Sunday musings

This past week the world lurched another step closer toward another recession and governments seem incapable or unable to provide direction to recover.

When will the European community bite the bullet and let Greece default on its international obligations? The constant drain on the German and French economies is causing their economies to sputter and enter negative growth fields. 

The fate of the Euro itself is at stake.

Interest rates can go no lower and government bailouts tend to disappear into a black hole and not help any economy. Indeed less than savory companies seem to suck up the money and paper over non existent expenses.

Gold has fallen, oil is dropping, silver and other precious metals also are facing decline in their value as speculators believe the world is slipping into recession.

Last time the Chinese economy pulled the rest of the world out of its slump – do not expect this to happen this time as they are struggling as well.

The irony of this is that major companies are sitting on record profits and have plenty of cash on hand but are unwilling to expand because they believe the worst is coming. Of course this type of action can complete the circle as the worst will happen because they do nothing. Businesses today are lean, efficient and profitable.

However previous recoveries were partially or mainly due to increased consumer demand for products and paid for by use of credit cards and lines of credit. These now have been either reduced or used less by the consumer so less money is going through the economy. In fact many consumers are limiting or eliminating their credit card use because the interest rates being charged by the lending institutions is almost at the same rate as that charged by organized crime.

And in a case of irony, a bridge in San Francisco is being built as part of the infrastructure program funded by various levels of government and the work is contracted out and is being done by a Chinese firm.

One wonders as to what the benefits to the American economy are with that type of cynical politics.

Here in Saskatchewan we were fortunate to have another week of great almost summer like weather with the temperature this weekend being in the plus 28 range-incredible.

However next week for sure is the time to start to pull the last of the garden out and harvest the last of the summer flowers and put the pots away for the upcoming winter.

Speaking of winter I visited my local tea shop yesterday and began my yearly fall/winter stocking up of various tea blends to sip on during the winter months. The store is a marvelous one in an area of the city that is vaguely Bohemian with turn of the previous century housing. A small hole in the wall store that stocks a huge variety of loose leaf/grind blends from around the world that would satisfy any palate. The lady who runs the store is a delight to talk with and recently took the large step to open a second store in our sister city to the north, Saskatoon. A statement of belief in the economy by a small business owner that is heartening to see. In fact this province abounds with many stories like this and that speaks well for its future.

Meanwhile at the United Nations, another attempt by the Palestinians to achieve statehood was vetoed by the United States.

I think that there will soon come a time when the States may or even will have to reconsider its position on Israel and the Middle East. At this time the US stands firmly behind the Israelis politically, militarily and financially and steadfastly refusing to even consider any other Middle Eastern viewpoints. Perhaps allowing statehood would force the both Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate in true good faith instead of hiding behind inflexible, rigid doctrine driven stances. In particular the building of more and more settlements by the Israelis must stop or the region will surely but surely drift back into warfare and that would possibly involve the nuclear option by the Israelis and Iran in retaliation.

That scenario is a lot closer than you might think.

Over in Russia it appears that Mr. Putin is getting ready to for President again next year. Political power is like a powerful drug, once tasted, almost impossible to leave. Perhaps the American system of 2 terms only for its President is best. I think 3 terms would be better as many Presidents are considered ineffective in their second term because legislators know that there will be a new President soon no matter how they connive to disrupt his agenda – with no regards to consequences to the American people and economy and indirectly that of the rest of the world.

Two women in Europe were fined this week for wearing face covering garb and civil libertarians are in an uproar over perceived human rights abuse by the authorities.

Hmmmm…….wonder where these people are when honor killing is done in Pakistan and other countries? And where are they when western garbed women are spat on and attacked when visiting Muslim countries?

Just saying…………………

And now there are only three months to go until Christmas…….hmmmmmmmmmmmmm…………………………

Anyway, have a great week and take care out there,

Flatlander52

Sunday musings

So it seems that my best game of golf this year will probably be the last one because the days of later fall are upon us now. Shots that were horror stories all of a sudden reverted to what were my norm and were fun to do. Drives were actually drives instead of 25 yard disasters. My short irons were smoking and putting was fun again!

