Randall Blaum's Blog

David Scotland MONEY Music Video Selected for LA Comedy Film Festival

The music video I co-executive produced, "MONEY" will have it's big screen premiere in LA the first week of November at the LA Comedy Film Festival.  This festival is one of the biggest film fests in the area that focuses on comedy.  You can see the video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQUxzJMSNNw. 

See the video now and then go to www.FedUpWiththeFed.org and sign the Truth Mandate so the banks, The Fed and Wall Street all get what's coming to them.  You can also buy great merch (look at the dagger t-shirt) and download the song for a buck.  David is donating some of the proceeds go to benefit three different charities.

Rock on MONEY team!  Thanks for the hard work and it is paying off.  See you in LA!

Randall is Now an Internet Sales Specialist for Quality Chevrolet

Hi Everyone,

Along with enjoying the rest of my life (film, tv, sales), I am proud to announce that I am the new Internet Sales Specialist for Quality Chevrolet in Escondido.  The even better news????  I am able to help almost anyone from almost any state purhcase a new or used vehicle and through our internet department there's no pain, no hassle, and no more "all-day" at the car dealership thing.  Do you like the car int he photo to the left?  It is the all new VOLT coming the first part of 2011 (maybe even a bit earlier) and man does this thing drive.  No more wondering about "how far can I go on a charge" beacuse with all the systems in the VOLT you can drive cross-country with any fear of running out of juice.  And, if you travel 40 miles a day or less (and most people do) you can go almost forever without ever using a tank of gas.

I have access to hundreds of great new cars like the CRUZE and the EQUINOX and, of course, the 2011 Camero, which just plain ol' rocks the house.  Coming in 2011 we will have the VOLT, which is the coolest thing ever. If you want to save money on gas and get the newest, brightest, and most talked abouit car in years, I can get you on our special list for information, test drives, and to get one!!  The photo on the left is the interior of the CRUZE.  Wow is all I can say - it looks, feels, and is better than anything else in its class. 

Speaking of class - if you are looking for a truck I know how to make sure you get what you need to move what you want.  Do you have a toy hauler, a 5th wheel, or trailer?  I will make sure you get the right truck to meet your needs.

Let me know how I may help you get exactly what you are looking for without a hassle, without a headache, and with total confidence in our dealership and your vehicle.

See the USA in great cars, trucks, SUV's and see me for the best deal you will get.  Make sure you tell me you saw this blog for an extra incentive not available to anyone anywhere esle, period.

I am yours in success and you can email me randallblaum@qualitychevy.ccom to set up an informational call, a test drive, or a purchase.  You can also call me at 760-745-7221 x137.  Remember, you can live almost anywhre, drive almost anything, and have almost any budget and I can find a car, truck, or SUV you will fall in love with and will serve you well for years.

Be well-

Randall

 

Gold Canyon Candles for Fall and the Holidays 2010

It's that time of year when we all begin to think about what to get people for the holidays and what we will get ourselves, too.  This year I am donating 10% of all my holiday season sales as an independent Gold Canyon Demonstrator to schools, teams, and groups.  Take a look at the photo album entitled, "Gold Canyon" to see just a few of the phenominal candles, diffusers and other accessories Gold Canyon is offering this holday season.

Gold Canyon candles are simply the world's finest candles and scents available and they have the strongest fragrance, guaranteed.  Each candle has exceptional quality and is today's standard for afforable luxury.  With over 600 products to choose from there is something for every taste, budget, and style.

There are many seasonal scents that will be gone in just a few weeks and of course there are dozens of your favorite scents, too - like:  Sugar Cookie, Cinnamon-Vanilla, and Pomegranate.  Add some yummy and happy to your home this holiday season.

Are you or your group looking for a way to raise funds this year?  Are you tired of selling "everything under the sun" and not seeing much benefit?  Please call me or email me and I'll share with you the great fundraising opportunity there is with Gold Canyon.  Easy-to-sell candles, especially now at holiday time, can generate hundreds or thousands of dollars for your group.

Football, Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Band, Choir, Business Groups, Churches, Lodges, and other groups can all get the much needed revenue they need with just a bit of effort and enthusiasm.  My email is CandleRandall@Gmail.com.  Let me know what you need, and I'll do everything I can to make it happen for you and your group.

Right now I am offering a free gift for all orders over $25 including not-available-to-the-public votive candles and other candles, as well as complimentary services at a top notch hair and beauty salon.  Take care of yourself while you take care of others and your shopping list. 

Email me at CandleRandall@Gmail.com and I'll be glad to connect with you to set a time we can meet or chat over the phone.  Let me do the work and you sit back, relax, and enjoy your life!

