This is a pretty sobering list of observations regarding America, from a Canadian no less.
...................................................
TOP-10 "ONLY IN AMERICA" OBSERVATIONS - BY A CANADIAN*
1) Only in America could the rich people - who pay 86% of all income taxes - be
accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who don't pay any income taxes at
all.
2) Only in America could people claim that the government still discriminates against
black Americans when they have a black President, a black Attorney General, and
roughly 18% of the federal work-force is black while only 12% of the population is
black.
3) Only in America could they have had the two people most responsible for our tax
code, Timothy Geithner, the head of the Treasury Department and Charles Rangel
who once ran the Ways and Means Committee, BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who
are in favor of higher taxes.
4) Only in America can they have terrorists kill people in the name of Allah and have
the media primarily react by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash.
5) Only in America would they make people who want to legally become American
citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens of thousands of dollars for
the privilege while we discuss letting anyone who sneaks into the country illegally just
'magically' become American citizens.
6) Only in America could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking
by the country's Constitution be thought of as "extremists."
7) Only in America could you need to present a driver's license to cash a check or buy
alcohol, but not to vote.
8) Only in America could people demand the government investigate whether oil
companies are gouging the public because the price of gas went up when the return
on equity invested in a major U.S. oil company (Marathon Oil) is less than half of a
company making tennis shoes (Nike).
9) Only in America could the government collect more tax dollars from the people
than any nation in recorded history, still spend a Trillion dollars more than it has per
year - for total spending of $7-Million PER MINUTE, and complain that it doesn't
have nearly enough money.
10) Only in America could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000.00
a plate campaign fund-raising event.
Showing posts with label economics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economics. Show all posts
31 January 2013
29 March 2011
Still Snowing - The End of the World - Something of Beauty
It's beginning to get bloody tedious this failure of spring to appear. I'm still getting days where it snows all day. The snow is light and does not stick but still I'd sure like spring to show up. The extended forecast is for more of the same. Good gollie miss Molly, this is the longest winter yet.
A reader wrote me to say that the collapse of the middle class in America isn't going to happen because "IF we minions decide to invent and bring to market something that people want and/or need....think of paper clips, or BIll Gates. Steve Jobs, or Martha Stewart, Fred Astaire, audrey Hepburn, or anyone else who didn't start out with much money, but ended up with LOTS because of their talent...The minions can be come masters if they only think they can. These folks created LOTS of jobs for other people!" I'd argue Martha, Steve and Bill created more jobs overseas than in the US. The inclusion of actors as innovators completely escapes me. The only thing I can think of is movies let people live in a fantasy world. I think this person's view represents the majority, middle class view and is precisely why the collapse is already happening but going largely unnoticed.
I came across this article which shows me how the US stacks up on science and innovation.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12885271.
As a photographer, I naturally believe a picture is worth a thousand words and this image tells me all I need to know about the future of the dollar.
I recently read and article, I don't have the link, where a person posits the reason for the market to be rising in the face of a sluggish economy. The market rising in a poor economy seems, at face value, to be counter intuitive. It seemed such to me. But, the author points out that several large economies such as India and China are moving right along and many US companies have simply left the US to produce goods an services for those economies. This abandonment of the US will help their bottom line and make shareholders happy but they won't create much in the way of jobs in the US.
Lately, I've been pondering TEOTWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it). Heaven only knows recent events have been conducive to such dark notions. Much has been written and documentaries made heralding the end of times at 12/21/2012. They say the Mayans, Nostradamus and others have prophesied that date as the end. One would have to be living in a cave not to notice the harbingers that are all around us, earthquakes, tsunamis, freak storms, solar activity, planetary alignments and on and on. Depending on how you look at it, it could be very depressing.
Obviously, I don't "know" what the future holds. I do feel something is going to happen that is going to alter life as we know it. I use the term we in the global sense. But, rather than see the event as the end I choose to see it as some kind of new beginning. I don't see the extinction of mankind but I do see the survivors as those who have prepared themselves mentally, physically and spiritually. Change is always tough and if I'm right this event will be extremely challenging. But, the good news for me is that it will be an ending that leads to a more positive beginning so I choose to embrace it!
Well, that was heavy thinking. Fortunately, a friend posted a perfectly delightful video which I am going to enjoy watching numerous times. I first saw the Budweiser Clydesdales when I was about five years old, that would be 57 years ago. They always came to be in the parade during the county fair. For 57 years they have brought tears to my eyes just to see their magnificence, the power and grace of them. Gads, I am a wuss!
