Here I stand

Wow... Its been a while

2014-06-08T10:56:00.003-07:00

So I have noticed that it has been quite some time since my last post - there is no real excuse for this, and it ought to be remedied. A brief update on what I have been up to recently:

I just completed my second year as a Business Analyst with a Fortune 500 company, dealing with the business side of managed healthcare.

I graduated with my MBA from Cal-State Long Beach, with a concentration in finance.

I am still serving in the California Army National Guard.

I have been writing quite a bit in a new blog - The Gentleman & Scholar - which is where I am posting a lot of my more social and societal articles. Things like cigar reviews, gentlemen's fashion, wine, and whiskey, will all go there rather than in this blog.

In the mean time, this blog, Here I Stand, will be more focused on business, finance, current events, international relations, and similar subjects. More of a serious focus, but not without some charm.

Anyway, thank you for reading, and I certainly hope you will continue to do so!

~Marshall

Military Patches from WWI

2013-02-04T15:25:00.000-08:00

Little help in the Military History department: I recently received, among other items, these two patches from my mother – they are from World War I, and I am curious as to their origin. One is clearly British or Australian, but I am not sure which regiment or outfit it belongs to. Nearly every male in my family at the time went to the Army and fought in WWI, but family legend (possibly resulting from this patch) is that a great uncle went over before America’s involvement and served with the British. Preliminary research hasn’t yielded much as to identifying these two patches, so I figured I would turn to the internet to try and get some information. I know that there are quite a few subject matter experts out here, so I figured I would ask.

British or Australian insignia - anyone have any ideas?

Diamond "R" patch - White lettering and border, black or dark blue background. Any thoughts or information on this one?

Why the World Depends on the United States

2012-11-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

Why the world depends on the United States (and the national debt isn’t really THAT big of a deal)

There has been a lot of talk in this election year about how so much of our national debt is owned by China that we are now in their pocket. Couple that with the mountain of debt that we have racked up – trillions upon trillions of dollars, and many people, especially in the far right wing category, would have you believe that the country is doomed. Now I am not saying that the vast national debt is a good thing, or that we are spending so much more than we are bringing in is a acceptable, but in the grand scheme of world economics and politics, it is really not that big of a deal.

The truth of the matter is that the world depends on the United States – true, China and a few other global powers are gradually eroding that dependence, but it is still there. A basic understanding of global economics tells us that there is a subtle balance in the world of monetary policy and international trade. I have posted before about how a decreased value of the US Dollar could actually be a good thing for a struggling economy, as it invites more foreign investment – firms looking for good deals, and American imports seem less expensive. This is of course, temporary, as any major shift in pricing is, and will be balanced out as the wave of investment and exports gradually drive the price of the dollar back up. Anyway, I digress.

China is a world power for many reasons, but primary among this is their international economy. Who buys all of the stuff that they make? India, Brazil, Europe, yes, all of these countries, but mainly the international economy of China is supported by the United States. Our rampant consumerism drives the world economy. Our oil usage, rivaled only by China’s, keeps money flowing to a part of the world that has really no other resource. Our largest export is financial services – we manage the money of most of the world (shame on you for thinking it was Swiss bankers this whole time… it is actually on Wall Street, and commissions on almost all of those trades go to US pockets, and pay US taxes) China is investing in the US not because it wants to exert influence over us (it does, but no one really has that power beyond a few concessions that their presence on the UN Security council would have gotten them anyway) but because it has a vested interest in the United States, and in its continued success. No, they are not actively rooting for us, but neither do they want to see us fail. Global hegemony does not really benefit anyone, and no one but a naive and childish tyrant would seriously pursue anything like that. Fortunately, the only ones out there who might think it is a good idea really can’t do anything about it.

Everything in the world is based on the US Dollar. Sure, things may have appeared to have shifted to the Euro in recent years, but look where a lack of monetary policy and nationalized economic regulations have gotten them? Dropping continuously in value until the Euro is currently not much higher than the Dollar – that exchange rate is basically artificially inflated anyway, and only because the US really doesn’t feel like arguing the point.

And the US credit rating… who does the World Bank think they are downgrading us like that? The truth of the matter is that all commerce in the world is based on the idea that the United States will pay its debts. This downgrading is pure posturing on the part of an international body that only exists at the whim of the United States anyway. If the United States all of a sudden went bankrupt, or, more realistically, declared that it could not pay its debts, the global economy would see a major hiccup. No one would really know what to do, and the result would be a debt forgiveness on a massive scale just to keep the US afloat, and supporting the global economy.

There has been talk of China “Calling in their debts” or owning more land in the US than the US government. Both of these scenarios are preposterous. China and other countries make too much money off of our debt, and the major stock holder of the United States has and will always be, the American people. Look at the number of treasury bonds and government securities that are bought and sold on a daily basis. Some are, of course, bought by Chinese companies and investors, but the majority are purchased by private citizens of the US like you and me (typically through proxy’s like mutual funds, 401(k)s, managed pension plans, and the like) if, for some inexplicable reason, China were to say “okay, pay up” the United States can, and probably would, simply answer “no”… and without any real recourse or action that China could take. Sanctions would be ruinous for both our nations, and military action is so futile and out of the question it barely merits mentioning. The same goes for the Chinese government owning land in the US. It is an investment to them, not a proprietary issue. They do not own us, and we have not been mortgaged to China.

I apologize if this appears xenophobic. It is only meant to be truthful. If America fails, the world fails, and the market has a way of correcting itself to keep anything like that from happening.

Am I frustrated by rampant spending at the expense of future budgets and infrastructure? Absolutely! Do I think that we can go on hemorrhaging money the way we have without some recourse? Of course not! But neither do I fall in with the doom sayers, cynics, and partisan politicians who would have us believe that our country is in its death throes due to a national debt. We are able to continue borrowing money on the international scene because we are a good investment. The day that stops being the case is the day we have slipped so far that we are no longer a credible world power. In this dire situation, which under a worst case scenario, would be many terrible decisions and no sooner than several generations from now, we would be forced to work with what we have, using the resources of American ingenuity, worth ethic, and capitalist values to pick our country up by its boot straps and once again gain prominence. This would be a terrible and extremely painful situation, that would take years to recover from – maybe even a generation or so, but it would not destroy us. We would get through it and thrive once again. That is just how we do things.

Though it is certainly ill advised and a poor idea, borrowing and spending money we do not have will not destroy this country. The only thing that will do that is when we fail to produce, when we fail to show our worth as a nation, when we are no longer held in awe and esteem – because make no mistake, we are. Even by our enemies. When foreign powers stop lending us money and stop investing in our infrastructure; THAT is when we need to worry – not when we are extended a seemingly endless, and potentially foolish, line of credit by the world at large.

The world depends on the United States. It has for nearly a century. If we fail, the world fails. Both the great depression and our current recession have had an impact on a global scale that prove just that. Of course, there are rivalries, intrigues, plot twists, and manipulations galore, but ultimately, we are all in this together.

