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China buys gold and the world follows
“We are entering a period of strong seasonal growth in gold demand and Chinese New Year is a big part of that,” said Brien Lundin, editor of Gold Newsletter. “Physical demand has been supporting the gold prices on the downside even during the typical slack periods, and I expect that upcoming increase in demand will also support the price, but at higher levels.”
The Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, begins on Feb. 3 this year and ends with the Lantern Festival 15 days later.
“Chinese gold and silver demand has been phenomenal ahead of the New Year holiday,” said Adrian Ash, head of research at BullionVault.com, a leading online service for gold bullion trading and ownership, citing comments from dealers among others.
Shipments have been “heavy” and they began very early, in mid-December, he said. Read more…
More than a million immigrants land U.S. jobs
Stepped-up enforcement is not deterring trend of foreign-born employment
DALLAS — Over the past two years, as U.S. unemployment remained near double-digit levels and the economy shed jobs in the wake of the financial crisis, over a million foreign-born arrivals to America found work
, many illegally.
Those are among the findings of a review of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau data conducted exclusively for Reuters by researchers at the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston.
Often young and unskilled or semi-skilled, immigrants have taken jobs Americans could do in areas like construction, willing to work for less wages. Others land jobs that unemployed Americans turn up their noses at or lack the skills to do.
With a national unemployment rate of 9.4 percent, domestic job creation is at the top of President Barack Obama’s agenda and such findings could add to calls to tighten up on illegal immigration. But much of it is Hispanic and the growing Latino vote is a key base for Obama’s Democratic Party.
Many of the new arrivals, according to employers, brought with them skills required of the building trade and found work in sectors such as construction, where jobless rates are high.
“Employers have chosen to use new immigrants over native-born workers and have continued to displace large numbers of blue-collar workers and young adults without college degrees,” said Andrew Sum, the director of the Center for Labor Market Studies. Read more…
Yellowstone Supervolcano Bulges 10 inches as Magma Pocket Swells
Brian Handwerk
Jim Rogers Says $200 Oil Will Lead Massive Commodity Surge
When it comes to state visits the devil is in the detail. It’s the nuances of the arrangements that allow you to calibrate just how important a relationship is. That’s why the world has been watching the visit of the Chinese President Hu Jintao with such attention. The state dinner at the White House – described as an “intimate” event – apparently signifies that Washington rates China as pretty much the most important nation, economically, on earth. But the visit has also prompted much speculation in the press about how long the Chinese economic miracle can last and whether it is about to come to a juddering halt. Jim Rogers, the legendary investor who co-founded the Quantum Fund with George Soros, has moved his family to Singapore and is making sure his two young daughters can speak Mandarin. He spoke to the Business Daily’s Justin Rowlatt.
Transcript is below
Jim Rogers: The largest creditor nations in the world are in Asia now: China, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong. This is where the assets are. You know who the debtors are and where they are.
Justin Rowlatt: But listen, I mean the Chinese economy is still way behind the American economy is and it is about the third the size of the American economy.
Jim Rogers: Yes, of course. They had a disaster for 300 years, but about 30 years ago, they woke up, they changed their minds and they said we got to try something new. They unleashed entrepreneurship and capitalism again, and they have been astonishing for 30 years. It takes a while to go from a disaster to rival the Americans, but they are on their way.
Justin Rowlatt: Do you really believe the Chinese boom can continue, because lots of people are saying there are all sorts of asset price bubbles that are going to trip the Chinese up in the coming years?
Jim Rogers: Well, the only asset bubble I see potentially in China is in urban coastal real estate, but real estate is not nearly the entire Chinese economy as it was in America and the U.K. Sure, they will have setbacks.
Justin, in the 19th Century, America had a horrible civil war. We had 15 depressions with a ‘D.’ We had very few human rights. We had massacres in the streets regularly. We had very little rule of law. You could buy and sell – you can still buy and sell congressmen in America, but in those days they were cheap. America had horrible problems, but they came out of that and had a pretty good 20th Century. Read more…
Simplest and Scariest Answer for the Current Pole Flip
Why I believe the south pole has been moving away from the geographical southern position (technically, its the actual magnetic north pole that is currently down there right now) and why the magnetic north pole (technically the south magnetic pole) has wobbled so much and is now bending down.
