Between The Headlines

1.Glock sales jump after Arizona slaughter

Ironically, after the Arizona slaughter, sale of Glock automatics have surged. Many gun shops report that the special Glock magazines that hold 33 cartridges are "sell outs."

COMMENT: Todays population is seven times that of a century ago. Therefore seven times more sicko's. Or maybe Palin is to blame....

2.Jordan cuts taxes to offset food rises on poor

Jordan approved on Tuesday a $225 million package to keep commodity price pressures in check and cut some fuel prices to mitigate the impact of high food prices on the country's poor, officials said.

COMMENT: In the last year there have been food riots in Algeria, Tunisia and Mozambique. So far, a trickle....

3.Hamas deploys forces to shore up ceasefire

The Gaza Strip's ruling Hamas movement has ordered its security commanders to enforce a ceasefire with Israel and has beefed up its forces near the border to help maintain the calm.

COMMENT: I wonder what they know that we don't. Maybe the so-called failed Operation Cast Lead in Gaza is  influencing their decision making process.

4.Elbit Systems wins $260m Brazilian Army order

Elbit Systems Brazilian subsidiary, Aeroeletronica Ltda. has won a $260 million Brazilian Army follow-on order for the supply of UT30 BR 30 mm unmanned turrets, as part of the army's Guarani Project.

COMMENT: So when it comes to lip service its "Go Palestine", but when it comes to security it's "Go Israel!" This is what we call prioritizing.

5.Elisra wins Korea electronic warfare deal

CEO Itzhak Gat said, "The selection of Elisra's systems by the Republic of Korea, time and again within the last two years, attests to the high level of customer satisfaction and confidence in the company's products and capabilities." Gat added, "These programs are further indication of Elisra's success in Korea and of the recognition of our technological leadership in the EW field".

COMMENT:The key words are "Our technological leadership in the EW (electronic warfare) field." Reports from North Korea say they have spotted several killer sharks in coastal waters.

6.New move to make Yuan a global currency

China has launched trading in its currency in the U.S. for the first time, an explicit endorsement by Beijing of the fast-growing market in the yuan and a significant step in the country's plan to foster global trading in its currency.
The state-controlled Bank of China Ltd. is allowing customers to trade the yuan, also known as the renminbi, in the U.S.

COMMENT: Slowly but surely....

H

The Changing Tides - Continued

Once again, at the risk of being boring, let me repeat. A century ago the population of the world was about a billion souls. Today we have about 7 billion human inhabitants. This fact is a key to identifying future trends and risks. As available land, water, food, raw materials diminish, so do the financial possibilities increase, and of course also the risks. Two types of risk. The first type is the is the one we associate with human nature. Greed, power, hunger,evil, desperation and so on. Humans are hard-wired to do anything to survive. Even bad things.The second type is the financial risk which is easier (for some of us) to gauge.


Some flashpoints might be a possible war in the Koreas, an attack on Irans nuclear reactors, Pakistan falling to terrorists and maybe a resurgence of a killer Swine Flu. Then we have the traditional rivalries of Pakistan and India, China Japan and Vietnam, the Middle East and Shiite and Sunni Muslims to name but a few. Still in the infancy stage is a possible Muslim-Christian confrontation. At the other end of the stick, financial risks abound. The possible disintegration of the Euro currency, US dollar instability as the debt situation unravels, and right now, more than anything else, a rise in US treasury bond yields. The US bond market is about ten times (no kidding) the size of the stock market. A rise in interest rates would create major losses for bondholders. This is probably your number one financial indicator that something is badly amiss.

The way to look at investments is the same way one would approach an investment in real estate. Identify the trend and then buy and hold on the long term. Only one Warren Buffett and even he makes mistakes. So don't be discouraged. And definitely stay away from speculation. Its easier and more fun to lose money at a casino.

Shortages create demand and demand causes prices to rise. One immediately thinks of raw materials. At the moment, probably the biggest potential shortage is that of rare earth elements. No need to elaborate on this blog.
Next shortage, and you can take it to the bank, is energy. Not Oil! Energy. Right now only one main solution to the expected energy shortfall. Nuclear power. France gets 80% of its electricity from nuclear power and has never had an accident. It also owns the cleanest air in Europe. For fifty years the US Navy has been powered by nuclear fuel and has never had an accident. Some of the world are still traumatised by Chernobyl. Mix too many bottles of vodka together with a group of chumps, inferior technology and safeguards, and we all know the result. Meantime South Korea has taken the technological lead in this area. China is planning over 200 nuclear power stations. A little known fact is that China has overtaken America as the worlds largest energy consumer. On top of that, there is a frenzied charge to jump on the bandwagon by many countries. So where is the uranium coming from? Who knows? I don't. Todays supply meets about 10% of future demand. Its just a matter of time before we see governments purchasing mines (the uranium at source). The Chinese way.

