Here's an idea for Fidel Castro, in his last hours, to become the hero he always wanted to be....
Fidel, learn how to make cigars!
Steady those hands, and sharpen your dexterity, because your last chance for greatness has just arrived.
Seriously, how many people would pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to own a cigar rolled by your ephemeral fingers? Start off with just a few, leak the info to a few bigwigs, let it break the press, and then stick them up for sale on the epitome of all capitalist websites, ebay, and watch the bids grow!
Take that money, and give it back to those who need it most.
Embrace capitalism in your last throes, to save communism in its last moments!
Stand tall on an alter in front of your people, holding high the cigars of hope, and while basking in the glory of the Caribbean sun, proclaim, "Your savior, Fidel Christo!"
The leaders of the world, in a self-righteous act of good-will, won't hesitate a second in buying those invaluable smokeable monuments to your now infamous legacy.
"'Fidel Christo' cigars, the new hope..."
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Gecopolitico Update - June 2008
The Royal Bank of Scotland has advised clients to brace for a full-fledged crash in global stock and credit markets over the next three months as inflation paralyses the major central banks.
"A very nasty period is soon to be upon us - be prepared," said Bob Janjuah, the bank's credit strategist.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/06/18/cnrbs118.xml
so a global financial crash is now believed to be imminent by one of the most elite banks in Europe?
So whats the only thing they can do to at least guarantee themselves some cash?
More rumors of a rising risk of Israel preparing to attack Iran
Some analysts say Israel is planning to take advantage of this window of opportunity while Bush is still in power, since many Jews suspect Obama's support for Israel is only lip service. Labor Knesset Member Ofir Pines-Paz said of Senator Obama, "I respect him but suspect him."
http://www.rgemonitor.com/blog/roubini/252803/
...but as the blog also argues, an attack on Iran would cause "...a major global recession, wars throughout the Middle East (Iran, Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, etc.) and a major increase in geopolitical instability."
..so do they have the cahones to bring Armageddon raining down upon us all? ...or is that what they've been planning all along?
Financial Times has a very nice graphical, animated presentation of the physical (not the trading) market for oil. It is quite informative.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/74bf31bc-992a-11dc-bb45-0000779fd2ac.html
While you are evaluating the graphics, take a close look at the U.S. position on the oil chessboard. See what our percentage of world demand is, and how much we produce, and how that is changing over time. Take a look at China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Then take a look at Iraq.
This is the chessboard. Some believe Israel to just be the red herring, designed to deflect attention from the actual issue - a "not-oil" reason to do some very dirty oil business.
US's oil dependence is not a given. It's a choice, and it's becoming a very expensive choice. We are going to pay for this next set of mis-steps for a long, long time.
Leading House and Senatorial donkeys and elephants, with the support of Aipac, have raised a bill (on the way to a fastrack passing) calling on a Naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as two more large aircraft carriers arrive to the area. You dont send that much hardware to one place for show.
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9377
The blocking of the Strait, where 60% of the world's oil passes through, have some analysts seeing oil past 350$! And thats only if Iran's supply is halted (they have 1/5th of the worlds oil reserves, and supply 5% of it currently). This is something Iran has threatened to do in the past if attacked. Why would US risk imposing such a move itself? Does it see an attack on Iran as too risky just now, but are still preparing for a timed crash of the world economy? Or is it just a bluff meant to placate Israel's fears and delay the inevitable attack?
Could the religious fundawacks be having have way too much say in the direction things are heading? Oil is not the only issue at hand for many, but fulfillment of prophecy...
http://www.jewsonfirst.org/06b/cufi.html
Either way, it seems there are different and opposing powers at work, and not only between the nations with vested interests, but within the US power structure itself. We can only guess what road things will take in the near future, but I'm not seeing too much positive no matter how hard i'm looking for it.
So if things continue to head the way they are heading, what can we do about it?
One investors steps to protecting himself:
"1. sold all my mutual funds in Jan 2007
2. invested in euro etfs and gld etfs. (I've recently sold the Euro etf)
2. pulled cash and stockepiled it along with some silver/gold in a safe
3. open two accounts at small credit unions and place several months cash for emergencies
4. I have no debt except for the home which is at 50% LTV.
so far my investments are up more so than if I had listened to a broker.
I watch the market constantly for signs of problems and can react rapidly to it.
I read many different blogs including this one for ideas, trends, thoughts, etc."
The Royal Bank of Scotland has advised clients to brace for a full-fledged crash in global stock and credit markets over the next three months as inflation paralyses the major central banks.
"A very nasty period is soon to be upon us - be prepared," said Bob Janjuah, the bank's credit strategist.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
so a global financial crash is now believed to be imminent by one of the most elite banks in Europe?
