Updated: Saturday, Nov.
27, 2004
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Inside Report: Physical Parameters for Trading
This week our Inside Report deals with everything from chart colors, to meals and nutrition to sunspots and proposes a system to track physical variables when you make trades. Very interesting stuff and up earlier than usual this week so I can go gold panning tomorrow up here in Arizona and not be rushed driving back to Burbank Sunday.. Just a quickie update Sat. AM. Subscription Info.
Friday, Black or Red?
Ready, set, shop! Here it is, 6 AM in Phoenix and I'm on a slow dial-up piecing together the expected economic events of today and what I'm afraid of is a triple red Friday. That would be where the markets drop decidedly red because of the sagging dollar and soaring price of gold: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/041126/euro_dollar_6.html, where the retailers don't make it into the black in a major way on this the most busy shopping day of the year: http://biz.yahoo.com/ibd/041124/feature_1.html and I hope we don't have any bloodshed with a senseless terrorist attack. That would be the worst case scenario for the day.
What do I expect? Well, I'd expect nothing will keep the Dow from dropping because the dollar slide is becoming quite pronounced. But we ought to at least see some debate in the retail sector as to whether the coming season will be good.
And, on the subject or terrorism, we kicked around at the dinner table yesterday how the 9/11 terrorist event was likely a false flag operation because the bulk of the American public has been focused by the media on the twin towers. But what's not discussed - and no one seems to be asking - is "Why did building 7 collapse?" http://www.wtc7.net/ The answer, we suspect has little to do with terrorists - but that's how misdirection works in magic, too. Let's talk about why Building 7 came down... No answers in sight.
Ukraine Oil Ripples
We will be watching the petro markets closely as the situation surrounding the contentious election fallout in Ukraine continues: http://reuters.myway.com/article/20041126/2004-11-26T122213Z_01_L2624987_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-UKRAINE-DC.html One could build a case that Ukraine's neighbors becoming embroiled in the looming dispute could endanger Caspian oil, but time will tell. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4044037.stm Russia is sending clear signals to Europe that western meddling is not appreciated: http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/11/26/ukrainewest.shtml We're expecting an oil shock of a serious size sometime in this time frame. And our "crash alert" has been extended as our Inside Report subscribers know. Next week week is especially vulnerable - especially if retail is weak today. One more thing to watch is the flight of Yukos former management: http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/11/25/yukosflee.shtml
About Saddam
Back during the Iraq war (which by GWB is officially over), when we were reporting that there was no connection between Iraq and al Qaida, we explained that Saddam Hussein could never be allowed to fully and publicly testify in his own defense because he would spill too many beans on the inner workings of the Bush Administration's "family" operations. We noticed a little blurb in the Arab press today about how Saddam is not getting the kind of health care one might expect: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1AECBF85-3A96-4FFE-8FE8-057BDC60CABF.htm given the high profile nature of the fellow. Don't get me wrong, I'd be the last guy to claim Saddam without guilt of at least human rights violations. But until we started bombing Iraq back into the Cambrian Period, al Qaida was not a factor in Iraq and if they have established recent contacts, it's probably more a reaction to our war conduct than indigenous support for extremism.
Iran Gets Stupid
We see that Iran, which had marshaled world support by promising to end effort to enrich uranium is now explaining they won't exactly stay out of production of weapons grade fuel: http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1124/dailyUpdate.html We have to label this as a stupid move that will give the U.S. and Israel continued impetus to move toward a preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear installations.
Health Worker Shortage
If you're unemployed, you might think about a health case career. Seems that according to a BBC report there's a worldwide shortage of 4-million health care workers: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4043269.stm Before you run out and sign up for a course at the local vo-tech, you might want to consider where the bulk of the jobs are (overseas) where working conditions are many times less than enjoyable.
