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Saturday, November 30, 2013

More

Yahoo: U.S. retail sales up at start of holiday season: data

Good Night

'Big Game'

BIG GAME from Team Big Game on Vimeo.

Not So Local Produce

The Independent: Nasa to grow plants on the moon by 2015: 'If they can thrive, we probably can too'

A Seperate Reality

Hey, somebody has to peal the potatoes, and empty the bed pans, so they can't completely inoculate themselves from the riff raff scum. It's called Freedom Ship, and that means freedom from you and me.

Raw Story: Florida man’s $10 billion plan to build ‘floating city’ for the wealthy is ‘a live project again’

Defense

There's a new pissing match going on. Just what we need.

The Economist: Face-off - China’s new air-defence zone suggests a worrying new approach in the region

Saturday

Brilliantly sunny here as we head into the afternoon, it's too nice to stay in. See you later.

Have A Good Morning

artist unknown


The Borowitz Report - Iran’s Supreme Leader Hopes Nuke Deal Distracts Attention From Obamacare

New Yorker: Iran’s Supreme Leader Hopes Nuke Deal Distracts Attention from Obamacare

TRNN - Documents In JPMorgan Settlement Reveal How Every Large Bank In U.S. Has Committed Mortgage Fraud

Global Warming - Local Backlash

AlterNet: How Fossil Fuel Companies Are Aiding Their Own Demise - All over the nation, fossil fuel companies are creating localized pockets of backlash. And the resistance is just growing stronger.

Insult To Injury

AlterNet: Right-Wing Evangelicals Claim 'Good Christians' Can't Get PTSD - Conservative evangelicals have politicized psychology and made the church hostile to the mentally ill.

'A Light That Never Comes'

Linkin Park


Friday, November 29, 2013

Good Night

'How To Sharpen Pencils'

HOW TO SHARPEN PENCILS from Pricefilms on Vimeo.

Response Escalation

Guardian UK: China scrambles fighter jets towards US and Japan aircraft in disputed air zone - Escalation of response in South China Sea is the first time China is known to have sent military jets in zone alongside foreign craft

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 16,086.41 dropping 10.92 points.

CNN: Stocks end flat on Black Friday

Air Zone

CS Monitor: China sends warplanes into East China Sea airzone - China's decision to send in warplanes is likely a bid to enforce the new air-defense zone after the US, Japan and South Korea all flew planes through without any response.

Maddow - California A Model For Obamacare Working

This is from Wednesday.

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 16,144.93 up 47.60 points.

CNN: Food stamp cuts hit hard this Thanksgiving

Have A Good Morning

work by Georges Lemmen

The Onion - Pope Francis Canonizes Single Turkey In Annual Vatican Tradition

The Onion: Pope Francis Canonizes Single Turkey In Annual Vatican Tradition

TRNN - Why Would Saudi Arabia Support The 9/11 Conspirators, Why Would The US Gov. Cover It Up? - Sen. Graham

Global Warming - The Villains

HuffPo: Global Warming's Villains Are Finally Identified

Male

AlterNet: How America Continues to Suffer the Male Rage of the 'White Wing' - The era of assumed male entitlement to all the positions of power and wealth is coming to an end, says an author of a controversial new book.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 25 degrees and overcast here in Upstate NY. The weather seems very appropriate for this holiday weekend. I do hope your Thanksgiving gathering was good and if you were by yourself, that you had a restful day. Our gathering was very relaxed and pleasant, I don't think it could have been better. We are grateful for having friends that join us and share the good food.

  At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher but energy stocks may trail behind.

  The market closes at 1 this afternoon. Indexes are at an all time tine high and as the Christmas marketing period gets under way, the strength of retailers will begin to come into focus. It is consumer buying that is a main driving force in the economy. Regardless, today we might just sneak away with a stable market, maybe.

CNN: Stocks: Set to end November on a high
Trading is likely to be quiet Friday, with U.S. indexes closing at 1:00 p.m. ET after being shuttered Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

'Kashmir'

Plant and Page

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thanks

Greetings on Thanksgiving Day. It's cold here, below freezing and sunny at the moment. I'm going to give all of us something today, that would be a break from the news. Let's give ourselves a rest. So, no posts on the less than perfect primarily human interactions that we observe every day. Do have a great day, thanks for coming to the blog and poking around at the things I post and find interesting. Watch football if you must and otherwise absorb all of the goodness.

Giving

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ― Winston Churchill

“For it is in giving that we receive.” ― St. Francis of Assisi

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” ― Kahlil Gibran

Happy Thanksgiving


'Happy'

Pharrell Williams

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Paulie Quotes

Thaw

CS Monitor: Face time and pivoting presidents bring US and Iran a little closer - Repeated meetings between US and Iran during nuclear talks have led to a partial thaw after decades of enmity.

Good Night

'Southpaw'

S O U T H P A W from Bryan Schlam on Vimeo.

DOW Closes Higher

The DOW closed at 16,097.33 gaining 24.53 points.

From CNN:
Dow and S&P 500 set record closing highs in light pre-Thanksgiving trading. Nasdaq finishes at 13-year high.

Beijing Differentiates Its Reactions

NYT: Amid Tensions Over Air Defense Zone, China’s Reaction Is Subdued

New Standoff

Guardian UK: Is Shinzo Abe's 'new nationalism' a throwback to Japanese imperialism? The escalating standoff in the Pacific is seen by Beijing and Seoul as proof that Japan is reviving its military mindset

Maddow - Yellen's Obvious Qualifications Test GOP

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 16,092.93 up 20.13 points.

