Thursday, March 26, 2009

Big Brother, Big Business

Just watched Big Brother, Big Business on freedocumentaries.org. Most of it is not new to me. That they store all your emails for years, record all your phone calls for months, track you via cell towers or GPS devices, that laser printers print date and serial number on every page in a hidden fashion and so on is a given. The new thing I learned is that all CD, DVD, BR burners burn the serial number on the disk. So, any given DVD can be tracked back to the PC or device where it was burned. How nice. Furthermore I learned that y law government is restricted or limited to collect certain data on individuals, but that they are not prevented from buying that information. So, government has found an easy work around, information it is not allowed to collect, it lets collect by private companies like ClearPoint and then buys and accesses the information from these private companies, without search warrent or probable cause. The end result is that anything that ever has gone on a piece of paper or into a computer, the government as well as corporations know. We have far outran George Orwell's 1984.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Food Challenges

With peak oil slowly over time - long term - food will become more expensive. The financial crisis has made it harder for farmer to create and deliver their goods, forming another reason for prices to go up, this time short term. Look at this article predicting a food catastrophe. The climate is also against us, another reason for food prices to go up.

Discussing this with a friend he mentioned that a Peruvian friend of his is moving back from the US to Peru. He spend 3 years in California. He reports that things have become rough, prices are going up and mobile homes have gone from $15,000 to $42,000 in just a year because there is such a high demand. People can't afford homes anymore and want to opt for a more flexible and affordable solution. The most surprise comment he made is that there is food rationing in California where he lived until recently. Meat is limited to 5 pounds per person. The days when the US was number 1 have long gone. To be precise the US has moved from spot 2 to 15 in the last decade. Soon, food stamps for everybody.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The End of the Dollar Part 2

On the same day the Chinese voiced their preference to replace the dollar with a world-wide currency, the Russians published the same. See this Moscow Times article. The Chinese and the Russian press release read alike.

The End of the Dollar

China has recognized that they are going to lose too much money if the dollar remains the world's main currency. So, not surprisingly they suggest a new world currency, which would drastically reduce the importance of the dollar but create other dangers. Read the BBC news article.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Real Estate

I watched Why the Meltdown Should Have Surprised No One on Mises Economic Blog. This video is a bit lengthy and winding, but it got me thinking about real estate again. In the past I was positive on real estate as investment seeing it as the better of many poor options nowadays.

What is the fair value of a real estate, a flat, a house? Two years ago, we bought a flat. It cost us some €300,000. The actual building cost (material and labor) is about €70K. So, more than 75% of the cost is just immaterial, the right to occupy that space. I computed the possible return on investment through rent. Putting all the data together (rent, property taxes, income taxes, insurance, expenses) I computed a 2% annual return. Even if the home prices would stay flat (which they are not) that 2% is most likely below the annual inflation. Conclusion, the flat would not be a profitable investment, it would be a loss.

How did I buy the flat? I looked at 5 flats and picked the one that had a reasonable price tag in comparison with the other 4. This is the price. But what is the value? Value must be determined by some real facts, not just by what people ask for and in comparison to prices of other flats. This is just a herd effect, a bubble. The only factors that occurred to me to determine some base line of a value are: construction cost and rent. How much would it cost you to build one yourself? How much would people pay to live there? Very simplistic, I know. But according to this trivial factors it is clear that the flat was and is overpriced. The real value is (a lot) lower than what I paid. I enjoy the flat anyway and we use it ourselves, so these financial calculations do not mean that much to me, but they do direct my thinking for any future real estate purchase.

Here I found Housing market indicators: price to income ratio, affordability index, median multiple, ownership ratio, price to earning ratio, price rent ratio, rental yield and more. These mathematical formulas are helpful, but since I have no cross reference data for my market, I can compute some of these values but I cannot compare them to other regions or other times (e.g. last decade). Still this is a starting point. All these numbers applied to my case point in the same direction: the real estate market is overpriced where I live. Where does overpricing end and where does a bubble start?

As an example look at the price earning ratio. For our flat I computed a PE of 50. For a different flat in the city where there is more demand I computed 35. Compare that to the PE of the S&P500. It is clear to see there that 35 or 50 is part of a bubble. A PE of 20 seems more in the stable, sustainable range. Sure, I am comparing real estate with stocks, but why should that from an investment perspective be so different for the PE. You pay price P for the investment, you get earnings E out of the investment. Using this figure as a rough guide I reach the conclusion that my real estate was overpriced by 57% (20/35). Sure, it is not as simple as I portray it, but it is a piece in the puzzle and the other indicators point in the same direction.

What impressed me most was how long it took in Japan to deflat the bubble. The home prices in Japan went down for 15 to 16 years! Imagine a turnward turn for 15 years! From roughly 1991 till 2005. I do not have the data for 2008, but with the worldwide problems it would not surprise me if the prices are continuing to go down. Anyway, will the home prices ever reach the 1991 level? Even if prices go up again, after 15 years of downturn, it will take 10+ years for some recuperation to take place. See this diagrams and links: Japan housing market, Japan housing prices, Japan housing prices.

Will the US be any different? Maybe, maybe not. I certainly would not gamble on it, especially if people expect a 15 year depression. Look at the US building cost index, look at the US rent increases of the last decade, and look at how home prices have grown over the last 10 years. If a bubble needs 10 years to inflat, they say as a rule of thumb, it will need same amount of time, i.e. 10 years, to deflat. US home prices went up by a factor of 2.5 (increase of 150%) over the last 10 years. The US real estate bubble just burst, but the price drops in real estate will continue for many years, I'd say for at least another decade before they hit rock bottom.

Is it any different where I live, in Spain? No, it is the same basic picture with some minor changes: little rent and still no acceptance in the mind set of the people that real estate prices can actually go down. Everybody is still holding on to the prices even if the real estate does not sell for 2 years. There are 2-3 million unsold pieces of real estate in Spain with 80% of all families already owning their home. There are hence few buyers, i.e. very little demand, a gigantic supply, but the prices do not drop because people still think "if I just wait one more year I will be able to sell at break-even". Is there a real estate bubble in Spain? Yes. From 1997 till 2005 prices have risen 247%! That is a continuous 11% growth per year. Salaries have not gone up like this, neither has rent. So, eventually prices will have come down again, but people have not yet accepted the fact. I was looking for property recently and with the three real estate pieces I looked at, it was all the same: they were on the market for 2 years without having been sold, and prices in general have come down a very marginal 4%.

