J.P. Morgan's Dirty Little Secret

J.P. Morgan's Dirty Little Secret
By Greg McCoach | Monday, March 24th, 2008

Events last week have prompted me to send out this communication regarding the sudden collapse of the precious metals market. Let's take a look at what caused the collapse and why junior mining companies are the one glimmer of hope amid the chaos.
Bear Stearns, J.P. Morgan, and the Precious Metals Market
The demise of Bear Stearns, which was reported to the public last Sunday evening and Monday, has in turn caused their assets to be sold off in masse this week.
On their book of liquid assets was a rather large, long gold position. It is being sold off in order to raise cash to offset their massive losses. The spot prices have been hammered because of this activity, but it will be short-term in nature. If you're looking to buy physical precious metals to diversify your portfolio at this point, you are being given an unexpected gift to do so. It won't last long.
Another item in Bear Stearns closet was a massive short-position in the ten year treasury. This of course is being unwound this week, which is making the dollar look a bit stronger than it really is. However, don't be confused by this nonsense, the dollar will soon resume its downward trend.
The fact that Bear Stearns was shorting the dollar to such a degree shows that they were not playing along with the the Federal Reserve banking crowd. And they have been severely punished by the powers that be.
What brought Bear Stearns to its knees was their own riverboat gambling mentality that not only jeopardized them, but the financial system as a whole. This story is just the beginning of what will be a long list of companies that meet a similar fate. Will the Fed and the citizens of the United States be able to bail out all the financial sewage that is about to be uncovered?
What the Fed is doing is nothing more than sleight of hand trickery to gain the assets of Bear Stearns. As I have said before, the Federal Reserve is no more "Federal" than Federal Express. It is a private organization owned and controlled by shareholders, the largest of which is J.P. Morgan Chase.
J.P. Morgan Chase, in other words, is the Federal Reserve... so don't be surprised that they end up with the assets while you and I pay for the debts from the whole mess.
When are people in the United States going to wake up to the ugly realities that are now upon us? This ongoing calamity of financial chaos is going to cause extremely serious consequences to each and every American. Your wealth, security and lifestyle are all at stake as the coming months and years unfold.
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4 Ways to Protect Your Financial Security
You should be doing everything you can, including:

Avoiding, paying down and paying off debt

Buying physical precious metals - particularly gold and silver

Getting money outside the country or at least in a better currency

Getting away from dollar-denominated risk

There are going to be banking failures in the United States and around the world. You should be evaluating the merits of who you bank with. Most of the big banks are in a world of hurt. The smaller, independent banks have not leveraged themselves like most of the big banks. So they may fare better, even though they don't offer all the nice, online services the big banks have.


What to Expect From Junior Mining Companies

As far as junior mining stocks go, they will rebound. Right now they are getting hit as investors like us prepare to write checks for our capital gains taxes. Yes, it appears many of us have waited till the last minute to raise money to pay for these taxes. Most of us will have to sell something to pay for them.

So, in the next few weeks, expect further weakness as this takes place. The better companies will be hit with this activity as well. Those who have the cash will be given the best opportunity to buy low and sell high.

After tax season however, and as the precious metals prices begin to make very large moves in April, the bigger junior mining companies will also make their move... going to much higher levels.

As we move forward in the next six to eight months, I see a time where we will begin to beef up positions in companies that are either in production or are near-term producers. Companies that are more speculative and do not have any near-term production capacity will be eliminated. The reason for this is that the risk capital markets are going to be getting much tighter moving forward, and many junior mining companies that are still in the speculative phase will find it much harder to raise monies moving forward. I will be talking more about this in the coming months.
Until next time,
Greg McCoach
www.GoldWorld.com


Current Metals Prices
Gold$923.703.70
Silver$1,715.0030.00
High Grade Copper$361.203.85
Palladium$432.50-13.55
Platinum$1,875.80-1.50




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Economic Releases for the week of Monday, March 24th, 2008:

Mar 24 - Existing Home Sales
Mar 25 - Consumer Confidence
Mar 26 - Durable Orders
Mar 26 - New Home Sales
Mar 26 - Crude Inventories
Mar 27 - GDP
Mar 27 - Initial Claims
Mar 28 - Personal Income and Spending
Mar 28 - Michigan Sentiment

Brought to you by Wealth Daily




From the Archives...
Gold Falls Over $100 an Ounce in Two Days
2008-03-20 - Luke Burgess

Why Silver Could Reach Over $150 an Ounce by the End of this Bull Market
2008-03-19 - Luke Burgess

Aurelian Cuts 169 Meters Grading 13.16 g/t Gold
2008-03-17 - Luke Burgess

Why $1,200 by Year End Isn't Out of the Question
2008-03-15 - Ian Cooper

Gold Hits $1,000 an Ounce
2008-03-13 - Luke Burgess

WHY PARENTING?

