I've Tried To Keep My Mouth Shut...

...but I can't do it anymore. I'm stunned our new President is trying to enforce a $500,000 cap for top senior executives who work for financial companies receiving bailout money. Who is this guy, Karl Marx? The United States was founded on the idea of a free-market system where capitalism reigns. The second the government starts sticking its nose in big business and strong-arming corporations to limit salaries, the second our country starts turning toward socialism.

On the same day Manny Ramirez rejected a one-year $25 million deal with the Dodgers, President Obama announced this ludicrous $500k cap on executive salaries. Like it our not, Ramirez is a perfect example of capitalism at its best. He feels he's worth more than the current Dodger offer and because we live in a free market society he has the right to try and earn what he feels his value is. Obama's stay on salaries is a perfect example of socialism. What's the benefit for a top-ranking executive, much like Ramirez is a top-rated MLB player, to take a job at a corporation forced to impose the salary lid? There is no benefit to said executive. And our financial institutions already struggling with the credit crisis lose out on talented executives who will opt to head up corporations outside the financial field.

These top executives, for the most part, earn what they do because their perceived value to their companies is worth said salary when leading corporations handling billions of dollars monthly. While many of these financial institutions' undoings are wholly their fault by issuing garbage loans, many receiving bailout money are actually being forced to take it. I.E. Wells Fargo. And, for those companies that fail to meet earnings expectations, they should look toward new senior leadership. A senior executive who is terminated loses value in the market. Much like Ramirez loses value if he bats .225 for the season. Moreover, bailout money or not, forced sanctions such as this stay on salaries will eventually sway top companies to look outside the country for their headquarters and our economy could ultimately suffer even more.

The first wrong is on President Bush for issuing the bailout in the first place, and this latest news from Obama is equally frustrating. I'm from the school of thought that we need to let poorly operating corporations fail or find their own way to fix their wrongs and not bail them out. Northwest Airlines is a perfect example. They were bailed out time and again only to fail time and again. They never learned from their mistakes and were fortunately bought out by a stronger player. Much like underperformer Wachovia was bought out by Wells Fargo.

Does the government step in and bail out the mom and pop hardware store down the street when Wal-Mart or Home Depot opens up next door? No, the government doesn't. That's capitalism. If mom and pop can't keep customers coming through the doors, they must close those doors. It's just the way it works.

And it should have worked that way with those large financial corporations issuing credit to every Joe Plumber who came through the door, even if he hadn't worked on any plumbing for 5 years. Yes, Joe and Jane can share the blame for greediness and poor financial planning, yet at the end of the day, the financial institution has the final say on approving rolling lines of credit, adjustable rate mortgages and home equity loans. Certainly a failed financial institution has a greater impact on you and I than the closing of mom and pop stores, Linen 'n Things or Circuit City. And this is why the government instituted the FDIC to protect your bank deposits up to $100,000. Yes, the same FDIC set up after massive bank failures of the Great Depression. This is government doing what it does best, protecting and serving. Is the bailout and salary lids protecting our citizens? It's a fuzzy gray area at best, but you know where my opinion sits.

Economists and historians have long debated what caused the Great Depression. Was it the massive bank failures that were the cause or the bad economy and historic droughts that were the culprit? While our current situation is nowhere near Depression status, the FDIC was set up for a reason. This one should have played out without government intervention. Either way, if the economy slips further into recession or rises up, 25 years from now decisions made today will be referred to in great detail regarding economic policies.

I could be slightly biased because the bailout hasn't moved my house off the market and the housing market still doesn't seem to be loosening up. Perfect place to end my rant. I'm not going to use this blog to voice my political opinion often. Only when I get really hot! The views expressed in this blog are mine and mine only. Tracy has no part of this one.

Two Showings Is Encouraging

Finally, after a drought worse than the Dust Bowl, my house had two showings over the weekend. While it was encouraging, we are still waiting on feedback from one of the real estate agents. I can't imagine that that realtor has much going on right now to prevent them from sending in some prompt feedback. At least the second showing gave me some hope that my house isn't completely worthless and that my dad's hard shoveling work this winter hasn't been for naught.

