Happy Saint Patty’s Day

Economy, Entertainment, United States

Whoops, it’s Wednesday. Did you see what happened yesterday? The anger and outrage seem to be competing with each other, not to be outdone by some real foolishness from the Congress persons. OMG and we’re depending on them…

Do You Care What Happened Yesterday?

Economy, Entertainment, United States

If you do care, here’s a quick look at the highlights of the day. I think the word is “outrage.”

I Sorta Heard about “Kings”

Entertainment, Stories

I had heard about it sideareally (I know… oh well), but I hadn’t seen it. Now I have seen it and wow! In case you didn’t have a chance to see the first episode here it is:

If Gold Is a Good Investment

Economy

If gold as a precious metal is a good investment, and that is a big “if” from time to time, there are many opinions on the best way to “own” it. There’s physical gold — bars or coins, there’s gold futures and there’s ETFs. Among the ETFs there’s GLD vs GTU/CEF. An argument that convinces me is here.

Now Folks Are Doubting Cramer

Economy, Humor

It’s not bad enough that there have been some recent whispers that slavishly following the pundits on CNBC might not be good for your financial health, now Jon Stewart is engaging in a sort of slug-fest with Jim Cramer.

My Strawberries Have a Disease

bio, Gardening

Does anyone out there recognize what is wrong with my strawberries and have a suggestion what I might do to correct my bad situation?
Diseased Strawberry Plant

To Get a Feeling for the Day’s Market

Economy

Phillip Davis writes a column each day entitled Options Trader . He  has a  service aimed at options traders that I don’t subscribe to, but his daily summary comments, although aimed at his options traders, give some good insights into where he thinks things are heading, certainly on a short term basis, and sometimes looking out further. I guess I would add his articles give me a feeling for the “tone” of the daily financial markets. If I want to go a few levels deeper into detail then I look for David Fry’s latest charts here.

I Take CNBC with More Than One Grain of Salt

Economy, Heavy Lifting, Humor

It isn’t wise to slavishly follow what is shown on CNBC, and for heavens sake, when they start yelling, mute it!

‘Tis a Ponderment

Heavy Lifting, Humor

To click on the pronunciation of “ponder” is to experience a frisson of bewilderment.

PONDER “The Phenomenon of Man”

Heavy Lifting

Many words went through my mind to headline what I’d like to do with The Phenomenon of Man — study, discuss, review, examine, critique, etc. — but I chose “ponder” as the one that best describes what I want to do.

First of all what am I hoping to get from The Phenomenon of Man? I’m looking for

  • a scientific-philosophical proof for the existence of the mind (soul?) separate in some fashion from the existence of the body
  • a demonstration that the Internet/Facebook/IRC/Twitter phenomena we use day-by-day is definitely gathering us into some version of the Noosphere

What should come after this is a first attempt of mine to describe where I am in my ponderment (sorry, I couldn’t stop myself) with the hope that it may elicit others to join in with comments other than ones focused on my obvious lack of erudition.