CNN: Investors feast on stocks before Thanksgiving

Have A Good Morning

work by Georges Lemmen

The Onion - Nation Has To Sell Lake House

The Onion: Nation Has To Sell Lake House

TRNN - Investigating The Saudi Government 9/11 Connection And The Path To Disillusionment - Sen. Graham

Global Warming - Extinction

AlterNet: The 'Ticking Time Bomb' That Could Cause Such Rapid Global Warming We'd Be Unable to Prevent Extinction - Our planet has experienced five major extinctions over the past billion or so years -- do we really want to launch an irreversible 6th?

Here They Come

AlterNet: Why the Christian Right Believes It Has Once-in-a-Decade Chance to Impose Its Radical Worldview on America - A change to obscure procedural rules in the U.S. Senate and the upcoming 2014 elections could be a dangerous window of opportunity.

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 37 degrees and raining here in Upstate NY. We are in for a very wet day as most of yesterday's snow dissolves away. Thanksgiving preparations are in full swing everywhere. I like Thanksgiving, always have, the only thing I can do without is the football as I am not a fan in the least. Actually over time I have come to think of it as a brutal sport harkening back to the Roman Coliseum - basketball, now that's a sport.

  At 8:00 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is lower. The market is poised to open in the mixed area.

  As you know the indexes are perched at amazingly high record breaking peaks. How long this lasts is puzzling all from the experts to the novices. Today investors will be parsing data on employment, durable goods, and consumer sentiment as everyone hopes for an easy transition to the holiday.

CNN: Stocks: Cheery mood on Thanksgiving eve
The main indexes in the U.S. have risen by 23% to 33% so far this year thanks to an economic recovery spurred on by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

'Alabama'

John Coltrane

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Good Night

'Sonder'

Sonder | The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows from John Koenig on Vimeo.

DOW Closes Flat

The DOW closed at 16,072.80 gaining 0.26 points.

CNN: 5 ways identity thieves are targeting you

Truth To Power

Raw Story: Pope Francis rips capitalism and trickle-down economics to shreds in new policy statement

More Reserves

Guardian UK: Why are fossil fuel reserves growing? – interactive - New data collated by Oil Change International (OCI) shows how global fossil fuel reserves are growing, while the world's remaining carbon budget is shrinking.
Scientists agree that at least two thirds and possibly more of the world’s current, proven reserves of oil, gas, and coal must not be burned if we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Maddow - A Deal On Iran

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 16,086.54 up 14.00 points.

CNN: Home prices rise 11%

Have A Good Morning

work by Georges Lemmen


The Onion - Frustrated Iranian Scientist Forced To Shut Down Project He Spent 12 Goddamn Years Of His Life On

The Onion: Frustrated Iranian Scientist Forced To Shut Down Project He Spent 12 Goddamn Years Of His Life On

TRNN - Obama Rebukes Israeli-Saudi Attack On Iran Nuclear Deal

Global Warmng - Texas

AlterNet: A Plea from the Oil and Gasfields of Texas: Environmentalists, Stop Talking About 'Winning' on Climate Issues - My community will not "win" on climate and this idea delegitimizes the extraction industry impacts we already face.

Happiness

AlterNet: How to Escape the Awful Feeling of Being Trapped in Life - Life doesn't have to feel like you're going in endless circles or digging deeper in a hole you can't get out of.

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 28 degrees and lightly snowing here in Upstate NY. Yes, that is snow out there, time to get used to it. That loud scream you heard this morning which was followed by a great sigh was from all the people living in Northeast waking up to a white landscape. Bottom line - stay safe, leave lots of room between you and the other guy on the road, and remember that it's quite beautiful.

  At 8:55 a.m. futures are flat and the price of oil per barrel is slightly up. The market is poised to open flat to slightly higher.

  As it is a holiday week, investors will be taking vacations and so trading volume will be lower all week. Today investors will parse data on housing and consumer confidence which begs the question - how confident are you? Let's be honest, we're pretty confident.

CNN: Stocks: Drifting into holiday mode
Trading volumes are expected to remain low this week as investors gear up for Thursday's U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

...(on Monday) the Nasdaq crossed 4,000 for the first time in more than 13 years.

'String Quartet No. 4, Third Movement'

The Kronos Quartet performs the music of Phil Glass

Monday, November 25, 2013

Good Night

James Franco & Seth Rogen - 'Bound 3 (Vague)' It is a frame by frame spoof re-shoot of a Kanye West tune and as I don't know Kanye West's music at all that part of it is moot to me. Otherwise this is a very serious cringe worthy effort of an original and also cringe worthy effort. Not all pop music is great.

DOW Closes Higher

In the noon hour the DOW is at 16,072.54 up 7.77 points.

CNN: Oil prices tumble after Iran nuclear deal

Chomsky Answers 9-11 Truther

Lady Ashton

Lady Ashton who mediated the Iran deal.

Iran Deal

Guardian UK: Iran sanctions to be eased as US and west work out full Geneva deal - Oil revenues to be paid to Tehran in first phase of nuclear agreement, with warmer relations expected across region

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 16,092.99 up 28.22 points.

CNN: Highest property taxes in America

Have A Good Morning

Chris Drury's 'Cloud Pool Chamber'

The Onion - Secretary Of Transportation Worried He’s Not Living Up To Legacy Of Claude S. Brinegar

The Onion: Secretary Of Transportation Worried He’s Not Living Up To Legacy Of Claude S. Brinegar

TRNN - Former IAEA Inspector: Iran's Nuclear Program Now Consistent With Peaceful Purposes Pt.1

Global Warming - As Bloomberg Sees It

Bloomberg: Global Warming Fight Advances With First Steps on Treaty

Age Of Distortion

AlterNet: The Corporate Bully Whose Front Groups, Willful Distortions and Hate-Mongering Has Poisoned U.S. Politics
: Meet Richard Berman - Big Food’s top flack has pioneered the worst in our political culture.

