tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post113527791320735486..comments2024-03-28T23:39:08.616-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: Some Good News... for a change...David Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1135812870073569972005-12-28T15:34:00.000-08:002005-12-28T15:34:00.000-08:00@ thane walkup,Yeah, I should have put a caveat in...@ thane walkup,<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I should have put a caveat in my post - everyone needs to struggle with seeing reality and not their perception of it, and to the gold fiends the answer is always "buy gold." That is why I wanted to get some smart, independent opinions here.<BR/><BR/>But notice that was not an interest rate, that was an increase in inflation - basic economics - if you print more money, the money is worth less per unit, even if it is only backed by our imagination. Couple that with oil selling in Euros and then everyone will see that, if its not naked, the Emperor Dollar is at least not fully dressed.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, an interesting piece to the puzzle of the present...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1135787582162708532005-12-28T08:33:00.000-08:002005-12-28T08:33:00.000-08:00I'm not too concerned about the change in interest...I'm not too concerned about the change in interest rates - I did some poking around their site, and they appear to be one of those "OMGBUYGOLDNOW!!!111oneoneone" sites, that believes money not backed by precious metals is completely unstable and unsuitable for financial usage. Of course, using gold as a basis for financial transactions has many of the same inherent issues that using printed money does - that it is only valued so long as the people are willing to accept that it has value.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1135784259790502892005-12-28T07:37:00.000-08:002005-12-28T07:37:00.000-08:00Just a minor nitpick:" 51-year stretch between the...Just a minor nitpick:<BR/>" 51-year stretch between the battle of Waterloo in 1815 and the Austro-Prussian war of 1866"<BR/><BR/>Umm ... Crimean War ring any bells? France, Britain, Turkey vs Russia? OK< so none of them were exactly practicing all-out warfare at the time, but stillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1135627498601833542005-12-26T12:04:00.000-08:002005-12-26T12:04:00.000-08:00The statistics on fewer killed in war is not neces...The statistics on fewer killed in war is not necessarily because of more accurate weapons but because in the 1990 on there have been dozens of nonviolent conflicts in place of “Hot” wars. For Example Russia, Philippines, Ukraine and Bolivia. For example in one report I saw in the last century the world averaged ten civilians killed for each solder killed. In Iraq since 1991 over one million have died as the result of our invasions and economic sanctions, mostly from disease and malnutrition. Aproxemently 100,000 have been directly killed by the US military in the wars. So as far as Iraq goes it lived up to the ten to one ratio.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1135430569612185452005-12-24T05:22:00.000-08:002005-12-24T05:22:00.000-08:00That is extremely scary monetary policy for the US...That is extremely scary monetary policy for the US.<BR/><BR/>Ceasing to publish the M3 is just an increase in secrecy - of itself a bad idea, but might be meaningless.<BR/><BR/>Raising inflation rates to 16.7% isn't good. Reasons should be obvious. (I suspect it amounts to a stealth 16.7% tax).<BR/><BR/>The really dangerous point (for the US) does, however, appear to be Iran's changing to Euro-denominated oil. It is believed that one of the main reasons for the recent strength of the dollar on the international currency markets is that with the rise in oil prices, people need to buy more dollars than ever in order to buy oil. Therefore people are buying them even when the balance of trade is risible and other indicators are bad to horrible. With Iranian oil switching to Euros (and others probably following), that gives people a lot less reason to buy dollars - meaning that the dollar is in quite serious danger, especially if other oil producing nations follow suit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1135415806465594662005-12-24T01:16:00.000-08:002005-12-24T01:16:00.000-08:00Happy holidays all!Scary tidbit: " REL="nofollow">...Happy holidays all!<BR/><BR/>Scary tidbit: <A HREF="http://www.safehaven.com/article-4331.htm<br/>" REL="nofollow">over at safehaven</A><BR/><BR/>Basically, the Fed is hiding a key economic indicator (M3) for the first time since it was founded in 1913. The Fed also created $192 billion over the past 6 weeks, which is equivalent to a 16.7% inflation rate. Lots of Fed Presidents are resigning. Iran is selling their oil in Euros, not dollars.<BR/><BR/>Can anyone confirm for this poor engineer that this is really scary monetary policy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1135378943968781272005-12-23T15:02:00.000-08:002005-12-23T15:02:00.000-08:00Interesting holiday nuggest, courtesy bOING-bOING:...Interesting holiday nuggest, courtesy bOING-bOING:<BR/><BR/>Soviet-era New Year's cards. The holiday had many of the trappings of Christmas, with presents under a decorated tree and a guy in a red suit (Grandfather Frost):<BR/><BR/>http://www.boingboing.net/2005/12/21/sovietera_spacetheme.html<BR/><BR/>I especially like this one:<BR/><BR/>http://www.mazaika.com/postcard/big/hny0470.jpg<BR/><BR/>StefanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1135370172160690032005-12-23T12:36:00.000-08:002005-12-23T12:36:00.000-08:00Economic issues too may be in play, with trade and...<I>Economic issues too may be in play, with trade and cross-border investment strengthening mutual interests and reducing reasons for conflict.</I><BR/><BR/>I expect that's the prime reason.<BR/><BR/>Another seems to be the nation state's ability to keep their own people 'down on the farm', so to speak, and not banging on its door for whatever reason. Trading will keep 'em busy...for a while.jomamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11059960615448444452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1135305873456842092005-12-22T18:44:00.000-08:002005-12-22T18:44:00.000-08:00----off topic (but still good news), there are som...----<BR/>off topic (but still good news), there are some nice items at WC (as ever):<BR/>- how to <A HREF="http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/003903.html" REL="nofollow">'go solar'</A> (in the snow!)<BR/>- <A HREF="http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/003905.html" REL="nofollow">Flattening Business Heirarchies</A>. (heh! Maybe Al Qaedda will get us to be more like them: but *not* in the way they intend ;-)<BR/><BR/>----<BR/>off topic (and not such good news): The UK government has <A HREF="http://foia.blogspot.com/2005/12/al-jazeera-memo-i-received-this-reply.html" REL="nofollow">replied</A> to the FOI request for the Blair/Bush memo, in which it is alleged that Bush proposed bombing Al Jazeera news headquarters. <BR/><BR/>Unsurprisingly, the request has been rejected (it's apparently prejudicial to state relations. A cynic might interpret that as: 'George wouldn't approve.' Especially after the Downing Street memos, which clearly state the US intentions to invade Iraq *pre* 9/11)<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://dontbomb.blogspot.com/2005/12/request-for-memo-declined.html" REL="nofollow">Mohammed</A> at Al Jazeera notes the interesting wording: <BR/>'<I>I can confirm that the Cabinet Office holds information which is relevant to your request</I>'<BR/><BR/>He interprets that as proof, but without the wording of the original request, I couldn't possibly comment.<BR/><BR/>Oh,well! Since I'm about 19 hours closer to the stocking rush than most of you folks, I'll bid you seasons greetings now.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/christmastruce.htm" REL="nofollow">The war's over!</A> Merry Christmas!Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1135288459749073652005-12-22T13:54:00.000-08:002005-12-22T13:54:00.000-08:00Fascinating and creepy . . .SF author Kathryn Cram...Fascinating and creepy . . .<BR/><BR/>SF author Kathryn Cramer looks into the background of one of the security consulting companies that have sprung up to compete for Homeland Security and defense contractor dollars:<BR/><BR/>http://www.kathryncramer.com/kathryn_cramer/2005/12/consultants_adv.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com