Katrina, Gas and the Economy

While not as catastrophic as CNN would have led you to believe she would be on Sunday afternoon, hurricane Katrina appears to dealt a major wound, if not a fatal blow to the New Orleans and Gulf Coast area. We have oil platforms floating down rivers and hitting bridges, gators in the city and other miscellaneous craziness.

On a side note, why put tens of thousands evacuees in a giant bowl when it's raining? I realize that it's better than outdoors, but something about a bowl leads me to believe that it is designed to contain water, not repel it. Back to the topic.

Reports are streaming in, martial law has been declared in some areas, looting, and just to make matters more interesting, gas prices are surging something fierce on the news that 95% of gulf coast production has been shut down. This has resulted in what some would see as astronomical prices with sightings of $3.60 around parts of Southeastern Wisconsin.

The Real EffectIt is difficult to say with any certainty exactly what is taking place behind the scenes. However, it is obvious that the globalists are wasting little time in allowing much of this catastrophe to achieve a tanking of the American economy. I believe this is the first wave of the depression of 2005. Look for staggering heating costs with natural gas come this winter combined with yet increasing gas costs looking to take on the $4 benchmark. The globalists call this "harmonization" as our prices come in line with the rest of the world.
Edited for context, appearance and labels on 3/5/2010.

Cue Greenspan....

I have maintained that the fall of 2005 would see a few things -

1. A major increase in the cost of crude oil, doubling, perhaps even tripling from May/June of 2005 to May/June of 2006.
2. An United States invasion into Iran. (This adds to the oil instability.)
3. A moderate to severe US economic collapse that would lead to further calls for 'free trade' and globalization. (I.E. - The American Union)

With regards to point #3, I see several things that are extremely troubling -

1. The US dollar has fallen by 45% over the last three years. This has in part been accomplished by the Federal Reserve flooding the market with dollars.
2. Many families are increasingly floating large amounts of debt to maintain their current 'lifestyle'.
3. This has led to the purported 'housing bubble' that has been largely responsible for the economic turnaround of the last few years.
4. Oil costs are eating up much of the economy's cash flow.

Hot on the heels of this series of developments comes the economic bogeyman, Alan Greenspan, with a new word in his vocabulary.

Crash.

The Real Effect
What I see is the makings of a possible economic 'perfect storm'. Oil prices are approaching inflation adjusted records achieved in the late 70's/early 80's and indebted Americans with little playroom in their budgets. Add-in a campaign of war in the middle east and a fiscal policy that is somewhat reminiscent of the "New Deal" and one is left feeling slightly chilled.
I believe that Mr. Greenspan's statements will scare the market into further decline over the next few months.


Edited for hyperlinks, appearance and labels on 3/5/2010.

Crude Watch - Significant Jump

As hurricane Katrina is decimating New Orleans, crude futures surged about $4 a barrel. For those keeping track, that is a 27% increase in crude since June.


Edited for appearance and labels on 3/5/2010.

Asset Protection

In the continued war on truth, The Real Effect offers a no-frills, cost effective solution to the mainstream media tripe. Not only easy to use, it works for both Right Wing and Left Wing sources.


Edited for appearance and labels on 3/5/2010.

Crude Watch

In early trading this morning, crude oil futures played with $68 a barrel. It would seem that the small plateau is over and oil is set to begin marching up again.


Edited for appearance and labels on 3/5/2010.

John Roberts - Conservative?

The issue of the Supreme Court Judiciary has been a sore subject for me for many years. In 1999 when Bush was running for his first term, this very issue became the main stumping point for many of my Republican friends in their attempts to persuade me that my growing suspicion of the Republican party was unwarranted. Unfortunately, their attempts worked. In the fall of 2000, I logged my vote for the Republican party and banked on the hope that not only would replace a retiring moderate with a strong constitutionalist but that he would in addition, stem the flood of bureaucratic red tape that had blossomed under Bill Clinton.

