With the opening and eating pretty much out of the way, except for the leftovers, we continue the Big Adventure of Life with what to do today. If you’re a government employee, seems odds are good you won’t be going to work, since this is the day Christmas is observed which means, near as I can figure, no bills will be arriving…YET.
Depending on how cash-strapped your local city or municipality is, parking meters will, or will not, be working today. Did you happen to catch the stories about parking meter rates in Chicago going up in 2012?
Reading about this, I’m struck by the numeracy issue in the press: To read accounts, it seems like some places will be harder hit, because their rates will go up 50 cents to $3.50 per hour while other places will only go up 25-cents to $1.75 an hour.
No matter – that’s a 16.6% increase, but since His Rahmness was part of the gang in Washington that keeps pulling the wool on real inflation, I expect Chicagoans will continue blythly unaware of the situation.
Say, doesn’t the mayor usually get free parking? I most cities that’s the case, and I expect if there were a little “field leveling”…but no matter, it’s a done deal for 75-years in Chicago – just like selling toll highway revenues have become vogue in places like Texas.
Soft Selling Election Fraud Charges
Not too much news in the Western press about the 100,000, or so, that turned out in Russian for anti voter-fraud demonstrations against Vlad Putin’s party. Huge numbers of people peacefully assembling doesn’t seem to be news.
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And the global press is having fun meantime with the poor coverage of Ron Paul. First on his walking off an interview after a reporter asked the same question three different ways, which was serious over-fishing, in my view.
Then there’s coverage of how how Paul is being “smeared” by the MSM in America.
No worries – apparently the global press hasn’t gotten the word yet: Do as we say, not as we do.
Madness of Markets
Asian markets were up – but in very thin trading. Some of Europe is closed, as is the NYSE for the day-after holiday. Funny thing is, all three of the major indices (Dow, S&P, and NASDAQ) could finish the year in the win column. But don’t hold your breath just yet.
The reason is I’d have to point out (I’ve been called things like “dog in the manger” for saying this stuff) that since the official rate of inflation is 3.4% (November t hrough November) that the Dow and the other indicies will have to at least make 2.4% gain just to stay even on a purchasing power basis.
Housing Ahead
I’ll be going back to bed in a few minutes, after another pass by the fridge for a mouthful of leftovers, because I need to conserve my strength for tomorrow’s report which will be the regular morning diatribel and then within 15-minutes, or so, we’ll have the special update on the Case Shiller/S&P Housing report due out.
Of all the numbers that matter, this one is huge. There aren’t too many numbers that mean more, except maybe your retirement account balance and how returns are there: This is the one that gives the clearest-eyed view of what’s really going on in the Housing market – more on that in Sunday’s Peoplenomics report for subscribers.
Killing Time
No more sardonic end to the “Peace on Earth” hype than a quick check of headlines to see how humans really operate:
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A Google search of Syria plus “killed” scores – 13 to 20 depending on report
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Iraq posted five dead overnight
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Then there are “dozens” killed in Nigerian fighting which seems over 40 now
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Afghanistan bombing killed scores including a member of their parliament
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Here in Texas, seven people were killed in what looks like a multiple murder-suicide.
Bottom line: If we were to take all the murders, rapes, robberies, muggings, and unjust human behavior and weave them into a very closely fitted timeline, I’m better “Peace on Earth, good will towaqrd men” only lasted about a second – maybe three, tops. Makes you proud to be a human, doesn’t it?
Marketing the Military
The Orlando Sentinel’s Religiou World page is maybe not one of your usually stopping points, but did you happen to catch their report on how our Defense Department is allowing Muslim headgear to be worn at JROTC meetings?
Got to admit: This is brilliant marketing. What better way to go conquesting than to show happy Muslims in US uniforms when we go marching into Syria, Yemen, or Egypt?
Changing Hands
You did see where the Islamaists are picking up a huge majority in Egypt?
Government in Yemen has been shooting to kill at protesters.
You see why the headgear could be considered a marketing ploy?
Something’s Missing
I trust you saw the CNET article “Microsoft: Five things to look for in 2012“?
Seems to me they’re skipping the biggie: Who’s going to implement the Stop ONline Piracy Act – which is to say, who do you think is going to implement the US version of thought control and censorship here? And I’d just bet if you were to look at companies who have been involved in China’s programs, there’d be a handful of US companies who aren’t exactly shouting about their hand in social control there.
It’s been the beta, dude!
Money in Bad Behavior
So here’s the question: Is the Obama administration doing the right thing by moving on legislation which would allow states to do more gambling? Online poker and so forth could raise billions, but let me ask you something:
Is state-sponsorship of gambling responsible?
In George-Land there is already too much gambling: Gambling on getting a job, gambling on a positivew payback froim a college education, gambling on marriage working out, gambling on whether having kids in today’s world makes sense, gambling on who’s fit to hold the Office of the President and lead us… my list is pretty impressive and most of it gives poor marks to what?
State-sponsored gambling.
More after this:
