[Arktwo] Piggy Piggy - It is all big!

[Bruce Beach]

Lots of little news stories -
that may seem unrelated -
but in truth they aren't.

When I told my wife about them -
she said -
"Yep, there is a big economic war going on."
And she is right.

Let us see if there is a thread.
First China starts building up its economic clout
with what is called a favourable balance of trade
(which is something that I have never understood -
but it is where you sell more goods
than you buy -
and you ship out these goods -
and get back paper -
or not even that -
just digits somewhere on a computer).

So, now with this paper -
China says they want to buy California -
(or at least a California Oil Company)
but the US says it is not for sale.
So instead they buy up all (or at least lots)
of the ports
in all the countries of the world.

The US even lets them buy the Panama Canal -
and what was a major naval base
in California.

But-
China still has so much money
it doesn't know what to do with it,
and the US is getting ticked
because they want them to adjust
their exchange rate -
so that their stuff will be more expensive.
(I do have trouble following this -
but anyway that is the story -
and they seem to be sticking with it).

So -
to force China to comply -
the US starts rejecting Chinese goods.
First the doggy food goes to the dogs -
or doesn't -
and then they start toying around
with the toys -
and that market sinks like lead -
which the toys may have had in them.

Well -
this week the Empire Strikes Back.
China passed on the Pork
or the Pork didn't pass -
however, you want to say it.

They rejected 200 containers
(we aren't talking small cans here -
these are the big boxes they put on ships)
of what I guess is now past prime pork.
Eight of the cans which were from Canada -
are now sailing out around in the ocean -
not knowing where to go
so the US is going to have to eat the rest
before it goes bad.
Sausage, anyone?

It is already bad
for the pork packing people.
And by law they can't get back
on the good list for two years.

Layoffs.
Just like for the mortgage making merchants.
Last week Lehman laid off 2500 of its
sub prime mortgage makers
and has now gotten out of the sub prime business.
(Bad news for me -
because that was only the loan I could get.)

Lehman is the first
of the five biggest U.S. investment banks
to post third-quarter profits.
Morgan Stanley reports results today (Wednesday),
Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
and Bear Stearns Cos. tomorrow (Thursday).
Merrill Lynch & Co. will report in October.

On the basis of all this
the stock market just goes up, up, up -
because as a spokesman for Lehman says -
"It could be worse".

That is usually a truism.
Unemployment was up this month.
But the stock market went up because -
"It could be worse".

Run on Country-wide banks
but the stock market went up because -
"It could be worse".

Run on Northern Rock Bank
yesterday in UK -
for billions of dollars -
with people standing in line
to get their money out
at the rate of $40,000 per minute
(I kid you not - that is the actual number)
but the stock market went up because -
"It could be worse".

People getting killed at a higher rate
in Iraq -
but the stock market went up because -
"It could be worse".

The number of mortgage defaults in the US
doubled for August, the latest reporting period -
but the stock market went up because -
"It could be worse".

Everywhere I look
(especially in my own case)
the financial news is bad -
but always the answer is -
"It could be worse".

And I suspect that it will get worse.
The 21st is the big day
for the stock markets.
It is called Triple Witching Day.
Don't ask.

But not to worry.
The stocks will probably soar
on that broomstick also.

At this moment I just checked
the market closed up $355 today
on news that the Fed cut interest rates
fifty basis points.
Ohh - life is good on the stock market.
(Now then - if someone will cut
my mortgage interest rate.
As the saying is - fat chance.
You have got to be a BIG Bank -
to get that kind of service or bail out -
like the billions they have been gifted
in the last few weeks -
and yesterday in the UK.
I am not bitter -
just recognizing the reality of the world
that we live in -
at the moment.)

Well -
for the stock market
there comes Derivatives Day
on the last day of the month.
The way the stock market reacts to things -
it should go through the roof.
/Sarcasm off.

-----
I obviously know
nothing about the above subject -
so on  to another
about which I am equally informed.

-----------
WASHINGTON - China and Russia are spying on the United States nearly as much
as they did during the Cold War, according to the top U.S. intelligence
official.

So says -

Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence, ...

http://tinyurl.com/2l7png
-----------
So - with all that 'intelligence'
they should know something
that I don't know.

MOSCOW (AFP) - Any US military intervention in Iran would be a "political
error" that would have "catastrophic" consequences, Russian Deputy Foreign
Minister Alexander Losyukov said in an interview published Tuesday.