Mine Safety
Not in China: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBEKX5D02E.html
China Tourism Push
Not that they need more dollars but... http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-11/25/content_2259171.htm
US-Corporate Game
Don't miss our reader contributed story on how the US government is becoming a series of corporations: Link
Turkey and the Web
I forgot to take the pictures yesterday at the dinner table here in Phoenix where one of my sons in law is a phenomenal cook. Jalapeño turkey - yuuuummmmm.. I was going to take a picture of each person's plate just before the first bite - and then afterwards, in a week or two, see if we could match up the meal with the person. That's the kind of fun you can have when you're able to build family web sites, just for an example. Anyway, I'm pleased to report that my do-it-yourself book on web site construction has been a great hit with those who have ordered it - so if you want a simple recipe type approach to building web sites, designed for a person with just basic computer skills (like able to surf the net) then this book is for you. Click the button on the left to order. I will be increasing the price to $35 in December - this is a special offer for regular readers of the the site and won't last forever at this special introductory price. Please visit our new bookstore page at www.urbansurvival.com/usbooks.htm for more details including the table of contents...
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Thursday - Thanksgiving
Dollar Turns Turkey!
Weakening of the U.S. dollar is showing up today as a rapidly rising price of gold which has now traded as high as $452.30 as we go to bytes from Phoenix today. Chart above. Gory details of the diving back at http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/041125/euro_dollar_8.html.
On our "Hot List" of news items to track, we have the price of oil jumping back over $50 - and this is smelling more and more like an international showdown over elections in the Ukraine, although the headlines are just developing. http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/041125/oil_prices_3.html Remember that the web bot project had been farming between now and the end of the month as the arrival of another oil shock and spreading problems around the Ukraine, which conceivably could spread to Caspian Sea oil sources is our current odds-on favorite to prove the web bot project right once again.
OPEC is predicting lower prices by 2006 - but this is more of the hollow BS jawboning that we heard when oil was breaching $40. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041125/bs_nm/energy_opec_dc As Matt Simmons has been pointing out - those "new reserves" all the Middle East players "discovered" in the 1980's had more to do with setting production quotas. They don't mean the oil's really there! Guidance: Take all OPEC comments about supplies and prices and chuck 'em. The reality is that China is buying all the energy it can and consequently, oil prices are going up - especially when denominated in the crashing buck. The buck backed by what? Debt, natch!
With the news turning decidedly sour on the dollar and oil, we note that our market crash warning - issued two weeks ago could easily come into play on Friday (tomorrow) or Monday. The powder keg is ready to blow - and all it needs is a spark right now. Watch closely for signs!
Corporate Takeover of Government Well Underway
Here's one of the best reader submissions ever: - scary, true, and excellent research:
"Still think you're free? Still think all you have to do is vote the incumbent out of office and everything will automatically return to 'normal.' It's too late. Protesting, voting, or - laughably - letters to the editor won't change anything.
Look at the corporate info I found at the Delaware Secretary of State website:
INTERNAL REVENUE TAX AND AUDIT SERVICE (IRS) For Profit General Delaware Corporation Incorporation date 7/12/33 File No. 0325720
FEDERAL RESERVE ASSOCIATION (Federal Reserve) Non-profit Delaware Corporation Incorporation date 9/13/14 File No. 0042817
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AUTHORITY INC. (CIA) For Profit General Delaware Corporation Incorporation Date 3/9/83 File No. 2004409
background info: Transfers: With the National Security Council to the Executive Office of the President by Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1949, effective August 20, 1949; to independent agency status by EO 12333, December 4, 1981.
Central Intelligence Group established under the National Intelligence Authority by Presidential directive, January 22, 1946, to plan and coordinate foreign intelligence activities. By National Intelligence Authority Directive 4, April 2, 1946, NIA assumed supervision of the SSU dissolution during spring and summer 1946, assigning some components to Central Intelligence Group at request of Director of Central Intelligence, and effecting incorporation of the remaining units into other War Department organizations. SSU officially abolished by General Order 16, SSU, October 19, 1946. Central Intelligence Group and National Intelligence Authority abolished by National Security Act, which created the CIA, 1947. SEE 263.1.