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is a very cold 20 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. Not only that but take a look at this - Nasty weather wallops much of U.S. just before Thanksgiving. That storm is heading our way. It could be a very white Thanksgiving in these parts. Regardless, I hope you had a very restful and fine weekend.

  At 8:35 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher with some energy and related stocks trailing behind.

  Investors are happy about the deal brokered with Iran and the rest of the world. This has resulted in a drop in oil prices, a relaxation of economic sanctions which will boost sales into Iran, and an overall drop in global blood pressure as the rest of the world let's out a small sigh of relief.

CNN: Stocks: Iran deal boosts investor enthusiasm
The deal brokered between the U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China and Germany curtails Iran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon.

'Symphony For Eight'

Phil Glass

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Art Revolutionaries

Voina
Voina is a revolutionary group of Russian artists that engages in radical street protest actions.

Voina

Notorious Russian art anarchy group

Sheila Dow: The Economics Of Uncertainty

Deal And Oil

Reuters: Iran deal knocks oil lower, bolsters risk appetite

Good Night

'In New England - Fall 2013'

In New England - Fall 2013 from Vincent Urban on Vimeo.

They All Lie

CNN: Of course presidents lie

Disgusting Trend

CS Monitor: Brooklyn attack arrest: Is 'knockout game' a hate crime? (+video) - Growing reports of the 'knockout game' are forcing police to take a closer look at racial motivations while also being careful to not spark copycat attacks.

Chris Drury, Land Artist: The Way Of Trees, Earth And Water

The Onion - Attractive Woman Surprised To Learn Coworker A Dick

The Onion: Attractive Woman Surprised To Learn Coworker A Dick

TRNN - Ford: Kennedy Was A Cold War Warrior To The Core, Pt2

Global Warming - Climate Talks Finale

AterNet: Climate Talks End With All Countries Agreeing to Emissions Cuts - A series of compromises rescued the talks from collapse, although the deal fell far short of developing countries' original expectations.

Chomsky's Latest

AlterNet: Chomsky: Business Elites Are Waging a Brutal Class War in America - The business classes are constantly fighting a bitter class war to improve their power and diminish opposition.

'Glass Chamber Works'

The music of Phil Glass

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Deal

Reuters: Iran, six world powers clinch breakthrough nuclear deal

Least And Most

Albany NY, right next to the very bottom...

America's least and most bible minded cities

Good Night

'Status Update'

WINNER SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - STATUS UPDATE - a facebook fairytale from Director DANIEL REISINGER on Vimeo.

An Iceberg The Size Of Singapore Just Broke Off From The Antarctica

Storm

Guardian UK: Winter storm deluges western US with floods and snow, killing four - Severe winds and rains sweep across California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, prompting travel warnings

Market Facts

Reuters: Investors wary of U.S. stock surge, even as money piles in

Bloomberg: Wages Stagnate as U.S. Manufacturers Reap Record Profits

Have A Good Morning

'Chris Drury's Carbon Sink: What Goes Around, Comes Around'

The Onion - Man Doesn’t Know How Parents Ever Going To Pay Off Massive Student Loan Debt

The Onion: Man Doesn’t Know How Parents Ever Going To Pay Off Massive Student Loan Debt

TRNN - Israelis And Palestinians Turn To One-State Solution

Global Warming - A Business Opportunity

Guardian UK: Climate change mitigation a business opportunity for UK firms, Davey says - Energy secretary sees a 'money-making opportunity' for finance industry in funding nations to cut their carbon emissions

Flawed

AlterNet: Healthcare Is So Horrible Here that Thousands Rely on Free Clinics—And You're Fined if You Don't Use Prescription Drugs - Hey, California, is there a doctor in the house?

'Music For 18 Musicians'

The profoundly gorgeous salient work of Steve Reich performed with great joy.

Friday, November 22, 2013

'Drum Improvisations'

Baby Dodds - 4 star **** Sande

Market Place - Dow hits 16,000; Where Will It Go Next? + Longreads

click the MarketPlace logo then roll through the stories you want to hear.

Good Night

'November 22, 1963 - Errol Morris's JFK Assassination Documentary (2/2)'

November 22, 1963 - Errol Morris's JFK Assassination Documentary (2/2) from The New York Times - Video on Vimeo.

Warsaw

Guardian UK: Warsaw climate change talks falter as EU and developing countries clash - EU chief chastised for expressing frustration with failure to agree timetable on emission cuts and attempts by some to opt out

DOW Closes Higher

The DOW closed at 16,064.77 gaining 54.78 points.

From CNN -
S&P 500 ends over 1,800 for the 1st time, Dow posts 7th straight week of gains and closes at a record of 16,064.

The Daily Show - Dem Nukem

Maddow - GOP Obstruction Sparks Nuclear Reaction

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 16,025.55 up 15.56 points.