Why Parenting?
Many of you must have questioned or are still questioning why this fresh College Graduate would want to write a book about parenting. You have probably realized by now that I am still single, have no adopted children or children of my own. However, I do have a heart and passion for children and youth. I have taught at the YMCA children camps, gone for numerous mission trips, taught Conflict Resolution and Anger Management Modules to Grade 5 students in Canada and volunteered to teaching Sunday Schools at my church, City Mission Church. Additionally I am thankful to God for creating this desire to share how children, youth and young adults perceive parenting for their point of view. This book was inspired to bridge current parents’ understanding of their children and enhance the intangible relationships within families.

This need to share such values and insights was initially birth in me when I was still a teenager. I was appalled by the numerous youths who continuously cursed and sweared about their parents, belittle their jobs or lifestyle and show absolutely no respect what so ever. This by far was the norm and such bombardments of disrespect flood our city. I was blessed to have been brought up by good Christian parents who loved and cared for me unconditionally. However, I have to give tribute to the fact that my dad was posted overseas forcing my mother to give up her job and become a full time mom in Canada. Having been fortunately raised overseas where the work hours our less and more flexible, my family was able to spend a lot more time than a typical family in Singapore would.

We live in a culture that is booming exponentially and where a standard two-income family’s cash flow just breaks even or is still in debt or is left with very little savings. It is almost impossible for a fresh graduate to ultimately pay for a down payment of any private residential unit (public residents: HDB requires that you are over 35 years old or are married to qualify for a HDB unit) as the prices have soured due to the recent 2007 economic boom. Parents are forced turn to foreign helpers to take care of their children and many children end up spending more time with these helpers than they do with their own parents. Obviously, with little to no time spent as a family, relationships will inevitably tarnish and wither away.

So who is to blame? The society, the parents or the children? However there is only so much that we can do to change how the society we live in. But there is a 100% cause and effect to how we can decide to change how we act as individuals, be it the role of a parent or the child. So the real question is, how willing and determined are we to foster the relationships you have as a family unit? To what extents are you willing to go through to fight for this goal?


Young at Heart. Parenting is an opportunity for rediscovering one's inner child that had been buried deeply beneath the layers of conditioning that we had acquired in the process of growing up. It is a reminder to feel young again at heart, and experience the world with a child-like wonder. It is all right to be playful. Give yourself full permission to party and have fun with our children.

Communication

Communication
Inspiration from Kenny Toh, Parents as Coaches

One of the main problems in today’s families is the lack of communication. Let me be a little more specific and state effective and quality communication, as many of us ‘communicate’ through shouting, door clamming or silent body gestures continuously at home. The lack of proper communication has been lacking in families and this is not a new epidemic.

Effective communication really takes two hands to clap and it requires both parties to actively listen and contribute tactfully to the communication process. If otherwise done, you might as well talk straight to a blank wall or your favorite stuff toy at home.

I’m going to lay out some elements of effective communication in this write up and I hope you will be able to pick up some nuggets of truth and inspiration.


Communication through PLAY:

Children have been born to play. Even when I’m nearing 24, I still love playing and I make it a point to have fun in whatever I do, be it work or reading a book or even just sweating it out at the gym.

It is no secret that children learn best through playing. In fact, that applies to adults too. Playing is not only essential but a lot of fun too. It warms up and relaxes the mind, making it open and receptive to learning.

Playing puts a child in a state of wonder, enabling them to experiment with new things, ideas or activities, uninhibited by fears arising from excessive self-consciousness. The message for parents is that, "if you want to teach children something effectively, make sure that the process is fun for them".

Moreover, playing has healthy consequences to the family, for a family that plays together often stays together.



Communication through AFFIRMATION:

Children need affirmation, especially from their parents. Affirmation is nourishment for the soul. Affirmation may be given in the form of words such as "I believe in you" and "You are doing fine", or simply by nodding our head with encouragement. When we affirm our children, we strengthen their beliefs in themselves and help them build greater confidence.