FEDERAL LAND ACQUISITION CORP. For-profit General Delaware Corporation Incorporation Date 8/22/80 File No. 0897960
RTC COMMERCIAL ASSETS TRUST 1995-NP3-2 For-profit Delaware Statutory Trust Incorporation Date 10/24/95 File No. 2554768
SOCIAL SECURITY CORP, DEPART. OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELF For-Profit General Delaware Corporation Incorporation date: 11/13/89 File No. 2213135
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INC. Non-profit Delaware Corporation Incorporation Date 4/19/89 File No. 2193946
http://www.state.de.us/corp/directweb.shtml (Please look at #1 at the end of the paragraph it states "click here for status on the web." From there, at the end of the first paragraph "receive a status inquiry on line, CLICK HERE." That takes you to 'General Information Name Search.')
Keep in mind - these are just the listings I could find. For example, I tracked down the Bureau of Engraving and Printing - in the state of Texas (foreign corp from the District of Columbia).
This means, as 'citizens,' we are assets of the corporation. It doesn't matter who is in office, the board of directors and the shareholders own and run the country - just as in any other corporation.
Roosevelt's quote has an entirely different meaning now:
"The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the large centers has owned the government of the U.S. since the days of Andrew Jackson." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt in a letter written Nov. 21, 1933 to Colonel E. Mandell House
The thing to find out, and I'm hoping the corporate records will show, is who are the shareholders? Who profits - for example - from the 'private, for-profit, corporate CIA' or the 'private, for-profit, corporate IRS' or the 'private, for-profit Social Security' - that those in charge are now telling us is 'broke.' Who is on the board of directors of 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INC.'
Ask anyone you know if they are aware of this. Call your congressman's office and ask them. Why doesn't anyone know? Why isn't this casually mentioned in the news? 'The Board of Directors of the United States of America, Inc., today ruled........' 'The Board of Directors of the Social Security........' 'Today, the Central Intelligence Authority filed as a private for-profit corporation.' Why do those in charge never mention this? Why, searching on any search engine, doesn't this information come up?
Because we're being lied to. Ever wonder why those who fight the IRS are not allowed to bring up their Constitutional Rights in tax court? Constitutional Rights do not apply in an equity court. Contract law supersedes individual and Constitutional Rights. Corporate law is a totally different animal from common law. Ask any corporate attorney. You've inadvertently signed contracts with this bastard entity posing as the 'free' United States of America - when you registered to vote, when you applied for a checking account (at a Federal Reserve corp bank - look at your signature card, it states you will comply with all rulings from the Secretary of the Treasury), when you applied for a social security card.....
Ever look at the trust corporations (such as the RESOLUTION TRUST CORP (RTC) associated with the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INC.? Trust - a fiduciary relationship in which one party holds legal title to another's property for the benefit of a party who holds equitable title to the property. Who holds the equitable title? Ever notice property deeds state 'tenant' when referring to the supposed owner?
We are ruled by fictitious entities - corporations are fictions. We have been lied to, our entire lives, that we are free. The United States is owned, lock, stock, and barrel, each of us as citizens of the United States is owned. The question to which I want the answer is: Who owns us?
“The few who understand the system, will either be so interested in its profits, or so dependent on its favors that there will be no opposition from that class, while on the other hand, the great body of people, mentally incapable of comprehending the tremendous advantages...will bear its burden without complaint, and perhaps without suspecting that the system is inimical to their best interests.” — Rothschild Brothers of London communiqué to associates in New York June 25, 1863"
America's Tomato Crisis
With the burgeoning debt of the U.S. starting to resemble the early days of post World War One Weimar Germany, we notice that we've got a growing tomato shortage. It's being blamed on any number of sources, including the hurricanes in Florida and the heavy rains in California. Whichever cause it most correct doesn't matter - those reader reports are piling up. Here's an appetizer:
"It's not that there is a tomato shortage per se, but northern and southern states are wanting allotments of California's crop since FL crop was destroyed by the hurricanes. (not that they (FL) were destroyed but wrotted due to inability to pick the crop due to the flooding).
According to my wholesale produce distributor, tomato prices should come back down once the new FL crop ripens. (time frame is 100 days after the last hurricane + a couple of weeks).
