Bazooka Bluffs Revisited
In this post from last Thursday I had a section titled "Your Bazooka Bluff has Been Called". My main point (there is one sometimes!) was:
Well that game is now up. The players behind the money want a plan for an explicit backstop for Greece and some plan for Spain as well. The CDS costs will force the hand of the Eurozone here. In this day and age of government intervention in everything and anything this was inevitable. Why risk money on a wink and a smile when you can get a government guarantee on the whole thing up front? Why indeed. Anyone remember all those fire side chats about moral hazard I tried to have all the time? Maybe now you can see why.Of course this is not quite one in a million thinking but I thought it set up this week well.
I was happy to see some writing on the same topic making the rounds:
Mish
EU tries Paulson's Bazooka Ploy; Bazooka Theory vs. Historical Results
Zero Hedge
The Bazooka Jams As Propaganda, Pardon, Media Always Gets It Right... Eventually
Maybe we all like the word "bazooka" or something!
Huge Gold Article
The following article looks at gold every which way you can and is very thorough:
Gold: The Big Picture
Plenty to review, enjoy!
More? Ok, I like gold here because people in major power positions say stuff like this:
Nobody knows the cost of inflation – between 2 per cent and 4 per cent – so I think people could get used to 4 per cent and the distortions could be small,” said Mr Blanchard.
Article by Mish here.
Rules of Engagement
There was plenty of rumors today about a possible ban of credit default swap (CDS) trading. Of course this makes sense because the tide is going against the wants of the establishment. Where were the bans on going long Nasdaq 4500 in the year 2000? Of course there was no such thing. Short selling bans, uptick rules, and CDS bans are fast becoming the preferred method to deal with unwanted information.
Which brings me to the following thought experiment:
If on Tuesday morning February 16, 2010 suppose that the Government entities of the US instituted the following:
-The DOW cannot trade under 10,000
-The S&P 500 cannot trade under 1000
-The Nasdaq cannot trade under 2000
-Home sales cannot be executed at prices under their 2006 appraisal values
-etc you get the idea
Would the market reaction be:
A) panic as the establishment of a true banana republic forces everyone to flee a false market
B) the biggest one day gain in market history
I think the best answer says so much about where we are and is worth some serious discussion so have at it and please pass this around.
Friday Night Entertainment
We are close to turning the corner on Winter here, so let us welcome the chance to start ushering out the winter:
Just remember in the winter"The Rose"
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed
That with the sun's love, in the spring
Becomes the rose
Sports That are Not Football
Aside from the New England Patriots making Julius Peppers their number one target for the offseason, sports are thin for me right now. Sunday is the Daytona 500 but my man in the #29, Kevin Harvick has been on a cold snap for over two years (though he has had a good week so far!). Let's loom back at two moments that were thrilling from NASCAR history for me.
Dale Earnhardt, a personal hero (he reminds of my dad very, very much), and the winningest driver at Daytona Speedway, FINALLY wins the Daytona 500 in his 20th try. Skip ahead to the 2:00 minute mark for the drama. After his win every pit crew from pit lane came out to congratulate him and I remember welling up for the man:
Love it!
Of course the tragic death of Dale was a serious blow to any racing fan (and very serious to me). Dale had hand picked Kevin Harvick as his replacement (he was going to retire soon) and Harvick was rushed into the car to race during the 2001 season (now #29 and white, the #3 will never be used IMO). In his third start and on the day before my birthday Harvick wins at Atlanta Speedway in one of the most exciting finishes ever in racing and I was a mess after the race. It was maybe the best birthday gift I ever received (skip to 1:45 mark, and watch until end if you have a spare moment):
Still makes me shake!
Alternate Transportation
Now I would like this as my daily commuter; mean and coll all in one:
Triceratops Helicopter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
more here.
Funny Pictures
The purrfect Valentines Day date?:
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Sure WINNER!
Please make sure you practice Valentines day around children better than this:
see more Epic Fails
Lock the door!
Film Clip
From Watchtower, who requested a favorite clip from one of my favorite films "Glory":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2c_BvVBd-Q&feature=related
Great stuff!
Rock Blogging
Some requests, some editors choice, some music magic!
Reader Gawains requests and dug up a clip I have been wanting to post for some time! Start the weekend off with this clip from "Walk the Line" and Joaquin Phoenix playing Johnny Cash with "Cocaine Blues":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRZwlh1Iry0
Very Nice!
Reader C-T would like to see Green Day and "American Idiot" and all I can hope is she does not mean me!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wti4SA0YZ90
Very Punk!
I just finished the Ozzy Osbourne autobiography "I am Ozzy" and it was at times hilarious, sad, scary, and always revealing. That said, how can I not do an Ozzy tune? Try out "You Can't Kill Rock and Roll" with Randy Rhoades doing his magic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac9qOu2ITH0
Greatest guitar player ever, IMO.
A lady I used to "date" in college (Ah, the days!) loved this song and so I send it out to her! This is Tonic with "If You Could Only See":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igYSL5osIZM
Very nice and it had serious effects on her if you know......
Last Call!! Time to close the show, but you all know the show never ends!
