Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bible Teaching, Jesus, Uncategorized

Lessons from John’s gospel, chapters 1-3

This year, it is our privilege to get to know John, the author of a good portion of what is now the New Testament.

There is much to learn.  Today, we had two revelations as we began our journey:

Revelation one has to do with what we willthe mechanics of rebirth.  It is written in John 1:12-13 that those who believe in Jesus, the Messiah, are given the right to become children of God.  How does this miracle occur?

It was revealed to us as the spirit of God penetrating the believer.  It is a miracle, yet we will attempt to describe it as clearly as possible.  The Spirit of God descends as a mere drop of oil on the head, which then enters the body, as if flesh were not a barrier.

Russian Orthodox icon of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, 18th century (Iconostasis of Transfiguration Church, Kizhi Monastery, Karelia, Russia
Russian Orthodox icon of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, 18th century (Iconostasis of Transfiguration Church, Kizhi Monastery, Karelia, Russia)

This drop grows larger until it fills the entire physical presence of the believer, for it is the essence of the Lord permeating the flesh of the believer.

This was confirmed as we read the next line, John 1:14:  The Word BECAME FLESH and dwelt amongst us.  This vision and John’s choice of descriptive language reveal the deep understanding and intimacy that John has with the Father.

It is no mistake that in Chapter 3, the third witness of this truth appears as John recounts Jesus’ shock in John 3:10 that Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, would be ignorant of the mechanics of spiritual rebirth.  Nicodemus’ ignorance is striking because He was a Pharisee, one who believed in life after death and the coming of the Messiah.

The second revelation is that John was one of two disciples of John the Baptist, whom upon witnessing the baptism of Jesus, immediately followed Jesus and asked where He was staying.  The other was Andrew.  Both of these first disciples told their brothers that they had found the Messiah.  The brother of Andrew was Peter, and the brother of John was James.

John, like Isaiah before Him, was eagerly awaiting the Jewish Messiah.  While He was a fisherman by day, his spiritual thirst attracted Him to John the Baptist.  His perceptiveness drew Him to Jesus.

The spirit of Isaiah was upon John, and the Spirit of the Living God is upon all of us.

We encourage you to join us on this journey, we will be studying the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Revelation, and The Acts of John.  We will also look back to Proto-Isaiah for the source of this passion for the Messiah which He and John shared.

We would love to have you along and to hear your insights as they are revealed.

Politics, Strategy, Uncategorized

Putin’s Evolving Strategy in Europe | Stratfor

As Vladimir Putin takes the reigns once again (in truth, he never really gave them up) as Russia’s President, he faces a new European landscape, one in which He will navigate without the benefit of the personal alliances which were the core of his European strategy during his first two terms.  Read more in this fascinating analysis by Stratfor:

Putin’s Evolving Strategy in Europe

Events, The Mint, Uncategorized

Pete’s Pest Control – Restoring one’s faith in humanity

4/26/2012 Portland, Oregon – Pop in your mints…

As we were cutting down a the tree in the back in the yard last week, we encountered Carpenter ants.  For the uninitiated, carpenter ants seem to thrive on moisture and wood.  Hence, Oregon, and more precisely, the Mint’s backyard, is paradise for this winged menace.

Our first reaction was that of indifference.  It was just another one of a zillion bugs which appear as the temperature begins to warm up here.

For those of you live have never had the pleasure of living in Oregon, we should clarify that living here is like living in two entirely different places depending upon the season.  Under the cover of rain, humans and animals alike go hibernation, taking with them lattes, iphones, ipads, kindles, androids, and the occasional paperback to while away the rainy months.

When the sun comes out, however, Scotty beams the entire Northwest to another planet.  One full of rich colors and light.  So many people and animals appear as if from nowhere that you hardly recognize supposedly familiar surroundings and landscapes.  It may be a hallucination owed to a temporary overload of vitamin D, but it sure feels real.

For a primer on spring in Oregon, take a quick gander at Kurosawa’s dream sequence:

As we pondered life as we know it during the intoxicating dream that is a warm, sunny, early spring day here, a faint memory came to us, like Obi Wan Kenobi’s hologram appearing to call on Luke Skywalker.

Ours was one of the home inspector mentioning something about prior carpenter ant activity in the house.

