Larry the Contractor Guy
Texas
TOP 5:
Obama announces expanding troop levels in Afghanistan by 30,000
Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th, and first African American, President of the United States.
The second G-20 summit, involving state leaders rather than the usual finance ministers, meets in London. Its main focus is an ongoing global financial crisis.
The World Health Organization expresses concern at the spread of influenza from Mexico and the United States to other countries.[41][42][43] International cases and resulting deaths are confirmed.
The Czech Republic becomes the final member-state of the European Union to sign the Treaty of Lisbon, thereby permitting that document's initiation into European law.
PREDICTION:
There will be some sort of crisis such as a False Flag terrorist event similar to 9-11 that will inflame tensions worldwide and will set in motion a much larger war on the Eurasia Earth Island. This would mean the probability of Pakistan, India, and possibly China and Russia becoming involved in the war already going on in Afghanistan. The war will become a World War before it ends and will see hundreds of millions if not billions of people killed.
John Bonanno
Maine
TOP 8:
The Inauguration of Obama, or Feelin' Alright: America inaugurates a half-Caucasian Harvard Law graduate as President and congratulates itself thinking all will be well and all sins shall be forgiven . . . .
Inauguration-1569, from Fr. inauguration "installation, consecration," from L. inaugurationem (nom. inauguratio) "consecration, installment under good omens," from inaugurare "take omens from the flight of birds, consecrate or install when such omens are favorable," from in- "on, in" + augurare "to act as an augur, predict" (see augur). Source: Online Etymology Dictionary
Seems I got to have a change of scene
Cause every night I have the strangest dream
Imprisoned by the way, yeah, it could’ve been
Left here on my own or so it seems
I got to leave before I start to scream
But someone's locked the door and took the key
Feelin' alright, (uh oh)
Not feelin' too good myself, (uh oh)
Feelin' alright, (uh oh)
Not feelin' that good myself, (uh oh)
Boy you sure took me for one big ride
Even now I sit and I wonder why
And when I think of you I stop myself from cryin’
I Just can’t waste my time I must get by
Got to stop believin' in all your lies
Cause there’s too much to do before I die.
––Dave Mason
The Gold Bubble: The mostly unabated rise in the price of gold displays the insecurity of the public and some insiders and major players. Wall Street investor John Paulson made 20 billion betting and winning against the real estate bubble in 2007 and 2008 and was proclaimed a genius. He has been accumulating gold and mining stocks for a hedge fund that will soon be launched. He has been winning so far. But it is always risky to buy into any market when it is at an all time high. Paulson will sell eventually; he wants to make money, even if it is fiat money. When he does, gold will fall; how far depends of how large his hedge fund becomes. The banks have been buying securities and resuscitating the stock market with bailout money provided by the taxpayers. Investors are walking a tightrope no matter where they go for shelter. But the stock markets have farther to fall than gold. We must also note that silver has risen in price 52% this year while the much ballyhooed rise in the price of gold has been only 27% as of the middle of December. The silver/gold value ratio is now 66:1. Throughout the 19th Century and hundreds of years before it was very stable at 14:1 to 15:1 until the Bank of England demonetized silver and forced the gold standard on the world. This post on my blog outlines the matter.
Who sees with equal eye, as God of all,
A hero perish, or a sparrow fall,
Atoms or systems into ruin hurl'd,
And now a bubble burst, and now a world.
––Alexander Pope, Essay On Man
President Obama Fails To Challenge the Wall Street Banking Interests, the Health Insurance Industry and the Military: The Economy staggers in the dark: President Obama thought it important to place financial criminals and criminal enablers in charge of nation's finances as one of his first acts. Bankers are running government agencies that are supposed to control the banks. He fails to propose real health care reform, which is not the government taking over health care but the government taking over the health insurance industry (which has taken over health care to our detriment.) The foxes have been put in charge of the chicken coop of banking. We can expect the same type of criminal will be placed in charge of government health care. Insurance company people will be all over whatever new bureaucracies are born. The Nobel Peace Prize winning President has allowed the Military Industrial complex to continue waging an insane cloud of wars in the Middle East with no defined reasonable objective. The “change we can believe in” slogan turns out to be just what it implies: an act of Faith only. If we only believe, then things are better. We can take solace in the fact that change happens despite the best efforts of politicians to stave it off or control it.
“Weep not that the world changes-did it keep a stable changeless state, it were cause indeed to weep.” —William Cullen Bryant
The Death of Michael Jackson: A conspiracy is quickly discovered and celebrated. It looks like the African-American doctor who put the man into a deathly slumber each night will be blamed for it all. I ask the question: How did this man who popularized body modification, Michael Jackson, turn into Michael Jackson?