We are headed for the event horizon of our galaxy. We are headed for the Mayan dark rift.
This is why we have magnetic pole reversals. The sun changes its poles on a regular basis due to its internal matrix. The earth has a slower system, a lethargic system, to where only great magnetic changes can affect it.
The event horizon of a black hole or of a galaxy that comes from its central black hole is magnetically charged.
It is north polarized in this section, and as we approach it, the south pole, (the true magnetic north pole), is naturally repulsed by it, so it has been steadily moving upwards and away from the event horizon, or 2012 mayan rift.
The north pole, (or magnetic south pole), is naturally attracted to this force since opposite poles attract. But because of its current placement, it has to fight the magnetic forces of the current south pole. Thus, like magnets pushed together with same poles, it wobbles, until, finally, it can be pulled on by a force stronger than the repulsion of the nearest smaller force. In other words, the north pole is now no longer wobbling. It is headed in the direction of the greatest attractive force, the galactic event horizon, which is south of us, and the greatest lump of it, is pulling at us from an angle.
When we get closer to the event horizon or dark rift, the north pole will be pulled down while the south pole will be pushed up and away. It is then that the planet’s core will feel an enormous tug, and major earthquakes will hit the planet. This magnetic event is being played out before our very eyes, and may be completed in the following months, up to three years, but it seems to have speeded up and may happen before 2012.
If this theory holds up, we should see Jupiter and the other gas giants moving out of their place towards the south of our solar system, using the Earth’s orientation to determine south and north. In other words, the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn should already be showing signs of dipping toward the Galactic Event Horizon to our south, or will show these signs a few minutes before our poles flip, unless they have already flipped, in which case, the dip in their orbits should already be showing.
Signs of Jesus Coming
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Jesus is coming again. It’s in the Bible, John 14:2-3, NKJV. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
There are signs of Jesus’ coming. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 24:29-31, NKJV. “Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.”
What are some signs? It’s in the Bible, Matt 24:3, NKJV. “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Men posing as Jesus will try to deceive people in the last days. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 24:23-24, NIV. “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.”
There will be wars, though they may seem overwhelming, it is not the end. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 24:6, NKJV. “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”
Earthquakes and famines, and all the signs are only the contractions of what’s coming. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 24:7-8, NKJV. “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
Non-Christians will find it hard to believe we are living in the last days of earth’s history. It’s in the Bible, II Peter 3:3-4, TLB. “First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will come scoffers who will do every wrong they can think of, and laugh at the truth. This will be their line of argument: ‘So Jesus promised to come back, did He? Then where is He? He’ll never come! Why, as far back as anyone can remember everything has remained exactly as it was since the first day of creation.'”
The coming of the Antichrist is a sign of the end. It’s in the Bible, I John 2:18, NKJV. “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many Antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”
What moral conditions will be characteristic of society in the last days? It’s in the Bible, II Timothy 3:1-5, NIV. “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”
What other signs of the last days does the Bible mention? It’s in the Bible, Luke 21:25-26, NIV. “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”
Talk of peace and safety are a sign of the last days. It’s in the Bible, I Thessalonians 5:2-3, NIV. “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
The gospel will go to the whole world and the end will come. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 24:14, NIV. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
What are people to do when they see these things taking place? It’s in the Bible, Matthew 24:42-44, TLB. “So be prepared, for you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Just as a man can prevent trouble from thieves by keeping watch for them, so you can avoid trouble by always being ready for My unannounced return.”
It’s in the Bible, Luke 21: 28, NKJV. “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Dead seals, fish
Juris Graney/Transcontinental MediaBoat Harbour’s Wallace Woodward inspects some of the estimated 20 dead harp seals that have washed ashore in the community over the past couple of weeks.
Boat Harbour — As many as 20 dead harp seals have washed ashore in Boat Harbour over the past couple of weeks, leaving perplexed locals scratching their heads as to the reasons why.
