Name Change Canceled

Stealblade.com is here to stay for a while yet.

Inflation Deflation

There is no doubt that inflation is going to ignite. In that case, the prudent action is to take on large debt at a low, fixed rate (i.e. large mortgage). That is simply so against my family training that I'm having a hard time grasping it.

What Would Jesus Do?

I believe that if he were here today, he would be too conservative for the liberals, and too liberal for the conservatives. He would make everyone angry.

Like a Man Drunk on Credit Cards

Over the past weekend, I believe I said that the US economy is like a family that makes $100,000 per year and has $45,000 in credit card debt. Now he is going to add another $7000 to his credit card debt to bail out the little banks he owns.


Looks like I was wrong. The total debt is 74% of our nation's production. This U.S. "person" makes $100,000, owes $74,000, and is about to add another $55,000 to his credit card bill. It is no wonder that confidence in his ability to pay back the loan is dropping. Quickly.

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/01/23/business/20090124_CHARTS_GRAPHIC.html


Total US GDP = $14.412.8 billion (you can also toss in the debate on whether GDP is the right measure for a nation's output, but that's a separate debate)
Total US debt = $10,618.7 billion (74%)
infusion = $8,000 billion (55%)

source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Economic Accounts (http://www.bea.gov/national/index.htm)
source = United States Treasury (http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np)

source = CNN Money (http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/06/news/economy/where_stimulus_fits_in/index.htm)

Think You're Middle Class?

So many of my readers think of themselves as being in the middle class. After all, my primary network is from the Silicon Valley and consists mainly of professionals.

You can follow this link to the United States Department of Labor. The file breaks down the income and spending levels by age. You can also go to the general link and analyze the data by a variety of ways.

Here's what I learned. For the average 25-34 year old, the average income is $57,256. The maximum average salary is achieved at age 45-54 ($80,560). That really puts the term "middle class" into perspective.

Those with advanced degrees make, on average across different ages, $115,000 and spend $79,500. Not surprisingly, this group saves the most amount of money.

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So here's the executive summary. If you make 6 figures, you are upper class. On average, people who make more are able to save more. Roughly speaking, people in the highest bracket are able to save 30% of their gross income.

Congratulations to Canaan

Congratulations to Canaan church and its move to a new location.

Oh, I Need That

Sprint Nextel announced that its Boost Prepaid phone division is having a new promotion. $50 per month of unlimited talk. Unlike the screen shot to the left, web and text costs more.

Wow.

My family needs that. Too bad Seattle doesn't qualify.

Notice of Name Change

The rights to this domain (stealblade.com) is up for renewal, and since I don't have that many readers, I will be moving it to a new, free domain. I haven't applied for it yet, but it will probably be something like stealblade.blogger.com.

This notice is for all you RSS readers out there, and for the occassional clicker who happens to drop by this site.

Gas Prices rising

Has anyone else noticed that the gas prices are rising again? While I am enjoying the recent low prices of fuel, I have noticed that Seattle gasoline prices are climbing at a rather alarming rate again.

The French

I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, and was so groggy that I hit my knee on the way back to the bed.

"SARKOZY!"

Startled, I thought my wife was having a nightmare and uttered something in a made up language.

"Huh? What did you just say?"
"SarkoZEE. Isn't that how you say the French President's name?"

Apparently my wife was lucid and not dreaming at all. We then spent 5 minutes talking about the French President, his wife, and his attempt at brokering a peace between the Israeli and the Palestinian people. After a short while, I said, "Honey, can you go back to sleep please? I have to work tomorrow."

The Next Game

The next game our group is going to us Left 4 Dead, a cooperative first person zombie shooter. Work together, or get eaten. If you want to join us, let me know. Friday evenings, from 9 p.m. to midnight. We're looking for someone who can commit to fairly regular gaming.

Technology Toys I Own or Employ

Data
Intel Core 2 Duo desktop -- self built
Intel Core 2 Duo laptop -- Dell
Intel Core Duo laptop -- HP
Samsung LCD monitors
HP duplex monochrome printer

Communications
2x LG cell phones, using the Verizon network
ooma voice-over-IP phone
Linksys ethernet products
Comcast cable internet

Photography
Canon 30D, and associated lenses

Entertainment
Panasonic plasma TV
Sony DVD player

Defunct
Dell MP3 player
Dell personal digital assistant

Transportation
Toyota Camry (2002)
Infiniti G20 (1996)


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While that is certainly a lot of toys, there is really nothing to steal. Many of the items are old, and have little to no street value.