“Now I am about to take my last voyage, a frightful leap in the dark.” —Thomas Hobbes, December 4,1679
Swine Flu: A story that has been building towards this anticlimax for years. Somehow I have the feeling that this was only a practice run.
‘Physicians of the Utmost Fame
Were called at once; but when they came
They answered, as they took their Fees,
‘There is no cure for this disease.’
–Hilaire Belloc
Virginia Tech shut down Administration Buildings 90 minutes before issuing a general warning to the campus: Certain family members of administration officials were also warned over an hour before the danger was made public, according to revisions in the state's official report released Saturday, December 5, 2009. This was an important story that received little attention.
“What I tell you three times is true.” –Lewis Carroll
Major Hasan's Rampage: There are many questions to be answered about this one. I assume bits of information will get out slowly over months or years. The original reports stated that there was more than one gunman, at least three. Then, it was said, Major Hasan, the only shooter, was dead and his killer, a female security guard was also dead. Then, several hours later Hasan turned up alive and so did the female security guard who, by the way, did not shoot Hasan after all. I have no doubt men are up at night to this day working on the final story. To paraphrase Orwell: “Hasan is the killer. He was the only killer. We have only thought he was the only killer.”
“Many commit the same crime with a very different result. One bears a cross for his crime, another a crown. What man was ever content with one crime?” –Juvenal
Unrest In China: This story was underreported. Muslim minorities like the Uyghurs in Xinjiang province rioted in July. Jobs are less plentiful. The day is coming when the hard working Chinese laborer is going to start asking questions like: Why do I work my ass of so that foreigners can buy a lot of stuff cheap and the factory owners grow rich?
Nine Days Wonder Stories (Those that run for nine days then disappear):
Balloon Boy: This was the perfect metaphor for news. It was fake news. It had all out coverage even though it was a classic American tall tale. It was lighter than air. It looked like a crazy flying saucer. It was a pure publicity stunt. It was a perfect “Nine Days Wonder”. 'Though maybe it went 11 days thanks to the secondary news that it was indeed planned by Daddy. How foolish the pundits looked covering this event!
The world's a nicer place in my beautiful balloon
It wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloon
We can sing a song and sail along the silver sky
For we can fly we can fly
Up, up and away -Jimmy Webb
The White House Crashers: This story was more about the horror displayed by the news pundits who were shocked that such a thing could happen.
Huckabee Pardons Cop Killer: I would hate to be a black guy in jail now. No Governor with any ambitions to higher office or even plans to run for re-election is going to pardon or grant clemency to any black man ever again. Of course Clemmons played the God card against Huckabee and won.
My Daddy is Charles Manson: This revelation really didn't get enough attention to really qualify as a “Wonder.” But as an adopted person I was interested to see the story of Matthew Roberts who discovered that his biological father was Charles Manson. Finding out about an unfortunate genetic heritage is one factor that made me a bit reluctant to research my own past until about three years ago. "I'm a peaceful person - trapped in the face of a monster," Roberts said. "My hero is Gandhi. I'm an extremely non-violent, peaceful person and a vegetarian. I don't even kill bugs."
Plane Lands in the Hudson River: Finally an uplifting 'Wonder' story with real heroes makes this list. A crackerjack pilot, Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, and blue collar rescue workers prevented a real disaster and saved many lives.
Each of Tiger Woods' mistresses: They qualify for nine days each as they appear to tell their stories. Then include another “Wonder” for Tiger getting beaten about the face by his wife. Then every other unusual occurrence and revelation about Mr. Woods will rate a “Wonder”.
Millions Look For Naked Video Of ESPN Reporter Erin Andrews: She was innocently preening in an undressed state before a mirror in a hotel room. Some scumbag used a keyhole cam to watch. Thousands got a computer virus looking for the video. Whoopee!
The Death of Billy Mays.
“A belief in hell and the knowledge that every ambition is doomed to frustration at the hands of a skeleton have never prevented the majority of human beings from behaving as though death were no more than an unfounded rumor.” –Aldous Huxley
Octomom: Only bitches rejoice in having litters.
PREDICTIONS:
I wouldn't dare prophecy. That would be mere wind. And I know the punishment for being wrong. But I do enjoy speculation. Here are a few guesses about next year and I make absolutely no guarantees on accuracy.
The recorded music business will collapse.
Smaller less expensive movies will find success.
An unusual new species of bird will be discovered.
A comedian will go berserk during a performance. It may be a publicity stunt.
The Economy will continue to sag. MSNBC touts will get excited about the buying opportunity.
A major opera company will close down.
The federal government will begin to lose control over certain areas of the United States which will begin to operate on a de facto independent basis. This will receive very little news coverage.
A failed state in Africa will essentially find that its government has disappeared. The United Nations will step in to rule.