CNN: California: 10K a day applying for Obamacare

Have A Good Morning

work by Chris Drury

The Onion - Siblings Gather Around PowerPoint To Hash Out Off-Limits Topics For Thanksgiving

The Onion: Siblings Gather Around PowerPoint To Hash Out Off-Limits Topics For Thanksgiving

TRNN - Vietnam And The Legacy Of The JFK Presidency - Peter Kuznick On Reality Asserts Itself Pt.1

Global Warming - Trying To Build International Agreement

Bloomberg: Global Warming Envoys Set to Chart Path to Pollution Cuts

Gluten

AlterNet: What's Behind 'Grain Brain': Are Gluten and Carbs Wrecking Our Brains and Our Health? Two months after publication, "Grain Brain" is already a bestseller, and many people are wondering if they should take drastic dietary action.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 39 degrees and cloudy with light rain here in Upstate NY. Today is a classic gray Upstate NY November day. We add color into the day by ourselves with our activities and creativity. We are gearing up for Thanksgiving - furniture is getting rearranged, clutter is getting placed in remote rooms, and the process of serious cleaning has begun. The weekend will demand much more.

  At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are slightly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open mixed.

  In case you have not noticed, the DOW closed above 16,000 for the first time ever on Thursday. So now what happens? Technically only three things can happen - the indexes go higher, stay the same, or go lower. The building but not necessarily accurate consensus is that the liquidity of the q.e.s has juiced the corporate ledger book and equities into a bubble. When q.e. is pulled a correction will occur. One suspects that the minds at the Fed have been wrestling with this for a while. How do you soften the landing without there being a dramatic crash in the stock market once again. In the meanwhile, it's quite possible to see more increases as well. Why not.

CNN: Stocks: Gearing up for another record?
...many investors are increasingly worried that stocks are in bubble territory.

'Improv'

Tommy Emmanuel

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Caution Sign

Reuters: Investors wary of stock surge, even as money piles in
...ample liquidity could push equities higher regardless of fears.

Good Night

'Montserrat'

Montserrat from Fernando Lazzari on Vimeo.

52 To 48

NY Times: Landmark Senate Vote Limits Filibusters

DOW Closes Above 16,000

The DOW closed at 16,009.99 gaining 109.17 points.

CNN: Dow closes above 16,000 for first time ever

The Future

The obsessiveness is beyond belief. Give it a rest people.

CNN: RNC: We'll run on Obamacare in 2014

The Daily Show - Strife Of Pie

Maddow - This Is Why Democrats Want Warren To Run

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 15,989.54 up 88.72 points.

CNN: Stocks up, but retailers slip on poor outlook

Have A Good Morning

work by Chris Drury




The Onion - Buddhist Extremist Cell Vows To Unleash Tranquility On West

The Onion: Buddhist Extremist Cell Vows To Unleash Tranquility On West

TRNN - 'Mayor 1%' Rahm Emanuel Vs. Chicago's 99% Pt. 1

Global Warming - Partnering With The Problem

AlterNet: Partnering With Polluters? The U.N. Climate Summit Criticized for Sponsorships by Fossil Fuel Companies - Meanwhile, the Polish Ministry of Economy has teamed up with the World Coal Association to put on this parallel International Coal & Climate Summit.

Chomsky's Latest

AlterNet: Noam Chomsky: America Is a Terrified Country - Noam Chomsky discusses American terror abroad, dire income inequality at home, and what to do next.

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 23 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. It's really cold and the ground is frosted over. Fans of NY basketball the world over are in free fall now knowing that their beloved team the NY Knicks is a sham. They lost another close one last night and blew opportunity after opportunity to win. It could be a long winter.

At 8:35 a.m. ET future are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open slightly higher.

Investors are surprised to learn that the Fed may indeed shut down quantitative easing without a significant improvement in the job market. With not much happening in the jobs market it seemed like a sure thing that q.e. would go on - not so. This morning Janet Yellen is set to get approved as the new Fed Chair and start a new reign in this most powerful of global positions.

CNN: Stocks: Zigzagging after Fed minutes
...the latest Federal Reserve meeting revealed that Fed officials may start winding down their stimulus program for reasons other than an improving job market.

'Back To Black'

The Bryan Ferry Orchestra

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Good Night

'Quin dia feia, amics'

MANEL / Quin dia feia, amics... from Victor Carrey on Vimeo.

90

Say hello to global warming, and it's not like we didn't have anything to do with it. These companies got rich and they made many many people wealthy too. All of the booms and tech of the last century come from oil as cheap energy. Look at most pension funds and they are chocked full of big oil equities. The ultimate price is as steep as it gets, and we know it too.

Guardian UK: Just 90 companies caused two-thirds of man-made global warming emissions - Chevron, Exxon and BP among companies most responsible for climate change since dawn of industrial age, figures show

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 15,900.82 dropping 66.21 points.

CNN: Stocks pull back after Fed minutes
But according to the minutes, the Fed suggested it could taper for reasons other than substantial improvement in the job market.

The Daily Show - Northern Over Exposure - Team Rob Ford

Maddow - Marriage Equality Spreads, GOP Goes Anti-Gay

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 15,978.91 up 11.88 points.

CNN: $1.2M gold haul found on plane in India

'Fabulous Fashionistas (2013)'

6 women, average age - 80, all very cool people.

Have A Good Morning

work by Chris Drury

Blogger Is Sick This Morning

I don't know what is going on with blogger but my posts from this morning are not showing up on the main page. They show up in the side bar and when you click it they appear but otherwise they are not showing on the main page. Blogger goes through these conniptions periodically. Bear with it.

The Onion - Woman Who Had Almost Formed Healthy Sense Of Self Rejoins Social Media

The Onion: Woman Who Had Almost Formed Healthy Sense Of Self Rejoins Social Media

TRNN - Striking LA Truckers Target Walmart Supply Chain

Abduckted from Seth Boyden on Vimeo.