As we came to, we performed a quick internet search which confirmed our fears, the winged beasts we had encountered were indeed carpenter ants, and they had their sights on the Mint’s humble abode as a summer home.

From the looks of things, they were inviting the entire clan to join them.

It was clear that swift and decisive action must be taken to eradicate these guests.  Beside termites, there is no greater enemy of a wooden house than the carpenter ant.

We considered doing it ourselves.  However, after narrowly winning a pitched battle with mice over the winter, we decided that DIY pest control is more trouble than it’s worth.  The only question was, on whom shall I call?

As a sales prospect, we were ripe.  We wanted the whole nine yards, nuke the carpenter ants, take out the sugar ants as collateral damage, seal off the entrances and exits and take no prisoners.

And while we are at it, let’s teach the mice a lesson.  We had illusions of our house being a sterile environment, free from the forced cohabitation practiced by insects.

After contacting a number of local pest control agencies, it became clear that we were in for more than we bargained for.  The exterminator was to be our companion for life, making a courtesy visit every three months to spray the perimeter and send a bill.

It seemed a high price to pay, yet worth the piece of mind.  We were gathering bids and checking reviews.  We had three companies coming out to bid and two more in the wings when we came across Pete’s Pest Control.

As you can see here, the guy has a ton of rave reviews and not one negative comment.  This is extremely rare in the exterminator business, for obvious reasons. While a number of comments got our attention, we knew that Pete would be the one to get us out of this jamb when we saw this five word phrase in one of them:

“Pete is the ant whisperer.”

We picked up the phone immediately.

Pete:  “Pete’s Pest Control, this is Pete…”

The Mint:  “Hi, we have some carpenter ants which I need taken out.  While we are at it, I need an ongoing service to take care of some sugar ants, mice, etc…”

Pete: “You don’t need a contract, you need to get rid of the carpenter ants.  We can do that.”

The Mint: “Yeah, but we were thinking of having a year round protection…”

Pete:  “We will get rid of the carpenters ants and come back until they are gone if it is necessary, and it will not be.  We have a one year warranty.”

The Mint:  “But what about the ongoing service contract…”

Pete:  “If you really do not want to see another bug around your house or garden, ever, we can talk about that, for now, we just need to annihilate the carpenter ants.”

The Mint:  “OK, when can you be here?”

We set the appointment and hung up, thoroughly impressed.  The rest of the companies had tied a service contract to the initial service or strongly recommended one.

Our first impression of Pete was that he is extremely efficient and that he knows what he is doing.  Impressed by the phone conversation, we promptly cancelled the appointments for estimates.  Comfortable that we had the #1 pest mercenary on the case.

When Pete arrived, he went straight to work and gave us the assignment to clear access to the interior where he would be working and inspecting.  We cleared the access points as he roamed and sprayed the perimeter.

“Aha!” we heard outside.  We went out and Pete had identified the ant’s access point into the house.  Like a General who had arrived at the field of battle a day before the opposing army, Pete sprayed the access points on the house as well as the base of the tree and phone line.

He then accurately predicted that it would rain in five minutes, and that the terminex that he had sprayed would be dry before it came.

He was correct on both counts, and we had to smile as he reported “this is a good scenario.”

Once the carpenter ant threat had been neutralized, he went after the sugar ants.  Then things got really impressive.

We had opened some small access points upstairs into the attic.  They were small and Pete is tall, so we said, “are you sure you can get in there?”

Pete fired back:  “I can detect 17% humidity by smell”

He then reported that we did not have the conditions upstairs to sustain insect life and that it was not a concern.

We then showed him the crawlspace, the scene of the battle with the mice.  He could smell the activity and recommended that we stock up on the decon before they took it off the shelf.  It seems that soon only licensed pest control professionals will be able to purchase it.  A great tip.

He then proceeded to the garage to show us the only place, under a side door, where the mice could enter.

“You seal that, you solve your mice problem once and for all.”

The entire experience restored any faith that we may have lost in humanity.  Pete is the most efficient and competent professional that we have met in the Northwest, in any profession.

Even if you do not have a pest problem we recommend that you schedule a service with Pete anyway.  Being the competent professional that he is, he will try to talk you out of it.  However, if you want a lesson in world class customer service, insist that he come and watch him work.  You will be amazed.

