This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

New Year Open Thread

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Since readers are likely eager to share their own predictions for 2011, please use the following open thread for that, as well as for anything else that may cross the collective subconscious. Additionally, any suggestions on improving (or deteriorating) the site, as well as all brainstorming, and last but not least threats, are most certainly welcome. Best of luck to all in 2011, especially those who fail in their resolutions to cease feeding the central planning monkeys.

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Fri, 12/31/2010 - 17:45 | 840455 Escapeclaws
Escapeclaws's picture

RNR, you mention the improbability of our existence, or so I infer. According to Roger Penrose, the probability of our universe is something on the order of 1/(10^10^123), a number so infinitely miniscule that it would seem to rule out our universe altogether. Yet here we are, and what is the conditional probability of our existence and evolution, given the existence of the universe itself?

Check out the latest from Roger Penrose. Through a concept known as duality, the end of the universe in which every form of energy including black holes just evaporate into the void turns out to be the same thing as the big bang. Yet the two appear to be diametric opposites. This is the most fascinating idea to come down the pike since Einstein.

A short review of his latest book just released

http://bagotbooks.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/cycles-of-time-roger-penrose-...

Penrose gave a great lecture at Cambridge which is on youtube as a sequence of nine videos. Absolutely fascinating and enlightening without being technical.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ-D5AUGVcI&feature=watch_response

The best thing to watch is the original lecture with his own drawings.

Here's some discussion at a physics forum which contains some great references and urls concerning his very recent conformal cyclic theory.

http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=427567

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 18:08 | 840519 downrodeo
downrodeo's picture

Thank you for the links. If this process (of instantaneous creation from the big bang juxtaposed with everything fading away in the end) is the natural order of the universe, that leads me to wonder if the probability of our existence isn't actually 1.00? Ahhh, I love taking a good walk on the edge of human knowledge :-D

have a good new year!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 18:17 | 840532 Escapeclaws
Escapeclaws's picture

You're welcome, downrodeo, and same to you! These ideas are so beautiful and show how vast and mysterious is the universe we inhabit. Helps to keep me sane, relatively speaking, in the midst of all the gloom and doom that seems to be enveloping us. Yet we truly do live in a golden age in so many ways. I just hope the small minds that run the world (see Krasting's dinner column yesterday) don't ruin it all.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 14:30 | 841624 Unlawful Justice
Unlawful Justice's picture

Furthermore, elements heavier than iron are only formed from novas and supernovas. The fact that the Earth and our bodies have lots of elements heavier than iron shows that not only the Earth and Sun but our bodies were made from dust and gas from long-dead stars. It's amazing! 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 22:07 | 840905 palmereldritch
palmereldritch's picture

 

Many thanks for the links Escapeclaws.  Fascinating, insightful and definitely put things here on this rock into perspective.

I would like to recommend the following book which falls upon peripherally related lines and is entitled (probably available out there somewhere on the interwebs via bittorrent):

Hidden Nature: The Startling Insights of Viktor Schauberger

By Alick Bartholomew.

http://ebookee.org/Hidden-Nature-The-Startling-Insights-of-Viktor-Schauberger_103362.html

Schauberger’s theories and observations are believed to be the basis for much of the vorticular field theory upon which alleged advanced applied science has provided zero point energy and zero gravity devices which to date are cloaked in secrecy FWIW.  Kind of like a fractal derivative of the theme of your post but constructed from his observations of nature on the micro human/planetary scale.  

Happy New Year and all the best for 2011.

 

 

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 15:40 | 841692 Escapeclaws
Escapeclaws's picture

You're welcome, Palmereditch.  I'm just getting back to this right now. I will look into the ebook you mention. Have a great new year!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 22:40 | 840946 SteveNYC
SteveNYC's picture

Thanks for the link man, looking forward to digging into this.

I have tended to take the Zen approach over the past few years: What am I? Don't know. The ultra-subtle perception of the world and universe just as it is, without the influence of our petty human minds and conditioned thoughts/feelings/responses.......although it comes through in but glimpses, these glimpses touch deep and reveal something that words can not attempt to describe.

Be the moment, that's all there ever was/is/will be......all the best.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 22:48 | 840961 merehuman
merehuman's picture

chop wood, carry water, yep. may our buckets be full and our neighbors too.

Damn reality, who needs it

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 17:08 | 841739 Escapeclaws
Escapeclaws's picture

The Zen point of view is an interesting one. It can evidently lead to a great expansion of consciousness in which you become one with reality.  I always liked the Buddhist idea of right-mindedness and the hierarchy of awareness.  At the lowest level, one needs to learn about cause and effect. At the highest, one  sees that the observer and the thing observed are the same. I take this in the Schopenhaurean sense of "The world is my representation" but I'm undoubtedly totally wrong on this.  Buddhism is said to be not a religion as such, but rather a way of life or a discipline.