Wallace Woodward, who has lived in the small community northwest of St. Anthony for most of his 52 years, says no one can remember such a thing happening before.
Last week, the carcasses of several seals lolled about in the breakwater; some had been pushed ashore by strong waves and others were buried under three feet of seaweed.
And it’s not just harp seals that have been swept into the harbour — hundreds of dead catfish have washed onto land, becoming entangled with the seaweed strewn along the shore. Read more…
Spike in world food prices: It’s more than bad weather
A global index for food prices, as measured by the UN, reached a record high last month. This on the heels of a food crisis in 2007-08. The weather isn’t the only culprit — or solution.
Of all the world headlines that Sen. Richard Lugar could have highlighted this week – the visit of China’s president in Washington, for instance, or the revolt in Arab Tunisia – the most burning issue for him was … alfalfa.
The plant, used for animal feed, was the surprising topic of the senator’s opening remarks at a Monitor breakfast with reporters Jan. 18. Alfalfa holds a special interest for this active Indiana farmer who is also the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Alfalfa, he notes, is one example of why world food prices have risen so sharply – the second such rise in just over two years.
Last month the global food price index reached a record high, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization, a United Nations body. It surpassed the levels of the last food crisis in 2007-2008, when rising prices caused riots in more than 30 countries.
The human misery from unaffordable – or unavailable – food isn’t as widespread this time, because the price of rice – a staple for more than 3 billion people – is relatively stable. Also, Africa and Asia have seen some good harvests, helping feed local populations. Read more…
Classified Spy satellite launched from California base
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — The largest rocket ever launched from the West Coast blasted off Thursday with a classified defense satellite on board.
The 235-foot-tall Delta IV Heavy Launch Vehicle lifted off at 1:10 p.m. carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
The booster rose into the sky over California’s central coast and arced over the Pacific Ocean, a spectacle visible over a wide area.
United Launch Alliance, the joint venture of rocket builders Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co., said in a statement that the launch was a success.
The launch was pushed back two minutes to avoid an object in space that could have been in the path of the rocket, said Michael J. Rein, a ULA spokesman.
No payload details were released. The NRO operates satellites that provide information to the Central Intelligence Agency and Department of Defense.
This was the fifth launch of a Delta IV but the first from the West Coast. The other four launches were at Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Capable of generating nearly 2 million pounds of thrust, the liquid-fuel rocket has a central core booster and two strap-on boosters that make the assembly 50 feet wide. An upper second stage takes over when the first stage is exhausted.
Preparing for the launch took three years and $100 million in infrastructure upgrades at Vandenberg, 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
The launch director, Lt. Col. Brady Hauboldt, said in a statement before the liftoff that the launch would mark a milestone by restoring heavy lift capability in the nation’s western range. The last heavy lift Titan IV-B was launched at Vandenberg in 2005.
In its past, the launch complex was once configured for West Coast space shuttle launches, which were canceled after the 1986 Challenger disaster, and the Air Force’s Manned Orbiting Laboratory program, which was canceled in 1969. It was last used in 2006.
Scientists Warn Iran Could Produce Enough Nuclear Material for Warhead in 5 Months
ISTANBUL — The U.S. is joining five other world powers for talks with Iran this week publicly confident that international efforts have slowed Tehran’s capacity to make nuclear arms and created more time to press Tehran to accept curbs on its atomic activities.
But while diplomats and officials at the International Atomic Energy Agency — the U.N. nuclear monitor — agree that Iran’s enrichment program has struggled over past years, the Federation of American Scientists warns against complacency.
It notes impressive improvements in the performance of the Iranian machines that enrich uranium — an activity that has provoked U.N. sanctions because it could be used to make nuclear weapons.
Washington’s message is essentially this: Iran is struggling with uranium enrichment, a process that can create both nuclear fuel and fissile warhead material. Significantly, that view is backed by Israel, Iran’s implacable foe and considered to have the Mideast’s best intelligence on Iran’s nuclear strivings.
If true, that leaves more time to negotiate in hopes Iran will come around and give up enrichment — thereby removing the threat of an Israeli or U.S. military strike on Iran’s nuclear Read more…
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