How Can We Tell if a Stock Market Correction or Bear Market is Near?

 With stock markets at or near all-time highs, it is natural to begin considering when the next significant downturn will happen. 

Here are some thoughts on the topic.   I don't agree with everything said, but there are some very good points in these videos.  Take from them what you want!

"Permabear" Jeremy Grantham on Why Wall Street Won't Tell You

Sasha on What's Goin' On Right Now

Jamie Dimon on the World Right Now

My favorite investors are Warren Buffet,  Charlie Munger and Jack Bogle.  As I run across great videos of them, I will include them below.

Changes to Index Fund Inclusion Rules

 In or around May 2026, some index funds have made significant changes to how they determine what stocks to include in their indexes.

I am not real thrilled with these rule changes and it will likely affect which index funds I invest in going forward.  

In case you haven't heard about these changes,  watch a few of the videos below so you can make up your own mind.

Space X IPO and the S&P 500

Who Changed Rules Right Before SpaceX IPO

If I come across videos with additional info, I will add them below.

Where To Park Cash

 Let's discuss relatively safe places to park money.  By "relatively safe", I mean with low to no risk of significant decline in value and accessible for withdrawal within just a few days (under a week in most cases).

Most investors consider options such as savings accounts, CDs, US Treasuries and bonds.

Savings accounts can be accessed the fastest in most cases, but often don't offer returns that keep pace with inflation.

CDs typically offer higher returns, but usually still don't keep up with inflation.

Short-term US treasuries, aka t-bills, keep up with inflation but don't do much more than that.

Longer-term US treasuries can return more than inflation, but also come with higher risk of loss in value if you sell them before maturity or hold them in an ETF type of environment.

Investment-grade bonds offer even better returns but also come with a high risk of significant loss in value in some time periods - especially when interest rates are rising.

Note all of the thoughts above are my opinions and are not meant as advice to you - study publicly available information and reach your own conclusions.

Below are some good videos on the topic.

What are bonds?

Options on where to park cash.

I will add more videos below as I run across them.

Spring Concert at Escondido Center for the Arts

 Performed by San Marcos Woodland Park Middle School musicians

Symphonic Band Wings of Wonder written by Tyler S. Grant

Thawing written by Kazuki Shimoda

How to Train Your Dragon written by John Powell

Heroes of the Marvel Universe

Jazz Band Mamacita by Chris Sharp

Night in Tunisia by Dizzy Gillespie

Un Poco Mas by Paul Baker (watch confetti fall onto musician's head at end of song!)

Blue Note Special written by Mike Tomaro

AI and the Future of Software Development

 There sure is a lot of hand-wringing about the future of various careers due to the arrival of AI.  Since I am a software developer, I thought I'd share a few videos that I think give a pretty accurate picture of how AI will affect software developers.  If you want the details, watch the videos below.  If you just want the bottom line:  software developers will still exist and AI will help them,  move them into more big picture work, and relieve them of some of the more monotonous tasks...just like prior advancements did such as object-oriented programming, new computer languages, and graphics libraries.   It may be a bumpy ride, but we'll make it through to the other side!

Using Zaino to Protect Car Finish

 

Many moons ago, auto enthusiasts enlightened me on what products to use to maintain my car's exterior using the best products in terms of protection, durability, and producing a show car shine.

This process is centered around the Zaino family of products.  In a 2014 post, I described how to properly wash a car in this post.  That post also quickly described using Zaino.

But it didn't describe how to get started with Zaino on a car that hadn't been Zaino-ized before so I'm creating a new post today.

A. Preparing A Car For First Zaino Treatment

If the car does not have Zaino on it from a prior application,  washing the car will involve an extra step.  Wash the car with liquid Dawn dishwashing soap.  This will remove all prior waxes and polishes to give a solid base to start using Zaino.

Then thoroughly wash it a second time using the process described here (never use an automatic car wash!!!).

If this is the car's first Zaino treatment, use a clay bar and with water from a hose to remove sap and other impurities that may still be sticking to the paint.  Use of a clay bar is described here in Step 5.  Key note: NEVER rub the clay bar on the paint without water - it may scratch the paint if water is not used as a lubricant between the clay and the paint.  And remember to glide the clay over the paint gently - do not press down!

A clay bar can also be used in the future should the existing Zaino coat become contaminated with sap and other impurities again -  just start from scratch by using a Dawn wash, a regular wash, and then a clay bar.

Note I normally use Zaino's clay bar but any clay bar from the automotive section of a store should work just as well - this is good to know in cases where you don't have time to wait for a Zaino delivery.

With the surface of the car perfectly clean and dry from the above steps, it is time to apply the first Zaino product layer.

This initial layer will be Zaino Z-AIO (All In One).  If there is any residue still on the paint surface, Z-AIO will lift and remove it.  It will also smooth out minor paint flaws, restore dull and oxidized paint, and provide a excellent bonding surface for the Zaino coats to come in the steps below.

Use a cotton applicator as shown below to apply Z-AIO and remove it with a blonde towel once it has dried.  A little Z-AIO goes a long way!  An entire vehicle only needs about 1 ounce of Z-AIO.