In terms of religions, I like the idea of religions that produce "religious experiences" such as the charisms in Catholicism or encounters with gods in various spiritual planes in other religions, such as Hinduism. I don't think science has the last word on these phenomena which have been around since humanity began. (Merehuman has said some pretty interesting things in this regard.)  People who claim to be scientific often have pedestrian and boring reasons for rejecting religion. At this point, they represent a calcified form of orthodoxy--the softer the science (eg, psychology), the more unyielding the orthodoxy.  These are people who believe in a kind of Lagrangian determinism from the 19th century and are too short on mathematical knowledge to have any idea about contemporary physics.  Penrose steers clear of religion, but he has recently come up with a fascinating theory that incorporates quantum indeterminism in consciousness. This implies things such as non-locality. Basically, he seems to be saying that consciousness is fundamentally non-computable in the sense of Turing.

Sorry for the rant--just one of my hobby horses.

By the way, if you really want an enlightening treatment of physics at a conceptually sophisticated level but which requires not too much previous mathematical experience beyond calculus, be sure to look at Penrose's great opus "The Road to Reality".  He has a way of explaining concepts better than any one I have ever read. For instance, negative or positive curvature of a surface, or what is a Riemannian manifold. This book should be on every educated person's coffee table, at the very least.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:30 | 841029 iDealMeat
iDealMeat's picture

+ for thinking..  however the "Universe" is bigger then cyclic cosmology.. It is infinite.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 14:24 | 841616 chumbawamba
chumbawamba's picture

The Universe as we know it is simply a vast computer simulation.  The trick is figuring out the code, who programmed it, and what is happening in their Universe.

I am Chumbawamba.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 19:07 | 841900 New World Chaos
New World Chaos's picture

Physics being so extraordinarily life-friendly is not so improbable if you see the Universe as a living organism which evolved from previous universes.  Physics is completely analogous to DNA, and it is no surprise that our DNA is life-friendly even though assembling it randomly is highly improbable.  Also, this organism we call the Universe is in the process of waking up.  Eventually, all aliens and AIs in the Universe will get together and turn the Universe into a giant emergent mind, which will be smart enough to create new universes- or perhaps even loop back in time and create itself!

You can explore these trippy ideas further in "The Intelligent Universe" by James Gardner http://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Universe-Emerging-Mind-Cosmos/dp/1564149196/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293922279&sr=8-1

Or just do a shitload of acid.  It gave me similar ideas.

Our goal is to ensure that we make it out into space and weave our consciousness and the Internet's consciousness into God's emerging mind.  The oligarchs also have an emergent hive mind otherwise known as Satan, whose goal is to keep us stuck on this planet in an eternal dark age.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 19:11 | 841909 perchprism
perchprism's picture

 

Escape--There's a problem with our continued existence as a species--specifically, why do we occupy this particular time when there are approximately nearly 25% of all people who ever lived, alive right now.

It's like this, if I had a box containing either 1 million names (one of which is yours), or 10 names (one of which is yours), and asked you to guess which it was, you'd have no real idea (you have to imagine a very large box of course).  But then suppose I started pulling names, and yours came up on the 4th pull, then you'd guess that the box only had 10 names, not 1 million.  The question arises, since our names have obviously been pulled so early on the timeline, what are the odds that THE BOX contains many more?  Not so good.

So my guess is that our civilization is not likely to last very long, simply because our names have been pulled so early, and that implies the box doesn't have many names in it.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 17:48 | 840472 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

lmfao @RNR!

That is HILARIOUS stuff, right there, now!

Narcissist much?

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:44 | 841051 greenbear
greenbear's picture

"With God On Our Side"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSuSWZUYHmg

 

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 07:12 | 841333 Dave
Dave's picture

As I recall, Albert Einstein said after hydrogen the most common

thing in the universe was stupidity.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 13:49 | 841570 Uncle Remus
Uncle Remus's picture


Stupidity has a certain charm -- ignorance does not. - Frank Zappa

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 13:51 | 841571 Rodent Freikorps
Rodent Freikorps's picture

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 16:45 | 841743 delacroix
delacroix's picture

most powerful thing in the universe  PUSSY  albert einstein

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 17:45 | 841799 Kayman
Kayman's picture

The Universe is firmly fixed in a conundrum of oscillating singularities. 

The God of your invention sticks his thumb in your eye, everytime you  think you have a clear picture of the universe.

Happy New Year Tyler, Marla and everyone on ZH. 

 Remember- it is ideas that will kill this greed-crazed monster.

Production cannot grow arithmetically, while debt grows exponentially, forever.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 18:52 | 841892 bobboberson
bobboberson's picture

Nice assesment of the universe but there is no god.  At least not in the sense of *any* religion.  Perhaps there is a higher order of energy or information or something but there isn't a little man in a white robe sitting on a cloud worrying about your church attendance.  Please grow up.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXThbqU0dw4

Sun, 01/02/2011 - 12:06 | 842509 Escapeclaws
Escapeclaws's picture

You don't see even the tiniest trace of arrogance in telling someone who has any religious convictions at all to "Please grow up"? Maybe when you are older and wiser, you will.  Meanwhile, please grow up, even if you continue to be an agnostic or atheist.  By the way, I have no problems with atheists and respect them generally more than I respect so-called religious people. Bottom  line is intellectual integrity, not what belief system you subscribe to.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 17:10 | 840365 sagerxx
sagerxx's picture

Second that!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 19:21 | 840671 dieskyver
dieskyver's picture

What they said.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:01 | 840025 philgramm
philgramm's picture

True dat..........This place has taught me more than my any school ever did!!!!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:05 | 840046 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

+++

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:07 | 840050 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

Cog, keep keeping it real real!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:21 | 840095 subqtaneous
subqtaneous's picture

 . . . and most of all, thanks for finding the "Angry Irishman".

