chuck kottke

I'm numerically oriented!

Hello. Nice Sig!

I can understand banning short selling in a severe panic - but the government did this during regular market conditions? Hmm.. I recall doing some calculations many years back, and figuring out current assets, increasing profits, and future earning for several companies & their stocks, and came to realize the value of the stock was still way over that figure. Or, at least it seemed so to me! It's all speculative, so I could have been off - but in a market that keeps rising and rising, just how much is real, and how much is fluff is the question I would be curious to see answered. And what did we do before derivatives? Hmm.. There were some problems no doubt with not being able to spread risk.. Still seems wise to take the big money out of politics. Please take a look at the bit on 60-minutes, and tell me what mistakes in reporting the story they made: http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/197/credit_default_swaps

Jay, thanks for the explanation! So then it does all boil down to the sub-prime loans being passed off as Grade-A stock? So, what was the reason that 60-minutes added the issue of the derivatives?? But the reasons for the defaults, I still think a lot of good people were hoodwinked. What I've seen suggests that many people fall into a spell when they're buying something, and plus they may have trusted the financial institution that had lured them in - I for one came close to taking out a loan without consistent employment - it would have been a mistake at the time, but the banks were perfectly willing to go ahead with it. Still, if it was because of allowing or insisting banks offer these loans by legislative effort, then the problem of marketing politicians and selling themselves is a serious issue. Ironically, reform of the candidate race process seems essential to stabilize the economy. Still, the reference on 60-minutes, the quote I got from it related something else as the culprit - the same institutions (offering the sub-prime loans as Grade A stock) lobbied to prevent oversight of the markets - that's a direct suggestion that the corruption in American politics played a key role in the financial meltdown...

Welcome to the world's greatest board!! YAY!!

It was bound to happen. Florida's thirst for oil could not be quenched with orange juice alone, and millions of Floridians are switching from bicycles and golf carts to autos, prompting a huge surge in the demand for oil.:P

Uno cerveza, vino, o agua? :cool:

:sunny::hippy::hippy::sunny::hippy::sunny: Welcome to the wildest show on Earth!!!:P:bandana: Enjoy , and please tell us what makes this site utterly fascinating?:laugh3:

Did the Turkeys come to eat all the cupcakes?:P:P:P Same here - they are funny - they keep roosting on the walkway railing - jostling one-another for position.. Hmm.. I wonder how wild turkey tastes?:laugh3:

And what would the Hindu God Shiva have to say??

Spare a turkey, slice a chicken?? A turkey flew into our shop window the other day - probably retaliation for the up-coming turkey season..

Hola Chueko! How is Argentina tonight? Cual es tonight?

Sunny Hello! :daisy::sunny:Hola!

A really big bible is useful for pressing flowers and leaves. I think if we just boil it down to what makes a better outcome for everyone and ourselves in society, that's all you really need - the golden rule. Trying to explain natural phenomenon as god's divine will is a very human-centered approach, and one that looks more and more inaccurate as scientific knowledge unveils the deeper truths. Best as I can figure, the challenges we're faced with are here to help us learn, and to overcome by trying smarter ways. Aspire to a higher plane of consciousness, to have real compassion for others, and to follow the path that is right for you; to work well with others, and seek common accomplishment & joy, as well as individual accomplishments. Basically, there are many walks in life, and as long as we respect the paths of others, accept that our paths be respected in kind, and gently correct our ways, and accept correction if we become too selfish or too stubborn. - it's all just common sense, to adhere to our better angels, but not to take life too seriously all the time.. To me, the old testament is an older, harsher morality play - and sometimes incorrect. There's way too much stick, too harsh are the punishments, and it's pretty severe. The new testament is better, as Jesus is portrayed as the healer, the individual that takes a stand against injustice knowing the penalty he will pay, and holds firm to his generosity to the end. He is the embodiment of compassion, justice, and selflessness, against all odds. But in some ways, Mohamed says this: in essence - 'all men, women, and children are equal in the eyes of god' - which was a daring thing to do, as it nearly cost him his life. So, to me, looking at all the good things in every religion, to say one is the only way, or that all others are false is myopic and incorrect. Humanity's progress is the result of many motivators, and many approaches to social consciousness.

I'm a member of the Garden Party! Here's something that's got me confused - or amazed and dazed?: We have something like a 12-Trillion Dollar economy here in the U.S. (this is based on vague recollection - am I correct on this or not?) And the derivatives market here is something like 63 Trillion dollars. This is essentially the side-bets that are being placed on whether stocks will rise or fall, and at what rate. (Y/N?) But that's not sensible to me - I always thought a share of stock should be worth what that company is really worth, as a percentage of the total assets and profitability, divided by the number of shares. (or, at least that's what I thought a share was supposed to represent?) Now after some searching, it looks like shares are all over-valued, and the derivatives market is like the fluffy topping on top of the pie - mostly air, and made extra-sweet so everyone wants some. But it would suggest that derivative part (pure fluff) is 84%, and the "real" filling part (half-fluff) is 16% of the total market here. (Y/N?) What's troubling me is that - this is mostly imaginary. How do we being it down to earth in a soft landing? Or, how do we make the derivative market more real, if that's even possible??

I'm thinking not all is lost! Eveything's not lost.. We've weathered worse storms, and it's maybe a good thing in the end - makes us reflect, and choose a better course. The future will be better - because we will stitch the fabric together into a better form - a more natural form.

