The MoJo

HABERDASHERY

2009-12-02T15:23:00.000-08:00

Do Shoes Make the Man?

I dunno, but they damn well make a man look put together. What is it about that polished look on the feet that can transform a seemingly mudane outfit i.e. jeans & t-shirt into something presentable when coupled with a pair of polished boots. ?

I must admit, lately I have been lusting for a pair of leather shoes, and not just any leather brogues but a particular pair of a fine brown patina. The fit and finish being the culmination of a leather process put in practice by tanneries for centuries. With that we leave it to the fine shoe cobblers with storied histories, that shape and mold that leather into a final product that we wear for hours on end.

Shoes by Crockett & Jones, or Cordovan leather cobbled by the fine bootsmen at Alden, or some late British Lancer inspired oxfords by Barker Black. These are the shoes that men should wear, not something glued together by two something year olds just prior to nap time.

So for now, I'm focusing on a pair of do it all's, and quite possibly it will be the Archdales by Barker Black while mortgaging the rest of my body parts for a pair of the corodovan shell chukka boots in black by Alden. I'll be able to sport the boots both at the office or dressed down with a pair of indigo jeans and and anything comfortable up top.

So this is what I will be getting- The Alden Chukka Boot made in Shell Cordovan

Please get some for yourself, and don't forget to shine those puppies once in a while to keep the new shoe polish and sheen going for a lifetime. For helpful hints on how to properly shine your shoes, look no further than the good old U.S. military for advice and tips to keep any leather foot wear in good looking shape.

Old Fashion Spit Shine Video

Change is good for this nations MoJo

2008-06-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

Change can Happen

In an historic moment, Senator Barack Obama clenched the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination. Obama did what seemingly was impossible. He showed the nation, Democratic party leaders and hopeful that the right message could rise above the petty arguments that have befalling the democratic party in the past.

It what arguably could be the biggest upset by an underdog in the Democratic primaries, Obama showed why his change was the right change for this nations in our current times. Now we look to the future and time where we can begin repairing tears left open by the current administration.

After not conceding an inch throughout the campaign, Senator Hillary Clinton is yet undecided as to her actions for the future. She will be consulting with party leaders and those in tune with the parties direction as to what possible steps can be taken to unify the party ahead of the primaries.

Party hopefuls will now focus on the future and in shaping the parties message ahead of the November vote.

The Mojo's Own E63

2008-05-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

Mercedes E63 AMG Review
By Jay ShoemakerNovember 7, 2006 - 86,105 Views

OK, I admit it: I’ve consumed way too much AMG Kool Aid. I own multiple sets of the Mercedes tuner’s black license plate frames and key rings, an AMG logo-shirt, a cashmere V-neck sweater, half a dozen hats, a pair of driving shoes, a winter coat and a limited edition AMG watch. I would have more of their stuff, but recently I was introduced to a gentleman from Italy who spied the AMG logo on the back of my car and pronounced it, “Eye-Em-Gay,” and that sort of cooled me off. And then I drove the E63 AMG.
Even before I saw it, the E63 AMG had a mountain to climb. The new car has been roundly criticized by owners of the previous generation uber-E for offering less torque than their 5.5-liter supercharged V8 (465 vs. 516 ft.-lbs.). Without a doubt, the stupidly powerful E55 AMG was a giggle, particularly with the traction control turned off. But modulating the throttle from initial tip-in without whipsawing the heads of your passengers was a challenge. The flabby steering made cornering automotive Marco Polo. The electronic brakes were grabby. The E55 AMG was basically fun for the first few drag races, and then the cacophony of brake squeal and supercharger whine wore thin. So, you ask, how’s the new E63 AMG?
The E63 is the best machine ever (so far?) produced by the house of AMG. And boy, does it look it. Merc’s uber tuners have fitted the standard E with more aggressive lower bodywork all ‘round, a small trunk lip spoiler, more aerodynamic (i.e. autobahn friendly) side mirrors and four fat chromed tailpipes. The mad Merc hunkers down on five-spoke eighteen inch AMG wheels revealing massive binders beneath. OK, maybe the two gill slits behind the front bumper are a bit much. And I fear the “6.3 AMG” logos may become something of an embarrassment. Even though it’s not exactly a Q-ship, the E63 is perfectly positioned on the tasty side of obnoxious.
The E63’s interior also offers some delicious new flourishes. The steering wheel has an organic shape that seduces you into grasping it at the optimal 10 and 2 positions; including perforated leather at the optimal grips points. The paddle shifters peeking out from behind the helm’s fat rim are heavy gauge aluminum invitations to adrenal exuberance. Wherever thick Napa leather isn’t liberally applied, Alcantara supplants, including a lovely little piece at the front of the transmission stalk. The seats are massively bolstered with an incredible range of adjustment, comfort headrests and the Mt. Everest of lumbar support. Aluminum and black pedals complete the pseudo-racer treatment.
Once underway, it’s entirely possible to drive your spouse around town like a normal E350 kind of guy (providing your better half's deaf to low frequency burbling). As long as BMW keeps sticking the macabre SMG transmission in their M cars, lazy (if speed-crazed) well-to-do old guys like me will continue to flock to AMG to enjoy Mercedes’ mocha latte smooth seven speed transmission. The E63’s new steering and brakes are also magnificent, and not just in comparison to the old car. Though turn-in is not Porsche precise, you now know exactly where the car’s front tire are at all times. The brakes are as fearsome as before, now with added feel, precise bite and silent running.
Pull the trigger and the E63’s exhaust note is positively Wagnerian– only this is one opera I can sit through. Admittedly, the new car is somewhat less entertaining from rest than the old 5.5-liter, lacking that final measure of unbridled aggression. But it’s much smoother. If you set aside bragging rights, the ultimate performance differential between the two machines is not relevant in real world driving; you are guaranteed to run out of road and license well before the E63 runs out of breath. We’re talking about a four-door luxury automobile that makes the zero to sixty sprint in less than 4.5 seconds, and you’re complaining?
The E63’s handling is on another level entirely; it’s the best I’ve experienced from any vehicle in the Mercedes line. The car corners flatly and briskly, completely belying the gravitation effects of the sedan’s weight (4063 lbs.) and size (16” from top to tail). Only the tightest radii remind you of its mass. Despite the suspension’s high cornering capabilities, the ride quality is no worse than the E550 with the sport package: firm and communicative at level two on the adjustable Airmatic DC suspension, and plush at the normal setting.
The price for all this E63 virtuosity: $84k, the usual AMG parachute-style depreciation and 14mpg in the city (less when used in anger). If you can afford it, pay it. You can’t take it with you. And if you can, if you’re driving this mean machine, they’ll never catch you.