Made my wankin', fuckin' year!


Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:19 | 840097 downrodeo
downrodeo's picture

I forgot to get a card so I'm signing my name to this one! Thanks to everyone here.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 19:13 | 840657 gangland
gangland's picture

100% what cd said, only source of information, including very much the comments.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 22:10 | 840908 Bay of Pigs
Bay of Pigs's picture

CD,

I echo that. I find ZH to be the best blog anywhere and I think the numbers confirm it. There are some very astute and smart people who post here. Thanks for the laughter and all the sarcasm as well. 

I raise a Mai Tai from the beautiful Island of Maui to all of you who make this place such a great forum to discuss important topics like,

GOLD & SILVER BITCHEZ!

Aloha and Happy New Year... 

 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:08 | 840999 carbonmutant
carbonmutant's picture

Totally!

Anybody drinkinking Champagne yet?

 

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 01:21 | 841161 Aristarchan
Aristarchan's picture

All the same to you, CD.....have a Spockian Year!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:53 | 839999 deez nutz
deez nutz's picture

we will see more hope and change in 2011 to keep things the same.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 01:44 | 841186 MayIMommaDogFac...
MayIMommaDogFace2theBananaPatch's picture

Can I use that?

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:55 | 840001 Cactus Rocky
Cactus Rocky's picture

Wall Street pays back Chris Dodd with seven-figure "consulting" gigs.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:55 | 840003 Bearster
Bearster's picture

Here are my calls:

1) Collapsing confidence in government and the system

2) but the oxymoron is increasing calls for government controls, regulations, and especially please preserve the programs which benefit me

3) serious problems at munis including:

  a) decline in market value of munis-->losses to pension funds, insurers, retirement accounts, etc.

  b) layoffs at municipalities and their vendors and contractors > 1M in 2011

  c) more missed payments and outright defaults

  d) real trouble at municipal pension funds and more defaults and increasing restructuring in bankruptcy courts

  e) showcase showdown between public unions and taxpayers, deuces wild and who knows how this plays out.  if the unions win, massive cutbacks in services like police, fire, schools, snow removal, sanitation, sewer, etc.

  f) eurozone insolvency

  g) collapse of the commodity bubble particularly non-food and non-energy

  h) USD higher vs. all asset classes (perhaps excluding gold and silver, perhaps not)

  i) major stock market decline, perhaps surpassing 4/09 lows

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:07 | 840061 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

RE: #2 = Spot on. Talk about Stockholm Syndrome.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 16:50 | 840321 JLee2027
JLee2027's picture

Yeah, the government will just dig in.

The economy will collapse by inevitable force, they won't be able to stop it or pretend it never happened.

Then people will really get angry at all the lies and disinformation. 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 16:07 | 840225 Sisyphus
Sisyphus's picture

 

Here are my predictions.

 

  • The market could go up or could go down or go sideways.
  • The economy could recover or go into a recession, or just remain the way it is now.
  • The GDP print could be anything between x to -x, where x is a number.
  • Gold will surely climb up or go down or navigate sideways. Same goes for silver.
  • Hyperinflation is a distinct possibility, so is deflation, stagflation, erection, hyperdistagflation, hyperventilation and premature ejaculation.
  • Jamie Dimon will not get a boob job done. Same with Lord Blankfien, Lady Pandit or any of the banksta goons. Shrinkage is a distinct possibility, however.
  • Sarah Palin will not undergo a sex change operation, nor will any of the Democrats or Republicans in Congress.
  • Britney Pierce will never be a virgin again.
  • TTT and Heli Ben will collaborate to buy and sell. The result will be orgasmic.
  • There will be an accident somewhere.
  • A gun fight will erupt, which may or may not lead to a war.
  • North and South Korea may get involved in a coital embrace that results in a spillage.
  • China erupts; India comes and Japan squirts.
  • Europe will enjoy phutball.
  • And lastly, Di-hydrogen Monoxide will cover 70% of this planet.

 

 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 16:47 | 840316 JLee2027
JLee2027's picture

I predict that a career as an Internet comedian is not for you...

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 17:08 | 840358 4shzl
4shzl's picture

Re #3: note today's high-volume red candle on the CMF chart.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 00:24 | 841102 TexasAggie
TexasAggie's picture

I make frequent trips between San Antonio and Houston and I have noticed many billboards with a for lease sign. Today, I counted 23 billboards between milepost 604 and 747.  On 2 Jan 11, I will count the for rent westbound billboards.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:57 | 840006 Dick Gozinya
Dick Gozinya's picture

I get an ulcer.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:58 | 840009 chinaguy
chinaguy's picture

I predict one of my Akitas will bite the FedEx guy unless he starts showing a little more backbone.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:01 | 840010 LittleAl_1
LittleAl_1's picture

 

 

An FOMC rate hike March 15, 2011 based off a 1232 day rhythmic repetition which is found at the start and end of every major Fed easing and tightening campaign conducted over the last 15 years.