So much has been written about gold, we won't waste too much time discussing, except to point out that gold is the only honest currency on the planet. China and India appear to be preparing their economies for a gold standard. And gold has been in a long term rising trend for ten years. From $260 an ounce to $1400 an ounce. You know what they say, "A trend in motion will continue untill it actually ends". The end does not seem to be in sight if we consider the above indications.

So if raw materials will be in short supply, then maybe we should diversify to currencies that are backed by raw materials and gold. China and India are doing it. At the last check, China was purchasing Canadian and Australian currency. Follow the leader, but remember The Pied Piper of Hamelin.....

Been to the supermarket lately. Prices of food are rising all over the world. Definitely in the US.  Salaries are not. In some countries, we are not too far off from food riots. This will be an interesting trend to follow, especially in countries whose only income is from oil. Where half the population wear the burqa, and are forbidden to work, except for menial tasks.

Some cheap advice. Protection of capital is supreme. In the next decade, he who loses the least will make the most. Best defense? Diversification. And remember, there are no geniuses (only geniuses for a time) and forewarned is forearmed.

Even if you are on the right track, You will get run over if you just sit there - Will Rogers

H

Boycott Israel - Make The World a Safe Place

Thanks to Bruno for this cool Email. A newer version. Couldn't resist publishing this.

Arab and leftist radicals are again talking Israel boycott. To assist my fellow man, I decided to create a list of all the products they should immediately stop using.

A. COMPUTERS

1. Do not buy a computer with an Intel chip, by far the most common one.
2. Do not buy a laptop developed in the 20th century because their chips were all invented in Israel .
3. Do not buy any computer with a Windows NP, XP or Vista, as they were developed by Microsoft's Israel division.
4. Do not use the latest version of Microsoft Office.
5. Do not use a computer fire wall or virus protection software, which were invented by the Israel Defense Forces.
6. Stop using Instant Messengers.
7. And USB flash drives too.
8. Do not use search engines, as the most popular algorithm was developed in Israel .
9. Since Israel is first per capita and second in overall numbers in high tech inventions, just avoid using any computer-related products to make sure that the evil Zionists don't profit.
B. MODERN TECHNOLOGY

1. Do not use the camera function on your cell phone.
2. And don't use the voicemail feature either.
3. Do not use the virtual keyboard, such as those on iPhones.
4. Forget that. Cell phones were invented in Israel so stop using them altogether.
5. Similarly stay away from Amazon Kindle.
6. Also make sure to avoid earthquake detectors and tsunami detectors. When covered by a pile of rubble or water, remember, you are making the world safe from Israel .
C. MEDICINE

1. Avoid money-saving generic drugs, as the biggest such pharmaceutical company is Teva of Israel.
2. Make sure your pharmacist does not use Zionist software to properly administer drugs.
3. Do not install baby monitors that prevent the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
4. Women must insist on the use of methods that require radiation in diagnosing breast cancer because radiation-free technology is a Zionist conspiracy.
5. Avoid camera-pills used to diagnose patients.
6. When getting cancer treatment, make sure your radiation kills both cancerous and healthy cells because cancer-targeted treatment is a Zionist plot. Also avoid Medis El Cell Scan diagnoses and detects early stages of cancer.
7. Stay away from treatments for acne, gum disease and fungus.
8. Israel has the highest number of biotech companies per capita and almost 40% of all Nobel Prizes in Medicine were awarded to the (Israeli and non-Israeli) Jews, so just avoid all medicine to be on the safe side.
D. FASHION

1. Do not buy seamless clothing as this is an Israeli patent.
2. DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Joseph Abboude, Kenneth Cole, Isaac Mizrahi, Marc Jacobs, Anne Klein - all Jews. Stick to wearing the latest in anti-Zionist fashion: the burqa.
E. ECONOMICS

