What are the Rabbis saying about Carl Baydala?

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Monday December 7, 2009

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Still very beautiful and sunny out friends. Very nice indeed. I got out and about yesterday in the car and went for a spin. I just couldn't resist it. Just one of those beautiful Sundays when everyone is cruising around and going shopping in the sunshine and that kind of thing.

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There was a bit of a setback to the day though and it happened early. I went to the bank to get some dough and guess what happened? Yup, you guessed it, the brand new bank machine swallowed my card. Has that ever happened to you? Well, it has never happened to me that is for sure. It is these brand new machines that they are installing everywhere too. So, I hope this is not going to be some kind of problem for others as well. It is kind of creepy though when you think about it. I mean, there I am standing there like a goof and the bloody machine has my card and my dough. And, what can I do? Nothing, except phone the bank people. You know what I mean, talking to some strange personality back east somewhere. Anyway, I explained the situation to this bank rep and it seems that everything is OK. Nobody can get the card or the dough so that is the good part. Needless to say, that will be my first project this morning - getting a new bank card.

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I was doing some research for my post this coming Saturday over on the main part of my blog and I ran across this video once again. Here is the link:

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Astrology - the Jewish Perspective - Aquarius

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It is just over an hour long and it is quite entertaining. The Jewish Rabbi Kin, is talking about horoscopes and today's topic is Aquarius. That is me. I am an Aquarian. Apparently I am one of the air signs. So, if you watch the video you will learn all about me and my personality. Now, these videos are quite entertaining that is for sure. They are general things so you should keep an open mind when you watch them. I just wanted to see how close he could come to determining the nature of my personality and that is why I watched the video.

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He is certainly right about a couple of things related to my character and habits and the like. I do not like authority and I do not like lending or borrowing money. So, the Rabbi is right on the money in this regard. We do not like big shots and we do not like other people's big egos. These are the major things which the rabbi was able to identity about me. And, the other one is when I am crossed then I let people know that I have been wronged. That is just the way us Aquarians are. Also, we do things in our own good time as well. We like to be independent and do things when we want, not when we are told. And, another important thing which the Rabbi focuses on is that people do not understand or appreciate some of us. We are different and that is why people cannot understand a few of us. So, there you have it friends, right from the Rabbi's mouth. So, all in all the Rabbi picks out some of the highlights of my personality which I found to be true. We are also diplomatic and do not like to fight. We might believe in a cause but will not get involved in physical violence for that cause. We let others do the fighting.

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But, like I said, you really have to take these kinds of presentations with a bit of a grain of salt though. The Rabbi is talking to young people here and is mainly talking about life and human personalities. And, I think he is merely using the horoscope and our personalities as a guide in how to deal with people. I believe that is the real intent of these kinds of discussions. There is a lot of practical information in these horoscope videos that people can use to make their lives more understandable and liveable. That is what these videos are in my opinion. But, he has nailed me correctly in quite a few areas. We don't like authority and we are independent.

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Are you a whale?....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Sunday December 6, 2009

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Vancouver, B.C. Webcams

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Still beautiful sunny weather friends and I got out early ( yesterday ) and attended to a personal job. And, then that was the end of my day in spite of the glorious weather. It is certainly a little nippy mind you, but life is very pleasant indeed under these kinds of conditions. So, emotionally I suppose the weather can be a very good thing indeed. Well done God, or is it nature that is responsible for this kind of weather?

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Now, I did not accomplish much like I said, but I was thinking of getting something done if that helps. I restructured my portfolio and made some technical changes to its architecture, but that is about all I really did. Other than that I am sorry to report, yours truly had a fairly unproductive day. But, there is also the next day now then isn't there? And, the day after that and the day after that. Well, you know what I mean, why push things if you do not have to?