Bad Business Decision of the Day: Carl's Jr. CSU-Long Beach Student Union

2012-11-19T14:05:00.000-08:00

Bad Business Decision of the day: Carl’s Jr. CSU-LB Student Union

After work and before class the other day I went to Carl’s Jr. At school to grab a bite to eat. I ordered my food and asked for a small coke. The guy informs me that they are out of small cups, and they can only sell me a medium. Well, if they are out of small cups, through no fault of my own, should they not offer me a free upgrade? This seems logical, as it is clearly the responsibility of the establishment to provide what the customer wants, right? Apparently, this is incorrect. I was informed that the cashier cannot do that, as then they would be “losing money” on the deal, because clearly, the $.30 difference between the cost of a medium and the cost of a small eats too much into their profit margin. This makes sense… until you take into account that the profit margin on soft drinks is already ridiculously high, and one of the largest money makers for the fast food industry, and restaurants in general. There is typically a 5-600% markup on even a small coke. This is the reason many fast food joints put in self service soft drink fountains – it streamlines the business process enough that they are still turning hire profits by allowing their staff to concentrate on speed of service and food processing (which has a dismal margin of around 6-8%) keeping in mind the free refills that this offers, it still does not erode profits enough for it to be regulated or controlled at the local level.

The free refills are of note, as I would have received roughly the same amount of coke no matter what size I purchased or was issued. The question then becomes, am I willing to pay the marginal cost between the small and the medium, for a product that is already marked up and I am loathed to pay restaurant pricing for in the first place? The answer is no, no I am not. I take a water and leave. The cashier, and likely the manager as well, who instructed him to try and sell people medium drinks instead of the smalls they requested are being penny wise and pound foolish – they missed out on a sale of $1.69 in order to push a sale of $1.99. They are left with only the sale of the very low margin food, without the extremely high margin soft drink to augment it. Moreover, with the marginal rate difference between what I wanted and what they tried to sell me, and the loss of the sale, it will take six more sales of an inflated medium soft drink (meaning people who wanted a small, but are willing to pay extra for the medium… not people who are buying a medium anyway) in order to make up for my one lost sale. They completely missed the big picture on this, and in the extremely low margin world of fast food, losing sales can quickly be compounded.

Customer loyalty is one of the most important features in the restaurant industry – it is far cheaper to keep a customer than to create a new one. I am not saying that I will never eat at a Carl’s Jr. again, but I was a bit disappointed in the lack of customer care. I will admit that the amount of ownership, however misguided, exhibited by the employee was impressive, but when you set up shop on the campus of a highly rated business school, be prepared for critiques of your business.

Know your Suit!

2012-09-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

Know your suit! Peaked vs. Notched lapels

If you’re like most men, you pick your suit based on how it looks and how it fits. You know what you like, and you know what feels good, but that is about as far as many of us ever go. In truth, it is not necessary to know all of the how’s and they why’s and the what’s that go into the makeup of what you wear. After all, there are people who make a career out of worrying about this sort of thing so that you don’t have to. But remaining completely ignorant of what you put on your back is akin to knowing nothing about the car you drive. Unacceptable! Any self respecting man ought to be able to open his hood and explain the basics of how the internal combustion engine works. The same should be true for one’s attire.

I am not saying that a man should tailor his own cloths or know the ins and outs of bolts of cloth, but being able to tell a tailor what you want in how you dress will not only gain you a knowing smile and a nod, but also make the entire process of bespoke clothing far more enjoyable and simple.

Volumes could be written on the intricacies and nuances of a well cut suit. I will not bore you with such a tome. Instead, I’ll offer a few pieces of information to keep you informed, possibly adding on at various intervals to keep things interesting. We can begin with what is often the first thing noticed about a suit, yet rarely actually noted: The lapels.

There are two major types of lapels that one typically sees on a suit, the Notched lapel and the peaked lapel. Sartorial purists will note that I am omitting a shawl collar. Though a smooth, and clean look, the shawl collar is far more prevalent on tuxedos, and only very rarely on a suit or sport coat. As such, it is not germane to this discussion.

A lapel is notched when its line is broken by a deep V cut into the side. These are identical on each side, and usually around a third of the way down the lapel.

Notched Lapel

A peak, on the other hand, does not offer a smooth line, and contains a cut in the fabric where a barb or peak points upward from the lapel. These types of lapels were far more common back in the day than they are now, but they add an air of formality to a suit.

Peaked lapel

Upon inspection – because yes, I had to look – every suit in my closet has a notched lapel. This is the standard, go-to cut of a suit these days, and while you don’t have to go out of your way to find a peaked lapel, they are much less common. A peaked lapel is a throwback to the days of the wider collars, and can be seen adorning some double breasted suits. This could serve well to an add an old fashioned or classic flair to your attire. They are just as likely to be found on a tuxedo jacket as a shawl or notched collar, and the ridged lines of a peaked may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Wear what is right for you, but know what you wear, and why.

Comisario Tequila Anejo

2012-09-03T22:32:00.005-07:00

Comisario Tequila Anejo

Tequila, like many hard liquors, has gotten a bad reputation from ignorant young people who don’t know how to drink, or appreciate a good spirit. Good tequila, and especially an Anejo, is not to be taken in a shot glass, and certainly doesn’t need a chaser. It deserves to be sipped, savored, and caressed, to be appreciated and enjoyed. Comisario Tequila’s oak aged Anejo is one of the finest of such tequilas that I have had.

With a deep gold color, and an immediate nose of pepper and agave, the Comisario Anejo lets you know right of the bat what you’re getting into. The nose is fierce and stinging, which gives way to the familiar bite that we all know comes with tequila. Where this anejo differs though, is how it smooths out in your mouth. What begins as a sharp tingling gives way to a soft, smooth, warming as it slides down, leaving behind notes of pepper, caramel, and oak.

Berger & Argenti Mooch

2012-09-03T22:04:00.001-07:00

Berger & Argenti Mooch

The Berger & Argenti Mooch is a cigar that has been in my humidor for quite some time now, and I had just never had occasion to smoke it. I am not overly familiar with B&A cigars, and truthfully was just introduced to them by a brand rep less than a year ago who goes by the name Cigar Man Andy (look him up, you won’t be disappointed) I had smoked a few with him on occasion, and although good, the light hearted and pleasant company kept me from paying too much attention to my smoke, and this may be why I always thought of the Berger & Argenti sticks as good cigars, but not particular stand outs. The Mooch, however, has redefined my opinion of the brand.

Light in color, with a Connecticut shade wrapper, the long, lean Mooch was light and soft to the touch, giving, with hardly any oils. The pre light aroma was nuanced and delightful, with notes of cedar, caramel, heavy cream, and coffee.

The cigar lit up easily, with a light, easy draw that was open and smooth. There was an immediate wave of flavor, though layered, and subtle. The medium bodied smoke contained a complex taste of toasted sugar, cream, and toasted almonds, though without being nutty. This cigar was smooth and sweet, while mild and nuanced. Far too complex to be a beginner’s smoke, despite its light and flavorful smoke, the intricacies would be lost on those not already accustomed to the leaf. Paired with a decent Chilean Carmenere, I was careful to keep the wine and the cigar separate, else the one influence the other. This is a smoke that will definitely have to find a place in my humidor, and would be a good way for intermediate or advanced smokers to refine and expand their palette.

