New Mexico Matt

Video of the tornados

2007-05-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

Another view of the Tornado

2007-05-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

Here is another view of the tornado kicking up dust in the desert.

Second Tornado Forming

2007-05-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

A second tornado across the street that never really took shape.

Tornados in Southern New Mexico

2007-05-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

A tornado several miles from my place of work

As I was driving to work from class yesterday afternoon during a bit of a thunderstorm, I saw something a bit odd. I noticed a bit of a cone shape protruding from a large swirling grey cloud just ahead. I have often seen odd cloud formations, but the definate shape to this one had an ominous feel. As I pulled into the parking lot, it became quite obvious by the dust kicking up from the ground below what I was observing: a tornado. The tornado lasted about a half hour or so and came within two miles of where I work.

To make things more ominous, just across the street some dust began to swirl, much like a dust devil. The only difference being the long thin white funnel decending from the clouds. Thankfully, that formation really never took shape.

Apparently New Mexico averages about nine tornados per year, though most of them in the Eastern part of the state.

One way to earn 6000 frequent flier miles

2007-04-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago I had a real financial shock. I got a notice in the mail from my Citi AAdvantage credit card stating that there was suspicious activity on my card. I've gotten those notices before, and I didn't think much of it. I had just taken a road trip to Seattle and used the card for gas purchases along the way - just the kind of thing that the security algorithms at Citi might find suspicious.

You can imagine my horror, then, when I logged onto the website and saw $6000 plus charges made in Jerusalem of all places. I immediately called the card hotline and reported the fraud. They cancelled my card (sent me a new one of course - right away), and sent me a security affidavit to fill out. I swore in the presence of a notary public that I did not authorize the charges and returned the document. They cancelled all the charges on my next statement and reimbursed me for the foreign exchange, over the limit and interest charges. I came out of the deal owing nothing. And as an added bonus, wouldn't you know, they never uncredited the 6000 frequent flier miles that posted to my AAdvantage account - miles that put me at a total of 62,000, which is enough for a free trip to Europe.

Spaceport Tax

2007-04-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

It looks like the Spaceport tax will barely pass. It could go the other way, but 204 votes is a lot to pick up when there are only 541 out there. So barring an unknown error that might be revealed during a recount, Dona Ana county should pony up its share of the funds for the Spaceport America.

I voted for the measure. If you ask me, 25 cents per 100 dollars is not a lot to spend for the possibility of bringing in an entire new industry to the area, a growth industry at that. I'm also not convinced that the Spaceport would have a significant negative impact on the environment. If anything, having significant commercial space traffic might provide an additional economic incentive to prevent development of the government owned land in the area.

Moderation and Self-monitoring

2007-03-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

I've found budgeting to be similar to other self-improvement tasks such as eating healthy and working out. The key, I believe, is to set realistic goals and monitor your progress. Too often I have had an overly optimistic budget or have tried to loose weight too fast. In both cases, I inevitably have failed. I have found success with budgeting, by first monitoring what I'm actually spending. Once I have that information, I have been able to reduce my spending in certain areas in order to keep the money going out less than the money coming in.

As far as loosing weight, I've found some software that has worked: Dietpower. It keeps me eating the right amount of calories based on my weight and prior calorie consumption. The key, for me, has been to set a long time period to loose the weight. I'm currently trying to loose an additional 30 pounds through December. I've already lost 15.

I've developed a workout program using this website. They advocate a low volume progressive intensity program, which is a wordy way of saying "moderation." My problem in the past is I have over done it and then given up after a month or two. I've been going strong for three months now. We'll see how I do going forward.

So when it comes to budgeting, I've done the same thing. I'll budget 30 dollars a month on Starbucks-priced coffee, though I tend to get my coffee here at Milagro Coffee y Espresso. If I don't budget it, I'll either spend it anyway and blow my budget or I'll feel like I'm being deprived and give up on the budget idea all together. By being realistic and having moderation when it comes to depriving myself of wants, I give myself a better chance of success in the long run.

