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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Good Night

Nikkei Opens Higher On Monday

Investors are showing initial enthusiasm for the debt deal with Japan kicking it off.

Reuters: Nikkei surges above 10,000 after U.S. debt deal

Reid Signs On - Americans Thrown Under Bus

CNN: Reid says he has signed onto a debt ceiling deal

Revisiting The Tea Party

Video shot on 9-12-09.

Deal Update

Reuters: Lawmakers close to deal to avoid default

ABC - Roundtable Part I: Budget Endgame

Krugman speaks directly at Grover Norquist, while Grover sits there apparently thinking about play doh.

Junk Deal

Reuters: Lawmakers close to deal to avoid default

CNN's Don Lemon And Rand Paul Clash Over The Tea Party's Role In The Debt Crisis

Rand Paul is garbage.

Only A Single

Reuters: Obama adviser Sperling sees no "double dip" recession

Thank God Wealthy Not To Be Taxed

Same headline, different year...

Reuters: Lawmakers close to deal to avoid default
It would have no tax increases as Republican wanted, and it would extend the debt ceiling through the 2012 election year as President Barack Obama insisted.

House Republicans Defend A Debt Ceiling Hike

Bush II era Republicans, many who are now in power, speak with fervor about the need to raise the debt ceiling. The big difference - Bush was in power.

The hypocrisy should enrage you.

Have A Good Morning

The Onion - Area Woman Excited To Finally Experience Unbearable Loneliness Of Having Her Own Place

Live Science: Area Woman Excited To Finally Experience Unbearable Loneliness Of Having Her Own Place

Green Gasoline

Interesting article on the latest thinking and work in bio-fuels pointing to improvements in the future. Up to this point bio-fuels have been less than what they've been made out to be.

Live Science: Green Gasoline Comes Closer to Fueling Your Car

Al Jazeera - Teachers Fear US Spending Cuts Backlash

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Maher On 'The Christian Shooter'

Deal, No Deal, Deal, No Deal, Deal

"All we are saying, is give fleecing the middle class a chance" - Mitch McConnell

Some kind of bastard monstrosity has apparently been cooked up by our ultra right wing dysfunctional overlords. All I know is:

a. You and I are going to pay for decades of Republican greed and horrendous policy from the likes of Reagan and the Bush tag team economy wreckers all of which was gleefully approved by spineless simpering Democrats thinking they were doing "meaningful negotiating."
b. The elite rich will score a major coupe.
c. Our retirement is even more questionable.
d. Our health care is even more questionable.
e. America will continue to fight wars essentially designed to enrich energy companies and raw material corporate sectors.
f. The Tea Party is a collective nightmare from the deepest recesses of sub hell, the place below hell and even worse than hell.
g. I am going to enjoy this beautiful day here in Upstate NY.

ABC: Congressional Sources: Republicans and Democrats Reach Tentative Debt Deal
If Congress does not approve those cuts by December 23, automatic across-the-board cuts go into effect, including cuts to Defense and Medicare. This "trigger" is designed to force action on the deficit reduction committee's recommendations by making the alternative painful to both Democrats and Republicans.


A Republican briefed on the framework says this will be unacceptable to many Republicans because it could force them to face a choice between accepting tax increases (if that is what the committee recommends) or automatic cuts that would gut the Pentagon's budget.
Reuters: Hopes emerge of deal to avoid U.S. default
A U.S. default would plunge financial markets and economies around the globe into turmoil. U.S. stocks markets last week posted their worst losses in a year, the dollar slumped and nervous investors pulled up cash into insured bank accounts.


The partisan squabbling and brinkmanship has dented the U.S. image as the world's capitalist superpower, causing alarm among foreign governments, some of whom have expressed incredulity that American politicians would risk a national default by clinging to hardline, intransigent positions.

'Viola Concerto' 2nd Movement

The music of Telemann.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

'The White Ribbon'

Another very serious film by director Michael Haneke. Haneke directed 'The Piano Teacher.'

Good Night

'Antarctica'

CNN - Tea Party Debt Dealings ‘Counter-Constitutional,’ ‘Anti-Democratic’

Spoof

Funny advertisement

The Exorcist from MrPrice2U on Vimeo.

'The Piano Teacher'

trailer

Just watched this on Netflix. Old school bitter cold classical pianist sadistically teaches and maintains an isolated dark sexual inner world till she meets a young handsome equal. In French with subtitles and lots of kink, I would call it a psycho-sexual drama. Interesting if you can get into the drama, the kink alone is compelling.

Deadbeat Tea Party Family Values Man

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Have A Good Morning

In many ways Francesco Clemente's work is at the top of the list.

