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Fourth Quarter of 2008 October 2008 ... November 2008 ... December 2008
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10/04/08 The global reach of rumor mongering and accusatory
remarks, Israel
charges North Korea with arming opposition nations in the
Muddle East. (100408d) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza - Israel -
Jordan - Lebanon - Palestine - Syria Lebanon: A
car bomb raises tensions in this country, but
the bigger picture remains a mystery, are they on a slippery
slope? (092908f) Syria: A
military build up by Syria on the border with Lebanon?
Do we need ANOTHER hot spot?
(100108h) Greater Islamic Region, Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Afghanistan: Looks
like the effort in this nation has "fallen to shit" as they
used to say in the horse business. Then the denials
come (100108b) Iraq: Hints
of a renewal of sectarian violence as US created "Sons of
Iraq" are targeted by the Iranian backed Baghdad
govt. (100308a) For
examples we have some attacks (100308b) It seems the "Sons Of Iraq" the Sunni movement
backed by the US fears becoming part of the Shia led
military. They
think they'll be killed as a matter of fact
(093008g) Part two, it
seems there is a lack of trust (093008h)
Part three: still
they are real handy when finding the neighborhood
baddies (093008i) Bombings
in Baghdad back in the news. (092908c) Pakistan: What portends?
But a long unraveling of the ties between the Taleban and
Islamabad, yes? We shall see (092908d) Open
warfare has come to Pakistan on three fronts. The
violence affects hundreds of thousands and seems determined,
on both sides. (100308d) Asia: A
new cooperation with India. Friendship between it and the US
is that forlorn nation's last grab and holding onto global
geopolitical influence. The benefits will go both
ways, for a variety of reasons. There is the other side of
the coin however. Talk about a genie in a bottle!
(100208a) The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Korea: A "boomlet"in building in Pyongyang? The question
is, if they are facing a renewal of sanctions and another
famine, where
is the money coming from? (100208i) Venezuela: Russia,
Venezuela and nukes, is this a recipe that the US can
stomach? Do we have ANY say? Is this just one more
piece of evidence showing how badly Bush the dumber bungled
his presidency such that a whole continent has become
alienated from the US and that a "competitor" has moved in
with skill? (092808i) It seems the
economic collapse or "deconstruction" of the US economy is
ushering in a new era of economic multipolarity, but
is this a good or a bad thing? If I might hazard a guess,
I'd say it will be much more "dynamic" and that cuts both
ways, thanks Bush, you royal dimbulb. (092808i) Along
with economic multipolarity comes geopolitical or power
multipolarity, the US has gone the way of previous empires
by failing, essentially, in similar fashion. Bush
the Dumbest has been the fiddler, but unlike Nero, DC is not
burning it is running out of cash, steam, power and falling
into debt. (092808l) Recent polling reports have McPain loosing ground
in Iowa, New Hampshire and Ohio among a dozen or so others.
Here are the
tales of two persons who switched.
(100408a) Tent
cities, another story indicates they are a "growth based
phenomenon" (093008e) The
battle for voting rights continues as forces within states
fight for rights. (100108a) Says
here that millions of voters are being purged from the voter
rolls across the nation. This is done in widely
different fashions with suspect agenda and in secret often
enough so one might find out one has been purged until one
shows up to vote. (100208g) And
according to this Federal Law is being ignored when it comes
to the timing of the purges themselves. Who is
watching this mess, anyone with the power to stop it?
(100208h) Yet another
Repuglican attack on voters' rights; this time the targets
are those voters who have lost their homes in the
foreclosure mess. (093008b) The Anthrax Attack! Economics 101: A
number of states are being crunched themselves by the credit
crunch, it is not clear, at this point, how the
bailout is going to cure that ill. (100408d) What
happened to cause the "no" on the Bailout and
then some on how it went to the "yes". (100408d) And if
you are asking, "Is there a plan B?" The answer is no, there
is not. A single figure in a single paragraph indicates the state
of affairs when it comes to a
spreading and deepening financial crisis.
(100308f) Home
Moaner help? Well-named, but without any effect
(100208c) The
underlying problem of bad debt is one that the bailout
barely addresses. (100208d) Another perspective, the
core problem is not resolved and the way the "public debate"
is framed, massaged, managed whatever shapes the choices the
public thinks it has, more smoke and mirrors
(100208e) A
brief explanation of how Wall Street's problems become Main
Street's problems (100108i) The
ripple effect: the sales of cars drops by double digits
across the board. (100108f) Another ripple: people
who cannot borrow on their house now hit up their
plastic and the limit to this is, well, more limited
and so … (100108g) The
US senate bails and Asian markets take a hit … is that
a clue for the clueless? (100108e) McCain't
keeps on talking about the economic crisis as if he has some
idea of what he's talking about, while he makes the
same mistake that nearly ended his career back in the 80's
with the savings and loan problem and a Mr. Keating.
(100108b) And in a related aspect of this story we have those
in power, who let the housing bubble "go on" are still in
power and still don't understand its dynamics and how it is
intimate with the crashing sounds they are hearing from Wall
St. You'd think they'd "get it" and make a rational
decision (100108d) So how serious is it? Well,
it is global, people are putting their money where it will
survive and it the problems we are seeing now are
only the harbingers of a greater disaster.
(093008i) After
a steep one-day decline some come back comes back. Not quite
all the way, but troubles persist, one way or the
other (093008a) A
trillion dollar budget gets the go ahead, not the 700
billion bailout. Well, that is the way things fell
out. (092908e) Well,
color me purple, if the house put down the bailout.
Markets plunged they say and many who voted no cited
"blowback" from constituents who were not at all happy with
the bailout, even as a concept. (092908a) The
Street takes a "big hit" nearly 7% and that's not
a solution. So what will Tuesday bring? (092908b) They say that they have a plan. Some of the elements
described in the article seem reasonable. The
issue is this: the plan, after several others touted as
"final" failed has one wonder. (092808a) In terms of
being skeptical, here is the word on that
(092808b) And if you want a stronger dose of skepticism, here
are some staggering figures that give one pause to
wonder (092808k) And
here for starters is how the banks feel about being "treated
fairly" (092808c) And
we're told that the problem was in part, caused by a lack of
oversight, Related to that story is
McStain's relationship to a man named Keating and the
saving's and loan that went belly up and McStain's
efforts to cover up the deed, his part in it and more
(092808f) Meanwhile
money needed by and for the people goes wanting, waaaay
wanting, billions are wanting as a matter of fact
(092808g) Then
too, you'd think that the "center piece problem"
foreclosures would figure into the rescue, but no,
not on your life… (092808h) Candidates: Down the drain with John McStain: Obama
has a surge of his own, and McPain gets dumped
on. (100208f) The sagging
mess that is John McStain had a terrible, awful, very bad,
no good week. (092808d) Justice: The
US attorney's being fired is still a story, the fact that
wrong doing has been established is the news,
what SHOULD come next are criminal charges, hahahahahahahah
(093008d)
Israelis
want Russia to reconsider selling Iran advanced anti
aircraft missile systems. They have not closed the
deal and some gives denials. (100508b) Europe: England
and Iceland have "words" regarding the failure of Iceland's
banks and the losses being experienced by the
many brits who've invested up there (101008g) Another
casualty, Ireland, has its own financial crunch going
on
even though the government is fighting tooth and
nail against the rising tide of debt and bad financial
(101108i) With the bank and finance contagion coming to light
'"over there" the
Euro's do their own 700 billion dollar dance.
(100508a) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza - Israel -
Jordan - Lebanon - Palestine - Syria Lebanon: Well
a build up continues, says this article and Israel
goes on a higher level of alert, as if they EVER sleep.
(100908l) Syria: Greater Islamic Region, Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Afghanistan: The
drug trade seems to go "right to the top" in this
narco-state. The leaders brother seems to be
dirty, many feel. (100508c) The
UN agrees with that nasty Brit who said the Afghan
war, as it is being fought now, is not
winnable. (100708e) Iraq: Iraq's
violence has, perhaps, found a new target, Christian Iraqi's
get the boot and the persons doing the
booting wear security badges, nice? (101108e) Says
here that there is a surge in violence in Iraq.
Shia's attacking US and Iraqi soldiers. Sound like calm
to you? (101008j) Unraveling Iraq? The
NIE has it that there is a clear potential for things
getting very hot again. Much of that ground
has been covered in other stories; what is useful about this
story is that it is an official pronouncement verifying the
tone of prior evaluations of the situation.
(100808b) Meanwhile the SOFA hangs up on one hell of a
hangnail:
can US troops be prosecuted in Iraqi courts?
I guess they want some accountability? (100808f) Pakistan: This is a war without many face-to-face battles, rather
US missile attacks and car bombs are the mainstay as far as
casualty "production" is concerned. The
US attacks made for bad press and popular anger gets
directed at the government, and, as in this case,
occasionally toward the Taleban. (101108f) Asia: This
deal is done, India and the US are getting their nukes
together. This would appear to be the US
trying to regain some global influence when it is loosing
ground in many, many places (100508e) The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia India: A
rash of violence has Hindu's attacking
Christians, killing some, burning churches
and causing many to flee. (100908a) Korea: A
big time Bush flip flop, though no one will say
that. Korea is off the "baddies" list and
promises to do "the right thing". We shall see what we
shall see. (101108d) They also plan a set of new aircraft
carriers. The Bush legacy lingers on. Russia: Russians
report a successful test of a submarine launched ballistic
missile. (101108b) Russia
sees UN and NATO moves as secretive and thus
suspicious. Not helping to ease tensions
anyway. (100908e) Regulations regarding vaccines and terrorism that not
only do not make sense but are inconsistently enforced
lead
experts to wonder WTF is going on with the US, no an
uncommon comment these days. (101108c) So,
what DOES deforestation cost the earth, well some
figures ARE available and they are huge.
(101008i) We are not yet seeing the worst of the economic
crisis, but
consider the "worst of the global warming scenarios" these
are nightmarish and far more alarming than say a "great
depression" which, at its worst would lift
someday and be over with, global warming might well be
"forever". (101008h) With a
quarter of the world's big mammals being threatened
one would think that the world would wake up a bit
and get its act together - not. (100608b) This just in and just for laughs.
I mean Cheney speaking to a conference on North American
Wildlife Policy? Ya gotta love their "style"
(100608i) Soup
kitchens and homelessness are up. Take this
example from NYC. (101008e) All we are saying is give chaos a chance.
Colorado
has lots of potential problems all of which were foreseen
and could have been fixed long ago, but no.
(100908d) The right to vote is being fought for around the nation
as the election draws near and much, very very much is at
stake. Will
this election be stolen by computers that fail to mark votes
correctly, others that run up false tally's or states that
use centralized voting lists to "check" the ID of voters for
matching, no match with the list, no vote!
(100608c) Current efforts to purge
voter rolls continue and the record is "truly mountainous"
as huge numbers of voters are being "knocked off"
(100708b) Another take shows
a big advantage for the democratic party when one looks at
the registration of new voters. The election could be a blow
out for the Dems. Still I think that they will have
to have an edge of some 10 million to "undo the cheating
factor" of the Repuglican Schemers and thieves.
(100608j) Economics 101: How
the previous downturns were managed show that what was done
back in those instances has been done this time around and
then some. The upshot: we need time for the
"strategies to take hold" That may be true, again and again,
time will tell. (101108h) Clearly
stated the risk is for a global meltdown in credit,
borrowing and loan making. Even giant
companies, such as GM, are feeling the pinch.
(101108g) Something
of a portrait of the dastardly dumbbells that brought it
all crashing down (101008f) The overall view of the "decline", no
one seems to be using the word "crash", has
the Dow recording its worst ever week. (101008d The overview as it is now. The
nut is that no one knows how much debt is out there, so they
say, or how the US government's plan is going to
work, that is to say how will we, the tax
payers, know what we're getting and when will we get our
money back? (101008c) Another down
day around the world, though today someone made
something of a fight out of it as the markets in NYC
(101008b) Prognosticating
bears fruit or it doesn't. History teaches
us that much, here are some historical examples
(100908i) A harbinger of things to come? Cook
County sheriff, Mr. Dart, says he won't evict people without
knowing they've been given proper warning that the house
they are renting is in foreclosure.
(100908h) Now
the US may take ownership stake in banks, now
remind me again, don't we have a conservative government and
don't conservatives "hate" activist governments that
interfere with business and meddle? (100908g) Following up on a recent story concerning car
sales,
this one talks about the companies and their woes being
linked to the credit crunch and the falling global demand
for cars (100908f) Stocks
plunge again, who wants to invest now? Dow below
8,600! (100908b) From SLATE
dated 100808 we've a range of headline blurbs;
it is enough to get a "big picture" (100808g) Global
markets take a dump and tens of billions of pounds in
England have not made the markets merry
(100808e) US
markets do the same, by the end of the day,
anyway. People are still playing the game
however, it was a bumpy day. (100808c) An interesting tid bit showing that the lowering of
interest
rates have not brought down the cost of borrowing short term
business to business rates. (100808d) So
retirement plans have been getting the shaft for some time
now, and this will, of course, have its own effects down the
line. Another ripple of the housing, dollar,
corruption, Bush, jackass, mess (100808a) Hey,
it's ANOTHER plan, both radical and new and
this time we're going to be buying up commercial paper WOW!
