I don't know what is more stupid now: a builder putting up a house or a business owner hiring a new employee.

Don't most economist laugh at Technical Analysis? And then they do their own,...

so, I just totally disagree with this guy but I'm posting his chart anyway

fair and balanced

Nemo wrote:

So is anybody else watching the new "V" mini-series?

No, but I heard that a remake of "The Prisoner" will be on AMC starting this weekend.

Also, a visualization aid for those having trouble wrapping their brains around the latest numbers:
What does one TRILLION dollars look like?

Looking at today's dollar action if we would not have pumped it over the last day or so, we would be in the .73 range for sure.

sm_landlord wrote:

What does one TRILLION dollars look like?

Looks like a Walmart store, from the outside.

Anyone else get this census primer yet? What you mean your bank account number and routing number aren't normal questions?

2010 Census Cautions: Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau
(BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S.
Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data. The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist?
BBB offers the following advice:

** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. And NEVER invite anyone you don't know into your home.

** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, they will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit ww.bbb.org.

shill wrote:

Looking at today's dollar action if we would not have pumped it over the last day or so, we would be in the .73 range for sure.

Yup. It looks like 75.14 is holding for now. Wonder if we'll see another ratchet up this afternoon? This long-term trend is depressing.

Yeah. That is my favorite television series of all time, and they are going to ruin it.

Yet somehow I will still watch. (I also pick at scabs.)

"Professor Fisher argued that unemployment will rise to about 10.4% and then fall rapidly. He is now projecting unemployment will decline to 8% by the end of 2010."

Probably due to war casualties I'm guessing.

Or a new version of the bird flu engineered to reduce the excess inventory of human beings (except for those in congress and the health care industry who have the vaccine).

This long-term trend is depressing.

Truly.....and our POTUS is photo oping in China...you think he will throw up on Hu?

Nemo wrote:

eah. That is my favorite television series of all time, and they are going to ruin it.

If they do, we'll send Rover after them. It won't be pretty...

Nemo wrote:

Yeah. That is my favorite television series of all time, and they are going to ruin it.
Yet somehow I will still watch. (I also pick at scabs.)

As long as the message remains/is updated for the times it will be worthy of attention.

I cannot believe the commentariat is not willing to embrace the message of "The Prisoner."

Rob Dawg wrote:

I cannot believe the commentariat is not willing to embrace the message of "The Prisoner."

You do remember #2's reaction to #6's assertion that he was a free man....

I just looked up some of his past predictions and Jon Fisher gets credit for forecasting 9%+ UE in 2008 when everyone else was claiming that would be insane. But predicting a 2% drop in UE in 2010 based on a super-V housing recovery seems like putting way too many eggs in one iffy basket.

CalculatedRisk wrote:

I like the chart ... and it does illustrate two key points: 1) Housing leads the economy into and out of recessions, and 2) employment lags.

CR, I'm with you except for one worry: Since this recession is so different from past recessions, I'm concerned that the same exit rules may not apply. It's just a worry so far, and I'm not sure what it means.

I think a sharp reversal in UE is less likely than a continued increase in the rate and riots in the streets followed by Martial Law.

Seems like the starts should be normalized to population across that time frame to get a more meaningful comparison...

Also, the rate of change in UE has been so precipitous that the impacts have not worked their way through the economy yet...the ripples of the shockwave are still moving across the pond. Looking at the double dip recession of the early 80's, we have lost a similar to slightly larger amount of employment (4.5 -10.2 = -5.7 now vs. 5.5 - 10.8 = -5.3 in 80's) in something like half the time...and each point of UE now represents greater economic distress than in the past due to structural changes in the economy (not part of large corporate work force) and much higher levels of personal debt.

EvilHenryPaulson wrote:

any thoughts on what size stimpack:the sequel might be? I think $400bn is a nice round number that sends all the right optics while having enough kick

Think big. If they could do 750billion for the banks they'll go at least as big for their constituency. Go big or go home. 750 billion is the lower bound - especially if UE ticks over 11%.

shill wrote:

you think he will throw up on Hu?

Only if he eats the

What scares me is that we have blown off the credit bubble and are now about to enter a normal cyclical recession from this level.