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 15,967.03 dropping 8.99 points.

CNN: JPMorgan agrees to $13 billion mortgage settlement

The Daily Show - Katrina The Healthcare Glitch

Maddow - New Anti-Obamacare Ads Are Classic Koch

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 15,993.07 up 17.05 points.

CNN: 8 things to know about the 2013 bull market

Have A Good Morning

work by Chris Drury

The Onion - Report: Kanye West, Bill Gates, Tom Hanks All Currently Reading, Enjoying This Article - Mila Kunis, Too

The Onion: Report: Kanye West, Bill Gates, Tom Hanks All Currently Reading, Enjoying This Article - Mila Kunis, Too

TRNN - How Powerful Interests Walked Households Into A Debt Trap Pt.1

Global Warming - Another Warning From Warsaw

Firstpost World: Warsaw: Nations must act on global warming, say top climate diplomats

The Results

AlterNet: Think the Tea Party Is Crazy? Europe's Rising Neo-Fascism Is a Taste of What's Coming If Austerity Prevails in America - Cutting social programs and government investment is a recipe for the growth of fascism.

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 40 degrees and cloudy here in Upstate NY. The weather logo is pointing to a mixed day of sun and clouds. Curious to see that Zimmerman is in jail now for pointing a rifle into his girlfriend's face. Karma is tough. One suspects the guy is feeling rather full of himself and invincible in light of killing an unarmed teen and walking away scot-free. Regardless of his past, his present is showing a dangerously violent person.

  At 8:35 a.m. ET futures are flat and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open flat to lower.

  It is a step back and take a look at where we are at type of morning. The DOW passed 16,000 yesterday morning and that is quite a perch. Interesting article yesterday from Reuters which pointed out that the balance sheets of corporations are looking pretty fluffy right now more as a result of cheap money AKA Q.E. 1 through 3, than of any type of super human managing skills. Cheap money can make your balance sheet look real good and then when you get into interest rate swaps and credit default swaps, we have these curious modern economic instruments that produce blazing profits.

CNN: Stocks: Stepping back from record highs
"Nobody really wants to be buying right at the top."

Investors were awaiting a number of corporate announcements, which could help set market direction.

'High School Lover'

Cayacas

Monday, November 18, 2013

MAVEN

Reuters: NASA launches robotic orbiter to Mars

Good Night

'Glaz'

Glaz from STEREOTACTIC on Vimeo.

Hydrogel

Reuters: Researchers make big noise about ionic conductors

Caution

Reuters: Icahn cautious on stocks, will not walk away from Apple
... earnings at many companies are fueled more by low borrowing costs rather than the strength of management.

Coal Funding

Guardian UK: British banks among world's biggest lenders to coal industry, report finds - RBS tops UK list with lending €5bn for coal-mining operations, followed by Barclays and HSBC

Shadow Banking Remains, But Casts Smaller Shadow

DOW Closes Higher

The DOW closed at 15,976.02 gaining 14.32 points.

CNN: Fastest-growing jobs

MarketPlace - In Memoriam: The First Of Many Tennessee Valley Authority Coal Plants

Ban

Market Place: Google and Microsoft will crack down on child porn searches
Google and Microsoft have agreed to ban searches for 100,000 words in an effort to clamp down on child pornography.

Finally

Guardian UK: Google to tackle images of child sexual abuse with search and Youtube changes - Company announces new technology to identify content from paedophiles as UK joins forces with US at No 10 summit

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 16,005.62 up 43.92 points.

Never thought I'd see the DOW over 16,000, and never thought I'd see a mayor of a major city like Ford again either.

CNN: Ford says he didn't lie about crack use

16,000

From CNN:
Dow tops 16,000 and S&P 500 tops 1,800 for the first time at the open.

Sabotage

Examiner: Right wing cyber attacks on Healthcare.gov website confirmed

Remodel

A 'go to' sight on remodeling and housing design.

Remodelista

Have A Good Morning

work by Chris Drury

The Onion - Grown Man Who Owns Bane Action Figure Has Love To Give

The Onion: Grown Man Who Owns Bane Action Figure Has Love To Give

TRNN - 'Liberty and Justice for Some People' - Early Pt1

Global Warming - Get Green

AlterNet: Time for a Mass Upheaval Against the Perpetrators of Global Destruction - None of us can predict the future, but we can see a glimmer of the coming 'Green Energy Revolution.'

Beer Turkey

AlterNet: Prozac, Arsenic and Beer in Your Turkey? 9 Creepy Things To Know About Your Holiday Meal - The extreme production methods used to deliver plump turkeys in time for Thanksgiving are enough to make you lose your appetite.

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is 52 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. I hope you had a very reviving and refreshing weekend. I spent a lot of the weekend resting and watching movies on Netflix. I did get out a bit for the usual weekend chores and such. Truth is Thanksgiving is dominating the scene with preparations for the fancy meal well under way.

  At 8:35 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is lower. The market is poised to open slightly higher.

  To everyone's surprise we might very well see the DOW break 16,000 soon maybe even today. The DOW is presently at 15,961.70 so we are obviously very close. Considering that there appears to be some positive carry over from last week and a positive sentiment about new economic guidelines in China, the 16,000 threshold could be crossed this morning. It's all uncharted territory.

CNN: Stocks edge toward new milestones
Asian markets rallied, with Chinese stocks jumping significantly higher after a new document from the government outlined important reform plans for the country.

'Baby Got Back'

Sir Mix-A-Lot

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Nikkei Higher On Monday

Reuters: Asia shares edge ahead, Tokyo climbs six-month peak

Brain Test

Which side of your brain is more dominant?