This aught to do the trick, once and for all.
(100708j) And a
concise treatment of the glowering gloom from the
SLATE, dated 10/07/08 (100708k) Global
financial crises come hard and fast now. The
perception is that it is "every actor for themselves" from
what I can see. Here are some "data points"
(100708g) A case in point, those
who can are leaving the stock market, the process will only
accelerate with time and the losses of Monday and
Tuesday may continue for some time. (100708h) So, meet
the 35 year old who is in charge of 700 billion and more
dollars. I can't say I have confidence, can
you? (100708d) So
Tuesday follows Monday with another decline and
we have an overview of the dire stats. (100708f) Nomi
Klein, in a nutshell, defines the "shock doctrine"
which is to say "catastrophic capitalism"
(100608h) Here is
a story concerning Iceland, a small country with a problem
that mirrors that of the rest of the world are they
"small enough" to go belly up? (100608e) Pakistan is
running short of cash and says a hundred billion
would be a good loan to float them through the crisis
(100708a) The
rest of EuroWorld is affected as well
(100608f) The
ripple effect of the economic deflationary cycle is seen now
in large sets of statistics: upshot state budgets
are going to be squeezed more and more as the economic
problem worsens and spreads. (100608c) As has been noted before the
solution currently being pursued by the US has the one flaw
of not addressing the cause of the problem, declining
housing values. And the derivatives of debt
based on their being bundled. There is a solution, but it is
not being considered, of course. (100608g) So
the bailout is barely a day old and the stock market takes a
dump. Then the story continues on mentioning
further hundreds of billons of dollars that are going to be
made available … WTF? (100608a) Big
job losses means that the economic malaise is "coming on
home". The losses that Bush oversaw have not
been recovered as of yet, despite some good hiring news
during portions of last year. So … troubles spread and
deepen. (100408f) Some of the
inside scoop on how Fannie Mae went bad.
Seems like everyone wanted it to "go for broke" and it
succeeded in nearly taking down the economy in doing so.
(100508d) Candidates: Down the drain with John McStain: As Palpitatin' Plain puts questions to Obamas past
associates with radicals, a blown up poofy
perception,
McStain has his own fascist connections to contend
with. (100708c) Never mind Palin's pals who
want to pull Alaska out of the union and keep it all
white.???? Flip
flopper McPain in action, believe me it is a goodie
(100708i) Justice: The
DoJ has detonated a bombshell that would be headline news,
except for all the other headline stories
that have one thing in common, Bush manufactures disasters
and so there is a lot of camouflage for his bumbling corrupt
and impeachable ways. (101008a) It
seems, again, that Bush's words aren't worth the toilet
paper they're wiped with. (100908k) Something's from the past: Right wing
dumbbells will always be with us, so it seems
as the Goldwater movement continues pushing the McCain
candidacy. (100908c) So
the headline should read: Man Threatens Voter Official to
"keep the nigger out of office" (100908j)
An
attack on Iran seems to be off the table. The
"Russian factor" is in part responsible because now that
they've demonstrated a willingness to commit forces in their
near abroad and have been interested in and supportive of
Iran, well … the calculus has changed. Not that the
crazies in Tel Aviv and DC aren't still pining for "one last
hurrah" (101808g) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza - Israel -
Jordan - Lebanon - Palestine - Syria This page from Arabic News, dated 09/30/08 has headlines
and blurbs regarding the region. A quick snapshot of what is
what (101308c) Syria: Syria
is angered at the Saudis who are angered at them and now
bombers and spies are in the mix.
(101108n) Greater Islamic Region, Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Afghanistan: Part one; Tales
of the Afghan Surge leave one bereft of civilized criticism
(101108l) Iraq: There
are street protests against the "pact" regarding the
deadline for the US leaving Iraq. (101808c)
But the interesting portion of the article is at the end:
"The administration says it does not need congressional
approval for the pact, but has nonetheless sought political
support" Gee, I thought congress was supposed to approve
treaties with foreign nations? It's that constitution thing.
There
may be a "deadline" for US troops to leave Iraq, by
2011. (101508d) Little mention of the irony of
Bush going for a deadline, a time table a "date" when he was
so dead set against it before, hail to the filp flopper in
chief. Was it a war for oil? You
might wonder what the Iraqi man on the street will think
when this sort of "sell off" is making headlines.
(101308h) What is
victory? What does the word mean? More importantly what the
hell does McCain's mean by it? (101208c) The
kicker is at the end of the article, which compares what
John McCain't says and what he supports in Iraq. Amazing
jackass that he is. Pakistan: China
is willing to invest in Pakistan, build a couple of reactors
and do more. Although the country is still "hooked
into" the US, these moves are perhaps harbingers of more
deals which would allow Pakistan to wean itself away from
the US and "go its own way". (101808a) Part one, The
Taleban makes moves and threats while a more intense war is
looming. (101108m) Report
has it that things are getting more dicey with our ally of
choice in the GWOT. (101508b)m Another factor
is the financial status of the country, though this
story has it that the Paks only need, maybe 10 billion to
eek on through. (101708h) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Korea: Bush the dumber has had a success. We
are now definitely just where we were with the North Koreans
almost exactly 6 years ago. Horray!
(101508e) Russia: An
attack on Russian troops in the Caucasus, has me
wonder if the Georgia conflict is morphing into something
else or if Chechnya is warming up a bit.
(101808b) More
muscle flexing on the part of the Russians. We're
certainly in a multi polar world now. The war that will
confirm that much has not yet come about. Perhaps that step
will be avoided … then again, perhaps not.
(101208f) Part one, how
the US influence in another region, the Caspian has also
waned, the "Georgia" lesson is not lost on countries
in the region. (101108j) Part two,
more bewildering details of deals and quotes from players,
but the kicker is Iceland's being bailed out by Russia.
Geopolitically this is the proverbial camel's nose
in the western hemisphere (101108k) Warmest
year on record for the Arctic was 2007 where it
reached a stunning 9 degrees above its seasonal norm.
(101708d) Torture from the top, that is the word, it seems.
The US
is marred by the scandal and it is a ticking time bomb that
will pay "dividends" for some time to come,
by that I mean generations. (101808f) So
now the US "gives up" is control over who is the World
Bank's president. Change is good.
(101308i) Decline
of US power, both soft and hard? Compares with
England's loss after WW2. (101708e) Centralized voting systems have problems.
As many as 20% of those on the lists are rejected for some
reason or other no matter how valid the persons information
may be. The kicker is that the central lists are
plagued with errors that then do not match the accurate data
of the voter or the local lists at that point the voter is
dropped from the rolls. In one case 4 out of 6 judges
looking into the system were found to be rejected.
(101808h) Part two,
some particulars and exceptional incidents show how flawed
the centralized system is and, new though it is, 31
states will be using it, despite widespread errors and
flaws. (101808c) While the "fair and balanced" press harp on Obama's
very slight association with a one time terrorist, a Mr.
Ayers. It ignores Palin's "paling around with a
secessionist, namely her husband. Both have long
ties to the Alaska Independence Party, whose founder was
killed in an attempt to buy bomb making material.
(101208e) This page has
a good number of headline and summaries giving a portrait of
the race at this moment … Obama nearly has a
lead big enough to counter most of the voting fraud that
we've been hearing about (101408f) 200k
votes being challenged in Ohio (101708b)
However, the
unlikely source of resource is the Supreme Court, deciding
against the G.O.P. (101708g) Lame "Jackass" Bush I guess we can have this as a section title now.
This
story deals with the Bush Admin supporting water boarding in
a memo. (101508a) Economics 101: The
fallout from the housing mess and the Wall St. sleigh ride
has many of the ordinary millions facing homelessness
(101808d) Meanwhile the
bums at the banks get 70 billion "pay packages" for what,
dropping the economic bomb and being so corrupt?
(101808e) So that's about 10% of the total bailout package,
no? The
yo yo ride continues on Wall St. this time its up a bit.
Yowsa! (101608a) And Friday is no exception. The
market is being played and those that are running the game
are running out of moves (101708a) A
ranging commentary on our culture and how bubbles fail to
burst or how truth, especially painful truth,
is hidden until it erupts. We, in the US, don't like reality
all that much and always hope for the quick fix or kill.
(101508h) "We
may well have passed the point where the federal
government's total financial hole exceeds the net worth of
all Americans." Some nice quote eh? (101508g)
Asian
markets take a beating too. (101508f) Another
day of market bashing, what rabbit will be taken out of the
hat now? One wonders. A few more days of this
kind of activity and we'll have to "do something". I mean
besides throw money at the problem and hope that it will go
away. (101508d) I guess I'm a bit tired today, the
SLATE main page dated for 10/14/08 has a nutshell
of the economic status of the bank bail out.
(101408c) Here
is another overview of the economic package,
but read the letters there are a couple of excellent
ones. (101408e) A look at what the US is doing. It
seems, as has been said before, the cures are not really
applying their effects to the cause of the problem, the
housing dilemma, the toxic debt totaling in the tens or even
hundreds of trillions, the non transparency
of the financial systems operations and regulation that
makes sense. (101408e) Banks
are up and stocks took a downtick after yesterday's
gorging. It just goes to show what 3.2
trillion dollars can do. (101408) New
York City loosing tens of thousands of jobs, high fallutin'
jobs at that. (101408b) Well below you can read the good news. Updates
would reveal that US and Asian markets both boomed today.
However, Buffets "weapon of mass destruction" is still just
sitting there, a time bomb ticking away. This is
the half quadrillion or so dollars in the derivatives market
that many, many people hold but that no one knows the actual
worth of. One wonders, therefore, if this is the next wave.
Time will tell. (101308f) I guess I cannot be everywhere. The
fact that last Friday's gold price was 930 an ounce was a
surprise. The last time it was that high was
back in 1979 when the Russian invaded Afghanistan. It has
fallen to 830 an ounce but the article says that buying
bullion is actually a few hundred dollars more per ounce
than the "spot price". (101308d) For brevity's sake,
here is the SLATE page dated 1013/08. It covers a broad
spectrum of stories, albeit in nutshells, about the economic
crisis and touches on the faltering campaign of John
McStain. (101308b) Well, it's not a "blue Monday" is it? Markets
bounce back and hundreds of billions, even, dast I say it,
more than a trillion dollars are directed at
banks. Maybe we're out of the woods? Maybe
time will tell. Keep an eye out. (101308a) From Canada a
look at what "blowback" they are suffering because of their
role in Afghanistan. Once money is allocated
to the military it is unavailable for anything, everything
else, it is the US model. (101208) As some previous, some months ago, stories reported,
states
warned the Federal government about the housing mess years
ago. (101208h) Part two, more
names, dates and details from Georgia (101208i)
Part three, Ohio
and Iowa get their cummupances and so the housing market
"flourished" (101208j) Take a break from the housing, banking, dollar,
bailout, market and corruption mess. Take
a peek into the contractors who make a lot of money by doing
almost nothing, some get caught as did these, but
many others, oh well … (101208d) Some handy information here,
it says that we are getting close to a deteriorating cycle
in which trust, between creditors of all kinds breaks down,
which slows economic activity, which then creates a credit
crunch, which reduces trust, which slows economic
activity … you get the picture.
(101208g) Now
that we have the "bailout billions" set to go the plan is
being changed. So soon? You might wonder.
Yes, so soon. One wonders if a bad history writer from the
future is having fun with us. (101208b) Mentioned before here is
an overview of the financial crisis as it appears on the
state level. States cannot seem to borrow as is
usual, nor can cities or other local
governments. What this means is governmental problems for
gathering income to pay public servants.
(101108o) Candidates: Lies
aside the Dems are better for the investors and the ordinary
working person, that is what research would show,
but conservative "researchers" find ways to twist the
figures and come up with "new facts". (101208) Down the drain with John McStain: The moment
John McCain't lost. When he was booed by his own
(101308e) How
the press covered the bailout story was, essentially,
irrational yet it was what drove the debate. Perhaps
even forced the decision to go ahead with something that
failed in the short term, because it was a long term,
meaning, in this case, longer than a few weeks, fix.