A reader wrote me to say that the collapse of the middle class in America isn't going to happen because "IF we minions decide to invent and bring to market something that people want and/or need....think of paper clips, or BIll Gates. Steve Jobs, or Martha Stewart, Fred Astaire, audrey Hepburn, or anyone else who didn't start out with much money, but ended up with LOTS because of their talent...The minions can be come masters if they only think they can. These folks created LOTS of jobs for other people!" I'd argue Martha, Steve and Bill created more jobs overseas than in the US. The inclusion of actors as innovators completely escapes me. The only thing I can think of is movies let people live in a fantasy world. I think this person's view represents the majority, middle class view and is precisely why the collapse is already happening but going largely unnoticed.
I came across this article which shows me how the US stacks up on science and innovation.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12885271.
As a photographer, I naturally believe a picture is worth a thousand words and this image tells me all I need to know about the future of the dollar.
I recently read and article, I don't have the link, where a person posits the reason for the market to be rising in the face of a sluggish economy. The market rising in a poor economy seems, at face value, to be counter intuitive. It seemed such to me. But, the author points out that several large economies such as India and China are moving right along and many US companies have simply left the US to produce goods an services for those economies. This abandonment of the US will help their bottom line and make shareholders happy but they won't create much in the way of jobs in the US.
Lately, I've been pondering TEOTWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it). Heaven only knows recent events have been conducive to such dark notions. Much has been written and documentaries made heralding the end of times at 12/21/2012. They say the Mayans, Nostradamus and others have prophesied that date as the end. One would have to be living in a cave not to notice the harbingers that are all around us, earthquakes, tsunamis, freak storms, solar activity, planetary alignments and on and on. Depending on how you look at it, it could be very depressing.
Obviously, I don't "know" what the future holds. I do feel something is going to happen that is going to alter life as we know it. I use the term we in the global sense. But, rather than see the event as the end I choose to see it as some kind of new beginning. I don't see the extinction of mankind but I do see the survivors as those who have prepared themselves mentally, physically and spiritually. Change is always tough and if I'm right this event will be extremely challenging. But, the good news for me is that it will be an ending that leads to a more positive beginning so I choose to embrace it!
Well, that was heavy thinking. Fortunately, a friend posted a perfectly delightful video which I am going to enjoy watching numerous times. I first saw the Budweiser Clydesdales when I was about five years old, that would be 57 years ago. They always came to be in the parade during the county fair. For 57 years they have brought tears to my eyes just to see their magnificence, the power and grace of them. Gads, I am a wuss!
10 January 2011
Inflation vs. Deflation Debate: What's It Gonna Be?
For years now a debate has been raging within the financial community: What does the future hold raging inflation or deflation? Economists and other “experts” have been absolutely rabid about their points of view. And, for just as long I have argued it isn’t going to be an either or scenario. There will be inflation as regards the things that you need and deflation in the things you can do without.
What got me to thinking about all this was a recent effort by a financial planning firm to get my business. None other than the firm’s principal was making the pitch and was going to personally manage my account. The fellow has been on the cover of several magazines and well regarded in his industry. I was flattered. But, he bombarded me with the prevailing line of thinking that deflation is the big bugaboo. He repeatedly sited the real estate collapse to prove his point. He also lost me as a client.
So what is inflation or deflation anyway? The definition of inflation is “the overall general upward price movement of goods and services in an economy (often caused by a increase in the supply of money), usually as measured by the Consumer Price Index and the Producer Price Index. Over time, as the cost of goods and services increase, the value of a dollar is going to fall because a person won't be able to purchase as much with that dollar as he/she previously could. While the annual rate of inflation has fluctuated greatly over the last half century, ranging from nearly zero inflation to 23% inflation, the Fed actively tries to maintain a specific rate of inflation, which is usually 2-3% but can vary depending on circumstances.” I swiped this definition from Investor Words.Com. As you might imagine deflation is just the opposite.
Unless you have been living under a rock you know that Ben Bernanke, successor to the maestro Alan Greenspan, is melting the presses printing dollars to fight the dread deflation. Bernanke has been literally flooding the world with greenbacks in historic proportions. And, he’s been doing all of this for you, my fellow Americans. If you believe that heaven help you.
The Federal Reserve is nothing but a tool for the people who really run things, the big corporations and other powerful people. Corporations and the fat cats at the top are interested only in profits. It’s tough to make a buck in a deflationary climate because nobody’s buying. If nobody is buying prices just keep on falling.
But, here’s the thing, real estate is always cited as the canary in the coal mine because it effects so many businesses. If houses aren’t selling neither is all the stuff that goes with them; appliances, flat screen TV’s furniture and the list goes on ad infinitum. These associated companies, and they comprise a huge part of the economy, can’t turn a profit. That is unacceptable.