As for us, we said goodbye to Pete by letting him know that we would call if we saw anything.

“You won’t,” said Pete, decisively “we got ’em.”

We were sad to see him go.

Thanks Pete!  The Mint tips its hat and raises a glass to you.  May we all strive to achieve the excellence which you have shown us today.

Stay tuned and Trust Jesus.

Stay Fresh!

David Mint

Email: davidminteconomics@gmail.com

Key Indicators for April 26, 2012

Copper Price per Lb: $3.80

Oil Price per Barrel:  $103.95

Corn Price per Bushel:  $6.24

10 Yr US Treasury Bond:  1.95%

FED Target Rate:  0.15%  ON AUTOPILOT, THE FED IS DEAD!

Gold Price Per Ounce:  $1,657

MINT Perceived Target Rate*:  0.25% AWAY WE GO!

Unemployment Rate:  8.2%

Inflation Rate (CPI):  0.3%

Dow Jones Industrial Average: 13,204

M1 Monetary Base:  $2,210,700,000,000

M2 Monetary Base:  $9,970,100,000,000

Portland, Uncategorized

Buskers Flourish as Spring Approaches in Portland

Strolling down the street in Downtown Portland, one is as likely to encounter a busker as they are a plea to support a generically named non-profit group by an aspiring model.  At times these encounters seem to take place on nearly every corner.  Their presence is a reminder that the City is alive, and that there is more to life than hurriedly shuffling along from one appointment to the next.

Portland’s buskers come in every shape and size and those who perform music play a great variety of instruments and an even greater variety of musical styles and genres.  As spring approaches and weather becomes less of a barrier, the City is blessed by the increased presence of bucket tinged dance beats and sidewalk serenades.

According to the Willamette Week, a recent forum was held to explore possible changes in Portland’s Street Musicians and Performers Partnership Agreement.  While there was apparently a lively debate, it appears that there will be no changes to the current agreement.  While not perfect, the agreement appears to acknowledge the concerns of and offer remedies to all parties involved, whether willingly or otherwise, in a busker musical performance.

Buskers Negotiate for Prime Locations in Downtown Portland

Busking has its origins in antiquity and in many cultures is alternately enjoyed or tolerated, depending upon the quality of the performance, as a part of urban life.  While some cities have attempted to regulate busking via the use of permits and performance scheduling, Portland busking’s current self regulation is for the most part acknowledged in the Agreement.

Permits, scheduling, and agreements aside, a majority of busking takes place within the bounds of what can best be described as an unspoken busker code of conduct involving numerous tacit and express agreements amongst the buskers, local shop owners, and inhabitants.

How well will this unspoken code of conduct hold up in Portland this summer?  With an increasing amount of buskers performing and a majority of them unaware of the Portland Agreement, there are bound to be disagreements.  Asking a busker to keep his melodies with 100 feet of his person is like asking the wind to blow at a set speed.  A limited number of prime performance spots in the City makes competition for those spots increasingly intense.

To the credit of buskers everywhere, they have always found a way to resolve these inherent conflicts and at times even work in harmony to provide Portland with an abundance of music in the air.  So the next time you see a busker, show your appreciation by stopping and, if you are able, tip them something for their trouble.  By doing so you are supporting the arts in their purest form, whatever that form may be.

Portland, Uncategorized

Tattoos: A sure sign of spring

Spring is just around the corner in Portland and residents of the Bridge City will soon arise from their collective hibernation to partake in the five months of sun that is our annual allotment at these latitudes.

Portlanders will step out the door to a number of sure signs of spring, flowers blooming, preparations for the Rose Festival, the Timbers opening kicks, and tattoos of every shape and design proudly displayed on bodies of all shapes and sizes.

It is no secret that Portland is somewhat of a nexus of tattoo culture.  Tattoos here are as common as bicycles and tattoo parlors as numerous as coffee shops (well, almost).  Shops such as the Sea Tramp Tattoo Company have honed their craft over many years and in the process have become the stuff of legend.