My Dad's birthday is today and I hate to bring personal stuff into the blog, but this was his favorite song and the last song I heard him play before he died in 1996 was his home state song "West Virginia"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfi3SSJPG9Y:
It's better on a 12 string guitar, but good anyway!
Have a good night.
16 comments:
All, Youtube is having an issue! I will put in links as well.
That 'Walk The Line' movie rules.
If anyone on here hasn't seen it, you should, even if you think you don't like country music.
One of the best movies I've seen here lately, or anytime for that matter.
Watchtower,
agree 100% a must see.
Youtube issues are killing me, none of my prior Friday night posts are in either!
In Han Solo's words:
"Its not my fault!"
Yeah, Walk the Line is a really good movie. I first saw it back in 06 on a bus, of all places, going to Dallas. That was when my friend Omar and I were taking these tours to see Cowboys games. It was a pretty good deal actually. Bus ride to and from Dallas and Texas Stadium, hotel reservations with breakfast buffet, game ticket and tailgate party, all for under $400, cheap.
But it was a grueling bus ride, about 11 hours each way. So they would show DVDs to ease the boredom.
I had heard about this movie, Walk the Line, and my first response was, who's playing Johnny Cash? Joaquin Phoenix, please. But after seeing it I had to admit he did a damn good job, really captured the essence of the character. It's one of the most impressive interpretive performances I've seen in a long while, right up there with Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone.
I've always liked Johnny Cash. We used to watch his show with June Carter on tv when I was a kid. Of course then, as a kid, I had no idea of the turmoil in his life, which the movie brings out in full force. So I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Anyway, that's an interesting thought experiment, GYC. And the answer is . . . violent revolution. There is absolutely no way the American people would tolerate that kind of government intervention.
But no doubt someone would write a country and western song about it and perform it in a prison where all the politicians who tried to implement such egregious control, those who aren't dead, are housed.
I have no idea what was going on with the youtube embeds, but they work no?! Very weird.
I waited to see "Walk the Line" and my feeling was that there was no way Mr. Phoenix could play Johnny CAsh but he was amazing! Both Phoenix and Witherspoon did all the singing themselves as well which is really astounding. Of course noe Joaquin Phoenix is a carzy person, but what can you do.
I was dragged kicking and screaming to see 'Walk The Line' by the missus, I just knew that flick was going to suck but I was wrong.
GYSC,
Here is the group I have been working with, don't know if we have a chance in hell of pulling this off but I think it would be a soulution, for me now the time is to look for solutions rather then the day to day.
http://www.swarmusa.com/vb4/content.php
I know it's been a long time.
Kevin
Don't want to be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information age of hysteria.
It's calling out to idiot America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Never you, Get. I was thinking more of the sheeple and the mis-information nation stations like CNBC.
And of myself in some ways. I was never one who was one who was meant to follow. American Idol never turned me on.
I saw what you wrote about your father, Get. A Green Day song reminds me of both of my parents. They were married on Sept.1, 1939 and together for the rest of their lives except for when my Dad left to fight in WWII.
My mother died in September 2003 unexpectedly. My father died less than eight months later. His heart was broken and he didn't want to go on without her. He didn't commit suicide, he just sort of faded away.
Whenever I hear "Wake Me Up When September Ends", it reminds me of them. It also reminds me of the hole that was left in our lives after the two of them left that nothing has been able to fill. None of us were ever the same.
Ugh. Too much information, maybe. I don't know. All I know is that their deaths allowed me to move on with my life. I was in a marriage with someone I didn't like anymore, and was staying for the kids. That was a big wakeup call for me, to go on, to live my life to the fullest.
Kevin,
indeed a LONG time! Whats up, mu writing no good anymore? Kidding, so glad to see you and the site looks very nice!
C-T,
no problem at all my dear.
I cannot add much to your comment, you captured how I feel 100%
Really, I am lost for words, thanks for the comment.
Hiya GYSC! Long time no see. I'm starting a fantasy baseball league and would like to invite you and your readers to join, if y'all would care to. First year I've run a league, and it is the all American game!
Regards, Will Profit
p.s. here's the URL to join.
http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/it_aint_over_till_its_over
Oops, URL was to long for one line. here it is.
http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/it_aint_over_till_its_over
A) panic as the establishment of a true banana republic forces everyone to flee a false market.
B) the biggest one day gain in market history.
I'd say B. Banana republics are in vogue nowadays. And as I read at the daily reckoning recently, the US would be the worst kind of banana republic. One with ice storms and no bananas.
Long delay in the Daytona 500 for track repair. Harvick has been very fast all day, looking for a good finish.
In thr dumbest Daytona 500 ever that took over 6 hours to run HArvick won the regular distance race, the first green/white/checker run at the end and then lost the SECOND fiing attempt at a 2 lap shootout. Two out of 3 but no win, unreal.
Not sure where to post this but I wanted to ask if anyone has heard of National Clicks?
Can someone help me find it?
Overheard some co-workers talking about it all week but didn't have time to ask so I thought I would post it here to see if someone could help me out.
Seems to be getting alot of buzz right now.
Thanks
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