My Bataan Memorial Death March

2007-03-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

Each year White Sands Missile Range hosts a marathon length march in commemoration of the Bataan Death March. I had hoped to participate this year, however I didn't feel comfortable with the amount of training I've done. The longest hike I had taken in months was about five miles or so. Also the fact that I spent a good amount of money this month for tickets to the WAC tournament (go Aggies!) meant that I had nothing in my budget for the entry fee. Next year I hope to be in better shape and plan it in advance.

I decided to do my own Death March this weekend by hiking the full length twice (crossing the pass and back) of the Baylor Canyon Trail in the Organ Mountains. That worked out to about 10.8 miles with a significant altitude change.

This is what I mean by open spaces.

Buying a House, Taxes and Gratitude

2007-03-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

I've really enjoyed reading the blog Ask Uncle Bill. I like his optimistic attitude and his no non-sense approach to investing. He is obviously quite generous in freely sharing the wisdom gained through experience. And now comes the "but"... But I had what I'll say is a lukewarm reception to the article about saving money on buying a house. Specifically I was a bit concerned about suggestion 2:

2-There are always people in trouble and trouble usually means divorce, loss of job, or transfer. We found all three in our house search and in one house. People in trouble need to get out of trouble and pricing suffers accordingly, for them but in favor of you.

Maybe it's because I'm someone who has some experience with financial and personal trouble that I find it a bit disconcerting to take advantage financially of someone else's trouble. It reminded me for some reason of the famous Wallstreet Journal Article about Lucky Duckies. Lucky Duckies are people who benefit from exemptions targeted for low income individuals and therefore pay little or no federal income tax. It's amazing to me how money can make people loose perspective so quickly. It's as if the higher your income becomes the more obsessed you become with taxes and taking home every last cent.

I've been told that as I become more financially secure, my perspective on taxes will change. It really hasn't yet. I'm now in the 25% tax bracket myself, but I started out as one of the Lucky Duckies. I had a difficult time making ends meet and resorted to things such as selling blood plasma to pay the bills. Sure I tend to support lower taxes in general. In that sense I'm a Richardson Democrat. However I certainly don't resent having to pay higher taxes than I did five to ten years ago, and I feel much more like a Lucky Ducky today. The fact that I am likely to buy my first house in the next few years makes me feel only luckier.

Perhaps getting a good deal on a house is only sound business. However I think what both these writers are displaying is a lack of gratitude. My suggestion would be to buy the house that you can afford without trying to take advantage of someone's situation. And next time you jump a tax bracket, just smile, pay your taxes and be grateful that you have the money to do it.

It's the little things that kill: when it comes to investing the little things are fees

2007-03-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

I recently switched employers. Most people nowdays do that probably at least once a decade. In the government contracting world, it tends to occur even more often. What a new employer means, of course, is a new roster of benefits. I went from three weeks of vacation a year to two weeks. I had an upgrade in health insurance by moving to Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico. Finally I switched from a 401k to a SIMPLE IRA.

After filling out about five or so forms requesting my address and other personal information I was given a roster of about 20 mutual funds from which to select. No information regarding fees, loads, or anything like that, just 20 names such as AIM Small Cap Growth or Fidelity Advisor Opportunities. I scanned the choices for anything with the word Index. Nothing. 20 choices and not one index fund. I made some selections, figuring I could always research and adjust later, and turned in the form.

What my research has revealed is fees, fees and more fees. There were some no load funds, sure, but the lowest fees on the funds are in the range of 1 to 1.5 percent. On top of that, the account provider itself has a 5.75% load to pay for such things as maintaining their website, letting you day trade across their roster of funds and most importantly marketing themselves to other small businesses.

I like the SIMPLE IRA. The 3% match is an improvement over my previous employer's 2.5% in the 401k. I like the fact that you are vested 100% right off the bat. But would it kill to have an index fund for those of us who came from the Vanguard school of thought on investing? I try to be opstimistic, but I also like to play the odds. Give me an investment approach that has historically outperformed 8 out of 10 funds anyday, especially if it is the simpler choice.