Sadly, not only has George been liberal in his social policy, I believe he has replaced a moderate with yet another moderate.

True, it would appear that Roberts appears to be a conservative, but then again, so did George. Countless hours have been spent debating a man who appears to have little record of his own, so many have turned to his memos in an attempt to glean what sort of man this is.

Now comes news from the L.A. Times that Roberts supports national ID cards. The Times posts the following -

When faced with what he called "the real threat to our social fabric posed by uncontrolled immigration," Roberts urged his superiors to switch course and support national ID cards."

"I yield to no one in the area of commitment to individual liberty against the spectre of overreaching central authority, but view such concerns as largely symbolic so far as a national ID card is concerned,"

He wrote in a memo to White House Counsel Fred Fielding on Oct. 21, 1983.

"We already have, for all intents and purposes, a national identifier -- the Social Security number. ... And I think we can ill afford to cling to symbolism in the face of the real threat to our social fabric by uncontrolled immigration,"

This revelation would be largely moot if it were not for the fact that the Real ID act had passed recently. Is it possible that Bush is loading the Supreme Court in an attempt to uphold the legality of a nationally mandated ID card?

The Real Effect
Look for Roberts to hold a conservative line for a while, disarming most arguments against his nomination. Then when key arguments come to SCOTUS, I believe he will suddenly become a Sandra Day and hand us over to the globalists.


Edited for appearance and labels on 3/5/2010.

Checkpoints, Coming to a City Near You?

I have been following specific trends in our society both here and abroad now for well over 10 years. One of those has been the gradual implementation of police/military checkpoints in and on our freeways.

I distinctly remember conversations with friends roughly 6 years ago when permanent gates were installed on both the Hwy 20 and Hwy 11 ramps to I-94 here in Racine. I stated that those gates would eventually be used for checkpoints, yet I was often dismissed as being paranoid. Never mind the fact that federal officials have stated publicly that they would like to see this sort of thing implemented.

As little as 10 years ago, the American spirit was largely resistant to any government controls proposed on our movement especially in our autos. The globalists, undaunted, started a massive PR war against the public to persuade the people to accept a large level of intrusion as being necessary to preserve the integrity of the Democracy.

I believe it began by convincing the populace that driving was a "privilege" not an inherent "right." After all, if you pay for the roads, car, gas, and police, why should you have access to something that you built? This eventually took form through licensing and registration in state DMV's and was used to centralize control of all movement to a state level.

Today, we have been convinced that we should accept tracking chips (pay-tolls), GPS and surveillance cameras on the road to improve managability of a given city or road.

We have seen the "Click it or Ticket" campaign which has resulted in an increased 'awareness' in safety. And checkpoints. All in the name of safety of course.

Then came the Transport Security Agency's federally run intrusions into our personal lives by preparing us to dump our effects and get used to 'ID please' mentality. Ultimately, I and many others knew that this would lead to some type of tracing system to track all movements.

In addition to the new fangled "mileage-tax", I believe this may be one of the possible routes that the ultimate goal may be achieved. From TechNewsWorld we get -

"The so-called e-Plate, developed by the British firm Hills Numberplates, is a license plate that also transmits a vehicle's unique identification via encryption that can be read by a small detector, whose output can be used locally or communicated to a distant host."

...and.....

"Security access points could justify the expense, but placing them even at key intersections may not be very practical, according to lawyers at Pittiglio, Rabin, Todd & McGrath in Costa Mesa, Calif., a spokeswoman said."

Ahhhh.... Do we see clearly now? "Security access points." Not checkpoints. At least we can rest assured knowing that our 'freedom' is still intact.

The Real EffectAll that is needed is a terrorist attack on the United States that involves a vehicle of some kind to rationalize the need for massive tracking and checkpoints. With Bush's approval ratings sagging and Iran looming on the horizon, will the globalist pull the trigger and implement a police state in order to usher in a "New World Order"?
Edited for appearance and labels on 3/2/2010.