Losyukov expressed the hope that there would not be an escalation of tension
in the region, at least before the end of a summit of Caspian Sea countries
due to be held in Tehran on October 16.

DID YOU GET THAT?
Week of Oct. 16th.

"I don't know if the Americans will bomb during the Caspian summit. I think
they will refrain, otherwise they would have serious problems," he said in
reply to a question.

Is that a SUGGESTION -
or a THREAT?

"As the situation in Iran is difficult, we have plans to evacuate our
experts. They are drawn up and could be used," the deputy minister said...

Hmmm - Robin,
maybe time
to head for the
BAT CAVE?

He added -
"Of course I cannot know what is being thought in the United States," ...

Hmmm -
Neither can I -
but then I don't have
all those big spy agencies.

http://tinyurl.com/2arust

---------
Nothing happening here -
please just keep moving right along,
folks.

WASHINGTON, DC -- US military bases in the continental United States (CONUS)
will go on special lockdown between September 17 and September 21 under the
auspices of Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield '07,

And I would still like to know -
where is that missing nuke?
Just tell me -
please don't show me.

-----------

As you can see -
I really shouldn't
be writing a newsletter today.
Having so little that seems to match
what the MSM has to say -
like important things happening
in the life of a former ball player.
All I can say is -
if the glove fits -
wear it.

---------
Busy, busy lives -
yet I meet many people
who are feeling very depressed.
For some reason -
one after another today.
If that is not the case around you -
then I am glad to hear it.

Not the situation with me personally -
but I think there is a mass psychology
in the air.
"The plain is disclosed -
and mankind is sore vexed and fearful."

The 'plain' is the battlefield -
and when the fog lifts
and one suddenly sees the armies of the world
all aligned up against one another -
it is a fearful sight.

But -
for most people -
they just don't consciously see it.
Sort of too terrible to look at.
Psychological anaesthesia.
Nevertheless,
being sublimated it is still causing them
depression.

Whoa!
Enough mass psychology.
I don't even understand myself.
Responding to someone else -
about the depression of the people around them -
I said it was the stress.

Then I said that I may have more reason
to be stressed
than lots of people -
but that I don't feel it.

It may be that I too am in denial -
or it may be that I am just floating along
on this feeling that the Lord is
guiding us and watching over us.
Religion -
the opium of the people.
Some would say that is what I am on.

------------
Big oil puddle under the Caterpillar -
when we shut it down -
and the oil was almost completely
off the stick.
One little dab at the bottom.
Had to go to bed several nights -
trusting about that one.

Put in more oil -
put good lights around the CAT -
and started it up again.
Still couldn't see the drip.
The reason was -
it was blowing it out
through the radiator.

Oil cooling fins in the radiator!
So Dennis had to take off the radiator.
Big Radiator. Big Job.
Neighbour Terry will take it into the city -
tomorrow evening.
Could also be a BIG bill.
Trust, trust, trust,
in Whom the trusting trust.

Big miracle already today.
DC generator had to go to place
with very special equipment.
Drying oven, -
resetting of residual magnetism -
and some other special work.

Long 7 hour drive yesterday -
out to the EXPENSIVE specialists -
but a phone call today -
that they are donating the work
to the cause!
You maybe shouldn't see the glee -
with my wife and me -
and doggy made three!
Old folks dancing -
may not be a pleasant thing to see :)

Another happy drive back out tomorrow,
to recover the piece.
More good news last night.
We stopped by the kennel
to pick up food for Jema -
and word is that Chyna will be coming
to spend a week with us in October.
Her advance trainers are off to a conference.

Happy doggy days.
Took Jema out to Luther Marsh
along with some village children
for Youth Outdoor Day on Saturday.
Lots of fun!

Well,
I know that you don't want to hear
all these details of life here -
but just so you know it isn't
all fear and worry.
In fact -
it is almost no fear or worry,
and you may look upon me as being
the disciple of Alfred E. Newman.

I do worry, however,
about others.
So many in the world
that do not live out here
in the country calm quiet and peace -
with all the bounties that we have.

We have a number of young people -
(in their twenties - thirties) I suppose -
from the Big City
coming to the Ark now and helping.
I am very grateful for the help -
but also VERY grateful
if it appears that we shall have such
bright young enthusiastic moral
socially motivated young people
in the Ark
when the time comes.

But -
I wish there were a hundred more.
For the lover ever says -
"Is there more?"

If you are not all that young -
you are still welcome.

Peace and love,
Bruce
DawnSayer@webpal.org