NOTE:  Application of Z-AIO should be done in a shady area that is not windy such as a garage.  Temperature should be 6o to 90 degrees F - cooler temperatures will make the process take longer, hotter temperatures may make the product dry too fast.

This step is optional but if the car has fine scratches or swirl marks, a coat of Zaino Z-5 is recommended.

This provides an even smoother surface for the upcoming polish for additional shine, depth and clarity!

If the car's paint surface has quite a few imperfections,  multiple coats of Zaino Z-5 may be applied.

NOTE:  Application of Z-5 should be done in a shady area that is not windy such as a garage.  Temperature should be 6o to 90 degrees F - cooler temperatures will make the process take longer, hotter temperatures may make the product dry too fast.

B.  Applying The Zaino Polish

It is time!  The paint surface has been properly prepared in Step A above and is ready for Zaino Z-2!

I find that one bottle of Z-2 can be used to apply 2-3 coats to at least one vehicle and if used on small enough vehicles it may be enough for two vehicles.

NOTE:  Application of Z-2 should be done in a shady area that is not windy such as a garage.  Temperature should be 6o to 90 degrees F - cooler temperatures will make the process take longer, hotter temperatures may make the product dry too fast.

Use a cotton applicator such as the one shown here to apply the Zaino Z-2.  After thoroughly shaking the Z-2, squeeze a small bead of it on the paint of the vehicle.  Use the cotton applicator to spread the Z-2 out using swirling motions to cover all of the paint with a thin layer.

Now we wait!

Note Zaino sells white cotton applicators that work great.  But any cotton applicator made for vehicles will work.

Depending on the temperature, Z-2 may dry in 30 minutes (warmer temps) to 4 hours (cooler temps).  If running a finger over the Z-2 on the paint yields a white powder on your finger, the Z-2 is ready to be removed.

The Zaino Blonde Borderfree towels are my choice by far!  I keep many in my cabinet ready at all times - they are washable so they can be reused. 

Lightly run the towel over the Z-2 and remove all of the Z-2 residue - the paint should look fabulous after it is removed!  

I normally apply three coats of Z-2 to my cars to give very thorough protection to my paint.

If the car is garaged, these Z-2 layers should last at least 6 months and many times may last a complete year.  Cars that are kept outdoors overnight and during the day may require another coat in 3 to 6 months, depending on the severity of the outdoor conditions.

Now let's seal everything with Zaino Z-CS Clear Seal!  This final layer is applied and that's it - no buffing, no removal with a blonde towel, nothing!  Apply it and it's done!

Use a SEPERATE, DIFFERENT cotton applicator to lightly cover the entire painted surface with Z-CS and discard the applicator afterward.

A quarter-ounce of this product covers the entire car so use it sparingly!

Use of Z-CS will yield an incredible shine and increase the amount of time the Z-2 coats will last, ensuring maximum time elapses before the next time the car needs paint protection applied.

Highly recommended!

NOTE:  Application of Z-CS should be done in a shady area that is not windy such as a garage.  Temperature should be 6o to 90 degrees F.

And finally,  after allowing the Z-2 and Z-CS to dry for a few hours, use the Z-8 Grand Finale Spray Seal to enhance the shine and protect the other Zaino layers are providing.

This will keep the paint displaying an incredible deep, rich shine that is ultra-slick to the touch and ensures the paint is protected as long as possible.

Spray it on and immediately wipe it off with a cotton cloth.  That's all that is required!  And it smells great too!

If the Z-8 dries on the paint before it is wiped off, simply apply another coat of Z-8 and wipe it off quickly.

NOTE:  Application of Z-8 should be done in a shady area that is not windy such as a garage.  Temperature should be 6o to 90 degrees F, the cooler side is better than the warmer side with Z-8.

C. Maintaining that Zaino Shine and Protection.

Use Z-8 after each car wash to maintain that fabulous Zaino shine!

Every 6 months (if car is kept outside) or one year (if the car is garaged) repeat Step B.   If the car paint becomes contaminated with sap or other debris, go all the way back to Step A.  Typically, I only need to go back to Step A every 3-5 years on my garaged vehicles and every 1-2 years on my outdoor vehicles.

My 1970 Journal - Introduction

 

In 1970, I was given an assignment to write a journal / diary for 30 days.  I don't recall if the assignment was given to me in my fourth grade class or in cub scouts.

The photo to the right was taken within a month or two of my writing the journal.  The photo appears to be from a photo booth that were commonly found in downtown areas at the time.  They are kind of extinct now with the advent of cell phones.

In early 1970 when I wrote my journal, my family was living on Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) in North Dakota.  We lived there from mid-1966 to mid-1970.  I lived with my father, mother and sister who was two years younger than me.  I was 9 years old in early 1970 and attending fourth grade.

The following posts show each page of the journal and give a glimpse as to what each entry meant.   Some days were rather boring, but hang with it as there is some good info in some of the posts!  If you just read one day, read February 7th.

Enjoy.