And thanks for posting the video - read somewhere that over 1 Million people have watched it on you tube, the most viewed video. I wanted to go and look for it this weekend and here my wish is already fulfilled. :-)

- "Don't throw away our election victory"

Sat 11/08/07 - Belgium's Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Development, has urged formateur Yves Leterme to speed up the present coalition talks for a new federal government and to come up with some results soon. "Otherwise he'd better leave the job to Didier Reynders." Louis Michel (a Francophone liberal and party colleague of Didier Reynders at the MR) took part in June's federal elections, but soon returned to his job at the European Commission afterwards.

Two months after the elections, which were a big success for both the Francophone liberals of MR and the Flemish alliance between the Christian democrats of CD&V and the Flemish nationalists of N.VA, the coalition talks led by formateur Yves Leterme of CD&V have not led to any result.

The parties involved keep on bickering over the two main issues, state reform and the long-term budget.

YOUR CENTRAL BANKS AT WORK

MOTOWN, August 10 (Associated Press) -- Announcements of mass layoffs at Consolidated Amalgamated Widget triggered an emergency meeting of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. In response to the crisis, the bankers resolved to pump liquidity into the Motown region's banks, take steps to avert mortgage foreclosures and automobile repossessions, and provide stopgap health insurance.

Fed Chairman Benjamin Bernanke informed the affected workers that money would be available as needed. President George Bush assured the nation that the economy was fundamentally sound, that his Administration would not let the stricken workers fall between the cracks of the volatile labor market.

The Onion can have this one, no charge.

Another way to put forward the point I made here:

http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2007/8/9/123641/8918#5

The irony is that these bank sponsored papers are indeed worthless at market value (since there is no buyer) and that is the case because everyone is too leveraged by the very same banks and so no one has money left to be a buyer...

All of course caused by ECB total lack of willingness to act as a real bank regulator (since ECB now has a monopoly on this).

Politically the ECB actions are nothing short of incredible:

    * ECB criticize strongly workers union for asking for raises and going to strike, totally outside of ECB mandate
    * ECB criticize states for their work regulations, totally outside of ECB mandate
    * ECB says because of the two above it is forced to raise rate and create unemployment and unrest, hell to evil workers and policiticans!
    * ECB just creates 100 billions in liquidity to save rich people and irresponsible banks shareholder value, ECB fully responsible for the mess because it did not act
    * ECB, now that rich people and shareholders are involved  might not raise rates after all !!!!

No MSM will report those simple facts put together of course...

E-ZPass and other electronic toll collection systems are emerging as a powerful means of proving infidelity. That's because when your spouse doesn't know where you've been, E-ZPass does.

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_222140553.html

The ET contingent includes Helen, Sam, kcurie, Geezer in Paris and myself and we're doing our best to asist in the celebrations!

Not massively impressed with the trail - it cuts off in a few places and you have to cross really busy A roads and junctions, and spend a fair bit of time cycling on the road.  I think if I could have gone further past Merthyr and towards Brecon it would become much more scenic.

Still, it was a lovely way to spend the day.

Ad astra per aspera

Cheers! And the very best to you both.

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

Midsummer Meltdown: Prospects for the Stock and Housing Markets

August 2007, Dean Baker

This paper examines the factors that have led to the recent instability in financial markets, specifically the housing bubble and the recent run-up in stock prices. Prices in both the housing market and the stock market are often moved by psychological factors that have little to do with fundamentals.  

http://www.cepr.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1267&Itemid=77

I strongly recommand for those interested to read the full 23 pages paper (MSM behaviour analysis, nice graphs):

http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/meltdown_2007_08.pdf

photoshop phun

"Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do." Jim Hightower

Hello pain.

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson

But remember, we must not, I repeat, NOT ascribe any feelings or motivations to any of the animals appearing in the video, as that would be anthropomorphizing and that's just not done.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?