Bush, another tool, came out with the idea that every American should own a home. Why? Well, I can assure it wasn’t because he gave a fig about the people. If he had he would have never been a part of such an absurdly foolish scheme. A scheme which has subsequently led to an awful lot of pain and suffering for those that bought into the idea that they could happily move into a $500,000 home, with no down payment on a $50,000 a year income. Well, they moved in but now most must move out and the overhang of foreclosed properties is weighing heavy on prices. According to this Yahoo article it will be decades before prices return to the former highs. The joke in the mortgage broker industry was “If you can fog a mirror you can get a loan”. I’m sorry to say if you are one of the ones that fell for it, the joke was on you.
Here’s the thing; all the businesses that depend on a healthy real estate market and the homes themselves produce discretionary items. Discretionary means things you don’t actually need but want them anyway. Those things have been deflating and all the while the non-discretionary items, things you have to have, have been rising in price or inflating. Think food and energy.
Marketers have been making Herculean efforts to create the illusion that inflation is under control despite the irresponsible money-printing marathon at the Fed. But, have you been paying less at the super market? Are you paying less at the gas station? Food producers have gotten really sneaky. They charge about the same price but the amount that you get has shrunk about 20%.
Another way that inflation has been hidden is through the importation of cheap goods mostly from China. The prices seem very reasonable but most of the products are of such poor quality hardly last any time at all. Over time you are paying much more because you have to keep replacing these "cheap" items. Once upon a time, when Americans still made things, things were of great quality. I have heirloom furniture, kitchen utensils, and tools that are 50 to 100 years old and still providing me with fine service. But, the new imported junk I must buy because there is no viable alternative is lucky to make it past a year.
All of this goes a long way toward giving the illusion that inflation is fine as told by the Consumer and Producer indices. Of course these are government statistics and subject to any manner of additional manipulations.
Another inflationary by product is the debasement of the currency. Here’s a real life anecdote on that subject. When I moved to northern Montana in 2002 I frequently shopped in British Columbia. At the time I got $1.40 Canadian for every $1.00 US. It was very nice. Goods were expensive in Canada until I factored in my 40% currency discount. I used to tell people to enjoy it whilst it lasted because the Loonie is going to parity with the U.S. dollar. I was openly laughed at. I don’t really mind. I’m used to it. I was universally laughed at ten years ago when I said gold would go to $1,500/oz. As I write this article a U.S. dollar won’t even get you one Canadian Dollar and gold recently hit $1,425.
Back in 2002 Montana plates were everywhere, not anymore. Canada has become incredibly expensive for Americans. Montana plates are seldom seen. Now you see huge numbers of Canadian plates in Montana. Northern Montana has become like a third world country where well to do Canadians come to throw their weight and money around. Most merchants welcome them. And rightly so for without them we would be in far worse shape than we are.
So, back to the inflation deflation-debate: I say it isn’t either or. I say it’s both. But, the important distinction is that the things that are inflating you can’t do without whilst it’s the things that you can do without which are deflating. To my simple, backwoods mind that makes inflation a much more serious concern. And all this money printing is going to come back to haunt us.
As an outdoor photographer who lives and works with nature I have a very healthy respect for natural cycles. Nothing on earth is as powerful or certain (besides death and taxes of course). Man, in his arrogance, can attempt to circumvent the cycles to meet his own greedy purposes but in the end all he will do is make things worse. Nature eventually holds sway and forces the cycle to go where it was meant to go with far more onerous consequences than if the cycle had been left alone to follow its natural course.
We are a long way from being out of the woods. I am just ever so grateful I know how to live in them.
©Kinsey Barnard
PS: This week I added my blog to the Facebook blog network. If you use Facebook you can follow this blog using follow box to the right.
What got me to thinking about all this was a recent effort by a financial planning firm to get my business. None other than the firm’s principal was making the pitch and was going to personally manage my account. The fellow has been on the cover of several magazines and well regarded in his industry. I was flattered. But, he bombarded me with the prevailing line of thinking that deflation is the big bugaboo. He repeatedly sited the real estate collapse to prove his point. He also lost me as a client.
So what is inflation or deflation anyway? The definition of inflation is “the overall general upward price movement of goods and services in an economy (often caused by a increase in the supply of money), usually as measured by the Consumer Price Index and the Producer Price Index. Over time, as the cost of goods and services increase, the value of a dollar is going to fall because a person won't be able to purchase as much with that dollar as he/she previously could. While the annual rate of inflation has fluctuated greatly over the last half century, ranging from nearly zero inflation to 23% inflation, the Fed actively tries to maintain a specific rate of inflation, which is usually 2-3% but can vary depending on circumstances.” I swiped this definition from Investor Words.Com. As you might imagine deflation is just the opposite.
