Just Charts - Escape From the Mall

It's brutal out there. lol

Glad to be home.

Have a pleasant evening.

Just Charts at 3:30 PM - Duty Calls

Need little—  Want less—  Love more

I sincerely hope you are not wasting much time watching this 'market action.'

Since I made a pledge to take the queen wherever she desires, not being able to drive herself, I am making the ultimate sacrifice and taking her to the local shopping mall.

I don't believe I have been inside that thing for ten years at least, when I took the kids to a movie there. And I refuse to go to that place later tonight when it is in full madness and cars lined up to get in.

This market is 'well in hand,' and all set up now to make the funds and financiers look good, or at least make their results the most profitable for themselves.

January I think might be another story. But let's see.

Have a pleasant evening.

Just Charts On a Cold Winter's Night

“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans— and all that lives and moves upon them.  He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit, and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused— and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth, and gave us Himself.”

Sigrid Undset,  Kristin Lavransdatter

Charts at 4:00 PM - Last Refuge of Scoundrels

President Obama's press conference today was quite interesting.   If I were teaching a course at the Columbia School of Journalism, I might be tempted to use it as a tutorial on how to spot a first rate job of the old twist and deflect in the face of a monumental failure and scandal.

His framing of the Clinton email leaks was a nice mix of 'WMD' and Watergate as nothing but 'a third rate burglary.'   And of course, just trust us, because would you believe the bad guys instead of us, you traitors?

The leaks were a story because they were legitimately damaging, and badly covered up, and they played into well known and also some highly suspected flaws in the candidate and her inner circle.  

And as for the rest, I'm sorry, but have we already forgotten the widespread deception that Snowden exposed in the bald-faced lies told to us by intelligence experts?  And how the US was shown to be spying on just about everyone, even its own allies, and interfering just about anywhere in its pursuit of a Pax Americana through endless war?

The plain truth is that Hillary was just an awful candidate, but especially given the time and circumstances.  And she could not beat a guy who ordinarily could not have been elected dog catcher.
So live with it, and try to learn from your mistakes, which are obvious and greatly hurting your organization, judging by the overall results.   Your party and its policies are a disaster, and a disgrace to its proud traditions of fighting for the working people and middle class against Big Money interests.

And no, we do not trust the political establishment anymore, and for very good reasons.

Show us the evidence, and don't try and blame us, and shame us into silence about it, again.

Have a pleasant evening and a great weekend.

Shanghai Gold Exchange Deliveries Have Their Biggest Day of the Year

Shanghai Gold Exchange deliveries totaled 39.6 tonnes.

This is by far the largest amount of gold bullion transactions on the exchange this year.

Does price really matter?  Perhaps to some.


Related:  The Gold Market Manipulation Case and Timeline

Taking Time For Christmas And the Things That Matter

Pardey, Daffodils in Search of Grace

"As the lily among thorns, so is my true love among His daughters."

Song of Solomon 2:2


"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds, in Christ Jesus."

Phil 4:7

The posting will be light from now until the New Year.

There is nothing particular going on with the queen at the moment, so no need for concern.

Rather, I am taking a breather, and profoundly enjoying spending more time with her and her constant cold weather companion, Dolly. I like snuggling the two of them up together in the big chair under some blankets for their afternoon shows on television, The Chew and Dr Phil.

No I do not watch them, but the queen is an aficionado of both, as well as the Food Network and Househunters. Perhaps she is living vicariously because she does not cook much beyond the simplest meals, and we have only moved once in our lives.  I became very flexible in commuting once she put down our roots and made a house into a home.

When Dolly came in from her walk this morning, which by the way the queen herself conducts which is therapeutic for the both of them, she jumped up in my chair in the living room and would not stop licking my face. I suppose she remembers being homeless and on the streets of Elizabeth NJ last winter.

The market will always be there.  They won't.

And as I grow older, I find more joy in the little things, than in extravaganzas and gadgets, and the other things that people ordinarily associate with 'happiness.'

People like to reflect and remember at this time of year. The only difference is that now, unlike when I was running around a worldwide organization, I have the time to do it. So perhaps I can do it a little for you as well, so you can feel the joy in the ordinary things, the sacrament of the moment, and the prayerful gratitude for all of them.

And we have so much to be grateful for this year. Again, this is the year of Dolly and the queen. The doctors were convinced she would never walk again, and there she goes. And Dolly came in and filled the void left by our old shih tzu who passed away the week before she arrived.

I have become so rich in friends through Le Cafe. I came for a work, and found a blessing.

I lost one of the best in my good friend Harold the artist this year.  And my Amish father-in-law.  The early part of this year was hard times indeed.

But I gained others. I am glad for all of them.

Especially the little gems like Andrew in Long Island, who at one time fancied himself a misanthrope, but is in fact among the most companionable and interesting of people, and has introduced me to more kinds of ethnic foods and the joy of bird feeding.

And then there is Jan the Knight in Krakow, and his counterpart Carlos in South America, Mark the faithful physician, George the maven of all things DC, Bruce in Tokyo, Joe the Hawaiian,  George the accountant, Steve my brother, Dave in Colorado, Bill in Dallas, Knukles and String the characters, Arby the wise, Adam of the vineyards, Hugo the insightful,  Joachim the obscure, Malcolm the eloquent, Bruce the forester, Peter the German, Anthony the professor, John the router, Elizabeth in Vancouver, Ann the musician, Michele the nice lady in South Jersey, and Erik and Bill the internet travelers in Maine.

And so many others, who light up my life when I hear from them on occasion.

I am grateful for all of it, and remember all of you in my thoughts, but especially in my prayers, always.

Things can be replaced; people can't.  

When the oceans run dry, and the last stars burn out, only the souls of the faithful will remain.

Do not be afraid. This will all work to our advantages. He truly does all things well, even as He may afflict us, but only as we might afflict ourselves, if we were wise, and had a genuine understanding of the ways of His economy.

Unless something significant happens, I'll see you again on Monday.