No I don't think so people are still out using their CC cards. Shame too I guess 29.99% interest rate does not bother the Grazing crowd.

shill wrote:

No I don't think so people are still out using their CC cards. Shame too I guess 29.99% interest rate does not bother the Grazing crowd.

It has to. When the bills grow like topsy every month, that has to leave a mark. Maybe they haven't realized it yet - not enough new bills at the higher rate.

did you know that you can use the new $6500 tax credit to buy an RV or a boat? It just has to have a bathroom and you have to say that you will use it as your primary residence.

Ha ha ha. I jokingly asked this question before it got approved.

Think of the productivity gains at the US Mint as they switch from printing 1.oo Dollah Bills to $1,000.oo bills! Green too, since it'll save trees!

If we are more or less agreed that the housing bump is a one-and-done deal following the tax credit (which they cagey buyers spent on a discounted existing structure, anyway)* then are we more or less agreed that the unemployment line does not demonstrate a similar "bump" or rise in level over the previously-valid "lag period?"

In other words, will we see no corresponding change to the unemployment line when we see the updated chart in 3 months?

• Edit: or a boat, apparently.

CalculatedRisk wrote:

so I expect the unemployment situation to be worse than previous recessions.
I think this graph helps make that point.

The most interesting part is the last few months. Starts show a little rebound (but at the very end, a leveling off), but barely a blip in the downward slope of unemployment (inverted). Any hiring in construction is not offsetting current job losses.

Thank you energycon.

This recession is has already been around too long. I got a flash of a 12v battery reading the post. A normal recession battery will jump start. This battery won't. They put it on a charger for 2 hours but it still not turning the engine over.

Yet no one is ready to admit that they might need a new battery this time

When the bills grow like topsy every month, that has to leave a mark. Maybe they haven't realized it yet - not enough new bills at the higher rate.

I'm not ready to push the whole theory as yet but this is important. What will be different this holiday season is that the retailers will be in no position to "extend" credit to goose consumption. I am beginning to suspect massive bust of big dollar purchases. That mens pay no attention to the early tracking based on mall traffic, credit card swipes, etc.

This recession is has already been around too long. I got a flash of a 12v battery reading the post. A normal recession battery will jump start. This battery won't. They put it on a charger for 2 hours but it still not turning the engine over.

Yet no one is ready to admit that they might need a new battery this time

Maybe the passengers are just too heavy for the engine.

Waubay wrote:

"Awesome. Can you substantiate that? "
Home Buyer's Tax Credits -- What You Need to Know - WSJ.com

Q: Can a principal residence be something besides a conventional house?
Yes. A principal residence may also be a condominium, co-op apartment, attached or semi-attached townhouse, or even—if it has eating, sleeping and toilet facilities—a boat, motor home or trailer. Manufactured homes qualify in some states.

Are you doubting that a boat or RV can be someone's primary residence?

Cinco-X wrote:

Yes. A principal residence may also be a condominium, co-op apartment, attached or semi-attached townhouse, or even—if it has eating, sleeping and toilet facilities—a boat, motor home or trailer. Manufactured homes qualify in some states.

And since it's an 'existing' home credit...it could technically be a used RV/boat?

Cinco-X wrote:

The nautical term is "head"-

Understood. Though I suspect those claiming the deduction would refer to it as a bathroom.

YouTube - I'm On A Boat (ft. T-Pain) - Album Version  (profanity, so somewhat NSFW)

It has to. When the bills grow like topsy every month, that has to leave a mark. Maybe they haven't realized it yet - not enough new bills at the higher rate.

The other problem is some folks are just avoiding bankruptcy by putting it all on the cards. That's not for niceties that's just to live (!) Once they've exhausted it all expect a constant trickle of insolvencies and CC write offs. It's more extend-and-pretend.
~splat

Sometimes the CR posters are like watching Jeopardy on tv.

I'll take Beer and Hard Liquor for a $1000 Alex

noob goldberg wrote:

tncubsfan wrote:
Thank god for this, now I can fulfill my dream of living on a boat like Magnum P.I.
Didn't he live in Robin Master's guest house?
EDIT: Totally beaten by another closet moustache-admirer.

