The other day at the office, I was discussing my bullish view of the market with one of my most trusted advisors, X.

“So you’re bullish eh?,” he asked, “Why?”

“Because the market is going up.” I said. “So’ I’ll remain bullish until general conditions change.”

“Why do you think the market is so strong?” he inquired.

“Consumer spending is extremely strong, which drives demand for a whole host of gadgets.” I explained.

“So consumer spending is driving profit growth,” he countered. “This makes me wonder where consumers are finding the cash to spend, given unemployment is so high.”

“It’s the oldest trick in the book.” I offered. “You know, the infamous tapping on a person’s left shoulder when you’re standing on their right. Consumer spending is extremely strong, which is driving profit growth–tap on the left shoulder–but the money consumers are spending is the money with which they are not paying their mortgages. The banks are standing on the right.”

“So when will you turn bearish on stocks?”

“When the market is going down.” I said. “For now I’ll trade to the long side. I’ll own names that resemble the chart of Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI)–which I also own.”

And then I was gone.

SIRI Oil on canvas

Greek CDS move above 400 bps, GGBs spread over Bunds moves to new highs. The move in gold continues to be in it’s infancy. I have seen this movie before.

Gold - oil on canvas

Meanwhile, back at The Factory, the internet continues to be the largest communication platform I’ve ever been involved with. If I didn’t own the darned thing, I wouldn’t be where I am–in hiding.

On another note, some noteworthy happenings impressed me recently while speaking to my assistant, Tonya:

–Last week Goldman Sachs downgraded EPS estimates for the banks by 15%.

–The federal reserve hiked interest rates by 25 bps from .50% to .75% on February 19th in a surprise move. Since then, stocks have marched higher while volatility has slunk lower. There are various rumors making the rounds that the fed will repeat it’s actions from February–hike rates by 25bps in another “surprise move.” Moves are moves, but I definitely appreciate surprise moves and use them often.

S&P Futures / VIX

–Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s changed their ratings on Greece last week from negative to stable. Does anyone care about rating’s agencies anymore? Haven’t they been proven meaningless?

–I will be working the Ironman II premier in various locations, including Los Angeles. My client–Ms. Pinky Megiston–is involved with the show so though I’ll be there, absolutely no one will have any idea who I am. After all, not even I know who I am anymore. Whenever I have lost my mind in the past it has always led to bigger and brighter things. This time shall be no different.

Why not? Money is a good thing to have in these twisted times. Even Richard Nixon is hungry for it. Only a few days before the Derby he said, “If I had any money I’d invest it in the stock market.” And the market, meanwhile, continued its grim slide.
-Hunter S. Thompson
The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved

In Russia, talks of the reserve currency–gold–lurk in the background. Talks are focused on worldwide reserves in the wake of last week’s talks of the IMF buying more physical gold. Russian central banker Ulyukayev commented that Russia would increase the proportion of gold in it’s reserves. Records show that gold makes up 5.3% of Russia’s reserves, up from 4.3% seen back in late November.

Higher and Higher, Baby

Earlier today I was closing some deals when I remembered that it was time for me to address the eBusiness Cashual nation. I started eBusiness Cashual (eBC) while traversing a myriad of sumptuous hotels and satellite castles that Robin Leach could only add to his champagne wishes and caviar dreams. It was within these undisclosed locations that I made my formal Cashual breakthrough: my rags to riches tale is fodder for more than a Hollywood epic. I had undervalued myself—I had a higher purpose.

As this indubitable knowledge materialized, the eBC concept was conceived—yet it remained unborn. The possibility hung in the air in front of me like a 15-year-old awaiting his driver’s test. Still the dream was taking form, and I believed in it.

Laboring to birth my business brain-child, I considered the most important aspects of industry and production. The best businesses are the ones that empower others to create their own businesses. Think eBay or Google or Amway. How many people have founded businesses upon the generous platforms of the these giants? The catch: though free to a large audience, these businesses do require some fees to be paid. Someone is taking a cut. But If I could come up with a business so robust that it was impervious to these cagey cuts, a profit would be profit.

Now I have transcended entrepreneur and become philosopher. If I define my business as one that empowers others, but also disables the process of profit skimming, I may just have a new concept: the reverse pyramid scheme!

Standing atop my pyramid and reveling in my intellectual bounds, I realized after all, it is all about me. In attempting to explain how it wasn’t, I confirmed that it was. The best businesses are free to a very large audience, are viral, and no one else takes a cut of the profit. Deducing through the algorithm, it becomes clear: The best businesses are lifestyles.

Thus the painfully beautiful birth of eBC—the lifestyle of Vinnie Vega—sprawling in it’s newborn purity before you. EBC is a collaborative enterprise contact management cloud solution from which we can all gain. It is what it is. There is no face or book in it. Here at eBC, we start in the street, steady on our feet, and we always keep it eBusiness Cashual.

We Love You eBC.