The Onion - Bachmann Says Unexplained Blackouts From Which She Wakes Up Covered In Blood Won't Affect Ability To Lead

The Onion: Bachmann Says Unexplained Blackouts From Which She Wakes Up Covered In Blood Won't Affect Ability To Lead

New UFO Found

There have not been enough UFO stories lately. Glad to see a new one.

Live Science: UFO Found on Ocean Floor?

White House - West Wing Week

Al Jazeera - Mass Rape Leaves Scar On DR Congo Village

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Coming Up On Wall Street

Good morning. It is 73 degrees and gorgeous here in Upstate NY. The sound of the cicadas is very strong and present, and it is a fantastic sound. I love the sound. This is summertime at its most exquisite. We are truly blessed to be living on this fragile and magnificent world. We are alive. Let's appreciate that fact to its fullest.

Writing about Wall Street and the stock market is like taking the bandage off a miserable wound for a new cleaner bandage. Its also like getting stuck in a car jam knowing that up ahead is a car crash that is going to make you puke its so horrific.

The long story short is that as long as the debt ceiling is not raised, equities are going to take a beating. The slightly good news is that the US credit rating is probably going to remain intact for the time being.

I am sure I speak for millions of Americans when I say that the unmitigated gall and ugliness of the Tea Party wing of the GOP is now completely transparent and on display for all to see. Its actually causing uncontrolled episodes of puking in any reasonable American. Their brutal assault on the middle class and poor has resulted in massive losses for millions in our assets. They are a fundamental reeking pile of hypocritical slime. I can't even think of enough bad things to say about these pin heads. Everybody knows it too, including the right wing pundits that are their doing own little hypocrisy dance to try and make nice nice with the Tea Party. I'm talking O'Reilly, Ingraham, all of them. I would exclude Hannity for obvious reasons.

Unlike something radically changes this weekend, we are looking at a disaster in the equities market starting again on Monday.

In spite of all of this nonsense remember that investments are about long term strategies and not about making thoughtless decisions on the fly.

Reuters: Wall Street Week Ahead: Debt and data suggest more losses
...Washington remains paralyzed by political brinkmanship.


"Right now, overall the market is being totally driven by the debt situation, whether it is in Europe or the U.S..."

'Viola Concerto' 1st Movement

The music of Telemann.

Offering some sanity over what will prove to be a strained weekend.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Good Night

'Hitch'

Bill O'Reilly Talks Smack On The Debt Ceiling

I would suggest you contrast this clip with The Real News Network clip 'Interest Payments At Historic Low - There Is No Debt Crisis.' Its posted two below.

Notice the quality of the two discussions. O'Reilly's is skewered towards a concern in how the politics of debt ceiling-gate will affect the GOP's chances in 2012 and this is supposed to be news. The Real News Network on the other hand breaks down the underlying problem in servicing the debt. In my opinion the latter is news while the former is something akin to a supermarket tabloid discussion on Hollywood movie stars' plastic surgery or unusual weight gain.

TRNN - The Tyranny Of Bondholders

The Tyranny of Bondholders

TRNN - Interest Payments At Historic Low - There Is No Debt Crisis

This is a must view clip.

Interest Payments at Historic Low - There is no Debt Crisis

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 12,143.24 dropping 96.87 points.

Thank the GOP.

Reuters: Wall Street falls in latest twist to debt squabble

Financial Crisis

This is a good discussion.

Treasury Going Out Of Business Fire Sale

Read it and weep.

Our political masters take center stage.

WaPo: Apple has more cash on hand than the U.S. Treasury

The Daily Show - Republicans Watch "The Town"


DOW Lower At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is down 64.

Thank the GOP.

Reuters: Wall Street rises after Obama speech

MSNBC - Bartlett: Chunk Of GOP Either Stupid, Crazy, Ignorant Or Craven Cowards

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Have A Good Morning

The Onion - Nation's Climatologists Exhibiting Strange Behavior


Nation's Climatologists Exhibiting Strange Behavior (Season 1: Ep 5 on IFC)

Earth Girth

Live Science: Earth Is Getting Fatter

Al Jazeera - Cuba Marks 58th Anniversary Of Communist Revolution

1.3% Second Quarter GDP

The government has released the GDP figure of 1.3% growth in the second quarter.

Make no mistake, this is very bad news. The number was projected to even possibly be as high as 2.0%+. I would expect the stock market to take a severe downturn today. I hope I am wrong.

From CNN:
Second quarter GDP growth at 1.3 %

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Credit Rating Drop

It looks like we are getting prepped for the US credit rating to drop from AAA to AA.

