Saturday

Weekend Rambler

I'm stunned: the MSM is actually reporting what a funk the economy is in . . . and their man is president in an election year. That means one of two things: (1) The economy isn't just in a funk. It's in full-on depression-mode decline, and they can't wholly ignore it any more, so they're admitting there's at least a small problem; (2) Hell has frozen over. * * * * * * * Among all the lousy economic facts I read yesterday, this one stood out the most: "The 69.9 per cent labor force participation rate for men is at lowest level recorded since the US government began tracking it in 1948." Translated: People are giving up in record numbers. * * * * * * * If that makes you sad, check out these seven natural depression remedies. (HT) * * * * * * * My mining stocks (sample) have finally begun to jump. I've been banking on a leap for the past two-plus years. * * * * * * * But still the best investment these days: garden supplies. I have one of my two cold frames installed, and I'm picking up more wood chips for my Eden operation later this morning. * * * * * * The creating of Kim Kunstler's garden. Pretty cool series of pictures. He's apparently a raised-bed or square-foot garden guy. * * * * * * * Sing it! "Save big money at Menard's." I bought 18 12-inch self-watering containers for $3.50 apiece (online retail: $12.99)

* * * * * * * Bookmarked for future reading: Three Hungarian priests of my youth have been beatified and are now venerated as martyrs. An English friend may soon join them. * * * * * * * Funny Conan: "Scarlett Johansson, Kerry Washington, and Eva Longoria all spoke at the Democratic convention. This means that Obama has all about clinched the crucial 13-year-old boy vote. * * * * * * * Funny Ferguson: "One year Kid Rock and Tommy Lee got into a huge fistfight at the [Video Music Awards]. I don't remember what the fight was about. I think it was they differed over how the Pythagorean Theorem is the basis for major key scales."