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Post by sigurdur on Feb 19, 2013 16:13:35 GMT
In all of this.....it all boils down to the cost of energy.
Energy is used not only for transportation, but in everything that we do. When energy prices go up.......everything is squeezed. A long slow rise is not as noticeable. However, the continued price shocks, as of late, make for unease in the economy.
The USA is trying to emulate Spain, in regards to non fossil fuel elec generation. I would say doing so was not very wise. But then, even when faced with certain ruin, some folks just do not like the human race.
And the sad thing is.....a lot of those folks are in power today.
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Post by karlox on Feb 19, 2013 20:15:24 GMT
A musing of the Chiefio that covers a lot of this ground "The rest of the global economy is tinker toy sized compared to the EU, USA, Japan, and China. And much of THAT is dependent / derivative. (Australian and Canadian mineral and energy sales to China, for example. Or Latin sales of minerals and oil to the USA.)
So I’m just having a little bit of trouble seeing where anyone is being frugal, living inside their means, has excess money to invest, and has customers paying in something other than evaporating promises. EU is on life support (other than Germany). USA is in debtors prison and maxing out the credit card pronto. Japan is moribund and doing a massive pay cut via devaluation. China depends on all of them to buy stuff and transfer wealth, but there is ever less wealth to transfer and ever more printed paper.
Is it just me? Does anyone else see some hope in all this?"chiefio.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/dismal-scientist-r-on-dismal-european-numbers/#comment-46827I think that there is some Fabian somewhere who with others of 'Common Purpose' has choreographed this and who is counting down to give the signal for the entire orchestrated mess to collapse under the Fabian's impression that they will win something if they crash the global economy. If it does all fall over subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa will survive it better than first world city dwellers. Interesting reading. I miss a few things thoug, like mention to weird euro-design to begin with -that´s the clue- and something else which is rather important to me: whenever comparing US, Japan, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Argentina, China... something to be taken ito account is the degree of corruption reached poluting economic social and political scenarios. For what I see and know in Spain, during the "happy-years" (even got superavit for two years, our debt was so much lower etc) there was probably well above 30% of tax fraud, B-money, etc. so if instead of becoming a B country ( I´ll write on my Blogg of Our B Country further) we could´ve been rated 8 rather than 3 in that imaginary scale 0-10, thing would have been different now... (could have had less taxes and better services, for instance) I don´t share conspiracies scenarios. I rather think that System natural evolution and tremendous and rapid global growth burst have put us here where we are now... if we could really only know ... I agree this is mend to be a dismal wandering, for it looks terrible. ...and please refer to War-Weapon Industry and Economy and its growth and government´s mil expenses. Doesn´t this count at all? I wonder why all these are not included when making a global analysis... Not conspirancies, but for sure there are a bunch of few thousands guys around the globe that probably got the money and tools to get much more accurate info and predictions of what we might face within next years... And the power of money for influence and profit...And moves are being made in that direction now, whether we read the signs or not. That sort of reports being not partisan neither ideological but giving a precise outlook that POTO should have, and that elite -whoever they are- got for sure an advantage...but advantage for what? War is not a conspiracy, is a consequence of severe economic unrest. And for many it is their bussiness, so if there were a conspiracy I would rather look this side...
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Post by karlox on Feb 21, 2013 15:36:52 GMT
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Post by karlox on Feb 21, 2013 19:20:54 GMT
English Version of Marea Ciudadana (Citizens Tide) called Join the Way, for demonstrations next sat 23-F link on Flickr: flic.kr/p/dWEWFmYou might call me a dreamer but I am not the only one... Attachments:
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Post by karlox on Feb 22, 2013 13:40:31 GMT
From the Blog of a spanish writter Juan Torres López. Original link: juantorreslopez.com/impertinencias/la-violencia/"Who have read for some time my website know that I always put special emphasis to underline that there is no possible breakthrough in human progress if our activity does not extend the hand of peace. Today I read a text on the blog of Pedro Olalla, a friend who lives in Greece imposed criminally suffering to an entire people, and I would recommend reading. Starts saying "today, while in the streets burning containers and in parliaments burning democratic conquests take place, political correctness is condemning the violence," and ends with these two paragraphs: "violence, in its original and etymological sense, is a life force, a momentum: a force that sustains an idea, an argument, an Act, a body, a State, even a virtue." Violence (Βία) in the ancient Greece was a primordial divinity, that on the slopes of the Acrocorinth shared sanctuary with Ananke, the need; "reconciling violence and justice" ("βίαν τε και δίκην συναρμόσας") forged Solon the laws of democracy; and do not ever forget that, ultimately, justice is nothing but violence that seeks to impose on the abuse and inequality, a violence that needs to be done to oneself to act according to the truth and giving to each one deserves.It is the use of force, and not the force itself, what ethics should be judged. "Condemn the violence always seem"politically correct", but very careful with demagoguery" Also through my blog: karloxxxx.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/la-violencia.html#links
