Grateful Dead

Get yer Ya-Yas out! Have a great weekend!

Consensus GDP numbers for the remainder of the year have been cut in half by economists. • The June Trade Deficit widened beyond everyone's expectations (see chart, below). • The Fed just gave the market a nod this week that it was fully cognizant of the possibility of a 'double-dip' recession – the likelihood of which we say is still remote. Ahhh, more good news, the likelihood of a double-dip recession is still remote -- Just don't tell the 13,000 in Atlanta who lined up for the Sec. 8 housing waiting list, 62 of which were hospitalized due to heat exhaustion.

2,000 dead this year from floods and landslides. Another 3.5 inches of rain expected today? Yeesh! "The dire wolf collects his due while the boys sing round the fire"

my guesses about aid for Pakistan were-if the government has the means to build nuclear weapons they also have the means to aid their population -the far-off Muslim factor (though dangerous to ignore due to Taliban in proximity ready and willing to provide aid, while they recruit) -that because the government was slow to respond to the catastrophy does not mean that they cannot-which was the case in Haiti. Again am just speculating! ********************************** By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity -- another man's I mean. Mark Twain

hmmmmmm I am no economist, but I will give some of my guestimates as why this could be. 1.) Creation of 400 euro jobs This was a program set up in 2008 (I believe) to put part of the long-term unemployed into menial jobs where they earned 400 euros/month; in addition to their unemployment benefits. That possibly led to some of the population feeling more productive again overall, plus having an extra 400 euros that they can spend. 2.) 2,500 older car rebate The government was offering a 2,500 euro check for turning older model cars in for newer, more environmentally efficient one. As far as I know many people took this offer up, which was good for the overall environment, PLUS stimulated car production (at least temporarily) 3.) Export to the growing Asian market Germany has done a pretty good job with this. Cars, appliances etc. 4.) taxes Can't forget that we pay higher VAT taxes on every step of goods and services-which in the end keeps the money flowing more than American lower taxes. Some Americans bitch about taxes, but in reality know squat about paying over 20% of their income in tax (oops another topic in itself) 5 reunification costs balancing out (this is just a guess) Reunification of East and West Germany was a very costly process, more than the people were ever told. It has been 10 years now, so perhaps these expences are balancing out and the East is pulling more of their financial weight again. I think I will do some more research Gonzo-to your most interesting question, and will come back with more information. Whether what I have theorized above is anywhere close to an answer, or just uninformed guessing. ********************************** By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity -- another man's I mean. Mark Twain

...is still different than that of Haiti, but not by that much. A radical Muslim state like Pakistan is a different priority than a country close at hand -- at least to American charities.

What gives, TL? What do the Germans do that the US doesn't?

I'm confused as well, but I mark it up, in some ways, to disaster fatigue. Maybe that isn't it, but we seem to act/react more quickly to a single, out-of-the-blue catastrophe than we do when they seem to start piling up on each other. I know my own reaction to "trouble ahead, trouble behind" is to start hiding my head under my pillow. And you know, THAT notion just crossed my mind...

Hal R, my everlasting memory of Amory Lovins: chatting him up at a Luau in Maui, John Denver was the evening entertainmnent, and we were standing away from the crowd. We'd had just enough to drink to get a warm buzz. During the course of our conversation, no recollection of why, he pulls out his wallet and extracts a picture...of his dog. The dog was wearing a bandana. My instant thought: "old hippie. He's one of us!" If only, indeed. The world would be a different place if we'd been really working to implement his ideas over the past couple of decades.

is this: the outcry for humanitarian aid for Haiti was immediate and intense (and deservedly so) while about Pakistan I see more plain reporting, and less collection drives. Maybe I mentioned this before, but it's still puzzling me. If we don't help the Taliban will! ********************************** By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity -- another man's I mean. Mark Twain