(101308g) In
2006 public money was spent on partisan, Repuglican,
politics. (101708c)
Europe: The
US reassures the Baltic states that its commitment to them
is solid (102208g) A
once cooling hotspot warms up again? Bosnia
folks, that's what I'm talking about (102108f) Greater Islamic Region, Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia The idea that the
US-India nuke deal has spawned a twin, that of
China-Pakistan is crossing people's minds. The root
of a new "competition"? (102408e) Afghanistan: The case
against the continuing escalation in this
country. Oh well (102408d) Iraq: A
collection of groups make a bold declaration that they'll
soon be attacking the Iraqi government.
Rhetoric? It may be, but then again it may not be. In
either event it is not a good bit of news.
(101908d) Apparently
the SOFA is still having a hard go in the Iraqi government.
Some demands are being called for and
resistance is apparent (102008g) The
end of US presence in Iraq due to the Iranian veto?
(102408c) The
veto is being exercised? We'll see.
(102508b) Pakistan: A
,multiplicity of problems compound in this
nation and the perception is that the end of them is no
where in sight. (102408a) Pakistan
trying out the "Anbar Awakening" strategy?
That's what the word is. Well, time will tell.
(102308c) If the
involvement of the Pakistani government with the US is a
"hot button" issue with the "man on the street"
then the developments described in this article will
heighten the tensions all the more. (101908e) Pakistan's
financial woes, linked to those of the world has it ask for
help from the IMF. (102208h) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Russia: Seems that
tension is running a bit warm along the Georgia South
Ossetia border region, both sides claiming that the
other is shooting at them (101908a) Russian
economic strength weakens with the price of oil and
in the aftermath of the "Georgian Adventure"
(102008f) An update to that
report says that global warming is occurring faster,
stronger and sooner than previous expectations. That
kind of statement has been made before, a few times
actually. (102008k) A laundry
list of the problems our voting system has.
(102508a) This is the
SLATE page dated 102208. It has a nice overview in a
nutshell of the election and the economics. But it
fails in that it emphasizes Obama's "change of mind" on
public financing. Obama's commitment to that was not "set in
stone" he said he wanted to run his campaign that way. And
spoke in favor of it. He never did accept the public
financing. McStain, on the other hand formally petitioned
for and accepted public financing only to change his mind
and break the law in doing so. Quite a different set of
circumstances. But it passes unmentioned.
(102208d) Don't be surprised if the Repuglicans win, not
because they really won but because
they are good at stealing the vote (102008a)
Part two, millions
of votes thrown out (102008b) Partt three,
How HAVA
wreaks havoc and purges the typical Democratic
person. (102008c) Patt four n fact it
is 10
million voters purged from rolls, Colorado leads the
pack iwht a 1/6 ration between purged and "allowed"
(102008d) Partt five, he upshot is that
in
order for Obama to win his lead will have to exceed the
number of votes Repuglicans trash, deny or cage.
(102008e) Economics 101: Criticism of the bailout is not hard to
find, this
article gives an overview of its weaknesses despite what the
press gives us. (102508c) Another
"down" day for the markets world wide. There
must be a floor somewhere but the rescues, bail outs,
interest rate changes, reforming of market management and
regulations have not sparked a genuine "lifting of mood"
that would drive a real "cure" for the problem.
(102408f) A
leftist take on the current crisis and its source.
(102408b.) Wall
Street Yo-yo ride continues to go on and on and on.
(102308b) Job
losses make the headlines, but still, STILL, no use of the
word "recession" to speak of, much less the
dreaded "d" word. (102308a) Another
country bites hard on the Credit Default Swap
mess, or is bitten by it, Russia, nearby, may
well gloat. (102208f) Well this is interesting the
Credit Default Swap mess is looked at briefly in light of
the bail outs, and Lehman Brothers and so
forth (102208e) The
markets take a hit, globally. Other places put the US Dow
down 540 points for the day. (102208b) Housing
crunches and crashes hurting all over, but more is to come
(102108e) In essence
the "bailout billions" are already finding their way into
the pockets of those responsible for the
mess. I THOUGHT we were going to WATCH this?
(102108a) What
is the death count from the Mortgage meltdown?
No one knows but these stories show that it is a real
and dire phenomenon, why aren't the bankers, who are in dire
straits, doing the same? (102008l) A
quick look at the world's nations and their financial
status. It would seem the crisis has receded
for the time being, that is until something else prompts
another crunch. (102008i) A
bit of good news sends the markets up. But recession
is being bandied about when describing the US economy, or
that of the world, in general. But the market's have a good
day. (102008h) The SLATE
page dated 10/19/08 has a raft of data points regarding the
economy, touches on the political and so
forth, but it by itself is a read enough for chronicling
this day in the general story of "our time"
(101908c) Candidates: Down the drain with John McStain: John
McJackass is linked to voting fraud. You
know his wife always does it with him on top because John
ALWAYS F - - - s Up (102108d) Colin Powel,
a Republican, endorsing Obama for several reasons
(102108b) This edition of Daily Howler, dated 10/20/08
talks about
McCain's relationship with robocalls, which take us back to
the South Carolina primary of February 2000,
where McCain was ripped up by them. Now the person
who did that hatchet job has been hired by McCain to do the
same. And John promised he'd "never" do such a thing.
(102008m) Who
you are and where you live affects how you vote? Well take a
look at the factors (102208c) Says
here that enriched uranium was rescued and returned to
Russia. Apparently there are many places
that have uranium which don't have real quality security.
(102208a) Going
back to 9/11, the hijackers with box cutters and flight 77,
well there are problems with the story. The man
who told it created the problems and then compounded them by
contradicting not only himself but "assuming technology"
that would not function as he described. (102008n) In
California money is green and green grows the
economy (102108c)
10/11/08
10/18/08
10/25/08
11/01/08 In
his waning days Bush makes a push for more ability to do
what he does best, grab for more
(102908a) The US
strike in to Syria is symptomatic of the new asymmetrical
warfare being waged these are conflicts where the spin is as
important, if not more so, than the actual facts on the
ground. In a war over hearts and minds, it takes
more than bombs and bullets to win. (102808e) The article is not specific enough, but talks
about
the global thefts of radioactive material. While the
main threat is a "dirty bomb", the whole idea that
radioactive material is being stolen is disturbing.
(102808b) The
economic impact of the credit, dollar, housing, investment,
banking and borrowing crisis have spanned the globe.
Repercussions may be many, ugly and large.
(102708h) What is the cost of slumber? This article talks
about how other nations have become killing machines
then, after the wars that destroyed them, it is seen how
many among the defeated people knew what was being done
though they became practiced at denial. Now
the US is in that same position; we know what we do, yet we
do not stop it, cannot seem to and "life goes
on"(102708c) Europe: The financial mess has reached Hungary also.
The
nation gets some billions on loan to keep a lid on things,
but if it is true that there is over 500 trillion dollars
worth of bad loans globally, it would be impossible to "pay
it all up" as they say, since that is more
money than currently exists globally, and by a few hundred
percent at that. (102608e) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza - Israel - Jordan
- Lebanon - Palestine - Syria The
financial melt down has reached the "Gulf region" and they
seem to handle things the way GW Jackass does. For
some time officials in the region have been saying that
there is no problem, now, all of a sudden, there is a
problem, a big one. ooopsie daisy (102608c) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza Israel
Lebanon - Palestine Lebanon: A
further build up of Syrian troops along the Lebanese
border. This follows a previous story of the
same topic. Smuggling is the reason given
(103008g) Syria: A
US attack mounted inside Syria? Civilians killed? That is
what made the headlines. What the true story
is will come out, eventually. (102608b) The Syrian's reportedly are outraged.
It does not seem, at this time, that there were "targets" in
the attack zone. (102608i) Update:
apparently, one arms smuggler was in the mix and was killed.
Update on the update, maybe that was not so after all the US
is being cagy about whether or not anyone was taken away
dead or alive. A touch more on the raid: if eight were killed and four
were children and one was the guard of the building that
leaves three other dead. Would that be the workers putting
the building up?
Well what WAS the target? Soldiers landed on the
ground, just as they recently did in Pakistan.
(102608k) The Syrian's
promise to take defensive action if "it happens again"
opening the possibility of confrontation or a
clash, which would be to Al Qaida's
advantage, I would think. (102708a) Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Iraq: The
raid into Syria has made something of a furor in the
politics of Iraq, shifting and realignment is underway and
the likelihood of getting a SOFA signed has been
reduced. If Bush wanted to make another
LARGE error at little cost, he would have been hard pressed
to do better than this. (103108k) "Give
us what we want or we'll make it hard on you." We've got
ways of making the Iraqi's give us the legitimacy that we
want, a whole line of threats to choose from.
(102708d). It seems to be that we are in a lose-lose.
If
they don't give us what we want and we act on the
threats,(102708e) chaos ensues and Iraq
collapses. If we do get what we want the best we'll get is
what we have now, which is to say not much at all. and AQ
benefits either way. Well
now it's the Iraqi's turn, they make a proposal that we can
reject. Maybe they'll come to an accord and
then again, maybe not regarding how long US troops can stay
in the country (102908b) Pakistan: Another
drone attack in Pakistan kills a couple, few dozen
and one wonders where, if or when Pakistan will
"draw its line" in the sand (103108b) As
reported last week, there is financial meltdown trouble in
Pakistan, as well as wars as well as divisive
demands by the US. Trouble looms. (103008j) The major general says that they've "turned the
corner" by capturing a village used by the resistance.
It is strategic to their efforts and so a victory can be
claimed,
as to turning the corner, however …
(102508d) Well
here is more on that and a bit of the surrounding situation.
(102608f) Now
it seems that Pakistan is getting serious about having the
US halt cross border missile raids
(102908e) The Greater Islamic Southern Theater: Ethiopia
- The "horn of Africa" Somalia - Sudan Congo: I was waiting for an "explanation "for the current
crisis in this country, apparently
it is the global market for a mineral used in electronic
devices, rare as it is and valuable as it is.
(110108b) Apparently the fighting has other origins as well, but
the over arching
term might be "chaos" is loose and mostly anything goes, it
seems. (110108c) Libya: Back
in the news this country is making deals and "getting its
act together. Oh yes, Russia is making moves here
too. (102908g) Somalia: Mogadishu, bombings take their tolls and so it seems
we have
another "war on terror" gone bad getting news coverage and
one that will go on and on and on.
(102908c) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Georgia: Seems
like not all is a quiet on the western front.
Shootings occur between Georgia and Abkhazia with each
blaming the other in an area where even local people cannot
tell you where the border is. (110108a) India: Koreas: Russia: Seems
like the economic bear is mauling The Bear. Seems
everyone is throwing money at "this thing" and not much is
doing (102608j) Columbia: Apparently the war on drugs or is it terror in
this
country has an "inflated" body count going on.
(103008b) Both
the Arctic and Antarctic show signs of human caused
warming. (103008h).story Water
shortages loom in California the dreamiest of dream
states. (103008g) The
economic crisis may well affect the price of food
globally. It could make matters worse for the
poor who are already suffering. (102808a) Well
the economy is tanking, people are cutting back on
everything, jobs are being lost but those persons selling
guns and ammunition are doing very well, thank
you. Sales are up 8 to 10 percent over last
year (102708f) Widespread
and troubling problems with the electoral process has
sparked lawsuits already (103108e) For
example in Ohio, we have a good deal of potential for
trouble (103108f) A new study
shows that e-voting machines are hackable and seriously
so. Even so the maker argues against the facts and
the machines will be used, how nice is that.
(103108a) 30K voters
in Colorado may not be able to vote because of
"problems" (103008a) An update has it that these
voters will be able to vote, even if provisionally or so
I've heard Down the drain with John McCain: What would McPain do if elected? Well
PNAC would continue, as would the kinds of things Bush
itself talked about at the Citadel in 1999.
(103108d) Lame Jackass Bush: The great dimbulb is truly a lame duck, starting on
the 4th, but
he is still pushing and unpopular, wrong headed, and
ultimately dangerous agenda of deregulation.
(103108j) Economics 101: And
the bounce back in the stock market is described as
"stabilizing", well call me a skeptic, but
I'll wait a few weeks or months to see if we are truly
stabilized. Banks may be lending money more freely and that
is also hailed as a good sign. (103108h) I say this
becasue that
700 or 850 billion dollar bailout see the Treasury's
decision-making is reminiscent of playing 'whack a
mole. (103108g) The fiscal
and monetary mess that we're in is given a nutshell outline,
nice (103108b) Retirement
funds are declining in value. What's this another
tsunami? (103008k) Consumers
buying less, well, that makes sense.
However, the impact is the final portion of the cycle.
Now, as consumers retreat, businesses do more poorly, these
in turn buy fewer goods or services, providers of such then
have downturns and there is a lessening need for loans and
banking services and economic activity slows and as more
people hit the streets they buy less and less.
(103008i) So, over in
Germany they are doing the "bailout thing" but with a severe
difference so why can't we do what they do and
make it stick, yeah, stick it to the man, baby!
