Etha"NO"l

Ethanol, is it the hope of the future. Sources say no!! The hype might be a little overripe. Ethanol, touted by Bush and your local politicians is the next best thing to save the country from skyrocketing gas prices. Yes, and you've often heard my opinion on the subject...I'm torn between crying at the pump and smiling in my stock portfolio account because I've owned a number of different oil companies.
Don't believe the Hype
Yep you heard it here, ethanol will not be the wave of the future to save us from the huge energy crunch here in America. There are countless problems that are leading to high prices at the pump. The first is simply SUPPLY and DEMAND. The fact of the matter is (I'm included) that Americans are not great at conserving...simply put we're wasteful. Just live saving for a rainy day, Americans are poor at saving money and conserving energy. The boom of the SUV proved that bigger is definitely better. But I forgot to mention the one area where we don't have control over is the Supply piece. Yep, you guessed the majority of the world's oil is controlled by foreign countries. And I can almost safely say that there is a lukewarm reception about American from most of these countries. It is usually to be a love hate relationship with most of these countries. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Venezuela are big players but smaller countries are continuing to make a lot of noise. Both sides have always needed each other, America supplies the thirsty demand and the oil countries SUPPLY the oil whether we like them or not...its okay to say money talk. But what has changed about this scenario...leverage. The oil companies benefit from changing global situations such as Iran and Venezuela speaking out against American at a time where America is preoccupied with bigger issues. The other is the surprising growth of BRIC. That would be Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Again students the growth of these countries has fueled the global DEMAND for oil. And because oil is a beautiful natural resource it has a finite supply. There has even been talk that Saudi Arabia's oil supply has been overstated. And unfortunately for the rest of the world the Saudi's do a great job of keeping numbers like that secret. So a finite resource with increasing DEMAND brings us to where we are at today...Expensive oil. And our policies continue to put us in a bind because countries like China continue to ink deals with countries like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and the Sudan to shore up their countries need for the depleting resource.

That brings us finally to ETHANOL. The resource to save the day, maybe not. One of the biggest problems is that if America used 100% of the corn it produces for energy consumption for car, it would still only be able to supply the demand for 7% of the vehicles. To completely rely on ethanol as a source for energy, America would have to use 93% of its land for corn production...not possible. The last piece that I will mention that has been debated is the long term viability of ethanol production. Flat out...its takes more energy to produce say a gallon ethanol than is actually used from that gallon. Food for thought

Put a little Zen in your Birthday

In a effort to do my part to usher in a warm spring we got together and celebrated my roommate's birthday. Even though the weather was a little chilly that night, the fact that it was Cinco de Mayo brought out the best in everyone. Also you'll get a little bonus coverage while you read my review of club Zentra.

Cinco De Mayo

Well nothing says lets have a good celebration like a shot of Tequila...Patron that is. Yeah we had a great turnout for my roommates birthday. I was surprised when an old Boilermaker showed up, I call him Montell Jordan go figure why. We've got the Lake Shore girls who came and celebrated with us. Thanks to all the out of town people that stayed the weekend to live it up.




Bonus Coverage:
Club Zentra get ***1/2 stars for the overall setup. Mainly their main floor level setup is tight. The setup appears to be a mid eastern themed layout with red lights, silk, cushy booths with curtains and a good bar setup. However, the staff at Zentra get * star! The door people are outta control, the host is not very good and this is not the first time that I've witnessed this hear. They are rude at the door, quick to kick people out at times, and the music didn't take off until later in the night. Overall Zentra gets ** stars for being a club with great atmosphere, diverse people, and they have hookahs! These interesting looking contraptions are setup in their reserve tables for group of people who enjoy smoking the flavored tobaccos of the Near Eastern world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah

Portfolio Alert - Ballin' of Wall Street

Yeah guess who's bizzack!! Not Jay Z, more like J.G. And I hear to give you the dirt on the market baby. I call this the FREIGHT pick because you are going hear the beep beep beep and I'm going to back my truck up and load up on shares of the following companies:
Click here to pick up shares

Yes sir, its not that often that I come out with a bullish statement on my picks. Okay I lied I always come out with bullish statements. But the key here is that I am usually right. My most recent pick has been a rollercoaster ride of a pick. If you jumped on the bandwagon with CWEI Clayton Williams Energy you saw your security rise 25% is less than a month. And then you saw the momentum move away from the stock...which I say to you, no worries mon! The profit takers took my advice and then ran. I believe the oil crunch is here to stay and you will benefit from another bullish run in this pick. It dropped to the 38 range, where I might add we should have added mores shares. Now at 42 and some change it looks to bust through the levels I originally recommended it at. Stick with it, WHY...because take a look at the station on the corner...Ohhh you forgot you're paying $3.17 a gallon for gas. I didn't and now its time to get into my next recommendation.

WFT - Don't worry this doesn't stand for What the !@#$. Try again my friends its more like Weatherford International. I won't take complete credit for finding this one. A great story was written about this company that completely obliterated earning and looks to be the best in the oil services industry for the next 3-5 years. So you won't believe what I did I went and got my truck and backed it all the way up!!!! And bought into the stock.

