Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Running For The Door - While the Economy Burns

Was it a "V" shaped recovery or is it a "W" shaped recovery when looking at the economy on a Graph (Chart) Are we about to hit a 2nd bottom in our economy (a double recession/depression?)

The Stock Market is losing it's drive to recover while much of the money is running toward cover in the Long-Term Bond Market (30 yr.) for a measly 3.5% interest.  Some of the best companies are selling at 10 times earnings, where in the near past and far past would be selling for 15+ times earnings.  Intel, for example is selling for about 10+ times earnings and yielding about 3.5% dividend - with a better tax rate than Interest income.

The immediate culprits seem to be Unemployment and Housing.

Unemployment is generally lowest during the late spring months through the fall, however the reasoning is construction Jobs and the "tooling up" for fall in manufacturing - a waining industry in the USA as China is eating their lunch.  Real Estate future prices determined by the owners trying to sell, is still unrealistic - "Hope" the drug of the homeowner keeping them from meeting market demands for "current reasonable prices."

Political problems raging from where a mosque can be built (currently planned near 911 destruction site - and also near and around many "Sex and Strip Clubs", splinter groups of the Republican Party, wanting to change the laws to separate of "More American Americans" and Lesser Americans (refugees, illegals - soon the blacks, jews and non-believers to be added...) - America is coming apart at the seams.  We don't have to go back and look at the McCarthy era looking for all the communists - We are at that level of current mob thinking that requires us to revisit the 1950's coming into the 1960's.

Finally (my opinion) if Israel wants to survive - they better consider cutting the legs off of Iran, before Iran presses some buttons sending Israel off into space.  The Mexican Drug lords - are they the precursor to and invitation to the Taliban and friends - to move into our borders through Mexico.

What a Mess!

And Yet, If the Stock Market (currently at 10,100) goes much below 9,600 firms like Goldman Sachs will begin to burn as well as the homes in Connecticut of their officers.  Funny no one really of importance, on Wall Street, have gone to Jail.  The real cleansing should put about 5,000 of these folks behind bars.

Friday, August 20, 2010

For Whom the Bell Tolls - The Bell Tolls For Me

Once again I face the challenge of another year.  It began when I was 60 years old.  Wasn't last year enough? Need I face this Once again as I become 68 years old - I'll face it tomorrow. And - that is an overview of this nemesis. It's an everyday awareness that challenges. 

"Perchance he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he knows not it tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as that they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know not that" - John Donne (1572-1631)

August 21st, 2010 - 68 years old - woe is me.

I will not be fit for social consumption on this celebrated day
Why so gloomy? - not really, just passing through my thoughts with coffee... great day starting in about 1/2 hour - Boise was a present to me this year.
As for the markets this past week - taking a hit is never pleasant 
As for the Moon and Sky... Mercury begins to retrograde from August 20 to September 12 - a good time to "cool it" - see you all in the fall.... 

Monday, August 16, 2010

Happiness from "Blood on the Tracks" - Bob Dylan Visited and Revisited - Better than Ever!













Bob Dylan...Boise... Last Night...  Outlaw Field Old State Prison... The best ever... Tight full sound... Audience participates   in songs ( Just Like A Woman)... Long solo (several times)Harp Full electric... Better than he has ever been... That's it ***** 5 Star the band electrified the field to an overpowering trance then Bob began to talk/sing... Opening song: Everybody Must Get Stoned - sung with Audience - so I did!
It was Vaudeville Electrified - Bob was the ringmaster/MC
A different Bob... Open and out front ( all the freedom and happiness of Blood on the Tracks - present last evening)



To a friend in Bejing, The Chairman MaoXian (originally from Cooperstsown, NY) :
 had the same feeling of Doubleday Park where I saw him 4 years ago he was just getting comfortable with his new sound -- This field was high in the back and lower toward the stage everyone had a great seat - the crowd had the feeling and size that Cooperstown had.  Just "where did the time go" - some people were standing, some sitting on the ground - the music - one song led into another - with an elevation of the electric sound in between they just wound up the whole audience....5 years ago Dylan criticized the "full room electric sound" last night he proved that he became a master in "full room electric sound" in the back of the field to the left was the Old Prison with 4 corner watch towers and to the right - Botanical Gardens of Boise - where smaller music venues are offered.  Boise is a Great Town. Although I still have the farm in Otsego County - I purchased a small home here in Boise... quite the town!  Hope all is well in Bejing...






Bob Dylan Boise set list:
Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35
Love Minus Zero/No Limit
Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)
Just Like A Woman
Rollin' And Tumblin'
Tryin' To Get To Heaven
High Water (for Charlie Patton)
Forgetful Heart
The Levee's Gonna Break
Blind Willie McTell
Highway 61 Revisited
Workingman's Blues #2
Thunder On The Mountain
Ballad Of A Thin Man
Like A Rolling Stone



Tuesday, August 3, 2010

21st Century Women


Paul PeachinLily Echo‎"look at that eyebrow with an attitude..." Well "that eyebrow" has a history that spans several generations - originally developed by one Blossom Peachin - handed down to her son Paul (which was morphed - from his favorite High School Teacher William Guthrie - who later was dismissed by Highland Park High School (in the 1960's) for being gay) and redeveloped by Lily as expressed with a cute ("acute") accuracy - used sometime by her brother Isaac - and definitely to be passed on - of course modified for convenience of any new family user.
When Lily was about 6 yrs old, she began practicing in front of a mirror - and kept it on until she had it perfect.
That kind of perfection is what makes her a success today