Dammit! Nothing as bad as failing to get the facts right when attempting to be witty!!

December gold ends up 0.9% at $1,116.70 an ounce

Again if it was not for the dollar pumping yesterday, the dollar would have been south .73 and Gold easily North of $1,150....or better.

ac,

" "Professor Fisher argued that unemployment will rise to about 10.4% and then fall rapidly. He is now projecting unemployment will decline to 8% by the end of 2010."

Probably due to war casualties I'm guessing.

Or a new version of the bird flu engineered to reduce the excess inventory of human beings (except for those in congress and the health care industry who have the vaccine). "

You're just waaaaaaaaaaaay too cynical. I'd NEVER suggest such a tin foil hat theory...Not me man....

"Yes, I am Elmer J. Fudd, millionaire. I own a mansion and a yacht"

you thinking of Travis McGee?

By placing the crisis within this larger historical and systemic frame, Wolff argues convincingly that the proposed government “bailouts,” stimulus packages, and calls for increased market regulation will not be enough to address the real causes of the crisis - in the end suggesting that far more fundamental change will be necessary to avoid future catastrophes.

One thing I've noticed have read a bit of economic literature in the past couple of years is that it always seems that the economists that are really looking hard at the problem and not trying to be too politically correct come to the conclusion that economies need to be reset or go through some "cataclysmic" change in order to restore prosperity. In other words the root of economic decline is in fact the very structures and vested interests that grow during the period of economic ascent, and these "waste structures" become so widespread and entrenched that it takes a major crisis to wipe them out.

One might say that the same kind of Darwinian notions that seem to govern biological progress seem to govern economic progress.

I don't think you can act on that belief because it's potentially so socially destructive, but if you're objective is to get a clear perspective on things then you have to at least consider that it's true (hence the saying "ignorance is bliss").

"Hmmm, how about the guys on "Riptide"? "

They need to re-imagine The Rockford Files....and Columbo....Maybe the two could team up.,..

So larry yun thinks prices go up 4% while mortgage rates go up 15% (not to 15%, an increase of 15%). Good luck with that.

shill wrote:

That's 'Therapist', Mr. Connery.

Here's the link, for those who haven't watched that particular nugget from Saturday Night Live...

YouTube - Celebrity Jeopardy - Therapists

Boat living TV character: Am I thinking of Quincy M.E.? Oh good lord, please say no!!

sdtfs wrote:

Miami Vice?

Maybe, I never got into Miami Vice. Or Dr. Quincy, for that matter.

I'm Canadian, so it was probably the Beachcombers.

And no, don't bother looking that relic of a television show up.

must say goodbye to all 7 of you that don't have me on IGNORE,
7's a good number - 7 against Thebes, The return of the 7 against Thebes,
the 7 samurai and finally the magnificent 7 and lets not forget 7 the movie...
those 7 will be privy to my special vid mash up on the Squid Vampire ---

duke

They need to re-imagine The Rockford Files.

The re-imagined Kojak lasted.. what 4 shows ?
~splat

I'm waiting for your short movie Duke.

Volker, I like the chart ... and it does illustrate two key points: 1) Housing leads the economy into and out of recessions except when it doesn't, and 2) employment lags except when it doesn't.

fixed it for ya.

95-05 does not follow trend

splat wrote:

The chief FANTACIST for the National Association of Realtors

What makes someone an "economist". Seems to me anybody with enough confidence to call themselves one, is.

Let's see the vid, duke.

ac wrote:

One might say that the same kind of Darwinian notions that seem to govern biological progress seem to govern economic progress.

I blame the "super predators", , et al..................

Appeal to KCoop:

The 'ignore user' link on the right side is way too easily and unintentionally activated by a scrolling cursor movement (on the slider bar). I check every few days, and I find users on my ignore list that I didn't intend to ignore.

I suggest that the 'ignore user' link go right after the time/date, or (better) only be activated by a popup that says 'do you intend to ignore this commenter (yes/no).

I don't think I'm the only person having this problem.

JimPortlandOR wrote:

I don't think I'm the only person having this problem.