No matter, it gave me such hope for my game that I look forward to starting up again next year.

We had our first killing frost this week and thankfully we had picked out tomatoes off that day just in case this was going to occur.

We planted black tomatoes this year and boy do they look different compared to the normal red variety. All the beets and carrots are pulled and only some companion flowers are left to pull when they too finally fall to more frost. 

Here is a photo of a red beside a black one.

Then it is time to blow out the water sprinklers, put garden hoses in storage, wrap the A/C and apply a fall lawn fertilizer and then the yard is ready for winter.

Had the snowblower tuned up this summer and after costing over $200 I hope that maybe this winter the snowfall will be at a minimum and I will have very little need of it.

One can dream can’t they?

I think that the world itself seems to be in a fall mode where there was little of major impact this past week. This is not to diminish the large amount of turmoil or suffering that there is, but no great issue burst to the forefront at this time.

Here in Canada the long race to succeed the late leader of the Federal Opposition has begun with a whimper and not a bang. It seems that the NDP are more focused on trying to continue their ongoing efforts to make a saint of their last leader.

Provincially in Saskatchewan the present governing party seems poised to repeat at the polls its victory of 4 years ago. Indeed most talk is whether the opposition NDP will be losing even more seats and what will be the future of their leader. Many pundits (including myself) believe that the party shot themselves in the foot when they chose their present leader when they opted for one that was an old warhorse of yesterday whose idea of politics is to negatively attack the other leader with personal insults and who seems to relish in gutter politics. That type of thinking is so out of date and out of touch with the new, positive, aggressive Saskatchewan that now is in the Canadian union.

A University in Quebec decided to have a “blackface” day for new students this week. How stupid can people be these days anyway?

An investigation in the construction industry in Quebec has found links to organized crime – and the Premier insists that there is no need to further investigate and lay criminal charges where appropriate. And there are people in that Province that want to form a separate country from Canada? Corruption, state subsidies, waning church influence……………..hmmm……………………just saying………………………………….

Over in Europe the same old opera of Greek default, possible Italian insolvency continues to play on. One of these days the proverbial shit will hit the fan and a lot of low and middle income people will end up carrying the can as a result of treasonous fiscal policies done by their governments and banks. The rich will be inconvenienced of course, but they will survive, that you can bet on.  

On the plus side, from today until October 3^rd is Oktoberfest time in Germany especially Munich and that fest brings back many fine memories of the one that I attended. In fact while I was there, on the opening day in fact, I decided to call back to Canada and propose to my future wife! That was over 33 anniversaries ago - actually 34 this November!

In South America volcanoes are still mini erupting in Argentina causing flight disruptions. Funny how you never hear of South American news up here in North America isn’t it? I have mentioned before that the history of many of the countries there is longer than that of Canada and the USA.

I bet you can’t name the largest South American trading partner of Canada can you?

Here is a little factoid - Latin America is home to 589 million people. It’s a region of enormous diversity; its geography includes rain forests, deserts, mountain ranges and plains, while its wealth ranges from Panama with a GDP per person of $15,300 to Nicaragua, with $2,900.

Maybe it is time we looked there for a new trading circle instead of Asia and Europe.

Anyway, that is it for this week,

Take care out there,

Flatlander52

Sunday musings

Well today is the 10^th anniversary of the destruction of the twin towers in New York city in the United States where over 3,000 people were murdered by assassins from a terrorist group called Al Queda at the direction of their leader Osama Ben Ladin, a native of an close American ally, Saudi Arabia.

That was a day for many when time stood still and the birds stopped singing and remains so to this day.

Throughout the States there will be countless ceremonies, both large and small, public and private in the sharing of intertwined personal and national remembrance and grief.

There will be many here in Canada that will share in those moments as we too were affected by the events. From sheltering stranded airliners in both Gander and Vancouver to providing physical and moral support, this country stood by the side of its neighbor in its moment of need.

