We die alone; we should
not live that way.
Switcheroo:
After
years of hanging on ECB President Drahi's every word, eurozone
leaders are now hanging up on him as he scrambles to pull
the economy out of a tailspin, with inflation
slipping past 'disinflation' into outright
deflation. The collapse of the Espirito
Santo banking empire in Portugal was dispiriting, too. Why is this
not happening? There are two explanations: ignorance or greed. Or the
deadly combination of ignorant
greed. Why is this happening? Why are they letting Germany get
away with forcing Europe to repeat
the same errors that made the Great Depression so bad? Maybe
France's
collapse will spur some soul searching. Twinkle Twinkle: Ukraine wants to become a member of NATO. And I'd like Warren Buffet to adopt me.
Go To Sleep: Everything but Wall Street boosters see bond yields going even lower and staying there for even longer. Don't tell the inflationistas.
Sounding Retreat: Shell is looking for a few adventurous folks to take over their Nigerian oil operations, for only $15 billion. Give 'em a call.
The Trillion Dollar Question: When do we start acknowledging that this is 'The Greater Depression?' Today? Yesterday?
Horror Story: Genetic studies of Ebola strains show that the virus is mutating fast and might be on its way to adapting to a human host. Sadly, five of the scientists who did these studies have died of the virus.
Not gonna Make War-mth No More: Russia has warned Europe to consider that gas deliveries for the winter might depend on their actions. Don't plan to spend New Year's in Kiev.
Logistics: Some of the National Guard troops Rick Perry sent to the Texas/Mexico border are resorting to local food banks because they haven't been paid and the state is not providing meals. Guess Perry hadn't heard the one about the army moving on its belly.
Smoke/Fire: The FBI apparently ordered police departments across the nation to hide their use of Stingray cellphone intercept technology. Wonder why? Oh, right. Warrants.
and yes I said yes I will Yes: California has ruled that only “an affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity"will serve as consent. No may or may not mean 'no', but only 'Yes!' will mean yes.
Goal Setting: Burger King will have to see a 6% drop in US sales before its Canadian tax dodgerie will be unprofitable. Ready, Set, Go elsewhere!
Because I Said So: A US District Judge in New York has ordered Microsoft to give US prosecutors customer emails stored in Ireland. Can the long arm of the law actually reach all the way to Éire?