Thursday, December 13, 2012
News Links, December 13-14, 2012
## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Baltic Dry Index Report Shows The Global Economy Is In Serious Trouble
Barclays to cut around 2,000 investment bank jobs to rebuild image
Barclays to cut around 2,000 investment bank jobs to rebuild image
"With supply outstripping demand by 30 percent, plants across Europe have been shut in the past few years and more are threatened in France and Italy, raising fears of extensive job losses and putting pressure on governments to intervene."
Supply woes stunt Hyundai growth
Shipping rates collapse on fiscal cliff threat
## Airline Death Spiral ##
Russian carrier Kuban Airlines files for bankruptcy
Shipping rates collapse on fiscal cliff threat
## Airline Death Spiral ##
Russian carrier Kuban Airlines files for bankruptcy
Not-so-open skies for Israeli airlines
"The 'open skies' agreement between Israel and the European Union does not account for the unique security challenges facing Israeli airlines and will drive them out of business."
"The 'open skies' agreement between Israel and the European Union does not account for the unique security challenges facing Israeli airlines and will drive them out of business."
Flight Attendants Threaten to Withhold Smiles, Booze
Another Dreamliner Grounded by Generator Problem
Another Dreamliner Grounded by Generator Problem
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
U.S. military to boost Philippines presence; China tells army to be prepared
American Militarism Threatening To Set Off World War III (Francis A. Boyle)
American Militarism Threatening To Set Off World War III (Francis A. Boyle)
Assertive Turkey key to U.S. in shifting Middle East
"With its caustic rhetoric on Israel and its gold-for-gas trade with Iran, Turkey is not the deferential U.S. ally it once was as it carves out a growing role in the fast-changing politics of the Middle East."
"With its caustic rhetoric on Israel and its gold-for-gas trade with Iran, Turkey is not the deferential U.S. ally it once was as it carves out a growing role in the fast-changing politics of the Middle East."
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Thousands of Hungarian students rally against government
Protracted unrest, instability ahead for deeply divided Egyptians
Bangladesh opposition protests turn violent
Bangladesh opposition protests turn violent
"Engineers have refined the original Fischer-Tropsch method to increase efficiency. But the high cost of building new synthetic fuel plants, coupled with the low price of crude oil, has made synthetic fuels too expensive for widespread acceptance."
Here is just one reason why it won't work. Even at current crude oil prices, the cost of energy is strangling the global economy, but here we see that crude is still too cheap to make FT economical. And there are other problems which the article does not touch upon. For example, will synthetic oil have such a high EROEI that it will also power the machinery that produces, harvests, and transports feedstocks? I think not. The irony is that without cheap crude, the whole thing falls apart. -- RF
"Despite much hype about energy independence, conventional crude oil production is continuing its long term and gradual decline."
How the Global Oil Grab Affects You…
"How much oil does it take to be part of the modern world? Today, per capita oil use in the U.S. is about 22 barrels per year and 24 barrels in Canada. That's how we get our so-called 'non-negotiable standard of living'."
The Impact Of Snow On Solar Panels
Businesses fear power cut (New Zealand)
"How much oil does it take to be part of the modern world? Today, per capita oil use in the U.S. is about 22 barrels per year and 24 barrels in Canada. That's how we get our so-called 'non-negotiable standard of living'."
The Impact Of Snow On Solar Panels
Businesses fear power cut (New Zealand)
Andhra's power shortage takes toll on steelmakers
High Consumption Leads to Fears of Power Shortage (Korea)
High Consumption Leads to Fears of Power Shortage (Korea)
Govt plans fine on excess use of electricity
Oil sands facing labour shortage as talent search proves a challenge (Canada)
Oil sands facing labour shortage as talent search proves a challenge (Canada)
Energy chief: Cold winter will be 'critical' for Europe's supplies
"Europe's power grid stability is hanging in the balance this winter, with a cold snap liable to create a 'critical' situation, the director of one of Europe's five biggest power grids has told EurActiv."
"Europe's power grid stability is hanging in the balance this winter, with a cold snap liable to create a 'critical' situation, the director of one of Europe's five biggest power grids has told EurActiv."
Diesel shortage highlights 'vulnerability' (Australia)
## Infrastructure scavenging ##
Copper thieves go underground
## Got food? ##
Widespread Seafood Fraud Found in New York City
"Well over 100 countries are looking to the example of Cuba, which has the same 78-year life expectancy of the US while spending 4% per person annually of what the US does."
Not only poor countries. As anyone can see, the US healthcare system is designed with priority on profit-mongering, not preventing disease and promoting a healthy society. We all remember when the US refused the help of Cuban doctors after Katrina. Naturally, the Cuban model should not be on display in the US. -- RF
It's an unprecedented disaster in the making. Big cities are death traps. -- RF
Poisoning the well: How the Feds let industry pollute the nation's underground water supply
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
US bank websites hit again by hackers, who seem unstoppable
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
US bank websites hit again by hackers, who seem unstoppable
China, Russia Resubmit Proposal to Get Web Control
"A proposal that would potentially give countries sovereignty over Internet addresses has been resubmitted to the UN agency for telecommunications by a coalition including China and Russia, a day after the original plan was scrapped."