Here are a few interesting statistics about tattooing in America courtesy of a survey conducted in 2008 by Harris Interactive:

  • One in five (20%) of people living in the West have at least one tattoo
  • 32% of persons aged 25-29 have at least one tattoo
  • Only 16% of those surveyed regretted getting a tattoo
  • Over half of the population, both the tattooed and un-tattooed, perceive that someone who has a tattoo is more rebellious
  • 19% of those who have a tattoo say that it makes them feel attractive and strong

Being a resident of Portland gives you a front row seat to a city wide living and breathing art gallery that few metro areas (save Miami) can boast.  With some of the finest tattoo artists in the world calling Portland home, it is safe to say that this seasonal exhibit of body art will be on-going on the streets of our fair city.

The thought of it all may give you the “inkling” to put a masterpiece on your canvas.

Full Disclosure:  Your author does not have a tattoo.

Portland, Uncategorized

Coffee Culture: Thoughts on Coffee Consumption in Portland Continue reading on Examiner.com Coffee Culture: Thoughts on Coffee Consumption in Portland

A familiar sight in Portland on a Saturday afternoon.  Students, friends, families, empty nesters, foreigners, the among the things that many of them have in common are the need for a good cup of coffee, companionship, ambiance, and maybe even a little peace and quiet.  As winter gives way to spring, they will grab their cups and populate the cafe patios and occupy the parks to soak in the short season of natural vitamin D, otherwise known as sunshine, here in our fine city.

Coffee drinking is called by some a cheap luxury.  Even with the increasing threat of higher coffee bean prices being passed on to coffee house patrons, it is still a relatively cheap way to pass the time.  If you are truly concerned about rising coffee prices, you can effectively hedge against the rising cost of your caffeine addiction by placing a portion of your portfolio in an Exchange Traded Fund like the iPath Dow Jones-UBS Coffee ETN, whose stick ticker symbol JO must have been cleverly devised by some brilliant marketing mind.

Fortunate Patrons at a Portland Cafe

A familiar sight in Portland on a Saturday afternoon.  Students, friends, families, empty nesters, foreigners, the among the things that many of them have in common are the need for a good cup of coffee, companionship, ambiance, and maybe even a little peace and quiet.  As winter gives way to spring, they will grab their cups and populate the cafe patios and occupy the parks to soak in the short season of natural vitamin D, otherwise known as sunshine, here in our fine city.

Coffee drinking is called by some a cheap luxury.  Even with the increasing threat of higher coffee bean prices being passed on to coffee house patrons, it is still a relatively cheap way to pass the time.  If you are truly concerned about rising coffee prices, you can effectively hedge against the rising cost of your caffeine addiction by placing a portion of your portfolio in an Exchange Traded Fund like the iPath Dow Jones-UBS Coffee ETN, whose stick ticker symbol JO must have been cleverly devised by some brilliant marketing mind.

Advertisement

For years, it had been accepted that Starbucks’ wild success had cemented Seattle’s place as the coffee capital of the world.  If the average coffee drinker were to partake of his or her 3.1 cups per day in Seattle, they were considered privileged.

As Starbucks, which now pours 1 out of every 100 cups of coffee served on the planet each day, struggles to find a place to expand in the northwest that is not within five blocks of one of their existing locations, coffee connoisseurs are quietly speaking of Portland as the new Mecca of coffee culture.  As Starbucks continues to go global, local Portland roasters like Stumptown continue to develop what just may be the best coffee in the world.

So wrap your hands around a cup of locally brewed coffee and know that not only will you make it through another seemingly endless winter, you are one of the privileged 500,000 to live in what will soon be recognized as the coffee capital of the world.  After athletic shoes and coffee, could the movie and tech industries be next to defect to Portlandia?

Portland, Uncategorized

The 511 Federal Building: From Post Office to Prison to Art Parthenon Continue reading on Examiner.com The 511 Federal Building: From Post Office to Prison to Art Parthenon

The 511 Federal Building located at 511 NW Broadway is eerily one of the more impressive examples of turn of the Century Architecture that we have in Portland.  It is also an example of how far the Federal Government feels that it must go to protect itself after the attacks of September 11th.

The building is currently home to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Offices.  This one time Post Office is located at what may be considered the gateway between the upscale Pearl District and the less attractive Old Town Chinatown neighborhood.  It stands as a testament to the dichotomy of its surroundings, altogether grisly and glorious.