So whats the only thing they can do to at least guarantee themselves some cash?
More rumors of a rising risk of Israel preparing to attack Iran
Some analysts say Israel is planning to take advantage of this window of opportunity while Bush is still in power, since many Jews suspect Obama's support for Israel is only lip service. Labor Knesset Member Ofir Pines-Paz said of Senator Obama, "I respect him but suspect him."
http://www.rgemonitor.com/
...but as the blog also argues, an attack on Iran would cause "...a major global recession, wars throughout the Middle East (Iran, Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, etc.) and a major increase in geopolitical instability."
..so do they have the cahones to bring Armageddon raining down upon us all? ...or is that what they've been planning all along?
Financial Times has a very nice graphical, animated presentation of the physical (not the trading) market for oil. It is quite informative.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/
While you are evaluating the graphics, take a close look at the U.S. position on the oil chessboard. See what our percentage of world demand is, and how much we produce, and how that is changing over time. Take a look at China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Then take a look at Iraq.
This is the chessboard. Some believe Israel to just be the red herring, designed to deflect attention from the actual issue - a "not-oil" reason to do some very dirty oil business.
US's oil dependence is not a given. It's a choice, and it's becoming a very expensive choice. We are going to pay for this next set of mis-steps for a long, long time.
Leading House and Senatorial donkeys and elephants, with the support of Aipac, have raised a bill (on the way to a fastrack passing) calling on a Naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as two more large aircraft carriers arrive to the area. You dont send that much hardware to one place for show.
http://globalresearch.ca/
The blocking of the Strait, where 60% of the world's oil passes through, have some analysts seeing oil past 350$! And thats only if Iran's supply is halted (they have 1/5th of the worlds oil reserves, and supply 5% of it currently). This is something Iran has threatened to do in the past if attacked. Why would US risk imposing such a move itself? Does it see an attack on Iran as too risky just now, but are still preparing for a timed crash of the world economy? Or is it just a bluff meant to placate Israel's fears and delay the inevitable attack?
Could the religious fundawacks be having have way too much say in the direction things are heading? Oil is not the only issue at hand for many, but fulfillment of prophecy...
http://www.jewsonfirst.org/
Either way, it seems there are different and opposing powers at work, and not only between the nations with vested interests, but within the US power structure itself. We can only guess what road things will take in the near future, but I'm not seeing too much positive no matter how hard i'm looking for it.
So if things continue to head the way they are heading, what can we do about it?
One investors steps to protecting himself:
"1. sold all my mutual funds in Jan 2007
2. invested in euro etfs and gld etfs. (I've recently sold the Euro etf)
2. pulled cash and stockepiled it along with some silver/gold in a safe
3. open two accounts at small credit unions and place several months cash for emergencies
4. I have no debt except for the home which is at 50% LTV.
so far my investments are up more so than if I had listened to a broker.
I watch the market constantly for signs of problems and can react rapidly to it.
I read many different blogs including this one for ideas, trends, thoughts, etc."
I surf, I read, I share...
I just watched a documentary about Charles Darwin narrated by Richard Dawkins. His exploration develops Darwinian theories toward altruism and kindness as human genetic expressions. Humans are uniquely able to empathise and aspire for gain beyond their immediate kin or tribe. I like to think my genes have such expression, and that my sons will inherit those genes in a world I help to shape for the benefit of many I will never know. Kindness and altruism are human expressions, just as valid and just as natural as brutality and selfishness. Uniquely, we humans choose which impulses we prioritise and express through our morality and judgement. Perhaps that is why I remain an optimist.
I just watched a documentary about Charles Darwin narrated by Richard Dawkins. His exploration develops Darwinian theories toward altruism and kindness as human genetic expressions. Humans are uniquely able to empathise and aspire for gain beyond their immediate kin or tribe. I like to think my genes have such expression, and that my sons will inherit those genes in a world I help to shape for the benefit of many I will never know. Kindness and altruism are human expressions, just as valid and just as natural as brutality and selfishness. Uniquely, we humans choose which impulses we prioritise and express through our morality and judgement. Perhaps that is why I remain an optimist.
Written by London Banker on 2008-08-11 16:44:13
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Secret of life
I discovered life’s secrets, and I bribed it.
Let me keep my happiness I said, and I shall not reveal the key.
Let me live forever, and I shall not pass on the truth.
Let me live this eternal bliss, and you shall keep your job as the holder of fates.
Little did I know,
a gamble does not gamble.
Little did I see,
for you cannot escape darkness through darkness.
Little did I accomplish,
for the only secret is, that there is no secret.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The US economy is a giant being pelted by rocks and pebbles. Constant hits & scrapes, bruises and cuts have slowly bleed the giant to near death. Collapse is imminent. The giant is now on life-support. The medics have rushed to the aid again with yet another injection. Pointless, futile and postponing the inevitable...