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I did manage to take a look at the Meadowlands website and see what is happening for harness racing this season. And, I found out that things are not quite as I thought they were going to be. I did not see any racing dates for this December at all. It looks like everything is starting up in the New Year. But, no big deal friends. I have not been to the track since August and the layover is not killing me. In fact, I am getting kind of used to not having to want to go to the track on Saturdays. This does not mean that I have lost interest in the sport because I have not. I am only suggesting to you that I am capable of controlling my emotions and desires to some extent. So, surely that is not such a bad thing.

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Speaking of gambling though, I read this piece on the Bloomberg financial site. I hang out there quite a bit actually. Anyway, there was this article in there about this chronic gambler who dropped over one hundred million dollars down in Vegas. Can you imagine losing that kind of dough just by gambling? That is beyond my comprehension actually. But, think of the serious kinds of bets that I could make at the track if I did that. Wow! I could have a great time and win a lot of races that is for sure. Maybe even cover the board in a lot of cases and be a guaranteed winner. Sometimes you come out ahead by covering a lot of bases you know. But, a hundred million bucks, I mean, let's get serious. In the parlance down in Vegas that guy was called a " whale ". In the carnival business we would call him a mark. And, you can call him what you want. I am just going to call him crazy.

Birthdays, bankers and other things....

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Above snap is in Surrey, Yesterday on the job.

Blackberry pager.

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Saturday December 5, 2009

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Vancouver, B.C. Webcams

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Pretty nice weather actually. I guess the rains have subsided temporarily and that certainly has everyone in a good mood around here. Just one more week before Karen's big birthday. And, that is next Saturday, so like I said I will be doing a post to celebrate her life over on the main part of my blog. She is the girl of my dreams after all and it is the least that I can do to honor her. Would you expect anything less from me? Undoubtedly not.

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About the stock market. Actually, I was just looking things over and I really did recover all of my losses from the devastating declines of 2008. I found some cash things that were paying interest and I simply overlooked them that is all. So, we did make the recovery that I was looking for. But, unfortunately, the Canadian market had a bit of a setback near the latter part of the week so that set me back just a bit. But, it does not affect my year to date performance. And, my gains so far this year are in the order of + 13.26% as we speak. Speaking of stocks and the like, I was watching some videos on Bloomberg television concerning this banking mess in the States. Timothy Geithner, the Treasury Secretary, was being interviewed in some Senate hearing. Now, this is one of the guys that is actually responsible for this mess since he was part of the New York Federal Reserve when all the crap was flying around. And, now he is in Obama's cabinet.

.You have to realize that the banks are big and they are influential. They do not want any changes to occur that would limit their ability to make big gobs of money in the least amount of time. But, the thing is that they were allowed to run wild during the Bush Regime and that is where all of the serious problems developed. Predatory lending, bad products, lax supervision by the Fed and others responsible for regulation are at fault. And, don't forget the rating agencies either; they rated these bad products. Anyhow, there was Geithner being interviewed and he was actually coming across as concerned and expressing the idea that he was willing to play his part in cleaning up the mess and making things safer for us little people if you know what I mean. He seemed to know what the problems were and was willing to lend a hand as it were. But, the big banks are always in the background and they certainly do not want to cede any of their power if they can get away with it. So, I think what you have here is a little test of Obama's will to get something done.

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.But, the point is that Geithner, in his Senate hearings, is coming across as a straight shooter here and believing in doing the right thing for the country as a whole. It was good to see Senator Chris Dodd taking shots at the Fed as well. He claims that he will support Bernanke for a second term, but in the same breath realizes that the Fed has too much power, especially when it has lent out so much money to its banking comrades, at the expense of the taxpayer of course. And, Dodd was also critical of the fact that the Fed failed to supervise as well. ... I am starting to have some thoughts related to these big banks actually. Now, my theory is that these big banks and all of their power are bad for the economy. Everybody knows that now anyway. Through their recklessness and greed though, they have caused a lot of damage. But, my theory is based on the idea that the same thing happened in Japan and is also happening in Europe. Japan has had a stagnant economy for something like twenty years. And, when I look at my own portfolio, well, the European part has not recovered, and in fact, is the only section showing me losses. ...There is too much influence by big banks in those economies and when they are in trouble then the whole economies are in trouble. Too big to fail means that maybe there should not be institutions operating in an economy that can cause so much damage.