Yaaaawnnn...Goooood Morning

Well. It appears there is very little happening in the world today that is being reported. The best I can find at this point is World Net Daily screaming headlines about nukes in America. More as I get it...

National Casey Vigil Pics

I was browsing the news this evening and I noticed a few pictures that I would love to share with all.

I love the wonderful things people think up when trying to protest. Here is a picture of camp Casey. Notice the "Who Would Jesus Bomb?" sign in the far left corner.





Here is an image taken from Madison. Looks like they had the same turnout there as in Racine.








Wayne Robinson, a Sacramento clergyman, lights candles blown out by the wind in front of a symbolic casket. Notice what the casket says..."George, please speak with my mother."







Lancaster, Pa., I can hear it already..."All we are saaaaaying, is give peace a chance."

And finally, most interesting. Michael Berg, father of slain businessman Nick Berg, who was beheaded in Iraq in 2004, holds a sign at Rodney square in downtown Wilmington, Del., in support of 'peace mom' Cindy Sheehan on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005.

TSA Stops Babies From Boarding Planes

I'll admit off the bat that I have never been fond of the TSA, it's mission or policies. As a proponent of markets taking care of needs that arise in a given sector, the idea of adding yet another bloated layer of government bureaucracy to the puzzle brings up images of German checkpoints and the phrase "Papers please." I have been on the record, (ask my wife) that since it's inception after 911 that the TSA or a new derivative of it would slowly stretch its tendrils first to the trains, then automobiles, all the while increasing its overall fondness for invasiveness. After all, what do we have to hide?

Throughout its existence, the TSA has time and again shown its inability to think sensibly as countless regulations and rules are foisted upon the American people who solely wish to go about their daily business. I myself was exposed to this on a flight to Kansas as my children watched their father be searched like a potential criminal by removing shoes, a belt and empty all contents of just about ever pocket that I own. Then, they proceeded to search my 2 children and pregnant wife. Lovely.

Now comes the news that the TSA has stopped babies...yes, babies from boarding planes in an attempt to stop the 'terrorists'. The AP writes -

"Infants have been stopped from boarding planes at airports throughout the U.S. because their names are the same as or similar to those of possible terrorists on the government's "no-fly list."

The article goes on to say -

"Critics including the American Civil Liberties Union say the government..."

Ughhh...as if the only people that oppose this is the ACLU. You see, most people wretch at the mere thought of the ACLU, so by equating "Critics" with the ACLU they are effectively calling anyone who opposes this as being in league with the communistic ACLU.

The Real Effect
Without becoming overly specific, I wish to levy my criticism at those who blindly support such agencies and policies in a pathetic attempt to make themselves feel safer at the expense of those who are completely innocent.

Edited for appearance and labels on 3/2/2010.

London Shooting Was a 'Mistake'

On July 22, Jean Charles De Menezes wandered from an apartment and tried to board the tube over in good 'ole England. The result? He was shot repeatedly in the head and is now dead.

In documents obtained by ITV news, much of the 'official' story regarding the slaying of the innocent man is now falling apart. It has been revealed that he was not in fact wearing a "heavy coat" nor was he running from law enforcement but

"even stopp(ed) to pick up a free newspaper."

His mistake? He ran to get ON the train. (has anyone here tried to catch a bus?)

A witness stated -

"I then pushed him back on to the seat where he had been previously sitting." and then Jean was shot in the HEAD SEVEN TIMES!

The Real EffectDo we really want to live in a world where police shoot a suspect in the head when he runs? This man admittedly posed no threat to his fellow passengers and yet he was murdered. Put yourself in his shoes and see if you would like the local sheriff blowing your brains all over the sidewalk because you came out of the same building as a suspected terrorist. This IS the definition of a police state where you are guilty until proven innocent.

Edited for appearance and labels on 3/2/2010.