Homebuilders or Construction-- Think about it

2008-03-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

Why not take a longer term look at a market known for its cyclical nature? Real estate and the subsidiary businesses it creates- Buy at the bottom when all the money chasers are scrambling over each other to exit positions and sit on an industry (REITS) whose dividend payments could come in at less than your marginal tax rate. Saving on taxes is very MoJo.

Back in December and over breakfast, my good buddy over at http://gluxe.blogspot.com/ was taking the contrarion view that home builders and construction stocks presented good longer term value for the investor looking to sit pretty in the years ahead. With the recent roller coaster of a ride we call our equity markets recently I've found that maybe he was on to something. Check out the following piece from www.seekingalpha.com

Homebuilders ETFs iShares Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction Index Fund ETF (ITB) SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB)
Construction Industry ETFs PowerShares Dynamic Building & Construction Portfolio ETF (PKB)
What Are They?
Homebuilders and Construction ETFs are exchange-traded funds that focus on homebuilder stocks or stocks broadly related to construction. Neither are an "industry" according to most classifications, so these ETFs are generally not part of the families of primary sector ETFs.
Why & How To Use Them

Since homebuilding and construction are sub-sectors rather than sectors, these ETFs are most suitable for investors who desire concentrated exposure to those groups of stocks. They're not suitable for investors looking to build diversfied portfolios using sector ETFs.

What to Look Out For
Homebuilders and construction are different, and should not be confused with each other. Construction stocks, such as Caterpiller (CAT) which provides construction machinery, have exposure to international markets, whereas homebuilders tend to be entirely US-based. And construction stocks benefit from commercial and government building, not just the housing market.

Most of these ETFs are market cap weighted index funds. However, PowerShares offers a "dynamic" ETF that selects stocks based on rules which are not revealed to investors in the fund. Use it instead of a regular index ETF if you believe that quantitative, rules-based stock selection will outperform a market cap weighted index.
Narrower ETFs, such as these, tend to have higher expense ratios than the ETFs which track broad indexes such as the S&P 500.

Further Reading
Homebuilding and construction are sub-sectors; here's a list of primary US sector ETFs.
On the difference between PowerShares Dynamic Building & Construction Portfolio ETF and the others, see Homebuilders vs. Construction ETFs.
For a cautious view of real estate related ETFs, see Richard Kang's Beware New Real Estate Investment Products.

For discussion of ETFs and their relationship to house prices, see: Looking To Short Real Estate Via ETFs, John Bethel's James Grant's Investment Strategies for the Housing Predicament, and Geoff Considine's Investing in Real Estate: REITs and Your Home.
As a hedge against house prices, consider also Real Estate [REIT] ETFs.

This page is part of The Seeking Alpha ETF Selector which sorts ETFs by type, highlights how to use them and what to look out for, and provides links to articles that discuss key issues for investors.

Real Estate Bottom? Think Again

2008-03-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

Housing isn't there yet:

Still waiting to get in the real estate game? Maybe that first home purchase, or a move up to a bigger home, even a smaller one- Well time is still on your side if you have been on the sidelines according to industry pundits.

Ducatistas have Mojo

2008-03-04T16:36:00.000-08:00

Ducati Corse

1. Red is Sexy

2. Italian women are sexy

3. Speed is sexy

4. Sexiness is indistinguishable from MoJo

Nothing gets the the adrenaline for us here at The MoJo going more than the roar of the Ducati GP bike with open throttle going full tilt down a front straight. Go on, see for yourself why many have fallen victim to the allure of the racetrack and the sound of racing at this years Laguna Seca Moto GP event.

Need More well check out some reviews of the omnipotent new Ducato 1098R

Kevin Ash-Over at the Telegraph tells about his experience

Jeremy McWill on the intricacies of Ducati Traction Control

Ducati's new 1098R is the closest thing to the Italian race factories World Superbike podium chaser. With Troy Bayliss aboard this bike is posed to win 2008's WSBK championship. To read more click on the pic.

The MoJo says:

Go on 'get ya sexy on' and get some MoJo back.

The MoJo- Ya either got it or don't

2008-03-04T15:11:00.000-08:00

Mojo- You see Websters Dictionary states that mojo is some African medicine man; and well we all know that mojo goes beyond the medicine man hysterics and disgusting intestinal innards of a reptile to something more tangible that we can sense and feel.

Mojo is that magical element of gumption that you can feel is there---"Like a fat wad of cash in your pocket that you can reach down and grab"-AD.

Here at The Mojo, we are concerned with keeping Mojo alive and well in all of us. I know, that can mean alot of things to each of us, but if you know what it means and how it feels when its working for you then you understand how important it is to keep it in all aspects of our lives whether it be: relationships, work, investments, school, competition, etc,.

So to each and everyone of you, I wish you all the mojo you can get.

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