May the world never forget the events of that day.

May the world never forgive those that killed innocent people in order to advance their cause as they saw it.

Never has monstrous evil been justified as a means of achieving an end.

Please, never again.

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Greece on Friday appears to have slipped over the financial cliff and is now in default of its financial obligation territory. Many so called experts believe that the only way out of this mess is for Greece to leave the Euro and go back to its former currency, devalue it, force fiscal haircuts on bankers – and you bet they sure as Hell want no part of that! –and restart the economy from the ground up. This would involve a major rethink of the Greek mindset where taxpaying would be enforced for all working people including the wealthy. Trimming government payrolls of employees that work on phantom projects that ended decades ago. A rethinking of the social contract in terms of state funded allowances, programs and pensions. A bitter prospect indeed and I think that this is beyond the ability of the Greeks to do. The end result will be an impoverished country that has a GDP that resembles that of Albania or Somalia.

Did you know that Iceland, the country super rich in geo thermal power/electricity has only 11 electric cars?

To match this, Canadian Embassies are ordered to make sure that pictures of the Queen are hung in offices now. What a great bone head move for a country that wants to be respected in that it decides to pay homage to a foreign head of state.

Great play Mr. Prime Minister.

Oh ya, let us kick some more sand in the political face of the Quebec people.

Harvest is at the half way mark and the first frost of the fall is forecast for later this week which is right on time for the 2 events. Prices are up and forecasted quality and yields appear to be very good. This means more money in the pockets of the farmers and more flowing into the local/provincial economy. Great news indeed for the governing Saskatchewan Party as it heads into the November provincial election. Bad news if you belong to the Opposition New Democrat Party and especially for its aging leader who is in his 60’s and if not elected Premier or at least retains the same number of seats (which according to recent polls is highly unlikely) will face pressure to step aside in the early new year.

In Somalia authorities from world relief organizations predict 750,000 people will die in the next 4 months from starvation. Is anyone listening to the voices fading to silence as this holocaust marches forward? Where are world governments, the United Nations, the Arab League?

Where are they?

Damn them all for their blindness and apathy.

There but for the place of their birth would be them, and they do not care, instead they act as if nothing is wrong in that devastated country.

If there is a Hell, they have front row seats with their names engraved on them waiting for them.

It sure has been quiet over in North Korea lately. No nuke testing or shelling of islands held by the South. You can almost bet that something will happen in the next month or so to remind the world that they still are there. Almost like an annoying relative that just won’t shut up and listen when told to. Except this one is irrational and has the odd nuclear bomb in its hands – ouch indeed!

Remember that tsunami that hit Japan this year? Well the debris island of rubbish created by it is covering 2.2 million square feet of the ocean surface and should hit Hawaii in 2 years and the west Coast of North America a year later. That should affect fishing as well as possibly local weather patterns in the affected areas for a while I believe.

On a brighter side, this Monday is a special day for me. 5 years ago I was admitted to a local hospital under critical circumstances and given between 1 week and 3 months to live due to a number of medical conditions. The first week was touch and go from all accounts but after the second week things began to improve. After a month I was sent home, and now 5 years later as they say, the rest is history. I have had many great challenges and opportunities in my life but none compared to that struggle, and it continues to this day.

I have survived and am grateful.

Takes care out there,

Flatlander52

Sunday musings

Well hurricane Irene hit the east coast of America and while there was a large amount of damage done, by all accounts things were not as bad as had been forecasted. Once again proving that despite all the advances in science, predicating the weather is an inexact art at best. Here in Saskatchewan we have a saying that if the present weather does not suit you, wait 15 minutes and it will change.

There seems to be an uneasy calm in Libya these days while the new government assumes more control over former areas of support of the deposed leader Gaddafi. The biggest stories focus on oil companies issuing forecasts as to when they can ramp up production again. Little is being said of what direction the new government will go, whether democratic or Islamic radical which should really be a concern to the powers that assisted in the countries "liberation".