Why Hiring a Veteran Could Be The Best Thing You do for Your Business.

2012-08-28T23:25:00.000-07:00

According to the latest numbers by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and Businessweek, there are nearly half a million unemployed veterans in the United States. The unemployment rate for this highly respected and qualified subset of America far exceeds that of their same age, race, and educational demographics that have not served, and this is truly a crime. The unemployment rate for veterans age 18-24 is over 30% as compared to 15.3% for non-vets in the same age group. What is worse is that the trend keeps going. More and more veterans are becoming unemployed, all while more and more non-vets are getting jobs. This is a huge pool of untapped talent that many employers simply have never even considered for their open positions. True enough, it can be daunting for an interviewer to look down at a resume laced with bullets points about, well, bullets. I mean what does leading a fire-team in combat, being honor graduate from a long range reconnaissance course, or writing training plans for an infantry battalion have to do with honest work in respectable society? Quite a bit, I assure you. In fact, hiring a veteran could be the best thing that you could do for your business.

Lets overlook the obvious advantages – the $2500 tax credits that can be applied to your company’s returns for hiring a soldier, the federal programs covering a percentage of your newly employed veteran’s salary, the vocational training programs to ensure your new employee is well versed in the most up to date business practices, or the myriad of state and local programs designed to aid and reward businesses that employ veterans. Any CFO or Human Resources director worth their weight would already know this, and right or wrong, let us assume that they do. Lets also overlook the moral obligation that we, as a society, may, and ought to feel toward those among us who raised their right hand and pledged to give their life, if necessary, supporting our nation during a decade of war. These men and women come home from enduring unimaginable hardships and are often ostracized, labeled, mistrusted, and cast out by the very society they have been fighting for. We can overlook this obligation because of course our readers would have the moral fortitude to do the right thing, take a chance, and offer more to our returning veterans than a half hearted “thank you for your service” that drips more of disdain and pity rather than admiration and respect. All of this should go without saying, and to be honest, employing a veteran is its own reward. This article, however, is about the skills and experience that those who have served can offer to the modern business world.

I have said in the past the translating military skills and experience into civilian jobs requires a bit of creative interpretation, but this does not mean that one has to use their imagination or make things up. What are some of the most basic qualities and characteristics that employers say they want in the people they hire? Show up on time, work well in a team, take responsibility for their actions, get results, actually do their job… oddly enough, there is a large portion of the employed population for which these simple characteristics are completely foreign. I am not going to deign to make assumptions about the current crop of entry level employees, but what I have observed in the business world from the entitlement generation is not promising.

Don’t get me wrong – I have been fortunate enough to work for two Fortune 500 companies, including my current position, and the level of dedication and competence by the vast majority of their staff is exceptional. Veterans cannot fool ourselves into thinking that our military service gives us a monopoly on hard work and drive in today’s society, because that simply is not the case. There can be no resting on one’s laurels, and military experience is no substitute for knowledge base and required skills or prerequisites.

But at the same time, much of what we offer is intangible. They are necessary additions to the successful function of any business, and while often overlooked as a given, they are most certainly not. There are many similar essays out there on the leadership qualities of veterans, and how they can help push a business to the next level. There are even more on veterans’ stellar performance under pressure, and how the rigors of combat shape them into steady, confident citizens. All of this is well known. What is not often discussed, though, is their resourcefulness, their drive and determination, and the fact that for most of us out there, failure is simply not an option.

A veteran will do what it takes to get the job done. If they aren’t familiar with a computer program, they will learn it. If they’ve never driven a particular fork lift, they will figure it out. If a deadline is looming and everyone at the office is too tired, a veteran is the kind of person who will put on the coffee, pound and energy drink (possibly a Rip It), and get the job done, whether they are particularly vested in that project or not. In the military, we train to standard, not to time, and there are two ways to do anything: The Right Way, and Again. This “Good enough for government work” stereotype comes from bureaucracies, not from the uniformed services. If we are wrong, people die.

Blind obedience is also a myth. There is this ridiculous concept that men and women in the military do what they are told, no matter what, and cannot function without orders. It is true that those who have worn the uniform see the world slightly differently than others, but we see challenges to be overcome, and problems to be solved. We are intelligent and resourceful, creative and confident. If there is an issue, we will deal with it, and not rely on a supervisor to tell us how.

We show up on time. We work late if we have to. We don’t complain (because hey, it could ALWAYS be worse) We do our jobs, and we know the duties of our superiors, so if necessary, we can do their jobs too. We don’t get rattled, we don’t get stressed, and we set an example for those around us. As GEN George Patton famously said “I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight” – the same is true today, both on and off the battlefield. Veterans are not used to failure, and more often than not, it is simply an unacceptable outcome. There are many in the business world that are willing to “Take a loss and move on.” Not us. There is a reason why those who wear the US Army’s Ranger Tab declare that they will “Fight on to the ranger objective, though I be the lone survivor” – Veterans don’t quit. This is not to say we cannot recognize a bad decision or situation. After all, the first rule of battle for hundreds of years has been to “never reinforce failure.” It means we consider a different approach, a different angle, or if our position IS untenable, we still find a way to complete our objective. Being tactically flexible is not something that is taught in business school.

The learning curve for veterans is far shorter than with other demographics. Most of my evidence is anecdotal, and taken through experience, but there are dozens of surveys and statistics that show veterans as being better students in college and with a quicker grasp of foreign concepts – be it a foreign language, or a computer program. Veterans learn quickly, and they figure things out on their own. They do what they need to do to get the job done, and more often than not, they will surprise and employer.

Far too often I have gone into interviews and been told “Thank you for your service, but you’re not what we’re looking for” with a resume that is far more business oriented than many I know. Some employers see military service as a liability rather than the mark of distinction that it truly is. They don’t see that a solid veteran in their position can lift up those around them, and bring the entire team to a higher level.

If you’re a veteran, then you and I both know that your real resume is written on your face. It is in the set of your jaw, and the firmness of your handshake. It is in how you carry yourself, and how you treat those around you. I know that you can, and will, get the job done, but it will take more than that to get hired. It is up to you to put those skills on paper, and to convince someone of it who may have a very disillusioned view of the world you have come from. It is daunting, but it is not impossible. If you are an employer who cannot see beyond the stigmas and stereotypes of the uniform they used to wear, then in the long run, it is simply your loss, but right now, as our nation stands today, it affects us all. Besides, hiring a veteran might just be the best thing you can do for your business.

Rocky Patel, The Edge, Maduro

2012-08-27T23:59:00.000-07:00

Rocky Patel The Edge, maduro

Immediate impression was that this cigar had a great feel and texture. The gorgeous Maduro finish was almost black, and not without a certain shine to it. The prelight aroma was deep leather and hard oak. It opened with a good, heavy flavor. There was a high volume of smoke, with an immediate flavor of oiled leather and hard woods. Though it lit well at first, with a smooth, clear draw, there were some issues as it burned. I had some runs throughout the stick, and one side clearly burned more heavily. This cigar takes excellent marks for flavor and smoke, but poor marks on construction, at least on this one.