Now let that be a lesson for you....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Friday December 4, 2009

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Last day on the job friends and then a few more days off again. It was bright and sunny out yesterday and a real nice day. Not too much dough though so that was the only downside. Well, actually, there was one more down side and that was the stock market. But, I just want the whole thing to act as a lesson for you. I don't need a lesson personally, because I know how the stock market works. It is a tricky little devil that is what it is. It will confound you and build you up. It can deceive you and it can make you happy or it can make you sad. It is kind of like a woman since it can do so many things that affect the emotions. You love them and you hate them, but at the end of the day you end up needing them, so you just learn to live with them. That is what the stock market is friends.

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So, let that be a lesson to you. Just learn to take what the market gives. Because what the market gives the market takes away. Good grief, maybe the market is not a woman at all. Maybe it is God. Now, wouldn't that be something? Well, actually friends there is no big mystery here. We are just dealing with human behavior in the broadest sense that is all. The market is what it is. It is just the manifestation of the totality of what people think at any given moment in time, about stocks and the economy that is. How are you supposed to know what other people are thinking? Well, you don't know until the numbers change in front of you. Some people are positive about the market while others are negative. And, don't forget that it is greed and fear that rule the markets anyways. That is one little tidbit that I learned from the pros along the way. But, the really big lesson about the market is that you cannot time IT. I think that is the best saying of all because it is true. You can be on top of the world and it looks like everything is going your way, and then you make a bet. Sort of like at the racetrack if you know what I mean. And, then what happens? Well, the whole thing can confound you and turn against you and make you have a very bad day. Are you sure the stock market is not a woman in disguise? See what I mean friends. That is why man creates gods and even God Himself. Because he just doesn't know. Man the fallible just doesn't know. But, he must learn to live and to accept, whatever is thrown in front of him, and by who or what. That is man's destiny.

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Close, but no cigar....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Thursday December 3, 2009

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Back to work today friends after a couple of days off. It was close but no cigar. That's right friends, we were real close to victory but we didn't quite make it. Maybe today will be the day, who really knows for sure.

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I am talking about the stock market once again friends. That's right, where all the dough winds up, peoples' retirement and investment money, that is. And, a good part of my money is tied up in this endeavour as well. It is part of my retirement plan of course. Now, if you are following the market in even the slightest way you will know that 2008 was a very bad year for most investors. That was the year that the financial meltdown really took its toll. Many investors lost a lot of money and I am sure that there are still lots of them who remain in the hole to this very day. Well, I am still in the hole as well, but not by very much at all. In fact, if the market co-operates we could be completely out of the red and into the black come the end of this trading day.

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Now, things generally look good for us North American investors when things go well in Asia and in Europe overnight. And, that appears to be the case today. Gold is still holding up and the American dollar is still weak. If there is no bad news coming out of U.S. markets today then today could be the day for celebrating my return from Armageddon. I am up for the year, but the psychological victory of no losses whatsoever still remains. We need to say that we got all of our money back from the losses of 2008. And, today could most assuredly be the day. Remember, I was only .22% away from victory yesterday. Do you want to make any bets? Well, I do not because I am not a fool. When the money lands on my doorstep you guys will be the very first to know. Talk to you all later and have a nice day.

