Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Took it somewhat easy, but I also pushed myself a little. Only 40 minutes on the elliptical, half an hour being a tough guy, and then 10 minutes of old man slacker.
Did the tough guy kettlebell press behind the head: three sets.
The worse part of the workout is the foam rolling of my thighs. Ouch. Necessary evil, and I’ll do more later.
I feel I can call myself “chubby-butt.” My butt is mucho big, especially for a rather trim guy who does not have a belly. There is no doubt that a good part of my weight increase is muscle.
Cal
Did the tough guy kettlebell press behind the head: three sets.
The worse part of the workout is the foam rolling of my thighs. Ouch. Necessary evil, and I’ll do more later.
I feel I can call myself “chubby-butt.” My butt is mucho big, especially for a rather trim guy who does not have a belly. There is no doubt that a good part of my weight increase is muscle.
Cal
Austintatious
Well-known
We men always have to take into consideration the "Woman Factor" as you have taught us so well! ;D
Now for some election humor.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Austin,
“Woman-Factor” is why men have shorter lifespans. Prove me wrong.
BTW trying to make a woman happy is not so easy. Many men die trying.
Actually “Maggie” is not so bad, actually pretty low maintenance, anyways for a woman. LOL.
I’m glad she has a sense of purpose and is inspired. Also know that she finally understands and appreciates my behaviors of not engaging with the gate-keepers, trying to show my work, trying to sell or make money, why I don’t want to be bothered, why I want to be left alone, and why all of this leads to authenticity.
The 400 square foot “studio” built on top of our detached 2-car garage would be sublime. With a deck/balcony to add a vertical element to the landscape, the killer view would totally get enhanced. From the dead privacy, and also Snoopy and JJ would not be able to spy. Pretty much only the building department would know.
I bet my 300B tube stereo would sound great in a space with a vaulted ceiling. I’m willing to give all that away, if only I could make or keep her happy.
I’m so glad I voted early. Evil lurks…
Cal
“Woman-Factor” is why men have shorter lifespans. Prove me wrong.
BTW trying to make a woman happy is not so easy. Many men die trying.
Actually “Maggie” is not so bad, actually pretty low maintenance, anyways for a woman. LOL.
I’m glad she has a sense of purpose and is inspired. Also know that she finally understands and appreciates my behaviors of not engaging with the gate-keepers, trying to show my work, trying to sell or make money, why I don’t want to be bothered, why I want to be left alone, and why all of this leads to authenticity.
The 400 square foot “studio” built on top of our detached 2-car garage would be sublime. With a deck/balcony to add a vertical element to the landscape, the killer view would totally get enhanced. From the dead privacy, and also Snoopy and JJ would not be able to spy. Pretty much only the building department would know.
I bet my 300B tube stereo would sound great in a space with a vaulted ceiling. I’m willing to give all that away, if only I could make or keep her happy.
I’m so glad I voted early. Evil lurks…
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The U.S. Presidential election has effected OPEC+ in their decision to raise oil production in December. Now that goal will begin now in January.
Whoever gets elected will enjoy some deflation from energy prices as OPEC+ begins to flood the markets with a surplus of oil supply. The idea here is to lower prices to the point where U.S. oil production becomes not cost feasible causing oil productions to collapse here in the U.S. and wells to be capped.
This has been performed before, and the old number where cost feasibility and profits collapsed use to be around $60.00 oil.
Realize that the U.S. is a major energy exporter, and this is a pretty big part of our economy and GDP.
Energy is a boom and bust economy. The premise here is an economic trade war to gain market share by OPEC+.
Be aware of the consequences of cheap oil… From boom to bust. Expect a strong economic effect.
Cal
Whoever gets elected will enjoy some deflation from energy prices as OPEC+ begins to flood the markets with a surplus of oil supply. The idea here is to lower prices to the point where U.S. oil production becomes not cost feasible causing oil productions to collapse here in the U.S. and wells to be capped.
This has been performed before, and the old number where cost feasibility and profits collapsed use to be around $60.00 oil.
Realize that the U.S. is a major energy exporter, and this is a pretty big part of our economy and GDP.
Energy is a boom and bust economy. The premise here is an economic trade war to gain market share by OPEC+.
Be aware of the consequences of cheap oil… From boom to bust. Expect a strong economic effect.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
80 degree high expected Wednesday the 6th of November.
How crazy is that?
Cal
How crazy is that?
Cal
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
"Chubby-butt"?! I don't think so. Go with something more dignified. Booty-licious, maybe? 
DownUnder
Nikon Nomad
HA!! I was wondering when you would write something 'political' about the seemingly never-to-end two ring circus in your neck of the woods.
Well worded, and as insightful as ever. As a third compliment, diplomatic fits you well.
I can think of quite a few electoral candidates who would qualify for your new first nickname.
"Booty-licious" better suits some of our glorious leaders in Australia...
Well worded, and as insightful as ever. As a third compliment, diplomatic fits you well.
