I have been under the gun since around the first of the year to get a release out today.  I still have three hours to get it done by today.  It is midnight here, but the drop hits another part.  I should be a bit better off once this gets out.  Next major release is a bit further out.  I will then be able to concentrate on things that have been in the back of my mind for a while now.  So basically I am almost able to see a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Popularity: 2% [?]

Old, frustrating, motivational, you decide.  This is a clip from the onion on how the rich are falling behind the super-rich. 

Popularity: 1% [?]

I had written a while back about time and money.  “I bought the property for $13,500.  I put $4,000 down and paid ~$3,650 a year for the next three years.  Basically it was 15 g’s for the property.  I ended up being able to sale the property for $28,500.  I basically doubled my investmentafter three years.  What I could have easily done though was sale the property for 23 g’s immediately after I had bought it.  This would have put me at making $9,500.  I would have essentially tripled my $4,000 dollar investment.  So I waited 3 years for 6 more g’s.  I also had my money tied up.” 

 I have a follow up to this story.  I recently heard these lots were now selling for $45,000.  You can do the math on this one.  This sale happened 5 years ago.  Basically you never know what really is going to happen.  You should try to live without regrets but it is good to review what you have done and try to learn from it. 

Popularity: 1% [?]

So for the most part I have had a hard time focusing the past few weeks.  I have a lot of things on my plate.  I am not sure if I focus more when I have more going on or less.  It seems that I am not able to focus as well, though I get more things done.  I am not making more money, but planting more seeds, that if sewn right could produce more money.  I am seeing opportunities and trying to take advantage of them.  Some of them are new areas to me so there is a bit of a learning curve. 

It is hard to be an expert at many things, much easier probably to dominate at one thing.  Currently I am doing neither, but would love to be an expert at many things.  When I say expert, I mean make money.  I could know all presidential candidates and the differences between them all, but is that going to get me paid?  It is great to know how to invest once a candidate gets elected, but there are somethings that are not going to effect my bottom line.  You can do some things as a hobby, but it is great when your hobbies, lifestyle and job all align.  I am trying to focus on making them all align.

Popularity: 2% [?]

I am sitting at an open house right now.  Things are a bit slow.  I was hoping to not have to do any open houses, but it might be worth it in the end.  It is giving me a chance to gather my thoughts.  I only had one person come thus far and they came with a realtor.  I will be able to use this as a “command post” for getting everything else I have going on straight.  So I guess the update is that the house is still on the market. 

 The market is not great right now.  Interest rates are good.  I am not sure how that will help me directly.  Percentages are good, but someone still has to come here and buy the house.  I will be doing another open house next weekend as well and potentially a few more weekends, though I would like to have it sold.  This time to “stage” the house, I mopped as soon as I got here, baked cookies and got the lighting in the house looking good.  I of course burnt the first batch of cookies (as I am not used to baking f’n cookies), but the second batch turned out okay.  I did not do balloons this time, but probably will next time and have bottled water for visitors.  After the break are some new pics, nothing new, just newer pics (and the time stamps are ugly).

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 3% [?]

Recently I have heard a bit about how people are only successful because of their significant other.  I have also heard some things about how dudes were being held back by their relationships.  What I have found is that you have to find a way to be independently successful.  You have to be able to motivate yourself, however you do it.  If it is watching mtv cribs, reading magazines, getting your grind on, listening to music, watching gangsta flicks, or whatever. 

 Being able to be successful without making yourself vulnerable is key.  You should set yourself up for success where you are not dependent on others for success.  You have to be above the bs of relationships.  Keep your business and pleasure separate.  If you do not you are making yourself vulnerable.  Having distractions of the smallest amount can shrink you. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 3% [?]

Well it is tax time.  This used to be a fun time for me, when I was not making any money and strolling through college.  I would get everything back and be set for a few months.  Now it is a different story, I have to try and find all the methods I can to not have to pay everything I own.  There are two things that I found were helpful this year.  I am not an accountant nor a lawyer so this advice will be “at your own risk” per se.  Check with your tax crew, I just blog for fun

•  1031-Like Kind Exchange

“Generally, if you exchange business or investment property solely for business or investment property of a like-kind, no gain or loss is recognized under Internal Revenue Code Section 1031. If, as part of the exchange, you also receive other (not like-kind) property or money, gain is recognized to the extent of the other property and money received, but a loss is not recognized.

Section 1031 does not apply to exchanges of inventory, stocks, bonds, notes, other securities or evidence of indebtedness, or certain other assets.”  Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]

City of God is a great movie.  It might not make everyones top ten list but it is a movie that has a large underground following (similar to Boondock Saints).  The movie is about the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the 80’s.  The movie follows young kids as they grow up in the City of God projects and take over Rio de Janeiro.  It is a shocking movie that will stay in your head for a few days.  It is not for the faint of heart.  I added a link to it on the movie page and below is a trailer for it. 

Popularity: 5% [?]