FRIDAY ALREADY

Wow! Time is flying by, it seems like last Friday was only yesterday. Time is the most interesting of illusions. My perception, of the relative speed of time, has gone back and forth this year, but mostly sped up.

Last night I saw the sliver of the New Moon, about 48 hours old. I was thrilled. I usually don't get a chance to see it until it is a little older. In the evening it is often hazy here, close to the horizon. Seeing the New Moon usually gives me a lift and assures me that all is well. Some forty years ago, I noticed that the New Moon came with a lift in my spirits. I started paying attention and sure enough my mood often went sour a few days around the dark of the moon. I was vulnerable to being critical, irritable and, in general, a horse's ass. Being aware of it, helped ameliorate the symptoms but they have never disappeared. I have not heard of anybody else being affected in this way. I can't be the only one. Can I? Please comment if you have heard of this before.

Everything is in such great flux. The people in Europe will not accept austerity programs that punish them. The demonstrations are spreading across Europe. The economy may come down. They won't give in. Why should they? Why should the people suffer because the government owes money to the banks? The people are not guilty of mismanaging the funds. In most cases, the banks seduced the government officials into buying risky financial instruments with the promise of great gains. These instruments often originated in the United States [sliced up repackaged mortgages] and some were European copycat versions that came out of their housing bubble. People should suffer hunger, homelessness, hopelessness, etc. for that? Because of government/bank malfeasance? Who are they kidding? And the solution is so simple. The banks need to write off the debt. Money is not real anyway.

Speaking of not real. We, the United States, had a solution. We bailed out the banks for trillions and now the Federal Reserve is buying a billion dollars worth of bad mortgage debt from the banks every month. A billion dollars every month! Have you heard of this? And our economy is sustainable? Give me a break. European countries don't have a Federal Reserve to crank out money every time the bank sneezes. And you know what, the people are suppose to pay back the Federal Reserve with interest. What a racket! Where do you suppose the money goes? Since we produce so very little in the United States anymore, there is not enough economic engine to pay off this debt. Were swirling down the drain, just a little slower than Europe. I stick with my best guess, the world economy  collapses before the end of the year. Don't worry about the fiscal cliff.

Well, just have fun observing all this. It is a real sideshow! We  will be okay. Keep spreading the light. Bring a smile to every face you see today.

Jamie is doing the dishes today and I am going to the feed store.

Love and Peace,  Gregg