1. "The Game Theory" was invented by the Zionists, obviously to oppress the Palestinians.
2. You must avoid using any recognized methods by which a government can grow its economy because most economic theories, from Karl Marx on the left to Ludwig von Mises on the right, and most of the ideas in the middle were developed by the Jews. Remember, more than a third of all Nobel Prizes in Economics were given to the Hebrew tribe, so avoid using any fiscal policies recognized by economists. Who needs Jewish economists when you can smoke hookah in a cave?
F. EDUCATION

1. Israel has the highest percentage of its population with PhDs and other graduate degrees.
2. Israel is first per capita in papers published by scientific journals.
3. Israel is first per capita in patents.
4. Israel is second per capita in the number of books published.
5. You get the point. Just avoid education. It's obviously a Zionist trap.
This list is really getting too long. For those interested in boycotting Israel and creating territories free of Jews, it would be best to consult their intellectual forbearers. No need to elaborate.

I cannot think we are useless or God would not have created us - Geronimo ( I wonder what he would say if he was around today?)

H

Disneyland - I kid You Not

I cannot believe I am writing about this in all seriousness. But what can one do? Where to begin? Lets start today and work backwards.....

Twenty Three Coptic Christians were murdered in Egypt over the New Year. This follows the massacre of christians in Iraq and Indonesia. Lo and behold the Egyptian press which is usually heavily censored is now claiming a zionist plot against Egyptian unity. Hey! This is not me making up a story. Bret Stephens writes in theWall Street Journal: "Essam El-Irian, a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood, says that while he believes "the Israeli Mossad was behind the incident," he won't rule out the possibility that al Qaeda itself may now be under Israeli operational control. And in a bid for Christian-Muslim unity, Gamal Assad, a Christian member of Egypt's parliament, accuses the perpetrators of "carrying out a Zionist scheme aimed at fragmenting the Arab region as a whole."

NEXT, and I kid you not, Newspapers in Saudi Arabia say that they have arrested a vulture (absolutely correct....a bird) on charges of spying for Israel. According to the newspaper Al Weeam, the alleged Mossad agent is a vulture that was captured in a rural area of the country. It was discovered to have a transmitter and a leg bracelet marked "Tel Aviv University." Some might be tempted to believe Israel's story, which is that the bird was part of a scientific study tracking the movements of vultures in the region. But not the Saudi press, or any number of Arab websites that were quick to jump on the story. The vulture, said al Weeam, was most likely part of "a Zionist plot." Two other birds tagged by Tel Aviv university, a vulture and a pelican, were accused of being spies when they were captured in Sudan.

Okay, so you are not convinced. You say he must have lost his mind! (To be honest.......). Anyway, back to Disneyland. Last month the governor of Egypt's Sinai peninsula claimed that a shark that killed a tourist and mauled others in a spate of attacks near the resort of Sharm al-Sheikh was a Mossad plant. To quote Governer Shousa "What is being said about the Mossad [Israel's spy agency] throwing the deadly shark in the sea to hit tourism in Egypt is not out of the question. But it needs time to confirm."

Lets try to be fair. Israels most recent suspected exploits are almost as fantastic as the fantasies. Israel is widely believed responsible for the Stuxnet computer worm, which appears to have done serious damage to Iran's centrifuges and its Busheir nuclear plant. And Mossad is the leading suspect in the high-tech bomb attacks on two leading Iranian nuclear scientists last month. One was killed and the other seriously injured when passing motorcyclists slapped adhesive bombs onto their cars.  Israeli cabinet minister Moshe Yaalon, a former Israeli military chief of staff, said last week that, as a result of recent setbacks, Iran will not go nuclear until 2014 at the earliest. That's quite a change from earlier Israeli forecasts that Iran could get the bomb in 2011.

Back to Daffy Duck. Frankly when we add in the martyr and his 70 plus virgins, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. The people who sprout this mumbo jumbo wear suits and ties and participate in delegations and forums around the world including the UN. Some are given the red carpet treatment at the White House. Israel is demonized, not only in the arab world, but also in the west. An example of this is the Toronto Star quoting Isabel Kershner of the New York Times in an article "Sharp debate surrounds death of palestinian woman". Not worth the space to quote, but google it.
So how is Israel supposed to make peace with these guys? While you  ponder the question, and like a good Yiddishe boy, I will answer the question. Only a strong Israel, standing up for itself will guarantee survival!

Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses - George Carver

H

China - Follow The Money

As information seeping out of China slowly improves, their ambition has become more obvious. Their biggest asset is patience. Slowly but surely is the motto. And surely it is.


1.The Chinese are ready to spend $511 billion to build up to 245 nuclear reactors. The global nuclear industry is willing to take big risks to get a piece of China's nuclear budget. Just 13 nuclear plants operate in China today, and until recently the Chinese were building only one or two reactors a decade. Now they are building 25 facilities, accounting for close to half the reactors under construction worldwide.  China's energy planners say they aim to have 40 reactors by 2020 and, by 2030, enough additional reactors to generate more power than all 104 reactors in the US, the leader in nuclear energy. That brings us to another thought. An economic thought. The possible shortage of URANIUM. Canada's Cameco agreed to supply 29-million pounds of uranium to Guangdong Nuclear through 2025. China is building reactors faster and at a lower cost than the rest of the world. By 2013 they hope to be exporting nuclear reactors.

CONCLUSION: The West will suicidally teach China its advanced technology, who will then replace us with its own labor to put us out of business. Brilliant. So whether we like it or not, the world is going nuclear.

2.A new military reality is slowly dawning. -- With the US Navy fleet in the China Seas ostensibly to warn North Korea and protect South Korea from North Korea, we find out that China (with a close relationship to North Korea) has a new missile defense system which is designed to knock out naval battle formations. This version of China's land-based mobile medium-range system, called the "carrier killer" is off the drawing boards and is now operational. Defense analysts have called the Chinese system a "game changer." It seems the Chinese system has effectively "neutralized" US Naval strength in the China seas. Now what?

CONCLUSION: This is not the feeble China we knew during the days of the Boxer Rebellion. This is a formidable, high-tech China that means to defend itself and has the weapons to do it. It seems that China does not want a US Navel fleet floating around off China's shores.

3.China is stockpiling gold. In fact, China is now the largest gold producer in the world. By law, the Chinese goverment purchases all gold mined in that country. Gold imports into China have soared this year, turning the country into a major overseas buyer for the first time in recent memory. The imports increased five fold during 2010 from 45 tonnes to 209 tonnes at the end of October. Beijing is on track to overtake India as the world’s largest consumer of gold and a significant force in global gold prices.

CONCLUSION: Looks like the gold standard might be on its way back via the Chinese currency, the Yuan.
This might become an international trend over the next decade, as the financial system weighs the folly of the present system and its printing machines. Once again China is planning ahead.

4. Rare Earth Elements - quite the weapon!

COMMENT: China is on its way to becoming a superpower. No doubt about it. The only question in my mind is - A benevolent dictator, a budding democracy or a wolf in sheeps clothing (and with money in the bank)? Take your pick.

The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are -
J.P. Morgan

H



 

Israel 2011

For the last four decades, at least, I have been listening to and reading different articles about the catastrophe facing Israel and about the dangers facing our small state. There always appears to be a big bad wolf out there and a chorus of "Oy Gevalt!" accompanying the wolf. But here we are and the year is 2011. The Jewish pessimists are tearing their hair out looking for the big bad wolf. And he is out there. He has always been out there and always will be. He continuously changes shape and form. Get used to it. A holocaust will always be on the horizon! The ace up our sleeve is a strong and independant State of Israel. This is not an option. To all Jews who believe otherwise, look to your children. The priority is survival, not world peace. Believe it! Israel does. We say "Never Again".

And now, a little perspective

My Father always used to say "Follow the money and you will know the truth". For example, the question arises of how isolated Israel is today compared to thirty years ago. At the time Arab oil had the world by the throat and even Israel's closest friends did a disappearing act. All the African friendlies ended their relationship with the Zionist State, and Israel landed up doing business with Apartheid South Africa, warring Iran and Iraq, some parts of Europe (under different pseudonyms), and of course The USA. Israel was the pariah state of the world, only saved by constant US vetoes in the UN. Israel's balance of payments was deep in the red, Inflation was running in the hundreds, the banking system collapsed together with the stock market and foreign currency reserves were close to zero. In short, a poor, debt-ridden country with few sympathisers and many enemies. Adding to these woes, no raw materials, no land and no capital. Not pretty.

Let's look at Israel today. At least 20 votes at the UN, and many more abstentions. As the current trend in the world towards electricity and away from oil, increases, so will oil as a weapon decrease in leverage.
Today Israel is a modern thriving country, surrounded by enemies who for the most, are well aware that Israel is too strong to be destroyed (Except for the nut bar in Iran).