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Post by karlox on Feb 22, 2013 14:30:08 GMT
23-F Manifesto, according to press release: noticias.lainformacion.com/economia-negocios-y-finanzas/servicios-bancarios/marea-ciudadana-se-manifestara-manana-23-f-contra-el-golpe-de-estado-financiero_oZouEFSWfkherSbi8gsqC6/"Numerous citizen groups included in the 'Citizen Tide' will be unveiled tomorrow, 23-F, more than fifty Spanish cities to protest against the hard cuts in social rights that are being implemented with the excuse of the crisis.In Madrid it will be four marches which, after starting from different points of the city, confluirán in the plaza de Cánovas del Castillo (Neptune) -nearby Parliament. Representatives of the various 'tides' and groups that they have joined the initiative they have highlighted the need to ensure universal, quality public services and they have expressed their rejection to social cuts and attacks that are suffering citizenship rights, at the same time requiring a new more participatory democracy. "Cuts of social rights are being dictated by financial markets that the Government is not but a drive belt", said a spokesman for the 'tide citizen'. "We must save to people, not to the banks".Marches and concentration of Madrid have been authorized by the delegation of the Government, and its promoters have highlighted that "it is a manifestation of democratic, peaceful and inclusive and not any kind of violent, racist, xenophobic, sexist or fascist expressions will accommodate". A cordon of firefighters and volunteers will be established to avoid acts oblivious to the call.Madrid mobilizations will begin simultaneously at 1630 hours from four points: the Puerta del Sol, the plaza de Colon, ambassadors and Puente de Vallecas. Four marches will join at 18.00 hours in Neptune, where after a 'silent cry' will be step to the reading of a manifesto. A performance of the 'Solfonica Orchestra', which will perform 'The song of the village' from Les Misérables, 'L´Estaca' of Luis Llach and Labordeta '' song of freedom,"is also planned.(SERVIMEDIA) Attachments:
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Post by karlox on Feb 23, 2013 16:43:03 GMT
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Post by sigurdur on Feb 23, 2013 17:52:12 GMT
Good Luck Karlox.
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Post by sigurdur on Feb 24, 2013 2:58:24 GMT
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324445904578285503854758408.html?Seventeen years ago, Bernard Connolly foretold the misery that awaited the European Union. Given that he was an instrumental figure in the EU bureaucracy and publicly expressed his doubts in a book called "The Rotten Heart of Europe," he was promptly fired. Mr. Connolly takes no pleasure now in having seen his prediction come true. And he takes no comfort in the view, prevalent in many quarters, that the EU has passed through the worst of its crisis and is on the cusp of revival. As far as Mr. Connolly is concerned, Europe's heart is still rotting away.
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Post by karlox on Feb 24, 2013 11:19:04 GMT
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324445904578285503854758408.html?Seventeen years ago, Bernard Connolly foretold the misery that awaited the European Union. Given that he was an instrumental figure in the EU bureaucracy and publicly expressed his doubts in a book called "The Rotten Heart of Europe," he was promptly fired. Mr. Connolly takes no pleasure now in having seen his prediction come true. And he takes no comfort in the view, prevalent in many quarters, that the EU has passed through the worst of its crisis and is on the cusp of revival. As far as Mr. Connolly is concerned, Europe's heart is still rotting away. Good and sad analysis Sirgur. That´s what I said -in others words- about the "pumping (into the economy) of a new remedy called Euro: "They came in droves, and flocked. Came by the thousands from every corner of the Piel de Toro (1): carried long hoses, and pipes for which they injected large amounts of a new remedy called Euro; also came with scaffolding as well as cranes, drawings, directors, publishers, banks, architects, Registers, cement, brothers in law, town councilors solvent audits, Audi cars as well, tertulians, pundits, airports, experts, watches, advisors, mayors, Notaries, presidents, trips, riggers, real parvenus, royal jelly, folk singers, toady, and many jugglers, and parades, and extras, and Fiesta for added comfort and joy of a nation and people that was meant to be deserverly Rich and Merry, so the politicians said. And then, they -literally- lifted our country as a whole ... As the sea being packed and taken away by the Americans from Garcia Marquez´s magic realism... And now they say and swear that they -themselves- know how to fix the ruin of the Bull... shit! Cleptoland is my country... karloxxxx.blogspot.com.es/2013/01/cleptocracia-kleptocracy-cleptoland.htmlFrom your link: "The bubble formed like this: When countries such as Ireland, Greece and Spain joined the euro, their interest rates immediately dropped to near-German levels, in some cases from double-digit territory. "The optimism created by these countries' suddenly finding that they could have low interest rates without their currencies collapsing, which had been their previous experience, led people to think that there was a genuine rate-of-return revolution going on," he says. There had been an increase in the rates of return in Ireland "and to some extent in Spain" in the run-up to euro membership, thanks to structural reforms in those countries in the pre-euro period. But by the time the euro rolled around, money was flowing into these countries out of all proportion to the opportunities available. "And what kept the stuff flowing in," Mr. Connolly says, "was