Cindy Sheehan and the Right

I have struggled for the last week to understand the significance of this woman's story and its supposed contribution to the national news. Here are the abbreviated facts that I can gather at this point:

1. Cindy's son served in Iraq and was killed. President Bush visited the Sheehans and Cindy was reported/quoted as receiving his visit warmly.
2. Sometime over the last year, Cindy appears to have soured and changed her stated opinion to the nature of the visit with President Bush. This has outraged many conservatives who now view her as some sort of patriot traitor.
3. Sensing the outrage, the 'left' has rushed to Cindy's aid and joined in her protest.

Given, this is a selective redaction of some of the events, but much of the other points do little to explain the overall situation, they merely exasperate one side of the debate or the other. So, the conclusion I am left to draw is that for some reason a grieving mother, that I believe is a tad dramatic and obsessed with the war, is trying to make logical sense of her son's death in light of the given situation in Iraq. And for this she is publicly trashed.


Yet, where is the national news and public outrage on this event?

An admitted Bush follower, furious with the anti-war crowd, attached a chain to the back of his pickup truck and drug it through a bed of crosses and flags that the demonstrators had erected as tribute to the sacrifice our soldiers have made in Iraq, knocking many of them down and running them over. (See right.) From reports gathered, the local law enforcement managed to corner the guy on the road because it had no exit. (A brilliantly executed plan I might add.)

Now perhaps the story will break in the next day or so, but I highly doubt that it will receive the same type of attention that Cindy Sheehan has received. This man has put not only himself, but others in danger in order to exercise his 'free speech'. This doesn't even mention his 'lack of support' for the troops and his utter disdain for our national flag. Yet at this point, Cindy is merely a protester.

If the right wishes to remain credible, then the level of rhetoric that should be leveled at this lunatic should be substantially larger than the accusations made of Cindy. Or is it possible that it's true that the right does care less about principles than agenda?

Update:
Yes folks, I got it up before Drudge. :) (That would be true of more of my info if I just sat down and typed it up.) The Drudge Report is posting a link to The Smoking Gun, which has run a story on the incident. While motive is not surprisingly unlisted, that article can accessed here.

Gaza Watch

Israel. There are few countries that elicit a more dramatic response than the home of what many see as God's chosen people. It is a land that has seen countless acts of barbarism, violence and bloodshed just in the last 57 years since it's current inception. And few areas in this land bring a higher level of violence than the Gaza strip.

For those of you that are unaware, Israel, led by Ariel Sharon is removing all settlers from the Gaza strip and will hand the property over to the Palestinian Authority and the end of the evacuation. Below is a timetable for this week.

Settlers still in their homes on Aug. 15 will be given 48 hours to leave or face ejection by police and troops. Evacuations of homes will start on Aug. 17.

The Real Effect
Forced relocations, especially ones involving troops rarely go well and have often resulted in massive revolts by the populace against those who would seek to move them. Watch for increased hostility in the region and added tension in Israeli/Palestinian relations.

Edited for appearance and labels on 3/2/2010.

Gas PR

Check out this atrocious CNN example of public opinion manipulation in the continued gas war. Notice how the piece opens with -

'Think you pay a lot for gas? Perhaps you'd prefer to live in Venezuela.'

The Real Effect
A brilliant example of switching the argument. See how the issue raised is no longer whether gas prices are acceptable but switches the focus to how ungrateful you are for expecting lower prices. In addition, it manages to make the inference that you need to live in a dictatorship(Venezuela) to get the low prices. What a piece of work.

Edited for appearance on 3/2/2010.

Wow...

Browsing the news this morning and I stumbled across this amazing picture of Sam, a 14-year-old pedigreed Chinese crested, and a three-time champ in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest. There are very few times in life where a picture says more than anyone ever could....

Doyle Vetos & ID Cards

Breaking news:
For the third time, Jim Doyle has vetoed a bill which would have mandated ID to verify identity upon voting in an election.

The Real Effect
Let the vote fraud roll on! No surprise that this came at 4pm on a Friday.


Edited for appearance on 3/2/2010.

