Sunday, June 30, 2013
Good Night
We are having a nice slow steady rain as I write. It's pleasant, cooling, and a nice way to relax on Sunday afternoon listening to the rain. Earlier the thunder sent the new dog into hiding. That is sadly poignant. See you bright and early on Monday.
Eating Grasshoppers Lately?
Hard to imagine insect eating gaining traction in the USA at this point, but the future is a different story. Survivalist schools do teach the art of catching and fire roasting grasshoppers. Regardless, necessity has a way of weeding things out. The Lepsis is a countertop "jar" used for growing grasshoppers which then make their way onto your dinner plate.
Guardian UK: Grasshopper breeder up for design award and educating western palates - Mansour Ourasanah hopes the Lepsis becomes a desirable design object and helps turn west on to more sustainable meat
Guardian UK: Grasshopper breeder up for design award and educating western palates - Mansour Ourasanah hopes the Lepsis becomes a desirable design object and helps turn west on to more sustainable meat
Sunday
Good morning. It is 70 degrees and hazy but sunny this Sunday a.m. here in Upstate NY. Thunderstorms are expected today and everyday into the forecast future. It's a little weird, and yes I do believe it's all about global warming. They are literally baking in the Southwest with temperatures approaching 120 degrees or as we should really call it, the new norm. Another busy day is expected here with lots of work on this old house along with preparations for the week.
The Ed Show - Hate Radio Declines
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Saturday, June 29, 2013
Good Night
'The Cana Family' - Jory Brigham furniture design
Jory Brigham Design from The Cana Family on Vimeo.
Maddow - GOP's Restrictive Abortion Laws - Mandatory Vaginal Probes
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Off The Chart
I keep suggesting to close friends that we will soon see red spots light up around the globe where the temperatures will become so hot that human life cannot exist without air conditioning assist there. We are not designed to live in extreme heat, try staying in a dry heat sauna for more than 15 minutes. Oh yeah, it can be done, but then think about living in that heat all day long, cannot be done. Nope. Acquaintances in Las Vegas expect to see it hit 120 - I hope the a/c holds out and talk about stresses on the infrastructure. I mean how well do cars hold up to 120? One suspect's the dashboards of locked cars directly in the sunlight will melt.
AlterNet: This Week's Killer Heat Wave Threatens To Cause Earth’s Hottest Temps Ever - The Southwest may experience the hottest weather in recorded history. Still don't believe in global warming?
CNN: Heat won't relent in scorched Southwest
AlterNet: This Week's Killer Heat Wave Threatens To Cause Earth’s Hottest Temps Ever - The Southwest may experience the hottest weather in recorded history. Still don't believe in global warming?
CNN: Heat won't relent in scorched Southwest
The town in California's Death Valley is expected to hit 128 degrees Saturday.
Saturday
Good morning. It is a pleasant 68 degrees and slightly sunny this a.m. here in Upstate NY. The forecast continues to show rain everyday for the next ten days. Rainforest it is. I have another modestly busy day with more work on this old house as we prepare for guests. Before that I hope to get over to the farmer's market and see what's what in the produce department. Food has become incredibly expensive as you know, I don't see how people on highly limited budgets can afford to eat. Turns out they are not eating as hunger increases in America and as people can only afford high glycemic carbs, which are still cheap, obesity increases. Now that's a pickle, we are a little stuck. What I find particularly troubling is the political tendency on the right to demonize and fixate on the poor as being the source of this misery. It's like blaming a wound for being the source of pain, hey maybe you did something else first to cause the wound - just suggesting, don't get too excited.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Good Night
Rain, rain, rain, it's raining here at 6PM and it's a little muggy to boot. Summer is dripping wet. I've been painting a room all day long and now I'm ready to relax. See you bright and early Saturday morning.
'The Happy Poet'
trailer - one of those interesting and sparse indie films, very benign, somewhat dry humor filled, and a very good effort. I'd give it 3 stars out of a possible 4.
Maddow - Implementing Racist Voting Policies
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The Market On Friday
Good morning. It is 71 degrees and overcast here in Upstate NY. It was sleeping weather last night as a steady rain cooled off the heat and humidity. The wind was strong as there are leaves, small branches, and other remnants of trees all over the neighborhood. Unbelievably we are heading into July, the time is flying by. The garden is active in the sense that we are eating food out of it - right now it's arugala, swiss chard, and basil. It's another working weekend for me as repairs to this old house continue apparently endlessly.
