for America to win, otherwise, lose this and we lose everything. Including you current standard of living.

Or you with us or against us now?

We have to win this prize or we fold up into JH Kunstlers' doomtropolis of Hell on Earth for 3 generations. World Made By Hand!!

Great book BTW, more the reason that we have to win !! OVER THERE.

Grow the Fuck up People, we are fighting in the ME for our survival as a Country, if we lose or leave, we enter game over land, and you can kiss everything you know and love goodbye.

I actually came to the realization, that the Bush Gov knows this and is the reason why they have done everything they have. We are in so much trouble, that we have no other course than to do what we are doing.

Otherwise, your standard of living goes down the drain without cheap oil, China and Russia rule the world, and America becomes a third world piss whole.; February 19, 2008 10:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Dont worry about the higher oil prices... Someone from the Bush Administration on Fox News said it wont effect the economy.

Boowa!!!!!!!!

I think I need some longer boots!

*************; February 19, 2008 10:19 PM
Anonymous said...: "My 40K in college loans means I make 100K/yr instead of 45K"

Dude, I don't mean to break this to you but that's not called living the debtor's life but the opportunity cost of entering a profession.

I mean really, how's one suppose to be a [ pharmacist, lawyer, engineer, etc ] without attending a university type of program? I mean the days when one could just self-learn, to be an attorney like old Abe Lincoln, is gone.; February 19, 2008 10:30 PM
Anonymous said...: They need to put Kendra Todd into a hamster wheel and have her spin it.

Putting her in a sexy bikini would be a plus too. ;-)

Would also drive the point home that in the end, she was nothing but eye candy.; February 19, 2008 11:15 PM
Anonymous said...: Not all forms of debt equates to slavery. My 40K in college loans means I make 100K/yr instead of 45K. And the professional ceiling is much higher with my specialized degree. My lifetime earning potential has increased by millions because I took on this debt. If I didn't take on this debt, I'd be eating ramen noodles 3 times per day like all the out-of-work realtors.

That is a valid point. The caveat I wanted to add though is the younger generation has been conditioned to just acrue debt even in circumstances where they could have avoided or mitigated the amount of overall debt.

Your school loan is a good example. I know several people who took school loans but they offset their need for loans by also saving more prior to college and having part time jobs.

Nowadays, kids are conditioned to just simple endebt themselves and not take any actions to offset the need for that much debt.

I myself never needed student loans because I worked in the summer and had a good scholarship. I don't necessarily think my situation was that unique. I just took proactive steps. Which also included working during high school.

But Generation Y is too busy buying worthless trinkets and trying to live it up like MTV taught them.; February 19, 2008 11:21 PM
Anonymous said...: My 40K in college loans means I make 100K/yr instead of 45K.
_____________________________

Sure it is, IF you can find 100K/year job.; February 20, 2008 12:02 AM
Anonymous said...: My nanny has a college degree in education, and getting her graduate degree in education while taking care of my kid. She is better at teaching the kid than I do. I work mostly from home . . . check in on the kid every hour or so. Renting the million-dollar house for less than $3k a month makes a difference of about $3k a month compared to paying mortgage . . . that's enough to pay for the nanny full time :-); February 20, 2008 12:23 AM
AndrewHac said...: This nation and most of its citizens, residents, dwellers have no ethic, no moral, no responsibility. What it has in plenty is greed, self-centerness, ignorance, pompousness.

The housing bubble is a shiny mirror in which the Americano can look at itself and ponder upon what may the future brings upon this land of the Snapper Turtle.

A nation that mostly comprises of pigs feeding, tearing, roosting, chomping at the trough.
A nation with most of its dwellers obese, fat, diabetic, and plain ugly like a chimpanzee.
A nation where a Walmart cashier can buy a house for $500K.
A nation in which its citizen's brain IQ is lower than a snapper turtle.
A nation which rules by turkey and skunk.

The Americano nation is as toasted as a roasted armadillo skewered from mouth to ass sizzling, popping, oozing with melted golden fat over a bed of white hot charcoal.; February 20, 2008 1:00 AM
Anonymous said...: Are you really surprised geniuses, after putting two oil men in the White House TWICE?

How do you explain the price of oil being at record highs under Jimmy Carter? Was he an oilman? That was another Bush/Cheney conspiracy, right? That's what I thought.; February 20, 2008 3:32 AM
Anonymous said...: The guy who claims to have maxed out his 401k for this year has to make a minimum of $675,000 per year in salary/commission according to federal laws for maximum 401k contributions.

675000 / 6 * .14; February 20, 2008 3:39 AM
Anonymous said...: Not all forms of debt equates to slavery. My 40K in college loans means I make 100K/yr instead of 45K. And the professional ceiling is much higher with my specialized degree. My lifetime earning potential has increased by millions because I took on this debt. If I didn't take on this debt, I'd be eating ramen noodles 3 times per day like all the out-of-work realtors.

You still don't get it do you. I make almost 100K with no college whatsoever. Just so happens, I am smarter/more efficient than most of my peers.