What is the conclusion for me? In Japan prices on average (not peak) went down 50% for homes and 80% for commercial real estate. Having looked more carefully at the situation now I expect the same for the US to happen. There was a big drop already but prices will come down even more, slowly over the next years, maybe the next decade.

In Spain, I would like to buy some real estate, but with the data I recently learned I have to consider waiting because eventually when people accept the fact that real estate prices can actually go down or when they cannot wait any longer to find a buyer the prices will come down. It might take a couple of years though for the Spanish mentality to change.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Finance and Collapse Links

Here is a long list of links related to general finance and the recent collapse.

Economic Reform Activist Site – Committed to the Return of the Greenback
http://www.themoneymasters.com

Precious Metal Backed Alternative Currency System
http://www.libertydollar.org/

The Money Masters Movie – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=6076118677860424204&ei=GizaSMXoEoPo-AHf2-2ZCw&q=money+masters&hl=en

Alex Jones interview with Alan Watt October 10, 2008 - MP3
http://www.cuttingthroughthematrix.us/audio/Alan_Watt_on_TheAlexJonesShow_Oct102008.mp3

Peter Schiff Mortgage Bankers Speech November 2006 Video – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G3Qefbt0n4

SubPrime Mortgage Mess Explained Video – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8hjUei-Nwo

Subprime Banking Mess by John Bird and John Fortune (The Long Johns) Humor – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC31Oudc5Bg

Money As Debt – Animation by Paul Grignon (47 min) – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279

The Fiat Empire Video– Why The Federal Reserve Violates the US Constitution – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=5232639329002339531

Money Banking and The Federal Reserve Video – by Ludwig Von Mises Institute – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-466210540567002553&q=mises+ron+paul&total=14&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

The Mandrake Mechanism – How The Fed Creates Money - Excerpt from G. Edward Griffin book
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/888963/posts

Medium of Exchange – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_of_exchange

Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee Website
http://www.gata.org/

Things Are a Lot Worse Than We Thought – Ralph Nader Lecture – Streaming on You Tube
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-6015754996332462992&q=worse+than+we+thought+nader&total=3&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Ron Paul Interview on Economics – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz689NHcAKo&feature=related

Our Society is One Big Pyramid Scheme – Article on See This, Now Read This Website
http://seethisnowreadthis.com/2007/12/27/our-society-is-one-big-pyramid-scheme/

Is This The Big One? – Economics Article on Information Clearing House Website
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19126.htm

America’s Teetering Banking System: “Where did all our deposits go?” – Article by Mike Whitney on Information Clearing House Website
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19249.htm

Really Scary Fed Charts: Why Bernake Will Furiously Cut – Article on Benbittrolff Blogspt Website
http://benbittrolff.blogspot.com/2008/01/really-scary-fed-charts-why-bernanke.html

The Federal Reserve Board Website FAQ
http://federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/faq/faqfrs.htm

Federal Reserve – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve

The Capitalist Conspiracy: An Inside View of International Banking movie by G. Edward – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=449294564876413449

Death and Taxes – Movie on The Canadian Income Tax Act – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0fIkss0fls

G. Edward Griffin Interview on The Federal Reserve System – Streaming on You Tube
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWKlz2Z4Nlo

Income Tax Myths
http://docs.law.gwu.edu/facweb/jsiegel/Personal/taxes/JustNoLaw.htm

Gold and Economic Freedom – Article by Alan Greenspan on Constitution.org Website
http://www.constitution.org/mon/greenspan_gold.htm

Paulson: Change Rules for Wall Street – Article on Money CNN http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/31/news/economy/paulson_regulation/index.htm?cnn=yes

US Federal Income Tax is Dead – Article on Natural Person.ca
http://www.natural-person.ca/US%20Federal%20Income%20Tax%20is%20Dead.html

Numbers Racket: Why The Economy is Worse Than We Know – Article on Mindfully.org http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2008/Pollyanna-Creep-Economy1may08.htm

Death of The Dollar – People Power Movie – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54MUm2P1jOU

Canada: Class Action Accuses Banks of Illegal Creation of Money – Article on News Media Explorer Website
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2005/04/19/canada_class_action_accuses_banks_of_illegal_creation_of_money.htm

The Mystery of Banking – PDF Book on Ludwig Von Mises Institute Website
http://www.mises.org/Books/mysteryofbanking.pdf

Wall Street’s Plot to Seize The White House – Article on Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade Website
http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/53/53-index.html

The Morgan Fascist Coup Plot and How FDR Defeated it – Article From Executive Intelligence Review Magazine
http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2006/3332morgan_coup_plot.html

Monopoly Men (Federal Reserve Fraud 1999) – Liberty International Entertainment Movie – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7065177340464808778

The Federal Reserve FAQ – Federal Reserve Website
http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/faq/faqfrbanks.htm#1

Hire The A-Team – Alan Greenspan on Financial Turbulence – Article on Economist Website
http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11896984

The History of Money and Banking in The United States: The Colonial Era to World War II – Article on Ludwig Von Mises Institute Website
http://mises.org/Books/historyofmoney.pdf

What Has Government Done To Our Money? – Article on Ludwig Von Mises Institute Website
http://mises.org/rothbard/rothmoney.pdf

Chartalism And The Tax-Driven Approach to Money – PDF Article on Center for Full Employment and Price Stability Website
http://www.cfeps.org/ss2008/ss08r/Tcherneva/Tcherneva-Ch%2005-Arestis-Sawyer%20volume.pdf

The Law Poor: Legal Reform and Development – Article on Economist Website
http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11511806

Gold and Economic Freedom: Alan Greenspan Article from 1966 on 321gold Website
http://www.321gold.com/fed/greenspan/1966.html

Institute of Economic Affairs – UK Think Tank with Goal to Explain Free Market Ideas to the Public
http://www.iea.org.uk/

Are Banks Safe for The World and Is The World Safe For Banks? – 1998 Article Federal Reserve Website
http://www.federalreserve.gov/BoardDocs/Speeches/1998/19980416.htm