Thank you and have the happiest of holidays-

Randall

 

 

San Diego Moving Jobs from Private Sector to Public Sector - Not a Good Thing

In 2009, the latest data available, 4 of the top 5 employers in San Diego were either the federal government, state government, or the military.  Only the University of San Diego broke the top 5 with the City of San Diego placing 6th.  What does this mean to private sector jobs?  Plenty.

In the San Diego region people that work for one of the top 15 employers are a federal, state, or city employee, work in the healthcare industry, are part of the university system, or work for the US Postal Service.  Anyone not already working in these industries, has to face the reality that the outlook for the remainder of 2010 and most of 2011 promises to be as difficult when it comes to finding a job, let alone a job they like or want.

When the economy returns to some semblance of normal there will only be a small increase in many employment categories because most economic sectors simply cannot recover fast enough to help the San Diego area rebound from the housing bust, huge unemployment, and a shrinking tax base.

With little hope on the horizon for private sector employment people are turning to the city, county, state, and federal governments for jobs. As of 2009 the top 20 employers in the San Diego region employed 230,301 people.  Of those employed people 112, 809, almost 50%, were employed by the different branches of the government or the Navy.  Another 58,260 were employed by universities or school districts, or about 25%.  That leaves just 25% of all other possible jobs in every sector available for people who wish to be employed.

No wonder people are turning to the government for help; there just are not enough well-paying private sector jobs to go around for people who want those jobs, including the more than 10% of the unemployed in the region.  Because people are reaching out for any job and the government is creating more government jobs than ever fewer private sector jobs are being created and this public sector growth cannot sustain itself.  At some point in time there will simply not be enough private sector companies and employees to sustain a viable economy.

The continued elimination of private sector jobs and the increasing base of public sector jobs will most likely have the deleterious effect on the community in the future because it is private industry and entrepreneurs that bring life and vitality to the community, not big government and certainly not big education.  Government and education are certainly needed, but rarely do you see true breakthroughs come from these sectors.

To keep our community growing we need to focus on creating more private sector businesses and jobs and support new enterprises.  We need to support the leading edge entrepreneurs and we need to look beyond the government dole to survive.

Getting the lowest airfare and best seats for holiday travel

We all dread the lines at the airport, hate the cow-stampede for the overhead bins, and just deplore the fees, fees and more fees the airlines charge now.  So what is a traveler to do?  If you are a premium customer it gets a bit better, but what if you’re not?  Is there a way to beat the system?  Yes there is and here's what to do:

Without a doubt the best fares can be found online.  If you follow your favorite airline on Twitter or Facebook, they have some crazy-good sales they only announce through these social networks.  You can also sign up for their newsletters and get great deals almost no one else knows about. 

There are also sites on the internet that can help you get the information you seek, lower fares, better seats and such.  The first place to look for lower fares is www.farecompare.com.  Here you will be able to compare almost all the airlines' prices on up to a dozen travel sites.  It's quick, easy, and even has links for "deals of the day" as well as the airlines' fee charts so you can know what you're really going to pay for your ticket.  You can also check www.priceline.com  if your travel schedule is flexible or you don't mind taking flights at odd times.  Using Priceline can save you up to 40% off the listed prices.

Before you shop for your tickets beware that not all airlines are created equal.  The airlines are now charging for just about everything other than "getting you there."  This included fees for seat selection, boarding, and bags.  Just because you pay more for your ticket or pay for a premium seat, it does not mean you will get anything more than just a standard seat with no additional legroom.  US Airways charges between $5 and $15 for "Choice Seats" that are at the front of the plane, which is nice.  The problem is that you get no more legroom so unless you have to bolt from the plane the second you land, it's really not worth the extra fee.  If you want more real legroom, book with United (Economy Plus Seats) or Jet Blue.  You will pay a few dollars more for theses seats, but both of airlines provide a lot more leg room for a small extra fee.  Southwest Airlines has no seat selection fees, no bag fees and no assigned seats.  If you want a great seat, it might be worth paying the extra few dollars to get early boarding, in the "A" boarding group, because you will get your choice of the best seats and plenty of overhead bin space.

If you want to see what the seat layout of every jet in the world looks like and get a good review of what the seat actually provides you before you buy your ticket, go to www.seatguru.com.  This website provides you a view of the entire cabin of virtually every commercial passenger plane flying today.  The seat layout comes in handy and uses a simple "red, yellow, green" coding that shows you if the seat is great, has some disadvantages, or is just bad.  By using this site before you book your ticket, you will be better able to select the best seat for you and know before you pay of those extra seat fees are worth it or not. 

If you are prepared before you buy your tickets your journey will be more enjoyable, have a lot less surprises, and will even cost you a bit less. 