Its all about supply and demand. So hang tough." - Reader 1
---
"Well, George, I can say with some certainty that Wendy's no-tomato post-it-notes are not a fluke. I live and work in Dublin, OH, home of Wendy's (If I walk out the front door, I can see the back of their HQ). Recently, stoppped by there after a gym run, and the local franchise had the same sign that your other correspondent saw. I guess I should have ordered my Single W/ Cheese with a tomato, just to see how it looked, but didn't. Oh well.
Anyway, it's not just a rumor.
You and the better half have a great Thanksgiving!" Reader 2
---
"In a Fort Worth Texas, Jack-In-The-Box drive up window there is a sign that says that due to the tomato shortage, you might notice less tomatos on the sandwiches than previously.
Just to give you another source of the tomato shortage."
---
"Due to the hurricanes, over the last few months, tomatoes have more than doubled in price, now costing $3.99 a pound at my local Pathmark in New Jersey. It's the COST of tomatoes that made Wendy's announce the new policy and although I don't eat much fast food, they may not be the only ones."
Who would have ever surmised that the can of stewed tomatoes you've got in the pantry would be one of the best investments of the year?
Latest Scalar Weather
Here's a killer picture from a reader in Lexington, Kentucky who writes:
Some weird clouds over Lexington, KY last week, the likes of which I've never seen before. Read your article on Right angle clouds, took another look at the pics - these seem to be right angles (note I used noise suppression software on these photos as the camera I have is noisy)
This photo is looking north from my backyard just after sunset, Nov 15 2004.
Wednesday
Creeping Tomato Shortage?
Not confirmed, but then not surprising, either - word of a creeping tomato shortage from a reader:
Hi George,
Hope your holiday planning is going well.
I thought I would pass this tidbit along to you that I came across this week. I stopped to grab a burger at Wendy's and noticed a sign on their counter that basically read, if you want a tomato on your sandwich you will have to specifically request it and we will only provide them while our supplies last. This was due to the impact of the recent hurricanes in FL and the gulf states on the tomato crop/supplies.
I actually witnessed a lady while I was eating in the dining portion that had gone through the drive through park her car, get out, and come inside and demand her tomato for her sandwich saying she wasn't aware of this new policy. I almost laughed out loud but thought what it will be like when it isn't just about tomatoes, ATMs without cash come to mind.
Thanks for the great site.
Well, we knew the shortage of blue tarps was part of the hurricane damage - and we think the Florida orange growers are looking to squeeze some profits out of their shortages, but tomatoes? Anyone else seen evidence of a tomato shortage?
Mass Layoffs Edge Up
We have been watching the mass layoffs quite closely for signs the economic recovery is real - and so far, we have not seen the decline to under 30,000 per month that we would like to see in a healthy recovery. Instead, we find in the latest report out today that 127,794 people were alerted to mass layoffs in the month of October:
In October 2004, employers took 1,241 mass layoff actions, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 127,774. (See table 1.) Both the number of events and initial claims were the lowest for any October since October 2000. Data for October 2004 were reported by all states and the District of Columbia, except Vermont. From January through October 2004, the total num- bers of events, 12,966, and initial claims, 1,315,320, were lower than in January-October 2003 (15,596 and 1,557,750, respectively).
Industry Distribution
The 10 industries reporting the highest number of mass-layoff initial claims accounted for 37,670 initial claims in October, 29 percent of the total. (See table A.) Temporary help services, with 8,113 initial claims, and motion picture and video production, with 5,673 initial claims, together accounted for 11 percent of all initial claims in October.
The manufacturing sector had 30 percent of all mass layoff events and 38 percent of all initial claims filed in October. A year ago, manufac- turing comprised 29 percent of events and 34 percent of initial claims. Within manufacturing, the number of claimants was highest in transportation equipment (12,733, mainly automotive-related), followed by food processing (9,049) and machinery (4,224). (See table 2.)
The administrative and waste services sector accounted for 15 percent of events and 12 percent of initial claims filed in October, with layoffs mainly in temporary help services. Ten percent of all layoff events and 7 percent of initial claims filed during the month were in construction, primarily among specialty trade contractors. Accommodation and food services accounted for 7 percent of events and initial claims during the month, mainly in hotels and motels, except casino hotels. Retail trade accounted for 8 percent of events and 7 percent of initial claims, mostly in general merchandise stores. An additional 3 percent of events and 6 percent of initial claims were from the information sector, largely in motion picture and sound recording.