According to the CS Monitor, on the day of the credit rating drop stocks will lose 1% of their value. This is based on the performance of other countries and more than likely Japan, countries that have fallen out of an AAA rating. On the other hand, the credit rating drop will occur in the USA which is the economic center of the globe. So we are going into uncharted waters. If stocks lose 1% of their value in a day, we can live with that, but since when has this type of thing been predictable. The short answer is never.

Regardless the CS Monitor is trying to prep us for a soft fall. This is a feel good article. Its always a good idea to get different points of view.

CS Monitor: What happens if US credit rating drops? Other countries offer clues.
...a slightly lower credit score doesn't necessarily push interest rates dramatically higher.


The rise in borrowing costs can cause stock prices to fall (often about 1 percent on the day of a downgrade, according to Goldman Sachs). A downgrade could also have similar negative ripple effects for other credit ratings (such as some municipal bonds), for the foreign-exchange value of the US dollar, and economic growth.

The Market On Friday

Good morning and welcome to the weekend. It is 75 degrees, sunny with a rain logo for later, and starting to feel a little muggy here in Upstate NY. The suburban streets were very quiet this morning, in fact its pretty quiet right now. Maybe people are sleeping in or have collectively gone on vacation.

At 8:00 a.m. futures are moderately down, the dollar is mixed, and oil is down.

Debt ceiling-gate is at the center of the storm. In addition we will very shortly get the first government reading of the second quarter GDP. The debt ceiling and the GDP will be today's market drivers. As a result the market could get real nasty real fast.

What are these Tea Party crazies thinking. This week alone most Americans have lost a bundle in their IRA's, 401 K's, and all other retirement accounts. People are doing worse as a result of the impasse alone. When and if a default occurs, millions of Americans will very quickly get much poorer. The craziest thing I read is when Tea Party people still have the gall to publicly say they want to create jobs. That is an unmitigated lie and in older times that type of tyrannical conspiracy would earn one a trip to the gallows.

CNN: Stocks head for early drop on debt worries
It's all about the debt ceiling, which must be raised by Aug. 2...


...politics is not always rational... (!!!)


Investors will get the first reading on second-quarter GDP at 8:30 a.m. ET.

'Virgin'

Manchester Orchestra

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Good Night

Humane Prison

Follow the link and check this out.

Its where Norway's suspected mass murderer, Anders Behring Breivik may end up.

Yahoo: Inside the world's most humane prison

'King Of Kings' Part 9

1927 silent film religious epic by Cecil B. de Mille.

This film is technically amazing.

'Over Time'

Four stars **** - Sande

Overtime from ouryatlan on Vimeo.

Thom Hartmann On The Debt Ceiling

Bachmann: Questions About Gay Therapy Are Out Of Bounds 

Bachmann cannot be asked about what Bachmann does.

Bachmann: Questions about gay therapy are out of bounds | Raw Replay

Tea Party Rep. Sued For $117,000 In Unpaid Child Support

Raw Story: Tea party Rep. sued for over $117,000 in unpaid child support

Protest Demands Obama Stop Immigrant Deportations

Protest Demands Obama Stop Immigrant Deportations

Human Rights Groups Warn Of A Severe Water Crisis In The Gaza Strip

Human Rights Groups Warn of a Severe Water Crisis in the Gaza Strip

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 12,240.11 dropping 62.44 points.

Thank the extra malicious wing of the GOP - the S**t Bag Party.

Reuters: Buyers exit market ahead of House debt vote

Blog Challenge Of The Day

I would like to direct your attention to this link - Raw Story: GOP lawmaker advises poor to ‘drop out of the country club’.

Watch the clip of Rep. Paul Broun (GOP Tea Party - Georgia) interviewed by Andrea Mitchel. After watching -

A. How many absurd and false claims does Rep. Paul Broun (GOP Tea Party - Georgia) make surrounding the debt ceiling/deficit?

B. In addition, try to find at least one tiny indication that he understands any aspect of the economy.

Marble Machine

Nice Little Guitar

Made in Canada, cherry and maple woods, rosewood fingerboard, under $700, seems like a deal - Godin Guitar.


The Godin Guitar Factory

Thursday

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is up 51 points.

Reuters: Wall Street higher as housing, employment data add lift

The Daily Show - In The Name Of The Fodder


Born Addicted

When we talk about how people are out of work and unemployed, I have an immediate puzzled reaction because we simply have so much work to do both individually and as a society.

This is rather heart breaking.

CNN: Officials fear for infants born to prescription drug addicts
According to state health records, 635 Florida babies were born addicted to prescription drugs in the first half of 2010 alone.