(103008e) So, wasn't the bail out to help banks loosen up credit
and make loans so that the "engine of capitalism" can get a
roaring restart? Well,
so why does so much of the money, some 20% seem slated for
payouts as dividends? (103008c) The markets respond to the recent efforts, interest cuts
and other measures have effect but
the battle to restore confidence, prosperity and growth is
in doubt. (102908h) Joblessness
makes Rhode Island a record breaker leading even Michigan.
(102908f) The shifting "meaning of the bailout" by that I mean
what it is, what it will be used for, who gets it and how;
all these
vital parameters shift from time to time and it makes one
wonder if they are just playing it by ear.
(102908d) Are
the "Big Three" to big to fail? Do they get help? Who else
is to big to fail? (102808g) The
yo-yo ride continues with an up day based primarily on
rumors that interest rates will be coming down and soon.
Well, we'll see. (102808g) Mentioned
some time recently, the next bubble is the "credit card"
bubble. People are in over their heads.
Because this is an "everyman" type of problem, it can be far
more devastating as credit card companies deal with bad
debt, cut off credit and individuals suffer. They may not go
bankrupt but if their life line, the plastic, is cut off
… well? (102808d)\ Housing
continues to decline, August having the sharpest decline in
a long time. (102808c) The
word "trillion" has entered the vocabulary in a rude way.
Nearly 3tn in losses since this down turn according to this
article, (102708i) but I believe that understates
the true damages. That figure is for the losses in financial
institutions. It does not include the losses of housing
value that, globally, would double that figure. Then there
is the 1.5tn of losses in retirement accounts. Billions into the banks and the markets are mangled.
It
may be that we need time, but do we have it?
(102708b) A
cycle of lay offs spreads over the nation as the economic
crisis unfolds its latest stage. What a mess,
thank you GW Jackass. (102608d) Bankers just don't get it, bonuses
keep on going on despite the fact that bailout billions,
taxpayer money, is "saving them:
(102508g) A
bit of an explanation of the "politics" which had India
"give away" Tibet oh so long ago.
(102508h)
The Bane of
Bush, Hersh: a bit of background and information,
nice (110508b) For the past several years the notion of a US attack on
Iran has been bandied about and nothing has happened,
thankfully. Is
this last hurrah for The Great Dumbbell? Will see him "go
ballistic"\? This article speculates that it is now or
never, after the election. It ends concluding with
the following "no brainer": " … we can come to a very
simple conclusion: America will either attack Iran in the
next two and a half months, or it never
will."(110208g) Israel
is also in the same boat, a narrowing window of opportunity
in which to act or let history take its course, whatever
that means; even it is a nuclear Iran. (110308a)
The equations have not changed much save for references
in the above article. "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza Israel
Lebanon - Palestine Gaza: The situation as bad as it is, is only getting worse.
I
know there is little attention being paid to this horrific
tragedy, but no one is pressing for relief.
Therefore, the sorrowful wailing will continue, is there
more than just a hope for hope? (110208i) Palestine: Some
in Palestine support a Palestinian state within the confines
of the 1967 borders, which would be a wonderful start if
Israel would be amenable to such but it is
not, at least currently. (110908d) Syria: China
makes moves in this country and in various ways.
(110508e) Part two: more
on that? (110508f) Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia This story involves the head of the Gulf Cooperation
Council visiting Iran. The article indicates that the
nations are not accepting the
narrative the US has attempted to write, concerning the
danger of a nuclear Iran, is fact it is not "read well" by
these states and so they seem to be supportive of
Iran's nuclear program. (110308j) Afghanistan: A call from
Karzai to Obama sets the groundwork for what "has to be
done" "over there" (110508c) Iraq: Iran: The
story is brief, but allows mulling. Is this another flash
point? Probably not, but still (110508a) Pakistan: Another
missile attack by the US. (110708b) While it
is thought, by some in other articles, that though these are
publicly condemned they are also privately condoned by
Pakistan's government as it plays a balancing act. The Greater Islamic Southern Theater: Ethiopia
- The "horn of Africa" Somalia - Sudan Congo: By the way, fighting continues, deepens and more
refugees are on the run or being slaughtered. No specific
story on this, but I mention it as a matter of
record. Libya: Following up on a previous story, the
Libyan leader traveled to see Putin and there will be
nuclear power plants in Libya if all goes according to plan,
as well as conventional arms sales. Does this bode well for
US "influence" in the region? Yet, another
one of Bush the dumber's long term consequences
(110208c) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Bangladesh: China: Evidence
that the world's economic problems have reached the doorstep
of the Chinese business world was seen at an industrial fair
when the usual crowds were absent as were the buyers
from around the world who usually show and spend, spend
spend! (110108d) Russia: Some
debate about how the Russo-Georgian war started, all is not
as it seemed, it seems. (110708c) Military
moves in Euroland and Russia make for rumblings and
tensions. A lasting legacy of the Bush Error
or can something be done now that we some one with a brain
in the WH? (110608b) Venezuela: Increased
ties with Russia are on the agenda now a days. The status of
the whole continent is in flux and change and, essentially,
alienated from the US because of the Jackass Bush.
This may be a lasting legacy too. (110608c) Following up on a previous story that reported a surge
in gun buying,
this one adds that the surge continues and sales are
booming. The story seems to indicate that buyers
are NOT Obama fans and fear that they will loose some of
their toys. (110808b) Slate's home page for 11/06/08 has a nice nutshell
overview of what is happening today. Economics,
the president elect's new cabinet, Bush speaks and sounds,
well, human, and Kenya declares this day a national
holiday (110608g) The giant news is Obama's victory as well as that of
the Democratic party. While the Dems may not get the 60
senate seats that would prevent the Repuglican's filibuster,
they may get very close. Here
is the skinny on the fact two days later
(110608f) I do not make much more of it here because the
focus of this whole project is his predecessor and his gross
errors. Yes, I was cheered however. More on the
end of a 40 year era of economic conservatism that really
was not conservative, considering all the waste and loss
that have come to bear fruit (110608a)
The
markets liked the news, to say the least.
(110408a) So here it is, with less than 24 hours to go a tale that
will, if things go wrong, prove hindsight is 20-20.
The
means by which McStain might win is that the voting system
has been corrupted and biased against those populations who
are traditionally Democratic the Repuglicans are doing their
damnedest to steal this election and they have a real shot
at doing it. (110308b) Here is more
on that subject exposing yet another tactic that can be
used. Hacking the simple email that is used to send
voting results to central databases. (110308c) This
is the word from Florida, controversy over the voting there
too (110308f) Down the drain with John McCain: John McCain
and Ethics = turd floating in the gravy boat.
(110208a) Lame Jackass Bush: A
nice article that describes in terse terms the sum of the
Bush legacy, if it can be called that with any justice to
the term legacy. It is a good hearty read however
and is highly recommended (110308e) Economics 101: Bernie
Sanders proposes a "rescue package" that involves "New Deal"
like infa-structure projects and some 300 billion dollars.
(110808a) Problem with this idea is that this
is what Japan tried some ten years ago and it did not work
all that well. Second problem is that this down turn is
global, more severe and has, as its basis, mountains of
debt. Those conditions are not what cost Japan its economic
well-being in its down turn at least according to other
stories I've read but not archived. The
"big boys" line up for a trip to the treasury
trough, hoping for a fill up, meanwhile they
run on fumes in Motown (110708e) A
couple more bank failures make the news.
(110708c) This is an example, what
needs to be done is known, whether or not
Bush begins this work or Obama starts fresh, the fact is we
should know what to do and begin, on day one, getting it
done. (110608e) The whipsaw effect continues bits of good news,
Obama's election for example, caused a rise, yesterday and
today we had losses. This
pattern is extreme, that is to say record seeing gains and
losses alternating indicate that the financial system is
unstable, the stress must be gargantuan and
planning or looking forward must be near impossible.
(110608d) And it is, of course, not
only the US that
suffers, but the world as well. Seems like "… a times
they are a changin'" (110608h) Recession
is global that is the word from the round about tables
anyway. (110408b) The
auto industry is hurting, maybe at the worker and
plant level, maybe at the sales level or mid managerial
level, so that now, when sales drop the owners are taking
notice. (110308g) However, it's
not called global gloom for nothing, a recession is
on. With inflation not an apparent threat low
interest will be the order of the day, but debt, the driver
of the mess, will not be "inflated away"
(110308h) The
Euro-zone is scheduled for its own recession.
Things look about as bad as they do in the US. Slow train
comin'? You betcha! (110308k) A quick guide to what is happening financially in
nations around the world,
everywhere are signs of trouble (110308l) Tales
from around the world indicate that the financial mess is
getting attention. The IMF has some 200 billion
dollars on hand and is loaning it to nations in trouble.
Problem is and will be the size of the debt, globally as
previous articles suggest that it is something near 500tn
dollars, if that is even 20% true then there will be more
contractions to come. The US has some 50tn in debt or some
such figure so one wonders (110208f) Other reports have
the global debt at some 682tn, in which case the term
Quadrillion becomes functional. The bailout is a giveaway or a steal? You
decide after reading how W. Buffet got a much, much better
deal when he "bought into" Goldman Sachs than the US Govt.
did. Why is that? Inquiring minds want to know
why about 50% of the money is going … where?
(110208e) A view of the housing, financial, banking, bailout,
default credit swap, monetary mess from Australia.
The
salient points: the article says that 20 less than trillion
in losses or have already accrued in this mess, which means
we are not even half way through the 50 or 55tn of debt that
other articles have quoted as being embedded in the US
alone. Then there is the outline of how
bi-partisan efforts helped make the mess so messy - plenty
of blame to go around. (110208c) How Iceland goes green. With
most of its energy needs met with domestic sources of hydro
and geothermic sources the nation is about 80% independent
and so may be a guide as to the benefits of taking on such a
large task. (110408b) However, this country did
still suffer from the financial meltdown allowing disproof
to those few comenators who have irrationally and causally
linked the meltdown to the energy crisis.
The "Great War" Some not so heard about chapters and characters in the
cold war's final chapter, that of the Russian invasion of
Afghanistan. Brzezinski replied: "Regret
what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had
the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and
you want me to regret it? ... What is most important to the
history of the world? … Some stirred-up Muslims
or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the Cold
War?" Great quote, especially since those "hopped up"
Muslims "did 9/11 a few years later. (111208d) The hints of a changing face to the post Bush world?
Some of what
Obama has said and some advisements as to what should be
done. (111108a) Europe: Russia and
the EU make nice talk about a "pan European security pact"
Does this not cut the US out? Can we not
give G.W. Jackass the credit for this "development"
(111408i)? Latvia Another
"big bank rescue" in another nation
(110908a) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza Israel
Lebanon - Palestine Israel: Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Iraq: Word
is the agreement, SOFA, such as it is or may yet be, has
drawn not only criticism but also now an alliance of
resistance groups have decided to fight. If
the up tick in violence is significant, if the chaos
increases and spreads it will be a whole new ball game, all
campaign rhetoric aside. (111108h) Suicide
attacks are coming back into the news; these are the latest
ones (111008g) The
history of the Iraq occupation as seen through the "real
post war plan". The article describes the
post combat plan for Iraq, the problem was not that there
was no plan; the problem was the plan did not work.
(111108b) In addition, here is a bit on the
"Shock Doctrine" Amy Goodman interviews Naomi
Klein. (111108c) Pakistan: Money
problems plague the country as crackdowns net 'evil
doers" (111208k) Problems continue,
it is a war against insurgents and the nation's financial
condition is problematic. (111408b) Militarily,
the problems could be described as challenging,
with a long winter ahead. (111408f) The Greater Islamic Southern Theater: Ethiopia
- The "horn of Africa" Somalia - Sudan Somalia: The
fighting continues with the resistance taking a town close
to Mogadishu. The situation is not really
stabilized and the US backed Ethiopian force seems to be
pulling back. (111308e) More on that story, the
US backed effort to prop up a pro-western government seems
to be failing at this time. (111408e) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Burma: The
latest on Suu Kyi, the imprisoned leader of the freedom
movement in this country is that she is quieter and
quieter. This has caused some to question her
commitment. (111008f) China: China
does its "bailout thing" too. To the tune of 586 billion
dollars worth. (110908b)I keep asking but if
the debt is measured in the hundreds of trillions, aren't
all these cash infusions just delaying the inevitable? I
mean money will run out soon at this rate and then what? The issues arising from a delayed phone call are a
signal fire that exposes a raft of issues that Obama and his
comments have brought up is change afoot?
Wherefore art the relations between India and the Obama
administration? (111108g) Koreas: The
news is that things are sticky and messy. The word
is that something could happen, but it may be very bad.