At 8:00 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.
Today is the last day of the second quarter meaning that the bevy of second quarter corporate reports are set to begin soon. Usually it's Alcoa that is the first company to report. In spite of the recent volatility due to the announced abatement of quantitative easing, the market has gained during the second quarter. It will now be the second quarter reports that will influence the indexes in coming weeks.
CNN: Stocks: Ending the quarter on a high note
At 8:00 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.
Today is the last day of the second quarter meaning that the bevy of second quarter corporate reports are set to begin soon. Usually it's Alcoa that is the first company to report. In spite of the recent volatility due to the announced abatement of quantitative easing, the market has gained during the second quarter. It will now be the second quarter reports that will influence the indexes in coming weeks.
CNN: Stocks: Ending the quarter on a high note
Year-to-date, stocks are up 12% to 15%.
...Asian markets ended in positive territory.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
The Response
Can you recall a time in the USA when we did not have the present level of opposite extremism in both politics and social policy. The answer is no, it's been here all along and it will remain. What the Supreme Court did for the extreme right yesterday is very simple - they created yet another political action committee to overturn the SCOTUS ruling and thus return DOMA. You laugh, but not so fast. Are they having success with overturning Roe vs Wade.
Think Progress: The Five Craziest Reactions To The Marriage Equality Rulings
Think Progress: The Five Craziest Reactions To The Marriage Equality Rulings
3. Congressmen declare the apocalypse is imminent
Maddow - SCOTUS And DOMA
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DOW Higher At Noon
In the noon hour the DOW is at 15,011.43 up 101.29 points.
CNN: Mortgage rates soar to 4.46% - biggest jump in 26 years
CNN: Mortgage rates soar to 4.46% - biggest jump in 26 years
Scalia Rants
Scalia was appointed by Reagan in 1986. He is Catholic and he is the longest serving Supreme Court judge on the present court. Scalia is 77 years old.
AlterNet: Antonin Scalia Misses the Days When It Was OK for Government Discriminate Against Gay People - Supreme Court's arch-conservative says legalizing same-sex marriage discriminates against people who don't want it.
AlterNet: Antonin Scalia Misses the Days When It Was OK for Government Discriminate Against Gay People - Supreme Court's arch-conservative says legalizing same-sex marriage discriminates against people who don't want it.
The Market On Thursday
Good morning. It is 69 degrees and foggy here in Upstate NY. The forecast still shows rain, every day, for the next ten days. Is this unusual? The answer to that is, not anymore. Global warming is changing everything. The Supreme Court appears to be having fun at the expense of the American people - improve gay rights, that's good, but then insure Red State GOP governance by removing voting rights which in turn is causing GOP led states to force restrictive voter ID laws. Barriers to voting is a Red State tradition, please, perhaps the Supremes were just trying to bake some old timey American apple pie for sentimental reasons.
At 8:00 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is higher. The market is poised to open higher.
The market has seen two days of strong gains, can they make it three. Investors will shortly see the first time weekly layoff numbers which is always telling followed by data on consumer spending. It is a consumer driven economy as they say. I can't help but recall this week's article stating that 75% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck with virtually no money saved to get them through a crisis. Sounds rather third world-ish - would you agree. From the GOP side of the equation that must mean that it's not 49% of the country that are slackers, it's really 75% of the country who are slackers. Yet somehow, the consumer driven economy is thriving. We are programmed from birth to buy junk, frequently and way beyond our means. That, is the tragedy.
CNN: Stocks: Will the momentum hold?
At 8:00 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is higher. The market is poised to open higher.
The market has seen two days of strong gains, can they make it three. Investors will shortly see the first time weekly layoff numbers which is always telling followed by data on consumer spending. It is a consumer driven economy as they say. I can't help but recall this week's article stating that 75% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck with virtually no money saved to get them through a crisis. Sounds rather third world-ish - would you agree. From the GOP side of the equation that must mean that it's not 49% of the country that are slackers, it's really 75% of the country who are slackers. Yet somehow, the consumer driven economy is thriving. We are programmed from birth to buy junk, frequently and way beyond our means. That, is the tragedy.
CNN: Stocks: Will the momentum hold?
...the Commerce Department will release a report on Americans' personal income and spending for May.
Asian markets ended mixed.