Good Night

'Elements'

Elements from Britzpetermann on Vimeo.

Market Place - Weekly Wrap: No Yellin' At Yellen

This is an incredibly good segment that is often heard on NPR and which I now intend to post regularly.

What IS LIBOR?

Four Sprint

Reuters: 'Monkey’ runner breaks four-legged sprint record

Deforestation

  Speaking in very general terms, three major topics have very strong implications about humanity's future, in my opinion. These are the grand daddy stories so to speak. The first is the exploration of space and what we are learning about exoplanets and such. The second is global warming, as this will shape how we exist on Earth for centuries to come. The third is mankind's overall well being - physical, emotional, and especially spiritual and all of the conditions and circumstances that effect it. Stuff like the power plays in Washington and fighting over the alleged direction of the country fall under these categories, not really above them.

  Deforestation is a very big deal. Trees hold CO2 and when they are destroyed that CO2 doesn't disappear, it goes back into the atmosphere. So here we have a double whammy. On one hand the forests are destroyed for big farming especially meat production, for the natural resources which make their way into the market place in one form or another, and for urban development and other human habitat expansion. On the other hand, we are simultaneously removing an essential lifeline in maintaining the environment when deforestation occurs. The primary goal in deforestation is to increase wealth.

  In a sense the practice of deforestation hits on all three of my above mentioned overall topics. Deforestation makes the world that much more barren, that much more of an environment less hospitable to living beings not just humans. And so the idea occurs to people that somehow we need to find a better planet because we are exploiting this one to pieces. The second topic is global warming, and we know how deforestation affects that already. And the third is humanity's overall well being because in our drive to create wealth and prosperity, we simultaneously in the case of deforestation reduce our environment. We sell the ground out right from under our feet to create wealth and this changes our sense of being.

Guardian UK: Amazon deforestation increased by one-third in past year - Satellite analysis reveals that since 2000 an area equal to 50 football pitches has been destroyed every minute since 2000

US Poverty

Guardian UK: Lily's story: it takes more than drive to succeed - Poverty is a thief that steals childhood dreams. You can't expect a kid to excel when they have to raise the rest of their family

Have A Good Morning

work by Chris Drury

The Onion - R.E.M.’s Children Still Hoping Parents Will Get Back Together

The Onion: R.E.M.’s Children Still Hoping Parents Will Get Back Together

TRNN - Three Million More In Poverty Than Previously Estimated

Iceland

AlterNet: A Surprising Country Is Hoping Renewable Energy Can Revive its Struggling Economy - Banking on sustainable power could both shore up its sagging economy and help build a bridge to a fossil-fuel-free future. But it's not without some drawbacks.

Warren

AlterNet: Elizabeth Warren — The Quiet Revolutionary Who Could Challenge Hillary Clinton in Democrats' 2016 Race - Senator's tough stance against Wall Street is attracting voters on the left who are disenchanted with the party establishment.

'Baby It's You'

The Shirelles

Friday, November 15, 2013

Good Night

'Michael Hammer Hsiung'

Michael Hammer Hsiung from Ambig on Vimeo.

Tragedy Upon Tragedy

Guardian UK: Typhoon Haiyan survivors lack food and water one week on - Death toll climbs to 3,261 and large numbers of bodies still lie unburied as Philippines government faces growing criticism

DOW Closes Higher

The DOW closed at 15,961.70 gaining 85.48 point.

CNN: Retired union workers facing 'unprecedented' pension cuts

The Daily Show - Fed Med Redemption

Maddow - Climate Deniers Can't Deny New Record Storms

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 15,911.06 up 34.84 points.

Reuters: Global stocks, oil, gold gain on promise of stimulus

Have A Good Morning

work by David Salle

The Onion - It's Almost As If Rite Aid Cashier Doesn’t Care About Reputation Of Rite Aid Corporation

The Onion: It's Almost As If Rite Aid Cashier Doesn’t Care About Reputation Of Rite Aid Corporation

TRNN - Yellen In Line To Head Fed, But How Will She Lead?

Global Warming - Nano Panels

Live Science: Nano Panels

Getting To Know You

People are falling all over themselves for this guy without even taking a look at what's important which is what policy issues he promotes. This guy is not a moderate.

AlterNet: Chris Christie Is an Extreme Right-Winger -- Don't Fall for His "Moderate" Act - Behind the facade, Christie is a Bush/Cheney-esque neoconservative promoting the old politics of division and ignorance.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 37 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. If today is anything like yesterday, we are in for a golden day. I know Thanksgiving is two weeks away but the feel of the holiday is already here. Plans are laid, the gatherings are mostly scheduled, we feel it coming. As I'm not in the least little bit a football fan, that part of the equation holds no importance for me. With all the scientific evidence coming forth about the real dangers of the sport to the professional athletes, I don't want to even watch the highlights. Hard for me to support something that holds a promise of extreme future disability.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open moderately higher.

  The DOW is to our amazement closing in on 16,000. It's real close and one suspects that it very well could become a reality. Investors were pleased to hear Janet Yellen support the program of quantitative easing which adds cheap liquidity into the commercial system. This is all gravy because it's hard to understand how the present index numbers can remain when the program is curtailed. A correction is coming, when and how deep, who knows but it's not today.

CNN: Stocks on the cusp of key milestones
...Federal Reserve chair nominee Janet Yellen told a Senate panel that she is determined to support the U.S. economic recovery, and believes the Fed's bond-buying program still has the power to help.