Everyone on mine is correct. Try changing your screen size or scrolling from a different place-

ac wrote:

come to the conclusion that economies need to be reset or go through some "cataclysmic" change in order to restore prosperity

Well, I look at the economy and markets more like a slow motion poker game where the sharks attract the unsuspecting bait, allowing them some wins and then as the the evening draws to a close they storm the table and sweep all the chips off. That's the cataclysmic event.

Sharks, your winnings, sirs.

From prev thread:

Duke:

you do know how to use your eyeballs don't you... what about all those ads on various websites, do you read each one?
the problem is one you've discounted one day produce that part of a puzzle you've been searching for for some time and
you missed it... " consistently bring little to the discussion... how Arrogant!

1. I don't see any ads. None. Nada. Zilch. Requires about 30 seconds of browser config.
2. Could well miss a big piece of the puzzle. But that's what probability is all about: I think the puzzle pieces are more likely to be provided by some than others. Maybe Jas has all the keys, in which case I'll just miss out. I got too many pieces to sort thru as it is.
3. Arrogant? You bet. I absolutely judge whether somebody is worth my time or not.

I invoke the Volker response: When accused of being a sonabitch who smoked cheap cigars, he replied "I don't smoke cheap cigars."

bearly wrote:

That's the cataclismic event.

But, that description could just a easily be a summary of History 101. Or "There's a sucker born every minute".

The peasants role in life is getting screwed. They are the krill of the sea.

I didn't even know there was a dingo.

Probably because you have dingo on ignore.

I don't remember a dingo either.

I see Obama and his crew standing around a Ford F-150 with the hood up. Next to them is a Crown Vic. Obama climbs behind the wheel and cranks it and cranks it. They say "No problem Mr. President. We will hit with the Stim Charger."

Later, they return, put in the battery. Crank it and it just grinds."

"Bring up the Crown Vic!" They attach the cables agin still nothing.

From 3 spaces over Volker suggests that maybe it's not the battery. Mr. Tim whispers someting in a mike and Volker finds himself 12 spaces over now.

They put their heads together and then say "Mr. President. We are going to try it with the new Stim II super charger!"

Meanwhile a family of squirrels have found a new home in the trunk and are gnawing on the wiring.

NaRm-I don't have you on ignore.
nova-I'm waiting for your short movie Duke.
Cinco-x-I'm one; who are the other 6?
Uncle Ar-Let's see the vid, duke.
shill-I like you Duke...
JP- From prev thread: Duke:

Okay, I got six. Who's the last one?

edit:
Outsider-Duke, I rarely understand your posts, but I don't have you on ignore.

Okay that's wrap.

I don't have anyone on ignore, is 777 number 7?
edit, and Duke I am pretty sure I am on more ignore list than you...we philosophers never bring much to the table.

sdtfs do you have me on ignore? I talked to Duke too.

edit, and Duke I am pretty sure I am on more ignore list than you...we philosophers never bring much to the table.

I doubt either of you are on many at all. Both of you are entertaining.

Damn it, I want to be feared first, then loved, and then you can find me entertaining. Have to go back and practice my James Mason Captain Nemo...now there was a philosopher...

cue pipe organ music

BFF Poll is still open!
Cast your vote now!

No way. Sheila is officially on ignore.

MaryAnn wrote:

I've never put anyone on ignore, yet it says I have 3, and I don't know how to undo what I didn't do...

Don't worry, we just need to remotely reboot your HCN hub,...what's your credit card number? Of course we need it. It's your unique identifier. Hmmmm, okay, we can use your SSN instead.

Press the delete button by their names-

Isn't there a bad Cameron Diaz movie out right now with that same premise?

Thanks, it worked.

Gotta go to work,...hmmm

:Dayquil:

Wal-Mart worker dies in rush; two killed at toy store - CNN.com

Sigh. Wonder how high the Black Friday death toll will run this year?

Winston wrote:

That could be the subject of a new poll.

I refuse to bet on the probability of someone dying.

Not without odds from a reputable bookie.

Everybody find a party hat. Looks like tomorrow will be the day...

... for the debt to trip $12Trillion.