(111408g) Russia: Foreign cash reserves though quite large, some half
trillion dollars, or thereabouts, is being drawn down for a
variety of reasons, the
debt crisis being one of them, the strengthening of the
dollar another along with a weakening of the
ruble. (110908g) They are called "brown clouds" a regional phenomenon
in many parts of Asia spreading pollution
and effecting the weather, rainfall and health of various
populations. Oh, it is a man make
phenomenon. (111408c) The
level of the global warming gas, carbon dioxide, is still
peaking despite the current efforts. No
mention is made of methane, which should be peaking as well;
this story has other information as well,
(110908d) Says
here that three times as many people die from prescription
drugs than die from illegal drugs. Do we need
ANOTHER kind of war on drugs? (111208e) The Slate dated 11/12/08 has a lot in it, the
nuggets, as it were are interesting how
the Repuglicans may be blamed if GM goes under because it
does not get a slice of the Bailout Pie, Obama and
lobbyists and so forth (111208i) 440,000
voters purged in Colorado. One wonders how many were
purged across the US in the last election, not that this
"strategy" worked ultimately, we have Obama as proof of
that, but still (111208h) Since Bush was never elected, never legitimate and never
truly president any of his actions are suspect on a legal
basis. In this
article, Obama is making a list of those actions he can undo
ASAP. (110908f) Then
too the economic and environmental problems overlap as far
as solutions for both are concerned. This is a nice
story, a good story and a story that brings hope to mind, if
not yet to heart. (110908g) The Slate page dated 11/09/08
has some nice overview of the stories making the rounds in
the papers. This is a good page to read on a daily
basis. (110908c) Lame Jackass Bush: Veteran
homelessness not a thing of the past, even in San
Francisco. (111308c) Economics 101: Do these clowns KNOW what they're doing? They change
whatever they want; however, they want to change it.
Playing by ear? Maybe they are tone deaf?
(111308a) Regarding that story the overview is bleak to say the
least. The
end is not only not in sight it seems to be moving away from
us, from what we can tell. (111308b) So,
who is getting these loans and what is collateralizing them?
Shouldn't that be known? Well, it's not, not yet
anyway. (111408a) In
addition, the day before, Wednesday, the Dow lost about 400
plus points. (111308f) Again, the
Slate page, from 11/13/08 giving an overview of the chaos
that the "Bailout Plan" seems to be as well as
that which it seems to be creating. (111308g) Something
under 300,000 foreclosure filings in this past September
alone. Not a good trend. (111208h) The salient point:
the problem is not that otherwise creditworthy borrowers
can't get loans. The problem is that people are not
creditworthy. This article talks about trillions of
dollars being lost in the credit and stock markets. This
means that we STILL have a ways to go before things begin to
bottom out. (111208f) Whatever
the bailout was, it has morphed into many things and
many companies or such like are trying for a big piece of
the pie, but there is not enough to go around
(111208b) Well, the 700 billion has become almost three times
that much, 2 trillion in fact.
Much of this is undisclosed and no one, outside of the
Bernake crew knows what is what. This despite a
pledge of transparency. (111108h) This is becoming the shortcut for me; the
Slate page dated 11/11/08 has the nutshell economic overview
that is so handy. The US government take over of Fannie Mae
and the plan for AIG seem to be going a bit flat, meanwhile
with nearly half the 700 billion bailout being accounted for
the other half is now needed and, well, with the
effectiveness of the first half being questioned one wonders
if the 700 billion is enough to solve "the
problem". There is the Obama call for another
stimulus package of some half trillion, but one still
wonders if that will "do the trick". With the mountain of
debt corrupting every aspect of the economy one HAS to
wonder about any plan's worth. (111108f) Another
perspective on the "Bailout Billions" Naomi
Klein. (111108d) Here
is more on what might be called the "Greenspan
Legacy" (111108e) From
England we hear that the housing market is contracting also,
prices for homes drop, those willing to buy are
fewer and loans are harder to get a triple whammy.
(111008e) The
"street's" Yo-yo ride continues, as instability becomes the
constant and more and more debts come to light.
(111008a)
The "Great War" Once
nearly all-powerful by many, many measures the US
transformed itself from a producer to a consumer and then,
finally a debtor state. Empire's cannot be run that way,
for long. (111708d) Part two, the
remains that will be studied. (111708e) The
morphing of the original "great war" which was the war on
terrorism may be replaced by a resurgence of what was called
the "cold war". A missile and anti-missile row in
the EU has some thinking that way, anyway.
(111408m) If a new
administration is going to "reinvent" brand USA, we
need to clean house and here is why. (111708a) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza Israel
Lebanon - Palestine Gaza: A
news blackout maintained by Israel keeps everyone in the
dark as to what is happening in Gaza. The situation
is only getting worse and one wonders when "something will
give" (112008a) Israel: Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Afghanistan: Preparations
for a show down early next year? Seems like
both sides are trying to get ready (111908i) Can
we use the word "disaster" to describe what is happening in
this country? This article does and tells
why (111708b) Iraq: The notion of pulling out of Iraq or drawing down,
whatever has a serious roadblock. Ironic though it may
sound to those who recall the "faster, lighter army that
Rummy Dummy touted and "created",
all the "stuff" we brought with us will have to come back,
including the multi flavored ice cream machines and Burger
King grills. (112008c) And there is popular
sentiment that runs against the SOFA, a Sadr rally
demonstrates this (112208a) The SOFA
faces further hurdles. I wonder what will
happen if it is not a "done deal" by new year's eve. Will we
"go be they law of the land" or will we just "Bush It" our
way through? (111908b) The
Iraqi leader backs the pact! Well, that would be great;
except for the SOFA is still neither a "shoe in" nor a done
deal. One wonders what will really happen on
1/1/09 when the UN mandate, allowing the US presence, has
expired. (111408k) Well the
SOFA has been approved by the executive level of the Iraqi
government, now it goes to the representative body.
If approved we will see what kind of
reaction plays out in the streets, I would guess.
(111408b) For
example, Sadr wants to raise the ante.
Previous articles archived referenced still other groups
deciding to take up arms against the US and its Iraqi
allies. (111408l) Pakistan: US missile
strikes continue and, in this case, break new
ground. Resistance to such actions are being
threatened, only time will tell what their words are worth
(111908c) The Greater Islamic Southern Theater: Ethiopia
- The "horn of Africa" Somalia - Sudan Somalia: As it would seem the locals know what they want to do,
maybe we
should let Somalian solutions be found for Somalia by, guess
what, Somalians (111808a) Chaos
at sea, piracy and more in the waters off this unfortunate
nation. (112108f) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia Japan Japan
is in a recession. As is the US, but over here we don't use
that word (111708g) Venezuela: Russia
and Venezuela make the nuke deal happen. A reactor is on its
way. This cannot be viewed by the "old guard"
in the US as anything but good and a direct product of
the "Dumbass Of All Time" (111908a) The acidity of the world's oceans is on the increase.
There
are risks to that, outlined in this article, the worst of
which would be a die off of smaller animals at the base of
the food chain which would cause a population crash of
larger fishes, many of which provide food for
people. (111808f) America's "selection of 2000", current elections and
future: What
is the balance between Hawk and those who opposed the entry
of the US into a war with Iraq in the "run up" to the
formation of Obama's cabinet and staff, well, it is
not favoring the Doves, that is what seems to be happening.
(112008f) Here
are more and more details on the Hawkish nature of what is
shaping up to be the persons who will help Obama form
foreign policy. (112108c) The Slate
from this date 11/18/08, has a good deal about the GOP
"digging in D.C., the FDIC's chief getting feisty, no hope
for mortgages, how corruption in Iraq's government
is getting a hand from, you guessed it, the Iraqi government
and, implied, is the lack of help for the automakers nice
set of nutshells, really, worth the read.
(111808d) The
"battle of Ohio" was given some coverage before the election
but this story gives a wide array of facts and suppositions
that show the GOP had massive voter disenfranchisement as
their "main battle plan" for 2008. This is just one
of 50 states. (112208c) Colorado had a similar tale
to be told but I have noting from the other states, other
than what came through in other stories (s) Here
is a detail, a data point, if you will, supporting that
story. (112208b) Lame Jackass Bush: Perhaps something of a parting shot.
The 2008 report contrasts sharply with that of 2004. Then
the US was "lookin' good" now it is, more along the lines of
"Oh well … " The US is facing a changed world and GW is
the man who made it all possible the man may go, thank God,
but his legacy will linger on and on and on.
(112108b) Economics 101: Stock market
reaches new lows, a ten-year low, it looks like.
Probably more of the same is on the way. The holidays will
be rough, tough and mean. (112108a) Then
the next day bounces back. Instability? Has to be such
(112108d) When
you have a plan and it fails smart people have a "plan B"
but in this case, Paulson, our "money man" is thinking of a
"plan b" that closely resembles "plan a" so what IS new?
I mean, besides the danger of continuing on the way we
are with our financial rescue? (112008g) A slew of economic nutshells from Slate's "today's
papers" The
"market" is now down 43.5% from its high just over a year
ago. The big three get grilled and investors
head for the bonds (112008e) Dow
down 400 plus points, unemployment up and as a
Christmas present, I guess, unemployment recipients are
getting an extension to see them through the holidays.
(112008d) Jobless
claims reach a 16-year high. Yet ANOTHER sign that
the Bush legacy will be fit for the trash heap or cess pool
of history. (112008b) The
risk of deflation and the cycle that generates it may be
serious (111908j) The
fall in the price of oil, effect the value of petro-dollars,
as well as the value of "investment securities or whatever"
based on them. Thus, those banks, which have grown
fat on them and used those deposits as a basis for loans and
or other financial activities have a day of reckoning
coming, and soon, (111908g) The
Asian market takes a drubbing as does "the street"
(111908f) I
guess you don't have to look far to see signs of the problem
economy; the "parking lot" of new imported cars grows as
demand declines but there are other details
that make it an interesting read. (111808h From
England, we see a drop in inflation indexes.
This should mean that a depression may be looming, not
an inflationary spiral that would bathe the world in tides
of worthless paper money. (111808g) The "Big Three" say they need 25 billion to "fix
themselves up" and claim that it will be disastrous for the
US if aid does not come through. Well,
those arguments have been used before and they got the US to
dump half of the 700 billion "rescue package" already and no
one can say it has helped "turn around an increasingly dire
economic devolvement" Therefore, they need a new
playbook or something. (111808d) The
economic crisis, as measured by calls for help to the IMF,
grows steadily on and so the crisis deepens, it
would seem, by the hour. (111808b) The talk and governmental wrangling over a "bailout"
for the big three.
One wonders if the track record of the bailouts thus far
will be broken and we'll actually see one of them that is
done the way it should be, meets expectations and is managed
well. I know, I know, but it COULD happen.
(111708i) I've not been archiving stories about job losses, but
this one is big 52,000
jobs being cut by Citigroup Inc. (111708h)
That number is on top of an already decided upon cut
of 23,000 for a total of 75.000 jobs in the next
few months. Ouch! The Bailout Billions, 60 days on and counting.
What has it accomplished, well, do YOU see any good news? A
stabilization of the markets? Jobs being created, credit
being loosened, the housing market steadying on? No? You
don't? Hey, give it time and a few hundred
billion more (111708f) What is up with "our" government's promises to use the
"bailout billions" in the manner promised?
Not much, apparently, or rather we just don't know how the
money is being spent, where it's going and so
forth (111508c) "The
financial situation facing the Big Three is not a national
problem, but their own problem," Senator Shelby
said. Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, a state
that is already writhing in pain from the auto industry's
troubles, would tell Mr. Shelby that the industry "supports
1 in every 10 jobs in the country. It's easy to demonize the
American auto industry. It has behaved with the foresight of
a crack addict for years. But even when people set their own
houses on fire, we still dial 9-1-1, hoping to save lives,
salvage what we can and protect the rest of the
neighborhood. (111508a)
I have to say that I am thankful that the focus of this
newsletter and my archive had been to document the current
"awful administration". On January 20th, this effort will no
longer be needful because the "end of an error" will be at
hand. In the time that remains stories, concerning Obama
will show up. Right now, that is happening because of the
need for massive and pervasive errors, which need to be
addressed I suspect this will continue for some time.
The "Great War" Here
is the "skinny" on the "deal with or for Gates",
maybe Obama will read something like this and we'll get
someone in charge who has some idea of what we want or what
we CAN accomplish maybe, maybe (112308f) Europe: "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza Israel
Lebanon - Palestine Gaza: The
human cost of the Israeli blockade is telling.
Daily it gets increasingly serious. There is no
peaceable solution to this morass of moral turpitude.
(112408a) Syria The
UN's green light for nuclear development put the US concerns
to the side (112608c) Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Afghanistan: What
is going on in the Taliban Zone? Lots but the
allied forces don't seem to "get it"(112208e) Dubai: Dubai
shifted into crisis mode this week
(112208h) Iraq: What
we leave behind in Iraq may be "haunting"
(112208f) and cost Obama his promises. However, what if the Iraqi's don't approve of the
SOFA?