Unless you have been living under a rock you know that Ben Bernanke, successor to the maestro Alan Greenspan, is melting the presses printing dollars to fight the dread deflation. Bernanke has been literally flooding the world with greenbacks in historic proportions. And, he’s been doing all of this for you, my fellow Americans. If you believe that heaven help you.
The Federal Reserve is nothing but a tool for the people who really run things, the big corporations and other powerful people. Corporations and the fat cats at the top are interested only in profits. It’s tough to make a buck in a deflationary climate because nobody’s buying. If nobody is buying prices just keep on falling.
But, here’s the thing, real estate is always cited as the canary in the coal mine because it effects so many businesses. If houses aren’t selling neither is all the stuff that goes with them; appliances, flat screen TV’s furniture and the list goes on ad infinitum. These associated companies, and they comprise a huge part of the economy, can’t turn a profit. That is unacceptable.
Bush, another tool, came out with the idea that every American should own a home. Why? Well, I can assure it wasn’t because he gave a fig about the people. If he had he would have never been a part of such an absurdly foolish scheme. A scheme which has subsequently led to an awful lot of pain and suffering for those that bought into the idea that they could happily move into a $500,000 home, with no down payment on a $50,000 a year income. Well, they moved in but now most must move out and the overhang of foreclosed properties is weighing heavy on prices. According to this Yahoo article it will be decades before prices return to the former highs. The joke in the mortgage broker industry was “If you can fog a mirror you can get a loan”. I’m sorry to say if you are one of the ones that fell for it, the joke was on you.
Here’s the thing; all the businesses that depend on a healthy real estate market and the homes themselves produce discretionary items. Discretionary means things you don’t actually need but want them anyway. Those things have been deflating and all the while the non-discretionary items, things you have to have, have been rising in price or inflating. Think food and energy.
Marketers have been making Herculean efforts to create the illusion that inflation is under control despite the irresponsible money-printing marathon at the Fed. But, have you been paying less at the super market? Are you paying less at the gas station? Food producers have gotten really sneaky. They charge about the same price but the amount that you get has shrunk about 20%.
Another way that inflation has been hidden is through the importation of cheap goods mostly from China. The prices seem very reasonable but most of the products are of such poor quality hardly last any time at all. Over time you are paying much more because you have to keep replacing these "cheap" items. Once upon a time, when Americans still made things, things were of great quality. I have heirloom furniture, kitchen utensils, and tools that are 50 to 100 years old and still providing me with fine service. But, the new imported junk I must buy because there is no viable alternative is lucky to make it past a year.
All of this goes a long way toward giving the illusion that inflation is fine as told by the Consumer and Producer indices. Of course these are government statistics and subject to any manner of additional manipulations.
Another inflationary by product is the debasement of the currency. Here’s a real life anecdote on that subject. When I moved to northern Montana in 2002 I frequently shopped in British Columbia. At the time I got $1.40 Canadian for every $1.00 US. It was very nice. Goods were expensive in Canada until I factored in my 40% currency discount. I used to tell people to enjoy it whilst it lasted because the Loonie is going to parity with the U.S. dollar. I was openly laughed at. I don’t really mind. I’m used to it. I was universally laughed at ten years ago when I said gold would go to $1,500/oz. As I write this article a U.S. dollar won’t even get you one Canadian Dollar and gold recently hit $1,425.
Back in 2002 Montana plates were everywhere, not anymore. Canada has become incredibly expensive for Americans. Montana plates are seldom seen. Now you see huge numbers of Canadian plates in Montana. Northern Montana has become like a third world country where well to do Canadians come to throw their weight and money around. Most merchants welcome them. And rightly so for without them we would be in far worse shape than we are.
So, back to the inflation deflation-debate: I say it isn’t either or. I say it’s both. But, the important distinction is that the things that are inflating you can’t do without whilst it’s the things that you can do without which are deflating. To my simple, backwoods mind that makes inflation a much more serious concern. And all this money printing is going to come back to haunt us.
As an outdoor photographer who lives and works with nature I have a very healthy respect for natural cycles. Nothing on earth is as powerful or certain (besides death and taxes of course). Man, in his arrogance, can attempt to circumvent the cycles to meet his own greedy purposes but in the end all he will do is make things worse. Nature eventually holds sway and forces the cycle to go where it was meant to go with far more onerous consequences than if the cycle had been left alone to follow its natural course.
We are a long way from being out of the woods. I am just ever so grateful I know how to live in them.
©Kinsey Barnard
PS: This week I added my blog to the Facebook blog network. If you use Facebook you can follow this blog using follow box to the right.