'Zinda Hoon'

Strings

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Gibson USE Factory Tour

Good Night

'Azarkant' (hooray - scifi)

Azarkant from Andrey Klimov on Vimeo.

Fumble

Guardian UK: Obama admits to rollout 'fumble' and offers health insurance fix - Move will allow people with existing policies that do not meet minimum Obamacare standards to keep them for another year

DOW Closes Higher

The DOW closed at 15,876.22 gaining 54.59 points.

CNN: The strangest bull market ever

The Daily Show - Racist Or Not Racist?

Maddow - Atempted Rape, Lying, Don't Block Gun Permit

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 15,855.96 up 34.33 points.

CNN: Obama offers fix for canceled plans

Have A Good Morning

my latest rooster



The Onion - Folks, We Don't Usually Do This On The White House Tour, But Let's Go Tickle The President

The Onion: Folks, We Don't Usually Do This On The White House Tour, But Let's Go Tickle The President

TRNN - Hedges: Jeremy Hammond Exposed State's Plan To Criminalize Democratic Dissent

Global Warming - Mankind Does Something Right The Wrong Way

LA Times: Ozone treaty, world wars slowed global warming, study says

339,000

Reuters: Jobless claims fall, but prior week revised higher

The Market Of Thursday

  Good morning. It is 29 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. The logo is calling for a sunny day today and warmer weather in the next few days. We'll take it. Spent a little bit of last night watching the last James Bond film on Netflix. I have to say it was a lot of fun, that Bond is quite the man. Very happy to see the NY Knicks pull out a win against the Hawks. They really needed a win, however tonight they will have their hands very full facing the Rockets in the Garden on a back to back.

  At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are slightly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is set to open in a subtle mixed position.

  Investors were pleased to read prepared remarks from soon to be Fed Chair Yellen indicating that she is strongly compelled to continue q.e in order to bolster the woozy economy. That was music to their ears, cheap low interest liquidity for all. Lots of inside people are getting ridiculously wealthy on this.

CNN: Stocks: Set to hit fresh highs
Yellen -- who is expected to become the new head of the Fed in early 2014 -- will appear before the Senate Banking Committee at 10 a.m. ET.

Her prepared remarks to the committee, released late Wednesday, show that she intends to encourage growth by maintaining accommodative monetary policies.

'Sweet Georgia Brown'

Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Palin Rants On The 'Liberal' Pope

The woman is full of herself, sans humility, and full of arrogance.

Good Night

'Crush'

CRUSH from Rachel Antonoff on Vimeo.

Aid Arrives

Guardian UK: Typhoon-ravaged Tacloban sees first signs of international aid effort - US military planes deliver 25 tonnes of food to starving survivors in central Philippines

DOW Closes Higher

The DOW closed at 15,821.63 gaining 70.96 points.

CNN: Obamacare's first month: 106,000 signed up

Pema's Weekly Advice

ANY ENCOUNTER OFFERS US A CHOICE

This is an idea that seems difficult for Westerners to accept: when someone harms us, they create the cause of their own suffering. They do this by strengthening habits that imprison them in a cycle of pain and confusion. It’s not that we are responsible for what someone else does, and certainly not that we should feel guilty. But when they harm us, we unintentionally become the means of their undoing. Had they looked on us with loving-kindness, however, we’d be the cause of their gathering virtue.

What I find helpful in this teaching is that what’s true for them is also true for me. The way I regard those who hurt me today will affect how I experience the world in the future. In any encounter, we have a choice: we can strengthen our resentment or our understanding and empathy. We can widen the gap between ourselves and others or lessen it.

The Daily Show - Chatty Chatty Boom Boom

Maddow - Marriage Equality Grows, Alienates Right Wing

DOW Lower At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 15,736.90 down 13.77 points.

CNN: A different take on dividends

Have A Good Morning

work by Robert Longo


The Borowitz Report - Issa Accuses Obama Of Trying To Make Affordable Care Act Work

New Yorker: Issa Accuses Obama of Trying to Make Affordable Care Act Work

TRNN - Filipino Delegate Goes On Hunger Strike, As Wealthy Nations Don't Meet Global Climate Fund Pledges

Global Warming - The Philippines

The Philippines is presently losing roughly 5% of its economy per year because of global warming. If there is one country that is truly feeling the heat and under direct attack from global warming, it is the Philippines. They are the first canary in the mine shaft.

AlterNet: "Stop This Madness": Filipino Climate Chief Begins Hunger Fast to Protest Global Inaction - Climate negotiator from the Philippines gave an emotional appeal to the world to address the climate crisis following Typhoon Haiyan.

Elizabeth

Love her.

AlterNet: Elizabeth Warren’s Populist Insurgency Enters Next Phase: Blow up the Finance Sector, Restore the Economy - It's about more than 2016.

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 25 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. That is cold. I can't say it enough, please get a hold of a copy of Rick Hanson's Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence. This book will answer a big part of the puzzle if you are the kind of person that is seeking happiness and contentment and thinks that that is a real possibility in your life. If you have given up on that possibility, then get the book anyhow and read it, don't let it sit by the night table, read it. The facts presented in this book are extraordinarily compelling and the light bulb will go on and who doesn't need the light bulb to go on. There's no age limit here, this information and understanding will work for you.

  At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are moderately lower and the price of oil per barrel is slightly higher. The market is poised to open with a whimper.

  Two currents are tugging on pre-market numbers. The first is the ongoing concern over the abatement of quantitative easing and how that concern will be affected by soon to be new Fed Chair, Janet Yellen. The second concern is some new fangled economic policy coming out of China. I don't know what that is all about yet, but recall that China is the darling of the finance world with it's seemingly endless ability to crank out junk as the world's great producer of stuff. You know what I'm talking about. One suspects that investors don't want that massive boat rocked but something is up there and that causes market stress.