The second couple liked my house and were interested but it comes with a catch, of course. They had just put an offer in on another house, bank owned from the sounds of it, and they are waiting to hear what happens there. If their first offer doesn't go through, they said they would entertain the idea of putting in an offer on my house. At the very least, it gives me hope. The couple thought the house showed really well, liked the neighborhood and the property. Just when you think all is completely lost with the housing market you find a glimmer of hope. I can only hope this glimmer lasts longer than my workout program ... no more excuses.

I'm working out and my house will sell. If I can convince myself those two things are related, maybe I'll be motivated enough to at least tighten up while the housing market continues to suck.

Our Super Bowl Snack ... Cheese Ball!

It's a ball of cheesy goodness. Just add mayo, finely shredded cheese, cream cheese, milk and a ranch dip packet and you have healthiness at its best. Ritz crackers are our choice but Triscuits are pretty money with it too. Cheese ball, it's an addiction and a perfect solution to reduce your waistline!

Don't EVER Measure Your Waist

Tracy and I spent the day running some super important errands. Let's see, we bought an area rug at Kohl's along with a fragrance diffuser for the guest bathroom. We also picked up a frame for a Claude Monet Water Lilies 1906 print at JoAnn Fabrics for the guest bedroom. And, we brought in another piece of art to be framed. JoAnn was having a big 50 percent off framing sale so Tracy couldn't resist.

Tracy also picked up some scrapbooking items. I think my sister-in-law Miranda's hobby might be rubbing off on Tracy. While we were in the scrapbook isle, a lady commented, "You should be so lucky that he came with you (referring to me), I can't get my husband to come in this store." It was at this moment that I knew it was time to wrap up our trip to JoAnn Fabrics!

Then we were off to search for just the right comforter for the guest bedroom. We hit up JcPenney, Macy's, Sears, Kohls and Target (no Bed Bath & Beyond ... we didn't have time). We decided on the one from Kohls so we'll have to return later this week and pick it up. While we were at Kohls I found some affordable jeans and tried them on. This was a bad idea. We are eating healthier and I'm drinking less, but my waist isn't getting any smaller. When I got home I measured my gut with a metal tape measure at its biggest point and the girth register 38.5 inches. If that's not enough to motivate me to get a Beach Body and ditch the Ugly Body, I don't know what is. My workout program starts Sunday morning!

During our comforter search, Tracy was looking for a specific throw pillow color for our couch without any success. So, naturally being the competitive person I am, I told her we will have a sew off. She sews one pillow, I sew the other. It can't be too hard to sew up a pillow and it's the most cost effective route. Of course, we'll need to buy extra fabric because I know my pillow seams will probably suck and Tracy will have to end up making both pillows. OK, so this isn't the most manly thing to do, but my brother did sew up a shower curtain so I guess that means it's OK for me to make a pillow.

Nothing else too crazy going on today. We are just enjoying the nice 75-degree weather and taking it easy. On Sunday we'll head down to Derek and Chad's to watch the Super Bowl. Tracy is pulling for Arizona so I guess I'll cheer for the Steelers to be different - it's that competitive thing we have going on (see above). Oh, and our season Blokus series is tied 2-2. Maybe we'll need a tiebreaker tonight!

Adobe Flash CS4 Is Neat

After my sushi lunch, I installed Adobe Flash CS4 on my Macbook Pro work laptop. It's amazing working with the software and putting graphics in to motion. However, it's another Adobe Suite program that I need to dig in to and see how fast I can master my skills. I have a stronger sense of the other Adobe programs, but Flash is kind of my unknown.

I'd say I made the transition over to InDesign from QuarkXPress fairly easily. Quark was the layout page maker program of choice from my days back at good old Worthlesstown Daily Globe.

I'm pretty confident with Photoshop CS3 and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading Katrin Eismann's "Photoshop Restoration and Retouching: Third Edition" as it walks me through many tricks and shortcuts I didn't know were possible in Photoshop. The book has been a great asset so far and I think it will actually help me improve my Flash skills as some of the layer concepts transfer over.

It's amazing how much there is to learn when creating design assets. Next week I'll upload the posters I created that I'm pretty proud of. It's always fun seeing your work hanging on people's office walls. I can't post it now until the sales programs are announced to our dealers. You never know who's reading I guess!