Random Roving: Happy New Years!

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Years!

Another year has flown by and a new year is upon us. 2009 should be another wild ride!

It's 2009 and we have a lot to be thankful for:
-We have our health.
-God has taken good care of us.
-Our family is happy, safe, and well taken care of.
-We are employed.
-Our country hasn't been invaded by a more powerful country seeking our resources.
-We're not about to become the next president of the United States.
-We're not about to become the next Secretary of State of the United States.
-Our football team is rebuilding and will be back on top next year.
-Our country isn't experiencing riots.
-Our stock portfolio hasn't fallen 100%.
-George W. Bush is retiring.
-Gasoline is cheap.
-You still can walk in your grocery and buy food imported from all over the country and the world.
-You still have internet access.
-Brittany Spears is back at #1.
-The aliens are still only observing us.
-It's still not too late to get in shape.
-And last but not least: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are not only about to release a new CD, but are performing at halftime at the Superbowl.

Since New Years is a good time to make predictions, I'll probably just review/revise mine from 10/1/08. I'm sticking with all of them, except my oil price prediction has already been proven wrong.

10/1/08 Predictions
http://randomroving.blogspot.com/2008/10/four-potential-outcomes.html
· Oil: $150/barrel before $50/barrel WRONG
· Gold: $1500/ou before $500/ou
· Dow Jones Ind. Avg.: 5000 before 15000
· Next ten years will be the toughest we’ve ever experienced in our lifetime
· Next twenty much tougher than last twenty
· Next fifty much tougher than last fifty
· Military draft: within ten years, probably 5
· Brett Favre won’t be playing for the Jets next season
· Paris Hilton’s career tanks
· Saints win the Superbowl in 2010!!!
My one new prediction: Superbowl 2009 - The Manning Bowl - Peyton vs Eli

I believe that 2009 will be a very challenging year. I don't agree with the gurus that forecast a recession end by the third quarter of next year. Remember that those gurus just informed you that we've been in a recession for the past year. So much for proactive forecasting and timely notification. I think that we're in for a very long haul. A 26 year party requires a long hangover.

My recommendations for the new year:
-Take care of what is important first
-Prepare for all scenarios
-Think for yourself
-Read a lot from diverse sources
-Be aware of who's Kool-Aid you're drinking
-Turn off the TV
-Enjoy life
-Pray a lot!

For a laugh and summary of 2008:
http://sendables.jibjab.com/sendables/202809/2008_year_in_review

Happy New Year to all!!!

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Mission Statement

Friend: What's the mission of this blog?
Kirk: To be honest, I’m not really sure! Since March, 2000, I’ve been concerned with the state of the world and have felt compelled to share. I can’t really explain it.

Friend: A lot of these topics are just plain scary.
Kirk: Fear is an emotion. Read the information with a clear, balanced, and unemotional mind. My intent is not to scare anyone, but to motivate action. One of my favorite Buffet quotes: “It’s one thing to think that it is going to rain. It’s another to build an ark”. Go design and build your ark!

Friend: When did you become such a pessimist?
Kirk: I’m the most optimistic person I know! Pessimism and optimism are emotions. It’s best to make important decisions with as little emotion as possible. In 2000, I became very concerned with the future of our nation, world, and economy. On 9/11/01, those concerns escalated to another level. I believe that in hindsight, the entry into the new millennium will be noted as an important inflection point. To believe that the stock market is going lower does not make one a pessimistic. They say that there is always a bull market in something. In contrast, in 2001 I began to believe that oil and gold were due for a resurgence. So what does it make one that believes one thing is going up and the other down? History has shown that the world is quite cyclical. Through time we’ve had peaceful times and periods of great conflicts. Peace has never lasted forever. My research has led me to believe that tougher times are ahead. That’s not pessimistic, it’s an educated hypothesis. Don’t let fear paralyze you. Don’t be an ostrich.

Friend: Aren’t you obsessing over this?
Kirk: My concern for the future increases each day as I see events unfolding that others have forecasted for some time. Watching the news is like watching a movie replaying that I’ve already seen. When the market started crashing a few weeks ago, I wasn’t shocked at all. I’ve been waiting since May 2000. I see it as a natural cleansing that is required before the next phase of growth can occur. It’s like the appearance of the first blizzard in winter. You know it’s coming and you also know that spring will follow. There’s no need to be pessimistic or concerned because you know what to expect and you know to dress warm and to store up some firewood. But, don’t be a bear and go hide in a cave!

Friend: You seem to be enjoying this!
Kirk: No, this won’t be an enjoyable process, but the final destination and cleansing will be good for all of us as moral, hopeful, optimistic human beings.

Friend: When did you start thinking that you’re so smart?
Kirk: I don’t. I’m actually regurgitating information from people I believe know what they’re doing. I’m a messenger, a facilitator of information. I’m like Cliff Notes, but I’m free!

Friend: Why are you so negative on stocks? I’ve always heard that you should always own stocks.
Kirk: Yes, 90% of the experts will agree with that. Mr. Buffet just told the world so. I believe that there are times to pull out and observe from the sidelines. There’s a time to go for it on “4th and 1” and there’s a time to punt. I don’t believe that it’s time to be Les Miles. Stocks have been great investments for our entire adult life so we don’t know anything else. We’ve only seen a couple of seasons of the Kondratieff Cycle during our adult life.

Friend: Why are you so obsessed with the stock market?
Kirk: Actually I’m not. In May, 2000 I sold 100% of my stocks. Call it a “premature evacuation”! My real interest is aligned with Prechter’s theory that the markets are barometers of mass social mood. I’m thoroughly intrigued with the cyclical nature of historical events and how their timing aligns with market cycles. The purpose is to better understand potential future trends, events, and outcomes. My major concern the last few years is that we are due for a contraction phase. The expansion phase was so good and so long, so the next phase concerns me greatly. Is our generation, the 40-somethings, prepared for adversity? My greatest concern is that we have a 15 year old boy who, in three years, is a candidate for military service if a draft were to be reinstated. In contraction phases, the peace process ends and countries engage in wars. Resource wars for oil and water are very likely. The imperialistic invasion of Iraq is part of the escalating worldwide oil war. I believe that it’s very likely that the draft will reinstate due to the fact that our military is stretched thin and activity on dual fronts will be taxing. Say your prayers.

Friend: Do you really believe that one can predict the future?
Kirk: No I don’t believe that one can predict the exact future. I do believe that history repeats itself and that humans have short memories. With that said, history books are great places to learn. I also believe that the universe is very cyclical. I do believe that I can predict the weather next August in Houston within ten degrees. Yes I’m predicting the future, but it’s based on a consistent long term historical cycle. The timing is very difficult, but if you have a perspective on the character of the next phase, then you can be on watch for the inflection point.

Friend: So what should I do?
Kirk: I’m not qualified to be your financial planner and probably not qualified to be my own! I highly recommend that you watch Chris Martenson’s Crash Course. http://www.chrismartenson.com/crash-course/