Built during World War I, as many of the older Federal Buildings in Portland were, its adornments of Eagles, buttressed columns, and men and women dressed to compete in the ancient Greek version of the Olympics are examples of an architectural style called Neo-Classical or Classical Revival.  The 511 Federal Building was deservedly placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The 511 Federal Building located at 511 NW Broadway is eerily one of the more impressive examples of turn of the Century Architecture that we have in Portland.  It is also an example of how far the Federal Government feels that it must go to protect itself after the attacks of September 11th.

The building is currently home to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Offices.  This one time Post Office is located at what may be considered the gateway between the upscale Pearl District and the less attractive Old Town Chinatown neighborhood.  It stands as a testament to the dichotomy of its surroundings, altogether grisly and glorious.

Built during World War I, as many of the older Federal Buildings in Portland were, its adornments of Eagles, buttressed columns, and men and women dressed to compete in the ancient Greek version of the Olympics are examples of an architectural style called Neo-Classical or Classical Revival.  The 511 Federal Building was deservedly placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The 511 Federal Building in Portland, Oregon

This scene outside of the 511 stands in stark contrast to the open arms of Bud Clark Commons which is currently being constructed across Broadway.  The building’s once proud architecture is obscured by additional adornments of security cameras, chain link fences, and mirrored windows.  These security enhancements apparently keep the Federal Employees safe from the outside world and to keep the world safe from any unfortunate immigrants who may be awaiting deportation inside one of the building’s three holding cells.

What was once a symbol of a rising Empire, the 511 Federal Building circa 2011 appears now as a symbol of an Empire in decline.  More precisely, it looks like a prison.  This image was further confirmed on Tuesday with the presence of two Geo Transport buses.  Geo Transport is in the business of prisoner transportation and these buses are often used to transport immigrants who do not have legal status to the Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Center in Tacoma, Washington.

Fortunately, this once proud building will get a new lease on life.  While the City of Portland begins to squabble about where to move the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Offices, waiting in the wings to occupy the 511 is the Pacific Northwest College of Art.  The College of Art will enter the 511 like a warm breeze on a cool day, and the presence of hundreds of art students alone will go a long way towards restoring this treasure to its previous glory.

The Mint, Uncategorized

A default that isn’t a default and a sale that isn’t a sale | The Wall Street Examiner

A great piece on the absurdities which are now the norm in high finance. The rules of the game can no longer be relied upon, and operating in debt markets will be more like playing in the NBA.
Except that for many peoples retirements, the debt markets are far from sport. Enjoy:

http://wallstreetexaminer.com/2012/03/03/a-default-that-isnt-a-default-and-a-sale-that-isnt-a-sale/

Uncategorized

Manipulation And Abuse Confirmed In $350 Trillion Market | ZeroHedge

An interesting piece on Zerohedge.com which confirms what many have long suspected: LIBOR is not exactly an objective measure of inter bank lending rates.

It’s like finding out professional wrestling isn’t real, does it really matter?

The answer, of course, is that it does not matter…until it does.

Enjoy:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/manipulation-and-abuse-confirmed-350-trillion-market

Uncategorized

A Worthy Blackout Wednesday Commentary

Jeffrey Tucker, the executive editor of Laissez-Faire Books has written a great article which highlights, among other things, the correlation of the free sharing of information and innovation which can be found at the Daily Reckoning. 

Mr. Tucker is a gifted writer and it is always a treat to read his work.  This timely essay is no exception. 

We highly encourage you to read his valuable insights at the link below:

Blackout Wednesday: The Time Has Come

All the best,

David Mint

Events, Politics, Uncategorized

RFK On the Mindless Menace of Violence

Last night we had the pleasure of viewing “Bobby,” a movie which recounts imagined events which occured and persons who were at the Ambassador Hotel the fateful night of June 5, 1968 when Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated at a campaign rally there.

The film was directed by Emilio Estevez and had a cast which was loaded with stars a diverse group of stars including Harry Belafonte, Heather Graham, Helen Hunt, Anthony Hopkins, Demi Moore, Lindsay Lohan, Christian Slater, Elijah Wood, and Estevez himself.

Despite the star-studded cast, it was Senator Kennedy himself who stole the show.  While the entire story revolved around Kennedy, no actor was chosen to play him.  Instead, Estevez included original footage and voice recoordings of Kennedy himself, essentially letting Senator Kennedy star in the film.

