The village idiot of Las Vegas tells an old friend from Kansas how to hit a lick.

"I know what the key to getting rich is. It's markets!" - This past weekend I chatted with an old friend from Kansas. He'd been reading the blog and was curious to know more - "It's markets goddammit!" I state once again -- "Without a market you can have the greatest thing in the world and no one will give a shit."

I rattle on a bit more and he interrupts - "I understand what you are saying about markets, everyone understands that. The problem is it takes more resources than either one of us have to penetrate a market thorough enough to make any difference. The corporations in this country are far too powerful. Guys like us don't have a chance!" I wasn't getting the point across - so I tell him this - emphatically -- "Here's the part where people get confused about my message. It's not the traditional market (I refer to it as the Anglo market). It's emerging markets, which are very prevalent in Las Vegas. Those are the markets that should be attacked."

He says curiously, "What do you mean by that?" - I tell him - "Do you remember when I gave you the dime store tour of Chinatown a while back?" - he says yes - I say - "Asians are a text book case on emerging markets. That's just one market. Think about all the Latinos in this country. There is another emerging market! I am going to say it this way and then wait for you to see it with your own eyes. Forget about having the nicest smelling perfume, or the tastiest can of nuts, or the best video game. That's not how a poor guy gets rich. It's being the first in a market! That's how a motherfucker hits a lick! One more thing! Emerging markets will cost a fraction of what traditional markets cost to attack. At this stage of the game it is all about connections on the ground! I have a number of them."

We chat a bit more and he tells me his plan is come to Las Vegas towards the first of June and check things out, I tell him I would appreciate that. He asks if I have any parting words before he hangs up - I say - "It's the guy at the bottom who pushes things up! That's who wins!"