Communication through COMPASSION:

Compassion is about feeling for others, empathizing with their sufferings, a virtue that is beneficial to cultivate from young. Virtues or values are to be caught and not taught. The best way to cultivate compassion in our children is through our actions. Children learn and absorb what’s around them like sponges. We may be quiet about what we are choosing to soak in but we tend to retail a lot of things, both good and bad.

An act of compassion need not necessarily involve volunteering at non-profit organizations or donating cash to charities. Opportunities for showing compassion happen in our every day life and is especially apparent in times of crisis. Most people are filled to the brim with complaints and bad mood, emo things, but it is at these times that compassion can really go very far.

If parents were to show such compassion since their children’s growing up age, it will inevitable rub off on them. It will be ingrained in their sub-conscious mind and a mimic behavior on their part would not be a chore or sacrifice but their way of life.

Recently, I have committed to show compassion in my daily life. I started tipping generously to people who least expect it. For example, paying a tip to the cab driver that is 50% of the fare or even 100%! The shocked but happy smile was all worth it. It made my day and definitely made his. Another thing we should all do, is thanking and tipping the uncles and aunties at the hawker centers and in our washrooms. Think about this: When was the last time they got a compliment?

Trust me on this, their smiles and appreciation will be worth much more than your dollars and cents.

Additionally, they need it much more than you do and I can promise that you will get back your act of kindness much more in return. Remember that we were blessed so that we can in return be a blessing. If you sow financially you will reap financially. It’s a biblical and spiritual truth. So go out there and bless

Communication through EMPATHY:

Empathy is the cornerstone of effective communication between the parent and the child. The key to tuning into our children emotionally lies in our ability to listen with empathy. Empathy requires the ability to feel what they feel, see what they see, hear what they hear, without reacting to these emotions. To listen with empathy, we need to be fully present to our children. Children need undivided attention. Through listening to their emotions, and acknowledging them without judgment, we make them feel understood. When a child feels understood, he feels loved. And when he feels loved, his opens up and becomes receptive to guidance.

Communication through HONESTY:

We would like to think that honesty is the best policy, but the truth often hurts. At times, honesty can be brutal. When a child tells a parent how much he hated his little brother and how he wishes that the latter is dead, it may cause the parent to feel hurt or furious over the child's ill thinking.

How should the parent respond? Definitely not with anger or disapproval. To encourage honesty, we need to maintain an environment in which our children feel safe to open their hearts and speak honestly. Conscious parents will acknowledge the child's courage for being honest, show empathy for the child's hatred, seek to understand the underlying causes, and then guide them out of the undesirable emotions.

Communication through INFINITE PATIENCE:

Effective parenting requires infinite patience. Children seldom respond at the rate that we wish they do. They need a lot room to experiment, try new ideas, and figure things out without being rushed or ridiculed.

With infinite patience, we are able to provide them the space for learning, failing, and growth. The best way to cultivate our patience, is to put the well-being of our children at heart when we are being with them. When their development is placed at the top of our priority, there is nothing else that we ought to be rushing to at the expense of their growth.

Communication through LISTENING:

The art of attentive listening is essential to effective communication. Listening attentively to our children requires us to be fully present to the conversation that we are having with them, while being aware of the perceptual filters that is determining what we are listening to.

We seldom listen with a truly neutral or open mind. What is important is not to eradicate these filters, but to be conscious of them and choose the appropriate filters that fit the situation. When we give our children full attention, we show them respect. As we listen with empathy, and respond in a manner which shows that we appreciate how they feel, we make them feel understood and loved.

Communication through QUESTIONING:

A question sets up an expectation for an answer. Questioning is one of the most powerful tools we could use to direct our children's thoughts. With great power, comes great responsibility, and hence it is to be used with care. Asking a child "Why did you do this?" may invite him to look for reasons and excuses for his behavior, and even lead him to lie if he feels that honesty will lead to worse consequences. Asking a child "What do you think you can do about it now?" directs his attention to actions, instead of reasons.

Asking a child "What if you can?" can redirect his thinking from limitations to possibilities. Conscious parents constantly hone their skills in questioning by developing a collection of useful questions to be fired off at the appropriate moments for guiding their children effectively.

Communication through SUGGESTIONS:

Suggestions work better than instructions. Children and teenagers who are establishing their own identities are prone to reject being told what they should do.