Oliva Serie V, 6 x 56 Torpedo

2012-08-27T23:44:00.003-07:00

Oliva Serie V, 6 x 56 torpedo

The first time that I had an Oliva Serie V, it was right after they were released, and my cigar was lit by none other than Representative Jose Oliva… before the election, of course. I make this statement in the interest of full disclosure, as hanging out with the guy who made your cigar will always influence the way you appreciate it. Add to that the fact that Jose is an intelligent, eloquent, and charismatic individual, and you can pretty much ensure that you’ll have a loyal fan for life. That is where I stand with Oliva Cigars and the Serie V in particular.

Oliva cigars are known for their consistency and excellent construction. No frills or extras, just high quality tobacco in a high quality cigar. The Serie V is no exception; an excellent smoke with a dark Nicaraguan wrapper – not quite a maduro – that is smooth and giving, with just a touch of oil. This particular cigar lit well, but was hard on the draw – a characteristic of a lot of torpedo shapes, as the taper at the tip sometimes closes the tobacco. There was the taste of soft leather that was far more subtle than I remember it. Smooth grain and cedar notes rounded out the flavor. The burn was slow and even – owing partially to the hard draw, but allowing the puro to be really savored. The smoke was thick and rich, with an excellent aroma of toasted almonds.

It is hard to find an unkind word to say about a cigar that I am so fond of, but I had trouble keeping this one lit. This goes back to the hard draw, and it was a bit annoying. Typing while I smoke doesn’t help, but no matter the cause, I absolutely hate relighting a cigar. I’m glad that this case wasn’t my first experience with an Oliva, because it may have kept me from enjoying so many in my time as a fan. It definitely will not affect my affection for the brand, and the Serie V is highly recommended.

Knob Creek Single Barrel: Kentucky Bourbon

2012-08-27T23:33:00.000-07:00

Knob Creek Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon

With a deep, rich amber color, the Knob Creek Single Barrel is a bourbon that I had been waiting to try. A big fan of bourbons in general, Knob Creek has a reputation behind it that made it one to look forward to.

Opening with an aroma of ripe grains and honey, it is stiff, pungent, and strong on the nose. The deep brown color show it’s age and maturity. A bourbon’s color, lovingly hued in the charred oak barrels of Kentucky, is not unlike gray hair, or finish wear on a pistol. It’s a mark of distinction, and one you can’t fake.

The taste comes off warm and sweet, with grain on the tip, giving way to dark fruit and a distinct nuttiness on the palette. It has a round, smooth mouth feel, with a lingering chewiness that I have come to expect from a good bourbon.

Lighter than the color and aroma would lead you to believe, this whiskey is not without its bite. There is a strong tingle on the back half, and a warming spice going down the throat.

It is hard to go wrong with a bourbon of this caliber, and Knob Creek Single Barrel did not disappoint. I look forward to my next opportunity to try it.

La Aroma de Cuba - Edicion Especial Robusto

2012-07-17T23:20:00.002-07:00

La Aroma De Cuba – Edicion Especial Robusto

I am a big fan of the Robusto size, and this one came highly recommended. The taught, smooth, natural wrapper was soft to the touch without any oils. There was a pre-light aroma of sweet spices and cured leather. The EE lit easily, with a good volume of sweet, smooth smoke.

The taste begins with a smooth, rich feel. There are opening notes of light cedar, caramel, and toasted almonds. This puro has an excellent semi-sweet flavor, with a bit more spice and taste of Cuban coffee, rather than the bitter chocolate that is usually found in “sweeter” cigars.

The EE has a soft, even burn, with good construction, and a sturdy, grey ash. I would pair it with sweeter spirits, like a bourbon or a chilled rum. This cigar made an impression on me, and is fairly priced (around $10 in California – less in Free America). With the robusto size and popular availability, this may become one of my go-to cigars. I am definitely a fan.

Fort Michilimackinac - Mackinac, MI

2012-06-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I am something of a history buff, and that when I go to new places I am always interested to know what sort of cool stuff has happened there in the past. Admittedly, I am more inclined to think some historical facts are cooler than others. For example, I could really care less about where the first locomotive was built, or if I am standing at the Wright Brother’s home, while I am enthusiastic about Colonial forts, castles, and battlefields.

Me with a Chippewa War Club

This past week I took a trip to northern Michigan with my girlfriend and her family. Mackinaw City, and Mackinac Island (Pronounced the same way as the city, with an “AW” at the end.) are about as far north as you can get in that state without getting to the UP (Upper Peninsula) The highlight of the trip, for me at least, was Colonial Michilimackinac. This is an excellent recreation of the 1775 era fort that sat at the convergence of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Founded in 1715 by the French to support the thriving fur trade on the northern great lakes, Michilimackinac (from where the city Mackinac got its name) fell into British hands in 1761 at the conclusion of the French and Indian War. The fort has been recreated in its entirety, something worthy of Colonial Williamsburg and some of the other world famous historical sites. The homes and shops inside the fort are as authentic as they can be, even showing the difference between French built and English made buildings. (The French made their homes with vertical posts sunk directly into the ground, while the British built theirs using dovetail corners and horizontal planks on top of a foundation.) It is worth mentioning that the site is a complete fort – not simply a rebuilt tower or battlement with a few buildings around it. Once you enter Colonial Michilimackinac, you are surrounded by timer walls, rustic cabins, and detailed portrayals of life. There are no highways or neon signs or snack bars to break the scene, and it is quite easy to become engulfed in it.

The site is also still an active archeological dig. There has been a constant archeological presence in the area since it was first excavated in the 60’s, and part of the tour was a briefing by the archeologists, and allowed guests to ask questions about either the process, or colonial life in Northern Michigan.

Archeologists explaining their dig site

Fur Trading Post at MichiliMackinac

Despite the impressive reconstruction and the ongoing archeological excavations, what really stood out with this site were the reenacters, or interpreters. Where many historical sites are manned by either bored college students looking for a grade/summer work, or retired historians/professors looking to fill the hours, the interpreters at Colonial Michilimackinac were energetic, knowledgeable, and passionate about the history they were portraying.

Standouts included the British 8^th Regiment of Foot, and the French Voyagers (apparently pronounced with an accent, as in all the literature it appears in italics.)

British Grenadier

The girl portraying the voyager was the first interpreter that we spoke to. She clearly knew her subject matter, and explained how the (mainly French) trappers, shippers, and river folk would make the seasonal trips around the great lakes, to and from Montreal and New York, stopping off at Fort Michilimackinac. She was outside the fort, complete with 30 foot canoe rigged up as a tent, and trade goods spread out ready for purchase or barter. She was incredibly knowledgeable, very in character, and set the tone for the entire experience.

