BREAKING NEWS! City of Thousand Oaks Changes Name to Nine Hundred Seventy Eight Oaks!

The City of Thousand Oaks announced today that effective immediately, the city's name has been changed to the City of Nine Hundred Seventy Eight Oaks!

Prompting the name change was an extensive review and inventory of trees in Thousand Oaks by the Ventura County Auditor-Controller's office.  Since the city's incorporation on October 7, 1964, there had been no formal assessment of the number of oak trees residing within city limits. 

The recent audit indicated that only 978 full grown oak trees are located in the city.  Lead auditor Mia Countdemup notes "I was shocked!  We looked in every nook and cranny and couldn't find those other 22 trees. Kind of bums me out!"

While numerous oak trees have been planted in city limits between 1964 and 2009, it can take up to 15 to 20 years for an oak tree to reach full size.  Growth of the city through the years to over 127,000 inhabitants has caused a number of oaks to be displaced, resulting in the shortfall of trees.

City spokesperson Ayn L. Retentive indicated that future tree counts will be performed annually in March and results will be announced on April 1st.

In related news, the City of Twentynine Palms in San Bernandino County announced that it has changed its name to A Dozen Palms after an exhaustive review for 17 missing palm trees.  City council member and palm counter Ivana Findemall stated "We kind of don't mind, as 29 is such an odd number anyhow. A dozen is much more memorable."

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS' DAY!!!

California Sales Taxes...Financial "Swindle Us" Package Coming April Fool's Day!

It is now April 1st!  Yes, the California sales tax rate has increased to 8.25% as previously announced.

One Penny Equals 14%

Funny (well maybe not) how when describing the sales tax hike they say it is increasing by a penny, or 1% of each dollar.  Well the reality of it is that for every $100 taxable purchase you pay $8.25 in taxes instead of $7.25...this $1 increase represents a 14% tax hike!  OUCH!

The "good" news is that most of Ventura County will be limited to 8.25%.  Our neighbors in the L.A. County portion of Westlake Village, Agoura and Calabasas will pay 9.25%. 

The cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme will charge 8.75% sales taxes on 4/1.  The extra .5% was approved by voters in November.  Hmmm, I wonder if this would have been approved had they known another statewide increase was coming.  A double whammy!  As a result, sales taxes in Oxnard and Port Hueneme effectively are increasing by 21%!!!

It could be worse.  The highest rate in California is 10.25% in Pico Rivera and South Gate.   Dear PR and SG residents: Thousand Oaks is only 60 miles away.  Drive here to save taxes on big ticket purchases!  (NOTE: A very smart friend of mine pointed out an inaccuracy in the original post...that vehicles are taxed based on the city/county the car is registered in...not the city of purchase.  Thank you for that key clarification!)

The Trend is Not Your Friend

The California State Board of Equalization website is not ashamed (nor am I) to publish the following history of sales tax rates:

• 8/1/33:  2.5%
• 7/1/35:  3%
• 7/1/43:  2.5% (nice!)
• 7/1/49:  3%
• 1/1/62:  4% (owww...a 33% increase)
• 8/1/67:  5% (another 25%)
• 7/1/73:  6% (20% increase)
• 10/1/73:  5% (back down only 3 months later)
• 4/1/74:  6% (and back up we go)
• 12/1/89:  6.25% (not bad...15 1/2 years and only .25% increase)
• 1/1/91:  6% (very nice)
• 7/15/91:  7.25% (prior drop was a major head fake)
• 1/1/01:  7%
• 1/1/02:  7.25%
• 4/1/09:  8.25%

California sales tax rates have more than tripled since they were born in 1933.  That trend line ain't looking too good.

This latest increase they say will expire on either 7/1/01 or 7/1/12, depending upon whether we approve a "Budget Stabilization constitutional amendment" in a statewide election on May 19th.  I attempted to decipher what this amendment is but was unsuccessful.  I will try again once the details are published.

Chuck Trunks' Latest Work - "Zuma Beach"

One of Chuck's most vivid memories from his first days in Los Angeles in the late 1980s was spending time at Zuma Beach.  His latest precision abstract captures the feel of Zuma Beach in Chuck's own unique way.   I had to find a picture to compare it to and found this one.  Visit www.chucktrunks.com for more of Chuck's signature work and click here and here for more on Chuck on Conejo Valley Guide.