Consider the use of suggestions through the use of words such as "Would you consider ..." or "Perhaps you may like to try ..." instead of "Do as I say!". Suggestions have the power of penetrating into the child's subconscious mind, and hence, bypassing the deliberate evaluation by the conscious mind where the child accepts or rejects what was said.


True suggestions, we can provide guidance through exploring them to new options, without appearing to imposing on them.


Communication through JOKES AND RIDDLES:

Children love jokes and riddles because they make them laugh.

A sense of humor is a great asset for getting through to children. Make a commitment to learn some jokes and riddles, and use them generously on your children, especially when they feel down or depressed. After all, laughter is often the best medicine!

something to chew on

************ Wedding Sermon on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ************

By: Rev. Adrian Dieleman

This sermon was preached on April 4, 1998

Wedding Message for Kent & Julie Houtsma
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
(Eccl 4:9-12) Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: (10) If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (11) Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? (12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

"Two are better than one." This principle lies behind every marriage, every friendship, and every relationship. "Two are better than one." I'm sure, Kent & Julie, that on this your wedding day you would not disagree with that statement. You have decided it is better to go through life as a couple than as two separate individuals. But, then, that is the way God created us — to fellowship together. Remember Adam in the Garden? God looked at Adam and said, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Gen 2:18). So He created Eve and brought her to the man. "Two are better than one."

Why are two better than one? Why did God create Eve for Adam? Listen to what Scripture says:
(Eccl 4:9) Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work ...

(Gen 2:18) The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
This is two ways of saying the same thing.

What does it mean? God is talking about the comfort, support, help, and joy that companionship can bring. You see, one is a lonely number. But two, that is better, much better. "Two are better than one." Kent and Julie, in the marriage relationship, you are to be each other's best and closest companion and friend.

In three examples our passage illustrates the blessings of companionship. The examples are taken from the risks of traveling by foot in Palestine during the days of the author. This, I think, is very suitable as marriage is like a trip or journey. For, when a bride and groom are joined to each other in marriage they covenant to travel life's pathway together.

The first example is that of a traveler who falls into a pit or ditch:
(Eccl 4:10) If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
For a traveler on his own a fall might prove fatal, especially at night. If a leg is broken, if ribs are cracked, if a skull is split open, the single traveler may never receive needed medical attention. The traveler with a companion, however, has someone to pull him out of the ditch or pit, someone to splint his broken bones, someone to bring him to safety.

By getting married, Kent and Julie, you do not travel alone. You have each other. You have each other to look to for help when disease or accident occur. You have each other to lean on.

The second example is that of a traveler facing the cold Palestine night:
(Eccl 4:11) Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Don't forget, back then there were no Holiday Inns. The traveler usually had to sleep under the stars or in a cave. And the Palestine night, even during the summer, can be very cool. Most travelers found it necessary to sleep close together in order to stay warm and comfortable.

One of the joys of marriage, Kent and Julie, is being able to share a bed with your partner. There is nothing quite like snuggling up to the wife of your youth during a cold winter night or in the cool of the morning.

A third illustration is taken from the burglar or wayside bandit:
(Eccl 4:12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
The single traveler may be overcome by a bandit; safety is found in numbers. The rope-makers of the Ancient World certainly knew that: a rope made of a single or double strand of cord could be broken so easily; a rope, however, made of three strands was not so easily broken.

In marriage, Kent and Julie, you can strengthen and sustain each other. You can look to each other for support and encouragement. You can uphold and defend each other.

Kent and Julie, the two of you are life-long companions of each other. From now on you travel the same road. None of us knows the kind of road the Lord has in mind for you. None of us knows the pitfalls, the curves, the valleys, the hills that you will face. But as your wind your way through life, you have the comfort and strength of each other as lifelong traveling companions.

Kent and Julie, remember please that "Two are better than one." The Lord has blessed each of you with the companionship of the other person. So many couples forget this. Over time they neglect and forget their marriage partner; over time they stop doing things together, they stop communicating with each other, they start to drift apart; they lose the joy of companionship they had during dating and the first year or so of marriage. So Kent and Julie, don't ever forget or neglect your friendship with each other. Remain each other's best friend; continue to share with each other; spend time talking to and with each other; do things together; don't ever let a hobby, a job, children, or even church and kingdom work take so much of your time and energy that you no longer have time for each other.

None of this denies, of course, the joy and importance of other relationships. For, don't forget, you are also members of a church. As a couple you also have the responsibility of giving and finding companionship among the people of God.

