Time To Pause And Reflect?

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."
Mark Twain

The Crash Course - The Book

Way back in April 2009, I highly encouraged everyone to view Chris Martenson's "Crash Course".  Martenson has just released a book on the same topic.  I devoured it this weekend.  He's done an amazing job of quantifying the status of numerous key elements affecting our small world. I highly recommend reading it.

The Crash Course can be viewed at:
http://www.chrismartenson.com/

Rendezvous With Destiny

“There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations, much is given. Of other generations, much is expected. This Generation has a rendezvous with destiny.” 
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Teachers & Tomahawks

"You can't fire teachers and tomahawk missiles simultaneously!"
Jon Stewart

We're All In

I just love listening to Team Red and Blue continue to blame each other for everything. The chart below confirms the responsibility.  The answer: they all participated and we did too by accepting "the credit".  Remember "no interest loans"?  Zero percent financing? 4% mortgage refinance?

While Bush I was held back by Sir Greenspan, he wanted to print as much as the others.  This curve is looking outrageously steep too!

True Money Supply (Source: Agora Capital)

Sayonara Sarah

"Sarah Palin's favorability rating among Republicans continues to slide as the former vice presidential nominee mulls a White House bid, according to a new survey.  A Washington Post/ABC News poll released Wednesday indicates 58 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents give Palin high marks, a 30-point drop from her favorability rating among the same group in the weeks leading up to the 2008 presidential election. It also marks a 12-point drop from a Washington Post/ABC News poll last fall when the former Alaska governor traveled the country on behalf of a string of congressional candidates."

Source: CNN

"I may have missed my opportunity to 'call a top' to Palin's euphoric rise.  The fact that some are trying to pin responsibility on her for the shootings in Tuscon might indicate she's 'playing the back nine' when it comes to popularity.  The commencement of the reality show for sure will pinpoint the 'all time high'.  It can only be downhill from here."
Random Roving, January 24, 2011

Another Steep Sandpile?

This sandpile sure is looking steep to me.  I compiled these on 2/10/11.

A Golden Earthquake Dip?

On January 25, I made the pitch for a buy of GLD on the dip at 129/share.  That one worked out really well.  Maybe a buy today on this "earthquake dip" at 136 will be another steal.

Gold ETF (GLD)

The Mob Is On A Roll

Chalk up another one for the angry mob!

"Miami-Dade County voters recalled their top elected official Tuesday, culminating an effort financed by a billionaire car dealer and fueled by frustrations over a poor economy and unpopular policy decisions.  Some 88% of 200,347 voters elected to oust Republican Carlos Alvarez, with 707 of 829 precincts reporting, along with early and absentee ballots.  Mr. Alvarez easily won re-election in 2008 as mayor of Miami-Dade, the county of 2.5 million residents that includes the city of Miami. But a recall effort gained momentum last fall when he agreed to a budget that raised the county's property taxes while increasing pay to unionized public employees. 'The voters have spoken and a time of healing and reconciliation must now begin,' Mr. Alvarez said in a statement Tuesday night.  In an interview last week, Mr. Alvarez had said he would consider campaigning for his old job in a special election. But in the statement he sounded content. 'I wish the next Mayor of Miami-Dade County much success.'"
Source: Wall Street Journal

Entire article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704164204576203242339123856.html

Nukes Under Construction

"The Daily Reckoning" reports that of the nuclear power plants that are currently under construction around the world, of these, 42% reside in China; 16% in Russia and 11% in India. The G-7 countries, combined, account for only 3% of all nuclear plants currently under construction.

With the recent events in Japan, the U.S. is unlikely to shift strategies anytime soon. Now the Chinese, well that's another story. I'm sure that they'll "stay the course" on their energy plan. How nice it must be to have one!

Japan's China Syndrome

After reading articles about the Japanese nuclear reactor this weekend, I decided to watch the movie "China Syndrome". An interesting watch. With this current event in Japan, we've probably just pushed back any nuclear initiative another ten years. One should first ask the question, "should we build nuclear reactors on subduction zones known as 'The Ring of Fire?'".  Obvious question today, but the entire country has this same geography problem.  Japan has no natural resources and a nuclear initiative with an unstable subsurface. What's one to do?