I can think of quite a few electoral candidates who would qualify for your new first nickname.
"Booty-licious" better suits some of our glorious leaders in Australia...
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
RG,
I honor my vicious rescue dog who I called “Chubby-Butt.” He was Miniture Pinicher in body with a sleek muscular build, but he had a beagle face and the long beagle ears. He was a handsome dog and was chick bait. Another Knick name I gave him was Beagle-Face. BTW he didn’t really like these insults and much preferred to be called “Baby-Dog.”
Meanwhile he also knew he was a pretty dog. He kinda thought he was Brad Pitt and I trained him to “walk the runway” to be a fashion model. Pretty much he stole the show.
Baby-dog was abused, and then neglected and abandoned. He was also “Psyco-Dog” where we had to keep him from attacking people. To walk him I had to use a muzzle because he would attack anyone who came close to me. He even went after a pit-bull.
Understand we lived in East Harlem very near the border of the Upper Eastide. Every loud noise disturbed him. If I sneezed he hid out under the couch for a half hour. He cost us about $7K-$8K to maintain him for the 13 months we had him.
We bought him special food that we had to buy from the vet, he had a trainer, it was almost $100.00 a month for this collar that emitted pheromones of a nursing female dog to quell his anxiety.
“Maggie” a clinician, train therapist, PhD professor, and social worker said that when she walks him he is not vicious and aggressive.
I kept quite, but I knew the dynamic: I was the master and he fiercely protected me. His love for Maggie was not so profound.
It broke our hearts, but he got sick, and I spent sleepless nights holding him in my arms to comfort him from these epileptic like seizures, then I would go to work exhausted.
The vet told us it was time to put him down. We realized that unselfishly he lived to keep us happy, and he was just suffering.
The muzzle was for his own good. He had bitten two people and these two reported incidences made it so if it happened again he would get taken away and euthanized. We likely gave him the best 13 months of his life, and my life really revolved around him.
He was a very special dog… “Chase” was his real name.
Cal
I honor my vicious rescue dog who I called “Chubby-Butt.” He was Miniture Pinicher in body with a sleek muscular build, but he had a beagle face and the long beagle ears. He was a handsome dog and was chick bait. Another Knick name I gave him was Beagle-Face. BTW he didn’t really like these insults and much preferred to be called “Baby-Dog.”
Meanwhile he also knew he was a pretty dog. He kinda thought he was Brad Pitt and I trained him to “walk the runway” to be a fashion model. Pretty much he stole the show.
Baby-dog was abused, and then neglected and abandoned. He was also “Psyco-Dog” where we had to keep him from attacking people. To walk him I had to use a muzzle because he would attack anyone who came close to me. He even went after a pit-bull.
Understand we lived in East Harlem very near the border of the Upper Eastide. Every loud noise disturbed him. If I sneezed he hid out under the couch for a half hour. He cost us about $7K-$8K to maintain him for the 13 months we had him.
We bought him special food that we had to buy from the vet, he had a trainer, it was almost $100.00 a month for this collar that emitted pheromones of a nursing female dog to quell his anxiety.
“Maggie” a clinician, train therapist, PhD professor, and social worker said that when she walks him he is not vicious and aggressive.
I kept quite, but I knew the dynamic: I was the master and he fiercely protected me. His love for Maggie was not so profound.
It broke our hearts, but he got sick, and I spent sleepless nights holding him in my arms to comfort him from these epileptic like seizures, then I would go to work exhausted.
The vet told us it was time to put him down. We realized that unselfishly he lived to keep us happy, and he was just suffering.
The muzzle was for his own good. He had bitten two people and these two reported incidences made it so if it happened again he would get taken away and euthanized. We likely gave him the best 13 months of his life, and my life really revolved around him.
He was a very special dog… “Chase” was his real name.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
DU,
I have a biker-butt that is small yet has the undercut that casts a shadow.
In East Harlem I’m standing on a line to pay for an item in a grocery with “Maggie.”
Behind me I hear two ghetto girls getting mucho loud. I hear one say to te other, “Look at that.”
Then I hear the other say, “That’s so cute,” but it is kinda being “broadcasted.”
Maggie pays no mind, I just minded my own business, and I did not have to turn around to know they were teenage girls and I’m at least old enough to be their father.
Maggie did not pick up on the comment about my butt. I wear these Patagonia knickers that are made for light weight muscular rock climbers. Pretty much if you don’y have that build you kinda look silly.
Kinda silly like people who wear a Ron Jon extra large T-shirt that shows off their excess weight to broadcast that they are not really surfers.
So pretty much wearing my knickers, it is kinda like a woman flashing cleavage, so call me a big tease, and because I was a performance artist for about a decade I can put it out there. BTW artists are exhibitionists by definition. LOL.
In 1995 I had a classmate who told me to walk in front of her so she could take in the “scenic-view.” Tamara was smoking hot, African American with long braids, a body builder who was chesty and firm, but on a delicate frame that exaggerated her femininity. Surely a trophy.