Government establishments accounted for 5 percent of events and 4 percent of initial claims filed during the month, mostly in executive, legislative, and general government agencies.
Compared with October 2003, the largest decreases in initial claims were reported in food and beverage stores (-12,161), administrative and support services (-6,147), and agriculture and forestry support activities (-5,450). The largest over-the-year increases in initial claims were reported in accommodation (+3,383) and transportation equipment (+2,463).
We've ginned up a quick chart for you to look over, too:
And we know that layoffs will probably spike over 200,000 in January of next year...
Down Dollar, Up Gold
No surprise to this one: The U.S. dollar may be had for less than 0.76 Euros today on the international money bourses. And with it, gold is already trading $450 on the February contract. While some pullbacks can be expected, it's all a function of oil and it's here that the reader's attention is directed to events in the Ukraine. Recalling that the web bot project projected (before being shelved) an oil price shock around Thanksgiving (and shortly thereafter in a window lasting through this coming weekend) we have a contested election in the Ukraine which threatens to split Russia: http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/11/24/europeresults.shtml or BBC coverage at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4037419.stm The more general concern is that theft of elections, which some think to be a worldwide phenomena on the part of corporatist interests, will spread to engulf much of the oil-rich Caspian Sea region. In other words, look for troubles in Russian Georgia and other former Soviet States soon. If the scenario is right, it could be the end of the beginning and the beginning of the end for what has been a very nice energy-fueled lifestyle in the West.
China Revaluation in 2005
There's a piece in China's Xinhua today quoting projections that the Chinese will decouple from the U.S. dollar next year. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-11/24/content_2254026.htm Now here's how this stuff works: When an official organ like Xinhau says something is likely to happen, it means the government is more or less heading that way. Figure the consequences and plan accordingly.
Texas Storms
Although we had more than 4" of rain in 24-hours up at our ranch place in Texas, we were spared the fury of tornados that touched down in other parts of Texas and Louisiana last evening: Story
Test 'em & Drug 'em
Here's one we warned you of a long time ago: Federal plans to FORCE mandatory shrink testing of every child in the country is coming: http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/november2004/231104mandatorytests.htm And WITHOUT parental consent. Check this one out closely - it's part of the continuing move to steal parental authority from parents and place it with the government. Sounds a bit communistic, don't you think?
Millions of Turkeys Dead
Just seeing if you're paying attention. Pass the stuffing, wouldja?
NYSE Lost Money
Yup, says the NY Post, the exchange itself lost money in the latest reporting quarter: http://www.nypost.com/business/32150.htm
Virgin Toast?
Recognizing that people are always looking for patterns, a 10-year old piece of toast with what looks (if you squint) like a woman's face, has been sold for $28,000 over on eBay: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4034787.stm This has us spending far more time in the kitchen. We've been working with the waffle iron, trying to get an Escher print to come out of it..
Japan Quake Fallout
Still 6,600 people living in shelters in Japan following their earthquakes? Slow recovery, says our news tipster on this one: http://www.terradaily.com/2004/041123080004.r3gjunbe.html
Stand Up Governor
Here's one: a Governor that comes off with one-liners and has by all accounts, a very good sense of humor: http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1124/p01s01-uspo.html Wonder if he finds anything funny in the New Jersey budget? .
Reader's Writes
A reader in the UK writes us in response to our unabashed skepticism of the report that UK authorities had foiled a 9/11 type event - so conveniently disclosed just as more rights thieving legislation was being debated. Our British fellow writes:
George,
Of course, the worrying thing about it all is as follows. Right now we have a pleasant enough social democratic government. However, were we to acquire an unpleasant authoritarian one, they would have all the tools they need at their disposal. No more laws would have to be passed to eliminate dissent totally. Dissidents could be incarcerated in mental hospitals, as in the former soviet union. They could be forbidden from reading, writing, accessing the net, using the phone, talking to media. They could have their children put into care by order of secret courts. They could themselves be held without trial for long periods. They could be obliged to be medicated for their mental illnesses... Newspapers and journalists could be similarly intimidated and imprisoned for contempt. Of course, one says, this is England, it couldn't happen, this is not what our legislation was designed to do. But consider history.