And the next two buys are:
FCX Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold and FAL Falconbridge. All I can say is economics baby. Supply and demand. The demand for copper is going through the roof. Thanks to our friends BRIC Brazil, Russia, India, and China...I will be riding the copper craze until our rising industrialized friends need it no longer...and that is never. I won't take credit for FCX, I first was alerted by the crazy host of Mad Money...Jim Cramer, who isn't as crazy as he sounds Booooo Yaaaaaa Jim if you're out there. But I do get credit for FAL, the mutual funds are adding copper stocks like crazy and people if you don't listen to one work I say its that these stocks are going sky high. Also look for other commoditites that are scorching hot: Sugar...a great play is Imperial Sugar IPSU.

ENJOY

Indianapolis loses their "Edge"

I am dissapointed to learn that the Indianapolis Colts have lost their Pro Bowl star running back Edgerrin James. He accepted a free agent offer from the Arizona Cardinals and is getting some big guaranteed money up front. The Colts admitted they took a risk in letting him test the free agent market and it backfired. I was hoping after I learned that Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison restructured their contract that he would be signed but it didn't work out that way. It is a sad day for a great franchise that now has a huge hole in the backfield. I tip my hat off to Dominic Rhodes but he is no Edge. The nice thing is there are a number of great backs coming out of the draft this year. Here are a few of the names:

Reggie Bush
LenDale White
DeAngelo Williams
Maurice Drew
Laurence Maroney
Joseph Addai
Brian Calhoun
Cedric Humes
Mike Imoh

What are you up to?

What am I listening to on my mp3 player: The Roots "Tipping Point", Gorrillaz "Demon Days", Damian Marley "Welcome to Jamrock" & "Halfway Tree"

What are you watching on TV: VH1 Soul, Deal or No Deal, Medium, Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order, BASKETBALL

Whats your drink when your out: Crown w/ a twist, patron, and Hennessey

What did you think of the Oscars: Glad that everyone finally realized Crash was a great movie!

Favorite Songs: Common: "Testify", Floetry: "SupaStar", Three 6 Mafia: "Poppin My Collar", Young Jeezy: "My Hood", "Trap Star", "Go Crazy", Ne-Yo "So Sick", T-Pain: I'm N Luv"

Movies I want to See: 16 Blocks, Madea Family Reunion, Hustle & Flow, Black Like Me (read the book, movie was made in the 60's)

Huff, Puff, & Blow the houses down

Well the numbers are in and the housing market has come to a steeper than expected decline. Is this a sign that prices will soon follow. With a warmer than normal January in most places, the real estate industry actually moved up construction start dates in anticipation new home buyers and speculators will continue to come out.
More on Housing

However, with a high number of unsold houses on the market and rising interest rates...will prices finally start coming down??? Its appears that this may be the case in a few months. Some economists are predicting pricing may begin to decline and guess what, that means that homebuilders are beginning to offer perks to entice home buyers. Ahh is this finally revenge for the rest of us that missed the big housing boom...not completely. Again another reason housing prices may be on the decline is interest rates. The rates are now nationally around 6.26 percent which is not bad but higher than what most of our friends have been getting locked in at over the past few years.

Just the other night I ran into a building company that was offering brand new 42 inch plasma TVs to entice me to buy into their new condo development. I am seriously on the prowl now that I firmly believe that most real estate investors are beginning to get to a point where it may make more sense for them to invest there money in other areas. I am personally not a huge fan of condos and townhomes because of the assessment fees but I am also priced out of the million dollar single family home here in the city.

Link to economic housing data: http://www.census.gov/newhomesales

Say it aint so. This is slightly old news but disappointing none the less. The trials and tribulations of the industry have taken a toll on the masses. It appears that the emcee known as Eminem, Slim Shady or if you prefer Marshall Mathers is looking to retire. I am confused by his on again off again relationship with his ex, now current wife again Kim. It proves that even superstars are not immune from the the tolls of having a family, being married, and being human. Also, two of my favorite emcees Jadakiss and Styles P, 2/3 of the group Lox have also announced their retirement due to creative differences with their labels. 50 cent disclosed that he will probably make two more albums and will retire as a lyricist follow in the footsteps of Eminem and probably be just a producer. This will be a tough time rough for the hiphop world as many complain that music is too commercial, but their will be evolution as their always is.

Here are some upcoming things to be on the lookout for in the hiphop world:
- Another one of my favorite artists: Nore has been signed to the Roc La Familia Label and will 2 albums; one reggaeton and one rap album.
- The Game has a new DVD dissin G-Unit and I believe a diss track; 50 responded with his diss track 'Not Rich, Still Trying' (this is a play on of 50's first album Get Rich or Die Trying) and folks he will be releasing yet another album in July '06
-Nas signs to Def Jam
- Rap is crossing over left and right...stay tuned for an in-depth analysis.