Unfortunately we never did hook up. Early on I brought up my interest in her, but she mentioned having a fiancé. In my mind then why all the pheromones in the air, the tease, and the baiting that women do to trap or entrap a man?
So I am cocky, and I moved on. I did do a last chance date, but I ended up getting frustrated and pissed off.
So years go by and my phone rings and it is her. It becomes evident she is trolling for me, but I learn she is living in Brooklyn with a guy that she is thinking of dumping. The braids are gone, her hair is now short and dyed blond, and she is working for Spike Lee.
I inform her that I have a girlfriend and it is serious, it was “Maggie.” So I cut the chase. At least I’m honest about my feelings. Besides I already wasted enough time, and I moved on. BTW whenever we were together as a couple we turned heads and people gawked. They seemed to put us into sexual positions.
I have a list of butt stories, and know that I have my own version of the “Me-Too” movement about sexual harassment.
It still happens, and now that I’m old I can say that I’m old enough to be these girl’s grandfather.
Don’t forget even recently I had a stalker.
Cal
I have a biker-butt that is small yet has the undercut that casts a shadow.
In East Harlem I’m standing on a line to pay for an item in a grocery with “Maggie.”
Behind me I hear two ghetto girls getting mucho loud. I hear one say to te other, “Look at that.”
Then I hear the other say, “That’s so cute,” but it is kinda being “broadcasted.”
Maggie pays no mind, I just minded my own business, and I did not have to turn around to know they were teenage girls and I’m at least old enough to be their father.
Maggie did not pick up on the comment about my butt. I wear these Patagonia knickers that are made for light weight muscular rock climbers. Pretty much if you don’y have that build you kinda look silly.
Kinda silly like people who wear a Ron Jon extra large T-shirt that shows off their excess weight to broadcast that they are not really surfers.
So pretty much wearing my knickers, it is kinda like a woman flashing cleavage, so call me a big tease, and because I was a performance artist for about a decade I can put it out there. BTW artists are exhibitionists by definition. LOL.
In 1995 I had a classmate who told me to walk in front of her so she could take in the “scenic-view.” Tamara was smoking hot, African American with long braids, a body builder who was chesty and firm, but on a delicate frame that exaggerated her femininity. Surely a trophy.
Unfortunately we never did hook up. Early on I brought up my interest in her, but she mentioned having a fiancé. In my mind then why all the pheromones in the air, the tease, and the baiting that women do to trap or entrap a man?
So I am cocky, and I moved on. I did do a last chance date, but I ended up getting frustrated and pissed off.
So years go by and my phone rings and it is her. It becomes evident she is trolling for me, but I learn she is living in Brooklyn with a guy that she is thinking of dumping. The braids are gone, her hair is now short and dyed blond, and she is working for Spike Lee.
I inform her that I have a girlfriend and it is serious, it was “Maggie.” So I cut the chase. At least I’m honest about my feelings. Besides I already wasted enough time, and I moved on. BTW whenever we were together as a couple we turned heads and people gawked. They seemed to put us into sexual positions.
I have a list of butt stories, and know that I have my own version of the “Me-Too” movement about sexual harassment.
It still happens, and now that I’m old I can say that I’m old enough to be these girl’s grandfather.
Don’t forget even recently I had a stalker.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Today is a pivot in history, and the future on not only the U.S. is at stake here, pretty much this election will effect the entire planet.
I did my part. I believe in democracy and I voted early. I believe in our constitution and for what it stands for, but I also see that the ideals have been corrupted.
So now I have to sit back an let a major part of history pivot for either good or bad.
“Maggie” and I are Post-Modern thinkers.
In my case my whole upbringing, the chaos that was my childhood, and then all the art degrees, trained me for flexible thinking, and for living in multiple realities and frameworks. My tech job can be framed as a long performance, but that is not who I am. I’m no more than a poser.
I am an Asian, but I have gotten mistaken as Latino, and because of class and education I can “pass” for white.
Then on the other hand I know racism and discrimination.
I am proud to have helped win the Cold War. For me every day is Veteran’s Day, I am proud to be one of those “New York Stories” that speak of a man who escaped poverty, got mucho educated, and made a great life, but depending on the outcome of this election, I don’t know if I will be proud to be an American anymore, and if that label will have a legacy and future of shame.
Not sure if Democracy ended in November 2003 when fear factor after September 11th swung the vote. Maybe the end of Democracy happened in 2000 when George W. Bush was “selected” by the Supreme Court.
Then think is it wrong or not right when a father is President, then the son?
What about first the husband, then almost the wife (Clintons).
I remember in the “Onion” the headline “Black Man Gets Worse Job Ever” and it was Barack Obama after he won the election for his first term.
I brought up post-modern thinking because thought is plural, and fact or even science is not trusted. There are various framings and frameworks to define reality. Modernity was kinda simple and strait forward. Modernism as an era started to die in the 70’s and in the 80’s it certainly became dead.