"A proposal that would potentially give countries sovereignty over Internet addresses has been resubmitted to the UN agency for telecommunications by a coalition including China and Russia, a day after the original plan was scrapped."
UN internet talks collapse as Britain and US refuse to sign treaty
Tweeters 'could be military targets' (Australia)
"Social media users whose use tweets and online posts to comment on a military operation could be regarded as legitimate military targets."
Ghost Town? Study Says 70 Percent Of Facebook Pages Are Inactive
Data Centers: The High Cost of Downtime
Tweeters 'could be military targets' (Australia)
"Social media users whose use tweets and online posts to comment on a military operation could be regarded as legitimate military targets."
Ghost Town? Study Says 70 Percent Of Facebook Pages Are Inactive
Data Centers: The High Cost of Downtime
## Systemic breakdown ##
Crumbling infrastructure worries mayors (Canada)
"Canada's big-city mayors all raised their hands Thursday when asked if they worried that someone may be killed because of their crumbling roads and bridges."
"Canada's big-city mayors all raised their hands Thursday when asked if they worried that someone may be killed because of their crumbling roads and bridges."
## Japan ##
Japan accuses China of airspace intrusion over islands
"Japan has accused China of violating its airspace for the first time after a Chinese plane overflew disputed East China Sea islands."
Xi Jinping commands PLA to ready for 'real combat'
"China's Xi Jinping has commanded the country's People's Liberation Army to prepare for real combat while conducting military training."
"China's Xi Jinping has commanded the country's People's Liberation Army to prepare for real combat while conducting military training."
China ups 2012 solar industry subsidies to $2.1 bln
"China has raised subsidies for its solar sector by 7 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) this year to a total of 13 billion yuan, the government said on Wednesday, the latest move to help manufacturers hit by excess capacity and waning foreign demand."
Chinese firms go on U.S. spending spree
"China has raised subsidies for its solar sector by 7 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) this year to a total of 13 billion yuan, the government said on Wednesday, the latest move to help manufacturers hit by excess capacity and waning foreign demand."
Chinese firms go on U.S. spending spree
## UK ##
Millionaire muggers 'carried out dozens more attacks'
"A gang of millionaire muggers jailed yesterday for a series of terrifying attacks are suspected of carrying out dozens of similar raids on other wealthy victims including Bernie Ecclestone, netting a total of up to £2 million."
Britain's new homeless: Banker sleeps rough in park
"A gang of millionaire muggers jailed yesterday for a series of terrifying attacks are suspected of carrying out dozens of similar raids on other wealthy victims including Bernie Ecclestone, netting a total of up to £2 million."
Britain's new homeless: Banker sleeps rough in park
Britain lifts shale gas ban, imposes tighter rules
"Britain will allow shale gas exploration to resume but under tighter rules, the government announced on Thursday, a year and a half after tremors set off by the hydraulic fracturing used triggered a ban on the work."
"Britain will allow shale gas exploration to resume but under tighter rules, the government announced on Thursday, a year and a half after tremors set off by the hydraulic fracturing used triggered a ban on the work."
Shale gas is not a game changer
"Shale gas is not a game changer in the UK, a Government adviser has said, as a new report warns production will disrupt communities and risk water supplies."
"Shale gas is not a game changer in the UK, a Government adviser has said, as a new report warns production will disrupt communities and risk water supplies."
S&P says Britains AAA rating at risk
## US ##
Post-Sandy, Newly Unemployed Struggle To Stay Afloat
Barge Captain Steers Rocky Course as Mississippi Shrinks
## US ##
Post-Sandy, Newly Unemployed Struggle To Stay Afloat
Barge Captain Steers Rocky Course as Mississippi Shrinks
Analysts: NASA needs other countries to explore final frontier
"If NASA wants to help humans boldly go where no man has gone before, the US space agency must work with other countries, say experts who fear budget constraints will keep astronauts stuck on Earth."
"If NASA wants to help humans boldly go where no man has gone before, the US space agency must work with other countries, say experts who fear budget constraints will keep astronauts stuck on Earth."
Small Business Owners Cut Capital Expenditures, Plan to Cut Even More
How the Fed Is Pushing Investors to Buy Junk Bonds
How the Fed Is Pushing Investors to Buy Junk Bonds
Port strike could disrupt supply chains
"A potential labor strike could hit ports along the East and Gulf Coast starting December 30, a move that could have devastating impacts on the U.S. economy and supply chains that rely on the ports to transport raw materials and finished products."
"A potential labor strike could hit ports along the East and Gulf Coast starting December 30, a move that could have devastating impacts on the U.S. economy and supply chains that rely on the ports to transport raw materials and finished products."