This article has it that they'll ask the US and its few
allied contingents to leave. (112308l) But what
about all our "stuff"? Well
they "done did it" and passed a SOFA; I don't know if this
is a sign of reason and rational thinking or
if it is "just more of the same" until whatever really
happens. (112708a) The
SOFA, a discussion delayed means tension is not.
(112408k) The Greater Islamic Southern Theater: Ethiopia
- The "horn of Africa" Somalia - Sudan Somalia: The
Ethiopians are to pull out of Somalia by the year's end.
The US effort to rid Somalia of Islamist
elements, Al Qaida or other "anti western" forces.
(112808d) Asia: The Greater Islamic Theater: - China - India -
Russia - South East Asia India: Here
is a fascinating short, an analysis of what the "silver
lining" in the Mumbai cloud is and how India and
Pakistan can grow their similarities to yield a peace that
allows them to solve the terrorist riddle (112908e) Another
set of attacks, by whom and for what reason.
Many dead, many more wounded, hostages taken WTF?
(112608e) Pakistan is
mentioned as being the source of the attackers.
One wonders what this will do the "relations" between these
two nations. (112808a) Korea: Apparently,
tensions are on the rise and balloon messages are a part of
it. One wonders what "decisive" means
(112208g) Russia: New
missile test is successful. (112608d)y I
guess "good news" comes in packages, another successful
missile test. (112808c) Thailand: The
unpopular government faces a crisis; its choices are step
down in peace or step up in violence.
(112908d) Cuba: Talk
about a headline that indicates change, Raul Castro shows up
at a church ceremony. (112908b) Another story concerning the acidification
of the oceans, it seems that the process is happening far
faster than theoretical models predicted some 20 times
faster; the threat is to the base of the
ocean's food chain. (112508e) If we take a
look at the Obama security team that is being assembled and
who is being placed where and who or what organizations are
being nurtured or culled for "expertise" we do not see the
"new thinking" nor the "change you can believe in" that was
touted during a campaign, no, we hear that there is
no time for "experimentation" and old hands are put to the
wheel, hands that steered us into twin disasters, no less.
No lies. (112608a) The future as viewed from what is called the fringe.
Disaster
stalks the US and the world according to this site. Still,
it is food for thought, if only to be disregarded when
"things turn
around" (112508a) If children
are our future, what are we doing with our youth? Are they
disposable? (112508c) Our "health system" as it might be called, is steeped
in myths, would
you like to examine the top five myths?
(112408c) and, Part Two,
the rest of the sad, sad story (112408d) Lame Jackass Bush: Fire the
whistleblowers! Another Bush the dumber act
(112908g) It
seems that peppering the federal government's science
advisory panels and what not with idiots is
another legacy Obama will have to contend with
(112308j) Economics 101: Much of Slate's commentary regards the economic, and
the broad
picture is poor, though the US is touted as being the "best
ship in the storm" that doesn't seem to mean much
(112908c) So,
"Black Friday" has come and gone and, indications are, that
the recession is here and sales are off globally
poor news trickles in. (112908a) The
real estate in NYC is taking "the plunge" as economic woes
pile up. (112808f) We have
a review of the recent US government's effort to stem the
crisis; it is a mixed review, of course,
essentially saying, "time will tell." (112808b) While
we've heard about the housing mortgage mess, we're only
beginning to see the commercial property mortgage mess.
The first signs are showing themselves in
scattered spots around the country (112608c) The slate
page, my favorite shortcut, has it that just over 7 trillion
dollars have been committed thus far in the US effort to
"resolve" this crisis. I have heard reports
that it is almost twice that, but this figure is big enough
for me. Then too the world's effort must be something
similar. To bad the "bad paper is worth about 100 times that
amount one wonders how this will play out.
(112608g) The
debt "cold turkey" continues, according to this article.
The "black hole" of debt, as I've described it,
should be capable of absorbing all that is being tossed at
it and then some. So deleveraging, globally, should
continue, which would mean that, eventually, the US dollar
will have it's comeuppance (113008i) An
answer, at last, it seems that the government can keep on
"flooding" with cash and piling up debt because the debt has
a market, many, in this world still view the US dollar as a
safe haven. Thus, bonds sell; the dollar has
gone up in value. So far, creating debt seems better than
letting big financial institutions crash and creating doubt
in the minds of those investors seeking safety for their
money. However, lest we forget, wasn't the creation of debt
what brought about this fiasco? I guess we'll see what's
what or what. (112608b) A nice summary of the crisis, from its start to its
current status. In
addition, a some data points on the man, or men, in charge
of it. Read all the way through it is instructive
and highlights the large errors make already, I hope this is
the darkest before the dawn type of time.
(112508d) Another
800 billion is released by the Fed to "unfreeze" the
market. Where is this all coming from? Where is it
all taking is, perhaps, more important. (112508b) The Slate's nutshell of the billion stories, all of
them and the
oddball "rationale" that the reason the Federal Reserve,
which has been handing out billions also, does not make
public what we, the public, actually get for the trillion or
so dollars we, our representatives or whatever, have spent
is that, well, telling all would be to telling
(112408j) The "ripple effect" of the
Wall St. downturn has damaging job loss potential for New
York City and state. (112408i) Joblessness
and foodlessness both on the rise (112408f)
Here
is another report, more of the job angle
(112408g) Another
700 billion rescue plan, this one by Obama. I
guess the markets will jump up and then crash back down,
what's your guess? (112408b) Take
the CitiGroup's bailout for example, can you spell "yo
yo?" (112408e) Yup,
and here is the proverbial up tick in the pants
(112408h) Just
a brief three weeks after getting a "cash infusion" from the
government, Citi Bank's stock value has lost 70%.
Although it is the worst such case, the "industry" as a
whole has lost 40% value in that time. So, are they just
piling up the money and setting it on fire or what? Maybe it
is that 700tn dollar black hole I've spoken of? (112308h)
Then, look at this story: Three
hundred six billion dollars for Citigroup? That's what the
story says. Now that would just about "use
up" the 700 billion package that, up until a day ago, was
supposed to be saved for when Obama took office. Luckily,
that 306b is NOT part of the bailout billions, as some might
have assumed. (112308k) The legacy of the Bush "administration" lingers on and
on and on.
What are the seven deadly deficits and what needs to be done
about them? (112308g) A
brief overview of the economic crisis with the charts and
graphs to make sense of the text.
(112308c) The
headline asks: "how deep a recession" and the answer really
is "we don't know". Historical incidents do
not seem to be instructive and historical remedies have not
been effective thus far either. The problem is debt.
Institutionalized debt that has balance sheets going red,
consumers holding back, deflation making headway and
confidence ebbing with each massive lay off, each decline in
the housing market or any of the many other measures of
economic health or vitality. (112308d) In
addition, for a worst case, best-case analysis, which is
none to good, read on McDuff. (112308e) Justice: Our Presstitutes inaction: Our
brain-dead media, you will recall, claimed that Bush had a
"mandate" when he won by three million votes, however,
Obama, winning by twice as much, does not appear to enjoy a
mandate. Funny that. (112208d) The
NYT used to be the paper of record, now it may be, fairly,
called the paper of discord. It reports a
hysterical account of Iran's already having enough nuclear
material for a bomb. Well, NOT, as the kids used to say.
(112408l) The
notion that non-food plants should have been the first
candidates for bio-fuel research should have been a
no-brainer at least after food prices priced the poor around
the world into starvation, but it wasn't.
Profits came first. Now it seems that research is being
done. A year or more ago several articles reported on
research that had ALREADY been done and indicated that there
were numerous plants far better suited for bio-fuel
production than either corn or sugar cane. I have heard that
kelp is a candidate too. Well? (112308b)
11/08/08
11/14/08
11/22/08
11/29/08
12/06/08 Obama inherits the whirlwind from the Mr. Jackass the
Dumber, and
this article questions how well the errant wars will be
managed. (120508d) Those on the receiving end of the war on terror,
experience, well, terror. The
illegal and immoral wars being waged demonstrate the
obdurate and blinkered thinking that has wrought such a
large and dangerous failure of policy; one that
Obama does not promise to alter in its essence
(120108d) This relates to the "Great" war: what
set of nations has not agreed to "deal with" cluster bombs:
the US, Russia, China, Pakistan and Israel are
among the naysayers, quite a group, I'd say.
(120508e) Europe: NATO
and Russia "have a disagreement over missile placement, oh
well, welcome to a new world. (120408d) Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Afghanistan: Loosing control to a variety of groups with a variety
of goals and aims for their new nation
the front line is the city line around Kabul
(120508k) Pakistan: Things are dicey in this country, with many players
playing, making moves and looking out for "number one"
as AQ has
been doing "quite well thank you."
(120108c) Asia: The Greater Asian Islamic Theater: - China -
India - Russia - South East Asia India: The
US leans to making Pakistan "respond" to India. The US has
been trying to get into India's pants for a while
now, and maybe in the heat of passion She will
see things "our way". (120408e) It seems that "all
options" are on the table with Pakistan as far as India is
concerned, disconcerting as that might be.
(120508b) India
demands active and substantive cooperation, presently in the
form of extraditing 20 suspects from Pakistan. India
says that although it won't go to war over the incident they
do make the demands already mentioned and do not say what
will happen if they are not satisfied. (120308a) The
phrase "war alert" is not used lightly and it is what is
getting new headlines (113008a) You know I'd like to have a story, a big story, with deep
and abiding good news, instead
I get this mess talking about yet another form of dangerous
pollution, which is all the more so because it is so hidden
from the human community and so disruptive of the oceans
ecological nature. (120408a) What passes
for a global discussion on warming may just be a lot of hot
air despite the extremity of the situation.
(120308b) Meanwhile
the polar region is warming up faster than any other place
on earth and it may be past the "tipping point'
(120508j) No
acorns? None? That is the story; at least in many areas
around the country there are none, really, none, not a
one. Squirrels are nutso of course, but why?
(113008e) Part two, a
rainfall did it? Or did it? Upshot: wait and see if it
changes next year (113008f) The
world's seed bank and more history of the Rockefellers,
world power grabbing (120608a) The lame George W. Jackass Legacy: Here is
another legacy, home losses setting records
(120608b) The secreted
remains of presidential documents are more secret now,
thanks to Bush the dumbwhacker (120408c) An
overview of the "legacy" that this Jackass the Dumber has
saddled us with (113008b) "Burrowers"
have been mentioned recently, and here is the union's take
on that prospect (120308c) Some other
particulars, saving
industry the trouble of defending itself against safety nets
for workers. (113008c) And
even more invidious garbage Bush the dumber is leaving
behind in the trash bin of history that his
administration is/was and will be (113008d) Economics 101: 1.2 million
jobs lost in the last three months. The car
companies are still not being rescued? What if they do go
down? (120508h) It was the unemployment figures, some half million in
November, that had
lawmakers think that maybe helping out the automakers is a
good idea however the details of the bargain, having the
money come from a fund dedicated to developing fuel
efficient cars, will probably be swept aside in
the passion of the moment. Upshot: don't look for change any
time soon in Motor City (120608c) The Slate
page covers the housing mess in a set of nutshells.
(120508f) The Slate
page, a nice overview (120308j) Lots of rich
detail about Monday's bad news, but the kicker in this
article is the fact that in November
alone 300,000 non-farm jobs were lost. That is an
army of losses. (120308h) Some
movement on a Big Three Bailout? Time will tell;
time is short. (120308f) The
unsteady gyrations continue, another upswing after a plunge.
Time will tell (120308g) Some kind of
consensus is emergent for a stimulus plan which
is all the more impressive since this one is voiced by a one
time critic of what he espouses. (120308d) So, with
all the bank rescuing going on the banks have a terrible,
awful, no good, very bad day (120108g) And
if you need more data points, well, here they are full
on (120108h) Trillions,
the word has a ring to it, and that's what we're hearing
about now a days. The plan to "rescue" the US
financial system, the dollar and economy is massive and
historic in many ways. It is also not without substantive
and serious risk. (120108f) Well here is the argument for massive governmental
spending, but
what we are doing now is not the kind of spending this
person is talking about. (120108e) Obama called for a redistribution of wealth during the
campaign and caught a little hell for it, but
now that trillions are being "redistributed" well, mum seems
to be the word. (120108a) The face of
the auto industry can be seen in a single man's
perspective. Big auto is maybe to big to
fail, with so many jobs at stake, but then how effective has
the US been with the financial sector? Can we afford a
rescue or can we afford not to rescue? (120108b)J An
example of Repugiclan overreach that is now biting them in
the ass, and since that hurts they want to change their own
law … believe it! (120308e) I don't know about you but I'm
tired of being a "stand out" nation, especially when that
means we stand apart from the world and are wrong
headed about it.(120508i) Here
is one thing that is wrong with American style
medicine (120408b) Naomi Klein,
if you have not heard of the "Shock Doctrine" you should,
then too this mostly about Klein herself and how her
life's experiences helped her see the light, even if not
perfectly clearly. (120508d) Without
having a grasp of the real details, the idea is, at least,
worth developing, universal voting registration keep
it simple and get it right at the same time. We spent a few
billion on machines that did not work, or were, to say the
least, very republican why not some on this?