We live in a very complex post-modern world, but most people are not embracing the complexity, nor are they prepared with a post-modern mindset to actually move forward.
I thought I missed out on the 60’s as being the most dynamic and pivotable time in my life, but evidently this election is a lot bigger. History and the future is the outcome.
Today really is a test and it will impact all of humanity. All I can do is hope for the best…
Cal
I did my part. I believe in democracy and I voted early. I believe in our constitution and for what it stands for, but I also see that the ideals have been corrupted.
So now I have to sit back an let a major part of history pivot for either good or bad.
“Maggie” and I are Post-Modern thinkers.
In my case my whole upbringing, the chaos that was my childhood, and then all the art degrees, trained me for flexible thinking, and for living in multiple realities and frameworks. My tech job can be framed as a long performance, but that is not who I am. I’m no more than a poser.
I am an Asian, but I have gotten mistaken as Latino, and because of class and education I can “pass” for white.
Then on the other hand I know racism and discrimination.
I am proud to have helped win the Cold War. For me every day is Veteran’s Day, I am proud to be one of those “New York Stories” that speak of a man who escaped poverty, got mucho educated, and made a great life, but depending on the outcome of this election, I don’t know if I will be proud to be an American anymore, and if that label will have a legacy and future of shame.
Not sure if Democracy ended in November 2003 when fear factor after September 11th swung the vote. Maybe the end of Democracy happened in 2000 when George W. Bush was “selected” by the Supreme Court.
Then think is it wrong or not right when a father is President, then the son?
What about first the husband, then almost the wife (Clintons).
I remember in the “Onion” the headline “Black Man Gets Worse Job Ever” and it was Barack Obama after he won the election for his first term.
I brought up post-modern thinking because thought is plural, and fact or even science is not trusted. There are various framings and frameworks to define reality. Modernity was kinda simple and strait forward. Modernism as an era started to die in the 70’s and in the 80’s it certainly became dead.
We live in a very complex post-modern world, but most people are not embracing the complexity, nor are they prepared with a post-modern mindset to actually move forward.
I thought I missed out on the 60’s as being the most dynamic and pivotable time in my life, but evidently this election is a lot bigger. History and the future is the outcome.
Today really is a test and it will impact all of humanity. All I can do is hope for the best…
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
DU,
Understand at times I’m not very diplomatic at all.
I can make people scared and use fear to intimidate people. No one likes to fight with a crazy.
At Brookhaven National Labs my boss in my performance review cited me as being like “a one man army of technicians.”
In my genes is almost a thousand years of feudalism. Remember that Canton was considered ungovernable for about 900 years while the rest of China was unified. Canton in mountainous and a natural fortress surrounded by a ring of mountains.
Then add in my family history of violence. I am the grandson of a murderer who was executed in China. My grandfather killed the loan shark who burned down his business (Grandfather was a merchant). My dad was the eldest son and was only 13 when he had the responsibility of taking care of his mother and 6 or 7 siblings.
Then here in the U.S. my dad shot a man as a result of jealous rage, and it is reported that he took him to the hospital. My dad spent some time in jail.
The concept of “Model Minority” is very far from true. I recognize my criminal past, my propensity for violence, brute force, and use of extortion and many other human behaviors that are of an animal fighting for survival.
I grew up knowing I could kill someone, and held great fear of taking a life. I was disturbed, crazy, and insane at times. I still have great potential for violence, and part of all this is just instinct. I am human, but also an animal.
This came up at that breakfast in Brattleboro with Melisa Newman, the middle daughter of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, and Moon Unit Zappa.
Pretty much because of my past I became more human and a better man, but also know part of me knows evil and is evil. I think or try to frame my experience as becoming a “better-man,” but I am still human…
Don’t tell “Maggie” but at this literary event, my story and personal history came out because when my MFA came out into the open there was a lot of interest and explaining to do. Also it kinda turned into a bit of a performance where I was in the spotlight.
It became evident that I have an interesting and important story to tell, and people at that table did not really understand why I might not want to tell it. My story was shelved literally by the review board at the Hudson Review after the Editor, Paula Deitz, approved it for publication. Pretty much if published it would of changed my life, and I would have bypassed all the gate-keeping.
I remain very flattered that Ivan Karp, the art dealer and collector, took serious interest in my artwork.
But in the end, today, I’m actually mucho happy with the way things turned out. I am a happy old man who looks to have a secure retirement, who made something of himself from absolutely nothing, and I didn’t compromise or loose my creative integrity.
The other side I saw and experienced with Maggie. Fame, fortune, and being a celebrity is all BS. I saw how unhappy all of that made Maggie. Don’t get me wrong, the first 3-4 years of her being the Accidental Icon were fun, but then it became corrupt, commodified, and contaminated.
Proud that I understood who I am, had moral integrity even though I was perhaps 22, and that I did not waste my life on BS that has no value or meaning.
I can judge myself as “the better man.”
