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November 21, 2013
Deflation Is Crushing QE Right Now


The following chart shows the average annual growth in the CPI over the previous 5 years.


Click to enlarge.

1.5% is definitely below the Fed's target rate. The Fed has thrown pretty much everything at it too, including the kitchen sink. Too bad there are so many used kitchen sinks for sale. It hampers their progress.




I'm a believer in the loss of faith theory, for what that's worth. Over the long-term, I never had it to begin with. I haven't been buying long-term bonds because of the Fed. I have been buying in spite of them.


This is not investment advice.

Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: CPI

          We never have enough leather jackets right?
       Here is the latest addition to my closet c/o Joe Fresh from my last visit to their NEW store in SoHo,  NY.
       The way it looks, seriously deserves to be framed but is so irresistible not to wear it so stay tuned to see a first outfit with is!

Happy Fess Up Friday y'all! Today I've got my friend Gwen from The Makeriesta over to share. Gwen is a fellow Missouri girl, which already makes her awesome. But on top of that, her design skills are out of this world, she can create a party wonderland overnight and she is single handedly going to turn my hair into an enviable mane of glory. Yes, she is just that good. Welcome Gwen!


I've had something on my mind for a bit now, and when Elizabeth asked me about fessing up I knew exactly what I wanted to get off my chest.

If you've ever ventured over to my blog, you've probably seen pictures like this.

Our living area is my favorite space in the house.  It definitely reflects my personal taste, and I enjoy spending time in it.







































When our second child, a girl, was born the nursery was transformed into a more feminine space.



And my son got a big boy bed in our old office.  The office had to find a new home, and there was really only one place for it to fit.  My husband finished the basement right after we got married.  He claimed the space as his and I really didn't mind.  It gave him some personal space and me the freedom to do just about whatever the heck I wanted with the upstairs.  We had an understanding: the upstairs was my domain, the downstairs was his.

But the more kids we add, the less basement he has to claim.  Our office area moved to the corner and Micah gave up his pool table to make room for a craft table he built me for my birthday a few years ago - really nice, I know.



You see, open shelving sounds like a good idea, until you have a 1 year old who likes to pull out and rearrange EVERYTHING.



Cue the bad, florescent lighting.  The basement is full of Micah's bachelor essentials: the microfiber sectional that dog hair clings to, the leg lamp, the mini fridge full of beer (perfect size for your children to grab you a cold one) and way too many gaming systems and accessories.  Not to mention the art…Marilyn and Bob Marley.









































And this is where the magic happens.  Looks magical doesn't it?  I curl up in that Mizzou Snuggie until the wee hours of the night writing and editing and brainstorming.  I never spent too much time down here before I started blogging.  It was a place to pay bills and sync my phone.  Now I spend more time here than upstairs most days, and it's not very inspiring.

We do plan to make some changes soon.  First on the list is turning the storage area under the stairs into a kids space to lessen the clutter and hopefully keep them out of our things a bit more.  I'd also love to give the desk space some of my personality (clearly it's lacking any at this point).  Micah doesn't really want me touching what little he has left, but he's a stylish guy who I believe deserves a much better looking room to relax at the end of the day. 

Phew.  I feel better now.  I guess I wanted to share this today to show that just because some of my rooms look nice and put together, that's not a reflection of my home as a whole.  Making your home "you" is a process and something that can't be rushed. 

Thanks for the free therapy, Elizabeth!

You aren't alone Gwen. We all have 'that space' in our home, right?!

The Kennedy Myth Remains
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
*************

I was not, and am not, a fan of President John F. Kennedy.  I know that is considered sacrilege  today, especially on the 50th anniversary of his assassination.  But there it is.

Like most everyone who lived through those horrible days it is burned into my memory.  And yes, I do know exactly where I was and exactly what I was doing the moment the TV news broke into their regular programming with the news bulletin that Kennedy had been shot.

Back in the "good ole days" we still had "news bulletins."  When a regularly scheduled program was interrupted for a news bulletin, everyone stopped and paid attention.  It was important.  Unlike today when we have twenty-four hour news coverage, a news bulletin was an effective way of disseminating important information instantly and to the maximum number of people possible.

"The somber mood across the nation during the weekend following Kennedy's death was evident on the broadcast airwaves. By 3 p.m. (EST) on November 22, nearly every television station canceled their commercial schedules to stay with around-the-clock news coverage provided by the three U.S. television networks in 1963: ABC, CBS, and NBC. From 3 p.m. that day until November 26, all network entertainment and commercial programming ceased on U.S. television, and as such, this coverage was one of the earliest examples of what modern television viewers commonly know as a breaking news event."  SOURCE:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_to_the_assassination_of_John_F._Kennedy

The TV set I happened to be standing in front of at the moment the story broke was tuned to CBS.  Somehow Walter Cronkite became the lead anchor on that story for a shocked nation.  Still today when I think back to that day, and the days that followed, I remember "Uncle Walter," the most trusted man in America, relating the news of the event as it happened.

