patrick.net

That's how I feel too. Have you ever been on a really bad amusement park ride, and you're thinking, OK I'd like to get off of it now, and it just keeps going? I have to just laugh I don't think I can take this much longer.

Please understand, 3 years ago I used to joke (yes at the time it was a joke) that these people were so screwed up that we would one day be bailing out irresponsible homeowners.

GLDs tonnage was up almost 2% for the week. Looks like they didn't have to sell anything from the vaults to pay Malcolm (I kid, next week could see profit taking... or not).
Trying to muster up the courage to short Wells Fargo before earnings. My stops kicked in at 31+ before Xmas so I missed the big downdraft. With $84 billion of seconds, what could go wrong? NIA...

Help us Obi Ron Paul, you're our only hope.

Patrick, you've gotta use that one somehow. Help us Obi Ron.

From DinOr's Youtube video

AR15fan (7 months ago)

"Hillary Clinton: Chairman Meow. "

From the "If you can't beat 'em, sue 'em" file:

Cleveland sues lenders over subprime:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/11/real_estate/cleveland_lawsuit/index.htm?postversion=2008011114

On the housing bottom prediction:

I said 2009, but not because I think the natural market conditions would cause a turnaround in 2009 (in the absence of interventions, I'd say 2010-2011). I said 2009 because it's probable that a democrat will win the 2008 election, and thus the democrats will likely control the white house and Congress.

With that circumstance, a massive bailout is all but inevitable, to the detriment of everyone who didn't recklessly get involved in the bubble. Naturally the democrats will go way too far and create profit opportunities for people shrewd enough to profit from whatever "temporary" bailouts they put in place, which will put upward pressure on the market, and likely create a "bottom".

Anyway, thought I'd throw that out there as a rationale for 2009 as the bottom.

Wow, I didn't realize the relative size of GLD's holdings:

Indeed, the total amount of gold held in the StreetTracks trust stood this week at 642 metric tons, according to the fund. (One metric ton is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms or about 2,205 pounds.) That's more than the gold reserves held by many national governments, including China, Russia, the European Central Bank and the Netherlands, according to data compiled by the World Gold Council, the trade group that sponsors StreetTracks Gold Shares.
To put that figure into perspective, about 3,400 metric tons of gold is sold each year for commercial production, mostly jewelry, and industrial uses.

With that circumstance, a massive bailout is all but inevitable, to the detriment of everyone who didn’t recklessly get involved in the bubble.

You think a massive bailout will work at all?

I think it will:

1) Destroy the currency
2) Cost taxpayers dearly
3) Enrich some people
4) Help nobody else

I kinda want Hillary to win the primary. Perhaps she has enough haters out there to give GOP a good chance.

I thought so too, but there are a lot of people like me who aren't going to show up in November unless Paul wins the nomination, so I'd rather not risk it.

Stalinist fluff though. Very naive, or idiotic, or both.

Hillary is neither naive or idiotic. This a calculated plan to buy votes. She will make a point to blame all misfortune not on any individual's action, but upon society itself.

Tell the overweight to exercise and eat less? Nope, blame society that force feeds people fast food, then blame society for making fat people feel bad with undo emphasis on looks.

Tell debtors to stop buying what they do not need with money they do not have? Nope, blame society with its acquisitive values that force people to live beyond their means.

Smoke? You are a victim of cigarette ads that made smoking seem cool.

It's "not your fault" and "gov will bail you out" will draw more votes than "take responsibilty" and "gov will leave you alone."

I don't know what counseling or refinancing will accomplish to someone who owes more on their house than it is worth. These people just don't get it. They still don't understand the problem.

Peter P--Thanks for the Tesla reference. Just about made me fall over.

Nice to see you back, Randy!

It did occur to me that when the drug companies refer to "prescribers" they may also be cozying up to nurse practitioners and physician's assistants. My kids' pediatric practice runs heavy to PA's and NP's and advanced nurses these days. We don't mind, as we tend to see a lot of an NP we like. But medicine isn't just for doctors anymore.

In fact, I don't know whether an all-MD insurance-based practice would work out, money-wise--at least not in the Bay Area.

Peter P says

You think a massive bailout will work at all?

1) Destroy the currency
2) Cost taxpayers dearly
3) Enrich some people
4) Help nobody else

If it comes to that Niccolo, try to be number 3.