Have A Good Morning


The Onion - Emergency Team Of 8th-Grade Civics Teachers Dispatched To Washington

The Onion: Emergency Team Of 8th-Grade Civics Teachers Dispatched To Washington

Keep Your Mind Sharp

Looks like reasonable advice. They talk about not taking supplements, not sure about that one.

Live Science: 10 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp

Default And You

Long story short - most of us will be much poorer. Everything will cost more, borrowing will be even tougher, and our alleged safety net will have a hole in it the size of the one in the Tea Party's head - huge.

CS Monitor: Five ways US default would hit your pocketbook
1. Devalued dollar
2. Higher interest rates
3. Bigger recession threat
4. Higher taxes and bigger spending cuts
5. Loss of global status

Al Jazeera - American Frustration Over Debt Limit Impasse

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

398,000

This will be regarded as good news. The number is finally below the 400,000 demarcation line.

From CNN:
Initial unemployment claims fall below 400,000 for the first time in more than 3 months, dropping 24,000 to 398,000 in latest week.

The Market On Thursday

Good morning. It is 68 degrees and sunny hazy here in Upstate NY. Yours truly engaged in a Bacchanalian feast last night and as a result I am running about an hour late. But it was oh so worth it. I think it was the wine that put me under the spell. The tiramisu dessert was amazing. We need to live too, we can't just ponder the state of our debilitated society. In fact we need to live a lot more and enjoy life.

At 8:15 a.m. futures are flat, the dollar is mixed, and oil is slightly up.

I could copy and paste the same statement about the market that we've seen for the last several days except today its a little bit worse.

Investors are still selling off equities as the debt ceiling "debate" (debate?) continues with extremist Tea Bag GOP loons pushing for Armaggeddon, bless their screwy little twisted minds. The keyword is little.

In addition to pending Armaggeddon, we will soon see more information on how bad the job market is, how bad pending home sales are, and how slight the GDP expanded in the second quarter. Its a virtual merde storm convergence.

My advice is to enjoy life. We don't have to tank our well being or our happiness as the USA (and by that I mean ordinary non billionaire type citizens) sinks a bit lower into a lesser society. Make no mistake, that is what is happening and the elite wealthy have placed the burden of that demise on the middle class and poor while they drink our blood through a platinum straw.

CNN: Stocks to continue debt debate watch
Worries about Washington's inability to reach a solution for its fiscal problems by the Aug. 2 debt ceiling deadline have sparked a recent sell-off in the market...


A report on pending home sales from the National Association of Realtors is due at 10 a.m. ET.


Investors are also looking ahead to Friday's monthly GDP report.

'Trio'

Bireli Lagrene Gipsy Trio

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Good Night

TRNN - "Hell No" - Your Right To Dissent

Please watch this clip.

Around 10:20 Michael Ratner gets to the point about suppression of protests in the United States. It is power elites' fear of mass protests with the economic upheaval and calamity that we are witnessing now and will continue to witness.

More at The Real News

McCain Ridicules The S*#t Bag Party

The irony here of course is that it was McCain who brought into power and onto the national stage Ms. Tea Bag herself, Palin.

DOW Closes Much Lower

The DOW closed at 12,302.55 dropping 198.75 points.

Thank the GOP and especially thank the S#@t Bag, err the Tea Bag Party.

Reuters: Wall Street drops on earnings, debt, data

Call Triple A

I think America should go for its true rating - XXX - Triple X...

Guardian UK: AAA credit ratings explained
Standard & Poor's have assigned the AAA rating to the following: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

'Buck'

trailer

DOW Lower At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is down 116 points.

Thank the GOP.

Reuters: Wall Street slides on earnings, economy

O'Donnell Interviews Bill Maher On Debt Ceilng And GOP

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Daily Show - Call Congress

Have A Good Morning

The Onion - Social Security Reform Bill Encourages Americans To Live Faster, Die Younger


Social Security Reform Bill Encourages Americans To Live Faster, Die Younger

Big Brains

Unfortunately this article is literally about a bigger brain, not a more intelligent mind.

Live Science: Want a Big Brain? Head North

Al Jazeera - Operation 'Fast And Furious' Raises Questions

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Higgs Boson Update

Long story short, scientist believe they will determine if the higgs boson, the "god" particle exists or does not exist by the end of 2012.

This research is being conducted at 'The Large Hadron Collider' which is located underground somewhere on the border of France and Switzerland.

The elements for a new generation of Bond-like novels and films all revolve around The Large Hadron Collider - Switzerland, France, wine, chalets, double faced gorgeous women, skiing in the Alps, spies, ungodly weapons, and chocolate.

CS Monitor: God particle, the Higgs boson, could be found in 2012
"I would say we can settle the question, the Shakespearean question — 'to be or not to be' — end of next year..."