Fed takes boldest action since the Depression to rescue US mortgage industry
By Damian Reece
Last Updated: 2:10am GMT 12/03/2008
Equity traders, being ever the optimists, decided to look on the bright side of yesterday's central bank intervention. London and New York did a jig after the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England pulled out all the stops to avoid markets falling into a pit of despair.
And who can blame them? When you've got state institutions as big as the Fed supporting markets then where's the worry?
The Fed, with its latest $200bn offer of cheap cash, has provided yet more state aid for errant hedge funds and another Washington-backed bail-out for Wall Street bankers. The Bank of England joined in again, further shedding any notion of being wary of moral hazard. But as the bail-outs are getting bigger, then clearly the problems causing them must be getting bigger.
The Fed has saved the day again, but it will only be for a day or so. It was Friday remember when it had to pump $200bn of cash into the system. Yesterday it was offering to lend a similar amount to try and soak up some of the toxic debt out there which has left the lending markets hamstrung. How much further can the central banks go to support a system that is so obviously broken?
Arguably, having come this far, Mervyn King and Ben Bernanke have breached the point of no return. There is no going back. The US certainly is now relying on its central bank to keep its most important credit markets open, its equity markets from plunging and bring a veneer of normality to financial life. Traditional supports, such as confidence in normal commercial debt repayment, have been knocked away as institutions are engaged in a desperate dash for cash.
We have not seen anything like it since the decade of the Great Depression. Melodramatic as that might sound, it is a fact but a fact that markets seem unwilling to accept. While the Fed is willing to slash rates and hope, and pump liquidity into the system, markets will remain optimistic. But it is a race to the bottom. The Fed hoping it reaches the finishing line first and restores confidence returns before a bank goes bust. But the spectre of a collapse is neck and neck with Bernanke and it's still anyone's guess which will win.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/12/ccom112.xml
Fed takes boldest action since the Depression to rescue US mortgage industry
By Damian Reece
Last Updated: 2:10am GMT 12/03/2008
Equity traders, being ever the optimists, decided to look on the bright side of yesterday's central bank intervention. London and New York did a jig after the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England pulled out all the stops to avoid markets falling into a pit of despair.
And who can blame them? When you've got state institutions as big as the Fed supporting markets then where's the worry?
The Fed, with its latest $200bn offer of cheap cash, has provided yet more state aid for errant hedge funds and another Washington-backed bail-out for Wall Street bankers. The Bank of England joined in again, further shedding any notion of being wary of moral hazard. But as the bail-outs are getting bigger, then clearly the problems causing them must be getting bigger.
The Fed has saved the day again, but it will only be for a day or so. It was Friday remember when it had to pump $200bn of cash into the system. Yesterday it was offering to lend a similar amount to try and soak up some of the toxic debt out there which has left the lending markets hamstrung. How much further can the central banks go to support a system that is so obviously broken?
Arguably, having come this far, Mervyn King and Ben Bernanke have breached the point of no return. There is no going back. The US certainly is now relying on its central bank to keep its most important credit markets open, its equity markets from plunging and bring a veneer of normality to financial life. Traditional supports, such as confidence in normal commercial debt repayment, have been knocked away as institutions are engaged in a desperate dash for cash.
We have not seen anything like it since the decade of the Great Depression. Melodramatic as that might sound, it is a fact but a fact that markets seem unwilling to accept. While the Fed is willing to slash rates and hope, and pump liquidity into the system, markets will remain optimistic. But it is a race to the bottom. The Fed hoping it reaches the finishing line first and restores confidence returns before a bank goes bust. But the spectre of a collapse is neck and neck with Bernanke and it's still anyone's guess which will win.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/12/ccom112.xml
The key to happiness from Jay Leno??
First read Jay's comments below. These are things we all seem to forget. I say we're cursed by being raised in this modern bullshit culture of materialism. We can't seem to find our happiness because all we are forced to see is what we don't have...
The more we have, the more we want.
the more we want, the less we think we have.
The less we think we have, the more elusive happiness becomes.
keep things in perspective
Jay Leno wrote this; ...It's the Jay Leno we don't often see....
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll
data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source,
right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67%of Americans are unhappy with the
direction the country is headed, and 69% of the country is unhappy with
the performance of the President. In essence , 2/3's of the citizenry
just isn't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking:
"What are we so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week?
Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer
and heating in the winter?
Could it be that 95.4 % of these unhappy folks have a job?
Maybe it is the ability to walk into a Grocery store at any time, and
see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic
Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through
each State?
Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe Motels we would find along
the way that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of Restaurants with varying cuisine from around
the world is just not good enough.
Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to
the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home. You may be
upset with knowing, that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of
trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment
to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your
belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a
burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a
bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack
or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood, free of bombs or militias
raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers
own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we
enjoy, that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67%of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world
has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great
disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed
people in the world, who do nothing but complain about what we don't
have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good
Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no
plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31% approval rating?
Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after
9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession?
Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book
for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled, ungrateful brats safe from
terrorist attacks?
The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there
defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news
or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you
couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and
be glad?
Think about it, ... are you upset at the President because he actually
caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was
failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.
There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general''
discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case
scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69% of
Americans?
Say what you want, but I blame it on the Media. If it bleeds, it leads;
and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with
blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?
The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They
offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by
"justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to
allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about :"How he didn't
kill his wife, but if he did, he would have done it this way"...Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off
the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your
bird cage.
...Then start being grateful for all we have as a country.
There is exponentially more good , than bad...
We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God
several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding,
severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and
with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, ..."Are we sure this
is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Jay Leno
2007
The more we have, the more we want.
the more we want, the less we think we have.
The less we think we have, the more elusive happiness becomes.
keep things in perspective
Jay Leno wrote this; ...It's the Jay Leno we don't often see....
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll
data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source,
right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67%of Americans are unhappy with the
direction the country is headed, and 69% of the country is unhappy with
the performance of the President. In essence , 2/3's of the citizenry
just isn't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking:
"What are we so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week?
Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer
and heating in the winter?
Could it be that 95.4 % of these unhappy folks have a job?
Maybe it is the ability to walk into a Grocery store at any time, and
see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic
Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through
each State?
Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe Motels we would find along
the way that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of Restaurants with varying cuisine from around
the world is just not good enough.
Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to
the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home. You may be
upset with knowing, that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of
trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment
to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your
belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a
burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a
bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack
or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood, free of bombs or militias
raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers
own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we
enjoy, that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67%of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world
has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great
disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed
people in the world, who do nothing but complain about what we don't
have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good
Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no
plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31% approval rating?
Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after
9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession?
Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book
for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled, ungrateful brats safe from
terrorist attacks?
The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there
defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news
or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you
couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and
be glad?
Think about it, ... are you upset at the President because he actually
caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was
failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.
There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general''
discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case
scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69% of
Americans?
Say what you want, but I blame it on the Media. If it bleeds, it leads;
and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with
blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?
The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They
offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by
"justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to
allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about :"How he didn't
kill his wife, but if he did, he would have done it this way"...Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off
the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your
bird cage.
...Then start being grateful for all we have as a country.
There is exponentially more good , than bad...
We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God
several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding,
severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and
with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, ..."Are we sure this
is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Jay Leno
2007
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
My Fellow Americans,
What would it feel like to turn on the news one day & hear the President making the following speech:
My Fellow Americans,
the defeat of the Iraqi regime has been completed. We have managed to put in place an incompetent, untrained government unable to end the civil war which has since broken out. The Suunis, formerly in power, are now the disenfranchised minority causing upheaval. The Kurds have nearly all the oil and are attempting to create a separate state (the nerve of those guys!). The Turkish are attacking from the north, you have refugee crisis' in
Since it would foolish to spend more money on having our troops police a warzone, I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from
I have in front of me a list which will serve as a guide for all future American governments. We cannot afford to make any more bone-headed decisions based on ill-conceived and delusional notions of the American Empire running the world.
First of all, the American Empire has fallen! The day's of our cultural and economic superiority are over. Our war on terror has become a war on peace! Our misguided policies have created an economy based on debt, illusions of prosperity based on soon worthless IOU's, power based on lies, and false security based on fear.
Open your eyes!
Half the world hates us,
our economy is in shambles,
our precious dollar is being abandoned,
and freedom and security are Orwellian terms used to justify the encroaching police state!
Our financial markets are collapsing,
we borrow billions daily from foreign governments,
unemployment and inflation is on the rise.
the middle class is disappearing!
Our two party 'representative and democratic' government has been run by two families for almost 20 yrs (Vote Hillary 2008!),
Our education system is one of the worst in the developed world,
Our social security system is a Pandoras box waiting to open,
Our healthcare is unaffordable for the majority of Americans.
What happened to the most economically prosperous, culturally deemed superior, benign and loved world Empire?
It has followed the natural cycle of Empires, has been corrupted by power, and is now collapsing. How orderly this will happen, is up to us. So we need a change in tactics...
No more reckless unilateral foreign policy. We will work together with our neighbors and we will enter into negotiations before even thinking about bombing a country. No more needless spending on wars! We will turn those billions of dollars to improving our quality of living at home!