Read more »http://apalmerseekingjob.blogspot.com/2010/12/case-for-fomc-rate-hike-march-15-2010.html

 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 20:41 | 840811 Bringin It
Bringin It's picture

"FOMC rate hike" in your dreams, in your next life maybe.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:59 | 840012 bunkermeatheadp...
bunkermeatheadprogeny's picture

Last year Charlie Crist came out of the closet that he really wasn't a Republican, in 2011 he will come out of the closet that he isn't really straight either.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:24 | 840106 EvlTheCat
EvlTheCat's picture

lol... That will only happen my friend if he can see some angle at it getting him elected vice-president in 2012.  If not he will stay in the closet for the same reason.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 19:27 | 840678 tmosley
tmosley's picture

Is a guy who has sex with a male animals considered gay?

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:04 | 840018 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

Today on my blog I wrote about how precious metals dominate the markets, why they do, how the dollar is worthless, and that I think facebook will be bought by a tech giant.  Oh, and the gold trade has been and is being set up on a strong Yuan and is getting home on the strong dollar.  Holler back.

Happy new year everyone.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:25 | 840114 pan-the-ist
pan-the-ist's picture

I'm going to wrapfacebook in a first person shooter interface and call it the Metaverse.  It will get very interesting when I add the Kinect 'groping' features.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 16:01 | 840211 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

Ha'vaad pissed Yale stole their 'ish, but that's what the order does! 

Sarc on/ 'Grave robbin', bitchez!'

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 17:55 | 840489 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

LH, that was a great write-up on the why particularly, and it actually caused me to seriously contemplate a few of my assumptions I may have grown too comfortable with.

Good stuff!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 18:15 | 840535 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

Comfortable assumptions!  Hmmmm.  ;)

Thanks Truth.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 14:59 | 840019 Gully Foyle
Gully Foyle's picture

In case y'all missed it.

http://press.discovery.com/us/tlc/programs/extreme-couponing/

 

Extreme Couponing

Premieres Wednesday, December 29 at 8pm ET/PT

Image 1 / 10

Americans throw away $57 billion worth of coupons every year. But for savvy savers, coupons can mean the difference between saving and spending thousands of dollars. On Wednesday, December 29 at 8 PM ET/PT, TLC will introduce four of the country's most coupon-obsessed savers who will do anything for a deal. Their game is simple - get as MUCH as possible for as LITTLE as possible.  But these extreme couponers aren't just looking to save a few dollars here and there.  Instead, they're looking to cash in on some serious savings and they're doing it by any means necessary - dumpster diving for coupons, charting weekly store circulars, creating elaborate math formulas and stocking up on as many products as possible. With over 367 billion coupons printed each year, the addictive art of smart shopping can be an extreme rush for any consumer.

Meet the shoppers of TLC's EXTREME COUPONING:

Nathan Engels - Villa Hills, KY - Cartographer
Nathan started clipping coupons four years ago when he and his wife took a closer look at their finances. Now, debt free with more than 10,000 items stockpiled in his garage, Nathan is preparing for the biggest haul of his life. On his latest visit to the supermarket, Nathan is leaving with over 2,000 items - his most massive checkout to date. With 1,100 boxes of cereal, 300 toothbrushes and 60 bottles of hand soap, Nathan is looking forward to topping himself and saving thousands of dollars in the process!
Retail value: $5,743.00 Nathan's cost after utilizing his coupons: $241.00 - 95% savings!

Joanie Demer - McKinleyville, CA - Stay at home mom
For Joanie, clipping coupons started out as a hobby three years ago. But just three months in, she quickly discovered the financial gratitude associated with smart shopping. Now, Joanie is known as "The Krazy Coupon Lady" and to satisfy her daily coupon cravings this stay-at-home mom collects more than 500 coupons each week by doing something most women won't do - she jumps in dumpsters! During her latest trip to the supermarket, she fills four carts full of 250 items including 40 boxes of pasta and 20 liters of soda.
Retail value: $638.64. Joanie's cost after utilizing her coupons: $2.64 - 98% savings!

Joyce House - Philadelphia, PA - Retired Nurse
Through careful planning and smart shopping, Joyce hasn't paid for a toothbrush, toothpaste or deodorant in 34 years. The savvy saver has been on her own since the age of 12 and at 15, was a single mother using coupons out of necessity. On her latest trip to the supermarket, Joyce brings along her daughter to teach her the basics of extreme couponing and ends up walking out of the store with hundreds of dollars in savings.
Retail value: $230.38. Joyce's cost after utilizing her coupons: $6.32.

Amanda Ostrowski - Cincinnati, OH - Storage Facility Manager
Amanda is a full-time Storage Facility Manger in Cincinnati, OH who spends up to 70 hours a week researching in-store promotions, clipping coupons and surfing the internet for the latest and greatest deals. She already has a stockpile of products from previous couponing ventures worth up to $15,000. But this extreme saver is most proud of her collection of toilet paper - over 3,000 rolls - enough to last the average couple about 40 years! Now, with the help of her husband, Amanda is preparing for her largest checkout ever consisting of nine baskets of food, beauty and pet products including 218 boxes of pasta, 268 containers of noodles, 100 bottles of sport drink and 150 candy bars.
Retail value: $1,175.33. Amanda's cost after utilizing her coupons: $51.67.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:06 | 840056 PigsOnTheWing
PigsOnTheWing's picture

Couponing is so 2010. For 2011, expect Extreme Grouponing.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:45 | 840176 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

Pouponing makes a comeback.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 03:58 | 841277 Dr. Sandi
Dr. Sandi's picture

Pardon me, but do you have any Gay Gropon?