Alan Greenspan Interviewed on Democracy Now – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHNWBysOq7I

The Truth About the “Robber Barons” – Article on Ludwig Von Mises Institute Website
http://mises.org/story/2317

Economic Freedom Rating by Country – Fraser Institutes Free The World Website Tool
http://www.freetheworld.com/

The Wrong Kind of Aid – Article on Probe International Website
http://www.probeinternational.org/probe-international/sources/wrong-kind-aid

Do Corrupt Governments Receive Less Foreign Aid? – Article on Probe International Website
http://www.probeinternational.org/odious-debts/news-and-opinion/do-corrupt-governments-receive-less-foreign-aid

Africa Needs Freer Markets – And Fewer Tyrants – Article on Probe International Website
http://www.probeinternational.org/odious-debts/news-and-opinion/africa-needs-freer-markets-and-fewer-tyrants

Black Hole of Aid for Aid’s Sake – Article on Probe International Website
http://www.probeinternational.org/foreign-aid-and-export-credit/news-and-opinion/black-hole-aid-aids-sake

Credit Action: Debt Facts and Figures : Compiled 1st September 2008 – PDF Doc at Credit Action Website
http://www.creditaction.org.uk/assets/PDF/stats/2008/september.pdf

Institute for Truth in Accounting Website
http://www.truthinaccounting.org/

An Analysis of The Presidents Who Are Responsible for The Borrowing – Article on Cedarcomm.com
http://www.cedarcomm.com/~stevelm1/usdebt.htm

Friedman for Government Intervention: The Case of the Great Depression – Article on Ludwig Von Mises Institute Website
http://mises.org/story/2442

Local College Professor Breaks Down the Government’s 700 Billion Dollar Bailout – Article on ABC6 Website
http://www.abc6.com/news/featurestory/29193989.html

Ron Paul on The Global Financial Crisis – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d73KlhUq1W8

Fed Pumps Further $630 Billion Into Financial System (Update 3) Sept 29, 2008 – Article on Bloomberg Website
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a9MTZEgukPLY&refer=home

How The Federal Reserve Will Fail and The One Sector Every Investor Should Be In : Jim Rogers – Articl on MoneyMorning.com
http://www.moneymorning.com/2008/09/06/jim-rogers-book/

Dirty Secret of The Bailout: Thirty-Two Words That None Dare Utter: Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.” – Article from Huffington Post on Infowars Website
http://www.infowars.com/?p=4788

Modern Money Mechanics: A Workbook on Bank Reserves and Deposit Expansion
http://landru.i-link-2.net/monques/mmm2.html

The Occult World of Commerce – Jordan Maxwell and Whitney – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1697805906900297328

Calls For New Global Financial Order Increase – Article on Infowars Website
http://www.infowars.net/articles/october2008/161008New.htm

How To Save The US Economy – Article on Global Research Website
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10508

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Zeitgeist - Related Links

You have seen "Zeitgeist - Final Cut", "Zeitgeist - Addendum" and "The Zeitgeist Movement: Orientation Presentation"? Good. If you liked them or found them partially useful, here is a list of many additional links related to the Zeitgeist Movement and The Venus Project.

Zeitgeist, TVP and Closely Related Links


Free Forum Group for Zeitgeist
http://thezeitgeistmovement.freeforums.org

Official Zeitgeist Movement Home Page
http://thezeitgeistmovement.com

Official Zeitgeist Movement Downloads for Zeitgeist and Zeitgeist – Addendum
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/dloads.htm

Official Zeitgeist Movie Transcript
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/transcript.htm

Official Zeitgeist Movie Sources
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/sources.htm

Official Zeitgeist Movie Clarifications
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/clarifications.htm

Official Zeitgeist and Zeitgeist – Addendum Movies Statement
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/statement.htm

Official The Venus Project Home Page
http://www.thevenusproject.com

Official The Venus Project – Future By Design Movie Gallery Page
http://www.futurebydesign.org/vgallery.html

Zeitgeist Movie – On You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kHhc67GopM

Zeitgeist The Movie – Remastered/Final Edition – On Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-594683847743189197

Zeitgeist Addendum DVDRip XviD - Official Torrent – On Minova
http://www.mininova.org/tor/1900850

Alex Jones Interviews Peter Joseph: Creator of Zeitgeist
http://justgetthere.us/blog/archives/Alex-Jones-Heated-Interview-with-Peter-Joseph-of-Zeitgeist.html

Zeitgeist Addendum is NWO Propoganda – Video Animation Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cog_tgBFFXs

Cusp Forum Group for Zeitgeist
http://cusp.freeforums.org/

Alex Jones Reviews Zeitgeist Addendum – You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyQtN4HY4Ko

Earth Economy Spirit -Open Concept Spiritualism Website/Forum
http://www.eartheconomyspirit.net/default.aspx

Take The Zeitgeist Challenge – You Tube (3:58 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRaxf4ZC0e8

“Zeitgeist, Part 1” Debunked? Acharya Responds Movie – Streaming on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_9ZyddjaM4

Zeitgeist Addendum English Subtitle Download – From Divxsubtitles.net
http://www.divxsubtitles.net/page_subtitleinformation.php?ID=103161

Zeitgeist Addendum English Subtitle Download - From Opensubtitles.org
http://www.opensubtitles.org/en/subtitles/3351047/zeitgeist-addendum-en

Where Mind and Matter Meet – Lecture by biologist Bruce Lipton – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=the+new+biology&emb=0&aq=f#

Maslow’s Theory on Hierarchy of Needs – Wikipedia entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs

The Matrix Of Power Movie – Jordan Maxwell – (NWO) – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-8701863412120241475

The Naked Truth – Jordon Maxwell Produced discussion on Biblical Stories – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-8251447278663885234

Acharya S’s Web Site Truth Be Known
http://www.truthbeknown.com/

Response to Zeitgeist article on Singing in The Reign Blogspot
http://singinginthereign.blogspot.com/2007/07/zeitgeist-movie-is-christianity.html

The Big Lie: Parsing the Mythology of Zeitgeist – Positive Movie Review at Reality Sandwich
http://www.realitysandwich.com/node/636

Zeitgeist The Movie – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeitgeist%2C_the_Movie