We will no longer pay interest to the private bankers for printing OUR money! Let them keep the Federal Reserve, but from now on they will be employees of the government, paid an average wage to work the printing presses. The money saved will be enough to provide universal healthcare and social security benefits to all!
We will scrap the electoral system, use traceable paper ballots for elections and bring back the popular vote!
We will work with with the UN, so mutual solutions can be found to our common problems.
We will keep on donating money to countries in need. We need a serious shift in anti-American sentiment.
And a note to all of you who think we should keep doing what we've been doing: Learn to speak Arabic, because you will be going on an all expense paid one-way trip to the heart of
God bless
If you can read this, thank your parents.
If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier by visiting his grave.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
CAN MUSLIMS BE GOOD AMERICANS?
I received the following email about Muslims:
For the sake of debate, anyone care to refute it?
(btw, I still plan on voting for Obama, and I don't believe he will ask to be sworn in on the Quran)
"CAN MUSLIMS BE GOOD AMERICANS?
This is very interesting and we all need to read it from start to
Finish and send it on to anyone who will read it!
Maybe this is why our American Muslims are so quiet and not speaking
out about any atrocities.....
Can a good Muslim be a good American? This question was forwarded to a
friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years.
The following is his reply!
Theologically - no. . . . Because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon
God of Arabia ..
Religiously - no. . . . Because no other religion is accepted by His
Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256) (Koran)
Scripturally - no. . . Because his allegiance is to the five Pillars of
Islam and the Quran.
Geographically - no . . . Because his allegiance is to Mecca , to which
he turns in prayer five times a day.
Socially - no. . . Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him To make
friends with Christians or Jews.
Politically - no. . . Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual
leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America ,
the great Satan.
Domestically - no. . . Because he is instructed to marry four Women and
beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34 )
Intellectually - no. . . Because he cannot accept the American
Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes
the Bible to be corrupt.
Philosophically - no. . Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran does
not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam
cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or
autocratic.
Spiritually - no. . . . Because when we declare "one nation under God,"
the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred
to as Heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in The Quran's 99
excellent names.
Therefore after much study and deliberation....
Perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country.
They obviously cannot be both 'good' Muslims and good Americans.
Call it what you wish it's still the truth. You had better believe it.
The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and
our future. The religious war is bigger than we know or understand. And
Barack Hussein Obama, a Muslim, wants to be our President? You have GOT
to be kidding! Wake up America! Obama even says if he wins the
election, he will be sworn in on the Quran---not a Bible!"
For the sake of debate, anyone care to refute it?
(btw, I still plan on voting for Obama, and I don't believe he will ask to be sworn in on the Quran)
"CAN MUSLIMS BE GOOD AMERICANS?
This is very interesting and we all need to read it from start to
Finish and send it on to anyone who will read it!
Maybe this is why our American Muslims are so quiet and not speaking
out about any atrocities.....
Can a good Muslim be a good American? This question was forwarded to a
friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years.
The following is his reply!
Theologically - no. . . . Because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon
God of Arabia ..
Religiously - no. . . . Because no other religion is accepted by His
Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256) (Koran)
Scripturally - no. . . Because his allegiance is to the five Pillars of
Islam and the Quran.
Geographically - no . . . Because his allegiance is to Mecca , to which
he turns in prayer five times a day.
Socially - no. . . Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him To make
friends with Christians or Jews.
Politically - no. . . Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual
leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America ,
the great Satan.
Domestically - no. . . Because he is instructed to marry four Women and
beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34 )
Intellectually - no. . . Because he cannot accept the American
Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes
the Bible to be corrupt.
Philosophically - no. . Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran does
not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam
cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or
autocratic.
Spiritually - no. . . . Because when we declare "one nation under God,"
the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred
to as Heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in The Quran's 99
excellent names.
Therefore after much study and deliberation....
Perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country.
They obviously cannot be both 'good' Muslims and good Americans.
Call it what you wish it's still the truth. You had better believe it.
The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and
our future. The religious war is bigger than we know or understand. And
Barack Hussein Obama, a Muslim, wants to be our President? You have GOT
to be kidding! Wake up America! Obama even says if he wins the
election, he will be sworn in on the Quran---not a Bible!"
Friday, February 8, 2008
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The imminenet US/world financial meltdown?
Some oblivious marketmen hiding behind a smokescreen of ill-defined logic say were experiencing a slight slowdown in growth, set to improve next year. Other interest induced optimists say we have a mild recession coming which will last at least a until late next year. Some realists predict a severe recession in the US for years to come which will have epidemic effects on the world economy. Some pessimists are even going as far as predicting nothing less than the complete meltdown of the world monetary system...