The point is your debt is not valuable. 50 years ago, someone with no degree would have done what you are likely going to be doing. The difference is - they would have started working and saving at 20 years old. So what's next? Your kids will require 20 years of college to do your job?

Every year our college educated workforce cannot accomplish much of anything - if you truly have wisdom, you will see America seldom produces ANYTHING of value with any efficiency anymore. Sure, we produce lawyers that game the system, and auditors that enforce government bureacracy. That's about it. I have the most respect for the blue collar tradesmen and artisans in our culture - they produce real value while our college grads sit around conference tables playing (but just playing) grown-up.

College will benefit you, no doubt, but only relative to the falling wages of most Americans. You will fall behind less than your less educated peers. Meanwhile, the country (in totum) withers and dies while the next generation spin away on the hamster wheel trying to get their foot into corporate America's ever-more-exclusive door. I see this everyday.

So while you are personally better off, your moral decision to go along to get ahead is suspect in my book. Your actions will be judged not by your wealth, but by the strength and wisdom of your character.; February 20, 2008 5:42 AM
Anonymous said...: The stupid people are the HP'ers. They think they know it all and believe that real estate prices will continue to go down. What a bunch of losers.; February 20, 2008 6:18 AM
Anonymous said...: vallejo, CA is on the verge of bankruptcy (ETA April 08)

http://www.nbc11.com/news/15345539/detail.html; February 20, 2008 7:03 AM
Princess Mononoke said...: Anonymous said...
I think I need some longer boots!
February 19, 2008 10:19 PM
==========================

Seriously man! How true is that...

Make sure to stock up on goggles too. The 'PTB' are really slingling it liberally. LOL :); February 20, 2008 8:51 AM
Ed said...: My household income is near the Median of the town I live in. Nothing extreme.

Nothing smarty pants about me. Its all very basic choices.

February 19, 2008 10:02 PM"
-----------------------------------

I said fancy pants, not smarty pants...refering to the $15K in 401k contributions in 2 months. Dude, if you can contribiute $7500 a month to your 401k, you are not making the median income for your town. Unless you happen to live in Belair, in which case those people going to work in the morning are not concerned about mortgage payments.; February 20, 2008 11:10 AM
Anonymous said...: So while you are personally better off, your moral decision to go along to get ahead is suspect in my book. Your actions will be judged not by your wealth, but by the strength and wisdom of your character.

What I am saying here is that every person that suceeds without college serves as an example to those who don't want to submit to this stupid, outdated establishment. They show bosses and HR managers that their star players are normal un-pedigreed folk. They make the world better for the next generation.

Every person that goes to college blindly and marches along to the drumbeat of greed (since that - along with Keg parties and sexy co-eds - is ALL that motivates attending college), every person who does this, indirectly makes the world crappier for the next generation of job seekers. You are part of the educational arms race - one that teaches kids to be greedy, game the system, and go find their spot in the corporate sunshine. The same corporate culture that can no longer accomplish anything is one breed and born on campus.

You wait 20 years, and see what your degree is worth. By then, unless it's Ivy, it won't be sh*t.

And (as for the value of education), there is none. You may be smart, but college did not make you that way.

I have done SO many diverse professional jobs over the years - many I got by lying. And every time I was the quickest up-to-speed of any recruit. I have worked in genetics, banking, biotech, defense, the list goes on and on.

College doesn't prepare you for working, unless you count waking up early and accomplishing nothing of real value. You all know this to be true, but most of you have already sold your souls (and earned your piece of paper) and will never admit it. If you want to be educated, try books (and try them for the rest of your life, not for 4 years and then back to MTV.) They work, come straight from the erudite source, and don't cost thousands per lesson.; February 20, 2008 1:14 PM
Anonymous said...: "I mean the days when one could just self-learn, to be an attorney like old Abe Lincoln, is gone."

Ain't (I know it isn't a word) that a part of the problem?

For the most part, the actual degree is really an HR seal of approval or the ability for one to sit the certification exam like the CPA. So while there's a feel good need-to-belong aspect of college, for the most part, it doesn't really add to anyone's intrinsic value, just a sense of belonging to a particular caste of workers.; February 20, 2008 1:16 PM
Anonymous said...: Anonymous said...
The guy who claims to have maxed out his 401k for this year has to make a minimum of $675,000 per year in salary/commission according to federal laws for maximum 401k contributions.

675000 / 6 * .14

*************

HUH? There is a maximum per year. How that is allocated can be $15K spread out over 12 months or 2 months doesn't matter; February 20, 2008 1:59 PM
Anonymous said...: What is a snapper turtle?; February 20, 2008 2:48 PM
Anonymous said...: Every year our college educated workforce cannot accomplish much of anything

Try being a doctor or engineer without a college degree. Try being a scientist. Not everyone can be a blue collar tradesman. Not everyone can be a doctor or nurse. It's a diverse society and all kinds of people are needed. Some degrees are worthless. Others are invaluable. Just because you make good money without a degree doesn't mean that nobody should ever go to college.; February 20, 2008 3:33 PM
Anonymous said...: "The guy who claims to have maxed out his 401k for this year has to make a minimum of $675,000 per year in salary/commission according to federal laws for maximum 401k contributions.