'Live'
The Biréli Lagrène Trio - very recent recording, not the best sound quality, but after all we are talking about the finest guitarist in the world.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Good Night
'Joburg Party'
JOBURG PARTY! A snapshot of South Africa's new youth underground from Windeck Productions on Vimeo.
God's Institution
How boring, the right has another cause to rally around. What a bunch of Luddites.
Raw Story: Pelosi responds to Bachmann’s DOMA comments: ‘Who cares?’
Raw Story: Pelosi responds to Bachmann’s DOMA comments: ‘Who cares?’
...(Bachmann said) the Supreme Court tried to “undo what a holy God has instituted” by striking down the federal same sex marriage ban...
DOW Higher at Noon
In the noon hour the DOW is at 14,855.52 up 95.21 points.
CNN: Same-sex marriage ruling: Financial impact
CNN: Same-sex marriage ruling: Financial impact
The Market On Wednesday
Good morning. It is 70 degrees and looks like more rain here in Upstate NY. We are back into a period of daily rain, I think global warming will turn this area into a rain forest, seriously. I was happy to see that the extreme Texas anti-abortion bill was overturned. On the other hand as I am a strong believer in a two state America, Red America and America, I would like to see red states like Texas move as far to the right as possible in order to help facilitate this separation. As conservative extremism appears to be intensifying, not in terms of numbers, but in terms of policy, desires, and inability to compromise how can this co-exist with progressives? I like to see people happy, and so a two state solution is the way to go.
At 8:15 a.m. futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open in the higher to mixed area.
China's economy is taking center stage in the recent days of market volatility. Decent economic reports on consumerism on Tuesday have helped investors re-believe in a recovering U.S. economy for the well to do. Today we get a third reading on the first quarter GDP and that number will have lots of resonance especially if it is above or below the second reading.
CNN: Stocks: Modest gain expected at open
At 8:15 a.m. futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open in the higher to mixed area.
China's economy is taking center stage in the recent days of market volatility. Decent economic reports on consumerism on Tuesday have helped investors re-believe in a recovering U.S. economy for the well to do. Today we get a third reading on the first quarter GDP and that number will have lots of resonance especially if it is above or below the second reading.
CNN: Stocks: Modest gain expected at open
"On balance the [People's Bank of China] is edging out the Fed as the main concern for markets at the moment..."
...third estimate of gross domestic product for the first three months of the year.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Good Night
It's been a day for robust stupidity in all directions
Raw Story: Arizona governor: Racial discrimination doesn’t ‘take place any longer’
Raw Story: Arizona governor: Racial discrimination doesn’t ‘take place any longer’
Obama Not Telling The Truth
No Keystone - bottom line.
CNN: Obama wants limits on coal plants, says Keystone can't boost pollution
CNN: Obama wants limits on coal plants, says Keystone can't boost pollution
Voting
NYT: Supreme Court Strikes Down Key Part of Voting Rights Act
...a 5-to-4 vote (Alito, Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, and Kennedy - of course)...
Maddow - Texas' Abortion Bill
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DOW Higher At Noon
In the noon hour the DOW is at 14,773.17 up 113.61 points.
CNN: Recent college grads face 36% 'mal-employment' rate
CNN: Recent college grads face 36% 'mal-employment' rate
The Market On Tuesday
Good morning. It is 66 degrees and cloudy with some sun here in Upstate NY. The ground is wet from all the rain we had on Monday - kicking the ball for the dog is a wet shoe experience. As you know the Zimmerman trial has begun. Whenever we have a situation like this where the lines are drawn between liberals and conservatives over a trial case, we've got a mess. In my opinion, Florida's gun laws which apparently allow people to be judge, jury, and executioner create an atmosphere that I personally do not want to live in. They also seem to create the type of spectacle that this trial will be. The wild west is no longer an exciting place for me right now, I'll choose to remain in mundane NY for the time being.
At 8:15 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.
Volatility is the name of the game right now. The market is taking some wild and wide swings mostly in the down direction in recent weeks. The DOW is below its peak high by roughly 1,000 points. For today there appears to be a little bit of pause especially over the state of the Chinese economy, which along with the abatement of quantitative easing is the driving downward force on the indexes. Fundamentally nobody really knows how low it will go or how volatile it all is. One thing that we do know is that change is in the air on a large scale.
CNN: U.S. stocks set for a rebound
At 8:15 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.