Happy Thanksgiving Canada !!:chef::chef::chef:

Some say we should just let the markets sort it all out - but good god, that's a pretty rough way to solve a problem! We simply have got to get corruption out of government, so those who are our representatives in any station look after everyone's best interest, and have cool heads.. I'm all for markets, but within a framework of civil society. Marx wasn't wrong totally - Labor is essentially where the real work gets done. But every part of the system has a role to play that improves the final result - from stable families, education, applied technology, design and re-design of systems, integrating those systems into society with respect to human health and the broad environment. Competition, tempered with Cooperation. Our collective effort gets things done, and there's a wider place for sharing and caring than for self-interested motivators in society, but that largely goes unnoticed.

...Derivatives market is 63 Trillion?? Quite the house of cards!! -wish we would improve working wages, and help the average person get off the credit cards - seems that when too many costs are heaped on the backs of average persons, and then they're sold a bill of goods (homes with mortgage rates that triple in 3 years), and they're being sweet-talked into signing without knowing - some might say it's their fault, but when the desire is strong, people often jump in blind. Then we let brokerage firms trade sub-prime loans as Grade-A stocks - that's what started the collapse, followed by instability with the derivatives - seems like time for some real reforms and some real honest regulations..

I only know Lithuanians! Although, they're all Balkan states. Hmm... Let's see - here's a carton of Sea Buckthorn Nectar in front of me (sorry, no digital camera yet.). Looks just like the things you see on American orange juice cartons! (but sea berries instead of oranges) What are you trying to market to them, anyhow? In all truth, Dave says no naked people on the images, but sex always sells ;-] What's considered OK and what's not, that's the question. And, if you're marketing to children, young adults, married people, seniors, etc. makes a big difference. Target audience?? What I'm afraid works well is what Madison Avenue cooks up - which makes things too homogenized and over-stimulated just about everywhere, not to mention destroys a lot of local culture and unique foods, etc. - often healthier stuff gets shoved aside, since it's easy to get people hooked on sugar, fat, sexy stuff, etc. etc. Hmm.. I'm a radical on this whole area - I had better not say too much! LOL!

Please, please take a look at what Pallast has to say - I'm urging you - or else, it's back to 1984...

In summary, if you vote, go as a mob! Then bring a self-defense guide, and a small team of legal experts. If you recently have lost your home, have slight variations in your name, or are facing foreclosure (see Detroit's working-class neighborhoods, for example), you may be issued a wonderful provisional ballot; which can be contested by a Republican with a blackberry. However, if you live on a reservation in an area where there's lots of Uranium, then the individual with the blackberry could be a Democrat. (it depends). In short, Pallast, a reporter for the BBC, says basically the law passed to disenfranchise poor people here. He suggests fighting back by voting early (some states allow this), but not by absentee ballot. Then, if your ballot is contested, there's plenty of time to fight it and prove that you do exist, and that you are a U.S. Citizen (unless of course you're Canadian or English or Spanish or Mexican, or are from "those other places" and cannot hold dual citizenship). If you want to vote here, please buy a home in Detroit (only $9.99, plus shipping and handling, tax and license included), and then file citizenship papers. Actually, first, move to a country where we haven't filled our quotas yet, and your home will be waiting for you when you get here! (& bring some tools and paint)). Vote. Then, having saved the world from tyranny, you may elect to stay or go back.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article 20984.htm Greg Pallast discusses purging voters from the rolls in the U.S. by new I.D. requirements under the "Help America Vote Act" that Bush pushed through the U.S. Congress. It's disenfranchising tens of thousands of citizens (some estimates of up to 3 million citizens) from voting by making it necessary to have a driver's license or passport to prove citizenship, and all the government databases with a given name for an address must match exactly, or the voter is taken off the rolls of eligible voters. (For example, Robert Kennedy Jr.'s name has to be listed exactly as-is for a number of government databases, so for example if the "Jr." is left off, then they could purge his name from the rolls). Suggestions to help make sure your vote counts, if you are a US Citizen. There's another movement to make it the law to use the popular vote for selecting the President here as well - so people in places like Puerto Rico, Guam, the Marianas, as well as getting a more accurate count from the U.S. States will count in the Presidential races. Basically, a movement to guarantee our Right to Vote as citizens.

Polygraph for all politicians.

Here's a letter to the editor of my local paper - fat chance that they will publish it, being the partisan paper they are - but maybe they will by sheer accident! .. Dear Editor, I'm a bit outraged at how long we've let big money influence politics, and now we're reaping the bad harvest of that corruption. We in this nation allowed the selling of sub-prime loans as Grade-A stock on the markets?? I'll cast my vote for the candidate offering better regulation & oversight! Firms that created a shadow market (derivatives) & lobbied to keep it deregulated, are now running for cover. The big nut to crack, as I see it, is Campaign Finance, and the dire need for Real Reform. When we allow those with the biggest donations to buy off legislators, and thus weaken oversight, it's bound to lead to trouble. (Ironically, even if it catches up to them in the end too!) So square one is getting honest government elected. My thoughts on this: Limit contributions to 2/365th of the median income (about $260 per voting age citizen), eliminate attack ads and any candidate endorsements on TV, open up the airwaves equally for all candidates of any party in return for broadcaster's use of the commons, and allow only real people to donate to a candidate's campaign. Democracy starts with the will of We, The People being expressed! The Right of Fair Elections, and the Right of Fair Campaigns or Contests for office is essential to safeguard all of our other rights combined. Another words, if the referee is working for the betterment of all, and has equal backing of all the fans and participants, then the refs do their job to keep the game fair, and raise the standards to a higher level. The ideal might be hard to achieve, but we need to move in that direction, or we'll be in for train derailment after derailment, as we are currently witnessing. With All Sincerity, -Chuck.