French Canadian Voyager at her camp outside the fort

The British 8th Regiment of Foot - Firing 3 rounds a minute

The redcoats were represented by two companies of the 8^th: A Battalion, or line company, and the Grenadier company. The uniforms were spot on, down to the last detail, without the comical red felt that typically accompanies a more costume style British soldier. This was the first time I had seen a British Grenadier represented so faithfully, and I was very impressed. More than just their physical appearance, the interpreters took pride in their work. They knew what they were doing, knew the manual of arms for their musketry demonstrations (even demonstrating the “tap load” that was faster, but not always reliable) and some (when asked) confirmed that they could, indeed, fire the three rounds a minute that was the mark of a good soldier in the ranks of an 18^th Century army. After the demonstrations, the troopers escorted groups around the fort on tours, or were seen maintaining their gear at the guard house – a discipline and authenticity seldom seen at other historical sites.

Interpreters representing Battalion Companies of the 8th

Cleaning the Brown Bess

Overall, I could have spent all day here. This would normally be a very boring prospect unless you are a history geek like me, but the passion and knowledge of the interpreters, and the attention to detail throughout the entire location and site made this an experience that could genuinely be enjoyed by all.

Room 101 La Serie C – Connecticut Shade Torpedo

2012-06-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

Room 101 La Serie C – Connecticut Shade Torpedo

This was my Memorial Day cigar. Room 101 is a brand that I have grown to enjoy quite a bit. Blended and rolled by Comacho, I chose a Room 101 Serie C for Memorial Day because it is owned by Matt Booth, a former Marine machine gunner, and currently a jewelry designer. I lit it up at Beach Cigar Lounge – a Veteran owned business here in Newport Beach, so all in all, it was quite appropriate for the occasion.

I want to preface this by saying that I have really enjoyed Room 101 cigars in the past. They are edgy, and full of flavor, with a bit of spice to the full, rich smoke. That being said, this was my first of the Serie C, and I was a bit disappointed. This Connecticut shade torpedo lit up well, and very quickly, but went out just as fast. This is not a damning characteristic right off the draw, as a wise man once told me “If your cigar goes out, it means you’re talking too much” However, this happened multiple times on the Serie C, despite near constant attention.

On the positive side, the Room 101 had a good draw with a high volume of rich smoke. It was light to medium bodied – not what I am used to with the 101’s – but with a kick there on the finish. The flavor was rather neutral, without much to speak of except a bit of soft wood. Overall, unremarkable.

I don’t make it a habit of judging a cigar off of just one smoke, but with so many other excellent choices out there, many even from Room 101, I may not want to spend money on this one again.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Mural

2012-06-22T14:29:00.001-07:00

Found this mural while wandering around on my lunch break. It is on the back end of the Legacy Oceangate Towers and it caught my attention. I just thought it was pretty cool. Pictures were taken on my phone, so forgive the quality, but the Oliver Wendell Holmes quote was also quite appropriate - especially in the Business District of Long Beach.

Enjoy!

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Wild Geese Irish Soldiers & Heroes - Rare Irish Whiskey

2012-06-13T23:45:00.000-07:00

The Wild Geese Irish Soldiers and Heroes – Rare Irish - Long name, with an even longer taste. This malted blend from the famed Cooley’s distillery in County Louth, Ireland is brand new to the market, and hard to find just about anywhere. If you can though, it is worth it.

A very light gold color, this oak aged spirit is a sharp turn from the dark, heavy, and chewy bourbons that I typically enjoy. It is crisp, light, and fresh, but warming, with a soft, round mouth feel.

This whiskey is smooth and sweet, with a distinct floral bouquet on the nose. The more it breaths and the longer you sip, the aroma and taste of citrus and sweet fruits comes out, but not without a kick. The Rare Irish is one of the sweeter whiskies I have had. The smooth flavors of honey and caramel are what many Irish whiskies are known for, and the Wild Geese stays true to its heritage. An excellent flavor, with notes of cedar, soft woods, and spice, finishing with the tastes of cinnamon and spices instead of the burn associated with more common whiskies.

The Rare Irish is my favorite of the Wild Geese line, but their Limited Edition and Single Malt each have their own qualities and place in your cellar.

Ramon Allones Robusto

2012-06-01T16:03:00.002-07:00

Ramon Allones Robusto

Due to the efforts of a good friend, I had the privilege of smoking a Ramon Allones Robusto last week. I am familiar with Cuban Cigars, but this will be the first review I have posted of a Cuban. I tend to stay away from these types of posts (unlike Cigar Aficionado) because I often feel it is rude to show off wares and products that are inaccessible to most. Something of a “Look what I have that you can't get” type of situation. That being said, these particular cigars were a gift, and out of professional courtesy, and due to requests for more reviews, I bring you: The Ramon Allones Robusto, Hecho a Mano en Habana, Cuba

Pre-light aroma of fine leather and spice. It has a good firm feel and slightly oily texture – which I like, though some may not. It lit easily, with a smooth, easy draw. There was a good volume of soft, velvety smoke right as it opened up. The first third of this puro was excellent, with floral notes and a sweet flavor of honey. This led to a more robust middle section where the stronger tastes of leather, oak, and bourbon. These flavors finished off the cigar, but became ever more pronounced as I continued to draw. The construction, as to be expected from a Cuban masterpiece, was excellent, while the burn was even and clean. The ash was stiff, white, and firm. Even the winds of Newport Harbor had a hard time blowing the cherry off this cigar.

The Ramon Allones was a real treat to smoke, and I am glad to have a few resting in my humidor for future consumption. I am most impressed, however, at the similarities and confidence in construction and flavor that have been exhibited by many of my favorite Honduran and Dominican brands. There are still subtle differences, of course, and half of the pleasure of partaking in a Cuban cigar is knowing that it is, indeed a Cuban, crafted by the undisputed master tobacconists of the world. The cigar industry, though, has evolved to the level that craftsmen, many of then trained in Cuba or from the Cuban tradition, are rising to the times, and the gap in quality and flavor between Cuban cigars, and those of the free world, is shrinking with every crop of tobacco grown.

Memorial Day

2012-05-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day:

I don’t want to be the typical, token, disgruntled veteran complaining about how Memorial Day is too much about BBQ’s, the beginning of summer, and having Monday off from work. Judging by the two wars we have been fighting the last decade, and if your Facebook newsfeed is anything like mine, then you have noticed that the true meaning of Memorial Day is at the forefront of the minds of much of the country.