Lastly, and most importantly, Kent and Julie, you also stand in relationship to God. It is He, especially, Who is your life-long traveling companion. He has been so since even before the time you were first placed in your mother's arms. It is He, especially, Who helps when you stumble and fall, when you are cold and weary, when you are attacked and molested. And, only when you get close to Him can you get the support and strength that you need to make life's journey together. You see, Kent you are one strand of the rope that is marriage, Julie you are another strand, but the third strand is God. To keep your marriage strong, then, you need faith in Jesus. To keep your marriage strong, then, you need to give your heart to Him Who died for you. To keep your marriage strong, then, you need to make Jesus the Lord of your home and the Head of your marriage. Then, and only then, do you have a marriage cord of three strands that cannot be quickly broken. As the poem on your program puts it:
Marriage Takes Three

I once thought marriage took
Just Two to make a go,
But now I am convinced
It takes the Lord also.

And not one marriage fails
Where Christ is asked to enter
As lovers come together
With Jesus at the center.

But marriage seldom thrives,
And homes are incomplete,
till He is welcomed there
To help avoid defeat.

In homes where Christ is first
It's obvious to see,
Those unions really work,
For marriage still takes three.

Perry Tanksley 1984


Kent and Julie, as you travel down life's pathway together, remember this: "Two are better than one." But also remember: "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." When the three of you — Kent, Julie, and God — travel together, you stand on such solid ground that nothing can tear you apart.
You can e-mail our pastor at: Pastor, Trinity Christian Reformed Church
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beyond belief...In Him all things hold together....

I hope these clips will put us into perspective with God and make us realise that we are nothing without Him. I know i'm not the most angelic being on this planet, but I also know that I am fully redeem by God's blood and in Him there is no condemnation. I know that He loves me deeply and has an awesome plan for my life.

This preaching by Louie confirms everything that I believe in and it had re-affirmed my faith. I know that I serve a Huge God that is not only the Greatest and most Influential COE of the universe but one that even know me by name...and loves me so much that He cares and will send His only son to die for me, even though I'm still a sinner. That's just crazy love.

Okay coming back to the links I attached on my previous post. Louie talks about the cell adhesion protein molecule called “LAMININ”. Many of you must be like...errrr... what on earth is laminin? Don't worry I had that mind block as well....

Well it’s the “glue” that holds our cells together. When he puts this picture up on the big screen the crowd just claps and cheers when they see it. The picture on the left is the scientific diagram and the one on the right is the actual molecule under an electron microscope.

The stuff that holds our bodies together is in the shape of the cross! How cool is that?

He than quotes the verse from
~ Colossians 1:17 “He (Christ) is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”




Geez... Power Power Power....



Lastly, in the preaching before this.... Louie uses a picture of the middle of the Whirlpool galaxy that is 31 million light years away. This image was captured by the Hubble telescope. God’s glory imprinted in the cosmos!

Another..... Power shot and fact!

Its so crazy and we serve a cool and real God, who not only knows everything but wants to guide us to discover His plans for us...and is always there when we cry out to Him. Can't believe that I can have the honour or calling him my friend, a friend that is closer than no other... that's just cool.....=)

How Great is Our God - by Louie Giglio

This blew my mind away!

You have to watch these few YouTube clips and tell me what you think! This is the second part of the first mind-blowing message titled "INDESCRIBABLE". Watched it at my Tuesday group fellowship and was amazed! I knew I had to share it with as many people as the truths you find out in these two messages are just out of this world!

Trust me. You won't regret watching this!

Here are the links:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfTQqsoa1QQ

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKY6gY1ZsV8&NR=1

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtrpa40DYwg&feature=related

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfI05Xuv9BE&feature=related

Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoTmwZ2wh-c&feature=related

Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjSDN-SHcMA&feature=related

Part 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ZMdjCI2aY&feature=related

Part 8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE6LfjTvV9g&feature=related

Part 9: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzHxAhPtbJE&feature=related

Part 10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng4gkBk4cuc&feature=related

Part 11: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBeJK76k4y0&feature=related

THIS IS SO COOL! ITS THE LAMININ SELF-ADHESION MOLECULE that is holding your body together

LAMININ: Part 12: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEYfuKklds4&feature=related

Part 13: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4_9jdmUUrM&feature=related

Part 14:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCE3iYRRCHg&feature=related

Part 15: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzHMyOWQmIk&feature=related