China May Terminate Derivative Contracts

China May Terminate Derivative Contracts

Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) may unilaterally terminate derivative contracts with six foreign banks that provide over-the-counter commodity hedging services, a leading financial magazine said. China’s

Cell Towers Harming Honey Bees

Cell Towers Harming Honey Bees

The electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phone towers and cellphones can pose a threat to honey bees, a study  published in India has concluded. An

Still a Widespread Recession in July

Still a Widespread Recession in July

Here is a map of the three month change in the Philly Fed state coincident indicators. Forty six states are showing declining three month activity.

Lowering Construction Costs

Lowering Construction Costs

In thinking about economic reform, if you want to contemplate construction techniques outside of “the matrix,” read about the Coral Castle and Nan Madol.

Sibel Edmonds Deposition

Sibel Edmonds Deposition

“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.” ~ Sir John Harrington Continue reading Sibel Edmonds Deposition:

Stock Market Concentration

Stock Market Concentration

by Lauren Schenkman A recent analysis of the 2007 financial markets of 48 countries has revealed that the world’s finances are in the hands of

Health Care Reform

Health Care Reform

Here is my #1 proposal for health care reform – stop suppressing the knowledge and technology that supports health and prevents and cures disease. If

From Susan Johann

From Susan Johann

This is a special flower called a Cereus. It blooms only once a year at night and by dawn the flower is gone, My friend

Scientists Refuse Swine Flu Vaccine

Scientists Refuse Swine Flu Vaccine

Scientists who developed the Small Pox vaccine are refusing immunization inoculation against the Swine Flu due to major medical side effects. 1 in 3 UK

Swine Flu: Manipulating the Data

Swine Flu: Manipulating the Data

by Michel Chossudovsky “Over the course of the next few months, with the assistance of our partners in the private and public sector and at

Solari Report Digest Podcast #3 Available!

Solari Report Digest Podcast #3 Available!

Highlights from the Solari Report Briefings in this month’s Solari Report Digest Podcast include: ~ A look at Goldman Sachs and why their recent profits

Placebos Are Getting More Effective

Placebos Are Getting More Effective

By Steve Silberman Merck was in trouble. In 2002, the pharmaceutical giant was falling behind its rivals in sales. Even worse, patents on five blockbuster

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (1932 – 2009)

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (1932 – 2009)

(Reuters Pictures) Senator Ted Kennedy died shortly before midnight Tuesday at his home in Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 77. Continue reading Ted Kennedy Dies

Goldman's Insider Tips Investigated

Goldman's Insider Tips Investigated

U.S. securities regulators are examining weekly meetings at Goldman Sachs Group Inc, where research analysts offer tips to traders and then to big clients, the

Argentina Follows Mexico and Decriminalizes

Argentina Follows Mexico and Decriminalizes

Argentina’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday it is unconstitutional to punish an adult for private use of marijuana as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else.

Americans: A Courageous People

Americans: A Courageous People

If someone else says to me that Americans are in a stupor and not doing anything, I will just spit. Lots of Americans are doing

Bloomberg Wins Against the Fed

Bloomberg Wins Against the Fed

By Karen Gullo The Federal Reserve must make public reports about recipients of emergency loans from U.S. taxpayers under programs created to address the financial

Congressman Paul on Swine Flu

Congressman Paul on Swine Flu

“Non-event” — Congressman Ron Paul’s (R-TX) description of Swine Flu outbreak

Prosecutor to Probe CIA Interrogations

Prosecutor to Probe CIA Interrogations

By Carrie Johnson In appointing a prosecutor to investigate alleged CIA interrogation abuses, including episodes that resulted in prisoner deaths, Attorney General Eric H. Holder

Sleuth Humor

Sleuth Humor

“A little help from my friends.” Ann, private investigator, on Paul Krugman’s new $1.7 million pad. Read Paul Krugman Gets a New Place to Hang

Pennsylvania: The New California

Pennsylvania: The New California

By Tami Luhby In Pennsylvania, day care centers are closing. Food banks and libraries are cutting back. A school district is taking out a multi-million

Hospital Futility Policy

Hospital Futility Policy

Dear Catherine, I enjoyed your appearance on Coast last night. It was a very insightful discussion as always. You will be shocked and saddened by

Bundesbank Gold

Bundesbank Gold

By Chris Powell Germany’s central bank, the Bundesbank, today confirmed that much of its gold is held outside the country at “trading centers” where the

Oldies But Goodies From 1998

Oldies But Goodies From 1998

It’s been three years since Sarah and Susan Banks had the revelation over coffee at their Aunt Mary’s restaurant, where Sarah had worked summers putting

Millions Face Shrinking Social Security Payments

Millions Face Shrinking Social Security Payments

By Stephen Ohlemacher By law, Social Security benefits cannot go down. Nevertheless, monthly payments would drop for millions of people in the Medicare prescription drug

China Reduces Holdings

China Reduces Holdings

By BBC News China holds more US government debt than any other country and cut its holdings of US securities by more that 3% in

Time to Leave Massachusetts?