Zeitgeist – The Movie – The Omissions – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koZYbAhL858

Analysis and Response to Zeitgeist – Article on Apologist Website Always Be Ready
http://www.alwaysbeready.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=124&Itemid=107

Zeitgeist Part 1: Debunked or Refuted? Video – Acharya S Response – Streaming at Stellar House Publishing
http://www.stellarhousepublishing.com/zeitgeist.html

The Companion Guide To Zeitgeist Part 1 – Bit Torrent at The Pirate Bay
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4002136/The_Companion_Guide_to_ZEITGEIST__Part_1

Utilitarian – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilitarian

Moral Agent – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_agent

Collectivism – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivism

Walmart – High Cost of Low Prices – Robert Greenwald Documentary – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-3836296181471292925

Story of Stuff Movie Home – Documentary on Production and Consumption
http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html

Samaritanism – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritanism

Unitarian – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian

The Shift Movie Trailer
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=hL_VTdxvWac
http://theshiftmovie.com

What Your Brain Looks Like On Faith – Article On Time CNN – The God Spot In The Brain
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1694723,00.html?cnn=yes

Pangaea Ultima – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangaea_Ultima

Zeitgeist Movie Debunked on Infowars Forum
http://www.infowarsforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2952

Norway – Best Place to Live – Article on BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2149799.stm#table

“Herd” Mentality Explained – Article on Psych Central Website
http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/02/15/herd-mentality-explained/1922.html

‘The Human Behavior Experiments’: What Can Be Done in the Name of Obedience – Article on NY Times Website
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/arts/television/01huma.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

The Psychology of Control – Article on Everything Squared Website
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1302004

Magic Mushrooms Hit God Spot (in Brain) – Article on ABC Website
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_1682610.htm

Zeitgeist Analysis – On Conspiracy Science Website
http://www.conspiracyscience.com/articles/zeitgeist/

The Zeitgeist Challenge Website – Zeitgeist Rebuttal
http://zeitgeistchallenge.com/

Zeitgeist Refuted Video – by Holy Bible Prophecy – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7572663630528394775

Zeitgeist Online Movie Part 1 Refuted – Article on Preventing Truth Decay Website
http://preventingtruthdecay.org/zeitgeistpartone.shtml

Zeitgeist Part 1 – Refuting Article on CTWiki
http://ct.grenme.com/index.php/Zeitgeist_Part_I

Zeitgeist Movie Debunked – Infowars Forum
http://infowarsforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2952

In Defense of Marxism – Pro-Marxism Website
http://www.marxist.com/

Collectivism: A False Utopia – PDF Article on Ludwig Von Mises Institute Website
http://mises.org/books/falseutopia.pdf

Equality and Equal Opportunity – PDF Article on Ludwig Von Mises Institute Website
http://mises.org/journals/jls/1_2/1_2_5.pdf

Social Contract: A Critique – PDF Article on Ludwig Von Mises Institute Website
http://mises.org/journals/jls/1_3/1_3_3.pdf

A Hundred Years of Marxian Socialism – Article on Ludwig Von Mises Institute Website
http://mises.org/mmmp/mmmp16.asp

Information and The Market Economy: A Note on a Common Marxist Fallacy – PDF Article on Ludwig Von Mises Institute Website
http://mises.org/journals/rae/pdf/RAE8_2_5.pdf

Public Schools: Make Them Private – Article on CATO Institute Webpage
http://www.cato.org/pubs/briefs/bp-023.html

Serge Monast – Wikipedia Entry
http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serge_Monast&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=4&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dserge%2Bmonast%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX

Alex Jones – Zeitgeist Addendum: Further Reflections – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRB-r2wUI-w&feature=related

Social Engineering – Jacque Fresco Discussion – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSbKfdOTRpY

Research and Development – Jacque Fresco Discussion – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbtbGcKiLiM

No Utopia – Jacque Fresco Discussion – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTQXgVb8V9M

Being Responsible – Jacque Fresco Discussions – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLbxe0COFIw

Documentary of My Life – Jacque Fresco – Directed by William Gazecki – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3cBXHLgC7s

Generalism and Change – Jacque Fresco Discussions – Streaming on Google Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sWtjk9adrk

Science and War – Jacque Fresco Discussions - Streaming on Google Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m3wzTULrWQ&feature=related

Social Change – Jacque Fresco Discussions – Streaming on Google Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js9U8sIBxwU

Friday, March 20, 2009

Zeitgeist - Orientation

The video The Zeitgeist Movement: Orientation Presentation was just released. I thought this to be the least emotional of the 3 Zeitgeist videos I have seen. It is more directed to the rational senses. The presentation style is that of a multi-media presentation, well structured, and straight to the point. Some say that the style is adapted from the Crash Course.

I liked it. The video shed more light and details on a possible solution. The focus was on the solution rather than the problem. It suggests actions that we must do as a society more so that immediate actions we must take as individuals. Clearly a lot of personal action items can be deduced if you agree with the proposed social change that is required.

In a nutshell, the suggested direction means handing decision making (based on a scientific process) over to machines and eliminating politicians, advertisement, etc. in the resource-based economy.

I am always very weary when someone wants to give too much power to technology. In my opinion mankind is too arrogant and too frequently using technology against nature. We use technology to turn sea into coast line, we construct skyscrapers on fault lines, we harness nuclear power, etc. Frequently we see with disastrous results what happens when something fails, and something always fails once in a while. Dams break, earthquakes turn buildings into dust and nuclear waste will pollute our planet for 1000s of years. This is what comes to my mind first when someone says "we master technology, let's use more technology". Handing over decision making to technology/computers? The key is that we must use technology in synergy and in imitation of nature and not against nature.

Is the suggested society possible? Will people accept it? According to the Venus Project few people will work, most work will be done by machines and all resource will be free (energy, water, food, housing, etc.). We will live without money. My wife said: "Like in the garden of Eden, just picking the fruits from the trees, no money, no work, just 24 hours of spare time a day". Sounds like everybody would want that. No work and everything is free. But what about the guy who (as an example, say) wants a big private swimming pool and since the resource based economy will provide only public pools is rejected to have one. What will he think about the system? He will hate it. What about the guy who is a power addicted person who needs to dominate other people to feel good, you know, the typical boss-behavior in a company ordering other people around. He will have nobody to control and order around, so he will not be happy. What will he do? Protest?