Anyways, I know I am no failure, I also know I have what it takes, but why bother?
There is an expression: “If you write, you are a writer.” I not so sure I go along with that, and it is kinda like saying anyone with a camera is a photographer.
Maggie openly has said many times that she is jealous of my MFA because it is a credential that legitimizes me as a serious writer. Then there are writers with MFA’s that will tell you to spend the money for a MFA traveling, doing research, or on other things.
I spent $45K-$50K on my MFA, and it consumed 2 years of my life. For me it involved processing lots of deep trauma, lots of crying and sadness to make myself whole again after being triggered by September 11th. For me it was like self institutionalizing myself for 2 years.
I figure in 2005 I graduated, but the student loans will be paid off in about 3 years when I’m 69.
I don’t know if I will ever go beyond what I write here. I’m kinda happy, and I want to move forward. I have nothing to prove, and why would I ever want to deal with the frustration or commodification that is BS?
Then again do I want my story to die with me? Should I let oppression win?
I do know that me as a writer is threatening and competitive with Maggie’s new identity. I do not want to cast any shade, even if the threat and competitiveness is one sided and is only a consequence. I have other pursuits that are more important, and out of love I can easily stand aside.
Anyways now is not the time…
Cal
Understand at times I’m not very diplomatic at all.
I can make people scared and use fear to intimidate people. No one likes to fight with a crazy.
At Brookhaven National Labs my boss in my performance review cited me as being like “a one man army of technicians.”
In my genes is almost a thousand years of feudalism. Remember that Canton was considered ungovernable for about 900 years while the rest of China was unified. Canton in mountainous and a natural fortress surrounded by a ring of mountains.
Then add in my family history of violence. I am the grandson of a murderer who was executed in China. My grandfather killed the loan shark who burned down his business (Grandfather was a merchant). My dad was the eldest son and was only 13 when he had the responsibility of taking care of his mother and 6 or 7 siblings.
Then here in the U.S. my dad shot a man as a result of jealous rage, and it is reported that he took him to the hospital. My dad spent some time in jail.
The concept of “Model Minority” is very far from true. I recognize my criminal past, my propensity for violence, brute force, and use of extortion and many other human behaviors that are of an animal fighting for survival.
I grew up knowing I could kill someone, and held great fear of taking a life. I was disturbed, crazy, and insane at times. I still have great potential for violence, and part of all this is just instinct. I am human, but also an animal.
This came up at that breakfast in Brattleboro with Melisa Newman, the middle daughter of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, and Moon Unit Zappa.
Pretty much because of my past I became more human and a better man, but also know part of me knows evil and is evil. I think or try to frame my experience as becoming a “better-man,” but I am still human…
Don’t tell “Maggie” but at this literary event, my story and personal history came out because when my MFA came out into the open there was a lot of interest and explaining to do. Also it kinda turned into a bit of a performance where I was in the spotlight.
It became evident that I have an interesting and important story to tell, and people at that table did not really understand why I might not want to tell it. My story was shelved literally by the review board at the Hudson Review after the Editor, Paula Deitz, approved it for publication. Pretty much if published it would of changed my life, and I would have bypassed all the gate-keeping.
I remain very flattered that Ivan Karp, the art dealer and collector, took serious interest in my artwork.
But in the end, today, I’m actually mucho happy with the way things turned out. I am a happy old man who looks to have a secure retirement, who made something of himself from absolutely nothing, and I didn’t compromise or loose my creative integrity.
The other side I saw and experienced with Maggie. Fame, fortune, and being a celebrity is all BS. I saw how unhappy all of that made Maggie. Don’t get me wrong, the first 3-4 years of her being the Accidental Icon were fun, but then it became corrupt, commodified, and contaminated.
Proud that I understood who I am, had moral integrity even though I was perhaps 22, and that I did not waste my life on BS that has no value or meaning.
I can judge myself as “the better man.”
Anyways, I know I am no failure, I also know I have what it takes, but why bother?
There is an expression: “If you write, you are a writer.” I not so sure I go along with that, and it is kinda like saying anyone with a camera is a photographer.
Maggie openly has said many times that she is jealous of my MFA because it is a credential that legitimizes me as a serious writer. Then there are writers with MFA’s that will tell you to spend the money for a MFA traveling, doing research, or on other things.
I spent $45K-$50K on my MFA, and it consumed 2 years of my life. For me it involved processing lots of deep trauma, lots of crying and sadness to make myself whole again after being triggered by September 11th. For me it was like self institutionalizing myself for 2 years.
I figure in 2005 I graduated, but the student loans will be paid off in about 3 years when I’m 69.
I don’t know if I will ever go beyond what I write here. I’m kinda happy, and I want to move forward. I have nothing to prove, and why would I ever want to deal with the frustration or commodification that is BS?
Then again do I want my story to die with me? Should I let oppression win?
I do know that me as a writer is threatening and competitive with Maggie’s new identity. I do not want to cast any shade, even if the threat and competitiveness is one sided and is only a consequence. I have other pursuits that are more important, and out of love I can easily stand aside.