Volatility is the name of the game right now. The market is taking some wild and wide swings mostly in the down direction in recent weeks. The DOW is below its peak high by roughly 1,000 points. For today there appears to be a little bit of pause especially over the state of the Chinese economy, which along with the abatement of quantitative easing is the driving downward force on the indexes. Fundamentally nobody really knows how low it will go or how volatile it all is. One thing that we do know is that change is in the air on a large scale.
CNN: U.S. stocks set for a rebound
...CNNMoney's Fear & Greed Index is deep in extreme fear.
(China's) bank will keep interest rates in check, and that seasonal forces that have driven them higher recently will fade.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Good Night
The second thunder storm of the day is rolling through and we just had a lightning strike within hundreds of yards of the house. It is a powerful and stunning thing.
CNN: Silvio Berlusconi gets 7 years in underage sex case
CNN: Silvio Berlusconi gets 7 years in underage sex case
DOW Closes Lower
The DOW closed at 14,659.56 dropping 139.84 points.
CNN: Stocks fall 1% .. but it could have been worse
CNN: Stocks fall 1% .. but it could have been worse
American Prosperity
In a separate article, America's elite rich vow to not rest for an instant until they can boost this number to 99.9%...
CNN: 76% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck
CNN: 76% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck
Hunger In America
AlterNet: 6 Facts About Hunger That Demonstrate the Shameful Excesses of American Capitalism - Children, seniors and disabled citizens going hungry is a stain on humanity.
1. Congress wants to cut a food program that feeds low-income children.
The Market On Monday
Good morning. It is 73 degrees with 93% humidity this morning here in Upstate NY. I am an air conditioning follower and the ceiling fans helped a little last night. It's hot, this is not sleeping weather. Even the dog woke up panting. I had a monumentally hard weekend performing with my group and hosting a recital for my music students. Everything went well and without a hitch, all required a lot of preparation and mental energy. On Sunday I just relaxed and did very little. Now the top of the week is here and it's time to gear up and move it out.
At 7:50 a.m. ET futures are significantly lower and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to drop like a lead balloon at the opening bell.
Investors are troubled by the approaching end of the quantitative easing program which many believe is a driver for the bull market we have experienced over the last few years. In addition economic woes out of China are creating a double whammy effect this morning. Down she goes, where she stops, nobody knows.
CNN: Stocks face whammy from China and the Fed
At 7:50 a.m. ET futures are significantly lower and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to drop like a lead balloon at the opening bell.
Investors are troubled by the approaching end of the quantitative easing program which many believe is a driver for the bull market we have experienced over the last few years. In addition economic woes out of China are creating a double whammy effect this morning. Down she goes, where she stops, nobody knows.
CNN: Stocks face whammy from China and the Fed
The People's Bank of China told the country's largest banks Monday to rein in risky loans and improve their balance sheets...
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Miami
Extensive, thorough article here - Miami is screwed but good.
Rolling Stone: Goodbye, Miami - By century's end, rising sea levels will turn the nation's urban fantasyland into an American Atlantis. But long before the city is completely underwater, chaos will begin
Rolling Stone: Goodbye, Miami - By century's end, rising sea levels will turn the nation's urban fantasyland into an American Atlantis. But long before the city is completely underwater, chaos will begin
"Miami, as we know it today, is doomed," says Harold Wanless, the chairman of the department of geological sciences at the University of Miami. "It's not a question of if. It's a question of when."
Ironic
New Yorker: U.S. Seemingly Unaware of Irony in Accusing Snowden of Spying
“Only by bringing Mr. Snowden to justice can we safeguard the most precious of American rights: privacy,” added the spokesman, apparently serious.
90 57
At 4:30 p.m. it's 90 degrees with 57% humidity. I don't know if this is the hottest day yet, but it sure feels like it is. One almost doesn't want to move.
Sunday
Good morning. At 8:30 a.m. It is hot and sunny here in Upstate NY. Today needs to be a day of rest and relaxation. My ensemble performed yesterday and it really took a lot of energy. Curious how mental energy can be more taxing than physical. With pro-basketball over I am in a sports void as basketball is my only sports passion. I used to follow the Yankees, but I've lost interest. I like basketball because I played the game for many years, at one point as a regular at the Y. We would hit the weight room, hit the court, lose all traces of civility, and compete for real. That was fun. The news is calling out.