Clearly for this system to work where one would gain so much (independence, free time, no worries about resources, a fairer allocation of resources) one would also have to give up things: since all will be treated equal to some this will be seen like communism, some will have to give their special rights.

Using technology in conjunction with nature, to nurture nature, that seems very much an admirable goal. Eliminating special interest groups and money seems a good social direction. What I ask myself is not if I would like it. I think I would. What I ask myself is: Is it doable? Is it?

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Documentaries

Here is a whole site full of high-quality free documentaries sorted by geographical region and categories/topics. Check it out: http://freedocumentaries.org

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Government and Power Elite

Here is a long list of articles and videos related to government, civil rights and the powerful elite groups.

Anti-NAU/SPP Article by Devvy Kidd
http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd298.htm

Excerpt of Address on Unconstitutionality of Canadian Income Tax by Murray Gauvreau 1991
http://www.prolognet.qc.ca/clyde/tax.htm

Natural-Person vs Artificial Person - Education non-profit site
http://www.natural-person.ca/index.html

Fringe Watchdog Site Targeting Freemasonry
http://freemasonrywatch.org/

Official Canadian Action Party Website – Registered Federal Party
http://canadianactionparty.ca/home.html

Animated Short about the Dangers of the Big Brother State – Streaming or Download
http://www.huesforalice.com/bbs/

Why We Fight Movie: Anatomy of US Military Machine by Eugene Jarecki – Streaming on SPRWORD.com
http://www.sprword.com/videos/whywefight/

Alex Jones interview with Alan Watt October 10, 2008 - MP3
http://www.cuttingthroughthematrix.us/audio/Alan_Watt_on_TheAlexJonesShow_Oct102008.mp3

Wake Up Call – Remastered Edition – NWO Documentary – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3543161691381895251

“Secret Societies”- Bilderberg- Skull and Bones - History Channel Documentary – Streaming on You Tube
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ItovxXPqNa0&feature=related

Alex Jones – “Losing Your Ego” – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9_nVhkk5l4

The Matrix Of Power Movie – Jordan Maxwell – (NWO) – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-8701863412120241475

The Naked Truth – Jordon Maxwell Produced discussion on Biblical Stories – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-8251447278663885234

America: Freedom to Fascism Movie – Aaron Russo – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173

SPP Article - GlobalResearch.ca
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6540

‘Police Provocateurs Stopped’ SPP Protest – Montebelo – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St1-WTc1kow

SPP/NAU Protests Montage – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8QW9KNlmn8&mode=related&search

Behind The Big News: Propaganda and the CFR Video – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=6632255652046262625

Acharya S’s Web Site Truth Be Known
http://www.truthbeknown.com/

Who Controls The World? Movie – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3891535120990840079

American Fascists – The Christian Right vs USA interview – Chris Hedges – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thn9Hnu__pU

Assassin of Democracy – Edward Bernay – from Part 2 – The Century of the Self – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=3081752751625862941

Why Americans Will Believe Almost Anything – article by Tim O’Shea at Signs of the Times Website
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/135824-The+Doors+Of+Perception:+Why+Americans+Will+Believe+Almost+Anything

Alex Jones interviews Noam Chomsky – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSXFX8bM6s8

The Empire of the City: World Superstate – NWO movie – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=4675077383139148549

Pentagon Facilitating Christian Evangelism – Article at truthout.org
http://www.truthout.org/article/report-pentagon-facilitating-christian-evangelism

The End of America – Talk by Naomi Wolf – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

End Game Movie – Alex Jones – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=1070329053600562261

Naomi or Noam Am I – Article by Peter Zaza at American Chronicle
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/40143

Things Are a Lot Worse Than We Thought – Ralph Nader Lecture – Streaming on You Tube
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-6015754996332462992&q=worse+than+we+thought+nader&total=3&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Micheal Moore vs Wolf Blitzer Part II (Sicko Response) on CNN The Situation Room – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F91hq6Js9Rs

Naomi Klein on Bill Maher – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr15RCcrW0Q

American Tears – Article by Naomi Klein on The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/american-tears_b_68141.html

The New Inquisitions: Heretic-Hunting and the Intellectual Origins of Modern Totalitarianism – Book at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/New-Inquisitions-Heretic-Hunting-Intellectual-Totalitarianism/dp/0195306376/ref=sr_1_7/103-8893559-2529466?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189723642&sr=1-7

Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act Raises Fears of New Government Crackdown on Dissent – Article on Democracy Now Web Site
http://www.democracynow.org/2007/11/20/homegrown_terrorism_prevention_act_raises_fears

No Volveran – The Venezuelan Revolution Now documentary – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=368302323300507208&hl=en-GB

Iraq for Sale – Robert Greenwald Documentary – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6621486727392146155

Robert Greenwald Documentary Page – On Robertgreenwald.com
http://www.robertgreenwald.org/docs.php

Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism Documentary – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6737097743434902428

Walmart – High Cost of Low Prices – Robert Greenwald Documentary – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-3836296181471292925

JFK Speech About Secret Societies – Streaming on Liveleak.com
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=326_1194655655

Boyd Graves Website – HIV Non-Accidental Spread –
http://www.boydgraves.com/

Third World Traveler Website – Alternative US Foreign Policy Web Site
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com

Jordan Maxwell Web Site – Researcher on Secret Societies
http://www.jordanmaxwell.com/

The Boy Scout Freemason Connection – Article on TimBoucher.com
http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/03/21/the-boy-scout-freemason-connection/

Dick Cheney talks to David Rockefeller – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbnpN07J_zg

The Killing Zone – Dispatches – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5863204188744026936&q=the+killing+zone

Will Secret Clubs Pick Next Prez – Article on World Net Daily
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58425

Learned Helplessness – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness

The UK Treason Felony Act 1848 – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason_Felony_Act_1848

Do You Have Facebook? – Short Movie – Streamed on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMWz3G_gPhU

Explaining the Illuminati – Lecture by John Todd a Former Illuminatist – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-4797172096740150104

Microsoft Seeks Patent on Office Spyware – Article on Technology Times Online
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3193480.ece