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A risky gain....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Wednesday December 2, 2009

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Got back from my truck servicing yesterday friends and then I just jumped into the Miata and went for a spin. That is how excited I was about life and the sunshine and everything else. And, the everything else is of course, mainly speaking, the stock market. We are just so close to breaking even from the calamity of 2008 that I can feel it in my bones. There really is some kind of an upward momentum trend here. I don't know how viable it is necessarily, but I think there is enough muscle there to propel me over the top. And, what is this top? Well, it is the simple matter of about .22%, that is what the top is for me. I was down just over 12% at the end of 2008 and I am now positive 13.42% year to date for 2009. Recently, I shifted some modest amounts of cash into Emerging Markets and Canadian Equity. And, I am 41.37% equity in my overall portfolio. The gold or precious metals component now sits at 5.36%.

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Now, it is certainly fun being ahead of the game as it were, but you must always remember that there is risk out there. The gains in the market to my mind are still tenuous at best. The U.S. is a sick thing when you think about it. The consumer is still down and hurting. Sure, there is modest recovery but there are still a lot of problems going on in that economy. There is horrendous debt and deficits with which they must contend. And, as I stated recently, they still have those wars to deal with as well. The Middle class were really hurt as a function of the recent financial crisis, and they might not ever recover when you consider the big picture. And, the picture is the fact that the manufacturing jobs have been shipped over seas and that the U.S. is basically now just a war economy that must learn to survive on ever increasing jobs that will pay less and less. Taxes will have to increase and people will have to learn to accept a lower standard of living. But, it is the banks that survive and will continue to survive. They are the key to the whole thing and they maintain their power. Their wealth continues to be concentrated and they pose great risk to the economies of the world. Many of these banks are too big to fail, that is the current mantra. But, they must be confronted, for if they are not we will continue to live under the conditions that we are currently experiencing. The depreciated American dollar and the rise in the price of gold is symptomatic of the new paradigm, in my humble opinion. So, just how happy do you think I am with the recent gains in my portfolio?

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P.S. If you are left wing, progressive thinking American then you will appreciate very much this interview with Dennis Kucinich. He talks about Obama's recent surge in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the state of the economy. Dennis Kucinich is a man that I greatly respect. He fights the fight for the little guy in America and he does not stop. He knows that the wars are wrong and he is not afraid to say so. He thinks that Cheney and Bush should be taken to task for their false and misleading war in Iraq. Iraq should be compensated for this great injustice that was inflicted upon them, and I agree. A great interview and terrific thoughts. If you are a clear thinking person you will fall in love with a politician like Dennis Kucinich. Interview below:

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Truthdig interview

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Welcome to December....

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Above is McDonald's on the corner of

Harris Road and Lougheed Highway, Pitt Meadows,

taken yesterday with my Blackberrry pager.

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is December 1, 2009

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Vancouver, B.C. Webcams

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I have a couple of days off friends, but when you are in the courier business you never really have a day off now do you? Business before pleasure as they say. What I am saying friends is that I have to take my truck in for servicing today so that is what I am going to do right off the bat. And, then I can relax, but not until. It is supposed to be sunny for a couple of days so that should cheer everyone up of course.

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December is always a big month for me. First off, my dream girl has a birthday in the early part of the month so that means that we will have to clear up some space over on the main part of my blog and do an entry celebrating that event. This is just one of those birthdays that we do not miss and it is right up there enjoying the same kind of status as my very own birthday. And, of course there is always Christmas to look forward to as well. It is a happy month generally speaking and I really do like December. The other thing I kind of think about during this month is the general direction of the stock market. The end of December and the end of the year is always the time that I think about how my stock portfolio is coming along. As I mentioned in these pages there is every chance in the world that all of the losses from the devastating year of 2008 will be recovered. We shall see what we shall see.

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Also, I want to bring to your attention once again this one video of mine. The one below seems to be getting the most action and it looks like there is a visitor or so almost everyday. You may recall that I took a run with my car up to Squamish back in September and took a bunch of vids. I am hoping to get a visitor from all of the American states on this one. Here it is now and you can see all of my vids here:

My Videos

Talk to you all later and enjoy the sunny days because that is what I will be doing.

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