This event will definitely  push back the conversation.

Right On Track

"In a downward trending mass social mood, it's very likely that labor strikes will become very popular again. We might even see a professional sports strike in the next few years. An angry mob loves a strike and a picket line. The cycle will likely bring unions back to strength as fear and anger 'drives the herd closer together'"
Random Roving, November 24, 2009

"Unable to decide how to divvy up $9 billion a year, NFL owners and players put the country's most popular sport in limbo by breaking off labor negotiations hours before their contract expired. At midnight, as Friday became Saturday, the owners locked out the players -- creating the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 and putting the 2011 season in jeopardy."
Source: TH Online

"Union leaders say they plan to use the passage of anti-union legislation in Wisconsin to fire up working people nationwide. The measure approved today takes away most bargaining rights for most public workers in Wisconsin. Union leaders say they'll mount a major counterattack against Republicans at the ballot box in 2012."
Source: 9&10 New

Earthquake Video Footage

Unbelievable.

Practice What You Preach?

Being nonpartisan and an independent thinker provides one the opportunity to laugh at news like the one posted below.  Isn't it ironic that Team Red is preaching about decreasing spending, yet the RNC has $23 million in debt.  Too funny.  It's also been reported that former chairman Steele spend $2 million in his final two weeks.  What a party that must have been!!

"As Republicans and Democrats prepare for what is sure to be a contentious 2012 election cycle, the Republican National Committee finds itself $23 million in debt, committee chairman Reince Priebus announced on Monday.  Priebus said the RNC's year-end report would announce $21 million in debt for 2010, but that updated figures put the debt at approximately $23 million.  'While the year-end FEC report reveals the Republican National Committee is $21 million in debt, I believe it is best to get out all the facts as we know them associated with our financial position,' Priebus said in a statement. 'To date, the committee has approximately $23 million in debt: $15 million in loans, and $8 million owed to vendors.'"
Source: CBS News

We Are Small

Another day that the earth reminds us how small we really are.

Funny The Way It Is

"Funny The Way It Is" - Dave Matthews Band
Lying in the park on a beautiful day
Sunshine in the grass and the children play
Sirens pass in fire engine red
Someone's house is burning down on a day like this

The evening comes and we're hanging out
On the front step and a car goes by with the windows rolled down
And that War song is playing
"Why can't we be friends?"
Someone is screaming and crying in the apartment upstairs

Funny the way it is
If you think about it
Somebody's going hungry and someone else is eating out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
Somebody's heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song

The way your mouth feels in your lover's kiss
Like a pretty bird on the breeze or water to a fish
A bomb blast brings the building crashing to the floor
Hear the laughter while the children play war

Funny the way it is
If you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born

Standing on a bridge
Watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small
Remember how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars?

Watch the sky, a jet plane so far out of my reach
Is there someone up there looking down on me?
A boy sees a bird, so close but every time
He'll never catch her but he can't stop trying

Funny the way it is
If you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born

Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
Somebody's broken heart becomes your favorite song
Funny the way it is
If you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school, another's dropping out

Standing on a bridge
Watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small
Remember how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars?

Deja Vu All Over Again?

"We are spending more money than we have ever spent before, and it does not work... After eight years of this administration, we have just as much unemployment as when we started...and an enormous debt, to boot." Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau conceded to Congress in 1939

Shell's Energy Outlook

Shell has released their perspective on the future of energy with two forecasts titled "Scramble" and "Blueprint".  Take a moment to review:

http://www-static.shell.com/static/public/downloads/brochures/corporate_pkg/scenarios/shell_energy_scenarios_2050.pdf

Today's Tom Joad

“And the great owners, who must lose their land in an upheaval, the great owners with access to history, with eyes to read history and to know the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands it is taken away. And that companion fact: when a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need. And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed.”
John Steinbeck – "Grapes of Wrath"