Project Camelot Interviews Gary McKinnon – Hacking the Pentagon – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fNsah-0vpY

Center for Strategic & International Studies
http://www.csis.org/about/

NWO Speech – Gordon Brown – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv5cqh26CC0

The Cost of War Counter – on National Priorities Website
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home

The Great Year Movie – Documentary on Ancient Culture Time Cycles – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=552349952244004940

Iron Mountain – Blueprint to Tyranny Movie – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6745627342652553091

Joseph Retinger – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Retinger

William Cooper Exposes Scaremonger Jesuit/CIA Alex Jones – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAgTFWglHrc&feature=related

Alex Jones Exposed – Article on Illuminati News Website
http://www.illuminati-news.com/2007/0817b.htm

Why Does Ron Paul and Alex Jones Hide Vatican And Jesuit Order Evils in NWO? – Article on Liberty’s Flame Website
http://www.libertysflame.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=3520

The Energy Non-Crisis – Lecture by Lindsey Williams and Alaskan Oil Reserves
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3340274697167011147

The Real Scandal at The World Bank: The Bank is Killing Thousands of the Poorest People in the World –Article on Global Research Website
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=5551

2008 Presidential Candidate Spending Analysis – On NTU & NTUF Website
http://www.ntu.org/main/page.php?PageID=141

Jordan Maxwell Exposes the Illuminati Video – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=8394844811105390386&q=jordan+maxwell&total=672&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=3

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Activism and Alternative News

Here is a long list of links related to activism, liberties and alternative news sites.

Free Forum Group for Zeitgeist
http://thezeitgeistmovement.freeforums.org/

Alex Jones’ Infowars Website
http://www.infowars.com/

Alex Jones’ Prison Planet Website
http://www.prisonplanet.com/

Anti-Globalism Activist Website - Corrupt
http://www.corrupt.org/

Cusp Forum Group for Zeitgeist
http://cusp.freeforums.org/

Earth Economy Spirit -Open Concept Spiritualism Website/Forum
http://www.eartheconomyspirit.net/default.aspx

Economic Reform Activist Site – Committed to the Return of the Greenback
http://www.themoneymasters.com/

Social Networking site – Commited to Alternative, Cooperative, and Democratic Education
http://ilearninfreedom.ning.com

Pro-Liberty Website - Ludwig Von Mises Website
http://www.mises.org/

Anti-State, Anti-War, Pro-Market Activist site -LewRockwell.com
http://www.lewrockwell.com/

Personal & Political Freedom - Online Webshow Site.
http://www.freedomainradio.com/

Daily TV/Radio News Site dedicated to Alternative Views of US Politics
http://www.democracynow.org/

General Debunking Website
http://theskepticsguide.org/

New Age Social Awareness and Enlightenment Website
http://pomoworld.ning.com/

The American Civil Liberties Union
http://www.aclu.org/

National Center for Science Education – Defender of Teaching of Evolution in Public Schools Website.
http://www.natcenscied.org/

Americans United for Separation of Church and State
http://www.au.org/site/PageServer

Anti-Electoral Process Activist Site
http://votestrike.ning.com/

The Democracy Movement - non-party campaign to defend liberal democracy in Britain and across Europe
http://www.democracymovement.org.uk/

Taking Liberties – Civil Liberties Activist Site
http://www.noliberties.com/index.htm

Think Free – Canadian Social Liberty Activist Site
http://www.thinkfree.ca/index.php

Home Site for Lawyer Paul McKeever – Leader of Freedom Party of Ontario and Freedom Party of Canada
http://www.mckeever.ca/

Information Liberation – Alternative News Website
http://www.informationliberation.com/

Official Fierce Light Website – Movie of Compassionate Activism
http://www.fiercelight.org/

Want To Know - Watch-dog/Whistle-blower News Site
http://www.wanttoknow.info/

True Stories Video Blog - Truth Documentary Website –
http://www.truestoriesvideoblog.info/

The New England Skeptic Society Website
http://theness.com/articles.asp

State of The Stone talk by Terrence McKenna - (writer, philosopher, and ethnobotanist) – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=terrence+mckenna+state+of+the+stone&emb=0&aq=f#q=terrence%20mckenna%20&emb=0

Enforceable Rights – A Libertarian Theory of Justice full book – by Roy Halliday
http://royhalliday.home.mindspring.com/MYBOOK.HTM#BOOK

Acharya S’s Web Site Truth Be Known
http://www.truthbeknown.com/

The Skeptic Files
http://www.skepticfiles.org/

Sign of The Times (sott.net) – Alternative News Website
http://www.sott.net/

Truth Out – Alternative News
http://www.truthout.org/about

Common Ground Common Sense Forum
http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php/

Naomi or Noam Am I – Article by Peter Zaza at American Chronicle
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/40143

American Chronicle – Alternative Political News
http://www.americanchronicle.com/

The Huffington Post – Alternative News
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Oil Empire – News About the Oil Empire – Alternative News
http://www.oilempire.us/

Reality Sandwich – New Site/Blog for the Ecologically Pragmatic to the Wildly Visionary
http://www.realitysandwich.com/

The Pharmacratic Inquisition Movie – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnvEHObMMH4

Ego Death and Self-Control Cybernetics Website
http://egodeath.com/

Utilitarian – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilitarian

Moral Agent – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_agent

Collectivism – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivism

Live Leak – Alternative News Site
http://www.liveleak.com

The Philosophy of Liberty Animation – Streaming at isil.org
http://www.isil.org/resources/introduction.swf

International Society for Individual Liberty Homepage
http://www.isil.org/

Samaritanism – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritanism

Unitarian – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian

The Shift Movie Trailer – Streaming on You Tube
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=hL_VTdxvWac

Third World Traveler Website – Alternative US Foreign Policy Web Site
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com

Truth Dig Website – Alternative News / Blog Website
http://www.truthdig.com/

Pangaea Ultima – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangaea_Ultima

The Killing Zone – Dispatches – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5863204188744026936&q=the+killing+zone

Natural News.com – Natural Health, Natural Living, Natural News Web Site
http://www.naturalnews.com/

World Net Daily – Alternative News Website
http://www.wnd.com/

Need To Know – Alternative European News Website
http://need2know.eu/

Rendition Law – Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendition_(law)

