Economics
Small but telling developments today on my watch to see the Dow tank,

1. Oil rose to nearly $60 a barrel.
2. The Index of Leading Economic Indicators dropped more than expect in a year that hasn't seen the index rise at all (the only indicator that rose was the stock market). There's an interesting quote from the labor economist, Ken Goldstein, saying that the indicators suggest "slower growth setting in during the third quarter." and that it's "not just a domestic phenomenon." He noted that six of the eight countries for which the Conference Board monitors a leading economic index have either showed declines or slower growth. This is significant because I am suggesting that the coming stock market crash will be a result of a global economic slow down.
3. A major UK Hedge fund is closing its doors, Bailey Coates Asset Management LP. This fund used to manage over $1 billion. In April they lost 17% (probably due to the GM bond fluctuation) and lost 20% the first four months of 2005. Hedge funds don't close doors if they are profittable. Many reputable banks are running or participating heavily in hedge funds.

Technology Sux
Here's something that I can't quantify but I've given it some thought of late: technology just isn't cool anymore. Sure it's amazing, take a cell phones for example, we can call anybody from just about anywhere anytime but the buzz has worn off. Nowhere is this more evident than on a bus where people try to one-up everyone else by chattering incessantly into their co-workers voice mails.

There's not one gadget I can think of that I enjoy using. I've stopped totting my iPod around. I have no idea where it even is. If I don't use my cell phone all day, I'm happy. The sight of blue-toothed ear pods makes me cringe and "Crackberried" co-workers are on my shit list. I may be alone but I'm anticipating that general boredom will set in and en mass Americans will stop consuming iPods, cell phones, PDAs, etc. Gadgets that get rid of technology's imposition will continue to sell well. Here I am referring to the gadget that turns off TVs and the one that blocks cell reception.

Popskull
The band played a house party this weekend. It's been almost 20 years since I've played at a house party. I noticed a few changes:

• Girls no longer make out with me. This is probably due to that fact that a) I'm married b) they are married c) they didn't like our music d) I'm ugly
• The cops didn't come. At first I thought this was good now I'm not so sure. Were we not loud enough?
• People danced. They didn't slam dance, they boogied. I had never seen that before. I'm not talking about a lot of people dancing but there were a few. It was weird.
• Some lady asked if we were a punk band "you know like the Cure."
• Instead of playing to a crowd we played to a semi-empty room. The crowd was in the backyard drinking.
• A passed around joint got no takers.
• Instead of a keg and jello shots there was sushi (and lots of it).
• We got the biggest response when we started playing (as a joke) "Jessie's girl". We don't know the song however so by mid way we stopped. The two girls who were excited about the song left in disgust.
• We had a mist machine, lasers and light robots.
• People looked nice. They came to the party kind of dressed up. I'm used to people smelling badly.
• Our guitarist thanked people for "rocking out with us."
• I am much less self-conscious than I used to be when playing live. I am much more adept at spazing out than I was when I was 17.
  

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