essentially the belief, 'Well, yes, there is a high rate of return in construction.' " That in turn depended on "ongoing expectations" about house appreciation "that were in some ways not dissimilar to what was happening to the United States in the middle of the last decade. But it was much bigger." How much bigger? "If you scale housing starts by population, then the housing boom in Spain and Ireland was something like three or four times as intense as the peak of the boom in the U.S. That's mind boggling." That torrent of money drove up wages far faster than productivity improved, while cheap borrowing led to major deficit spending. After the 2008 financial panic, the bubble inevitably burst." Only one thing I would add 56% of youth under 35 unemployeed, let´s say half of them well or very well prepared, rest dropped their careers or studies during housing boom and joined good money flow of that years. But by that time salaries were well high only in that sectors, qualified professionals etc, rest was inmigrant cheap labor hands. Public Employees of Central Administration weren´t that well paid at all even these happy years. Big chunk was taken by corruption, infecting both major parties... Currently salaries are mostly low or very low for over half the people that remains employed! Problem is that is getting worse by tax increases, salary cuts etc so domestic markets plunges, we are into recessions until Banks get definetly rid of unpaid and devaluated properties while all the money being put into the system is via ECB and private Banks which get cheap euros from ECB to buy well paid bonds from med countries! So money is circling but not reaching small and medium companies, no credit for them, neither families etc... So we are very happy with our banks -banks in general- politicians etc. We had in Spain one of lowest Debt rate related to GNP, below 50% GNP, only 6-8 years ago...and superavit in Gov. expenditures two years in a row, same with Social Security Reservoirs, now it is forecasted Deby will jum over 100% despite of all cuts and sacrifices, that´s for first time and will happen within a year...
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Post by karlox on Feb 24, 2013 11:28:37 GMT
Thanks Sigur. Was cold at 4-0ºC but nice, and mostly were people not linked to parties, of all ages, professions and families with kids, the elder veterans were there too... Then the official TV channel opened with striking images of the isolated incidents by some minority radicals well at the end of the peaceful and joyful demonstration, that´s manipulation. I was home two hours before that incidents took place, it wasn´t me Sigurdur! ;D
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Post by sigurdur on Feb 24, 2013 19:34:21 GMT
www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-02-24/other-side-coinCoins have two sides. That much we know and can agree upon. Trader, portfolio manager or senior executive; I think we can all agree on this premise. Since the financial debacle of 2008/2009 we have seen one side of the coin and what it has accomplished. We have also learned something in the process I hope. The Central Banks of the world have spewed out money like a whale does water when it hits the surface. Giant amounts of cash have been deployed into the marketplaces. We are given numbers that only reflect the surface because what can be hidden from our eyes and ears is done so with regularity given the penchants of the various Central Banks and their stated and not-stated purposes.
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Post by sigurdur on Feb 25, 2013 16:22:55 GMT
Utilities may not be able to finance improvements - report * Identifies 110 GW of gas-fired generation at risk of closure * Carbon market reform key for renewable energy By Barbara Lewis BRUSSELS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Economic crisis has bought time to tackle the problem of unreliable and costly European power but raised the risk that no one will pick up a 1 trillion euro ($1.3 trillion) bill to improve the supply network, a new report has found. uk.reuters.com/article/2013/02/25/eu-energy-investment-idUKL6N0BN13O20130225
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Post by karlox on Feb 26, 2013 12:16:27 GMT
www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-02-24/other-side-coinCoins have two sides. That much we know and can agree upon. Trader, portfolio manager or senior executive; I think we can all agree on this premise. Since the financial debacle of 2008/2009 we have seen one side of the coin and what it has accomplished. We have also learned something in the process I hope. The Central Banks of the world have spewed out money like a whale does water when it hits the surface. Giant amounts of cash have been deployed into the marketplaces. We are given numbers that only reflect the surface because what can be hidden from our eyes and ears is done so with regularity given the penchants of the various Central Banks and their stated and not-stated purposes. Outstanding analysis! worth reading
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Post by karlox on Feb 26, 2013 12:24:19 GMT
Utilities may not be able to finance improvements - report * Identifies 110 GW of gas-fired generation at risk of closure * Carbon market reform key for renewable energy By Barbara Lewis BRUSSELS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Economic crisis has bought time to tackle the problem of unreliable and costly European power but raised the risk that no one will pick up a 1 trillion euro ($1.3 trillion) bill to improve the supply network, a new report has found. uk.reuters.com/article/2013/02/25/eu-energy-investment-idUKL6N0BN13O20130225And Paying for Germany´s nuclear dismantling... Will shall burn a lot of coal... Will shall extract as much gaz -by all means- as possible... And keep paying for sunny Germany home-based photovoltaic power... And killing europes nuclear technology industries -like french-... Good politics for disaster!
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