Even here in Newport Beach – a haven for both the out of touch bourgeois rich and the naïve, left leaning hipster culture, there are flags proudly displayed, and lunch specials at corner coffee shops offering a free cup of Joe to service-members (shout out to My Galley Café at 5^th street and Balboa – Thanks for the Coffee!) The meaning of the holiday has not been forgotten, it is pounded into us through social media and peer pressure, and many times it feels forced. It’s like saying thank you to Grandma for that hideous sweater on Christmas, or sending a halfhearted gift for that wedding invitation you got from a guy you haven’t seen since high school, and barely knew back then. It is an obligation. It is something we don’t really want to do, but feel bad if we don’t. Those serving in the military make up less than 1% of the population, and true enough, to actually meet a soldier outside of a military town is something of a surprise to many. The wars are half a world away: something you hear about on the news, but that rarely comes into casual conversation (as opposed to say, WWII, where for four years the entire country was tirelessly devoted to the defeat of the Axis Powers.) Everyone has a cousin in the navy (they think…) or has an uncle who fought in Vietnam, or knows a guy from high school who joined the Army when he didn’t get that football scholarship he wanted, but how many of your average citizens actually know someone who was killed in action? The answer is precious few – make no mistake, I hold nothing against the community at large for being kept away from the horrors of war. For the most part, those affected by the cost of American freedom are a warrior caste. We are set apart from the population, willingly confined to military posts and duty stations, occasionally venturing out for Christmas leave or a long weekend. We associate almost exclusively with other soldiers. Many were born to military families, and knew from an early age that they were destined for the profession of arms. It is a point of pride that we bear the burden of our society’s comfort. But even then there is a lot that gets lost in the actual application of that concept.

The men that I served beside did not fight for oil, or land, or riches, or even for freedom, or to keep the country safe. We all have personal reasons for joining up, but no matter what those are; we do what we do for those beside us. We do it for personal pride, for honor – in whatever personal definition that word holds for the individual. We don’t strap on body armor and seek out the enemy for barbeques or shopping malls or the free market or apple pie. Those are some pretty awesome byproducts of our actions, but we do it because it is expected of us. I did it because I didn’t want men like Tony DePetris, Matt Hermanson, Nate Henry, or Brian Knapp to have to face whatever lay outside the wire without me.

The men I know who fell in battle are too many to name. That is what comes with spending most of your adult life as a soldier. It is a small Army out there, and there is never a time when I am not scanning the news after some tragic story, searching for the name of a comrade. There are times when I hate myself for being stateside while I have friends that are still fighting. These are things that I don’t expect the average American to understand – no service member expects them to. We are a warrior caste so that they do not have to understand them. There is more of a burden to defending the nation than physical scars, but we don’t need pity. There is pride that comes with the job, and when you live a Spartan lifestyle of service to the nation, then pride is often all that you have. Don’t take that away with some abstract sense of guilt or false gratitude. Enjoy your Barbeque. Have fun at the beach on your day off. Our freedom to do so is through of the efforts of the military, so why waste this gift paid for by blood and sweat, toil and chaos! We make these sacrifices specifically so the people of the United States can remain blissfully ignorant of the costs of war. The only thanks that we really crave is from those beside us: a nod of approval from a brother in arms, a pat on the back (literal, not figurative) after a rough day, or a shared drink after a shared hardship.

It is important to remember Memorial Day for the somber day that it is, but do not let guilt or sadness or even gratitude erase the freedoms that their sacrifices bought. Have your moment of silence, fly your flag, and raise your glass to the memory of the men and women you never knew, but also honor them with smiles, laughter, and time with your loved ones.

Dedicated to: Matthew Hermanson, Benjamin Britt, Tom Martin, Nick Dewhirst, Neale Shank, Tim Cunningham, Emily Perez, Jacob Harrelson, Brian Mack, and a host of others who stood beside me and were carried home on their shields.

Facebook IPO

2012-05-18T10:58:00.002-07:00

Facebook IPO

So if you pay attention to financial news – or really the news at all – there has been one major theme that has dominated the headlines this last week: the Facebook IPO. The already fabulously wealthy founders of the wildly popular social media site are set to become multi-billionaires. And why shouldn't they? Mark Zuckerberg and crew have quite literally changed the world as we know it. Where Myspace and Friendster came before, Facebook has united what was once a fringe, hipster culture, into not only the mainstream, but into everyday life. I don't know anyone who doesn't check their Facebook page at least a few times a day. Most do it on their phone when they have 30 seconds of downtime. It has millions of users, and is probably the single most visited website on the internet. Think about it. Everyone has their own preference for news sites, movie sites, professional sites, etc. and this divides the audience. Facebook, however, is a global hegemon and not just in the social media field, but in the world.

And as of today, you can own a piece of this hegemon. Facebook is having it's Initial Public Offering (or IPO) as I write this, and you too can capitalize on the all encompassing powerhouse that is the social network. This question is, though, would you want to? There is no question as to the brilliance of Zuckerberg's creation, and getting in on the ground level would have been a life changing experience. But has the media giant run its course? They were asking $38 a share for their IPO, and last I checked, they were selling for right at $41. This is an excellent margin for their first day of trading, and Zuckerberg should rightly be excited about this successful IPO, but honestly, I am not sure where Facebook will go from here.

Facebook is not Apple – who has stunned the world with constant innovation and new invention, shaping society with their ever changing line of products. Their stock price went from somewhere in the $30's to over $300 in just a few years. Facebook, for all the changes that they make to their layout, does not produce... well, anything. Yes, they provide an audience to market to, and have done an excellent job tailoring their ads to what their readers want to see, but have you ever clicked on a link? Sure, I read shares, and go through articles, and get really involved in my social networking from time to time, but I don't think I have ever bought something because I saw an ad on Facebook. Company's are starting to realize this. Earlier this week GM pulled all of its ads, saying that it just wasn't seeing results. I see facebook as being an excellent tool for niche brands and specific products – using their trageting dynamic to tailor the market that sees their ads to exactly the people they want to sell to, but national brands and general products? Not so much. Everyone knows about the Chevy Cruze... and sure, maybe someone who has pictures of trees and birds on their page would like to hear about the eco properties that the car offers, but they might not base a $30,000 decision on an ad in a margin.

Do Zuckerberg and the team at facebook have the knowledge and skill to change this? To morph into a marketing scheme with Pintrest level devotion to products? Yes, they certainly do! Will they do it? I don't know. I anticipate Facebook having an excellent IPO, maybe topping out as high as $45, but hitting a plateau almost immediately afterward. There will be a lucky few – typically the high end mutual funds and market managers who are invited to such high profile bids – who will make a killing off of Facebook, and with a shift in their innovation (not, by any means, a given) I could see it being a decent long term investment (5-10 years) and probably beating inflation in terms of appreciation, but if you can't buy it now, I wouldn't buy it next week. It's not going anywhere for a while, and there are better opportunities out there.

Changes

2012-05-11T08:06:00.001-07:00

There is a lot going on for me these days, with exams, drill, work and summer opportunities all coming to a head, so I have been a bit remiss in posting as of late. Rest assured that there are still thing's going on and you will hear about them shortly. I was a guest instructor at a tactical carbine course, I went to a couple of really great cigar events, our Charlie Sheen issue is coming out, and I have a few more reviews that I'm going over as well. You will get the details on all of it soon.

You will also start seeing changes to the format and tone of my articles. Also some changes in the setup, template, and color scheme. Less militaristic, less of a rant. More informative. I hope the change will be for the better as I am looking for that last push to get me over 30K hits.

Also, if anyone who reads this has anything that they would like to read about or get some insight on, please feel free to leave a comment and I will try to help out. Fashion, finance, business, cigars, liquor, weapons, tactics, culture, even politics to some extent.