If you'd like to see what I saw on that day 50 years ago, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K8Q3cqGs7I

 Fifty years later, I am not convinced that we, the American people have been told the complete truth about the killing of Kennedy.  Let me hastily add that I have no clue what the truth is.  But the explanation that Oswald was the only person responsible for JFK's murder has never seemed enough.

It is not commonly known these days, but Kennedy was NOT a popular president -- especially in the southern states.  In fact, Kennedy had been warned NOT to go to Dallas, Texas that day.  The national atmosphere was heavy with danger for the young president -- yet he went and, as it turned out, went to his death.
One would think JFK was seen as something akin to a god back in 1963.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Consider this from a paper entitled "Who Killed JFK?" by Carl Oglesby, published by the Odonian Press in 1992.  "Although he has become a legend, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was hardly the most popular president in history when he was gunned down in November, 1963. In the previous six months alone, the Secret Service had reviewed over 400 threats to his life. Three of these were serious enough to entail changes in his security routine.

He was loathed by anti-Castro exiles, other rightwingers, the Mafia and even some of his own government agencies. In attempting to figure out who murdered him, it is important to understand who hated him, and why."  SOURCE:  http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/CIA/Who_Killed_JFK.html

There is STILL much we do not know about JFK's murder.  Many files have been sealed until 2017 (50 years after the assassination.).  One must wonder, with the political atmosphere in the US even more toxic today than it was in 1963, if, in fact, those files will be actually be unsealed -- or -- sealed for another 50 years.

Take a few minutes and read "Who Killed JFK?" by Carl Oglesby, published by the Odonian Press in 1992.  You will have a better understanding as to why so many of my generation still hold to the numerous conspiracy theories surrounding that fateful day in Dallas fifty years ago today.

J. D. Longstreet

A Milwaukee County jury decided that Advance Cast Stone must pay $38.5M for its negligence and blame for a 13.5 ton concrete slab that broke off from a side of the O'Donnell parking structure killing Jared Kellner.

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty Tyranny

Fifty-six percent questioned say they disapprove of Obama's performance, an all-time high in CNN surveys.

It just doesn't seem to be getting any better for the embattled President. Nice guy that he is, passionately concerned about finding that silver limning in the clouds for ALL Americans, it appears at this point in time credibility (and honesty) still remains important to the American people. Given the President's recent credibility gap (rightfully so) he certainly does have much work to do. It is looking like a Republican House, AND Senate may be within the realm of possibility following the 2014 mid term elections.

From recent CNN/ORC International polling.

Washington (CNN)As President Barack Obama's approval rating hits another all-time low, a new national survey also indicates that Americans say the President has less power than congressional Republicans when it comes to shaping events over the next year.

According to a CNN/ORC poll released Thursday, 41% of Americans approve of the job the President's doing in the White House, the lowest level for that crucial indicator in CNN polling. Fifty-six percent questioned say they disapprove of Obama's performance, an all-time high in CNN surveys.

The President's approval rating has now reached new lows or tied his all-time lows in polls released over the past three weeks from CNN/ORC, CBS News, ABC News/Washington Post, Quinnipiac University, National Journal Heartland Monitor, and NBC News/Wall Street Journal. And the CNN survey is the fourth non-partisan live operator national poll released this week to put Obama's approval rating between 40% and 42%. A CBS News survey released Wednesday showed the President's approval rating at 37%.

Geography appears to play a role in the President's falling numbers.

"The drop in Obama's approval rating comes entirely among suburbanites," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Compared to the October CNN poll, positive views of Obama held steady among people who live in big cities and rural areas. But in the suburbs, his approval rating was 45% a month ago but has dropped to just 37% now." {Read More }

Credibility Mr. President, credibility. Honesty goes a VERY long way in establising AND maintaining credibility Mr. President.

Via: Memeorandum

What?!

I go from no posts to two posts in two days? I am just that exciting. True.

It is rather important to me to take the time to enjoy the season/holiday we are in and not jump ahead to the next one. Poor Thanksgiving gets run right over with the excitement for the big daddy of the year - Christmas. So I exercise as much strength as I can to not pull out anything for Christmas, not even a song on the radio, until Thanksgiving is over. The excitement is even bigger then when we finally unwrap all of those great things that stay in a closet 11 months of the year.

But, I am also one for planning ahead and I love to mark things down on my calendar. So with that in mind, I'm excited to let you know that I'll be joining several other fabulous bloggers this year for The 12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes.


Now not only does this mean you have 11 days of holiday eye candy to look forward to, but best of all, on the 12 day will be a great link up party so that you can share your holiday home as well! I can smell the pine and peppermint already.

So mark you calendars and get ready for some holiday cheer!!