If it comes to that Niccolo, try to be number 3.

Perhaps that shinny yellow metal will help.

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — More than a dozen employees, including several senior-level executives, have been cut by Tesla Motors, which is struggling to bring its oft-delayed $100,000 Roadster to market.

On his new Web site late Thursday, Tesla's deposed co-founder, Martin Eberhard lists more than a dozen people who have left the company in the past few days. "Watch to see more fall in the coming weeks," Eberhard writes. "Maybe this explains why I got the boot first." Eberhard's blog posting was titled "Stealth Bloodbath."

"This is about accountability," Darryl Siry, Tesla's vice president of sales, marketing and services told the San Jose Mercury News. "If you don't get the job done, there are consequences."

The first production Tesla Roadster was originally slated for delivery in early 2007. But the launch of the two-seater has been stalled, largely due to the high-tech transmission. In late December, the company said it will install an "interim" transmission in the first production models and replace it later with an upgraded transmission.

"Obviously, transitions are always difficult, even with careful planning," said Eberhard. "But axing nearly the entire executive staff, letting the world's foremost EV motor engineer go, trimming down the service organization before the job of opening the first service center is done, ripping through the firmware team — and doing it by random firings on a daily basis — are all hard to explain."

Perhaps "Tesla" really means all work and no pay.

Poor Nikola.

"nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants"

Can they prescribe medications?

Technology is overrated. People is what matters.

No amount of science or research can alter human nature.

Who Killed the Electric Car?

Reality.

I thought the Tesla concept was interesting, I was surprised no one really commented on the Aptera. www.aptera.com

OK, Peter P is not allowed to comment on my purchase decision.

Kidding of course.

If you don’t get the job done, there are consequences.

Oh really? Just blame the society.

>> Technology is overrated. People is what matters.

In Silly Con Valley saying this is like saying gambling is bad in Las Vegas ... here people do not matter technology matters. As I said, Bay Area is like a large hotel full of travelers and gamblers. There is no there there ....

Not expert on this. But, yeah, Nurse Practitioners and Physician's Assistants can prescribe, though the rules vary state by state. In Cali, they have to have a "collaborating physician"--which could mean that they work for a doc who trusts them a lot or that they work for a doc who looks over their shoulders all the time. Esp in rural areas, I have heard of NP's "collaborating" with docs who live in far away cities and are essentially just available for questions.

In some places, they need to have a doc sign for scheduled drugs. In Cali, that can vary from practice to practice. Seems like NP's may be able to prescribe in more places than PA's. More info here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/440315

http://www.aapa.org/gandp/rxchart.html

I don’t know what counseling or refinancing will accomplish to someone who owes more on their house than it is worth.

How about this counseling:

Since you cannot sell the house or make the payments, you had best just let the home go. Your credit rating will be ruined and you will be a renter for a few years. Use that time wisely by renting a home priced low enough to allow you to save for a downpayment for any future home purchase. When you do buy again, understand that "liberated equity" is a myth. That term really refers to a loan, which must be paid back with interest. Liberated equity differs from any other loan only in that you can lose your house if the loan is not paid. Remember, consumer debt is a burden and liability, but savings and paid off real estate are true assets.

Not expert on this. But, yeah, Nurse Practitioners and Physician’s Assistants can prescribe, though the rules vary state by state. In Cali, they have to have a “collaborating physician”–which could mean that they work for a doc who trusts them a lot or that they work for a doc who looks over their shoulders all the time. Esp in rural areas, I have heard of NP’s “collaborating” with docs who live in far away cities and are essentially just available for questions.

In some places, they need to have a doc sign for scheduled drugs. In Cali, that can vary from practice to practice. Seems like NP’s may be able to prescribe in more places than PA’s. More info here:

w ww.medscape.com/viewarticle/440315

w ww.aapa.org/gandp/rxchart.html

Exactly, we're going to use tax dollars to tell people to do what they were going to do anyway. I kind of sense some sarcasm but that's what's going to happen, and when you break it down, each of the 2 million foreclosures will translate to $15,000 a piece to the tax payer for "counseling."

taxpayer

@patrick, thanks for considering the idea.