(120408a)
"Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza Israel Lebanon
Palestine Israel: The article posits the
debate points concerning larger scale action against Hamas
and Gaza. The idea being preemption so that not only will
rocket production be impacted but the development of rockets
with a 70km or more range will be postponed.
(120708i) Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia The
US to sign a nuclear agreement with the UAE? The
article "mentions" problems with that idea, but they are
dismissed, should they be? (121308b) A description of the "status" of Afghanistan's
conflict. The
upshot here is that the Taleban is not one entity and it has
morphed into a nationalist movement.
(120808j) Afghanistan: And here is more thoughts on that, a discussion of how
parallel
the "debate" over whether or not to "escalate" in Vietnam is
to the "non-debate" going on now concerning the same kind of
action in Afghanistan (120808h) Iran: The man says Iran has no nukes; this may be the
case. What
policy will come of the Obama view?
(121008b) Pakistan: Pakistan's
military gets a set back from the country's
government, however this is an opening shot not a
"change of circumstances", yet! (121208h) Pakistan
will not hand over the persons India wants,
the word "war" comes up in this article, more
than once (120908b) So, there is
blame for the Mumbai attack fixed, and the Pakistani
military attacks its one time puppet.
(120808c) As we all know things are tense between Pakistan
and India, however a prank call, during the Mumbai attacks,
contributed to the subcontinent's overheating
(120708j) A
continuing insurgent strategy has attacks on supply convoys
getting headlines (120708h) Asia: The Greater Asian Islamic Theater: - China -
India - Russia - South East Asia A
"water war"? Affecting this region in general is China's
plan to divert a major river's flow for its own
development, downstream; India and Bangladesh will be found
wanting. (120808e) Something more on the Mumbai attacks, the
insurgent, militant, whatever groups are, perhaps, preparing
for more so that they will lose less or,
perhaps, nothing at all, if and when an escalation of US
forces takes place after Obama takes the reigns.
(121008c) India: An excellent read by Arundhati Roy, a well known
writer and speaker from India, she
posits the "what is next" for India and Pakistan after
Mumbai, India's 9/11. (121308a) A
"new India" seeks to find its own way in the world, not be
just some other power's sidekick. (120808f) If
direct evidence is needed the
joint statement by India and Russia mention a new approach
to Afghanistan, for instance, not what the US might like,
however. (120808g) Some
talk of "hot pursuit" or other tactics that may rankle the
relations, such as they are, between Pakistan and
India (120708g) Koreas: Some
missteps by the US govt. re this nation's nuclear status has
the 6 country process "delayed" (121208g) Argentina: The
Russians make moves with Argentina this time around and the
US just seems to sit back and relax. Bush
the Bunghole's legacy lingers on and on and on.
(121008f) Ecuador: A
bit of an update on a prior story concerning jellyfish
"blooms", which are worldwide and associated with
human induced ecological change (121208f)? Climate
change up close and personal from around the world
anecdotal evidence is dovetailing with science,
global warming is here and waxing on, as they say
(121008a) The "cradle
of corn" in Mexico is now being "polluted" by the GMO
strains from the US. What gives?
(121208c) Workers
occupy a factory. The owners are shuttering the place, but
did not give the workers proper notice and may want to
renege on money owed to them a picture of
things to come? (120708b) The union workers take over a
plant when they are not paid according to contract and law.
The uproar
made headlines and this is the tale behind the tale.
(121208a) The ever
convenient Slate overview, indicates Obama's more "correct
response" to his vacated Senate seat being put "up for
bid", another bombing in Iraq, "torture from the
top" for Abu Ghraib, a failure to bail out the Big Three and
more. (121208g) The
great state of Georgia has had its "election messed
with" and now the famed, and dickless, Mr. Chambliss
has bullied his way into "victory" (120908e) Will
Obama keep to his promises? There are worrying signs, not
that he or his administration is a direct subject of this
news project, save as it relates to the Bush Error and its
ripple effects. This article makes the cut
because it relates to platform planks, which had Obama make
hay out of Bush the Dumber's policies. (120808i) Obama's
margin of victory was large enough to wash over the systemic
errors that our election system has. It IS
broken and NEEDS fixing, but how that's to be done is a
matter of debate. Here are some thoughts
(120808a) I'll put
today's (12/07/08) Slate here, some nuggets about Obama's
great stimulus plan and the possibility of the
Repugs ditching abortion fanatics (120708f) The lame George W. Jackass Legacy: That
Jackass keeps on "Jacassin" at a terrible rate! Legacy is
not the right word (120908c) While 9/11 has been called "a new Pearl Harbor"
and the G.W. Jackass "administration" has been clear about
pre-emptive military philosophy, the
facts are that, the Japanese simply did what G.W. Bush says
it is now US policy to do, strike first for
advantage. (120708c) Get your guns! Bush
the dumber makes changes to allow the persons to carry
loaded and concealed weapons into national parks
(120708a) Economics 101: The
effects of the downturn on unemployment payments.
Many, no most, states are hurting and some are close
to being "cashed out" and thus depending on loans from the
federal government to keep payments going out to those in
need. (121308c) Only
in America, a 50 billion dollar fraudster is finally
arrested. (121208d) The House
passed a rescue bill that the Senate rejected, so markets
took a dive worldwide. The question is, at least
immediately, what will happen on Monday. (121208b) The
financial problem we face needs to be solved, however, the
causes need to be understood so that, when we design fixes,
we can keep these historical errors in mind to
fix them. We need to know how we went wrong, in sum,
(121008d) In addition, part two ends with this quote: The
truth is most of the individual mistakes boil down to just
one: a belief that markets are self-adjusting and that the
role of government should be minimal. Looking back at that
belief during hearings this fall on Capitol Hill, Alan
Greenspan said aloud, "I have found a flaw." Congressman
Henry Waxman pushed him, responding, "In
other words, you found that your view of the world, your
ideology, was not right; it was not working." "Absolutely,
precisely," Greenspan said. The embrace by
America&emdash;and much of the rest of the world&emdash;of
this flawed economic philosophy made it inevitable that we
would eventually arrive at the place we are today.
(121008e) Todays, 12/09/08 Slate offers the hope
that some kind of plan will emerge for the automakers, but
can we use the word "nationalization"? We shall
see. (120908d) The argument that it is the workers in Detroit that
are the problem, that if
only wages and benefits were cut that … ,well that is
debunked in this article to be sure
(120908a)0/ The Slate for
12/08/08 has the overview, just the facts mam
(120808d) Tom Paine common sense, dated 120708, has a nice
collection of
nutshells, the economy, the rescue plans and who like or
does not like what is going on and or how it may
be solved. (120708l) Previous stories reported that investors and such like
are investing in the dollar, specifically by means of buying
US bonds. This
"last resort" or "fleeing to safety" has worked to make the
dollar more valuable and now, we hear, that there may be
"bubble trouble" with the multi-trillion dollar bond market
… what the hey! (120708k) Who could have known? is
a myth that needs deconstruction when it comes to the
banking crisis etc … (120708d) An
ancient technique of preserving the quality of soil may be a
means of resolving the carbon problem the earth is
facing, it is an interesting idea, perhaps worthy
of real research bucks (120708e)
Europe: While I'm not sure if this story fits in with the
theme of this report, that of Bush the Dumber's actions and
their consequences, I now feel remiss in not recording it
since, now
it seems, that the Greek government may be challenged and
the state of the economy is a factor in the
rioting. (122008h) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza Israel Lebanon
Palestine Israel: Analysis
of the upcoming "end" of a truce. Such a truce it is! Not!
Anyway, the 19th is the day that "something" "might" happen
or not. Like all things from this conflict
there are contradictory statements, threats and counter
threats, same old, same old. (121408i) Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Pakistan - Saudi Arabia Afghanistan: We are sending people to this country to fight and
sometimes die. When
told this is because the effort is to defend democracy the
common Afghan is wont to say, "What democracy"?
(122008g) Geopolitics, the Afghan war/ civil war, supply routes,
Iran and Russia, China and more.
An interesting and volatile mix coming down to what kind of
antiaircraft defense system Russia provides to
Iran (122008c) Dovetailing with this in other
stories is the sale of US antiaircraft missile systems to
Iran's neighbors, our allies, across the straight. Part two, the war for US influence in central Asia
enters a decisive phase;
if those powers around Afghanistan ever sit down and are
able to agree on what THEY want, the US would be hard
pressed to continue "business as usual"
(122008d) How
the allied forces in this country help out the enemy, paying
them a "tax" in order to get supplies delivered by out
sourced suppliers of transport. It does seem
very odd, but then it is an odd war. (121508b) Apparently what was used in Iraq will be tried out in
this country,
organizing and paying for locals to form militias.
(121808b) Iran: A
briefing about a book concerning Iran and Russia.
Some of the article provides a few facts worth
noting. (122008e) This guy says "let's negotiate with Iran".
One
wonders if such advise will be heeded, or will demonizing
continue to be US policy? (121908b) Pakistan: Another
"inconvenient" attack on NATO supply lines this past
weekend. Are there alternatives?
(121608d) The
financial markets in this country are taking a severe
beating with very little going on when "official"
prices are used, and a thriving "unofficial market" where
"real " prices are used. (121608c) The Greater Islamic Southern Theater: Ethiopia
- The "horn of Africa" Somalia - Sudan Somalia: The end
nears for the US effort in Somalia, the
government crumbles from within as its feeble hold, small in
extent as it was, fails. (121708e) Sudan/Chad: The "war" continues as peacekeepers and efforts to
start effective
negotiations between the various parties are still wanting
while thousands die and millions suffer.
(122008b) Asia: The Greater Asian Islamic Theater: - China -
India - Russia - South East Asia China: While our auto companies are being fiscally resuscitated,
in China they
are taking hybrid's off the assembly line and marketing them
on an industrial scale (121908f) India: The man in this article discusses nuclear war with
ease and something of grace, however, he approves of such a
war with Pakistan and he is not some soapbox radical,
he's
influential and has many, many followers
(121708d) Russia: As has been noted in other reports, the commodities
"boom" or bubble has burst. This
report from Russia is typical. American corn, in an article
not archived is down about 50%; the same goes for other
grains and oil is down 70%. (121408h) Another
set of nations going their own way, forsaking the US and its
dollar one step at a time. (121608f) Cuba: Since we are getting familiar with figures in the
trillions
it is interesting to note that 2 trillion tons of ice have
melted in the past few years with promises of much, much
more as the globe warms. The process is accelerating
to such a degree that it cannot be followed all that well
(121708c) Despite
all the economic mess going on, the global warming issue
will not go away and is the more dangerous. A look at why
and what could be done. However the caveat here is
that this is a rational article and presupposes some sort of
rational human community taking the bull by the proverbial
nards. (121608f) From
Russia we see a new landscape, not the traditional Russian
winters scene at all; they don't believe the "old"
winters will be coming back any time soon.
(121408j) They call it "Abrupt Climate Change" and it is the
thing of fiction in most persons minds, however, it is
documented as having happened a number of
times,
so that what we "know as normal" is really not.
(121408k) One of the rarely reported stories, the
extent to which the environment has become the dumping
ground for many chemicals which interfere with how
testosterone is used by the human body. (121908e)
Some time ago a few stories, which may not be in the
archive, reported the extensiveness and intensiveness of
this form of pollution. The relation of this form of
pollution to the environment is indirect for it induces
poorly operating endocrine systems in a variety of animal
life forms of both sexes. One would
think women had advanced into the boardrooms, not really so,
they haven't, after all, arrived. A good
thing when corporate shenanigans may well bring down the
American economic machine, but what made me laugh was the
writers suggestion that this "male debacle" might lead
to reconsidering the lack of a feminine touch at managerial
helms … Now, that was funny, expecting the male
dominated world to consider, even at this late date, even
reasonable change. (121908d) The Slate
page overview, a favorite read of mine.
(121408c) Obama: I know that I will not segue into covering Obama as I
did Bush the Diaper Dumper,
but his choice for the swearing in ceremony? What IS UP WITH
THAT????? (121808a) Well what of
this, does he or does he not support single payer health
care? (121808e) The lame George W. Jackass Legacy: Cheney and
war crimes, that trial will be a "good one to watch on TV."