'Across The Universe'
Fiona Apple
Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my open mind
Possessing and caressing me
Jai Guru Deva OM
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
They call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe
Jai Guru Deva OM
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Sounds of laughter shades of live are ringing through my open ears
Inciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on, across the universe
Jai Guru Deva OM
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai Guru Deva
Jai Guru Deva
Jai Guru Deva
Jai Guru Deva
Jai Guru Deva [fade out]
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Good Night
It's been a long day here, I'm exhausted. Saturday's activities went well and now it's time to relax. See you bright and early Sunday morning.
Saturday
Good morning. It is 67 degrees and a little cloudy this a.m. here in Upstate NY. Yours truly has a busy day, later this afternoon I'm performing music with my ensemble. I play guitar in this group and we perform European style jazz and cabaret music, it's all instrumental. This will be our first performance of the year and I'm a little bit anxious - little bit. We tend to only perform in the Summer. On top of that yours truly has a few music students and they will be giving their recital later this morning. So, I'm booked. I don't really know Paula Dean's work, she's created quite a stir for using racial slurs rather loosely. Here's an experiment - do NOT think of the word. That clearly doesn't work right, when we are told not to think about something it's an invitation to think about it. Well onward into my day here, preparations are in order.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Maddow - Anti-Gay Anti-Science
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DOW Lower At Noon
In the noon hour the DOW is at 14,717.08 down 41.24 points.
CNN: Don't panic! Selling now could hurt your nest egg
CNN: Don't panic! Selling now could hurt your nest egg
Al Jazeera - More Than A Million Brazilian Protesters Hit The Streets
Amazing!! They are showing the rest of the world how to do it.
Stupidity As An Underlying Structural Flaw
AlterNet: 7 Jaw-Droppingly Dumb Things Republicans Think About Science - Masturbating fetuses is just the start. From trees causing global warming to fetuses in your Pepsi, here are some of the battiest things Republicans have said about science.
3. Climate Change Doesn’t Exist, and If It Does It’s Caused By Trees
The Market On Friday
Good morning and welcome to the weekend. It is 60 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. The forecast has the temperatures getting so hot over the next few days along with thunder and lightning storms - my poor doggy, she completely freaks out in the thunder. The rescue remedy does seem to take at least a little bit of the edge off her fear. In truth when you see your dog quietly experiencing fear, you become even more poignantly attached to them because you so much want them to feel good. Well it was an amazing game 7 last night. The Spurs were in it right through the last quarter when Manu Ginóbili inexplicably lost control of the ball on at least three possessions. I know that right now he is kicking himself for taking his eyes off the ball. Maybe he can redeem himself next year but meanwhile the Heat are the champs and Lebron James remains the greatest active player in professional basketball. He is unbelievably good and talented - pure genius.
At 7:55 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.
After yesterday's barn sale sell-off who can possibly know what to expect or think about the market's future right now. With futures higher, investors must see bargain prices, what else could it be. Long term there has to be some kind of correction in the pipes with the Fed cutting out quantitative easing which is in part responsible for our present bubble. One thing thing about the market, it's always interesting.
CNN: Stocks: Regaining composure after plunge
At 7:55 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.
After yesterday's barn sale sell-off who can possibly know what to expect or think about the market's future right now. With futures higher, investors must see bargain prices, what else could it be. Long term there has to be some kind of correction in the pipes with the Fed cutting out quantitative easing which is in part responsible for our present bubble. One thing thing about the market, it's always interesting.
CNN: Stocks: Regaining composure after plunge
Traders say the coming shift in monetary policy will make for volatile markets in the months ahead.
European stock markets bounced back in morning trading...
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Good Night
Listen to this GOP idiot talk about cutting food for the poor. It's one foot in the mouth piece of nonsense after another. Then he caps it off with saying that obese people are over eating and this alone explains why food needs to be cut. He didn't get the factual memo that obese people are malnourished as well as being obese.
Dow Closes Significantly Lower
The DOW closed at 14,758.32 dropping 353.87 points.
Yes, I would say the correction is happening. The screams you hear are the collective cries of investors worldwide.
CNN: Worst day of the year for Dow, S&P 500
Yes, I would say the correction is happening. The screams you hear are the collective cries of investors worldwide.
CNN: Worst day of the year for Dow, S&P 500
Right To Food Bill
Ah, not in the USA, this is in India. A similar bill would not even be considered in Congress.
ET: Why the Food Security Bill is neither populist nor unaffordable
ET: Why the Food Security Bill is neither populist nor unaffordable
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