Well, I am writing this via Blogger fr android on my phone, while sitting onva bus on my way up to Camp San Luis Obispo for drill, so I will wrap this latest entry up, but not before I try and upload a photo via my mobile device. That's a button down spread collar from Hugo Boss. Enjoy!

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May Day!

2012-05-01T11:37:00.001-07:00

Happy May Day everyone! Oh, you don't celebrate May Day? Good for you! That's likely because you're not a disillusioned ,ignorant, communist hippie, and I applaud your decision to be a productive member of society!

If you do celebrate May Day, then that is your choice, and a right guaranteed to you by the US Constitution, the very concept you wish to supplant, and the document that I and my brothers and sisters in arms have fought to uphold and defend. I don't agree with what you have to say, but I will defend your right to say it!

So don't forget to wear red and have a parade no one cares about, because seriously, no beads or moonpies? What was Stalin thinking?

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Fashionable Concealed Carry

2012-04-27T01:19:00.002-07:00

Read this article on CNBC of all places. Fashionable concealed carry attire has been a long time coming, and I am glad to see it getting a bit of design attention. Woolrich is not exactly Armani, but for the moment, it will do. I am not altogether in agreement with the tone of the article, making it seem as if gun owners, and those with a Concealed Carry Permit (myself included) are on the fringe of society, or are the exception to the rule. This strikes me as typical New York Times reporting (where the article originally appeared) and from an area where being an armed or self-sufficient citizen often means enduring the disdain of polite society. Here in California, where Orange County has declared that I do not have a "Pressing Need" to carry a concealed pistol, despite being a Cali DOJ certified instructor (This state has a long and storied history of preventing its citizens from defending themselves, and I have a CCW from my home state of Florida) I have a tactical folding knife and a defensive flashlight as part of my EDC (Everyday Carry) and I find myself the go-to guy when a line needs to be cut or something needs to be illuminated. I carry this even in a tailored suit (give three-piece a chance!) in whatever polite company I find myself. I dream of the day when I can get a Brooks Brothers suit with a side vent for my FNP .40 or an Armani jacket cut wide across the back for a shoulder holster. Such illustrious publications as GQ and Esquire have made it well known their sartorial disdain of those of us who carry a weapon for a living, and I find this not only sad, but offensive to the very concept I spent my life defending: The Constitution of the United States. All I can say is that when the wolf attacks, he will find that not all among the flock are sheep. Are you?

The most frustrating comment of all though, appears to be the very last. The gun owner, who works in a gun store, declares that you should dress around your gun, not to fashion. I find this idea absurd.You ought to be able to do both. Neither side in this argument seems to be able to find a middle ground - and for the "everyday man" who wears work pants and a vest around town, you're not fooling anyone. You're carrying, and anyone who matters knows it. Whats worse, is that you look like a tool, and you orient your entire life around that .45 on your hip. I look good when I carry (when I find myself in a state that allows me to) and there is more than one way to print a gun. You can do it in your style, and demeanor - which does not always deter criminals, just everyone else in your life.

Original Link: http://www.cnbc.com/id/47158181/

New Fashion Wrinkle: Stylishly Hiding the Gun

By: Matt Richtel

Woolrich, a 182-year-old clothing company, describes its new chino pants as an elegant and sturdy fashion statement, with a clean profile and fabric that provides comfort and flexibility.

And they are great for hiding a handgun.

The company has added a second pocket behind the traditional front pocket for a weapon. Or, for those who prefer to pack their gun in a holster, it can be tucked inside the stretchable waistband. The back pockets are also designed to help hide accessories, like a knife and a flashlight.

The chinos, which cost $65, are not for commandos, but rather, the company says, for the fashion-aware gun owner. And Woolrich has competition. Several clothing companies are following suit, building businesses around the sharp rise in people with permits to carry concealed weapons.

Their ranks swelled to around seven million last year from five million in 2008, partly because of changes to state laws on concealed handguns.

Shawn Thompson, 35, who works at an auto dealership in eastern Kentucky, bought two shirts last month from the Woolrich Elite Concealed Carry line. Both, he wrote on his blog, are a step up from more rugged gear.

“Most of the clothes I used in the past to hide my sidearm looked pretty sloppy and had my girlfriend complaining about my looks,” he wrote, adding in an interview, “I’m not James Bond or nothing, but these look pretty nice.”

The shirt has a barely discernible side slit with Velcro through which, he said, he can yank his Colt 1911 from his waistband holster. Depending on circumstances and mood, he might also carry a folding knife and, at night, a flashlight in a pair of Woolrich chinos his girlfriend bought for him.

Carriers of concealed guns say the new options are a departure from the law enforcement and military look, known as “tactical,” long favored by gun owners.

The latest styles, by contrast, are called “concealed carry” or “covert fashion.”

“What we’ve tried to do is create a collection of garments that allows the end user to have stylish lifestyle apparel but have features in the garment that enable them to carry a weapon and draw the weapon quickly,” said David Hagler, a vice president at 5.11 Tactical, who was lured from Nike to work at 5.11, one of the biggest makers of clothing for soldiers and police officers.

The company’s growing concealed-carry line includes a lightweight water-resistant vest coming this fall — the sort of vest that is standard and trendy at any mainstream outdoor shop but has strategic pockets for guns. It also includes a stealth compartment in front so the wearer can appear to be warming his hands while actually gripping a pistol in a waistband holster.

Other companies are rushing to meet the demand for concealed-carry clothing. Under Armour, best known for its sports and action gear, will be adding a jacket and a plaid shirt with Velcro pockets for easy gun access.

Kevin Eskridge, senior director for outdoor product and design at the company, said the company had seen demand double in the last year for such clothing from traditional outdoor and sporting goods stores, like Dick’s Sporting Goods [DKS 50.65 0.57 (+1.14%) ] and Cabela’s. [CAB 38.69 -2.11 (-5.17%) ]

Mr. Eskridge said the Under Armour [UA 97.59 0.93 (+0.96%) ] apparel was catching on because of fashion but also because of its features, including moisture-wicking fabric.

“Others are making shirts with gun access but using regular cotton,” he said. With his company’s fabrics, “there’s no stink factor,” he said. And if gun owners do not use fabrics that wick away moisture, “You’ll literally rust out,” he added.

Gun experts suggest that there are many reasons for the growth in the number of people with concealed-carry permits. They say it is partly due to a changing political and economic climate — gun owners are professing to want a feeling of control — and state laws certainly have made a difference.

After a campaign by gun rights advocates, 37 states now have “shall issue” statutes that require them to provide concealed-carry permits if an applicant meets legal requirements, like not being a felon. (A handful of other states allow the concealed carrying of handguns without a permit). By contrast, in 1984 only 8 states had such statutes, and 15 did not allow handgun carrying at all, said John Lott, a researcher of gun culture who has held teaching or research posts at a number of universities, including the University of Chicago.

Only one state, Illinois, now forbids handgun carrying in any form, but the legislature is considering a change.

A majority of states have long allowed the open carrying of handguns, said Mr. Lott, who also provided the data on gun permits. But the reality, said Mr. Lott and other gun experts, is that people do not want to show others that they are carrying a weapon or invite sharp questioning from the police.

