Keep track of your direct allocations such as the coffee, sheets, towels, etc that you noted, but also track all of the indirect items - utilities, repairs maintenance...it goes on. 

I figure if they were asked that, they would indirectly wind up saying that some of bush's programs that he started are worthy of keeping, therefore we must raise taxes to sustain them.

To be specific IRC section 4975(c)(1)(B) prohibits: The direct or indirect lending of money or other extension of credit between an IRA and a “disqualified person”.What you propose is a prohibited transaction. 

For instance, there are areas in California that investors are spending around 10k in direct mail to get a deal.

You will want to read and understand the gist of the Canada - U.S.A. tax treaty.2) If plan to acquire several properties in Canada, then it may be beneficial to form a holding company which you either own directly or in-directly through a U.S.A. entity.  

It looks like a change in direction where markets are calling FED's bluff but we will see where this goes.

From a group that claims to be (directly or indirectly) more astute than the general public?  

I really wonder how many jobs are tied, directly and indirectly, to all the useless crap we sell each other.For a view on this, read "The Long Emergency" by James Howard Kunstler.

The letter must be opened, so it is even more important to have a stamp and a quality envelope to encourage the recipient to open that investment we make in direct mailing.

Later in the day when it isn't in direct sun and on cooler days the bubbles go down and it looks great.