Compromise? No Way!
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
***************

In 2010 the electorate deliberately sent a new team of conservatives to Congress with the mission to block, obfuscate, or plainly put, do whatever was necessary to stop Obama and see to it that he could do no more harm to the country until we could purge Congress of all the Obama-like minded Marxists, especially in the Senate, out of our government and relieve the menace to America and to America's capitalist society.  Yes, it was self-imposed gridlock.  Obama and his minions HAD to be restrained for the sake of the country -- and, for the most part,  they were.  

For nearly five years now Americans have had a taste of what a socialist system would look like in America.  It has finally become clear that if Obama and his fellow socialists have their way -- America's middle class will cease to exist. 

It took a while for this lesson to sink in.  But Obamacare really brought the threat home and now Americans are fighting mad.

In less than a year Americans will return to the polls for the Mid-Term Election.  A great deal of the democrats in the US Senate will be up for reelection.  The Senate is the Congressional branch controlled exclusively by Obama's Marxist brethren.  It MUST be the target in November of 2014.

Conservatives must choose US Senate candidates carefully and offer a host of conservative candidates with true blue conservative credentials to the electorate with the understanding that those conservative candidates, should they win, will use their skills at business and economics to stop America's slow collapse and begin the restoration process so at least SOME of the damage done by Obama can be repaired.  It will, we know, take many years to right our ship of state and our economy.  But that is NOT GOiNG TO HAPPEN UNLESS AND UNTIL CONSERVATIVES CONTROL, at the very least, BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, and in 2016, the office of President,  as well.

In the interim, I believe we must keep this warning from the Holy Scriptures ever before us:  "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan." Proverbs 29:2

I have noted before that there is, I believe,  a huge swath of the electorate who did, in fact, vote for Obama, believing he could do all those things he touted and promised.  They are now embarrassed by that vote.  Even though weighted down by guilt over what they helped do to our beloved country they are not going to openly admit it.  They will make a conscious effort to atone for that mistaken vote in the voting booth next November.

In the meantime, conservatives in Congress, especially the US House of Representatives, will have no choice but to continue to create road blocks to Obama's Marxist policies and his agenda as the Progressive element within the Congress doubles down on their efforts to pass Obama's agenda into law in advance of the 2014 election. 

By the way, do not be fooled.  The word "Progressive" is just another code word for Marxist.  Every few decades the Marxists are "found out" and they must change the nomenclature by which they are known publicly.  "Progressive" is just one of the names they have used since the early 1900's.

Look, gentle reader, Obama's socialism has no place in America.  It is a policy of personal defeat practiced by the defeated people of a defeated nation who live in constant fear.  Obamacare has shown the spotlight on his agenda to foist his brand of socialism off on America and the American public is finally enraged.  For the first time, many Americans are beginning to experience for themselves what we conservative's have warned about for well over five years. That is that Obama's agenda is NOT to build America up and help her claim the high ground again.  No!  His agenda is to manage America's decline!  How totally un-American is that?!

As of today, American conservatives, are in no mood to compromise on anything, anymore.  Too often conservative offers to compromise in the past have led to their being steamrolled by the socialist/Marxists.  It has happened entirely too often, so further compromise is off the table.

Continuing to offer compromise to the progressives is only insanity.  So, we're done.

Progressives believe their Socialist/Marxist agenda will work for America even better than it did in Europe.  Conservatives hold that that which works for Europe will not work for the USA. 

Most of us hail from families that left Europe generations ago to come to America precisely because America was/is different.  

Opportunity in America was limited only by a man's ambition and ability. The individual American built this country -- not the government.  In fact, it was the individual Americans from the thirteen colonies that created the US government.   And now THAT government is the primary road block to the dreams of so many Americans.  

But we can change that -- and we must -- or we will lose what is left of our freedom and our liberty.

J. D. Longstreet

Alicia Machado

     Not so long ago I went to NYC just for a day, Bogdan and I totally enjoy these mini trips.
Here is my outfit that I wore that chilly day: a short comeback to my favorite camel coat, this time in a more vibrant mix, such as : red-leopard print and pink. Some combinations of colours are timeless and I want to wear them over and over agin or at least every year.





                                                                              Camel coat: vintage/ great options Here and Here 
                                                                              Turtleneck sweater: Borelli Collection/ similar Here 
                                                                              Bag: Reed Krakoff/ Here and Here 
                                                                              Jeans: Mago/ similar Here and Here 
                                                                              Shoes: Daniblack/ option Here and Here 
                                                                              Sunglasses: Ralph Lauren

Thousands of Texas undocumented immigrants can't buy and register vehicles without proper identification and state licenses.

Click to enlarge.

I wonder if the financial experts telling us all to invest in China were factoring in the price of toys.

November 20, 2013
Walmart's Black Friday, Thanksgiving Plans Try to Control Crowds: Will They Work?

For what it is worth, I remember paying $1 per Hot Wheels car in the 1970s.

Source Data:
BLS: Inflation & Prices