Anyways now is not the time…
Cal
Austintatious
Well-known
The corruption has been in place since we were children. Not sure an "election" will fix anything.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Here is another remarkable “Calzone” story.
I was just minding my own business at work, I open my E-mail, and pretty much I am sent chapters of a book that Ray Dalio is writing on the new world order as each chapter is written.
Ray Dalio is a very smart man, but I strongly disagreed on his view that China will overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest economy. I saw many-many holes in China’s policies that doomed it to failure. Ray did not see this, and as much as he visited and was acquainted with China, he did not really understand the culture.
None the less the useful information was the stages of empire building and the key elements of imperialism and colonialism.
Some of the history I did not know of, and I gained a lot of insights into the rise and fall of empires, and how they get established.
So basically I got to read each chapter in an early draft form as the book was being written. So of course somehow I’m an insider and privileged, but why was this being released to me, and how did I become an insider?
I’m kinda widely known, or at least someone you would remember, but that is about it. I learned back in 2007-2008 about all the data-mining that happens and immediately froze my credit. I became paranoid about identity theft, and since I had gotten “A” listed as a wealthy influential power broker mistakenly just because I was a clever swing trader, was flush with cash during the credit crisis, and made some expensive purchases, that somehow I was mistaken as possibly a billionaire.
My worry was not only identity theft, but that if I got kidnapped that there would be no one to pay the ransom.
So why did Ray Dalio send me advanced chapters to his yet unpublished book? How did he figure out I was a smart guy? What was the purpose or intent?
Later on I did buy his book though. I wanted to see and read the final copy, and it reinforced the lessons he was trying to teach.
The corruption that Austin posted about above is one stage of the collapse of an empire. Basically an ineffective government. Where this started certainly can be debated, but understood the decay starts and then becomes widespread.
BTW one of the necessary things to have or develop an empire is a strong fierce military. Also having a strong currency. Also having the most advanced technology. I almost forgot, a strong banking system.
Rule of law is pretty much a no-brainer. No guarantee of Rule of Law in China, that’s why many companies fled and will not do business there. No exception to bad rule of law in the U.S. either.
There also is competitive advantage. A good example cited is the use of wind power by the Dutch to develop a mighty navy, but this got supplanted by the British who had more resources and used steam power to build a bigger superior navy. This somewhat plays into not only having a superior military, but also gaining an advantage due to technology and having more resources to exploit.
The Dutch are a clever people, Devil Christian is one of them. The British basically had more resources and stole many Dutch ideas. Did you know that the Dutch stock market was of their invention. If you ever visited the Netherlands it is a tiny country, but it had a mighty big empire, until the British supplanted them.
Decades back when China gained favorable nation status I knew that this was a huge monumental mistake. Of course I knew less than now, and had not read Ray Dalio’s book.
Of course the military protected and promoted national interests, and fed colonialism as well as imperialism.
Wow I remembered all that. So what is the tie between me and Ray Dalio? Today I read a headline where Ray is saying we have to get back to the basics, no frills life of food, shelter, clothing…
No news to me, but likely applicable to many who have lost their way. In other words people have to or will have to impose living below their means. Why is this a headline coming from a billionaire that was the founder of the world’s largest hedgefund?
Wow? I don’t understand…
Kevin O’Leary of “Shark Tank” fame speaks of a new era of American downsizing.
Elsewhere I see the headlines of when a bear market finally comes it will be mighty harsh. This I believe. I also am amazed that things have stayed afloat for so long defying gravity.
When the shoe does drop many will be crushed like ants.
Anyways Ray Dalio’s book on the New World Order already reads like fiction or science fiction today. The well researched history on the rise and fall of empires though is very thoughtful and well organized. It is worth the read, but it is kinda scary to see and know the future. Spoiler alert… Some good history is presented, but this smart man lost a lot of money in China. His book came out a few years ago.
Sadly there were headlines of Ray being a jerk and publicly humiliating a woman that is shameful. He clearly is not a “Better-Man.”
Cal, the inside man and Bankster.
I was just minding my own business at work, I open my E-mail, and pretty much I am sent chapters of a book that Ray Dalio is writing on the new world order as each chapter is written.
Ray Dalio is a very smart man, but I strongly disagreed on his view that China will overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest economy. I saw many-many holes in China’s policies that doomed it to failure. Ray did not see this, and as much as he visited and was acquainted with China, he did not really understand the culture.
None the less the useful information was the stages of empire building and the key elements of imperialism and colonialism.
Some of the history I did not know of, and I gained a lot of insights into the rise and fall of empires, and how they get established.
So basically I got to read each chapter in an early draft form as the book was being written. So of course somehow I’m an insider and privileged, but why was this being released to me, and how did I become an insider?