The latest treasury figure on their website is $11.986T through 11/10. But this site U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time  sez it is a matter of hours away.

Winston wrote:

That could be the subject of a new poll.

For those who must:
http://www.flymetothetomb.com/

This seems to making the rounds - I don't know who to attribute it to:

The Lloyd's Prayer

Our Chairman,
Who Art At Goldman,
Blankfein Be Thy Name.
The Rally's Come. God's Work Be Done
On Earth, As There's No Fear Of Correction.

Give Us This Day Our Daily Gains,
And Bankrupt Our Competitors
As You Taught Lehman And Bear Their Lessons.
And Bring Us Not Under Indictment.
For Thine Is The Treasury,
The House And The Senate,
Forever And Ever.

I seem to have missed it. What wal mart banking story?

Family movie night tonight, watching Up with the boys, but after they go to bed....trying to decide between The Third Man or Goldfinger....wife has not seen either (though I am pretty sure she watched Goldfinger with me once, but she denies it)...decisions, decisions...maybe a double feature but honestly I can't stay up all night like I used too. Tomorrow the dreaded pre-prep for Christmas decorations. Have to scour the attic and retrieve boxes so the wife can plan everything for day after Thanksgiving. Haven't convinced her that the winter solstice doesn't care if we don't decorate the house or not...

duke
i dont have you on ignore.

Ignore?

I've done that one better. I have some people on "uninteresting."

Can we all move on please?

Remember: Enough money makes any man sexy.

Rob Dawg wrote:

I've done that one better. I have some people on "uninteresting."

Ah yes, the 'Meh' list.

"Oh look, noob's posting again. Meh."

Cinco-X wrote:

There was a substantial volume spike on the DJIA this morning at 9:55AM, and the market momentarily went negative. Anybody know what got unloaded?
Must'a been $h!tibank (edit)

A momentary blip after the University of Michigan Sentiment Index came in much lower than the previous month and much lower than estimates. The market quickly shrugged this off.......

Boeing fouls up again:

"On the 11th of November, it was reported the "wing-fix" had been installed on the first production model, and that a first flight was now expected in late December 2009, potentially shortly before Christmas. On November 13 the Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing is facing delamination issues around the metal bolts used to fix the wing of this test aircraft. A work order written by one of Boeing's engineers states "NO FLIGHT TEST IS ALLOWED"."

Also:

"The 787 fuselage's composite could have as much as 1,000 times the electrical resistance of aluminum, increasing the risk of damage during a lightning strike. Boeing has stated that the 787's lightning protection will meet FAA requirements. FAA management is planning to relax some lightning strike requirements, which will help the 787."

Can't meet the regulations? Just eliminate them

black dog wrote:

Virginia just released its october tax revenue numbers. UGLY.
Total revenue fell 8% in october compared to october 2008.
On ytd basis, total revenues fell 7.6%, trailing the annual forecast decline of 1.6%.
Sales tax fell 5.4%. On a ytd basis, collections have fallen 5.8%, lagging the annual forecast of a decline of .4% and a policy adjusted forecast decline of 4.1%.
http://www.finance.virginia.gov/KeyDocuments/RevenueReports/FY2009-2010/revenueLetter-10-09.pdf

You have got to wonder how much lower this revenue is compared to Oct of 2007? Or Oct. 2006?

Rob Dawg wrote:

Can we all move on please?

no kidding

Bob Dobbs wrote:

To what? Boomer bashing and gold? Slow day today.

Transit and high speed rail of course.

Uncle Ar wrote:

Metals have very well known and studied properties, and give clues before failing.

I read that they were trying to use a metal technique in a composite structure. Something about cooling metal plugs in liquid nitrogen, then popping them into holes in the composite material.

Is that enough of a change of subject?

@nemo

YouTube - I'm at Sloan (ft. D-Pain) - EXPLICIT lyrics

Metals have very well known and studied properties, and give clues before failing.

That's what Slumdog keeps telling us.

sm_landlord wrote:

I read that they were trying to use a metal technique in a composite structure. Something about cooling metal plugs in liquid nitrogen, then popping them into holes in the composite material.
Is that enough of a change of subject?

