2009

Some reading music:

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to thank Dr. M, and everyone in this community for a great 2009. You have opened my mind and educated me in ways I couldn't even imagine this time last year. And as we face another year, I wanted to express my gratitude for you as individuals, and the time in history that we share together.

For all the US citizens, enjoy this day, be with your loved ones, and celebrate all that you have to be thankful for. 

For everyone, what are you grateful for?

Before the holiday festivities begin and you reunite with your families, Becca and I invite all of you to spend some time with our family.  We are getting close to our once-a-year seminar in Rowe, MA.

Tucked away in a picturesque mountain setting, the Rowe seminar combines an atmosphere of retreat with a social environment and educational tools to promote action, conversation, and solutions.

This year’s seminar incorporates a number of improvements and new sections, as we increasingly focus on the practical, emotional and community components that help us prepare and envision the change we wish to see.

One of the unique elements of the Rowe experience is the diverse but aligned community it attracts. Becca and I are still in touch with many of the impassioned and articulate individuals who have comprised previous groups from Rowe.  As the premier seminar in our home region of Western Massachusetts, we feel a special connection to Rowe, and find it an incredibly valuable resource for regrouping and reawakening to what is possible within a motivated local community.

Time is running out to register, so we hope you will consider joining us for this special, end-of-fall event.

Click here to register to be a part of this one-of-a-kind event, which kicks off Friday, November 20th.

Click here to learn more

To read unsolicited testimonials from participants at a recent seminar offered in Lowesville VA, click here.

We'd love to see you there.

Chris & Becca Martenson

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The way that the US is planning to fund all of the bailout and stimulus activity is by borrowing the money.  As any long-time reader here knows, the rate of US savings has been less than stellar over the past 15 years or so, indicating that borrowing from foreign sources is necessary to plug the gap.

The way we keep an eye on this is by watching something called the Treasury International Capital, or "TIC," report.

What this report from the Treasury Department measures is the aggregate total of money coming into vs. heading out of the US. Money flows in and money flows out.  When it comes in, it lands in bank accounts and bond and equity purchases.  When it leaves, the various financial assets are sold and the money flows home, wherever that happens to be.  All of this is tracked.

Admittedly there are a lot of moving pieces in this measurement, but, roughly speaking, for everything to balance, the amount of money coming in needs to equal the amount of money being borrowed by the US.

If it does not, then the official deficit of the US government will compete with local needs for borrowing while the trade deficit will erode the value of the dollar.  If and when both domestic and foreign sources of lending are insufficient for the task, then we'd expect the Federal Reserve to cave in and simply print up the difference.  read more »

I want to draw your attention to the announcement for a weekend long Crash Course seminar in Virginia, coming up this April (24-26). 

You can also view this seminar announcement at any time by clicking on the link located on the upper right side of this page under "Upcoming Events."

The poster you know as "Cat" has graciously offered to handle most of the arrangements.  Thank you, Cat!

The Crash Course: Thriving in Any Future

For those who missed Rowe in February: A Crash Course seminar will be held in April in a beautiful, remote, rustic conference center in Lowesville VA (about one hour from Charlottesville)

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The Crash Course: Thriving in Any Future

For those who missed Rowe in February:  a Crash Course seminar will be held in April in a beautiful, remote, rustic conference center in Lowesville VA (about one hour from Charlottesville)

Where

CrossRoads Camp and Conference Center
2247 Little Piney Road
Lowesville, VA 22967 

http://www.crossroadsccc.com

When

April 24 (Friday), dinner begins at 6:00, conference at 7:30

What Recession?  read more »

CBO released estimates today for the 2009 budget. 

CBO's figures don't account for the huge economic stimulus bill Obama is expected to propose.

CBO report: http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9957/01-07-Outlook.pdf 

Anyone willing to venture what 2009 will look like? I know long term things aren't sustainable as they are, but I'm wondering about the short term.

Why are stocks going up, or staying pretty even, in spite of on-going bad news? Will the stock market maintain this weirdness in 2009, go up (and why), or majorly tank?

I can see that unemployment is obviously going to get much worse. How much worse; will Obama's plan offset enough of it to avoid rioting; what will the U.S. look like in the cities and out in the rural areas this year?