He admits his failure to follow the law publicly
now someone has to arrest the arrested bastard.
(121908c) Another
"set in stone" marker for George W. Jackass.
Auto troubles given an overview it is a cold winter this
time around, a cold winter. (121808f) The brief
stories of persons who should have a voice in what is done
with G.W. Jackass. (121708b) Cheney
gave the word for the torture scandal to get started, it was
not a few rotten apples at the bottom of the barrel,
it was Mr. Dickwad himself. (121708a) Midnight Regulations …
another legacy and Bush the Dumber will be a record setter
here too, as he does all he can to "make a
difference" and impact Obama's administration
before it gets going (121508d) One of the selling points of the 700 billion bailout was
that executive pay would be "limited" in financial
institutions that participated,
well Bush the dumber changed a sentence in that bailout
which, as it turns out, cancels out such limits
(121508a) This
seems like such a simple idea. So why did it take so MANY
weeks for it to be thought of and used? It took
a law suit for Fannie Mae to "have a light go on"
(121408g) Economics 101: Clearly, this is the major world story now.
Different
nations are pouring trillions of whatever they use as
currency to prop up a failing or failed system of finance.
Belgium's government has fallen because of
this mess and others are following the US lead in
methodology of dealing with this if the US has taken the
wrong tack what then? (122008a) The final sentence is the salient point of this article,
it reads "Virtually
all the things that indicate the health of the economy are
deteriorating rapidly. Everything looks horrible at the
moment," (122008f) The
"cure" for the economy has its risks, the downside is a
disastrous inflation that has the advantage of devaluing
debt and the disadvantage of destroying the
currency and the people who use it until the
debt is eliminated. Does that sound like a plan to you?
(121908k) Here
is another take on that (121908l) Interest
rates decline, as does the fed's rate, and some effect is
being seen in the housing market it may be to
early to call it a revival but it is more than a wish,
certainly (121908i) What
speculation was happening before the above
announcement (121908j) The auto
bailout gets the federal go ahead. Now the
limitations of the loans give a deadline of March 31 for the
companies to "prove themselves". I wonder who is optimistic
about them making that "goal". Sure, by then, Obama will be
in, but what WILL the economy be doing will people be buying
enough new cars to make the Big Three "viable"?
(121908a) And
here the FAQs; the salient details regarding this
bailout (121908i) Chrysler
preps for shutting down for a month. Perhaps in
the hopes that some rescue will fore fend collapse. A tight
timeline for Obama or whoever. (121808c) Meanwhile, this
article describes the beast eating its tail, as sub prime
mortgages are "back in demand" for investment
purposes, but a careful read shows that while one could use
the term "cherry picking"(121808g) I would imagine
culling would be the proper analogy. The ever lovin' Slate page, nice over view of the
economic stories making the grade today. The
fed goes for broke, but what if that means exactly that?
That is my concern. (121708g) A
Reuters page that shows just how the auto industry is
faring, not well, as these headlines and blurbs
would have you understand. (121708f) Global
economy is slowing, so no one region can depend on others
for help. (121608e) Today's news has it that the
markets bumped up some 300 points and the fed reduced its
rate to 0 0.25% they are related you know.
(121608a) This
article leads me to believe that the auto rescue is
dead. I guess we'll see if any of the big three
fold in the next few weeks. That would be, shall we say,
bad. (121508e) Oil
production may well reach its "peak" by 2020 according to a
revised estimate based on global factors, such as
the economic "downturn" (121408f) And
now for a radical take on what money is.
(121408e) So how come we,
the citizens providing the trillions, nor the congress for
that matter, do not get to know where all this money is
going and what kind of risk it is being subject
to? (121408a) Speaking
of housing, the Obama pick for a "housing chief" gets
positive coverage in the press (121408c) Somethings from the "storied" past Health Care
as it is and why it is goes back to the 30's and 40's of
wartime USA (121508c)
Europe: A
bit of a tale, how Iceland's financial meltdown
evolved, let's see it started with giving away the
banks to jackasses who were not watched as "unreal" profits
were made year after year. I guess no one bothered to look
to closely or at all (122108d) Greece: This
posits whether or not what his happening in here is a
presage of similar events to come. This is the place
where democracy was founded. The people can text message and
organize by the hundreds and thousands. Freedom of speech,
freedom to assembly being exercised who would gain say such?
Who indeed! There may be another battle being fought between
backers of both sides in this, thus international
ramifications, perhaps. (122108f) An
explanation is offered as to why the riots continue on.
Some portion of the motive may be unique to
Greece but it may be that there is enough common cause with
others, affected by the global morass, that what is
happening here can happen elsewhere. (122408g) Latvia: The
latest nation to buy out its banks and go begging
for foreign money to help it through these tough times.
(122308d) "Muddle East" Central Theater: Gaza, Israel,
Lebanon, Palestine Gaza: The
"truce" ends and attacks resume, the situation is dire and
some kind of "game breaker" is going to happen, sooner or
later. Why do I believe that? Because, for both
sides, the situation is unstable and untenable and neither
expect the other to make the concessions wanted
(122208a) Israel: Air strikes
on Gaza. Hundreds dead; hundreds wounded. The war continues.
Neither side having good moves, intelligent or
rational leadership, an effective means of dealing a
decisive blow to their enemy, any diplomatic influence to
effect change and both sides feel "forced" to do what they
are doing. (122708a) Something
of an analysis on the "potential" for change.
(122708c) The
story is not sourced in this country but the leader is, so,
we cover it here. Looks like patience is wearing thin,
all the way around. What does it matter? More
violence, another attack, another barrage, no peace, no
agreements, force is king, chaos the rule &endash; so what
else is new? I guess we'll see what crude force yields.
Happy New Year. (122508b) Greater Islamic Region: Eastern Theater:
Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Here the summary of what is going on on the subcontinent,
rumors
fly, misperceptions grab media space and tensions
rise, war has not started, troop movements by both
sides are rumored but unconfirmed mostly.
(122708b) A
bit of an update on a prior story regarding a nuclear power
generating agreement between the US and the UAE.
Iran is, off course, watching. (122308b) Afghanistan: Differences
and similarities between the US and Russian "efforts" in
Afghanistan. (122108b) So
there are some words of advice (122108c) Iraq: Pakistan: Report
is that military resources are being diverted from the
Afghan border areas to the border areas with
India. How much and how quickly is not
stated. Other articles not archived, state that this is a
rumor, but this article gives more credence to the movement
being real. (122608i) More on that, Pakistan
cancels military leaves and India says that its citizens
should not travel to Pakistan. (122608j)0 Update is that troops are on the move; some
20,000 are being shifted to the eastern border from the
western border. (122608k) The Greater Islamic Southern Theater: Ethiopia,
The "horn of Africa" Somalia, Sudan Congo: The
coltran wars continue; the lood metal, it is
called. (122608h) Sudan/Chad: Sudan's
"oil war" is as underground as the oil is. Peace seems
fragile and there is concern that all may not go well
between the North and South. (122608g) This
story does not cover China's current support for the
Khartoum government, the role of religion and race, nor the
trafficking in arms and the terrorist factor. Asia: The Greater Asian Islamic Theater: China,
India, Russia, South East Asia Japan: The downturn here is worsening, surprised?
It
is expected that there will be no real turn around in
2009 and they've begun a public works program
that sounds like what Obama is planning. (122608) Russia: Evidence of an arms race is clearly present in this
brief about
a new set of intercontinental missiles being
deployed (122408d) This despite some testing set
backs in other non-archived articles. And they
are deciding to build more, update older weapons and
modernize, just one more thing I am thankful to Bush
the Dumber for. (122408k) Then
the bear growling about defending its interests, saying that
no option will be left out and Georgia was an
example. If the US wants to continue its
somewhat successful attempts at limiting Russian influence
in that nations near abroad &endash; there is the potential
for conflict. (122408g) Well
it seems that the US has finally "noticed" a Russian
presence in the western hemisphere. Looks like guns
and butter as opposed to ideology and class warfare this
time around though. (122208h) Ecuador: Ecuador
has a 10 billion dollar foreign debt, has an annual spending
budget of about 15 billion dollars, and so doesn't spell
"trouble"? They are bailing out banks and, following
the US lead, embarking on rescuing banks, starting up
large-scale public works as a way of dealing with the global
economic downturn. (122508a) Mexico: Survival is close, money is short and repressions
both political and economic run the live of millions right
next door. Sounds unstable or unsustainable to me,
you? (122608a) This year the drug
wars in Mexico killed more people than the US has lost in
both of its wars combined. Yet, this war receives little
coverage, and almost nothing has been done to stem the flow
of arms into Mexico, apparently by either nation.
(122108a) The
latest climate data suggest that the global warming process
is accelerating faster than previously thought. This
is another example of "scientific lag" the chronological
difference between the effects of GW as opposed to the
documentation and computer modeling. (122608d)
Part two;
the story says that methane is not yet bubbling up from
frozen seabeds and or the tundra regions with any great
effect. This contradicts several previous stories which
detail those very occurrences, so what is up with
that? (122608e And the Slate for this date. 12/24/08 covers the
broad ground; even offering
Bush how to become something of a hero, imagine
that. (122408i) An event worthy of a "made for TV movie, a
man who was to testify concerning election sabotage in the
Ohio election of 2004, a man who worked with Rove, described
as a top Republican IT strategist, has died in a plane
crash, just before he was to speak. (122408a)
The article gives an overview of the voter fraud, which
took place in 2008, in many states where results were
inconsistent and favored Republicans. The
overview has questions for Obama, the global economic crisis
that grinds on and on and on. (122308f) The lame George W. Jackass Legacy: A brief
summative look at the Jackass Legacy. This
pointedly bullets the major disappointments of this Idiot in
Chief's illegitimate reign (122608f) Cheney is
also a "legacy object" in the world of George W. Jackass
(122608c) for example: in
the "Plame game" chubby gets a new wrinkle,
apparently fat boy had "something more than nothing
to do with the affair. (122408c) Economics 101: It says here
that jobless claims filed reached nearly 600,000 in the week
ending December 20. Now, this is the week
before Christmas, when, usually, companies are hiring like
mad for a Christmas rush. This indicator indicates that the
economy is deteriorating. (122608b) The "big D"
word is used, by someone else: depression. The IMF says it
is possible (122408j) Economic
impact will vary from state to state, industry to industry
as the recessions deepens into a depression. I
think that is what is coming unless Obama makes a big enough
difference. However, that "black hole" of debt I've referred
to may not allow simple or large scale rescues viable.
(122408d) The
housing market: a sharp drop in construction starts to the
lowest level in 50 years. The problem is not that
builders can't build, that credit is not available or that
credit worthy persons are not seeking credit; the problem is
that people are not applying for loans to buy houses,
imagine that. (122408b) This story's headlines portends a contradiction of that
story, but
the details lead one to think that refinancing is "going
through the roof" as rates drop.
(122408f) The
50 Billion dollar Ponzi scheme, a bit of a
primer. (122308g) And part two, the actual loss,
by this writers lights, was
zip, nada, zilch, zero and so forth. Money invested was
multiplied, fictitiously, then the fiction disappeared, and
so everyone was left with what they had.
(122308h) I don't believe that, really, people used
their "wealth" to bankroll other things and now, that they
have no expectations that their payoff is coming, are in
trouble. Oh well… The focus is on Asian
nations and their export dependent economies, which are now
taking a hit, even China is affected by this
process. (122308e) A splash of data points, most of which are not good.
The
word is that things will get worse, much worse, before they
get better, hopefully sometime after the middle of
2009. These are the optimists, I believe.
(122308c) The criminal
aspects to the financial mess we are now in,
previous financial messes and the danger that boatloads
of "criminal cash" present for the legitimate economy.
(122308a) Even the modified
home loans that have been reworked are having problems; many
are "re-defaulting" as the economy continues to
sour. (122208g) A whistleblower is being heard
now that a 50 billion dollar fraud has collapsed and exposed
the truth of what he'd been saying for years
(122208b) In addition, there are regulators who are allies
for those whistleblowers, allies who
are making a name for themselves by, uh,
regulating. (122208f) Wouldn't
it be nice to know where the bailout money is going, what it
is being used for and how? (122208d) Somethings from the "storied" past Regarding
the killings during Katrina, the wars of choice in
Afghanistan and Iraq and the "burdens of empire" we
hear from Joseph Conrad who witnessed the Congolese genocide
as promulgated by Belgium at the height of its colonial and
civilizing effort in Africa (122208e) Slavery is a
booming business. This article contains a how to
guide, as a farcical note to some extent, but nonetheless
makes the impact the author desired: slaves are cheap and
easily obtainable. (122108) There is some little
progress, but clearly not enough. Hope:
12/13/08
12/20/08
12/27/08