Estevez pulled this effect off in spectacular fashion as the presence of Kennedy in the film overwhelms the formidable supporting cast.  In retrospect, the film would have been severly hanicapped had an actor attempted to potray Kennedy.

At the end of the film, a montage of photos is run while the audio of a speech which Senator Kennedy gave at the City Club of Cleveland on the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assasinated, April 5, 1968.  It is titled “On the Mindless Menace of Violence,” and it is powerful.  You may read it below or listen to it by clicking here.

On the Mindless Menace of Violence

“This is a time of shame and sorrow. It is not a day for politics. I have saved this one opportunity, my only event of today, to speak briefly to you about the mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives.

It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are, most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one – no matter where he lives or what he does – can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and on in this country of ours.

Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr’s cause has ever been stilled by an assassin’s bullet.

No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorders. A sniper is only a coward, not a hero; and an uncontrolled, uncontrollable mob is only the voice of madness, not the voice of reason.

Whenever any American’s life is taken by another American unnecessarily – whether it is done in the name of the law or in the defiance of the law, by one man or a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence – whenever we tear at the fabric of the life which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his children, the whole nation is degraded.

“Among free men,” said Abraham Lincoln, “there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and those who take such appeal are sure to lose their cause and pay the costs.”

Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike. We calmly accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter in far-off lands. We glorify killing on movie and television screens and call it entertainment. We make it easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire whatever weapons and ammunition they desire.

Too often we honor swagger and bluster and wielders of force; too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of others. Some Americans who preach non-violence abroad fail to practice it here at home. Some who accuse others of inciting riots have by their own conduct invited them.

Some look for scapegoats, others look for conspiracies, but this much is clear: violence breeds violence, repression brings retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our soul.

For there is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night. This is the violence of institutions; indifference and inaction and slow decay. This is the violence that afflicts the poor, that poisons relations between men because their skin has different colors. This is the slow destruction of a child by hunger, and schools without books and homes without heat in the winter.

This is the breaking of a man’s spirit by denying him the chance to stand as a father and as a man among other men. And this too afflicts us all.

I have not come here to propose a set of specific remedies nor is there a single set. For a broad and adequate outline we know what must be done. When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies, to be met not with cooperation but with conquest; to be subjugated and mastered.

We learn, at the last, to look at our brothers as aliens, men with whom we share a city, but not a community; men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. For all this, there are no final answers.

Yet we know what we must do. It is to achieve true justice among our fellow citizens. The question is not what programs we should seek to enact. The question is whether we can find in our own midst and in our own hearts that leadership of humane purpose that will recognize the terrible truths of our existence.

We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of others. We must admit in ourselves that our own children’s future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled or enriched by hatred or revenge.

Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land. Of course we cannot vanquish it with a program, nor with a resolution.

But we can perhaps remember, if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek, as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.

Surely, this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something. Surely, we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow men, and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our own hearts brothers and countrymen once again.”

We wish each and every one of you a safe and prosperous new year.

The Mint en Español, Uncategorized

Bolivia: único país de América del Sur sin McDonald’s >> Indias >> Blogs Internacional EL PAÍS

An interesting article about the demise of McDonalds in Bolivia.

Bolivian food is unique, amazing, cheap, and delicious.  Overpriced hamburgers that taste like masking tape are no match for it.

Even in urban centers where fast food is thought to solve the problem of time, McDonalds found that in Bolivia, there is always time to eat.

The death knell for the multinational giant, however, came directly from its status as a multinational giant.  In a country where anti globalization is an almost accidental art form, Ronald finally met his match.

Bolivia remains the only country in South America without a McDonalds, for the richness of their food is without equal on earth.

Read more at El Pais (in spanish):

http://blogs.elpais.com/indias/2011/12/bolivia-unico-pais-de-america-del-sur-sin-mc-donalds.html

Economics, Events, Politics, The Mint, Uncategorized

John Corzine Testifies to a Congressional Panel on MF Global Collapse

12/8/2011 Portland, Oregon – Pop in your mints…

Today the world witnessed one of the most surreal spectacles that we can imagine.  John Corzine, former CEO of MF Global, the Primary Dealer which went bankrupt on October 31st and is now missing $1.2 billion of client funds, was called on to testify by a group of men in the US Congress who are trying to understand what went wrong and how they can prevent it from occuring again.