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 16:14 | 840248 bunkermeatheadp...
bunkermeatheadprogeny's picture

Coupons will no longer have to be printed with the value 1/100th of a cent, because the cent has become 1/100th of its prior value.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:16 | 840087 mt paul
mt paul's picture

coupons 

for silver futures ..?

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 21:32 | 840871 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

Big whoop.  I've dated plenty of chicks who haven't paid for deoderant in years..., wait a minute... what was the question?

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:04 | 840021 Rogerwilco
Rogerwilco's picture

The "success" of China's government/economic alliance and central planning will be copied by the U.S. and the EU. Pols and central bankers will bypass voters and enable the transformation through edicts and rule changes.

If you want to know where it leads, watch Terry Gilliam's prophetic movie "Brazil". Make it your goal not to be Buttle or Tuttle.

Then gather the family and watch Gilliam's "Adventures of Baron Munchausen" so you can feel good about the world again.

Happy New Year!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:01 | 840026 topcallingtroll
topcallingtroll's picture

I predict a top in top calling.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:01 | 840028 RunningMan
RunningMan's picture

Thanks ZH. I now only read one news site on the internet. Education, information and a time saver to boot.

As for what this year brings? I am hoping it brings a larger voice to those who are tired of our governmental status quo. Muni default may be the only path to smaller government, but might make a stop on the way to hyperinflation first.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:02 | 840029 Chippewa Partners
Chippewa Partners's picture

I second what Cog Dis said above....may all of you have a great 2011 and believe that the best is yet to come. 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:04 | 840033 Double down
Double down's picture

I predict there will be more Bitchez

 

Bitchez

 

 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 22:29 | 840933 Violetta (not verified)
Violetta's picture

honestly, guys are wierder than i thought they were.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:04 | 840035 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

Happy New Year Everyone. I'd like to start nominations for comment of the year awards

I nominate Uncle Remus for the following exchange on the Ashton Kutchner post:

by Jim Billy Bob J...
on Wed, 12/29/2010 - 15:47
#836483

First Tony Robbins!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now Ashton Kuchter!!!!!

Who is next????

Richard Simmons!!!!!!!!!!!

by Uncle Remus
on Wed, 12/29/2010 - 15:51
#836504

Sweatin' to the Apocalypse?

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 19:08 | 840650 Hulk
Hulk's picture

I nominate whomever came up with "weaponized pussy" the other day. Simply brilliant!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 19:36 | 840699 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

that is good, and redundant

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 19:35 | 840701 gangland
gangland's picture

touche....hahahahhaahahahahahahahahahahahhaah

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:01 | 840989 Rusty Shorts
Rusty Shorts's picture

I nominate this comment;

 

"Exactly. Which is why most people I know think they can ignore the math and everything will be okay. They fight the very idea that there is a real decline in quality of life, that it is permanent, and that it will continue to deteriorate. As Michele added above: "Apres moi, le deluge." Everyone else will get screwed but not me, I got mine.
It's a tsunami. Previous paradigms no longer apply.
Teevee, junkfood-addled Amerika could not withstand a currency collapse. The Black Plague made human capital valuable again - in modern application we have tens of millions on the gov't teat with no recovery.
http://www.martinarmstrong.org/files/Are-We-Running-Out-of-Other-People-...
All those 99-weekers waiting for jobs. What jobs? Doing what? The service economy is a fiat lie and our infrastructure is based on a constant flow of cheap oil.
Mortgage? WTF for? Prices are artificially high because of 1) shadow inventory 2) who can say they will be employed in their profession to make payments for 30 years anymore - no man is an island.
Stay nimble. Stay quick. This is no time for white picket fences. Going back to the sad, miserable, drugged-up state of our Nation it ain't a stretch to imagine that the Mandarin speakers are planning to make use of their raw (war) materials and spouse-less young men for "real estate acquisition". Hasn't anyone read a history book around here? The Chi-Coms have openly spoken of how they deserve North America. This kind of scenario isn't discussed because it is the worst-case scenario outside of nuc-bio-chem warfare, and then subsequent invasion.
"Oh, but China needs us and we need them." Bullshit. Everyone is buying time. The Chinese aren't stupid and they know they aren't getting their money back. Some finance guy over there said US bonds are not safe medium and long. In other words "We are trying to buy as much time as possible to acquire tangible assets that matter!"
All the survivalists from the 70's were wrong because they didn't understand the "Nixon" trick/effect of taking us off the gold standard and taking paper money to its extreme utility. It would have been better to face this shitstorm back then. Back when Americans were still eating meals that had real nutrition, no obesity epidemic, actual human interaction, strong infrastructure with less bureaucracy. Today it's all bloated beyond recognition.
When the Fed finally makes a move that has a visible and real effect on Amerika even rationing of supplies won't keep the interurban areas content. We are at the brink of a f.u.n.d.a.m.e.n.t.a.l. shift. Be far away from the millions that require a weekly check for their very survival. Do you think the owners of the Fed care if millions starve?"

 

 - ZH comment author unknown.