Information Clearing House – Alternative News Website
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/

The Cost of War Counter – on National Priorities Website
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home

TED Ideas Worth Spreading Website – Inspired Talks by The World’s Greatest Thinkers and Doers
http://www.ted.com/

Truth Attack – Freedom Activist Website
http://www.truthattack.org/

The Lie Free Zone – Freedom Activist Website
http://www.gcstation.net/liefreezone/

New Scientist – Science Information News Site
http://www.newscientist.com/home.ns

Let There Be Life - Article on Members for Democracy Archive Website
http://www.m-f-d.org/article/general/vzws13tbkfm.php

Members for Democracy – Union Workers Activist Website
http://www.m-f-d.org/

“Herd” Mentality Explained – Article on Psych Central Website
http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/02/15/herd-mentality-explained/1922.html

‘The Human Behavior Experiments’: What Can Be Done in the Name of Obedience – Article on NY Times Website
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/arts/television/01huma.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

The Psychology of Control – Article on Everything Squared Website
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1302004

Talk To Action – Reclaiming History, Citizenship, History and Faith Activist Website
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/2/12/122655/088

Viewing Our Culture Through The Lens Of Addiction – Article on Reality Sandwich Website
http://www.realitysandwich.com/viewing_our_culture_through_the_lens_of_addiction

Freedom Party Website – Federal and Provincial Party dedicated to personal freedom and responsibility http://www.freedomparty.ca/htm/en/home.htm

In Defense of Marxism – Pro-Marxism Website
http://www.marxist.com/

Mindfully.org – Alternative News Website
http://www.mindfully.org/

Shadow Government Statistics Website
http://www.shadowstats.com/

We Become Silent – The Last Days of Health Freedom – Movie by Well TV – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=451097355502728465

Nutricide – Criminalizing Natural Health, Vitamins, and Herbs – Movie in association with NSF – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-5266884912495233634

Webs, Weeds, & Wisdom: Reserve Your Right to Think – On Yass Tribune Website
http://yass.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/webs-weeds-wisdom-reserve-your-right-to-think/468752.aspx

Gristmill – Environmental News & Commentary Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/

Newsbusters – Alternative News Website
http://newsbusters.org/

Rense – Alternative News Website
http://www.rense.com/

35 Articles of Impeachment Against Bush Presented by Kucinich – Streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDZ8seg4Nr4

Don’t Talk To Cops – Video streaming on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik

Public Schools: Make Them Private – Article on CATO Institute Webpage
http://www.cato.org/pubs/briefs/bp-023.html

Monday, March 16, 2009

Environment Links

Here is a long list of links related to environmental issues.

Video of Hemp constructed House - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMNBz0qx_Gc

Climate Science Site by Working Climate Scientists.
http://www.realclimate.org/

The Union of Concerned Scientist Site for a Safer Environment and Healthier World
http://www.ucsusa.org/

The Great Global Warming Swindle Movie - Streaming on Revver
http://revver.com/video/398166/the-great-global-warming-swindle/

Global Warming on Mars? – Article at realclimate.org – Counter Anti-Global Warming
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2005/10/global-warming-on-mars/

Stanford Solar Center
http://solar-center.stanford.edu/

Volcanoes Emit more CO2 Than Humans – Article on Gristmill.grist.org
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/17/223957/72

The Grist Mill – Environmental News and Commentary Web Site
http://gristmill.grist.org/

Reality Sandwich – New Site/Blog for the Ecologically Pragmatic to the Wildly Visionary
http://www.realitysandwich.com/

Our Priorities For Saving The World – Bjorn Lomborg Lecture – On TED Website http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/bjorn_lomborg_sets_global_priorities.html

Global Warming Doomsday Called Off – CBC Documentary – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-3309910462407994295&q=cbc+global+warming&total=79&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Debunking of The Great Global Warming Swindle – Streaming on Google Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656640542976216573

“The Great Global Warming Swindle” is itself a Fraud and a Swindle – Article by Bill Butler on Durango Bill Website
http://www.durangobill.com/Swindle_Swindle.html

Swindled – Article Debunking Great Global Warming Swindle on RealClimate.org
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/03/swindled/

The Denial Machine – Article on Global Warming Denial on CBC Website
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/denialmachine/

ExxonMobil’s Tobacco-like Disinformation Campaign on Global Warming Science – Article on Union of Concerned Scientists Website
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science/exxonmobil-smoke-mirrors-hot.html

Can Solar Variability Explain Global Warming Since 1970? – PDF Article from Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.mps.mpg.de/dokumente/publikationen/solanki/j152.pdf

Solar Variability and Global Warming: A Statistical Comparison Since 1850 – PDF Article on Science @ Direct
http://www.mps.mpg.de/dokumente/publikationen/solanki/j178.pdf

Recent Oppositely Directed Trends in Solar Climate Forcings and The Global Mean Surface Air Temperature – PDF Article at The Royal Society
http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/media/proceedings_a/rspa20071880.pdf

‘No Sun Link’ to Climate Change – Article on BBC Website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7327393.stm

Carbon Emissions and Property Rights in Canada – Article on Quebecois Libre Website
http://www.quebecoislibre.org/07/070513-3.htm

Global Warming Items – Section of Canadian Free Press Website
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/categories/C19

How To Talk To A Climate Expert: “It’s The Sun, Stupid.” – Article on Gristmill.org
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/28/090/30666

“Cosmoclimatology” : Tired Old Arguments in New Clothes – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/03/cosmoclimatology-tired-old-arguments-in-new-clothes/

Taking Cosmic Rays for a Spin – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2006/10/taking-cosmic-rays-for-a-spin/

Cosmic Rays Don’t Die so Easily – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/10/cosmic-rays-don%E2%80%99t-die-so-easily/

What Does The Lag of CO2 Behind Temperature in Ice Cores Tell Us About Global Warming? – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2004/12/co2-in-ice-cores/

There is No Proof That CO2 is Causing Global Warming – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/22/224450/84

Gristmill – Environmental News & Commentary Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/

CO2 Doesn’t Lead, it Lags – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/22/231145/76

Geological History Does Not Support CO2’s Importance – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/26/13538/606

Historically CO2 Never Caused Temperature Change – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/26/224933/67

