Monday, November 24, 2008

Sunday, November 23, 2008

FDIC Insured Jet Memberships

 
Everybody's scared about their money getting vaporized...even the super-rich

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Conan guest..hilarious - "Everything's amazing and nobody's happy"

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Burn E - A side story from the movie Wall E

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Slumdog Millionaire

Well worth a watch

Friday, November 14, 2008

Bill Ackman on how to deal with GM, Fannie and Freddie

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Rotoscoping

"In Heartless, director Hype Williams uses a method called Rotoscoping. It’s an animation technique in which illustrators trace over live-action film movement and turn it into animation. Originally, pre-recorded films were projected onto frosted glass panels and re-drawn by an animator, but now it’s all computers. This technique allows animators to perfectly emulate a character’s idiosyncrasies, even someone as complex and nuanced as Kanye West! " - Complex


Other examples of rotoscoping:



Link: http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/11/07/how-kanye-made-the-heartless-video/

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Largest Bankruptcies

CompanyBankruptcy DateTotal Assets Pre-BankruptcyTotal assets pre-bankruptcy in 2007 US dollars[6]Filing Court District
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.2008-09-15$639,063,000,000 ?NY-S
Washington Mutual2008-09-26$327,913,000,000 ?DE
Worldcom Inc.2002-07-21$103,914,000,000FY2007 US$119,716,589,862NY-S
Enron Corp.*2001-02-12$63,392,000,000FY2007 US$74,229,508,197NY-S
Conseco, Inc.2002-12-18$61,392,000,000FY2007 US$70,728,110,599IL-N
Texaco, Inc.1987-04-12$35,892,000,000FY2007 US$62,638,743,455NY-S
Financial Corp. of America1988-09-09$33,864,000,000FY2007 US$57,010,101,010CA-C
Refco Inc.2005-10-17$33,333,172,000FY2007 US$35,385,532,909NY-S
Global Crossing Ltd.2002-01-28$30,185,000,000 ?NY-S
Pacific Gas and Electric Co.2001-04-06$29,770,000,000Fy2007 US$34,859,484,778CA-N
UAL Corp.2002-12-09$25,197,000,000 ?IL-N
Delta Air Lines, Inc.2005-09-14$21,801,000,000 ?NY-S
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapter_11,_Title_11,_United_States_Code

Women might take over America

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2008/11/girl-power-females-dominate-higher.html

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Love This...Heartless Video


Heartless from kwest on Vimeo.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

I.O.U.S.A.

A 30-minute short version of the full movie that details the potential consequences of the US debt. Target audience is an average American.

Nanoscaffolding - US Military Regrows Limbs and Organs

"The technology works by placing a very fine apparatus called a scaffold, which is made of polymer fibres hundreds of times finer than a human hair, in place of a missing limb or damaged organ. The scaffold acts as a guide for cells to grab onto so they can begin to rebuild missing bones and tissue. The tissue grows through tiny holes in the scaffold, in the same way a vine snakes its way up a trellis."


Link to Article 

Friday, November 7, 2008

Riding Dirty




Ten flips and a completely torn up shoulder later...worth it?

Thursday, November 6, 2008

AHH! My beloved home state..

from Calculatedrisk.blogspot.com:

"As the California recession deepens, the state is facing an enormous budget deficit ... 

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a plan today for a steep sales tax increase, new levies on alcoholic drinks and the oil industry, and deep cuts in services to wipe out a budget shortfall that is expected to swell to more than $24 billion by the middle of 2010.

The linchpin of the plan is the sales tax increase of 1 1/2 cents on the dollar, which could raise $10.8 billion through fiscal 2009-10. ...

The governor also wants a number of significant spending reductions, including cuts of $2.5 billion from schools and community colleges.
This proposal would push the LA sales tax rate to 10.25% - Yikes!

Tax increases and budget cuts during a recession usually just make the recession worse. My guess is the next stimulus plan from the U.S. government will include some relief for state and local governments."

Monday, November 3, 2008

Historical Top Bracket Tax Rates

Historical rates (married couples, filing jointly)

Table

Tax yearTop marginal
tax rate (%)
Top marginal
tax rate (%) on
earned income,
if different<1>
Taxable
income over--
19137 500,000
19147 500,000
19157 500,000
191615 2,000,000
191767 2,000,000
191877 1,000,000
191973 1,000,000
192073 1,000,000
192173 1,000,000
192258 200,000
192343.5 200,000
192446 500,000
192525 100,000
192625 100,000
192725 100,000
192825 100,000
192924 100,000
193025 100,000
193125 100,000
193263 1,000,000
193363 1,000,000
193463 1,000,000
193563 1,000,000
193679 5,000,000
193779 5,000,000
193879 5,000,000
193979 5,000,000
194081.1 5,000,000
194181 5,000,000
194288 200,000
194388 200,000
194494 <2> 200,000
194594 <2> 200,000
194686.45 <3> 200,000
194786.45 <3> 200,000
194882.13 <4> 400,000
194982.13 <4> 400,000
195084.36 400,000
195191 <5> 400,000
195292 <6> 400,000
195392 <6> 400,000
195491 <7> 400,000
195591 <7> 400,000
195691 <7> 400,000
195791 <7> 400,000
195891 <7> 400,000
195991 <7> 400,000
196091 <7> 400,000
196191 <7> 400,000
196291 <7> 400,000
196391 <7> 400,000
196477 400,000
196570 200,000
196670 200,000
196770 200,000
196875.25 200,000
196977 200,000
197071.75 200,000
19717060200,000
19727050200,000
19737050200,000
19747050200,000
19757050200,000
19767050200,000
19777050203,200
19787050203,200
19797050215,400
19807050215,400
198169.12550215,400
198250 85,600
198350 109,400
198450 162,400
198550 169,020
198650 175,250
198738.5 90,000
198828 <8> 29,750 <8>
198928 <8> 30,950 <8>
199028 <8> 32,450 <8>
199131 82,150
199231 86,500
199339.6 89,150
199439.6 250,000
199539.6 256,500
199639.6 263,750
199739.6 271,050
199839.6 278,450
199939.6 283,150
200039.6 288,350
200139.1 297,350
200238.6 307,050
200335 311,950