 

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 13:52 | 841574 Uncle Remus
Uncle Remus's picture

Good grief Rusty, compared to "weaponized pussy", this is a tome.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 14:15 | 841605 Landrew
Landrew's picture

Interesting thoughts Rusty. I can't say I always agree with you, however I always enjoy your thoughts.

 

Sun, 01/02/2011 - 02:10 | 842308 Rusty Shorts
Rusty Shorts's picture

It's all good Landrew.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 13:56 | 841578 Uncle Remus
Uncle Remus's picture

Davey, I appreciate the nod, but I have to go with "weaponized pussy" as well.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 20:08 | 840759 nmewn
nmewn's picture

"I nominate whomever came up with "weaponized pussy" the other day. Simply brilliant!"

That was Dr.Sandi I believe...an instant classic...LOL.

Sun, 01/02/2011 - 02:16 | 842313 Aristarchan
Aristarchan's picture

Maybe I have led a sheltered life....but I have yet to run into one that was not weaponized.....my wife's included.

Sun, 01/02/2011 - 09:21 | 842450 Silversinner
Silversinner's picture

Is this the oppisite of a pacified penis.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 20:15 | 840772 RichardP
Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:58 | 841065 delacroix
delacroix's picture

dr sandi ?

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 03:59 | 841278 Dr. Sandi
Dr. Sandi's picture

You're welcome!

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 13:59 | 841583 Uncle Remus
Uncle Remus's picture

You're not a GYN by any chance...

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 17:14 | 841772 Dr. Sandi
Dr. Sandi's picture

I'm not THAT kind of Dr.

But I know how to use a speculum and could look up your ex if you like.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 17:52 | 841811 Uncle Remus
Uncle Remus's picture

But I know how to use a speculum and could look up your ex if you like.

Macht nichts to me.  But hey, knock yourself out.

Sun, 01/02/2011 - 02:17 | 842316 Aristarchan
Aristarchan's picture

Could you check out my wife and see if she is hiding any PM's in there? I often speculate about that.

Mon, 01/03/2011 - 02:00 | 843631 Dr. Sandi
Dr. Sandi's picture

Looks like no precious metals, just a case of PMS. Thanks for playing!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:03 | 840038 topcallingtroll
topcallingtroll's picture

Oh and on a serious note thanks for all your hard work. Your pointing out the record shorts in kre was an easy ten percent for the troll.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:06 | 840044 bunkermeatheadp...
bunkermeatheadprogeny's picture

In the spirit of New Year's Eve, the cost of spirits will spike due to rising commodity prices and new sin taxes from cash strapped states. Ditto on tobacco.

 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 19:02 | 840646 nmewn
nmewn's picture

Well, there's sumpin to look forward to.

Sun, 01/02/2011 - 02:21 | 842319 Aristarchan
Aristarchan's picture

Ok...booze and cigs are going up, and pussy is weaponized. So, what the fuck am I supposed to do now? Jerk off a digital cigarette while drinking Mountain Dew?

Sun, 01/02/2011 - 10:38 | 842476 velobabe
velobabe's picture

s t a r, jerk off a digital cig/fag? that is actually what i would like to do, as well.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:06 | 840049 10044
10044's picture

inflation/hyperinflation bitchez

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:05 | 840051 mynhair
mynhair's picture

I predict Direxion starts 2 new ETFs: FUK and FUX, triple leveraged fraud funds.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:08 | 840058 CPL
CPL's picture

Leverage Decay Bitchez!  MFW!!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:08 | 840059 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

Don't forget FQU

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:13 | 840081 bunkermeatheadp...
bunkermeatheadprogeny's picture

LMAO

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:09 | 840063 CPL
CPL's picture

Bull market in cat food and tin plates.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:08 | 840064 JonNadler
JonNadler's picture

The Eye of Vichy

Great film about German/Vichy French propaganda films used to convice the French the NAzis were really their friends and benefactors. THankfully this kind of propaganda is not seen anymore of course.

If I could only have Goebbels talent, gold would drop to 250 and everyone would be buying AIG and Citi stock

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:09 | 840067 Crisismode
Crisismode's picture

PM Prediction for end of trading, 2011:

Gold @ $1617./oz.

Silver @ $44.44/oz.

Th . . Th . . Th . . That's All, Folks!

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:39 | 840155 I need more cowbell
I need more cowbell's picture

Hell, thats my end of January prediction.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:10 | 840068 Dick Gozinya
Dick Gozinya's picture

I do appreciate this site.

The only unanswered questions is...

The Fed is a toxic spill of liquidity. The underwater derivatives, collapsing real estate, etc. is a sponge of liquidity. Which is bigger, the spill or the sponge?

New Years resolution- None. I was gonna give up procrastinating, but I've decided to wait until Valentine's Day.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:10 | 840069 onlooker
onlooker's picture

Illegitimi non carborundum. Don’t let the bastards grind you down. Oppression and tyranny are not new even in the USA. Educate, Vote, Fight for the survival of this Great Nation.   Happy New Year. Long Life. -------- Overcome

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:11 | 840073 PigsOnTheWing
PigsOnTheWing's picture

Nigel Farage will be elected to the Europarl presidency.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 20:36 | 840801 asdasmos
asdasmos's picture

pipe dreams

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:12 | 840076 Monetative Easing
Monetative Easing's picture

Reading a posting at ZH is like the old joke about fortune cookies.  Except that instead of ending the fortune with "...in bed", you end each post with "and that is why stocks will crash, society will break down and the only value will be in gold, silver and lead, bitchez!"