CNN: Stocks: Sluggish start to the day
Investors were digesting a Chinese Communist Party communique on economic reform that was heavy on jargon but light on specifics.

'For The Love Of Money'

The O'Jays

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Stayin' Alive Rita Hayworth

After watching this, the modern theory about how all American female singers/dancers must perform as close to naked as possible is shot. This is not a modern theory, it's an American tradition. Regardless, she is utterly stunning.

Good Night

The making of 'The Bear And The Hare'

John Lewis 'The Bear & The Hare' - The Making Of from Blink on Vimeo.

Smoke No More

Guardian UK: Heavy smokers cut down or quit after magnetic brain stimulation, study finds - More than a third of those treated with high frequency magnetic pulses stopped smoking for at least six months, researchers say

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 15,750.67 dropping 32.43 points.

CNN: Stocks snap winning streak

Hug

The Hug Chair by Gabriella Asztalos

The Daily Show - 60 Minutes: Meh Culpa

Maddow - Aid Groups Rush To Help In Typhoon' Wake

DOW Lower At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 15,728.58 down 54.52 points.

In my opinion, the following article is extremely important for many reasons. It shows that the Obama Administration is fundamentally about a business as usual policy in spite of the rhetoric on climate change and green energy. The will and power to change from business as usual to something greener among are political leaders, even our alleged progressive leaders, is simply not there. The U.S. is a leading contributor to CO2 in the world's atmosphere, this is all the proof you need to know that that contribution will at best stay the same or at worst increase.

CNN: U.S. to become top oil producer by 2015

Have A Good Morning

work by David Salle


The Onion - Hillary Clinton Quietly Asks Bill If He Still Finds Her Electable

The Onion: Hillary Clinton Quietly Asks Bill If He Still Finds Her Electable

TRNN - The Untold Story Of American Soldiers Wounded In Afghanistan

Global Warming - Cosmic Rays

Guardian UK: Cosmic rays fall cosmically behind humans in explaining global warming - A barrage of recent papers demonstrate that galactic cosmic rays can't explain global warming

Huh?

AlterNet: Mom as the New Face of Anarchy? Police Terrorize Americans Who Object to Right-Wing Lunacy by Using "Anarchist" Label - Are you now, or have you ever been, an anarchist?

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 29 degrees and cloudy here in Upstate NY. The weather logo is showing sun with some clouds today. The rawness of November is here along with the accompanying grayness. My chiropractor recommended hitting the tanning machine for a short burst of time 5 to 7 minutes or so, about 2 to 3 times a month. This is in an effort to get that vitamin D and help to hold at bay the Winter blues. I know people who are already a little blue about the incoming Winter. Our choice is whether or not to put effort into finding the joyful parts of the Winter.

  At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are slightly lower and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open lower.

  This morning's CNN article is almost nostalgic in tone. The indexes have run up to record highs this year, and now what. The next larger concern will be coming to terms with how Yellen commands the Fed and remembering that the Fed is the largest central bank on the globe meaning it is central to the global economy. At some point quantitative easing will taper off and the flow of lower interest interbank money will tighten. This is the big concern right now as it will effect the value of probably most equities. In a way we are being prepared for a downturn but the hope is we have a soft landing.

CNN: Stocks: Rally losing momentum?
Stocks have surged this year thanks to a slowly recovering economy and continued bond buying from the Fed, leaving the major U.S. indexes sitting at or near record highs.

'C Jam Blues'

Oscar Peterson

Monday, November 11, 2013

Good Night

'Tuurngait'

Tuurngait from Tuurngait Team on Vimeo.

Gold

Bloomberg: Hedge Funds Cut Bullish Gold Bets on Fed Stimulus Outlook
Gold has tumbled 24 percent this year, heading for the biggest drop since 1981...

Bullion will probably hold near $1,300 until year-end and then decline to $1,050 at the end of 2014...Goldman Sachs Group Inc. wrote...

DOW Closes Higher

The DOW closed at 15,783.10 gaining 21.32 points.

CNN: Stocks flat. Time to get used to it?

A Very Intimate Neighbor

This is about the guy who is attempting to set up an all white supremacist town in N. Dakota.

Raw Story: Talk show host delivers DNA test results to white supremacist town founder: ‘You have a little black in you’

Far Right Riots In Warsaw

These people want 'traditional marriage values', no abortion, and a return to old style Polish values and customs and they are angry about it enough so as to cause property damage and hurt people.

Reuters: Rioters leave trail of destruction in Polish capital

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 15,782.31 up 20.53 points.

CNN: Looking for a reason to keep buying stocks

Have A Good Morning

work by David Salle


The Onion - Giant Burrito To Solve All Of Area Man’s Problems For 6 Precious Minutes

The Onion: Giant Burrito To Solve All Of Area Man’s Problems For 6 Precious Minutes

TRNN - Lawrence Wilkerson: For Truth, Justice And The American Way

Global Warming - Wind And Solar

AlterNet: We Have the Renewable Energy We Need to Power the World—So What's Stopping Us? A leading researcher says we have enough wind and solar to power the world. Are we willing to do what's necessary to transform our society?

Improve SSI Now

AlterNet: Unless Social Security Is Expanded with Increased Funding, We Face a Unprecedented Crisis of Million of Baby Boomers In Poverty - Trillions needed to maintain lifestyle could come from closing one tax loophole.