675000 / 6 * .14"

I'm the guy and you are wrong. One can elect to put in 100% until you max out.

I've had 4 pay periods. 15500/4 = 3875 per pay period
3875 x 24 pay periods = 93,000. That is less than the MEDIAN household income for my city.

Funny how you clowns argue with me and call me rich. Just because you're all pathetic fools who really are still spenders and consumers just like the rest.

Keith, you should have a topic on what misers like me do to save money.

I've never been to a professional sporting event. I never buy name brand clothes. When I do buy clothes, its at Ross or Target or TJMax. Most of my furniture was purchased used on Craigslist. My truck has 170000 miles on it.

I could go on and on you dummies. Keep attacking me and I'll just keep on savings.; February 20, 2008 4:06 PM
Anonymous said...: ::Try being a doctor

There are already some 35-40K American or PR college grad applicants for 18K seats. This is a pretty well defined licensed profession and is the best investment for a studious person.

::or engineer without a college degree.

There are already a lot of places, (minus the MITs, CalTechs, Carnegie-Mellons) out there who'll offer scholarships for those with 750+ Math scores. And if one doesn't have top math scores starting out, SAT I/II and Olympiads, etc, the chances of completion a/o getting an internship are dismal. Nonetheless, is it worth studying something where your industry's going to Korea, China, and the Ukraine anyways?

::Try being a scientist

The current crop of scientists are basically international students doing PhDs and postdocs around the country. This is a dead zone and is only growing for the living dead.; February 20, 2008 7:12 PM
Anonymous said...: Try being a doctor or engineer without a college degree.

Ok, I tried (as an engineer) and it worked out great!

In case you have gotten your degree already (and now refuse to read), I will repeat myself: I have worked in genetics, banking, biotech, defense, the list goes on and on. Not exactly simple industries to work in.

Google Frank Abagnale Jr. for a life lesson. And there's a reason Lincoln is considered our greatest president.

As far as doctors, pleeeease!

Unless you work in ER or as a general practitioner, your job is about as routine as baking cookies. Well, maybe not quite, but close.

We should replace most doctors with illegal aliens; then maybe we could keep health care prices from bankrupting our nation. I (for one) am tired of paying for the student loans and swimming pools of people that can no longer diagnose anything (read: can't think critically) and charge 200 dollars for their time when all they are is the local gatekeeper to an Amoxicillin prescription or some peice of technology.

And how about pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, ....on and on. Useless, overpaid pedigreed gatekeepers whose jobs could be learned by your average fool in 6 months MAX.

Did anyone ever sit down and document all the horrible things this outmoded system has done to our economy and the quality of life of it's people? I doubt it, I really do. That would take critical thinking...; February 20, 2008 7:52 PM
Anonymous said...: "In case you have gotten your degree already (and now refuse to read), I will repeat myself: I have worked in genetics, banking, biotech, defense, the list goes on and on. "

I did engineering as well and have been doing ok because I switch jobs continually. I'd worked for all the aforementioned industries for the past two decades.

When a DuPont decides to move 2K R&D jobs to east Asia, what's there to do but to switch industries for the average person over there? Now, when most of the other mainstay firms: Appl Matl, Intel, Dow, Honeywell, IBM, etc, all do the same thing, how many opportunities does that create for the profession as a whole?

Realize that after the age of 45, age discrimination kicks in the tech job markets and it's no longer easy to go from an options trading desk to let's say a data miner/analyzer at a Vertex if your head's not full of darkened hair. Usually, after a certain age, that's when the companies hire tech leads, etc, and that's when having been in one industry/sector, but not having been fired but regularly promoted is what's desirable.

If anything, I would only recommend engineering to someone who can get the grades (3.6+) plus LSAT to get into a top tier law school later for patent/IP work. Then, that person can work for let's say 5-7 years, gather experience (plus savings), and attend a place like the Univ of Chicago Law School and work for an IP firm (with hopefully an international angle) with more career stability.; February 20, 2008 10:18 PM
Anonymous said...: "attend a place like the Univ of Chicago Law School and work for an IP firm"

Yep, a friend did that (BS engineering plus top tier law, I think it was either Columbia or Penn) and started at $187K, right out of law school. He didn't make partner, couldn't hack the cronyism, but he's cruising at a solid $250K, working a regular 48-50 hour work week relative to others who're at 65-75, struggling to make partner at an M&A or corporate type of firm.; February 21, 2008 11:12 PM
Anonymous said...: TRY BEING AN ARCHITECH AND NOT KNOW YHE COMPOSIT PRICES, YET BE EMPLOYED BY GOVERNMENT MANDATE...NO WONDER I COULD NOT EVEN SPELL IT..........; February 22, 2008 9:56 PM
Anonymous said...: AND NEED ONE TO GET A USAGE PERMIT ON YOUR PREOPERTY; February 22, 2008 9:58 PM

HousingPANIC - The Housing Bubble Blog with an Attitude Problem, 2005 - 2008

February 19, 2008

Spin, hamster, spin! Faster, faster, faster!

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