Time to Leave Massachusetts?

While New York is the capital of banking, one could argue that Boston is the capital of equity investment, being home to numerous mutual fund

Planetary Oxygen Levels

Planetary Oxygen Levels

By Dr. Mae Wen Ho Within the past several years, however, scientists have found that oxygen (O2) in the atmosphere has been dropping, and at

Vaccines More Deadly Than The Swine Flu

Vaccines More Deadly Than The Swine Flu

by Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Joe Cummins It is a messy combination of sequences from bird, human and swine flu virus lineages from North

What is Ramadan?

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan starts today,  Friday, the 21st of August, and will continue for 30 days until Saturday, the 19th of September. Muslims are called upon to

Not a Popsicle Index Guy

Not a Popsicle Index Guy

Warren Bamford, the special agent in charge of the FBI in Boston, said Tuesday that he is baffled by opposition to a proposal to give

Gov Access to Your $ Data

Gov Access to Your $ Data

By Diana Furchtgott-Roth Buried in the 1,017 pages of the House Democrats’ health-care bill is a little-noticed provision that for the first time could give

Philadelphia's Doomsday Budget

Philadelphia's Doomsday Budget

Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Mayor Michael Nutter said the clock is counting down to the implementation of a devastating ‘doomsday budget’ in Philadelphia. During

The National Debt Road Trip

The National Debt Road Trip

How do the current deficits compare with past administrations? And how did the national debt get so big anyway? This video tries to answer those

Central Bank Symposium

Central Bank Symposium

Jackson Hole Every year, the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank sponsors a meeting of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The 2009 event starts tonight.

Credit May Crunch Again

Credit May Crunch Again

View Full Size Chart of The Day: Credit May Crunch Again Before Getting Back To Normal

New Micro-Loan

New Micro-Loan

Having received another repayment, I just made my next loan at Kiva.org to an entrepreneur in Palestine starting a grocery store. Learn more about the

CalPERs: Something Does Not Add Up

CalPERs: Something Does Not Add Up

By Ed Mendel The CalPERS chief actuary says pension costs are “unsustainable,” and the giant public employee pension system plans to meet with stakeholders to

JP Morgan is the Man in CA

JP Morgan is the Man in CA

By William Selway JPMorgan Chase & Co. agreed to lend California $1.5 billion, a cash infusion that will allow the most-populous U.S. state to stop

CalPERs: Fees to JP Morgan Chase in 2008

CalPERs: Fees to JP Morgan Chase in 2008

From CalPERs Schedule of Fees & Commissions paid to securities brokers in fiscal 2008. JP Morgan Securities, Ltd.    $944,000 JP Morgan Securities, Inc.   $1,142,000

Questions for Californians

Questions for Californians

Why are state and local governments despositing funds with JP Morgan Chase and other banks that refuse to accept California IOUs? Why are the state

Health Care Solutions

Health Care Solutions

The “Impossible” Healthcare Solution: Go Back to Cash Here are the costs of childbirth as of 1952 at one of the finest hospitals on the

Farmacology

Farmacology

by Meg White I don’t like it when scientists feel the need to explain that they’re scared out of their wits, or use exclamation marks.

Circle Lending

Circle Lending

Water Color by Lesta Frank By Anne Stuhldreher …Unless, that is, you’re friends with someone like Maria del Carmen Torres. In between serving up pupusas

Retail Fire Sale

Retail Fire Sale

Target, Burlington, MA By Eric Janszen The first half of 2009 goes like this: 1. After Christmas sales: 20% to 50% off 2. Liquidation sales:

Chicago – Closed for the Day

Chicago – Closed for the Day

If you planned to check out a library book, visit a city clinic or have your garbage picked up on Monday, you’re out of luck.

Public Finances

Public Finances

“The public finances are one of the best starting points for an investigation of society . . . The spirit of a people, its cultural

Oldie but Goodie

Oldie but Goodie

If nuclear weapons exist, then nuclear war is a real possibility. And Delhi is a prime target. It is. But where shall we go? Is

UK Nurses Polled on Swine Flu Vaccine

UK Nurses Polled on Swine Flu Vaccine

By Rebecca Smith Only a third of nurses have said they are willing to have the vaccine against swine flu amid fears it has not

Sir! No Sir!

Sir! No Sir!

Sir! No Sir! Sir! No Sir! is a documentary produced, and written by David Zeiger  about the opposition to the Viet Nam War in military

Paul Atkinson (1921 – 2009)

Paul Atkinson (1921 – 2009)

Paul Atkinson died on August 4, 2009. Paul was one of my favorite people. He was an excellent business leader having served for many years

Blog Comments

Blog Comments

Thank you for all of your wonderful comments at the blog. Alas, not all those commenting had the readers and our best interests at heart.