I put myself in the realist camp, but unfortunately I see too many sign of the pessimistic arguments holding more weight then they should...
What are the warning signs?
Subprime read "deadbeat"
Loans
SIV's
CDO's
RMBS's
ABCP
Major Corporate leaders ousted
Major leaders retire
Heightened insider stock sales
Little M&A activity
Little IPO activity, many withdrawn
Stock buybacks
Free fall in Equities stopped by unknown, unseen forces
High Libor Spreads
Dollar Devaluation
Huge Drop in ABX index
Govt. Intervention in free market contracts
Large swath purchasing by foreigners of hard assets
Tremendous volatility in markets
Fed cuts despite high inflation
Rush to quality and safe havens
Inverted yield curve
Credit Market Lock-up
Desperate asset sales or stock issues to obtain cash or capital
Loss of confidence
Huge rise in price of commodities
Consumer & Governmental Debt in multiples over GDP
Foreclosures
Runs on Banks and Fund managers
Lack of any meaningful coverage of distresses on major networks
Artificial Rallies in seriously diseased business sectors
Speculation
Expensive overseas wars without exit strategy
Massive deficits without accountability
Political Intrigue
China's ABSOLUTELY NO LENDING UNTIL YEAR END policy
Sudden move from lax lending standards, to super-due diligence standards
Currency Manipulations
Foreigners wishing to reject dollar denominated transactions
Hoarding
Comparisons to Japan in early 90's
Layoffs in employment (40K+ in Citigroup, 1000+ in other investment bankers)
Greater transparency (xtra appearances) in Fed, READ we can announce more often crypt messages in order to make artificial market movements seem less random
Manuevering to have already weak finance entity left holding the bag on investments going bad
It all adds up, don't let them deceive you that these aren't real. There can't be anymore kicking the can down the road. It's time, there has never been a more perfect storm of correlating evils, take your own precautions.
I put myself in the realist camp, but unfortunately I see too many sign of the pessimistic arguments holding more weight then they should...
What are the warning signs?
Subprime read "deadbeat"
Loans
SIV's
CDO's
RMBS's
ABCP
Major Corporate leaders ousted
Major leaders retire
Heightened insider stock sales
Little M&A activity
Little IPO activity, many withdrawn
Stock buybacks
Free fall in Equities stopped by unknown, unseen forces
High Libor Spreads
Dollar Devaluation
Huge Drop in ABX index
Govt. Intervention in free market contracts
Large swath purchasing by foreigners of hard assets
Tremendous volatility in markets
Fed cuts despite high inflation
Rush to quality and safe havens
Inverted yield curve
Credit Market Lock-up
Desperate asset sales or stock issues to obtain cash or capital
Loss of confidence
Huge rise in price of commodities
Consumer & Governmental Debt in multiples over GDP
Foreclosures
Runs on Banks and Fund managers
Lack of any meaningful coverage of distresses on major networks
Artificial Rallies in seriously diseased business sectors
Speculation
Expensive overseas wars without exit strategy
Massive deficits without accountability
Political Intrigue
China's ABSOLUTELY NO LENDING UNTIL YEAR END policy
Sudden move from lax lending standards, to super-due diligence standards
Currency Manipulations
Foreigners wishing to reject dollar denominated transactions
Hoarding
Comparisons to Japan in early 90's
Layoffs in employment (40K+ in Citigroup, 1000+ in other investment bankers)
Greater transparency (xtra appearances) in Fed, READ we can announce more often crypt messages in order to make artificial market movements seem less random
Manuevering to have already weak finance entity left holding the bag on investments going bad
It all adds up, don't let them deceive you that these aren't real. There can't be anymore kicking the can down the road. It's time, there has never been a more perfect storm of correlating evils, take your own precautions.
Monday, November 26, 2007
meeting randomly...
...just how did we meet?
Friend X - (for the sake of anonymity, lets call him Alan): I met Syndrum in Berlin – to be more accurate, in the district called Wedding. He was living in a small shed on an allotment – at the time, he was part of a couple. His partner was a coloured stripper that would entertain American servicemen in a seedy bar called 'Darf ich... ?', that was run by a tobacco baron, Wurst Keyfob. If my memory serves me correctly, the stripper was called 'Colin', and he was a formidable and muscular specimen. At that time, I was an ardent gardener, and liked nothing more than popping a mixture of dried blood and manure on my radishes in order to get an early Winter crop. In any event, I was on the allotment, directing my seed utilising a Balsa riddle, when I heard sobbing from the shed. Being a caring type, after three hours, I went over to investigate - and looking through the broken pane that served as the only window, I saw a soiled, under-nourished specimen wearing nothing but a stained apron. It was Arpad… The rest is history – as Syndrum and Colin eventual 'tied the knot' and built a lovely extension on the shed – and are even hoping to adopt.