You can see just how this works, by the case of the Dutch Jews. I don't know if you know the story? The Dutch were organised on the basis of religious tolerance and support of a variety of religions, and they were locally organised. It must have seemed perfectly reasonable then for there to be a database at the local level of what religion everyone was. Otherwise, how were you to know how much to contribute to the various churches? Well, when the Nazis came and wanted to round up the Jews (and the Jehovas Witnesses), all they had to do was use the existing records.
So the curious fact is that the anti semitic Belgians, more hostile to central government, less interested in peoples religions, saved far more of their Jews than the tolerant and multi faith Dutch.
We in the UK are increasingly, in our civil rights legislation or the lack of it, putting our faith in the goodwill of our politicians and civil servants. History shows that it is very dangerous to do that.
Take care
Dangerous? Try suicidal. Already the U.S. government is planning forced screening of kids for "mental" problems. Why in God's name the British ask Americans about the "no paper trail elections" here ("How can 55 million people be so stupid?") when they don't see how Prince Charming Blair is weaseling a dictatorship from the people of the Isles is just beyond me.
Web Site Construction Book Released
I've had many requests from friends for a booklet that will help you step-by-step to build a web site. Something that would let a person with no "programming" experience get a presentable site built. So, as a result, I've written a 92-page guide to walk you through the task. With an easy-to-follow "recipe" approach, this Adobe .PDF booklet starts at ground zero and presents the skills (in logical order) to build a site. Click the button on the left to order. I will be increasing the price to $35 in December - this is a special offer for regular readers of the the site and won't last forever at this special introductory price. Please visit our new bookstore page at www.urbansurvival.com/usbooks.htm for more details including the table of contents...
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Tuesday
New Paradigm Emerging?
Here are a couple of pieces of news that don't really "fit" unless you open your head up to a new kind of framework. First, some of the pieces:
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Talk show host and ham radio operator Art Bell mentions earlier this month that HF radio propagation has never been so strange. Got to agree with him on that. A few scientists are projecting in pending papers that the ionosphere (and the magnetic lines of force that circle the earth) are letting in sporadic doses of very high radiation from space. The prestigious American Radio Relay League noticed the same thing: Story.
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In Texas, a mother cuts the arms off her baby child who dies hours later: http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/news/112304_AP_r2_texas_mother_murder.html
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Basketball melee breaks out involving the NBA Story
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A hunter goes nuts in the woods and kills six hunters Link
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Chemtrails are reported by hundreds of civilians - and the presence of barium in the atmosphere is being widely reported: http://www.carnicom.com/contrails.htm The problem with the barium reports is that it has not business being there.
Now, the new framework: There's been a lot of work being done lately on how the earth's magnetism works: Link. And, at the same time, we know that several years ago the polarity of the sun (that is, it's North and South poles) swapped positions over a four-day period. And, we're just starting to understand solar evolution Link. Couple this with renewed concerns about ozone layer depletion ( Link ) and what do you have?
What sounds like "crackpot science" is one explanation, yet out there on the fringe, we're reading about an airline pilot who suggests that one of the unintended consequences of ionospheric heaters, such as the government's multi-megawatt HAARP project are causing so much electromagnetic radiation change, that the ionosphere is facing a breakdown. Oh yes, and this breakdown also may explain why Florida had four hurricanes this year: http://www.onlypunjab.com/travel/fullstory-newsID-444.html Add it all up, and one can almost make out the fuzzy outline of a whole different genre of governmental and scientific agendas hiding just below the surface at what we'd call the preconscious level.
How substantial this outline is remains to be adjudged over time. But the next time you see the solar Kp index spike high over at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html or http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rpc/costello/index.html ask yourself "If we have known since 1978 that microwaves are proven modifiers of human behavior, what are the electromagnetic impacts on humans of extreme changes in radiation from space or the impact of things like sunspots on humans?" Moreover for investors, the question might well be directed to a study of market volatility related to Q days and D days. We'll get into this more deeply on this weekend's Inside Report.