It's the linchpin of the Standard Model of particle physics theory that explains the Big Bang...


Physicists also hope the collider will help them see and understand other suspected phenomena, such as dark matter, antimatter and supersymmetry.


...protons and neutrons...are made of quarks and gluons and...there are other forces and particles.

The Market On Wednesday

Good morning. It is 66 degrees, sunny, and gorgeous here in Upstate NY. This morning's 6 a.m. walk was under the sign of the female twins. I easily saw 6 pairs of women running side by side and talking to each other with a runner's intensity. Why would I see that kind of grouping on this particular morning. Who knows.

At 8:00 a.m. futures are flat, the dollar is mixed, and oil is down.

The debt ceiling stagnation non-concensus non-agreement is hanging like a dark cloud over the market. What's going to happen next week if this damn debt ceiling does not get raised.

Make absolutely no mistake, this entire mess rests at the feet of the intractable, subservient to their ultra elite wealthy master, thick headed, belligerent, dumber than a bag of hammers, middle class and poor class hating, egotistical, authoritarian, and violent GOP and especially their very creepy Tea Bag wing. Did I mention scumbags.

There's nothing else to say about it. Ship these a-holes to the moon thank you.

CNN: Stocks flat ahead of open
...the debt issue will be the primary focus for investors throughout the day.


Dunkin' Donuts goes public on Wednesday after shares priced at $19, above their price range of $16 to $18.

'Katharina'

Lulo Reinhardt

In the past few months I have taken an interest in exploring the gypsy jazz guitar stylists. Its an interesting mix of old style jazz like Django with some European folk elements at least that is what it sounds like to me. Lulo is a master of the style, but I also hear some other influences. I don't think the piece itself is very good, but you certainly get a sense of his ability from the clip. He plays with a lot of flash.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Have A Good Night

Voter ID At The DMV

Watch and see what they are requiring people in Wisconsin to do in order to get a voter ID.

Now in my mind, this is fascism.

TRNN - Easier To Attack The Weak Than The Wealthy


More at The Real News

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 12,501.30 dropping 91.50 points. You can thank the GOP for your rapidly devaluing 401 K, IRA, or equity account.

Reuters: Market ends down as investors keep to sidelines

GOP Hypocrisy From Every Angle

Read it and weep. The "fiscally responsible" GOP leaders at the center of the debt ceiling debacle had absolutely no problem adding trillions to the deficit under Bush.

In their obsession to take down Obama, the GOP also has no problem with destroying the world economy and the assets of millions upon millions of Americans.

Their hypocrisy reeks.

Bloomberg: Republican Leaders Voted for U.S. Debt Drivers
Yet the speaker, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell all voted for major drivers of the nation’s debt during the past decade: Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts and Medicare prescription drug benefits. They also voted for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, that rescued financial institutions and the auto industry.


Together, a Bloomberg News analysis shows, these initiatives added $3.4 trillion to the nation’s accumulated debt and to its current annual budget deficit of $1.5 trillion.

The Daily Show - Armadebtdon 2011

DOW Lower At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is down 64 points.

Thank the GOP.

Reuters: Wall Street falls on debt gridlock worries

Mike Lee Admits Extortion

Have A Good Morning

The Onion - Rupert Murdoch Worried He Might Have Damaged Heretofore Perfect Reputation

The Onion: Rupert Murdoch Worried He Might Have Damaged Heretofore Perfect Reputation

British Recession

Great Britain's economy grew at a rate of 0.2% in the second quarter. That country's economy is also not recovering.

Guardian UK: GDP figures mean Britain will miss its economic growth targets

Big Pharma And American Psychosis

Al Jazeera: Mass psychosis in the US - How Big Pharma got Americans hooked on anti-psychotic drugs.

Al Jazeera - Bats Under Threat

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Chicago Gangs

I did not want to post about the Obama and Boehner nationally televised piss off.

Instead I am opting to point out the misery that is encompassing Chicago. In that city gang violence is worse than ever. 2010 saw the most people shot by police in connection to gang activity and so far we are only up to July and the number shot and killed by police in connection to gang activity has exceeded 2010's ugly number. The police are also shot at, its not a one way deal.

Is there a connection between the extreme gangster violence in a place like Chicago and the type of thug like activity we are seeing from the likes of the GOP as they work to topple the world economy? I think yes. I think the tensions in the US are unmistakably pronounced and dangerous. Extremism in behavior and thought is rampant.

CS Monitor: Chicago police use more deadly force as gang war heats up
Many of the gangs are so deeply entrenched in Chicago – the Maniac Street Disciples date back to 1966, for instance – that attacking them will be ineffective...