You can see the agonizing hearing in all of its glory by clicking the link below.  Our humble observations:

1.  Neither Mr. Corzine or Congress said anything that should give any measure of confidence to participants in the global financial markets.

2.  Mr. Corzine is sorry this happened.

3.  One of the members of the panel stated the obvious “we got to find that money.”  Understatement of the year.

4.  Mr. Corzine is so confident that the client funds will be recovered that he mumbled, after being pressed by a member of the panel, that he and the other executives would personally reimburse clients in the event that it wasn’t (NOT!)

5.  Questions about the Federal Reserve’s ability to properly vet firms who are qualified to be Primary Dealers.

We didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  Mr. Corzine looked like a large elf from the camera angle and the members of congress, in most cases, sounded less than up to the task of understanding what happened, much less being able to craft legislation which would prevent a similar event in the future.

It was like watching political professional wrestling.  The entertainment value was fairly high, excitement filled the room, but it left you wondering if what you saw was real or simply scripted and well acted by all involved.

All in all, it was a synopsis of the level corruption and ignorance that grace the halls of power in America circa 2011.

See the entire sorry spectacle courtesy of C-Span:  http://www.c-span.org/Events/Fmr-Senator-Corzine-to-Testify-in-MF-Global-Investigation/10737426111-1/

Perhaps now the Farmer and the Cowman will befriend each other, grab their pitchforks, and storm capital hill until their $1.2 billion is returned.

Stay tuned and Trust Jesus.

Stay Fresh!

David Mint

Email: davidminteconomics@gmail.com

Key Indicators for December 8, 2011

Copper Price per Lb: $3.49
Oil Price per Barrel:  $98.57

Corn Price per Bushel:  $5.90  
10 Yr US Treasury Bond:  1.97%
FED Target Rate:  0.08%  ON AUTOPILOT, THE FED IS DEAD!

Gold Price Per Ounce:  $1,706 PERMANENT UNCERTAINTY

MINT Perceived Target Rate*:  2.00%
Unemployment Rate:  8.6%
Inflation Rate (CPI):  -0.1%
Dow Jones Industrial Average:  11,998  

M1 Monetary Base:  $2,255,500,000,000 RED ALERT!!!  THE ANIMALS ARE LEAVING THE ZOO!!!
M2 Monetary Base:  $9,623,700,000,000 YIKES UP $1 Trillion in one year!!!!!!!

Mint Classics, Poetry, Uncategorized

If I Had a Trillion Dollars, A Ballad From Ben Bernanke to the Banks (With Apologies to the Bare Naked Ladies)

We send you into the first weekend of December with another Classic Mint.  This was written when Quantitative Easing was still relatively new, and the Federal Reserve was on the verge of printing another slew of money.  Enjoy and have a great weekend!
11/2/2010 Portland, Oregon – Pop in your mints…

Today and tomorrow the entire world, that is, the investment world, will be watching what the Federal Reserve and its poster boy, Ben Bernanke.  What will he do?  Most money managers and bond traders are operating under the assumption that he will proceed to create approximately $1 Trillion US dollars out of thin air through a process known as Quantitative Easing (QE), which is nothing more than indirectly confiscating at least $1 Trillion worth of goods and services from those who produce them in good faith and are compelled to accept US dollars in exchange for them.

You see, Mr. Bernanke and his cohorts are presented with an impossible dilemma.  If they do nothing, bondholders get absolutely annihilated in short order and the dollar continues as a viable currency.  If they proceed with the $1 Trillion QE game, the currency is the sacrificial lamb and the bondholders get a lifeline, but will get annihilated in the end anyway.  Essentially it is the choice of when to feel the pain of massive default on dollar denominate paper.