Easier to cool the composite but then what do I know?

I don't think slumdog's metal will give any warning.

OK, rail then:

Schwarzenegger quietly quashed effort to improve commuter rails -- latimes.com

Nope, just count sheep (suckers)

Cinco-X wrote:

Perhaps the IRS should review Barney Frank's returns.....

You're not suggesting that monies paid for er, um oral arguments are being written off as business expenses are you?

And Virginia is doing a fine job of dealing with the change. They actually have a larger decline from peak revenue than CA, but VA can actually get some things done.

"NO FLIGHT TEST IS ALLOWED"

really?

why not ship the boeing out to midway island...load it with about a 2tons of fuel... and let that the 9/11 suspects have the controls....

Mike in Long Island wrote:

Cinco-X wrote:
Perhaps the IRS should review Barney Frank's returns.....
You're not suggesting that monies paid for er, um oral arguments are being written off as business expenses are you?

Certainly not seeing as the assets had not yet matured .

Uncle Ar wrote:

ouch.

Taking a "page" out of the "play book" are we?

So let's say hackers destroy some of that electrical grid infrastructure 60minutes warned us about....not only do we have to wait for the parts from China, since we don't make them here, quite possibly have to wait for the tools too, since we don't make them here anymore either...who needs a tiny microcomputer blown away with a sneeze....this is more frightening....blame it on calculators...country went to hell when we stopped using slide-rules.

ResistanceIsFeudal wrote:

Do smart amoral scumbags dream or even sleep?

Only of amoral things.

Interestingly, Jacobs' sales are at least $1 million per employee.

Jacobs' parent, Danaher Corporation, which owns about 250 tool companies, refused comment on the offshore move.

the topic du jour based on this data should be....

If oil production numbers are showing field by field decline rates of 5.8%, then at what rate do we slow down the economy...

i think tptb are actually doing a great job of obfuscation w/economy

Which big country will default first? By Martin Hutchinson

Of the world's six largest economies, three have budget and public debt positions that if allowed to fester will push those nations into bankruptcy (the seventh largest, Italy, also has a budget and debt position that is highly vulnerable, but its problems appear chronic rather than acute).

Given the proclivities of modern politicians for delaying pain and avoiding problems, it is likely that festering is just what those positions will do. So which major country, the United States, Japan or Britain, will default first on its foreign debt?

noob goldberg wrote:

I'm pretty sure we're going to see a high-speed rail project proposed in Southern Ontario. Windsor-Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa corridor.

Fredericton to Vancouver actually makes sense. Skip Toronto and the cost and performance will be great. Google "snow sheds"

NOTaREALmerican wrote:

Even in Germany & France 110 mph is the average long distance end-to-end speed for most routes (most trains stop at intermediate stations AND use existing terminals and existing track at moderate speed within cities).

Thanks for the analysis. The one thing about Toronto which lends itself more to trains is that the airport is a good 40-45 minutes from downtown, depending on traffic. If the train would drop me off downtown, I'd be more inclined to take it for those meetings. However, since most people hate heading downtown from the airport, a whole conference centre infrastructure has built up around the airport, so maybe there would still be demand for air travel just to end up right at the conference.

But I do love the train, if only it was a little faster. No security, cheap first class tickets, and loads of leg room. Wonderful.

Cinco-X wrote:

but its problems appear chronic rather than acute

That's an interesting comment. Perhaps all these counties are just "chronically" screwed-up and will never collapse.

It is a composite base decline rate of 6.7%, but let's be clear what that means - if we didn't drill a single new well, that is how fast the production would go down over the whole planet (according to the IEA) - not that the current global production rate is declining at that rate.

President Obama is going to China next week, starting in Shanghai and then ending up in Beijing. The White House is already trying to lower expectations, and that's a good thing. The Chinese are not going to budge on anything important. They may not budge on anything at all.

Why should they? The Obama administration has yet to give them a reason to be cooperative. For one thing, the White House and the State Department are still struggling with China policy. They started by ditching the old formulation of China being a "responsible stakeholder" in the international community.