Natural Emissions Dwarf Human Emissions – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/17/233610/33

How Do We Know That Recent CO2 Increases Are Due to Human Activities? – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2004/12/how-do-we-know-that-recent-cosub2sub-increases-are-due-to-human-activities-updated/

Water Vapor: Feedback or Forcing? – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2005/04/water-vapour-feedback-or-forcing/

Water Vapor Accounts for Nearly All The Greenhouse Effect – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/22/222357/40

Climate Scientists Dodge the Subject of Water Vapor – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/22/215837/90

What About Mid-Century Cooling? – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/11/4/14560/6189

It Was Warmer During the Holocene Climatic Optimum – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/13/215043/37

The Medieval Warm Period Was Just As Warm As Today – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/13/221054/33

Greenland Used To Be Green – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/13/22437/993

English Vineyards Again – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2006/11/english-vineyards-again/

Dummies Guide to The Latest “Hockey Stick” Controversy – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2005/02/dummies-guide-to-the-latest-hockey-stick-controversy/

The Hockey Stick is Broken – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/14/01828/236

What If...The “Hockey Stick” Were Wrong? – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2005/01/what-if-the-hockey-stick-were-wrong/

Myth vs. Fact Regarding the “Hockey Stick” – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2004/12/myths-vs-fact-regarding-the-hockey-stick/

No Man is an (Urban Heat) Island – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/07/no-man-is-an-urban-heat-island/

The Surface Temperature Record and the Urban Heat Island – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2004/12/the-surface-temperature-record-and-the-urban-heat-island/

Urban Heat Island Effect (“UHIE”) – Definition on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2004/11/urban-heat-island-uhie/

1934 and All That – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/08/1934-and-all-that/

Global Cooling – Wanna Bet? – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2008/05/global-cooling-wanna-bet/

They Predicted Global Cooling in The 1970’s – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/11/23/18534/222

Remember Global Cooling?: Why Scientists Find Climate Change So Hard To Predict – Article On Newsweek Website
http://www.newsweek.com/id/72481

Global Dimming and Global Warming – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/11/global-dimming-and-global-warming/

Global Warming is a Hoax – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/11/11/23656/027

Convenient Untruths – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/10/convenient-untruths/

500 Scientists with Documented Doubts About the Heartland Institute? – Article on Desmog Blog Website
http://www.desmogblog.com/500-scientists-with-documented-doubts-about-the-heartland-institute

The Scientists Aren’t Even Sure – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/10/26/232046/03

There is No Consensus – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/11/13/221250/49

Position Statements Hide Debate – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/11/13/22399/297

Consensus is Collusion – Article on Gristmill Website
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/11/13/23211/495

What if you Held a Conference and no (real) Scientists Came? – Article on Real Climate Website
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2008/01/what-if-you-held-a-conference-and-no-real-scienti

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Free Energy

I just started some incredible reading this weekend. I started reading A Practical Guide to Free Energy by Patrick J Kelly. It is like reading a thriller. Exciting and full of possibilities. I am not smart or educated enough to follow most of the presented material. Nonetheless I enjoyed reading this book anyway. I suggest you give it a look too. Even with my limited skills some of the devices using gravity to generate energy look very possible just based on common sense. So I could actually follow these designs. The part about Tesla I found interesting just from a historic perspective. Reading about the pyramid that generates (a tiny bit of) energy was mind boggling. Sounds out of this world. It is so strange, so against main-stream thinking that I am tempted to try to build one myself. And then there is Joe's Cell that allows you to convert a regular car to be powered by nothing more than a strange steel container with conditioned water. What if it is true? Just imagine a world of non-polluting cars.

If you want to be surprised, thrilled and excited read or cross-read this book! Don't get distracted by the simple presentation and its length (more than 1,000 pages).

Alternative Gold Fund

As an alternative to the GLD ETF, here is an interesting article: a fund that is based on physical gold located in Switzerland and redeemable in physical gold.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Commodities

I found this information in this article. Like gold, a basket of commodities that includes crude oil, copper and wheat might provide a reliable hedge against inflation. Unlike gold, a basket of commodities provides diversification across multiple assets and – therefore – lower volatility than gold alone. There are a couple of interesting ETFs available: the PowerShares DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC) and the iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG). DBC holds only six commodities: Crude oil, heating oil, aluminum, corn, wheat and gold. GSC holds exchange trade futures to reflect the GSCI Excess Return Futures. S&P GSCI contains 24 commodities from all commodity sectors: six energy products, five industrial metals, eight agricultural products, three livestock products and two precious metals.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Permaculture

Looking for permaculture videos to watch this weekend I ran across this site: www.permacultureusa.org. It has some good ideas and some interesting reference projects. Worth while a glance. I didn't like their name though. Research institute sounds a bit too fancy and a bit too commercial for me.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Outhouse and Fertilizers

With respect to the energy intensive fertilizers, there is a solution that solves two problems, and has to do with the toilets we use. We flush tremendous amounts of nutrients down our toilets. Frequently this causes problems because these nutrients wash out into the ocean (if after heavy rains the sewage treatment facilities is overrun for example) causing unnatural plankton growth which then chokes off life in the ocean. I recently read an article about a new Chinese toilet which separates liquid from solid waste reducing both water use and time in the sewage treatment facility, as well as facilitating the recycling of waste as fertilizer. A key adjustment to confronting peak oil will be recycling our waste as fertilizer.

An outhouse will come in handy. Reduces water use, avoids ocean pollution, gives us a bio-fertilizer. A compost toilet can be very simple, as simple as a plastic bucket (with a top) and for comfort a toilet seat. One can use saw dust to cover the odor. It is important to cover, if the urine soaks into the sawdust it smells, if there is a dry layer on top it's okay, even in the house. Dry composting material such as leaves works as well as saw dust. The bucket gets emptied once a week. Then one needs 2 compost heaps. You fill one compost heap for a year. Then you move it to another for another year (meaning it composts for at least one year). Then after a minimum of composting of 1 year it is a good fertilizer for the garden.

Urine has a lot of nitrates and is hence useful. Peeing directly on plants however is not be the best idea. It is preferred to urinate in the outhouse or onto the compost pile and thereby let the bacteria work on the urine and break it down over time so that the plants can better utilize the nutrients.