Hello everyone, Happy Friday! It’s a lovely Friday here in Farrahzona. The sun is shining bright, the birds are chirping sweetly, and I almost rearended a Honda with an Obama bumper sticker this morning. What’s not to love about this day?

This is also the Lenten season, and the second Friday Challenge will mirror my own sacrifices. I challenge you, dear Farrahzona citizens, to give up caffeine beverages this Friday. No coffee (even decaf), no EVIL Diet Coke, no tea.

Are you up for the challenge?

What could possibly make me move to a Blue State?

Aaron Schock

Goodness, how did I miss him during the convention? Sure like to see more of him… Wonder if he reads the Man Blog?

There are some interesting things out on The Internets. I read random blogs. I will eventually update my blogroll, if y’all promise not to run away screaming. Some of them are um, alternative. That’s putting it mildly.

Anyway. I want to share one of my favorite daily reads, with all ten of my readers: The Art Of Manliness.

Or Man Blog as I call it. It’s a primer on how to live life like a manly man. I’m clearly not a manly man, but there useful lessons women can take away from the blog as well (like how to start a fire with out matches - never know when it will come in handy ladies).

And at the risk of being pegged a total chick - the Man Blog gives me hope that real men, manly men still exist somewhere out there. Just need to find me one.

With posts like How To Shave Like Your Grandpa and The Mechanics of The Man Hug (with pics!) how could you not totally heart the Man Blog?

The Inaugural Poem isn’t selling, but Atlas Shrugged is.

It’s my favorite book, and I’ve read it at least ten times over the years. It truly changed how I live my life. I’m currently listening to the audio book version on my commute. It’s excellent.

Can’t imagine why its popularity is increasing these days. I’m stumped. Oh well. Who is John Galt?

(hat tip to Malkin)

I need a change of pace. I can’t talk about finance and economics my entire waking day, every day. I’m getting burned out. So I want to stir things up a bit, talk about something totally different.

Inspired by this story, I’d like to ask…..

Why is prostitution illegal?

(Copied from my comment below.)

I have sex with someone and it’s all good.

I have sex with someone and he (or she, I don’t judge) leaves me $500 for my time and talent all of a sudden we’re criminals?

Very same act, only difference is cash changed hands. Why does the exchange of cash make a criminal?

Discuss.

Advance copies of The One’s big speech tonight are floating around the internets. I don’t have time to read it right now. Besides, I like listening to these things live anyway. I find I comprehend complex subjects better when I’m not distracted by pretty pictures or shiny metal objects.

I want to leave you with something to think about while The One delivers his sermon on The Hill. It’s my screen saver at the office, it’s what I have written on a sticky note taped to my two monitors so it’s in my mind every moment I spend helping EVIL rich people minimize their tax burden. It’s something I know to be true, something I’ve witnessed first hand.

“The power to tax involves the power to destroy.” - Chief Justice John Marshall, McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819.

Remember that when you listen to The One lay out his big plans for the country.

….because I this looks like good, clean fun.

Of course, someone has to make the money for The One to take and spread around so others behind me can have a chance at success too.

(hat tip: RedState)

… why can’t I find two qualified people to hire for my staff?

I’ve been looking for people since before Christmas. The quality candidates have jobs they’re happy with. I’ve seen one candidate I wanted to hire, and he was snapped up by some other firm very quickly. Since then, all I’ve seen are the less than desirable candidates.

So where are the 500 Million of unemployed every month? I only want two.

Overhead at the bank about twenty minutes ago:

Less Than Intelligent Bank Customer:   “Before I ask how to fix my problem, I have to tell you I don’t want this reported.”

My Most Awesome Banker conspiratorially whispering to me as she was wrapping up my business:   “If it wasn’t reportable before, it’s sure as hell going to be reported now. Dumbass.”

Ladies and gentlemen, when you ask a representative of a bank not to report something, it is a requirement BY LAW that representative report it. So says my My Awesome Banker. The more you know…

This has been a Raising Farrahzona Public Service Announcement.

The One is set to announce his budget plans this week. I’m trying to say this without laughing…the focus is going to be on deficit reduction. After committing the country to 1 TRILLION DOLLARS in spending with the stroke of a pen, he’s all of a sudden concerned about deficits.

Anywhoo, the usual suspects are the target in his deficit reduction plan, the rich and the military. And if you believe the WaPo,  businesses.

Since The One has never run a business, I thought it might be helpful for him if I reminded him of a few, basic business principles. Feel free to add your own if you think it might help.

1. Businesses do not exist to provide jobs. They exist to make money for their owners. When costs they can’t avoid increase, like tax obligations, business owners look to eliminate costs they can avoid. Like payroll.
2. Business owners provide the capital, and expect a return on their investment. Interfere with either, and they’ll find other places to put their money.
3. No business with a good business model will commit to an annual, repeating fixed cost in exchange for a one time temporary tax credit.  Tax credits are generally seen as a bonus to a decision that was going to be made anyway. And if you keep in mind rule #1, a tax credit won’t encourage job growth. I think you might have gotten this message, but we shall see.
4. Fundamental to any industry in the private sector is equality of opportunity, not equality of results. Don’t believe me - then why isn’t AOL just as big as Google? The Google boys had the same opportunity as the AOL folks, they just did it better and the results reflect that. Punish a businessman’s ability to be better than his competitors, and all you’ll wind up with is a bunch of AOL’s. Businessmen won’t work hard if there’s no big payoff for their efforts. Settling for mediocrity isn’t exactly a payoff.
5. Businesses aren’t nameless, faceless entities that don’t think or feel or vote. They’re owned by people like me, run by people like me, and staffed by people like me. We understand when you attack and tax and impede “businesses” through your rules and regulations, you are doing so to us.
6. Businesses are the producers in this country. Governments are the parasites. We understand that, and we make our decisions accordingly. Do you?

To sum it up….your existence depends on our existence. Your success depends on our success. You might want to keep that in mind.