The Slippery Slope
Once again today, the U.S. dollar has slipped to new lows against foreign currencies such as the Euro: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/041123/euro_dollar_2.html There's not too much we can say except that as the dollar slips, the price of everything we buy from overseas will now begin to accelerate too the upside. That means this weekend's Thanksgiving specials for buying a new car or truck will likely be the "last train out" before things turn decidedly bad - and it becomes quite obvious to the masses.
Absent a real economic initiative from the Bush Administration, everything made overseas is about to go up - dramatically - as it's the only consequence possible in the present situation. Our favorites for such an environment continue to be gold (which traded within a dime of $450 this morning) and event something as stodgy as a bank account in Canada, where you can get better-than-U.S. interest rates plus take advantage of what looks like it might be a continuation of the dollar decline.
OK, so much for the bad news. The flip side of the story may be found in an excellent John Crudele piece in today's NY Post: http://www.nypost.com/business/34814.htm The flip side if you're in a hurry is that the Euro countries are in more trouble than the U.S. and that's bound to become obvious at some point, too. Countries like Italy and Germany in particular fit the profile of a band of bankrupt countries hiding behind a single questionable currency. Ah, but isn't the Euro backed 15% by gold?
British 9/11 Plot Foiled
At least that's the report out of the UK today: http://www.itv.com/news/index_957889.html When I read something like this, I ask "Say, doesn't something sound a bit fishy about something like this which is timed to support new civil rights grabbing anti-terror legislation?:
Russian HIV: More than a Demographic Issue
If you've been following trends in the former Soviet Union (FSU) you're no doubt aware that one of the big concerns is about the number of workers who will be available to support Russia in new low-end and entry level jobs over the next few dozen years. Today, there's a report that AIDS is now spreading like wildfire through the population too, meaning that the country could see a double whammy effect: negative demographic trends coupled with a dying population: Link
State Visits
Vlad Putin is visiting Brazil: http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/11/23/brazil.shtml and we read in today's Xinhua that China and Cuba are warming up ties Link. For Russia, Brazil would be a great trading partner for agriculture (meat) products and China's Cuba links are part of their strategy to control the Panama Canal and get a stronger Chinese foothold in the Caribbean.
Evolution in the Classroom
Here's an interesting story in the Christian Science Monitor about how both evolution and "intelligent design" are being taught side-by-side in a Pennsylvania school district: Link. What's so interesting to me is how religious interests are so interested in their version of creationism that they might miss a similarly plausible projection: That space aliens could have landed on earth thousands of years ago, mixed up a batch of DNA experiments, turned them loose, and then send UFO's back periodically to watch the progress in this world-sized combination of zoo and Petrie dish. That concept, too might fit under the intelligent design theory...
Einstein, as in Word Thief?
Everyone in school is being taught how Albert Einstein was the guy who made the breakthrough in developing nuclear energy with E=mc squared. But today, a British paper suggests some of his work may have been lifted from fellow scientist David Hilbert's work: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/15/einstein_relativity/
Tuesday
Iran Stands Down
Iran is promising that it has halted enrichment of uranium, in keeping with a deal struck with Europe: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4031055.stm Of course, the reason they did this was not because they don't want a nuclear weapon to mount on their Shahab-3 missiles, but rather because the Bush administration has done enough sword rattling to make them worry that an Israeli attack on Iran would be an imminent consequence of continuing. Iran's move is smart, especially if they can do a good sales job on the international atomic energy agency inspectors. Note I said "smart" not "good." Meantime, Iran has angered the administration by refusing to meet with lame duck Secretary of State Powell: http://www.neftegaz.ru/english/lenta/show.php?id=52353
Why invade anyway? One reader notes "Look at all the uranium reserves they have in addition to oil..." http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041119/D86F15DO2.html
Tis the Season My Foot
Well, here we are back at Monday again and staring at a holiday shortened week ahead. E & I are planning to visit relatives in Phoenix for the Turkey Day but thanks to what has been a remarkably resilient Sony Vaio, I don't expect any interruption in reports, although Thursday's may be abbreviated, depending on world events.
