Inflation

"The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists."

Ernest Hemingway, The Next War

Economically most nations have been lucky. Yes, as Jeremiah Wright once said, the chickens are coming home to roost. Unemployment in Greece and Spain are in the 20% range. As this figure involves government statistics, no one knows for sure. India's currency is tanking. So is Brazil's. Brazil's case is ironic, as the president complained last year that the Real, the Brazilian currency, was too high. Be careful what you wish for. 

We have a lot of inflation right now, inflation defined as an increase in the money supply. While the monetary inflation rate is quite higher than the CPI government figures, even that rate is not as high as one would expect looking at actual prices. The beef bacon I buy just went up 20% since the last time I bought it. I see lots of examples. I am sure you do too. 

But what the US is doing is exporting inflation to other countries. Well, I suppose US citizens should be grateful that the US can export something. Other nations have no choice but to also inflate their currencies to match the US Fed. 

All is well, until it isn't. Eventually all these dollars overseas may come home. The US debt owned by China and Japan is on the decline. While both China and Japan understand that they cannot sell these bonds all at once, they will be sold. Especially in the case of Japan. 

The chickens will come home to roost as the US dollars return to their place of origin, like homing chickens. 

While I am not expecting hyperinflation, modest inflation in the 10% range seems almost inevitable. (Yes, I see 10% as modest.)

Get ready. 

Monty Python Meets Star Trek

I may have posted this before, but if so it is still fun. 

Patriotic Sunday

I find the video I have embedded below deeply troubling. What I found the most troubling was the video panning of the audience at the end where the announcer tells everyone to stand to show support for the idolatry they just witnessed. Most do. 

In the time of the Judge Gideon in Ancient Israel, the staff of Moses that was used to heal the people of a plague still existed.  As you might expect it had become a symbol of idolatrous worship. Gideon was forced to destroy it. The staff itself was not evil, the use of it which popular custom at the time dictated was a violation of the second commandment. This is how I look at the use of flags in worship. 

While I am sure that many in this congregation thought this presentation was over the top, I wonder how many still agreed with the philosophy presented? How many of those who did not stand did so for health reasons? Most I would guess. 

"Oh say can you see?" I doubt most of my readers do see. 

One cannot leave Babylon the Great by worshiping at one of its altars. 

Blood Pressure

The advice here with regard to blood pressure seems good and well founded. Part II about cholesterol on the other hand ...

While I am not convinced that cholesterol is the boogie man portrayed in popular health advice, it seems to me that certain subcategories of cholesterol are markers that should be watched. LDL, bad cholesterol, and HDL, good cholesterol, are examples of this. Although my doctor disagrees. He basically told me that the cholesterol numbers are of no value. Instead he is testing the size of my cholesterol. I should have this information soon.

Nor am I convinced that one should eat saturated fat like candy. Many in the alternative health area do think this. I doubt I will add butter to my morning coffee as some do! I have been known to add a little coconut milk to my coffee, may Ansel Keys forgive me! (Ansel Keys is the inventor of the meme that cholesterol is evil.)

The Sound of Silence