MSimon

Global Warming Models: 'Out of Order'?

"we need to determine what practical steps can be taken to slow and mitigate climate change (whatever its causes) "

If you get the cause wrong the solution set might be useless. Mirrors/shields in space are the only answer. That way - warmer or cooler - we can do something.

10 Reasons to Believe That We're in a Depression

" Speak for yourself...I'm not jumping off anything. Me thinketh this country is far too spoiled, still/yet, to understand the modest adjustments that need to be made by the national collective and that this adjustment takes time. The world cannot continue to allow 5% of the worlds population (USA) to feel entitled to 25% of the worlds resources."

Uh. We pay for them. That is not an entitlement program.

10 Reasons to Believe That We're in a Depression

The Tigers of Asia (esp China and Japan) are growing old faster than the USA. Russia is losing 1 million people a year and Europe is hitting a Demographic wall.

Depression - most likely. Count America out? Not yet.

Oil: Supply and Demand? Hardly!

"Where will the world be when the oil industry has all the money? "

Where will the oil cos get customers if they have all the money?

Oil: Supply and Demand? Hardly!

"To say speculators are not driving it up is a joke. You only need to look at inventories to see that. But investors have proven they can't see such things."

Lots of people knew there was a housing bubble before the market broke. Lots of people knew there was a tulip bubble before the market broke.

BTW taxing energy is not the way to fix the oil/energy problem.

1. The government will just waste the money.
2. Raising the cost of everything is no way to induce a recovery.

Oil: Supply and Demand? Hardly!

New methods of drilling will make it economical to recover oil from smaller pockets and drill deeper.

Right now drilling costs rise exponentially with the depth of the well. New methods promise linear costs vs depth.

Some links:

www.azom.com/news.asp?...

www.sciencedaily.com/r...

www.dallasnews.com/sha...

www.technovelgy.com/ct...

Market: Spooked Today, But Panic Attack Is Likely Temporary

"I got a stock tip from a stripper"

Wait 'til I tell my mate "Honey I have to go to the nudie bar to judge market sentiment". It could make investing in the market a LOT more popular. Or at least doing the research on the fundamentals.

Market: Spooked Today, But Panic Attack Is Likely Temporary

I wrote a bit on the bad fundamentals in the market:

powerandcontrol.blogsp...

The Intrinsic Value of Nothing, Part 1

When some one finds that first 100,000 ton asteroid of 10% gold and brings it back to earth the gold bugs are going to scream. Because the "money supply" will be wildly inflated.

Same thing happened with the cyanide process.

powerandcontrol.blogsp...

The Intrinsic Value of Nothing, Part 1

And of course now a days diamonds have considerable use value. And when we begin using them in large quantities in semiconductors they will have even more use value.

Now consider the use value of sand (rightly prepared).

The Intrinsic Value of Nothing, Part 1

I suggest keeping gold for the big purchases and iron for the small change.

Of course a lumber economy could work really well. You carry a few boards around for your purchases and just cut off what you need. No doubt some politician would soon be giving a Cross of Wood speech.

Where's the Outrage at the Banks?

Drew Horn,

Actually it is worse than the big money guys. Bill Lockyer put it to the legislature in California: It is the legislators and the voters who want something for nothing. Get it. The VOTERS.

See the 2 minute video:

powerandcontrol.blogsp...

The enviros want the property owners to take the hit to protect the Mexican tit mouse. The poor people want to soak the rich. The rich want to gouge the poor. The politicians want their 10% coming and going. The Party is over friends. Time to sober up.

We can pull out of this We Are Americans. It will take a LOT of hard work. Something few are interested in. I see it all over America. I teach my kids: do your very best put in extra effort. You will go far. Why? Because most people just put in enough effort to get by. There is only one mark to strive for Excellence.

Once America gets back to Excellence all the rest will work out.

Where's the Outrage at the Banks?

chris coonan:

You were in the business and didn't know it was a house of cards?

I'm told the market is picking up for electronic engineers.

Where's the Outrage at the Banks?

"I have no problem with businesses making money by providing customers with service of value. I do have a problem with businesses that gouge folks [e.g., banks, insurance, pharmaceutical companies, used car sales companies, lawyers, investment companies, etc.]."

You left out the gas company, the oil company, the electric company, the water company, doctors, the airlines, shipping companies, railroads, grocery stores, meat markets, shoe stores, clothing stores, car repairs, Microsoft, Apple, the movie industry, accountants, dentists, in fact any one who sells anything is suspect. They all need to start selling low and buying high - from you.

No one is gouging you. (Except the government) All you have to do to stop the gouging is walk every where you go and freeze in the winter and fry in the summer. That will stop the rip offs. As soon as you want something they have you.

Where's the Outrage at the Banks?

We thus stand at a crossroads for American capitalism. One path would channel popular rage into political support for some genuinely pro- market reforms, even if they do not serve the interests of large financial firms. By appealing to the best of the populist tradition, we can intro- duce limits to the power of the financial industry—or any business, for that matter — and restore those fundamental principles that give an ethical dimension to capitalism: freedom, meritocracy, a direct link between reward and effort, and a sense of responsibility that ensures that those who reap the gains also bear the losses. This would mean abandoning the notion that any firm is too big to fail, and putting rules in place that keep large financial firms from manipulating government connections to the detriment of markets. It would mean adopting a pro-market, rather than pro-business, approach to the economy.

from:

www.dynamist.com/weblo...