I’m kinda widely known, or at least someone you would remember, but that is about it. I learned back in 2007-2008 about all the data-mining that happens and immediately froze my credit. I became paranoid about identity theft, and since I had gotten “A” listed as a wealthy influential power broker mistakenly just because I was a clever swing trader, was flush with cash during the credit crisis, and made some expensive purchases, that somehow I was mistaken as possibly a billionaire.
My worry was not only identity theft, but that if I got kidnapped that there would be no one to pay the ransom.
So why did Ray Dalio send me advanced chapters to his yet unpublished book? How did he figure out I was a smart guy? What was the purpose or intent?
Later on I did buy his book though. I wanted to see and read the final copy, and it reinforced the lessons he was trying to teach.
The corruption that Austin posted about above is one stage of the collapse of an empire. Basically an ineffective government. Where this started certainly can be debated, but understood the decay starts and then becomes widespread.
BTW one of the necessary things to have or develop an empire is a strong fierce military. Also having a strong currency. Also having the most advanced technology. I almost forgot, a strong banking system.
Rule of law is pretty much a no-brainer. No guarantee of Rule of Law in China, that’s why many companies fled and will not do business there. No exception to bad rule of law in the U.S. either.
There also is competitive advantage. A good example cited is the use of wind power by the Dutch to develop a mighty navy, but this got supplanted by the British who had more resources and used steam power to build a bigger superior navy. This somewhat plays into not only having a superior military, but also gaining an advantage due to technology and having more resources to exploit.
The Dutch are a clever people, Devil Christian is one of them. The British basically had more resources and stole many Dutch ideas. Did you know that the Dutch stock market was of their invention. If you ever visited the Netherlands it is a tiny country, but it had a mighty big empire, until the British supplanted them.
Decades back when China gained favorable nation status I knew that this was a huge monumental mistake. Of course I knew less than now, and had not read Ray Dalio’s book.
Of course the military protected and promoted national interests, and fed colonialism as well as imperialism.
Wow I remembered all that. So what is the tie between me and Ray Dalio? Today I read a headline where Ray is saying we have to get back to the basics, no frills life of food, shelter, clothing…
No news to me, but likely applicable to many who have lost their way. In other words people have to or will have to impose living below their means. Why is this a headline coming from a billionaire that was the founder of the world’s largest hedgefund?
Wow? I don’t understand…
Kevin O’Leary of “Shark Tank” fame speaks of a new era of American downsizing.
Elsewhere I see the headlines of when a bear market finally comes it will be mighty harsh. This I believe. I also am amazed that things have stayed afloat for so long defying gravity.
When the shoe does drop many will be crushed like ants.
Anyways Ray Dalio’s book on the New World Order already reads like fiction or science fiction today. The well researched history on the rise and fall of empires though is very thoughtful and well organized. It is worth the read, but it is kinda scary to see and know the future. Spoiler alert… Some good history is presented, but this smart man lost a lot of money in China. His book came out a few years ago.
Sadly there were headlines of Ray being a jerk and publicly humiliating a woman that is shameful. He clearly is not a “Better-Man.”
Cal, the inside man and Bankster.
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DownUnder
Nikon Nomad
Well written. All your today posts.
I'm sure you know that none of us ever asked you directly about your voting preferences, or for that matter anything directly political.
That is a sign of our respect for you. We understand that your political choices and your voting are personal and private matters that you keep between you and yourself. Or share only with truly trusted confidant(e)s.
For all that, we are all on tenterhooks today, and watching the ongoing political developments.
May it all turn out well. However it goes.
I'm sure you know that none of us ever asked you directly about your voting preferences, or for that matter anything directly political.
That is a sign of our respect for you. We understand that your political choices and your voting are personal and private matters that you keep between you and yourself. Or share only with truly trusted confidant(e)s.
For all that, we are all on tenterhooks today, and watching the ongoing political developments.
May it all turn out well. However it goes.
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Tenterhooks? More like existential dread.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
I'm so disgusted.
Phil
Phil
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Snoopy and JJ are very forward with their opinions and politics. It gets fatiguing fast and makes them rather shallow and eventually boring.
I have determined that they are racists, by remarks and by overcompensation of trying to explain all these people of color who are friends. Openly they complain about our small city as high crime and unsafe.
I have remained quite when lies and one sided views that are not true are put in my face. I feel the oppression.
The level of control and influence they exert exports bad boundaries and a lack of respect. They are critical and judgemental in a very self righteous manner that conveys rigid thinking.
So any attempt at a real discussion that could be open or honest is kinda doomed. Almost like talking to or tying to reason with a drunk.
Our neighbors live in fear is a theory “Maggie” has. The policies they support this fear theory. Their thoughts and thinking betray the outward strength that they try to promote. An other example of evercompensation.
I will declare that I am a post-modern thinker, and that my thinking, logic and thought remains open and confused because I think at a level that involves complexity. Thinking is a fluid process with no absolutes, there is no one answer to any question or pursuit, and chaos and uncertainty is a life of openness and also almost complete confusion.