A more-nuanced approach...would involve the police educating young men in the community on how best to respond when stopped by police and by training police on how respectfully to approach local residents.
Take a look at this .gov website - Gang-Related News Articles

The Market On Tuesday

Good morning. It is 67 degrees and cloudy here in Upstate NY. The intense heat wave of last week is over for the time being. It was even a little cool last night making it good sleeping weather. Summer is really peaking. Last night I bought a half gallon of milk with an expiration date of early September. That was information that I did not want to see or contemplate.

At 7:50 a.m. futures are slightly up, the dollar is down, and oil is slightly up.

The dominant news remains the battle over raising the debt ceiling. It's also the dominant news affecting the markets. There isn't much that we can add to this discussion. The GOP remains intractable and quite willing to sink the world economy along with the retirement assets of millions upon millions of Americans in order to hurt Obama in 2012. Does anybody think for a moment that this dog and pony show is about anything else. The polarization that has so viciously marked the country over the past is worse than ever. Contempt for the GOP is stronger than ever. I look forward to the GOP's demise.

CNN: Stocks set for flat open
...with only five trading days before the debt ceiling deadline, the issue is likely to overshadow earnings and economic data.


The S&P Case-Shiller home price index is scheduled for release at 9 a.m. ET.

'Always'

Blink 182

Monday, July 25, 2011

Good Night

'Jean-François'

Jean-François (2009) from tom haugomat & bruno mangyoku on Vimeo.

CNN - Will The U.S. Pay Its Bills?

Jay Powell is a former GOP treasury assistant secretary.

Beck Calls Norway Attacked Camp - Hitler Youth

The man talks but the light bulb is filled with water.

TRNN - Tens Of Thousands In Israel Protest Rising Prices


More at The Real News

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 12,592.80 dropping 88.36 points.

Thank you GOP.

CNN: Stocks close lower as investors await debt deal

Trump Encourages Default

Bravo to The Donald for publicly stating the subtext to the GOP's default plans.

Sink Obama indeed. Why should the GOP worry in the least little bit about the millions and millions of people who would be adversely affected by a US default as long as Obama is sunk.

Also, bravo to The Donald for demonstrating publicly his universal contempt for ordinary working people.

Raw Story: Trump to GOP: Force U.S. default to make sure Obama isn’t re-elected

DOW Lower

At 1:30 the DOW is down 37.73 points.

CNN: Stocks: Wall Street calls Washington's bluff

Murdoch Unrooted

Sometimes the mighty do fall.

NYT: Scandal Splinters a Family Business
“Rupert may end up having to make a choice between his son and the company, which is fairly biblical..."

Have A Good Morning

The Onion - Nation's School Systems Held Back A Year

The Onion: Nation's School Systems Held Back A Year

Oldest Water In The Universe

Live Science: Astronomers Find Largest, Oldest Mass of Water in Universe

Al Jazeera - US Debt Discussions In Deadlock

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

No Deal

I am so angered over debt ceiling-gate, I almost can't talk about it. Its that place where the ultra-absurdity of the issue goes beyond reason of any previously known human drama.

One of the more insidious aspects of this alleged debt deal is how there are plans out there from practically ever known politician - The McConnell Plan, The Reid Plan, The McConnell-Reid Plan, The Boehner Plan, The White House Plan. What do all of these plans have in common? The answer is that the vast majority of Americans do not know in the least little bit what they entail.

The future of the world economy is being drawn and quartered at the majestic whim of a group of egotistical political monsters.

CS Monitor: No deal yet on debt crisis. How will Asian markets and Wall Street react?
“I’m not sure failure to reach agreement today [Sunday] will be a signal for a selloff, but as the week goes on, more and more investors will be concerned,” he adds. “There’s definitely a worry that people are going to want to dump their stocks. There could be extreme turmoil in markets.”


...Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada is close to unveiling his own plan to find $2.5 trillion in deficit reduction in straight spending cuts...


The McConnell-Reid plan provides a fast-track procedure for the president to raise the debt limit automatically, subject only to a resolution of disapproval from Congress.

The Market On Monday

Good morning. I hope you had a good weekend. I spent the weekend working on this old house. There was the usual yard work, some painting, and I have started to remodel half of the living room. If my schedule stays in tact, I will remodel the other half next year. After that only the dining room remains and this old house will be good to go.

At 8:30 a.m. DOW futures are down 85 points, the dollar is mixed, and oil is down.

Its really simple, the market is responding to the lack of a deal on the debt ceiling.