06 December 2010
Buy the F'ing Dip!
This is one of the funniest and truthful videos I have seen about the markets. Please be advised that there is liberal use of the F-word so please do not watch if that offends you.
19 November 2010
Quantitative Easing "QE" Explained.
I realize this is once again off the subject of photography. But, I think everyone needs to watch and listen to this video if you are in any doubt as to what exactly Quantitative Easing is and what it means to our country and future lifestyle.
As many of you know I am a former investment banker and not entirely out to lunch when it comes to economics and finance. We are in some serious trouble people. As hard and awful as it may be to believe, this economic downturn is far from over. Unless I miss my guess we haven't even seen the worst of it. I know it's no fun to look at truth when the truth is ugly but there is no other way to prepare yourself. They say the truth will set you free. It will also knock you flat if you try to deny it either by will or ignorance. Please watch this video. It explains QE in layman's terms.
Meanwhile, here at the ranch it's snowing and in the twenties. They say that we will get into negative territory by Monday. I am toiling away on a new gallery of Jasper National Park. Many of the images have never been made public before. I hope to get it finished in the next few days. Here's one of my favorites so far.
Don't forget the holiday sale going on at my Outdoor Photography site. Just enter this code: KOTY BEAR CARES 2010 in the coupon code box for a full 15% discount.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
As many of you know I am a former investment banker and not entirely out to lunch when it comes to economics and finance. We are in some serious trouble people. As hard and awful as it may be to believe, this economic downturn is far from over. Unless I miss my guess we haven't even seen the worst of it. I know it's no fun to look at truth when the truth is ugly but there is no other way to prepare yourself. They say the truth will set you free. It will also knock you flat if you try to deny it either by will or ignorance. Please watch this video. It explains QE in layman's terms.
Meanwhile, here at the ranch it's snowing and in the twenties. They say that we will get into negative territory by Monday. I am toiling away on a new gallery of Jasper National Park. Many of the images have never been made public before. I hope to get it finished in the next few days. Here's one of my favorites so far.
Don't forget the holiday sale going on at my Outdoor Photography site. Just enter this code: KOTY BEAR CARES 2010 in the coupon code box for a full 15% discount.
©Kinsey Barnard Photography
11 November 2010
Guns and Gold
This morning I'm doing something a little different. One of my subscribers e-mailed me the video that you see below. It's a very good little primer on why one would want to own gold and what a financial and economic pickle this once great country has gotten itself into. It saddens me greatly.
When I was a kid back in the sixties and seventies I was fortunate that I was able to travel abroad. In those days everywhere you went people begged for dollars. American dollars were as good as gold. Not anymore. Today people are more likely to spit on them. Once upon a time we were a can do, self reliant bunch But, today our entitlement and something for nothing attitudes have bankrupted us and the rest of the world knows it.
The conversation is a little like listening to a couple of droids but I recommend you watch this video.
A number of people have had difficulty subscribing to this blog. I have a private subscribers list that I send notification out to each time I post to the blog. If you would like to be added to this list please contact me.
©Kinsey Barnard
When I was a kid back in the sixties and seventies I was fortunate that I was able to travel abroad. In those days everywhere you went people begged for dollars. American dollars were as good as gold. Not anymore. Today people are more likely to spit on them. Once upon a time we were a can do, self reliant bunch But, today our entitlement and something for nothing attitudes have bankrupted us and the rest of the world knows it.
The conversation is a little like listening to a couple of droids but I recommend you watch this video.
A number of people have had difficulty subscribing to this blog. I have a private subscribers list that I send notification out to each time I post to the blog. If you would like to be added to this list please contact me.
©Kinsey Barnard
11 May 2010
Many Thanks to My Customers-Greek Bailout
.
.
In recent weeks I have sold a number of my prints at my Imagekind store. Unfortunately, the company does not provided buyer information so there is no way that I can personally thank you. On the off chance that some of you are also readers of this blog I thought I would try to reach out to you here.
With the advent of the digital age the amount of image product that is out there is beyond overwhelming. When someone chooses my work to put their hard earned cash down for, well that's just a huge compliment and honor. So, thank you ever so much.
I wasn't out with the camera yesterday as I suffered a severe bout of apoplexy when I read about the Greek bailout and that the Fed is throwing money in that hole as well. Just when I thought things couldn't become anymore insane they do this! I am beyond speechless.
I honestly believe we are observing the total destruction of the world as we know it. That every citizen isn't out in the streets expressing total outrage that this rape and pillaging of the American people in favor of corporate thieves and banksters is beyond my ability to conceive. The image below illustrates where I think we are.
