March 31, 2009

Today on Ankarlo Mornings:  Ankarlo is having a problem with the IRS.  It turns out, he owes them some money and they have not been nice to him.  He says this is a microcosm of what’s wrong with America.

Also, because Arizona’s budget is coming up short several non-violent offenders might be released from jail.  Is this the best idea?

We the People

The preamble to the Constitution:

“We the people of the United States, in Order to a form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Prosperity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Just a reminder.

IRS Bedtime Story

Last year I bought a wonderful little house that overlooks some of the Valley’s most beautiful hills.  The price had already dropped so I felt the money I would sink into it would be worth it so we took the plunge.  I moved money from an IRA based on advice from my financial advisor.  Boy, did I make a mistake!  Nope, not on the house, I still love it!  But my guru, who promised to hold our hands as we made some sophisticated moves has earned me the chance to hear from the Gestapo of the USA, better known as the IRS.  Seems they want to put a levy on everything I own and everything I make.  How nice.  And my money-man—he hasn’t answered a single call.  I’ve promised to be transparent with Ankarlo Mornings so I’ll share the good and the bad stuff with you and I’ll start with IRS agent Hyde who could easily get a job in a slasher psycho film if this government work doesn’t pan out.  You think times are ugly for you right now, and for many they are—wait til you hear my bed time story.  It’s best to hear it with Vodka in one hand and pills in the other.  Okay, I’m kidding about that last part—sort of.

March 30, 2009

Today on Ankarlo Mornings:  Ankarlo is back after a short vacation aboard the USS Nimitz.  He tells us a few stories.

Also, he is growing more and more concerned about the state of the country.  He feels the politicians are disconnected from the everyday lives of the regular people.  And that was evident when President Obama had the GM CEO step down in order to receive more bailout money.  It’s time we send Washington a message.

Ankarlo on the USS Nimitz

Watch a Naval jet take off from the USS Nimitz.  Video by Ankarlo.

Ankarlo on the USS Nimitz

While Ankarlo was on vacation, he took a trip on the USS Nimitz out in the Pacific Ocean.  Here’s a look at some of his adventure:

 

Click “read the story” to view more pictures.

Ankarlo Back

Ankarlo is back from vacation today.  He spend some time on a U.S. Naval Carrier while he was away…details on his adventure between 8:30 and Noon. 

Front Row Seat

General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner is no more.  To most of us, this bit of news won’t change a thing—after all, we didn’t know the guy personally.  32 years with GM, he arranged one of the most far-reaching union agreements ever—an agreement that has saved the companies millions.  He closed under-producing plants, trimmed the man- power by almost half and demanded that General Motors vehicles return to the quality oriented leaders of yesteryear.  By most analysts accounts, the guy has done a decent job.So, why after three decades is he gone?  Those who watch the automobile industry call it “political theatre.”  As soon as the federal government put money into the mix and our president decided he should call the shots—even in private enterprise, Mr. Wagoner’s days were numbered.Grant it, GM has lost a lot of money in recent years–$82 billion in the last four alone but he saw the issues coming and had already made moves to fix them.  And, if he has to go, shouldn’t the president fire a bunch of other leaders in private companies?  After all, they’ve lost a lot of cash too and if this is all for political grand standing, wouldn’t it be really smart to appease all of us who wield pitchforks and torches by firing the whole lot?The analysts are right, this is political theatre and we’ve bought front-row tickets to watch and watch we will, as the federal government goes where it should never have gone in the first place.

Facebook Reality?

One Trillion Dollars

Ankarlo is on vacation this week.  Jim Sharpe is in. 

For some reason everytime I hear “one trillion dollars” I can’t help but thinking of Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movies.  I know he doesn’t ask for a trillion, but it seems like a joke when our Federal government mentions a trillion here and a trillion there.  Spooky.  But, in case you were wondering how much a billion dollars looks like compared to a trillion dollars you can click here.  These are stacks of $100 bills.

$1 billion

$1 trillion

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