Syndrum - If my memory serves me correctly, it was the brutally harsh winter of 1960, as Alan rightly said, in a poor district of Berlin called Wedding. Being an aid worker at the time, I was attending to helping the poor malnourished druggies in the area with my female colleague Karin, when I came upon a destitute and obviously delusional space cadet. This poor soul, with only the vein stained whites of his eyes showing, was attempting to defecate a blade of frozen grass rising out of what looked like the remains of a half buried bean can. With his head turned upwards toward the sky, teeth clenched & reddening face he was screaming "grow horsey, grow!". It was Alan, a typically average fellow who apparently through the loss of his family from a freakish accident involving a horse-drawn wagon and 500 k. of horse manure, the details of which I will spare for sake of brevity, became involved in the Berlin underground Eco Rejuvenation While on Drugs posse. After considerable time spent in rehab, Alan was able to return to normal life as an oyster farmer, albeit with some disturbing levels of recurring LSD remnant induced flashbacks.
Alan - I daren't deny the entirety of poor Syndrum's reminiscences – I do get flashbacks of the horrible incident with the cart full of manure, courtesy of Syndrum's eau de cologne (and generally inadequate sense of personal hygiene). Thankfully, time is, indeed, a healer. And I am sure Syndrum enjoys a tremendous – even overwhelming sense of fulfillment every time he and Colin enjoy intimacy. I understand that they strew an assortment of horticultural equipment (including loose mulch) around the boudoir to recapture their early fumblings.
Syndrum - It breaks my heart to see the bitter and ungracious effects prolonged medication has on the human thinkbox. Alan, my dear friend, one of these days I pray you will also find your "Colin". Maybe then you will finally come to see the benefits metamorphic references of horticultural equipment can have on the human sexual spirit, instead of the solitary practices you have so aptly demonstrated countless times in finer public establishments. God forgive me! If only I knew you would take my suggestions literally, I would have been kinder by referring to human livestock instead.
Alan - Indeed, if only I could find my Colin - but can there be two? Obviously, I am not envious of the man-love you share together – especially the ghastly haemorrhoidal conditions that are testimony to your pumping-actioned, physical love. In your case, the sentiments of Christmas are correct – you would have been so much better off 'giving' over the last twenty years than 'taking'…
Syndrum - My dear downtrodden drifter from the Berlin narcotics wasteland, through your 'avant-garde prescription poison' induced words, I have surprisingly stumbled upon some uncanny wisdom. I have realized I am apparently trapped in a limbo of lost souls - totally beaten and ailing itinerants whose names are something like Buddy, Pal, Sport, Top, Buck, Ace, Bubba, and of course Colin; all looking to give, when all I do is take. From now on, I will be a giver! I'll start with my hoe, plow, shovel (large & small), my wide array of power drills (combi included) and of course my manure bucket, so you can enjoy this Christmas fully engrossed in your shameless and profligate solitary sexual acts with my (used, although in very good shape) horticultural equipment. And please allow delivery by Bubba. He is very much looking forward to meeting you!
Now that we have our Christmas wishes out of the way, what do you say in celebration of our friendship and the upcoming season of giving, we agree on.... well, meeting randomly! :).
Friend X - (for the sake of anonymity, lets call him Alan): I met Syndrum in Berlin – to be more accurate, in the district called Wedding. He was living in a small shed on an allotment – at the time, he was part of a couple. His partner was a coloured stripper that would entertain American servicemen in a seedy bar called 'Darf ich... ?', that was run by a tobacco baron, Wurst Keyfob. If my memory serves me correctly, the stripper was called 'Colin', and he was a formidable and muscular specimen. At that time, I was an ardent gardener, and liked nothing more than popping a mixture of dried blood and manure on my radishes in order to get an early Winter crop. In any event, I was on the allotment, directing my seed utilising a Balsa riddle, when I heard sobbing from the shed. Being a caring type, after three hours, I went over to investigate - and looking through the broken pane that served as the only window, I saw a soiled, under-nourished specimen wearing nothing but a stained apron. It was Arpad… The rest is history – as Syndrum and Colin eventual 'tied the knot' and built a lovely extension on the shed – and are even hoping to adopt.