Fed Up With The Fed? I Am.

The Federal Reserve, "The Fed," is not a US Government business, entity, or - well - acutally, anything.  It is a private corporation that sets its own rules an quite frankly, within those rule the rich really, really win and We the People seem to get screwed in each and every way.  So, are they doing this for our own good, or are they just liars trying to manipulate our money supply?  All you need to do is Google, "The Federal Reserve" and see for yourself.

I am a one who belives that The Fed was brought into existance for reasons beyond even what the Congress and the President at the time could possibly understand.  So, why the post???

I have signed the TRUTH MANDATE at www.FedUpWithTheFed.org.  The TRUTH MANDATE si simple:  We want The Fed, the banks and Wall Street to start telling the truth.  Join me and sign it today at www.FedUpWithTheFed.org and We the People will take back what is rightfully ours - our money.

Screentrade Magazine "Merger Mania" Article

Here is the newest article I wrote for the international movie publication, Screentrade Magazine."  It's all about how the massive mergers in the theatre industry have had an impact on the moviegoer.

Here is an article from today's San Diego Union Tribune on the MONEY song by David Scotland and the new television pilot we produced. Also, you can see the behind the scenes trailer for the MONEY shoot at www.davidscotland.com . If you like it, buy the song. Part of the proceeds go to three charities.

See a great interview with David Scotland on his new "MONEY" music video. I was the executive producer and the buzz is building...

States Seeking Cash Hope to Expand Taxes to Services - NYTimes.com

Cory Morse/Muskegon Chronicle, via Associated PressA LITTLE OFF THE TOP Michigan residents may have to pay a 5.5 percent tax for haircuts. States across the nation are considering similar taxes on services to solve their budget problems.

via www.nytimes.com

The last line of this article reads: "What else are you going to do," referring to why states want to charge taxes on services. That's okay, until you figure out that when people cannot afford things they don't need to simply exist, revenues will fall, businesses will go broke, people will spend less, and states will fail. Never in our history (that whole breaking away from England thing) has more and more taxes lead to a better economy. Why would anyone think this is so today.

In answer to the "What else can we do" question - Well, in California here's a few things to consider: Get rid of our legislature which has a whopping 9 - 11% approval rating; stop paying for illegal aliens to get free medical, free, school, and free social services, and stop taxing the hell out of us.

Just a thought...

Insurers Might Delay Covering Pre-Existing Conditions - NYTimes.com

When I first read the headline, I was ready to blast a wave of rage against the insurance companies.  But, after reading the article and doing my research I found that, in essence I agree with them.  I know there will be more than a few of who will be shocked that I agree with big insurance, but hear me out before you go off the deep end.

First, I am not going to debate the health care bill.  Been there, done that.  Here's my point:  Our Congress created a bill that was so laden with rules, with exceptions, and was put together by people who are not qualified to create a health care bill at all.  I'm not saying our Congress is not a qualified Congress (been there, done that, too).  What I am saying is that as a unit, our Congress knows nothing about health care.  They are not experts in business (most of them are not entrepreneurs), and they are not empathetic to the people of the USA.  (If they were we would not ever hear words like, "We have to pass this to know what's in it.)

So now big insurance disagrees with Congress' interpretation of the law.  Is anyone surprised at this?  Aren't we all looking for how to make the law work for us, not against us?  And here's the thing, a kid born with asthma, will cost more money to the insurance company, generally speaking, than will a kid born without asthma.  So, why shouldn't they charge more?  Why shouldn't they look to see how they can make the bill work for them?  Doesn't Congress do the exact same thing every time they propose or vote on a bill?  (Earmarks come to mind anyone??)

For me, the new health care bill will cost me more money and will force me to buy a product I do not want and I do not use. This I don't like.  The new bill also does not allow me any bonus or credit or exception for being healthy.  But it does give me access to tons of drugs for longer periods of time.  Yeah!  What a deal!  (Yes, that is sarcasm)

So read on and see what you think.  I think I'm glad the bill passed because it will finally bring to the front to deplorable way this country is being run and will shake our Congress for years to come.  Will it be a good thing or bad thing - NOBODY knows and cannot know for years.  No matter what "they" say - this bill is beast of gargantuan proportions and will be what it will be all on its own.  We'll all have to wait and see what it really, really is decades from now.

So there you have it...  Randall seems to support big insurance, not pick on the Congress, and seems to like the health care bill.  Good Gos, what will happen next?  Stay tuned to find out...

WASHINGTON — Just days after President Obama signed the new health care law, insurance companies are already arguing that, at least for now, they do not have to provide one of the benefits that the president calls a centerpiece of the law: coverage for certain children with pre-existing conditions.

via www.nytimes.com