The 60minutes program implied otherwise, but maybe I misunderstood. I thought the show was suggesting that a city could be without power for weeks based on these 'hacker' threats and lack of parts and manufacturing infrastructure. That was on Sunday though, football day for me, so my brain was on vacation, could have got it all wrong.

train porn
Very High Performance | Bombardier ZEFIRO | A New Sense of Speed
YouTube - ALSTOM AGV (360km/h), successor to TGV

ResistanceIsFeudal wrote:

Electrical infrastructure is one of the few things we still manufacture here and it's primarily for our own use.

Really? I know in BC the big gear is outsourced to one of a few dominant producers globally

EvilHenryPaulson wrote:

train porn

Interesting.

Kelo decision disasterous insulting conclusion:
Pfizer has pulled out, leaving a wasteland.
Pfizer to Leave City That Won Land-Use Suit - NY Times

The Kelo decision hurt me.
It was one of my final illusion-killers.
CR, I think you should feature this.

Can't help myself, don't hate me:

Thread music:
Canadian Railroad Trilogy

Canada and trains, what can I say...

NOTaREALmerican wrote:

Would be tough to match Paris or Frankfurt tho.

I love Paris and the metro/RER. Although I'm sure I would be in phenomenal shape if I had to use it everyday. Sometimes you have to walk forever just to cross the street, it seems

Noob:I love Paris and the metro/RER. Although I'm sure I would be in phenomenal shape if I had to use it everyday. Sometimes you have to walk forever just to cross the street, it seems

Ahhh, the real reason he doesn't want his photo on his company's web site.

Uncle Ar wrote:

Ahhh, the real reason he doesn't want his photo on his company's web site.

Heh, I could certainly stand to lose a few pounds, no question, but I'm not a land whale. Thank goodness for height...

noob goldberg wrote:

A rail track into downtown is complicated, but it's really just a tunnel and a 10 foot by 200 foot

The odd are, the track is already there. That's what allot of people don't realize about European and Japanese high-speed trains. The only new track is usually between cities, but the new route connects with existing routes to get into most cities.

But, two train tracks with modern signaling can handle a huge number of people. Two track is about 30'. Which is roughtly 2 lanes of road also.

Got the following from TBP ref. Nat Gas:

What are the pros and cons of using NG? Is it just cost of implementation? I like the 'less polluting than coal' for power generation possibilities. Comments please!

*From the desk of T. Boone Pickens

Army.

We reached our goal of 120 bi-partisan cosponsors of the NAT GAS Act (H.R. 1835) way before 11/20.

Our efforts are having an impact!

You know the numbers on natural gas: 2,000 trillion cubic feet of reserves in the continental United States; more than 100 years worth -- enough to fuel our heavy truck fleet, provide electrical power to our homes and businesses, plenty for cooking and heating, and more than enough remaining for other crucial uses like fertilizer and chemical production.

Congressmen Dan Boren (D-OK), John Sullivan (R-OK), and John Larson (D-CT) have shown true leadership in helping their colleagues to see how important passing the NAT GAS Act is to America's energy future.

We are keeping the pressure on, and we've got our eye on the goal: Get this bill passed in the House and the Senate, signed into law by President Obama, and begin reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

If you haven't already, click here to email your Member of Congress today and ask them to cosponsor this important legislation.

Let's keep this momentum going.

Boone

*

ac wrote:

One might say that the same kind of Darwinian notions that seem to govern biological progress seem to govern economic progress.

It depends whether you believe in punctuated equilibrium which is what I believe happens with social system.

Lets face it the current system is working brilliantly for a small group of people and those people are the ones who are in charge of the system. The notion of a reset makes absolutely no sense to them- everything as far as they are concerned was going well. The only ill effect for them was that decline in the stock market and other asset values. The Fed. is taking care of that problem and in fact life is better for them than before because the cost personal services s declining with the increased unemployment rate. Blanken(whatever) is presumably not a stupid man so when he says the things he says it is because he actually does believe that.. Do you think that this kind of system is amenable to small evolutionary changes.

I think we will get a change- unfortunately it is more likely to be right wing nuts taking over than it is going to be left wing nuts. Evolutionary change doesn't necessarily have to be for the better.