Chuck was also selected by the Simi Valley Town Center in a countywide competition to have his work featured in its monthly calendar.  Over 400 artists submitted entries.  See the other winners at www.simivalleytc.com/go/Poolb.cfm?MallID=781&FPURLID=2129965923.

Starbucks VIA "Ready Brew" is Actually Pretty Good!

AN UPDATE!!  It took 5 weeks, but I finally received my sample of Starbucks VIA "Ready Brew" (i.e. instant coffee) in the mail.  I'm happy to report that after initially being skeptical, I LIKE IT!

Starbucks VIA comes in these cool little packets about the size of a finger.  There are two flavors, Columbia and Italian Roast.   Each packet makes an 8 ounce cup of coffee.  I was shocked by the fact that I really enjoyed the taste of it, much more so than the terrible coffee I brewed at home this morning. 

In fact, today I bought 2 boxes of it so I have some in reserve.  They charge $10 for a box of 12, which I guess ain't that bad since it was actually pretty good!  I also like the portability of these.  Pop a few of these into your briefcase or purse and you have good tasting coffee anywhere you can find hot water!

Click the logo below to get to the Starbucks VIA website (no, I don't make money from this :< just sharing something new with all of you!)

I have ordered my sample and will not be shy about sharing my thoughts about it!  CVG would love to hear your opinions either by clicking here or by commenting at the bottom of this post.

From the Starbucks website:

"This is not instant coffee as you know it. This is rich, flavorful Starbucks® coffee in an instant.

Starbucks has found a way to offer a truly great cup of coffee that you can prepare by just adding water. Other instant coffees taste flat and lifeless. Starbucks VIA^TM Ready Brew is different – it’s full-bodied and flavorful, just like the Starbucks® coffee you know and love.

It’s made with the highest-quality, ethically sourced 100% arabica beans. The magic is in a proprietary, all-natural process that we spent years perfecting. We microgrind the coffee in a way that preserves all of their essential oils and flavor. No other coffee company takes this step, and it makes all the difference.

We know you might be skeptical ... but we hope you’ll give Starbucks VIA^TM Ready Brew a chance. Try a free sample at home. The proof is in the cup!"

The Starbucks website had this very brief press release on February 12th:

"Starbucks Statement: Instant Coffee Breakthrough
Starbucks will host exclusive events next week in New York and other cities to introduce a breakthrough new product. We have been working on this project for more than 20 years, and have a patent pending on the technology that delivers Starbucks coffee in an instant form. The instant coffee market is a $17 billion global market and it offers Starbucks a significant opportunity."

The Economics of Girl Scout Cookies

NOTE FROM CONEJO JOE:  This was originally posted in 2/08 but it's that time of year again.  What made me think of it is that I'm doing my taxes and eating Girl Scout Cookies.  Reminded me that Girl Scout Cookie purchases are NOT tax deductible.  But what they lack in deductibility they make up for in calories and deliciousness.

So it is February 7th, 2008 and we've already ordered 16 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.  It started on a Saturday afternoon when a uniformed Scout knocked on the door, order form in hand.  My son helped me choose 6 boxes, mostly Thin Mints and those addictive peanut butter patties I shove in my mouth two at a time.  Then a week a later a guy in the office took orders for his daughter.  Another 4 boxes for me.  But at least one of my selections was the allegedly low calorie "Cina-Spins" (won't be low calorie for me when I eat triple the recommend portion).  In the meantime my wife ordered 6 boxes from a friend's daughter.  No doubt we will voraciously eat them all.

Girl Scout Cookies are big business.  Nearly 200 million boxes are sold per year by 2.7 million girl scouts (and their parents).  The price of Girl Scout Cookies ranges from $2.50 to $4 depending on where you live.  Locally they are $4 but across the country the average price is $3.50 per box.  Of that $3.50, about 90 cents goes to 2 companies that make the cookies, $2 goes towards Scout programs, training and facilities costs, 20 cents goes towards Scout incentive programs and 50 cents goes to the local Scout troops for activities and programs.