I'm so happy to be a self employed contract programmer. Less work, more money, pay less taxes. Its makes the 'free money for everyone' easier to take.

Anyway whoever is in power most taxpayers never see much of thier money back. Id rather burn my money than give it to the govt - it would reduce money supply and fight inflation. My new religioin is taking advantage of every tax loophole strategy that exists (its called judaism...haha kidding)

Hellokitty you're not a parasite are you?

You seem too human and commonsense....

Itz coming.......

PermaRenter good post on Silly Con valley.

I get a wonderful magazine.... Test & Measurement World. They have not figured out yet that I am consuming 1/10th what I did, and earning nothing right now. I love to read the thing, and drool over all the neat instrumentation, but the fact remains, other than for war, what does anyone need any of this crap for? I for one could be very happy in a 1930s world (Wait, I'm living in one!) with AM radio, moviehouses for video, books to read, etc. There's no need for all this electronic crap, at all. Computers are used to play games (although game consoles are better for that) or to access the Net and its neverending torrent of talk and porn. When this computer dies I'm not paying more than $50 for another one, and frankly I kinda wish it would, since messing around on it keeps me from doing real-world stuff.

All this shit from at least the last 30 years, is just not necessary and doesn't make people any happier, it just makes them more miserable. Working longer hours to afford that bigscreen because the Joneses next door have one, so you have to get one but now the kids are growing up not even knowing you.

High tech was my religion. I really believed in inventing things, discovering things, making newer and better things, but it's all a big crock'o'shit.

Hence the name, Silly-Con valley.

Top Ten Cities for Jobs
Rank City State
1 Salt Lake City Utah
2 Wichita Kansas
3 Austin Texas
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How does utilizing legal tax laws passed by government that are meant to 'stimulate the economy' make me a parasite? I totally pay tax, dont work for cash under table, and I can pass an audit.

Anyway - the anti technology rant is hilarious.

I think the term is luddite - some guy name Ludd led a movement to destroy 'the automated factory system' which was taking jobs away from honest people who were weaving cloth in their own homes for a living. Evil factory owners destroying the price of linen with thier wicked machines!

anyway i constantly feel like all this new tech is incredibly awsome, as if the future from star trek is *almost* here. My parents and many friends I know can barely send email and struggle to surf the net. Its as if they are retarded in todays world, but the are just average. The number of people I know who do not even understand how to 'get to thier C: drive' is amazing and yet they can function and keep jobs, probably most people under 20 wont have these issues at all. This explains CD sales going down FAAAST since teenagers are the main buyers of stupid pop music and they all share with p2p or with each other some other way...

Funny, as I read ex-sunnyvale's post I'm watching the Menanite farmers in Belize on the fully paid for big screen. They live like the Amish. Apart from my love of horses I don't see anything that would make me want to live that way. They don't seem any happier than anyone else.

If memory serves Ludd was hanged. In a philosophy class there was an article about the Luddites called "The Machine Breakers."

It is funny how leaders who want to go back to a simpler time have to enforce their ideology. Ludd was a terrorist. The Muslims who hate us want a nice organized primitive society. Pol Pot killed a million or so people. N Korea kills people just for saying the West isn't evil. Even these farmers I was just watching have the no contraception, no TV, no this, and no that laws. Of course they also prohibit gun ownership, very interesting.

>> They don’t seem any happier than anyone else.

You simply do not have the feel for happiness in leading simple life. For example buying a sexy HD TV does not bring entertainment ... the content that is played in that HD TV bring entertainment. Now to be happy you need few basic ingedients:

1. SPACE

2. TIME

3. CONNECTION

In Silly Con Valley all three are missing for general public. Space is rare, time is rare and connection (community) is rare as well.

I think that's the main reason I would not be happy up there. Just visiting SF gave me claustrophobia, and I agree that when people fill emotional voids by buying stuff they won't be happy, just in debt and even more stressed than if they kept things simple. BUT, why not enjoy what the world has to offer? I probably won't climb Mt Everest but when you see something like that in HD it really is an amazing persepective.

I hate waste and gluttony but I think technology has the potential to solve mankind's problems. Just look at what the Internet has done for us. It is amazing to me that it is possible for the two of us seperated by such a great distance to even be able to exchange ideas. Wouldn't you get tired of talking to the same villagers day in and day out?