Terror Watch - August 2005

I read an interesting article last night that I thought that would be worth mentioning. It appears that Kevin P. Byrnes, a four star general in charge of Fort Monroe's Training and Doctrine Command was fired on Tuesday for sexual misconduct.

Journalist Leland Lehrman has a different opinion though. Some of his sources, including a former Captain in intelligence, told Lehrman that "the imminent Northcom nuclear terror exercise based in Charleston, S.C, where a nuclear warhead is smuggled off a ship and detonated, was originally intended to 'go live' - as in the drill would be used as the cover for a real false flag staged attack."

"Speculation exists that he had potentially discovered the fact that it was gonna go live and that he was trying to put a stop to it or also speculation indicates that he may be part of a military coup designed to prevent the ridiculous idea of doing a nuclear war with Iran, " said Lehrman.

The Real Effect
Take it for what it's worth, a possible source that might be revealing something that we need to pay attention to. I find it worth noting though, today is 8/11, similar to the 311, 777 and most importantly 911.


Edited for appearance on 3/2/2010.

Interest Rates, Oil and a Recession

Yesterday, the Federal reserve hiked the interest rate hike by 1/4 point. Today is the news of oil at $65 a barrel. (I know, I know. Oil AGAIN!?) For those of you keep track, that an increase of 17% increase over the June 15th price. Drudge had a splash on stating that gas prices were up 40% from this time a year ago.

The Real Effect
I believe this news is extremely important for several reasons.

1. I believe that the globalists are attempting to strip the American Economy by devaluing the dollar, weakening the American military through multiple prolonged conflicts and the removal of what was outstanding American influence over many countries in order to prepare us for a Global Union.
2. In order to achieve a Global Union, the current global problem solver, the United States, must be effectively removed from the picture. I believe that this will be accomplished by plunging the American economy dramatically, suddenly and then selling off her assets gradually over the next year ending roughly in June of next year.

Edited for appearance on 3/1/2010.

Thompson Gets Chipped

In what could be considered a PR move to his transition to the board of Applied Digital Solutions, Inc., Wisconsin's previous governor Tommy G. Thompson has been "chipped" with a Verichip.

"We are all well aware of the need to enhance Information Technology in healthcare," Thompson said in a prepared statement. "It is my belief that Verichip is an important and secure means of accessing medical records and other information. I look forward to working with the company as it continues its growth."

I have no problems to any technology itself as devices are inherently neutral. However, my problem becomes how the technology is applied.

For instance, a firearm at the side of a police officer is capable of containing wrong-doing and protecting the rights of all. Yet that same firearm in the hands of a criminal can be used to take those same rights away.

I believe many will benefit from the advantages that a chip would offer those who are infirmed and unable to account for themselves. Yet one cannot ignore the larger implications that this kind of technology brings to the table.

This particular piece of equipment has generated a lot of speculation regarding it's possible correlation to the 'mark of the beast', much of it deservedly so.

The Real Effect
Look for a continued development in the surrounding propaganda regarding Verichip and RFID and a continued marketing push for more to 'take the chip' to become trendy, safe, or perhaps even patriotic. This will admittedly result in the expansion of tracking and tracing that we experience already in our day to day lives to an almost obscene level.

Crude Update

U.S. Crude has peaked in trading at $63.99 so far today. That makes for a 15% increase in crude over the last 2 months.

The Real Effect
Look for gas prices to continue to etch up in increments as the cost of crude explodes. Notice the $2.50+ per gallon costs? (I predicted it.)Also look for continued emphasis on the previous record in the 1980's being unmatched with inflation factored in. The message being that this is nothing compared to what it could potentially become.

(Note: I divided incorrectly on last week's crude update. The actual number is around 11% not 8%)

Edited for appearance and hyperlinks on 3/1/2010.

Terror Target Watch August 2005

Occasionally I will post the targets that I believe are the highest probable targets. Here is the start of that list. I will be as specific as I feel is needed without being too specific. The problem with predicting is that, despite the best research, it is still a guess. Albeit an educated one.