If you don't own any gold better get some. It won't be long now before all fiat currencies are suitable for anything but toilet paper.
On a brighter note, I pilfered this video from the blog of a reader. It's a video of Betty White hosting SNL at the age of 88! I just think this woman is the bomb. She has the greatest sense of humor and I think that is the secret to her longevity.
I'll get back to photography as soon as I can see anything besides red!
©Kinsey Barnard Photograpy
.
In recent weeks I have sold a number of my prints at my Imagekind store. Unfortunately, the company does not provided buyer information so there is no way that I can personally thank you. On the off chance that some of you are also readers of this blog I thought I would try to reach out to you here.
With the advent of the digital age the amount of image product that is out there is beyond overwhelming. When someone chooses my work to put their hard earned cash down for, well that's just a huge compliment and honor. So, thank you ever so much.
I wasn't out with the camera yesterday as I suffered a severe bout of apoplexy when I read about the Greek bailout and that the Fed is throwing money in that hole as well. Just when I thought things couldn't become anymore insane they do this! I am beyond speechless.
I honestly believe we are observing the total destruction of the world as we know it. That every citizen isn't out in the streets expressing total outrage that this rape and pillaging of the American people in favor of corporate thieves and banksters is beyond my ability to conceive. The image below illustrates where I think we are.
If you don't own any gold better get some. It won't be long now before all fiat currencies are suitable for anything but toilet paper.
On a brighter note, I pilfered this video from the blog of a reader. It's a video of Betty White hosting SNL at the age of 88! I just think this woman is the bomb. She has the greatest sense of humor and I think that is the secret to her longevity.
I'll get back to photography as soon as I can see anything besides red!
©Kinsey Barnard Photograpy
29 December 2008
CONFLICT, CHARACTER AND PREDICTIONS
12-29-08 Tucson, Arizona
Friday night was freezing here in Tucson. Water was a little sluggish getting through the pipes. Saturday was quite chilly as well. The mountains surrounding the valley all had snow. We braved the elements and headed over to Saguaro National Park East. Dogs are not allowed on National Park trails so we just walk the eight mile loop. It was refreshing!
Saturday night was another freezer. Got down to 37 in the RV. These things don’t have much insulation. Of course, I could turn on the heater but I prefer to pile on the blankets and sleep in the cold. Koty likes it better that way too.
On Friday it seemed all we had to worry about was India and Pakistan getting into a fight. But Israel pre-empted them and attacked Gaza. They warned that they would retaliate and they sure did. It seems like everything runs a cropper at the same time.
This thought occurred to me over the weekend. I keep writing, “People believe what they want to believe”. I wonder if the same principal can’t be applied to Obama. Will Obama be another Bernard Madoff? Most of Madoff’s investors were Jewish and believed they could trust one of their own. I also wonder if a lot of African Americans are not setting themselves up for future disappointment. What made me think of this was Farrakhan’s unqualified support for Obama. And, it is only natural that the majority of African Americans are looking toward him to be a savior. Of course, there are millions of white Americans that think he is a savior too. But, history is replete with the disappointment of false profits. Will Obama be another? Only time will tell.
Obama spends $740 million to get elected. Anybody who raises this much money to win an election has a lot of favors to repay. Frankly, I think it is disgusting that so much money is wasted to buy an election. Because all this is pre-payment for expected favors. These elections have just gotten totally out of hand. Too bad there isn’t some way to just give each candidate a certain sum, which would be a hell of a lot less than $740 million, and that’s all they get to spend. This is just obscene. I sure hope people get what they paid for.
This article says a lot about the man’s strength of character. He can’t even quit smoking, great example setting. Obama’s Efforts to Quit.
Maybe I’m all wet about this fellow. I certainly hope so. One of the reasons I want to put this all down in writing is I want to be able to check back on myself. Check my perceptions against how thing actually unfolded. I’d be happy as hell to be wrong about this guy.
I just don’t understand why investors in Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme are so shocked. There was plenty written about him and his fund, starting way back, that would give pause to a prudent investor. People believe what they want to believe. Early Suspicions About Bernard Madoff.
Here’s an off the wall prediction from a fellow who no doubt has an ax to grind. The only good thing about his prediction is that I get to be a part of Canada. Of the available choices on his map Canada would be mine. As If Things Weren’t Bad Enough
Here’s a prediction from James Sinclair that I really want to keep track of.
“Dear Friends,
Here is my New Years gift to you, my extended family.
There is no way that the CONSEQUENCES of the largest creation of paper money since it was invented can be avoided or even modified. Odds now favor Alf Field’s price objective.