I am stunned that the GOP is willing to take down not only the US economy, but the world economy, in order to increase the wealth of the elite super rich. That would be loyalty at the expense of literally billions of ordinary people. Its unfathomable. Over the years we have witnessed GOP blunder after disaster after blunder and now we are looking at something that literally could take years if not a decade to repair. The GOP obviously despises the middle class in this country, and this unbelievable tactic will deal the middle class a massive wound.

CNN: Stocks set to drop after debt talks falter
"The view is that the U.S. will at some point this week have a deal done..."


If Congress fails to raise the $14.3 trillion debt limit, Americans could face rising interest rates and a declining dollar, among other problems.


...Moody's downgraded Greece yet again...

'For Sephora'

Rosenberg Trio

Sunday, July 24, 2011

'Blindsight'

trailer

Christian Law

Alternet: Inside the Right-Wing Christian Law School That Brought Us Michele Bachmann

Good Night

Nikkei Opens Lower On Monday

This is very unnecessary. One suspects that the markets are preparing for a fast shake out.

Reuters: Nikkei falls on U.S. debt default worries, strong yen

On The GOP's Main Goal - Destroy Obama

Contempt for the GOP is growing in leaps and bounds. 17% of the population approves of Congress.

The Daily Beast: America's Cold Civil War
They (the GOP) are clearly calculating that the economic devastation their vandalism could create will so hurt the economy that it could bring them back to power through the wreckage. And they will use every smear, every lie, every canard possible to advance this goal. The propaganda channel dreamt of by Roger Ailes in the Nixon era will continue to pump poison into the body politic, until they defeat the man whose legitimacy as president they have never truly accepted.

Robert Reich On Medicare

Robert Reich: Why Medicare Is the Solution — Not the Problem

Top Financial Worry List

#1 - Basic lack of money
#2 - Health care costs
#3 - Too much debt
#4 - Inflation
#5 - No work

Gallup: Lack of Money Tops List of Americans' Financial Worries

Global Economy Under Threat

Guardian UK: US debt crisis threatens global markets as Congress is locked in blame game

Default Chicken

The GOP and their Tea Party wing especially are coming across as nothing more than an egotistical destructive bunch of bullies.

I look forward to their political demise.

Reuters: Markets to hold U.S. feet to fire as default threatens
A slide in the bond market could trigger a wave of selling elsewhere, too, with stocks, money market mutual funds and higher risk assets elsewhere in the world all vulnerable as deepening problems in the U.S. would threaten to damage the global economy.

Have A Good Morning

The Onion - God Urges Rick Perry Not To Run For President

The Onion: God Urges Rick Perry Not To Run For President

How To Ruin A Relationship

Eight choice ways to ruin a relationship including favorites - nitpicking and threatening. Unfortunately this is a 20/20 hindsight type of article.

Live Science: 8 Ways to Ruin Your Relationship

Al Jazeera - Devin Burghart On The Rise Of Far-Right Extremism In Europe

Unfortunately its a very short interview but the information mentioned is very loaded. Although I was aware of right wing extremism in Europe I was under the presumption that it was the usual skin head neo-Nazis in Germany. The problem is much more extensive.

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Debt Scramble

At one time I used to go to the coin jar. That's where all my stop gap funds resided. It became time to wrap pennies, nickels etc. Later on it was the credit card as the requirements for dough increased. Happy to say the credit card has been retired from service.

The concerns remain. Unfortunately America decided to elect the Tea Party wing of the GOP into Congress last November. Not a whole lot of good coming out of that move is there America?

So I would presume everyone's finger is on the trigger. The trigger being to sell off the equities or not. One also might suspect that the brinkmanship game is partly being established for that very reason. There just might be a whole lot of cheap equities out there shortly which the ultra wealth can then gobble up.

Reuters: Congress scrambles for debt deal
The United States will run out of funds to service its debt on August 2 if Congress does not approve additional borrowing.


Boehner must overcome stout resistance from Tea Party movement conservatives in his own party, who adamantly oppose any steps to raise tax revenue.


Rating agencies say they will cut America's Triple-A credit rating if the United States fails to meet debt payments, likely triggering global market turmoil.

On Love

"A kiss is a lovely trick, designed by nature, to stop words when speech becomes superfluous." - Ingrid Bergmen


"Love is the beauty of the soul." - Saint Augustine


"She walks in Beauty, like the night
Of cloudness climes and starry skies,
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes..." - Lord Byron


"What I feel for you seems less of earth and more of a cloudless heaven." - Victor Hugo


"We came by night to the Fortunate Isles, And lay like fish Under the net of our kisses." - Pablo Neruda

'Swing Gitan'

Leigh Jackson

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Good Night

See you bright and early Sunday morning.