United States - Chicago, Sears Tower area (Sometime in the next 6 months)
It has been targeted before, the purchase of the property by Larry Silverstein, the owner of the World Trade Towers, and proposed new towers in the city, look for a possible suitcase nuke to level a small area roughly the size of a new tower.

Italy - Rome, Probably a highly visible religious target like the Vatican. (Perhaps early next year)

....more later.


Edited for labels on 3/1/2010.

Wanna CAFTA, don't you wanna?

Welcome to the beginnings of the American Union.

There are few things that inspire such fear and dread as the German war machine of world War II save maybe the Soviet Union. An experiment of monumental proportions and fueled by communism, the Union marched across much of Asia seizing countries left and right until its timely demise in the early 90's.

Undeterred by this, the globalists have foisted new Unions on most of the world. Here are a few currently in existence in one form or another.

European Union , African Union, Pacific Union

As if the United States does not have enough problems at the moment, President Bush signed into law CAFTA, the so-called 'free trade' agreement that subjugates the American people to unelected trade boards that are the precursors to the up and coming American Union.

Preceded by GATT, NAFTA and the organization of American States, CAFTA is merely a stepping stone to accomplish what was decided in the first Summit of the Americas in Miami, which resolved to establish a Free Trade Area of the Americas by 2005. Bush has stated that he would like the FTAA passage by December of this year.

The Real EffectAll of this is merely a pretext for the ultimate goal of a all-encompassing Global union. Liberals and Conservatives alike should hang their collective heads in shame at what will be one of the final nails in the coffin of the once great United States of America. Look for an increasing economic slide of the economy in the 2nd half of 2005 that causes the dollar to slide even further against the Euro setting the stage for a Union currency proposed to be called the Amero.

Edited for appearance and spelling on 3/1/2010.

Crude Update

Crude oil continues it's unfettered march upward. It is currently at $62.50.

Update: My first post on this blog had stated that oil would double, perhaps triple in value over the next year. After roughly one month, the price has increased per barrel by $6.96 or 8%. At that rate of increase per month, we have a 96% increase in cost in the next year. It looks like everything is on track.

Edited for appearance and labels on 3/1/2010.

London 'Free' Speech Zones

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Attributed to Benjamin Franklin

Part of understanding any given situation correctly is to understand what the effect of a given action has on others. If one views the recent rash of bombings as isolated incidents or the result of a crackdown on terrorism, some actions might be welcome, if not deemed prudent altogether.

However, when viewed as a string of larger events and scouring the motives of those who would foist 'security' upon us is taken into account, history reveals scores of would be 'protectors' that gladly sell their solutions to a willing public.
For a price.

Take the example of the new decree in London hot on the heels of our own example in the US. Basically the thinking is 'In order to protect you, we must control you by zoning your speech.' Very much akin to civil code enforcement, laws are made up that we must obey that rescind our liberties. Stalin would be proud.

Now, notice who the primary recipients of the discipline are? Are radical mosques being censored? Perhaps, to a degree, but more importantly, we must be consistent with the removal of liberty. Everyone must lose their liberty so that none might be offended. After all, we wouldn't want the perpetrators to feel alone in their suffering.

The Real Effect
Continued evaporation of public perception of their inalienable rights. Note that the rights are still present, we just refuse to assert them. After all, you have nothing to hide...do you?

Iran and Bolton

I had stated earlier that my prediction is that Iran would be on the chopping block as of mid to late 2005, perhaps August to October?

With Richard Perle calling for an invasion of Iran back in May by stating that "if Iran is on the verge of a nuclear weapon, I think we will have no choice but to take decisive action." and the report from the former UNSCOM weapons inspector Scott Ritter stating the attack had been approved for June.

The Real Effect
All of this leads to the appointment of John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations, thereby clearing the way for a strong public case for the invasion of Iran as a 'response' to the 'global' terror threat demonstrated in London recently.