Sunday, December 09, 2012
News Links, December 8-10, 2012
## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Bundesbank cuts growth outlook as crisis bites
Bundesbank cuts growth outlook as crisis bites
Route cuts put Malaysia Airlines back to black
Downsizing into profitability: Countless businesses have done it since 2008. -- RF
Downsizing into profitability: Countless businesses have done it since 2008. -- RF
Union head: Boeing strike likely
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Washington's Iranian Future
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Washington's Iranian Future
Iran's long-range missiles said to lag U.S. intelligence fears
"An internal report for the U.S. Congress has concluded that Iran probably is no longer on track, if it ever was, to having an ocean-crossing missile as soon as 2015."
"An internal report for the U.S. Congress has concluded that Iran probably is no longer on track, if it ever was, to having an ocean-crossing missile as soon as 2015."
Syria's civil war spills into Lebanon, 4 dead
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Protesters surge around Egypt's presidential palace
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Protesters surge around Egypt's presidential palace
Police arrest, spray protesters at Mich. Capitol
"Michigan State Police say they have used chemical spray on right-to-work protesters who to tried rush into the Senate chamber at the state Capitol, and minority Democrats in the Legislature accuse Republican leaders of taking a 'shameful step' to undermine free speech."
Vietnam holds rare protests against China over sea disputes
"Vietnam held rare but brief protests against China in its two major cities on Sunday after Beijing demanded that Hanoi stop unilateral oil exploration in disputed waters and not harass Chinese fishing boats."
"Michigan State Police say they have used chemical spray on right-to-work protesters who to tried rush into the Senate chamber at the state Capitol, and minority Democrats in the Legislature accuse Republican leaders of taking a 'shameful step' to undermine free speech."
Vietnam holds rare protests against China over sea disputes
"Vietnam held rare but brief protests against China in its two major cities on Sunday after Beijing demanded that Hanoi stop unilateral oil exploration in disputed waters and not harass Chinese fishing boats."
"When people read about a long-term forecast of world oil supply--say, out to 2030--they often believe that the forecasters are merely incorporating our knowledge of existing fields and figuring out how much oil can be extracted from them over the forecast period. Nothing could be further from the truth. Much of the forecast supply has not yet been discovered or has no demonstrated technology which can extract or produce it economically. In other words, such forecasts are merely guesses based on the slimmest of evidence."
Eagle Ford may outpace Kashagan
"Investments in the Eagle Ford shale play in Texas are expected to top what's projected for the giant Kashagan field in Kazakhstan, an analysis says."
"Investments in the Eagle Ford shale play in Texas are expected to top what's projected for the giant Kashagan field in Kazakhstan, an analysis says."
This is an indication of the high capital investment needed to extract tight oil and gas. -- RF
Arab states rush to join the shale boom
That countries around the world are turning to shale oil shows how the desperate the situation is. -- RF
That countries around the world are turning to shale oil shows how the desperate the situation is. -- RF
"Jim Rogers, the legendary commodity investor speculates that he may have a knowledge gap when it comes to shale gas but points out the fact that 'the number of drilling rigs for shale gas (in US) has gone down 75 percent in the last 18 months or so.'
"The wells are generally short-lived, he said: 'they're great for the first 30 days. But by year three or four, they're very expensive to maintain.'"
The energy return on "Domestic oil 2000" is far below that of firewood. Absolutely pathetic. -- RF
Canada's foreign limits may hit oil sands growth
"New Canadian rules limiting control of its oil sands by foreign state-owned companies may turn away some investors who now covet more than minority stakes just as the industry seeks massive amounts of capital to fuel its growth ambitions."
"New Canadian rules limiting control of its oil sands by foreign state-owned companies may turn away some investors who now covet more than minority stakes just as the industry seeks massive amounts of capital to fuel its growth ambitions."
## Infrastructure scavenging ##
South Africa: Cable Theft Disrupts Services in Pretoria
## Got food? ##
Fossil Food & Agriculture
FAO report links high food prices to biofuel demand
"Biofuels account for the largest source of new demand for agricultural production and have helped drive price volatility in grain crops like wheat and maize, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization says in a new report."
Lower Mainland food supply at risk from rising sea levels (Canada)
"Biofuels account for the largest source of new demand for agricultural production and have helped drive price volatility in grain crops like wheat and maize, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization says in a new report."
Lower Mainland food supply at risk from rising sea levels (Canada)
## Lifestyle Solutions ##
Build Your own Passive Solar Water Heater
Build Your own Passive Solar Water Heater
## Environment/health ##
Big, Old Trees in Decline Worldwide
"Big, old trees are in decline throughout the world, which spells trouble for the forests in which they play such an important role, a new study finds."