The Lockheed Fire

The Lockheed Fire

The Lockheed Fire in Santa Cruz was one of nine big wildfires burning more than 100,000 acres in California last week. It was named after

Hyperbolic Deficit

Hyperbolic Deficit

The 2008 GAAP-based deficit (counting unfunded Social Security and Medicare liabilities, etc.), using accrual accounting, was $5.1 trillion, up from $1.2 trillion ($4 trillion-plus, using

Cap & Trade Bogged Down in Senate

Cap & Trade Bogged Down in Senate

By Daniel Whitten and Simon Lomax The U.S. Senate should abandon efforts to pass legislation curbing greenhouse-gas emissions this year and concentrate on a narrower

Rodent Turned Internet Celebrity

Rodent Turned Internet Celebrity

Photo by Melissa Brandts By Susan Krashinsky Like a starlet plucked from anonymity, like the moment Norma Jean became Marilyn, an Alberta ground squirrel who

Congressman Paul Broun (R-Ga)

Congressman Paul Broun (R-Ga)

Congressman Paul Broun (R-Ga) also spoke of a “socialistic elite” – Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid – who might

Letter to A Senator

Letter to A Senator

Dear Senator Boxer: You were so right on when you scolded the general on TV for using the term, “ma’am,” instead of “Senator”. After all,

Bird Feeder

Bird Feeder

Click the image to get a better view!

Gabriel Howearth

Gabriel Howearth

I received this from a member of our local permaculture organization. If you have the time and inclination, please read it. A valuable resource is

The 12 Rules of Survival

The 12 Rules of Survival

By Laurence Gonzales As a journalist, I’ve been writing about accidents for more than thirty years. In the last 15 or so years, I’ve concentrated

More Militia? Rubbish!

More Militia? Rubbish!

“”A lie keeps growing and growing until it’s as plain as the nose on your face.” I keep getting e-mails that militia are on the

On Market Manipulation

On Market Manipulation

Nothing would please Bernanke and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York more than to see both low long term yields and higher highs in

Prison Riots

Prison Riots

A friend of mine who has worked in the prison system tells me that the prisoners say the way to tell when the economy is

GM Centralizes in California

GM Centralizes in California

By Peter Whoriskey Hate car salesmen? Want to skip the test drive? General Motors has some cars to show you. The government-rescued automaker announced on

Home Prices

Home Prices

The Case-Shiller has been signalling an improvement in the second derivative of housing prices for a few months, and in the latest report it even

In From a Network Member

In From a Network Member

Carnation milk – 65 Years Ago. This is Priceless. A little old lady from Wisconsin had worked in and around her family dairy farms since

Fiscal Meltdown

Fiscal Meltdown

By Joe Weisenthal and Kamelia Angelova Hopefully deficits don’t matter, because if they do, then boy are we screwed. Today’s chart was put together by

Supply Chains Shorten

Supply Chains Shorten

By Richard Milne in Amsterdam Manufacturers are abandoning global supply chains for regional ones in a big shift brought about by the financial crisis and

Shock Doctrine 2009: The Post Office

Shock Doctrine 2009: The Post Office

Secret Office, at The General Post-Office Welcome to John Potter’s world. He’s the nation’s postmaster general. Yes, that’s right: for the last nine years, he

Great History

Great History

When Mexico Had the Blues: A Transatlantic Tale of Bonds, Bankers, and Nationalists, 1862–1910 By Steven C. Topick As Joseph Schumpeter lyrically described the broader

Sleuth Humor

Sleuth Humor

Oh, I am so relieved that we are seeing the beginning of the recession’s end, and now embarking on a jobless recovery. This is such

Paulson’s Calls to Goldman Tested Ethics

Paulson’s Calls to Goldman Tested Ethics

By Gretchen Morgenson and Don Van Natta Jr. Before he became President George W. Bush’s Treasury secretary in 2006, Henry M. Paulson Jr. agreed to

White Mountains Hiking

White Mountains Hiking

Southern Presidential Peaks By Gary Tompkins By Catherine Austin Fitts As a child, my summers were spent hiking in the White Mountains (New Hampshire). My

Building Machines to Change DNA

Building Machines to Change DNA

“Our goal was to find out whether we could program DNA to assemble into shapes that exhibit custom curvature or twist, with features just a

Oil Market Manipulation

Oil Market Manipulation

The United States on Thursday issued new rules on oil market manipulation that prohibits market players from providing misleading information to influence prices. The Federal

Bundesbank Says Gold in NY

Bundesbank Says Gold in NY

Deutsche Bundesbank Germany’s gold is in U.S. custody, Bundesbank confirms. Dear Friend of GATA and Gold: International journalist Max Keiser has just posted a nine-minute

South Atlantic Anomaly

South Atlantic Anomaly

From Wikipedia The South Atlantic Anomaly (or SAA) is the region where Earth’s inner Van Allen radiation belt makes its closest approach to the planet’s

Congress Gets an Upgrade

Congress Gets an Upgrade

By Brody Mullins Congress plans to spend $550 million to buy eight jets, a substantial upgrade to the fleet used by federal officials at a

Turk on Last Week's Employment Report

Turk on Last Week's Employment Report

James Turk Founder and Chairman of GoldMoney Politicians can put the gloss on this economic contraction and call it whatever they want. But given the