Are Girl Scout Cookies tax deductible?  Technically no, not unless you buy them and donate them to a charity instead of devouring them.  So if you are not a cookie fan or are on a diet, consider donating money to the Scouts directly, bypassing the cookies.  You'll have a tax deduction and your waistline will benefit.

Why aren't Girl Scout Cookies sold online?  Well actually they are, but are not supposed to be.  Today I checked eBay and there were 79 listings for Girl Scout Cookies.  Selling cookies on the Internet is prohibited by the Girl Scouts yet the "black market" for them continues.  Some people just have to have their cookies delivered to their door via UPS I suppose. 

Thin Mints are still tops.  25% of Girl Scout Cookies sold are Thin Mints.  Let's do the math.  That means 50 million boxes and with 32 cookies per box that equates to 1.6 BILLION Thin Mint cookies per year.  At 40 calories per cookie we're talking 64 BILLION calories per year on Thin Mint cookies.  But who's counting.

Girl Scout Cookies have been around nationally since 1936.  Prior to then local troops sold cookies, often baking them themselves.  The only hiatus came during WWII, when calendars were sold instead of cookies.

Looking for Girl Scout Cookies but can't find them?  Visit   www.GirlScoutCookies.org.

For more information about about the Girl Scout Cookies program, click here.

The Man, The Boy and The Brick

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in a new Jaguar. While watching for kids darting out from between parked cars, there was movement on the sidewalk that made him slow down.

As the car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the car's side door! The executive slammed on the brakes and drove the Jaguar back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed the child against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

The youth was apologetic. "Please...please, I'm sorry...I didn't know what else to do "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, he rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the child asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

The driver was moved beyond words and hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the boy's scrapes and cuts. A quick look over the minor injuries relieved the executive.

"Thank you," the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the young executive simply watched the child push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. The dent was there to remind the executive this message:

Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!

The universe whispers messages to our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time...a brick is thrown to ensure we listen.  It's our choice to listen or not.

Where Do I Invest Money When Interest Rates are So Low?

My mother is retired and is doing her best to live off of her retirement savings and Social Security payments.  She prefers to invest in conservative CDs and bonds as she doesn't have a lot of money and doesn't want to risk losing money.  However, the rates are so low today she is wondering what to do.  CDs are earning a measly 1.5% to 2.5% depending on duration.  Corporate bonds aren't much better.

The April 2009 issue of Kiplinger's Finance has some good alternatives for those willing to put some money in stocks that pay decent dividends.  While investing in stocks certainly has downside exposure as we've all experienced recently, if you are investing for the long haul, consider some of the following:

• Altria (Symbol: MO) at its current price of $17 generates a 7.9% yield (I don't like smoking but I don't mind profiting from those who do).
• BP plc (BP) at $38 has an 8.8% yield! Nice!
• Aflac (AFL) at $15 has a yield of 7.5% (though the stock price has been completely hammered down 80% over the past year...not for the faint of heart)
• Eli Lilly (LLY) at $31 has a yield of 6.5%
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) at $29 yields 6.8%
• Nicor (GAS) at $29 has a yield of 6.4%
• Merck (MRK) at $27 (was $24 yesterday) yields 6.3%
• H.J. Heinz (HNZ) at $33 yields 5.1% - ketchup on some nice dividends!
• Kraft Foods (KFT) at $23 yields 5.2%
• Coca-Cola (KO) at $41 yields 4%

Other stocks that I like for their dividends and what I believe to be are solid future prospects are:

• AT&T (T) at $24 a share yields 6.7%
• Verizon (VZ) $28 yields 6.8%
• Southern Co. (SO) at its current low point of $27 yields 6.3%
• Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) today is at $51 and yields 3.8%
• Kimberly-Clark (KMB) of Kleenex, Huggies and Depends fame at $46 yields 5.3%
• Microsoft (MSFT) at its current low price of $17/share yields 3.1%
• Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at its current $21 price yields 6%
• Even Procter & Gamble (PG) at $47 is now yielding 3.5%
• I also like the iShares Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) which invests in high yielding corporate bonds and currently yields 5.8%

These yields look good now but things can change...both dividend payments and stock prices can drop (case in point...GE and all the financial stocks).  But stock prices have already dropped so much that I'm willing to take my chances on many of these.