| Commodity ETF Jumps As Wheat Hits Record
The market may have lost its appetite for stocks, but it's hungry for commodities, especially wheat. Wheat soared to a record Friday as the Agriculture Department forecast that supplies will drop 40% from last year to a 60-year low in May. It already has more than doubled in the past year. Corn, soybeans, gold and platinum have also soared to new records. "We're in an inflationary cycle that's heating up, so things such as commodities are becoming more valuable than paper assets," said Adam Harter, director of operations at Financial Enhancement Group, with $200 million in assets. "People in developing economies are seeing incomes rise and are able to buy more and that's putting a pressure on the demand side of the equation." Trading Futures In lock step, PowerShares DB Commodity Index (DBC) broke out to a new high Friday.
LETTERS: Hush money
Chris Lester's column ("This hush money is a howl," Star Business Weekly, Jan. 28) puts a pin in the administration's economic balloon and its mantra of "borrow and spend." The quick fix of the economic stimulus package is no real fix to the shortsighted fiscal practices America refuses to face. The Republican pitch of "the less taxes, the better" translates in practice to "borrow and spend" to pay for the Iraq war and unrestrained domestic spending. The Bush administration is anything but conservative fiscally. If our president had the courage of any previous wartime president, he would have raised taxes in time of war so that the citizens at home helped sacrifice to pay for the war abroad. Instead, he has cut taxes and fights a war without end with money borrowed from China and Arab purchasers of our debt.
Coming Soon: SR to Release E-mail Exchanges ... (Not so fast...)
I took the long trip home along the freeways to Pocatello (lots of Oregon Trail history), up to Idaho Falls (east side of Craters of the Moon), up through the thriving metropolis of Dubois and into Montana. Great Country. Mebbe. But I dont see many North Idahoans lining up to move to Twin Falls or Pocatello. DFO: It struck me this afternoon that I should give you a preview of tomorrow morning's print Huckleberries. .
Concern for young carers
Carly is great fun to be with, says Sophie, but when she is in one of her moods she slams doors, throws things out of the window and breaks her toys. Sophie also helps her mum out around the house. She cooks for the family - her favourite recipes are paella and lasagne. She says her mum is "very pleased to have me because if I was any different she wouldn't be able to cope". .
'My Favorite Dog': Dueling Rhymers
1:57 p.m. Oh my goodness, Not So Fast has just provided a link for anyone who wants to send e-cards to friends, preferably Demo, featuring Repub strategist Karl Rove -- or, as Kristin Hoope blogs: I heart Rove. 1:22 p.m. I have only two rules for commenting, O My Readers (got that from "A Clockwork Orange"), keep it civil (which you have been doing, to your credit) -- and use clever pseudonyms, if you don't want to be identified. Can't stand boring ones. You'll see that Anonymous has become Any Mouse, after consultation with me, and I'm trying to persuade ?? to become ?Mark? or better. 1:07 p.m. What? You guys have no interest in the Iraqi elections Sunday? Today's "Question of the Day" doesn't seem to be drawing much interest. (But the war over interrogation methods at Gitmo seems to be causing a stir under P.S.
Looking for solutions to the carbon conundrum
Also, at least in inter we can put on more clothing to reduce heating costs. In winter, there is not much further we can go than to strip down to our swim suits.
With regards to crops, remember that earth is a closed system, and what nutrient resources, ie: fertilizer, we have are limited. Also, the amount of viable farming soil is fast depleting due to unsustainable farming practices. Monoculture farming is also a problem because the farming system is linear. You extract nutrients to feed the crops, harvest what you want and the rest is garbage. Personally I'd like to see a greater shift to crop cycling.
If farming shifted northwards, remember that those living near the equator will start depending on us for food instead. This would simply be a shift of who is exporting and who is importing, and although economically profitable for us, remember that this is merely a shift, and in all likelihood, only the extremely wealthy will benefit thus the disparity between the rich and the poor will only increase.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Is Kimora Preggers? Bottle Hits Pitbull! Timbaland ...
Damn! What is the hell is going on? I heard about 2,500 people packed club PLANETA in San Antonio, TX to see the one and only Pitbull. After the rapper gets about two songs into his concert, a bottle zips out from the crowd and busts Pitbull on the side of the head! The bottle didn't crack, but it did break the skin and Pitbull bled. A nurse taped him up and he kept performing for one song. There would be no full concert due to the bleeding. He was eventually taken away by the paramedics to get eight staples in his head. Pitbull told the crowd that said his fans pay his bills and he wasn't going let one hater spoil it for them. I heard roughly 80% of those I attendance were females. Foul! See the ignorant video below.
REMY MA CLASHES WITH DIRECTOR?
Remy Ma has been relatively low-key.
Sidelines: By Mark Zeigler
Liverpool: The English giant crashes out of the F.A. Cup with a 1-0 loss – at home, no less – to unfancied Barnsley. Probably the only hope for coach Rafael Benitez to save his job is advancing in the UEFA Champions League. Strikes, shortages, sniping: FIFA inspectors are back in South Africa this week for one of their periodic site visits, and the mood is positively unsettled. The headline in the Sunday Times newspaper: "2010 Turmoil." The article begins: "Infighting and mistrust is causing widespread tension within the company entrusted to pull off Africa's first FIFA World Cup. Key players in the country's 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) are barely talking to each other, while chief executive Danny Jordaan is being labeled a 'control freak.' " One LOC official was quoted as saying, "It is an accident waiting to happen." Add to that fears that South Africa's recent electricity shortage could spill into the tournament, and a strike among construction workers at one of the stadiums last week came with demands for double their current wages.
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