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
Saudi Arabia Says Aramco Cyberattack Came From Foreign States
"Saudi Arabia blamed unidentified people based outside the kingdom for a cyberattack against state-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Co. that aimed at disrupting production from the world's largest exporter of crude."
"Saudi Arabia blamed unidentified people based outside the kingdom for a cyberattack against state-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Co. that aimed at disrupting production from the world's largest exporter of crude."
Secret Service launches investigation into 'immense' security breach as computer files left on metro
Verizon's Creepy Idea to Spy on TV Viewers
Verizon's Creepy Idea to Spy on TV Viewers
## Systemic breakdown ##
Paris hit by wave of street muggings and grave robberies
"Austerity-struck Paris has been hit by a wave of street muggings and grave robberies with thieves prepared to exhume bodies to steal gold and jewelry."
Conflict and Change in the Era of Economic Decline: Part 1 - The 21st century landscape of conflict (Richard Heinberg)
"Austerity-struck Paris has been hit by a wave of street muggings and grave robberies with thieves prepared to exhume bodies to steal gold and jewelry."
Conflict and Change in the Era of Economic Decline: Part 1 - The 21st century landscape of conflict (Richard Heinberg)
## Japan ##
3rd Biggest Japan Shipping Line Stalls Dry Bulk Fleet Expansion
"Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., Japan's third-biggest shipping line, delayed plans to expand its commodity-vessel fleet as a global glut saps cargo rates."
Escape to Okinawa
"As radiation hot spots emerge in Tokyo and nuclear contamination plagues the country, some Japanese are fleeing to the Okinawa island chain to avoid the fallout from Fukushima. But is it too late?"
"As radiation hot spots emerge in Tokyo and nuclear contamination plagues the country, some Japanese are fleeing to the Okinawa island chain to avoid the fallout from Fukushima. But is it too late?"
Japan Authorizes N. Korean Rocket Interception
"Japan on Dec. 7 ordered its military to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it threatens the nation's territory as Washington put anti-missile destroyers into position, ramping up pressure on Pyongyang."
"Japan on Dec. 7 ordered its military to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it threatens the nation's territory as Washington put anti-missile destroyers into position, ramping up pressure on Pyongyang."
China Survey Shows Wealth Gap Soaring as Xi Pledges Help
"China's wealth gap is now 50 percent higher than a risk level for social unrest, according to a central bank-backed survey, underscoring new Communist Party chief Xi Jinping's warning that corruption may endanger its rule."
Chinese Survey Shows a Higher Jobless Rate
"China's wealth gap is now 50 percent higher than a risk level for social unrest, according to a central bank-backed survey, underscoring new Communist Party chief Xi Jinping's warning that corruption may endanger its rule."
Chinese Survey Shows a Higher Jobless Rate
As China's clout grows, sea policy proves unfathomable
China is now heading toward Japan-style economic paralysis if it doesnt change course
China is now heading toward Japan-style economic paralysis if it doesnt change course
"Nearly all the 'big names' of the industry, including companies such as LDK Solar, Yingli Solar (which sports fans will recognize from its sponsorship at recent international soccer events) and Suntech Power Holdings are all facing the possibility of bankruptcy, consolidation, or both following a remarkable few years in China's solar industry."
UK on triple-dip recession alert after industrial slowdown
Revealed: How the cost of a degree is now £100,000
Revealed: How the cost of a degree is now £100,000
## US ##
U.S. Consumer Borrowing Rises to Record $2.75 Trillion
Rail Traffic Is Slowing With The Economy
"Rail traffic is taking a turn for the worse in recent weeks as the economy appears to be slowing even further into Q4. The latest reading on intermodal traffic came in at -1.1%. That brings the trailing 12 week average to 1.65%. The US economy appears to be just barely treading water at this point."
Ivy League Cracks Down as Students Spiral Out of Control
Rail Traffic Is Slowing With The Economy
"Rail traffic is taking a turn for the worse in recent weeks as the economy appears to be slowing even further into Q4. The latest reading on intermodal traffic came in at -1.1%. That brings the trailing 12 week average to 1.65%. The US economy appears to be just barely treading water at this point."
Ivy League Cracks Down as Students Spiral Out of Control
Payroll-to-Population Ratio Declines — Gallup
"In a tracking survey that estimates the percentage of the U.S. population employed at least 30 hours a week, Gallup reports that the payroll-to-population (P2P) employment rate fell from 45.7% in October to 43.7% in November."
"In a tracking survey that estimates the percentage of the U.S. population employed at least 30 hours a week, Gallup reports that the payroll-to-population (P2P) employment rate fell from 45.7% in October to 43.7% in November."
Gallup Reports Upper-Income Spending Worst November Ever
The Historic Inversion In Shadow Banking Is Now Complete
The Historic Inversion In Shadow Banking Is Now Complete
Remember what happened to the Maybach. -- RF