I predict more of the same in 2011.  Because while many of the posts here are correct, TPTB globally have a vested interest in maintaining the current system.  As such they will use their opiates (iPad!  3D movies and reality shows), deep pockets and failing that, their vast amounts of weaponry to continue the charade.

Happy new year

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 21:16 | 840852 traderjoe
traderjoe's picture

I will contradict your prediction with my own: I predict there will be a "bank holiday" sometime in 2011, with the banks and the stock exchanges closed. Perhaps due to a regional war or false flag. But that's what I predict. 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:11 | 840077 bunkermeatheadp...
bunkermeatheadprogeny's picture

In 2011, ZH hits the top 100 Alexa rating.

Sun, 01/02/2011 - 10:42 | 842478 velobabe
velobabe's picture

more females, is up^

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:12 | 840080 monopoly
monopoly's picture

Tyler, thanks for all you do and the honesty and truth on this site. None of us expect all posts here to be correct all the time, but you give us the fodder we need to hopefully make decisions based on fact, not fantasy. 2011 will be interesting for sure and I have no idea what the markets will do short term. I am keeping my gold, silver and miners and add to physical on every dip. By the way, we need a real dip, lol.

Happy New Year Tyler, Zero hedge staff and all on this board. This is a community like no other.

Be safe all and see ya next year.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:15 | 840084 PigsOnTheWing
PigsOnTheWing's picture

+1

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 19:12 | 840655 nmewn
nmewn's picture

+2

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 20:36 | 840805 asdasmos
asdasmos's picture

+3

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 11:34 | 841467 Rudolf Havenstein
Rudolf Havenstein's picture

+4

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:16 | 840090 e_u_r_o
e_u_r_o's picture

oh i wish we would have a 10-20% drop in PMs in early 2011

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 16:11 | 840242 SMG
SMG's picture

I'm with you, hope we get it.   It will be interesting to see if Ron Paul is going to do anything about the FED.  Also the budget out of congress this year will be interesting too.  Although if things stay the same, I guess it's hyperinflation from here and we missed the boat.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:21 | 840101 Bruno the Bear
Bruno the Bear's picture

Official government inflation figures for 2011 will print at -.00000011%

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:21 | 840105 pan-the-ist
pan-the-ist's picture

I bought a kindle.  AMZN FTW!11!.

Anyway, how about some book suggestions?

I download lots of mobi's from Gutenburg but haven't actually bought any books yet.  I'm currently reading The adventures of Tom Sawyer.

(BTW- WTF is with MS confusing everyone on "WHAT IS THE CLOUD"?)

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 18:30 | 840576 pslater
pslater's picture

I highly recommend 'Guns Germs and Steel' along with the sequel 'Collapse' both by Jared Diamond.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 19:36 | 840700 PigsOnTheWing
Fri, 12/31/2010 - 18:50 | 840613 TheProphet
TheProphet's picture

When Money Dies by Adam Ferguson

When All Hell Breaks Loose by Cody Lundin

The Big Short by Michael Lewis

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Complete Adventures of Curious George by Margaret and H.A. Rey

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 22:57 | 840981 merehuman
merehuman's picture

Gullivers travels, the USA is also tied down and tied up. We have outsourced our freedom and have to vacation overseas to get it back.

 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:22 | 840108 mtremus
mtremus's picture

Lets all sing Wait till the sun shines Nelly

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 12:42 | 841506 lilimarlene1
lilimarlene1's picture

A day late. And a dollar short.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:22 | 840109 MiningJunkie
MiningJunkie's picture

Condolences to all the shorts out there that got killed. Just like 1983...shorting stuff means you are going "long" FRN's. Going long depreciating dollars via shorts was (and is) madness.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:25 | 840110 downrodeo
downrodeo's picture

Julian Assange releases confidential communications between the cast members of Jersey Shore. Nothing happens as a result of this.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:28 | 840124 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

Joey 'the situation' (that's his name, right - really, I don't watch) is nominated to replace Ben S. Bernanke when it is discovered that Bernanke is Jamie Dimon's father, forcing his resignation.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:29 | 840133 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

Maybe if he discussed the Jersey Girls we might just make some headway here. But some buttons are too hot to handle and it's clear Assange wants smoke but no fire. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_Girls

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:53 | 840181 downrodeo
downrodeo's picture

Wow. thanks for the link. I had no idea about the origins of the 9/11 commission. I guess I had just assumed it was all Bush's idea. I know a several girls from Jersey, but I'd never heard of this particular bunch. Then, come to find that Kissinger was the original chairman. It's almost too perfect.

 

I have to re-post this from the wiki:

So I asked him, 'Mr. Kissinger, do you have any Saudi clients?' He mumbled something. And then he asked if someone would pour him some coffee. So then I said, 'Do you happen to have any clients by the name of bin Laden? He almost fell off the couch.

 

i'll say it again; wow

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 17:00 | 840339 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

The more you dig, the more it stinks. Just grab a gas mask and keep digging.

