This entry is part of the Rice Bowl Journals Collaboration Project for July. The idea is to post a review of your experiences during the first half of the current year. So, here goes…

It’s interesting how, when a lot goes on within a given time, one doesn’t remember as much. Too much information coming in, perhaps? Information overload? Read more

Earthquake rocks Los Angeles!

I was actually at home practicing the piano when I felt a tremor and jolt! But, since I was so deep in concentration with playing piano, I felt something but thought I was just imagining things. So, it turned out there was an earthquake after all…

Whoa! This young drummer from New Zealand is amazing. For a 16 year old he’s got all the right chops from brushes to sticks, funk, latin grooves, double-bass drumming and amazing stick flipping… his drum solo recorded “live” at the Tauranga National Jazz Festival in New Zealand.

The other day my wife and I went to Whole Foods, and on the way we saw the police arresting this homeless man, who was obviously drunk. It looked like they had just given him a sobriety test just before slapping the handcuffs on him. As he staggered around trying to maintain his balance, I realized that I had given this same homeless man some money before! Read more

On September 18 the Fed cut its target for the fed funds rate by 50 basis points (0.5 percentage points), from 5.25% to 4.75%. The move surprised many analysts who had been expecting a more modest cut of 25 basis points. For those versed in the Austrian theory of the business cycle, as developed by Ludwig von Mises, the aggressive Fed “stimulus” is ominous indeed. Not only will it pave the way for much higher price inflation than Americans have seen in decades, but it will also exacerbate what could be the worst recession in twenty-five years.

This bit of news was from late last year, which (back then) predicted a possible worst recession in 25 years scenario.

Since then, millions of Americans have lost their homes through foreclosures, we’ve seen gas prices climb to unimaginable heights, and inflation and higher prices on everything from food and entertainment to retail goods have taken its toll on the average consumer.

I was going to buy some arranged flowers for the home when I noticed that the price was twice as much compared to last years prices! Of course, gas? I don’t even wanna go their right now, it’s too depressing.

I’m no expert and I confess to not understanding what all the experts say, but everything sure as heck points to a Recession in 2008. And you can feel it in the air… everyone is bracing for it.

My wife is optimistic however, and believes everything will turn around towards the end of the year. And, was that my imagination? The gas prices fell by 10 cents or so? Hmm…

I intend to keep my chin up, and to roll with the punches…

I just got my phone bill from last month when I was away in the Philippines, and just about had a heart attack. Let’s just say, I could’ve bought a Macbook Air this month! Very sad…

Beware European Iphone roaming charges! A Miami resident recently took a short trip to France and used his iphone to check his email and send text messages. To his surprise upon his return he received a data usage bill to the tune of $4190.76!!!! His friends made this video for him using a scan of the ACTUAL bill. Next time u go on a trip to Europe, leave your Iphone at home!