January 14th 2011 to June 21st, 2012:
The best part of this gift is not the one you already know, which is January 14th 2011, but rather the date that a new currency form will replace the form of the US dollar as you know it today which is the third week of June 2012.
Don’t laugh! Write this down and do not forget about it!
Happy (sort of) New Year,
Jim”
I think those who believe this bear market will be over shortly are in for a nasty surprise. People believe what they want to believe. I very much agree with this study’s conclusions. So far it’s bang on. Anatomy of A Bear
We couldn't justify watching anymore of the market action, this is kind of like the Twilight Zone, so we headed out for Catalina State Park. We found the "50 Year Trail" and headed down it. It was a great hike. A yawner for photos, on this day at this moment. But, it was lovely. It followed the ridge opposite the Catalina mountains and I see great potential if one can get the moment right. I shall watch carefully until I go.
We returned to our place at the RV park and decided to have the meal we had planned for Christmas, a great huge porterhouse steak. It was beyond divine.
So times are uncertain but life is still very good. I don't think being realistic and enjoying life are mutually exclusive. I think we are in for really hard times but Koty and I are still living each day to the fullest.
No one knows what tomorrow will bring. All of life is just speculation. I prefer to meet life with no stars in my eyes. To quote from the book I am now reading "Hong Kong" by Stephen Coonts "The world turns seven times a week".
Mt. Lemmon 12-27-08
Friday night was freezing here in Tucson. Water was a little sluggish getting through the pipes. Saturday was quite chilly as well. The mountains surrounding the valley all had snow. We braved the elements and headed over to Saguaro National Park East. Dogs are not allowed on National Park trails so we just walk the eight mile loop. It was refreshing!
Saturday night was another freezer. Got down to 37 in the RV. These things don’t have much insulation. Of course, I could turn on the heater but I prefer to pile on the blankets and sleep in the cold. Koty likes it better that way too.
On Friday it seemed all we had to worry about was India and Pakistan getting into a fight. But Israel pre-empted them and attacked Gaza. They warned that they would retaliate and they sure did. It seems like everything runs a cropper at the same time.
This thought occurred to me over the weekend. I keep writing, “People believe what they want to believe”. I wonder if the same principal can’t be applied to Obama. Will Obama be another Bernard Madoff? Most of Madoff’s investors were Jewish and believed they could trust one of their own. I also wonder if a lot of African Americans are not setting themselves up for future disappointment. What made me think of this was Farrakhan’s unqualified support for Obama. And, it is only natural that the majority of African Americans are looking toward him to be a savior. Of course, there are millions of white Americans that think he is a savior too. But, history is replete with the disappointment of false profits. Will Obama be another? Only time will tell.
Obama spends $740 million to get elected. Anybody who raises this much money to win an election has a lot of favors to repay. Frankly, I think it is disgusting that so much money is wasted to buy an election. Because all this is pre-payment for expected favors. These elections have just gotten totally out of hand. Too bad there isn’t some way to just give each candidate a certain sum, which would be a hell of a lot less than $740 million, and that’s all they get to spend. This is just obscene. I sure hope people get what they paid for.
This article says a lot about the man’s strength of character. He can’t even quit smoking, great example setting. Obama’s Efforts to Quit.
Maybe I’m all wet about this fellow. I certainly hope so. One of the reasons I want to put this all down in writing is I want to be able to check back on myself. Check my perceptions against how thing actually unfolded. I’d be happy as hell to be wrong about this guy.
I just don’t understand why investors in Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme are so shocked. There was plenty written about him and his fund, starting way back, that would give pause to a prudent investor. People believe what they want to believe. Early Suspicions About Bernard Madoff.
Here’s an off the wall prediction from a fellow who no doubt has an ax to grind. The only good thing about his prediction is that I get to be a part of Canada. Of the available choices on his map Canada would be mine. As If Things Weren’t Bad Enough
Here’s a prediction from James Sinclair that I really want to keep track of.
“Dear Friends,
Here is my New Years gift to you, my extended family.
There is no way that the CONSEQUENCES of the largest creation of paper money since it was invented can be avoided or even modified. Odds now favor Alf Field’s price objective.
January 14th 2011 to June 21st, 2012:
The best part of this gift is not the one you already know, which is January 14th 2011, but rather the date that a new currency form will replace the form of the US dollar as you know it today which is the third week of June 2012.
Don’t laugh! Write this down and do not forget about it!
Happy (sort of) New Year,
Jim”
I think those who believe this bear market will be over shortly are in for a nasty surprise. People believe what they want to believe. I very much agree with this study’s conclusions. So far it’s bang on. Anatomy of A Bear
We couldn't justify watching anymore of the market action, this is kind of like the Twilight Zone, so we headed out for Catalina State Park. We found the "50 Year Trail" and headed down it. It was a great hike. A yawner for photos, on this day at this moment. But, it was lovely. It followed the ridge opposite the Catalina mountains and I see great potential if one can get the moment right. I shall watch carefully until I go.