The clothing lines address a perceived need in the concealed-carry subculture. Gun owners say they want to practice “maximum uncertainty,” meaning that if a gun is sufficiently concealed, a potential criminal will be unsure whether to attack. Gun experts say the research is inconclusive about whether such tactics reduce crime. Regardless, the clothing makers are jumping on the line of thinking.

“When someone walks down the street in a button-down and khakis, the bad guy gets a glimmer of fear, wondering: are they packing or not?” said Allen Forkner, a spokesman for Woolrich, which started its concealed-carry line in 2010 with three shirts.

The company has since added new patterns for shirts, pants and the Elite Discreet Carry Twill jacket, in dark shale gray and dark wheat tan. In addition to its gun-friendly pockets, the jacket has a channel cut through the back that the company says can be used to store plastic handcuffs.

Not everyone who carries a concealed gun is a fan of the new fashion. Howard Walter, 61, a salesman at Wade’s Eastside Guns in Bellevue, Wash., said he preferred to carry his Colt — and a couple of knives and two extra magazines — in a durable pair of work pants.

“They don’t shout ‘gun,’ they shout ‘average guy in the street,’ ” said Mr. Walter, who years ago worked in sales at Nordstrom. But really, he said, the most important thing in picking clothing is to choose something that works for the weapon. “They should dress for the gun,” he said he advised his customers. “Not for the fashion.”

ICBSC

2012-04-26T02:09:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the intensive phase of the semester long International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition (ICBSC). For those that I have yet to regale with the details of this endeavor, the ICBSC is a collegiate competition at both the undergraduate and MBA level where teams of contestants create a fictional company and manage it through seven years of operations. These operations run the entire gamut of what can be expected of executive level management, from sales forecasts and production management to marketing and finance.

My company, representing Cal-State Long Beach, and manufacturing waterproof and shock proof MP3 players (For the active lifestyle that those of us in Southern California enjoy) was called “Long Beach Sound” (get it?) and I took over the reins as the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) My original goal as CFO was to finance the company through our operating income. This is a risky strategy, as it keeps us from having to pay interest, dividends, or diluting existing outstanding stock, but it also relies on current and existing cash flow in order to expand – which we did, very quickly, and very aggressively. Combine this with the company’s commitment to training and research & development, and we were cutting it close to the wire every quarter in terms of financing our operations.

Decisions were made every quarter (represented as usually once a week and gradually speeding up all the way to once every two hours during the intensive phase.) and I am proud to say that we were completely successful in being a self-sufficient company. We never had to issue bonds, or dilute our stock with a further issue, nor were we forced into emergency bank loans – known as the financial kiss of death in this competition. In fact, Long Beach Sound made a serious dent in our capital structure by buying back about 20% of our shares outstanding, and retiring much of our bond debt, therefore increasing shareholder value and overall stability, all while reinvesting in the company.

Without getting too far into the details of the competition – which may bore many readers (we joked that it was similar to the number crunching Olympics, that we were “Matheletes,” and I even referred to the competition as the Business world’s varsity dungeons & dragons team) I learned a great deal. One of the main lessons learned was that everything depends on everything else. To say business is a vicious cycle is far too cliché, but also very accurate. Finance depends on sales, which depends on production, which depends on forecasts, which depends on infrastructure, which depends on finance. Somewhere in that mix, throw in marketing, training, R&D, advertising, and oh yes, the competition. That is something else that you have to worry about. Much like the old military saying of “The plan never survives the first contact” a business plan depends largely on what your competitors do. Their price points, their capacity, their production, all have to be carefully monitored and kept in mind in order to optimize your own.

In the end, I think we performed well. Long Beach Sound placed 1^st in Business Documents (Strategic Business Plan, Annual Report, 10K, etc.) and 3^rd in Overall Performance. We also stood in a division that had some very stiff competition. We faced down, and ultimately outperformed such illustrious MBA programs as Purdue, and Northwestern’s Kellog School of Business. The program was a lot of work, and a good bit of fun. I am glad that I did it, and it will be a nice bullet point on my resume, but I am glad it is over. It truly was like having another job, in addition to the one I already have, my full time Grad School schedule, and my obligations to the California National Guard. If you are an MBA student or Business Undergrad then see if your school is putting together a team for next year. It will be well worth your time.

The Siege of Savile Row

2012-04-25T02:59:00.000-07:00

Read this article off of The Chap - I can say that this is finally a protest I can put my position firmly along side. Savile Row has long been the home of gentlemen's tailor shop, hawking only the finest of wares. An invasion of this haven of the Bespoke Gentleman is nothing short of an atrocity, and the doing so by none so drab, mundane, and terrible as Abercrombie & Fitch (or more accurately, "abercrombie" for their children's line) speaks to the true horror of the situation.

Bravo on your fight gentlemen. I tip my hat to you, and might I add that never was there assembled a more impeccably dressed group of protesters. Dirty hippies? I think not!

Give Three-Piece a Chance!

The Siege of Savile Row

On the morning of St George’s Day, April 23rd, swathes of immaculately dressed chaps and chapettes gathered outside No. 3 Savile Row to demonstrate peacefully – but firmly – against Abercrombie & Fitch’s proposed plans to open a children’s store there.
The protest began in earnest at 10:15am, when chumrades in arms marched around the corner to Abercrombie’s flagship store on Burlington Gardens, stabbing the air defiantly with home-made banners declaring “Give Three-Piece a Chance”. On the very steps of enemy HQ, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer led the troops in song, chanting “All we are saying is, give three-piece a chance” adapted from John Lennon’s original.
Once pitched outside A&F’s flagship store, demonstrators were greeted by hordes of press, both local and international, accumulated on the opposite pavement. Also in attendance was the Chief inspector of Savile Row Constabulary, who commented to one of the protestors: “In all honesty, this is the best dressed demonstration I have ever seen.” We hope the Chief Inspector will add his signature to our petition and help keep riff-raff off the Row.
After a final rousing chorus of Give Three-piece a Chance, the protesters dashed off to the French House for a much-needed mid-morning snifter, since the Martini hour had long since passed. By 9pm GMT on Monday night, news of the protest had ripped through the press, both in the UK and across the pond, with reports featured in The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, Fox News, The Metro, The Evening Standard, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg Business Week and more. With all this media attention, we’re confident Westminster Council will veto A&F’s application to open a children’s store on Savile Row, and allow it to remain the heartland of British bespoke tailoring.

25,000!

2012-04-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't beleive it has been a month since I last posted anything. Thats pretty crazy how fast life (like school, the National Guard, work, and spring break) can get in the way. Anyway, sometime in between then and now, I hit more than 25,000 views. This is pretty big for me. I know some writers get that every couple hours, but I'm pretty psyched that I'm averaging more than 100 hits a day. Thats pretty cool in my mind. Some folks actually care about what I have to say, and that is a good feeling.

Look for more stuff coming in from my facebook and twitter accounts, as well as some more reviews of cigars, drinks, and culture. Now I've just got to find a way to monitize this piece (and no, Google Adsense doesn't wanna play ball) anyone want to buy an ad?