I am not exactly in a festive mood because last week's market action looks pretty dismal. As you'll see in our charts, the market failed to really break out, so without a good dose of seasonal euphoria as typically occurs near a holiday, the market may be setting up for something really ugly in perhaps a week. We see this morning at oil is back knocking on the door of $50 again: LINK and in concert with that, gold was showing strength early (chart above).
Winter Storm
The price of oil today is not going up just on trading speculation. There's been an unusual winter snow here in California: Story Link. It's just the kind of scenario that energy traders were hedging against - the possibility that with an unusually cold winter, and it means the already fragile U.S. economy could be in for tough sledding. We're reminded of the last report from the web bot project before it was shelved: Look for a major economic shock (oil related) around Thanksgiving. It looks like the market is starting to firm ahead of whatever that event is that might be coming.
There's another voice being heard in the discussion over whether Peak Oil is real. Good article with charts at http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_15426.shtml
A Different Snow Job
With the U.S. dollar continuing its downward trend, and no sign of financial thoughtfulness in the Bush 2/2 administration, we're only modestly amused with the comments of Treasury Secretary John Snow proclaiming for the gullible that the U.S. will reduce its wild, deficit-spending ways: http://www.nypost.com/business/34727.htm Here's our question: How will that deficit reduction take place? Without some hard specifics, we have to take Snow's comments as just another attempt by the Useless 2 people to tongue wag the dollar out of crashing shortly.
Election Concerns
Well, well, well. It looks like Russia is taking another page out of the book "How to rig elections". Check out the story about election fraud charges at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4031981.stm. Now we're 10-weeks from the "elections" in Iraq. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4031259.stm Predictably, Muslim scholars are not happy with the Iraq election plans: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D7A98615-4839-485A-8641-D450CF18EC05.htm
Still There: British, who might have the impression from Tony "war salesman" Blair that the British would come out of Iraq in 2005 are hearing today that no, troops will be kept in Iraq into 2006: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-11/22/content_2247782.htm Hey - with the U.S. bases being built there, someone has to stay and keep the peace in the newly "democratic" freed people, right?
Writing Off Iraq
Here's a cute move: The Paris Club - an international consortium of fat cats - has with a stroke of a pen decided to renounce 80% of Iraq's foreign debts: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-11/22/content_2246097.htm Of course, one might ask, if they can just say "be gone!" and have debt go "Poof!" why can't we get our Congress to strong arm these guys? Click over to the Paris Club web site and you'll find they've been busy burning debt for all kinds of places: http://www.clubdeparis.org/en/index.php Madagascar, Ethiopia, Ghana, Russian Georgia... What a nice group of international banksters. By the way, Bulgaria is saying it won't be bound by any such write-off scams: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=6883888
Stealing the Web?
Russia's Foreign Minister is talking about the need (in his country) for government to seize or censor the internet to make sure that warlords, terrorists, and other unsavories don't have access to the 'net: http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/11/16/internet.shtml We mention this because the Internet has been, so far, a real pipeline of information about reality. It gives common folks a chance to espouse their views and hear a version of the world which is far too gritty to be on sound-bite sanitized nationally sanctioned media. Naturally, we're appalled that Russia's foreign minister is so far behind the technology curve that he doesn't understand that with the electronic genie of the web, controlling things in Russia would do nothing about a thousands of offshore servers that do the work of unsavory people. We're sure that the battle cry will be picked up by technologically ignorant control freaks in Washington, too. I can hear the catch phrase now: "We need to restrict your net access so that you may be free..." Ignoring the obvious contradiction between freedom and any governmental restrictions. Look next for some right-wing academic group to say it's a good idea...
News from Elliott Wave International
Write when you get rich,
George Ure, People's Economist
Bulldog Editions when noted are the "early editions". Check back later for a more complete update. Bulletins as warranted. Normal byte times are 8:30 AM (or earlier) CDT Monday-Friday. Weekends as the spirit moves us.