Syndrum - If my memory serves me correctly, it was the brutally harsh winter of 1960, as Alan rightly said, in a poor district of Berlin called Wedding. Being an aid worker at the time, I was attending to helping the poor malnourished druggies in the area with my female colleague Karin, when I came upon a destitute and obviously delusional space cadet. This poor soul, with only the vein stained whites of his eyes showing, was attempting to defecate a blade of frozen grass rising out of what looked like the remains of a half buried bean can. With his head turned upwards toward the sky, teeth clenched & reddening face he was screaming "grow horsey, grow!". It was Alan, a typically average fellow who apparently through the loss of his family from a freakish accident involving a horse-drawn wagon and 500 k. of horse manure, the details of which I will spare for sake of brevity, became involved in the Berlin underground Eco Rejuvenation While on Drugs posse. After considerable time spent in rehab, Alan was able to return to normal life as an oyster farmer, albeit with some disturbing levels of recurring LSD remnant induced flashbacks.
Alan - I daren't deny the entirety of poor Syndrum's reminiscences – I do get flashbacks of the horrible incident with the cart full of manure, courtesy of Syndrum's eau de cologne (and generally inadequate sense of personal hygiene). Thankfully, time is, indeed, a healer. And I am sure Syndrum enjoys a tremendous – even overwhelming sense of fulfillment every time he and Colin enjoy intimacy. I understand that they strew an assortment of horticultural equipment (including loose mulch) around the boudoir to recapture their early fumblings.
Syndrum - It breaks my heart to see the bitter and ungracious effects prolonged medication has on the human thinkbox. Alan, my dear friend, one of these days I pray you will also find your "Colin". Maybe then you will finally come to see the benefits metamorphic references of horticultural equipment can have on the human sexual spirit, instead of the solitary practices you have so aptly demonstrated countless times in finer public establishments. God forgive me! If only I knew you would take my suggestions literally, I would have been kinder by referring to human livestock instead.
Alan - Indeed, if only I could find my Colin - but can there be two? Obviously, I am not envious of the man-love you share together – especially the ghastly haemorrhoidal conditions that are testimony to your pumping-actioned, physical love. In your case, the sentiments of Christmas are correct – you would have been so much better off 'giving' over the last twenty years than 'taking'…
Syndrum - My dear downtrodden drifter from the Berlin narcotics wasteland, through your 'avant-garde prescription poison' induced words, I have surprisingly stumbled upon some uncanny wisdom. I have realized I am apparently trapped in a limbo of lost souls - totally beaten and ailing itinerants whose names are something like Buddy, Pal, Sport, Top, Buck, Ace, Bubba, and of course Colin; all looking to give, when all I do is take. From now on, I will be a giver! I'll start with my hoe, plow, shovel (large & small), my wide array of power drills (combi included) and of course my manure bucket, so you can enjoy this Christmas fully engrossed in your shameless and profligate solitary sexual acts with my (used, although in very good shape) horticultural equipment. And please allow delivery by Bubba. He is very much looking forward to meeting you!
Now that we have our Christmas wishes out of the way, what do you say in celebration of our friendship and the upcoming season of giving, we agree on.... well, meeting randomly! :).
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Which of the presidential candidates are owned by the banks?
This is a re-posting of "The Red Pill Guys" recent blog. http://rabbit-hole-journey.blogspot.com/
The Campaign Contributors of the Media Anointed
The USA is controlled by the Corporatocracy, by the lobbyists and big business interests. The people that own these corporations are the people that own and run this country. They are not interested in making life better for you or me. They are only interested in their own money and power.
By controlling the mass media, they choose who the next president is. At the beginning of election campaigning, they immediately declare and anoint who the "top tier" are. This is the short list of whom they approve for the presidency. The 2-party system ensures that this list gets pared down to "Puppet A" and "Marionette B".
Of these corporations, the most powerful are the banking and finance corporations.
Now let's look at the largest campaign contributors of the media anointed presidential candidates.
The following info is taken from http://opensecrets.org/pres08. The site has an explanation
HOW TO READ THIS CHART: This chart lists the top donors to this candidate in the 2008 election cycle. The organizations themselves did not donate , rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.Take note of how the "top tier" media anointed ALL have banking and finance corporations as their top contributors. To all the Hillary fans who think that she is different than the others in terms of not kowtowing to Big Business Interests, TAKE SPECIAL NOTE.
Because of contribution limits, organizations that bundle together many individual contributions are often among the top donors to presidential candidates. These contributions can come from the organization's members or employees (and their families). The organization may support one candidate, or hedge its bets by supporting multiple candidates. Groups with national networks of donors - like EMILY's List and Club for Growth - make for particularly big bundlers.
HILLARY CLINTON:
BARACK OBAMA:
RUDY GIULIANI:
MITT ROMNEY:
And now let's look at Ron Paul. He's consistently received the most donations from enlisted personnel. They probably understand first-hand what folly our foreign policy of empire-building is, and Ron Paul is espousing the Founding Fathers' admonition to stay out of internal affairs of other nations.
RON PAUL:
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