We returned to our place at the RV park and decided to have the meal we had planned for Christmas, a great huge porterhouse steak. It was beyond divine.
So times are uncertain but life is still very good. I don't think being realistic and enjoying life are mutually exclusive. I think we are in for really hard times but Koty and I are still living each day to the fullest.
No one knows what tomorrow will bring. All of life is just speculation. I prefer to meet life with no stars in my eyes. To quote from the book I am now reading "Hong Kong" by Stephen Coonts "The world turns seven times a week".
Mt. Lemmon 12-27-08
24 December 2008
CHRISTMAS EVE
Tucson, Arizona 12-24-08
Drat! Maybe the POO hasn't bottomed. It's hard to imagine inventories are up with gasoline prices so low. Here in Tucson you can barely move around on the streets they are so crowded. Add to that the extreme low temperatures across the country and one would think prices would be on the rise. It must surely be some kind of reverse conspiracy. ;) I'll wager Russia hopes we find a bottom soon.
I'm dabbling with the idea of buying some Vanguard High Yield. "High Yield" is synonymous with junk bonds. It's a risky business. I think a lot of big names are going to go belly up in the coming year. Who will survive? Government can't bail them all out. Although, I suspect they will try. Need to look over Vanguard's portfolio and see what's in there.
Wow! This article sure makes the future clear to me. Deflation vs. Hyperinflation. Certainly glad I loaded my boat with the barbaric relic. I once thought gold might go to $1,500 an ounce. But, I never in my wildest dreams envisioned the magnitude of the printathon at the Fed. Now, I believe it will go much higher.
Sunsrise was pretty darned nice this morning. Not good enough to photograph but certainly wonderful to watch.
Last night it was a war zone again but not just with police sirens this time. In addition to the sirens there was a helicopter that circled the wash for about 20 minutes. That wash is a dangerous place after dark IMO. Tucson doesn't feel like a safe place to me. I never worry about hiking alone in Montana. I certainly do here.
Koty was a real pain in the neck this morning. Had to walk him four times before he was satisfied. I'm very happy, so far, with how the Natural Balance is working out. See Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance. My hunch that Koty would be able to stomach a total switch right off the bat was correct. He had no problem adjusting and he is eating with relative gusto. One of the things that attracted me to this product was the fact that it is for adults and puppies. That told me this is a gentle product and well thought out product. And so it has been.
This afternoon was beautiful. Mostly sunny with puffy white clouds. Koty and I took a walk on the Bajada Loop at Saguaro National Park. It was a great way to end the day.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Drat! Maybe the POO hasn't bottomed. It's hard to imagine inventories are up with gasoline prices so low. Here in Tucson you can barely move around on the streets they are so crowded. Add to that the extreme low temperatures across the country and one would think prices would be on the rise. It must surely be some kind of reverse conspiracy. ;) I'll wager Russia hopes we find a bottom soon.
I'm dabbling with the idea of buying some Vanguard High Yield. "High Yield" is synonymous with junk bonds. It's a risky business. I think a lot of big names are going to go belly up in the coming year. Who will survive? Government can't bail them all out. Although, I suspect they will try. Need to look over Vanguard's portfolio and see what's in there.
Wow! This article sure makes the future clear to me. Deflation vs. Hyperinflation. Certainly glad I loaded my boat with the barbaric relic. I once thought gold might go to $1,500 an ounce. But, I never in my wildest dreams envisioned the magnitude of the printathon at the Fed. Now, I believe it will go much higher.
Sunsrise was pretty darned nice this morning. Not good enough to photograph but certainly wonderful to watch.
Last night it was a war zone again but not just with police sirens this time. In addition to the sirens there was a helicopter that circled the wash for about 20 minutes. That wash is a dangerous place after dark IMO. Tucson doesn't feel like a safe place to me. I never worry about hiking alone in Montana. I certainly do here.
Koty was a real pain in the neck this morning. Had to walk him four times before he was satisfied. I'm very happy, so far, with how the Natural Balance is working out. See Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance. My hunch that Koty would be able to stomach a total switch right off the bat was correct. He had no problem adjusting and he is eating with relative gusto. One of the things that attracted me to this product was the fact that it is for adults and puppies. That told me this is a gentle product and well thought out product. And so it has been.
This afternoon was beautiful. Mostly sunny with puffy white clouds. Koty and I took a walk on the Bajada Loop at Saguaro National Park. It was a great way to end the day.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
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