No inflation, Economic growth of 4.7% in the last quarter, one of the strongest currencies in the world, discovery of massive amounts of gas and huge potential oil reserves (Who would ever have thought?), A booming high-tech industry and a booming arms industry - Israel now exports more arms than it imports, Foreign Currency reserves of 69 billion USD....more than Canada's reserves (Believe it or not) and the list goes on and on.

Just recently the Turks have been making hostile noises in Israel's direction, so while Turkey dithers and tries to decide whether to be part of the West or join the fanatics, lo and behold, who turns up in Israel, but the Greek Prime Minister. Greece, with a history of anti - Israel rhetoric, apparently has concluded that its support of the arab world has led to nothing and now they are bankrupt. Discussions are well underway for the construction of an underwater gas pipeline from Israel to Greece for distribution to Europe. Ironically, Turkey was the original partner for this project. Like they say "Money talks and BS walks"!

As US influence decreases, so new alliances will be created. All those who constantly criticized the US (Europe, for instance) will now find out what what the alternatives are. Israel could run the seminar.
What this small country has achieved and contributed to the world in 62 years is amazing. And now it will excel and write the book on survival.

We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them-Albert Einstein

A happy and  prosperous new year to all
Harry

2011 - The Changing Tides

Please excuse the repetition. There are so many new readers over the last weeks, I am sure that our longtime loyal readers will understand.

At the turn of the 20th Century, there were about a billion people on Planet Earth. By 2011 the earth's population is expected to be close on 7 billion. Life expectancy has increased dramatically. Today 60 years old is regarded as young (I hope). As the century ages, and in spite of advances in all spheres of existence, one word comes to mind....SHORTAGES. As Asia and South America come of age, basics like food and clean water, raw materials and land will be in demand. Another essential will be in short supply...SAFETY, both physical and financial. So the key to the economic future lies in recognising where and what the shortages will be, to invest in these shortages, while at the same time, preparing for a rainy day. So during the year 2011, we will follow the money and attempt to connect the dots.

1.For the last thirty years and more, the major world shortage has been energy. This has been leveraged into a political and military weapon that has changed the face of the world. There is even a faint (or not so faint) suspicion that the war(s) in Iraq might have been for this reason. Clearly oil is no longer a weapon. Just another commodity. Now we have a new material that appears to be one of the next generation shortages.
Rare Earth Elements. Please read "The Middle east has Oil, China has Rare Earths" on this blog from Oct 15th and "Rare Earth Revolution" from 15th Nov. Enuff said.

2.Gold. The dye is cast. Five thosand years of history is shouting from the rooftops and making its way into our living rooms. The rush is on. Does it really matter that we have all these primitive thoughts? After all what is it that the barbarians knew that we don't? The only currency not corrupted by man, is gold. Every financial system in history was based on some type of gold standard. It has proved the test of time. Another form of financial safety. Remember that word as the century moves on.

3.As most of you know, I don't always agree with Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, but this time he has hit the bulls eye. "In recent years, I have often said to European friends: So, you didn’t like a world of too much American power? See how you like a world of too little American power — because it is coming to a geopolitical theater near you. Yes, America has gone from being the supreme victor of World War II, with guns and butter for all, to one of two superpowers during the cold war, to the indispensable nation after winning the cold war, to 'The Frugal Superpower' of today. Get used to it. That’s our new nickname. American pacifists need not worry any more about 'wars of choice.' We’re not doing that again. We can’t afford to invade Grenada today." The times, they are a changing......

4.The only way to pay off the huge US Debt and stimulate the US economy is to devalue the American Dollar. And you can take that to the bank. The other alternative is the mother of all depressions. The best way for the world to compete is to join the party. And what a party it is! Man-made central banks are supplying the booze and everybody is dancing the twist. So for as long as the world accepts the US currency as its reserve currency, the party will continue. Keep the Advils handy.


5.And the biggest revolution of this century? Women! Yep, they are participating more and more. The universities are choc-a-bloc with women, the future lawyers, doctors, scientists, politicians and leaders. As for the oppressed women of the world (you know, the ones being forced to hide their faces from the infidels), patience ladies. Help is on the way. How do you think these countries will compete with only half the work force active?


Life is tough, but its tougher when you're stupid - John Wayne

H