Day: March 3, 2009

The Long Arm of the Lawless, by Fred Burton and Scott Stewart

Last week [in a STRATFOR briefing] we discussed the impact that crime, and specifically kidnapping, has been having on Mexican citizens and foreigners visiting or living in Mexico. We pointed out that there is almost no area of Mexico immune from the crime and violence. As if on cue, on the night of Feb. 21 a group of heavily armed men threw two grenades at a police building in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero state, wounding at least five people. Zihuatanejo is a normally quiet beach resort just north of Acapulco; the attack has caused the town’s entire police force to go on …


Ten Letters Re: 3-in-1 Home Workshop Machines

JWR: One of your readers asked: “I want to buy a 3 in 1 machine. Does anyone have any experience with them? Perhaps a brand to recommend or stay away from?” Having considered that choice extensively myself, my home shop amateur opinion is to recommend separate machines. Now that I see what a real mill table looks like, I realize there isn’t enough table space on the 3-in-1 to set up anything. Instead, get the cheapest lathe you can stand, and the best mill you can afford. If you still want a combo for space reasons, get one of the …


Economics and Investing:

Tony W. sent this: Even ‘Dr. Doom’ Is Scared: Economy Much Worse Than Roubini Predicted Bill from Ohio spotted this: 5000 Dow? 500 S&P? From Kevin A. come this sign of the times: Manhattan Apartment Buyers Abandoning Six-Figure Deposits Rather than Closing on Deals. Reader Kris N. mentioned in a recent e-mail: Over the last few weeks I have heard several politicians say that credit markets need to be opened up so Americans can start spending more to improve the economy. Is this not like Marie Antoinette proposing the solution to the peasant’s bread shortage is to have them switch …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Rourke sent us this: An Asteroid Near Miss    o o o OSOM recommended this review of Joseph Tainter’s book The Collapse of Complex Societies. This squares nicely with my views on the complexity and fragility of our modern, highly technological society with long and vulnerable chains of supply.    o o o Cheryl sent us this: Food for Guns in Dallas [JWR notes: Perhaps it would be better titled: “Trading Pottage for a Texas Birthright”]    o o o Cheryl also flagged this: Nationwide Ammo Shortage Hits US


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“For what, after all, is the stimulus package attempting to stimulate? A restrained life of living within our means? No. It’s stimulating consumption. All the big talk of get the credit markets moving again, banks healthy again, balance sheets strong again comes down to this: we need little Susie [Homemaker] to get a loan for a really cool new car she can live without, drive it to a shopping mall to buy cr*p she doesn’t need with a credit card she shouldn’t have, and return to a home mortgaged at a price higher than she can afford. That way, when …