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 00:02 | 841031 DavidPierre
DavidPierre's picture

Bush Admin Insider Confirms 9/11 Was An Inside Job

http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/4374/Bush_Admin_Insider_Confirms_9_11_Was_An_Inside_Job/

.............................................................

Sibel Edmonds Documentary -

Kill The Messenger

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6063340745569143497#

Sibel Edmonds, a 32-year-old Turkish-American, was hired as a translator by the FBI shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 because of her knowledge of Middle Eastern languages. She was fired less than a year later in March 2002 for reporting shoddy work and security breaches to her supervisors that could have prevented those attacks.

One beautiful little woman with Bigger Balls than all the 9/11 MORON, SmokeyQuinn, KuntDenninger bully-boys combined !

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 00:21 | 841099 DavidPierre
DavidPierre's picture

DARE all you cyborg tough guys!...

                    CRY TREASON!

Dr. Alan Sabrosky, former director of studies at the US Army War College ... "the military brass KNOW ... TRAITORS committed 911..."

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 00:12 | 841087 DavidPierre
DavidPierre's picture

Some 9/11 Blues from...

Gary Hood and The Last Show Ever -

"Sibel Edmonds"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VLNfMcOW_E&feature=related

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:49 | 840182 downrodeo
downrodeo's picture

dbl ;-/

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 16:04 | 840183 downrodeo
downrodeo's picture

Off topic: Jersey Shore RPG

 

http://www.sydlexia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14343

(if you have bladder control problems, do not click this link)

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:51 | 840184 downrodeo
downrodeo's picture

. (sorry all)

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 17:40 | 840451 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

CD, thanks for that link.

 

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 01:10 | 841150 hardmedicine
hardmedicine's picture

I just have to take this opportunity to repost my favorite comment from this year's zerohedge education:

 

by puckles

on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 19:50

#704163

 

Well, as far as official comment is concerned, at least in this country, the case has been closed on 9/11; the trial has been done (in the media, and elsewhere), the suspects partially arraigned and detained (Guantanamo, Congress, and other centers), and in some cases (those more easily adjudicated), sentenced, and often detained, or released.

 

Many of these, if not all, of course, were guilty of, at the very least, terrorism and conspiracy, so they immediately fell under the famous and not so recently used RICO laws, even if acquitted by US Courts on the original charges.  No federal jurisdiction to date has done so.

 

I point this out to all of us who harbor possible (HAHAHA) thoughts that 9/11 was engineered. Despite all the evidence, NOBODY is willing to go there.  There are multiple reasons for this.

 

The primary reason is that no agency will ever, EVER, admit wrongdoing. This is because those agencies capable of wreaking any kind of havoc like this have already had themselves exempted, by Act of Congress, of any requirement to disclose their actions via the Freedom of Information Act, exemption b3, and/or J1; all others rely on the various exemptions of b1, in terms of National Security.  There are other FOIA exemptions that are not related to national security per se. (Disclosure: I am currently a FOIA/PA Case Officer.)

 

The Executive Office is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Any Executive Order can, at least theoretically, immunize documents from disclosure, but Executive Orders are not necessary for any document issued as classified from the Executive Office.

 

We are still processing requests from researchers interested in documents from the Kennedy Library, as well as some referred from the FBI that are even older.  Most of these have exemption from current automatic declassification limits for most documents; some have no declassification limits.

 

The SEC's attempt at becoming exempt from the FOIA, BTW, had a bigtime FAIL.  You can go for those bastards NOW. They tried to hide it in one of the multiple 2,000pg+ thingies (I cannot call them laws) that went through Congress this year, and it got killed!  And go for it!

 

 

 

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 16:35 | 840287 gnome_of_zurich
gnome_of_zurich's picture

Someone leaks the most interesting paragraphs/pages of Assange's book before it goes to print/published.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:28 | 840117 westboundnup
westboundnup's picture

The "1's" haven't been kind historically.  2001 - really bad.  1991 - recession. 1981 - bad recession.  1971 - horrible year for hair / clothes.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 18:52 | 840619 TheProphet
TheProphet's picture

Yeah, but Zeppelin 4 came out that year.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:26 | 840122 reload
reload's picture

Happy New Year to all.

Big Thanks to all contributors, your work and insight is inspiring, educational and much appreciated. Keep shining the light.

predictions for 2011 - more of the same, with growing realisation that confiscation through inflation is the name of the game. I expect more in the way of resignation than anger from the flock though. A European firework display in April or May looks probable too.

certainties for 2011 - I will not start watching CNBC or open a LookatMyFace account.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:47 | 840125 Mercury
Mercury's picture

What's the deal with Marla these days and the constantly changing text on the ZH masthead?

First Marla gets downgraded to "contributor" and now "The Zero Hedge Team" apparently consists of nobody in particular at all and there's this weird statement about Mr. Durden being the only one who can sign on behalf of ZH...

Office party gone bad?

 - - - - - - -

Bang-up year though, ladies and gents of Zero Hedge.  Well done.

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 15:33 | 840127 virgilcaine
virgilcaine's picture

Going to predict the last trading day of 2010 will be RED.

May the bear return with a vengeance in 2011!

 

Pretty lame the Bond Market can't even hold 3.5% ..So Much for the Robust Economy!!...lol

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!