It appears that once again Apple Corp. cannot keep track of prototypes and loses another iPhone (number 5) in yet another bar again. This happened with the iPhone4 as well. It seems according to reports that security people from Apple may have dressed and identified themselves as real police officers in conducting a search for the missing item at an individuals’ residence.

I do not know about you but the more widespread the influence and proliferation of Apples’ devices (including the moneymaking machine called iTunes) the more concerned I become with the death of competition in the electronic marketplace.  You just have to look at the tablet market to see where Apple sells over 80 odd per cent of all tablets. This market hold caused the large company HP to cancel sales of its tablet after only a couple of months. 

Just recently for a while Apple was the largest corporation in the world and had more cash reserves than the US government!

Canada’s largest airline has implemented fees for luggage on flights to the USA as of this Wednesday. Another example of gouging the consumer to death. This from an airline that cannot accurately post airfares in its advertisements.

You ever notice how reasonable the advertised fare seems and then when you decide to book, all of a sudden there are taxes, surcharges etc. added to the mix? And they cannot show this up front?

What a crock!

Professional football starts next week in the States. Going to be a lot of bored women on Sundays from then until Super Bowl next year.

Violence in hockey has apparently claimed a third victim this year. Wade Belak from the NHL joins Rick Rypien and Derek Boogard in a summer of tragedy. Suicide seems to be the cause in 2 of these cases and drugs and alcohol in the third. What this young men had in common was that they were what is termed “enforcers” or tough guys whose main function in the game was to fight the opposition teams tough guy when and as required. Constant shots to the head by these large men have had disastrous results. Even in the flow of the game these head shots have shortened careers by the concussions they produce. You have to look no further than to Sidney Crosby to see a possible early end to a superstars career. The average player today is much bigger, faster better conditioned and armoured than those from earlier.

The only way that this will end is when the owners awake to the loss of money from players not playing and fans staying away from games as a result and make changes.

Then and only then.

Only when money talks-period-loss of life matters not to them it seems.

And to be honest, the players association seems to be in cahoots with the owners on this terrible matter.

The dreaded R word is back in the news again. The Dow Jones stock exchange in the States fell 250 points on Friday alone.Many economists in the States are predicting that with the latest bad economic news that the recovery that was barely underway has stalled and all signs indicate that another recession is coming. This has to be really great news or all those that had lost their jobs and savings and were hoping desperately that employment was on the horizon. The prospect of a lost generation that I referred to in earlier writings is no longer possible but more likely inevitable and at what cost to the country and the world?

September 11 is fast approaching and all the horror and memories that are involved are starting to resurface. The American government has issued travel warnings and terror alerts just in case some wing nut group tries to cause chaos on that date. Where were you on that day anyway? I remember that morning as if it were yesterday, (the same can be said for memories of the day President Kennedy was assassinated) we had at that time a TV in our bedroom and while my wife was finishing off her wardrobe preparations for the day, I was watching the early morning news show when it was interrupted for live coverage of the event. I remember watching a reporter on site describing events as best as she could, based on what little facts were then known. Then a breakaway shot to the second plane crashing into the second tower and then the slow awful collapse of both towers and more news of the failed attempt against the Pentagon.

Time truly stood still at that terrible time. Even now, the sheer horror and evilness cannot be diminished. And sadly it took almost a decade for the mastermind of this hideousness to be dealt with in the only way possible, and even that was probably too humane in the end in his case.

 Last year we had a blight destroy our tomato crop but this year we have had a great growing season and the tomatoes are wonderful. Ours are about 10-15 days ahead of friends for some reason and are they ever big and juicy. They appear to be ripening right before our eyes and now we are watching the weather forecasts to determine when should be the day when we pick them all off the vine. That to me is the first official day of fall then.

Hopefully we will have another couple of months before the first snow falls. 

Winter can take its time appearing for all I care.

Anyway, still lots of good days and times ahead before then.

Take care out there,

Flatlander52