This is post-modern life. Modernism died out in the 70’s in the visual arts and 80’s according to the Philosophers.
It was stated in a post above: there are three types of people: those that are dumb and unable to think; people who are smart and capable, but choose not o think; and those that think all the time, but can’t turn off their thinking.
Maggie and I are over educated and we both have “terminal degrees.” Maggie has two Masters degrees and a PhD. We both got our terminal degrees, MFA and PhD, later in life.
Not everyone is a critical thinker, and my level of thought and the envelope of possibilities is not so usual. In fact I often feel alone and consider myself a loner, even though I am rather widely known.
All I can say is politically I support our Constitution, but I know it is being violated and corrupted openly.
It is hard to separate politics and the economy. Pretty much big business and the Government are the same thing. Here I preach and try to inform some rather basic economics, so indirectly I speak politics. I also speak using history to ground our understanding.
There are a lot of mistakes that have been performed and the long term effects and consequences all indicate a time of vast austerity. I don’t think Ray Dalio is wrong that the bare basic essentials will be of major exaggerated importance, and that Kevin O’Leary is correct that Americans will be forced to very seriously downsize.
The world has been living on a massive credit binge that can’t be sustained.
I am already prepared to deal with the consequences of the collapse yet to come. Here it the future: debt will become a problem for households and governments; inflation will become entrenched; likely stagflation; likely and probably a global war as we already are in one or two right now, but with “boots on the ground.”
There will be a choice: pay down the debt; or default. Add onto that currency crisis.
Cal
I have determined that they are racists, by remarks and by overcompensation of trying to explain all these people of color who are friends. Openly they complain about our small city as high crime and unsafe.
I have remained quite when lies and one sided views that are not true are put in my face. I feel the oppression.
The level of control and influence they exert exports bad boundaries and a lack of respect. They are critical and judgemental in a very self righteous manner that conveys rigid thinking.
So any attempt at a real discussion that could be open or honest is kinda doomed. Almost like talking to or tying to reason with a drunk.
Our neighbors live in fear is a theory “Maggie” has. The policies they support this fear theory. Their thoughts and thinking betray the outward strength that they try to promote. An other example of evercompensation.
I will declare that I am a post-modern thinker, and that my thinking, logic and thought remains open and confused because I think at a level that involves complexity. Thinking is a fluid process with no absolutes, there is no one answer to any question or pursuit, and chaos and uncertainty is a life of openness and also almost complete confusion.
This is post-modern life. Modernism died out in the 70’s in the visual arts and 80’s according to the Philosophers.
It was stated in a post above: there are three types of people: those that are dumb and unable to think; people who are smart and capable, but choose not o think; and those that think all the time, but can’t turn off their thinking.
Maggie and I are over educated and we both have “terminal degrees.” Maggie has two Masters degrees and a PhD. We both got our terminal degrees, MFA and PhD, later in life.
Not everyone is a critical thinker, and my level of thought and the envelope of possibilities is not so usual. In fact I often feel alone and consider myself a loner, even though I am rather widely known.
All I can say is politically I support our Constitution, but I know it is being violated and corrupted openly.
It is hard to separate politics and the economy. Pretty much big business and the Government are the same thing. Here I preach and try to inform some rather basic economics, so indirectly I speak politics. I also speak using history to ground our understanding.
There are a lot of mistakes that have been performed and the long term effects and consequences all indicate a time of vast austerity. I don’t think Ray Dalio is wrong that the bare basic essentials will be of major exaggerated importance, and that Kevin O’Leary is correct that Americans will be forced to very seriously downsize.
The world has been living on a massive credit binge that can’t be sustained.
I am already prepared to deal with the consequences of the collapse yet to come. Here it the future: debt will become a problem for households and governments; inflation will become entrenched; likely stagflation; likely and probably a global war as we already are in one or two right now, but with “boots on the ground.”
There will be a choice: pay down the debt; or default. Add onto that currency crisis.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I’m ashamed.
Cal
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I worry for others. I’m saddened that oppression awaits.
Selfishly “Maggie” and I will be insulated to a vast degree, but depending on debt levels others will suffer greatly or get crushed like ants. We have very manageable debt load, and at rates way below inflation. Basically this is considered “Good-Debt.”
We know of friends who will be leaving…
These are people who are activists, leaders, and community builders. These are the people that throughout history are killed off, end up in re-education camps, as a result of extremism.
This is not a safe place for artists, writers or journalists. I understand their leaving.
Cal
Selfishly “Maggie” and I will be insulated to a vast degree, but depending on debt levels others will suffer greatly or get crushed like ants. We have very manageable debt load, and at rates way below inflation. Basically this is considered “Good-Debt.”
We know of friends who will be leaving…
These are people who are activists, leaders, and community builders. These are the people that throughout history are killed off, end up in re-education camps, as a result of extremism.
This is not a safe place for artists, writers or journalists. I understand their leaving.
Cal
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Unfortunately, only those with means can leave.
Phil
Phil