But what must Mr. Bernanke be thinking at this very hour with so much at stake?  The world presumably expects $1 Trillion dollars.  Logic would follow that, at a minimum, what he must provide to avoid “disruption” in the markets.  You see, the markets have long since baked in these $1 Trillion dollars and if they do not appear will adjust prices accordingly.  Guessing which prices will change and when is what keeps things interesting.
Our guess here at The Mint is that Mr. Bernanke is not thinking at all.  He has his orders; the markets will wait and see if he follows them.  What he is likely doing is strumming his guitar and warming up his academic tenor voice with a song that goes something like this:
“If I Had a Trillion Dollars”  a Ballad from Ben Bernanke to the Banks (with Apologies to the Bare Naked Ladies):
To the tune of “If I Had a Million Dollars“:
If I had a trillion dollars
(If I had a trillion dollars)
I’d buy the US a house
(I would buy the US a house)
If I had a trillion dollars
(If I had a trillion dollars)
I’d buy the US furniture for its house
(No interest or payments for a year)
And if I had a trillion dollars
(If I had a trillion dollars)
Well, I’d buy the US a Ford
(And get everyone’s clunker off the road)
If I had a trillion dollars I’d buy your bonds!
If I had a trillion dollars
I’d buy some junk paper from your books
If I had trillion dollars
They could help, it’d be less you’d have to cook
If I had trillion dollars
Maybe we could put like a little collateral in there somewhere
You know, we could just act like everything’s cool
Like show off the CUSIPs and stuff
Then there would still be liquidity available to us
As if we never bought subprime CDOs and other things
They have endless liquidity but they don’t have asset quality anymore
Thanks to me, of course,
Uh, yeah

If I had a trillion dollars
(If I had a trillion dollars)
I’d buy up asset backed securities
(But not with real money I’d be a fool!)
And if I had a trillion dollars
(If I had a trillion dollars)
Well, I’d buy up Synthetic CDOs
(Yep, like a Hybrid or non-performing SIV)
And if I had a trillion dollars
(If I had a trillion dollars)
Well, I’d buy up Lehman Brother’s remains
(Ooh, all them crazy Hudson Castle assets!)
And If I had a trillion dollars I’d buy your bonds!

If I had a trillion dollars
We wouldn’t have to tax the people more
If I had a trillion dollars
Now, we’d stick to the foreign creditors
If I had a trillion dollars
We wouldn’t have to eat our bad debts
But we would eat our bad debts
Of course we would, we’d just eat more
And pad our tier 1 ratios with new cash
That’s right, all the free cash… FED credit!
Mmmmmm, Mmmm-Hmmm

If I had a trillion dollars
(If I had a trillion dollars)
Well, I’d get us out of this mortgage mess
(But not the homeowners, I’m no fool!)
And if I had a trillion dollars
(If I had a trillion dollars)
Well, I’d buy financial reform
(Ala  Dodd-Frank and Obama)
If I had a trillion dollars
(If I had a trillion dollars)
Well, I’d make you solvent
(Haven’t you always wanted to be solvent?)

If I had a trillion dollars
I’d buy your bonds!

If I had a trillion dollars, If I had a trillion dollars
If I had a trillion dollars, If I had a trillion dollars
If I had a trillion dollars…
You’d be rich!

Seriously, to enjoy some real entertainment (and to get the tune in your head to sing along with Ben and the banks), check out the Bare Naked Ladies performing their 1996 hit “If I Had a Million Dollars” below.  As for tomorrow’s FED announcement, rest easy and wait along with the rest of the investment world to see if Ben & Co. really have the $1 Trillion dollars expected of them.  Of course they don’t really have it but at least it will be fun to see how they explain it this time, that is until those $1 trillion show up in commodity prices!


Stay Fresh!
David Mint
Key Indicators for Tuesday, November 2, 2010Copper Price per Lb: $3.77
Oil Price per Barrel:  $83.40
10 Yr US Treasury Bond:  2.63%
FED Target Rate :  0.19%
Gold Price per Oz:  $1,356
Unemployment Rate:  9.6%
Inflation Rate (CPI):  0.1%
Dow Jones Industrial Average:  11,125
M1 Monetary Base:  $1,460,900,000,000
M2 Monetary Base:  $7,960,300,000,000
Uncategorized

Watch “Harry Browne – Unavoidable Economic Consequences” on YouTube

Brilliant explanation of the consequences of inflating the money supply:

Economics, Uncategorized

World Economy Collapse explained in 3 minutes – Mind Blowing!!!!!

For anyone wondering what is going on in Europe this weekend and what it means, this video should clear things up nicely.  Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150860012110261

Gold, Uncategorized

Watch “BBC Speechless As Trader Tells Truth: “The Collapse Is Coming…And Goldman Rules The World”” on YouTube

This interview on BBC is making the rounds.  A candid interview if I ever saw one. Protect your assets.  Be prepared!