'The Village'

I like this guy's work. The technique makes our ordinary reality appear as if it were a toy scape.

The Village from Pedro Sousa | visuals on Vimeo.

Texas Votes To Keep Creationism Out Of Its Science Classes

Raw Story: Texas to keep creationism out of its science classes

Bill Maher On Conservative Republican ‘Pledges’

Debt Deal

Reuters: Obama, lawmakers seek to salvage debt deal

Amy Winehouse Dies

This is truly heartbreaking. I thought she was just wonderful, one of my favorites.

Rest in peace Amy.

CNN: Report: Singer Amy Winehouse found dead

Heat Day 3

It is 87 degrees and humid here in Upstate NY.

I was just at the local farmer's market and it was very lightly peopled which is very unusual. Everybody is staying indoors with the air conditioning. Didn't stop me from finding some nice looking tid bits.

Stay cool, and drink lots of water.

Have A Good Morning

More work by Giuseppe Penone

The Onion - Ruin The Economy Or Not? Congress Still Unable To Decide


Ruin The Economy Or Not? Congress Still Unable To Decide

Ancient Diamond

Live Science: Diamonds Sparkle with Clues About Early Earth

Al Jazeera - Norway Shooting Witness

Needless and poignantly tragic.

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Your Weekly Address

The Fall Back Plan

Hopefully this fall back plan option on the debt ceiling is real. One suspects that the failure to raise the debt ceiling will send world markets tumbling. That would not be good. That would be a disaster.

CNN: House, Senate leaders have debt ceiling options

Right Wing Extremist In Norway

In America right wing extremists actively work to take down the world economy ruining millions of lives.

Reuters: Man held after Norway attacks right-wing extremist: report

Reuters: Man kills at least 91 in Norway shooting, bombing

4.1% Unemployment Rate! (In China)


Need a job? Its a helluva commute.
The urban unemployment rate in China was last reported at 4.1 percent in the first quarter of 2011. From 2002 until 2010, China's Unemployment Rate averaged 4.15 percent reaching an historical high of 4.30 percent in December of 2003 and a record low of 3.90 percent in September of 2002. source

'You Know I'm No Good'

Amy Winehouse

Friday, July 22, 2011

Good Night

and stay cool.

Amateur Video Taken After Oslo Bombing

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

'Bathtub IV'

Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

If McCain Had Won

Long story short, Fred Branfman takes the side that the US would have enbe better off under McCain because the Democratic Party would have stayed closer to its democratic (as in real democracy) alleged underpinning, owned Congress and owned the Senate.

He also maintains that a GOP President in 2012 would be disastrous.

ZNET: If McCain Had Won
But McCain’s election would have produced a major political difference: It would have increased Democratic clout in the House and Senate. First off, there would have been no tea party, no “don’t raise the debt limit unless we gut the poor,” no “death panel” myth, no “Obama Youth” nonsense. Although there would have been plenty of criticism from the likes of Rush Limbaugh, the fact would have remained that McCain, a Republican, Caucasian war hero would never have excited the tea party animus as did the “Secret-Muslim Kenyan-Born Big-Government Fascist White-Hating Antichrist” Obama. Glenn Beck would have remained a crazed nonentity and been dropped far sooner by Fox News than he was. And Vice President Sarah Palin, despised by both McCain and his tough White House staff, would have been deprived of any real power and likely tightly muzzled against criticizing McCain’s relatively centrist (compared to her positions) policies.


Voters would almost certainly have increased Democratic control of the House and Senate in 2010, since the Republicans would have been seen as responsible for the weak U.S. economy. Democrats might even have achieved the long-desired 60 percent majority needed to kill the filibuster in one or both houses.


Democratic control of the House and Senate fostered by disastrous Republican policies would have severely limited McCain’s ability (as occurred with George W. Bush) to weaken Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance and other programs that aid those most in need. (Yes, domestic spending might have been cut less if McCain had won.)

TRNN - Why Save The Euro


More at The Real News

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 12,681.16 dropping 43.25 points.

CNN: Tech stocks show strength

Giuseppe Penone

From Wikipedia -
Giuseppe Penone (born April 3, 1947) is an Italian artist. Penone started working professionally in 1968 in the Garessio forest, near where he was born. He is the younger member of the Italian movement named "Arte Povera", this term has been coined by Germano Celant. Penone's work is concerned with establishing a contact between man and nature. He is still very active and produces lots of original works every year.

Reuters - Oslo Bombing

The Daily Show - Indecision 2012 - Survival Of The Funded


DOW Lower At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is down 19 points.

Reuters: Dow drops as Caterpillar profit misses view

Have A Good Morning

Work by Giuseppe Penone