Friday, April 25, 2008

The Second Horseman


‘A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!’

Words from the 1st Century reverberate through the ages. Why couldn't they just say beer is going to get expensive in 2008 or something useful like that?

23 comments:

Property Flopper said...

FIRST century wisdom indeed...

Casey Serin said...

Well, Robbo... in the 1st century, a day's wages might have gotten you a quart of wheat; in the 21st century, a day's wages will get you a quart of organic wheatgrass shots from Jamba Juice™... plus you'll have to pay the $33 overdraft fee, of course. :-)

Akubi said...

Didn't you mention something along those lines on CR earlier today?

Akubi said...

BTW given the crisis, they're trying to grow hops in West Marin now.

The_Scum said...

The impact upon society as a whole, the middle class and the worldwide poor of the runaway greed to the very throes of worldwide economic collapse is incredible.

I hope there is a special kind of hell for the people who have caused this.

This months Fed meeting should be interesting from a twisted gallows humor perspective.

wagga said...

@Akubi:

Hops - my very most favorite vegetable!

@The_Scum:

The public servants and CEOs who caused this mess (either deliberately or by incompetence) take their $20,000 speaking fees or bribes or $20 million golden parachutes and live comfortably.

They then also have the cash to scarf up valuable real & intellectual property for pennies on the dollar when the full impact of their imbecile policies arrive.

A shrill (rhyme deliberate) professional politician is even attempting to purchase the Presidency of the United States of America.

Akubi said...

Got guns?

wagga said...

@Akubi:

Yup!

w said...

The overall shift in tone throughout America is amazing. The news, in public, with friends and neighbors. Something has shifted. It is like a different country.

I would guess that most wealthy Americans think that they will avoid the pain since they can hold out longer. We'll see.

Lou Minatti said...

Maybe food should be more expensive. Last I checked the US (and the rest of the world, including places like Europe and Central America) are seeing a growing number of lardasses.

The vast majority of the world is still awash in cheap food. In western countries, food remains a small part of a family's budget. If food was more costly, restaurants would serve smaller portions and we'd stop buying so much processed crap and stop wasting the good food, like the rice the idiots are panic-buying right now.

Akubi said...

Obvious point that had to be said: Generally it is good for our overall health (if our=fat nations) to avoid too much food.

Akubi said...

Perhaps Hitlery is in fact helping such global food shortage issues - given the fact that every single time I see her happy face I want to vomit and vomit and vomit.
The Clintons Suck.

w said...

Hey Casey, I'm in!

http://ventura.craigslist.org/rfs/656218586.html

w said...

372 Avocado Place

http://ventura.craigslist.org/apa/651173883.html

Too funny.

Lou Minatti said...

Why the red face?

http://googpost.com/mopo/landing.html

He'll offer you a free consoltation (sic).

Casey Serin said...

@ w -- Hey Casey, I'm in!

Anyone who uses "sweet deal" in their advertising speaks my language. I'll be there... you should be able to spot me easily -- I'll be the guy on rollerblades dressed in a neon pink shirt and light blue hot pants. :-)

H Simpson said...

Mmmmmmmmm Beer...

In the past month I have heard several clones say they are growing hops because of the shortage. Looks to be the next bubble.

h.

Lou Minatti said...

I can't believe I overlooked the "ARE YOU WORING WITH A REALTOR?" line.

Peripheral Visionary said...

Rob, any comment on the rather sudden departure of the CalPERS CIO, and of the revelations of a land deal gone bad?

Rob Dawg said...

PV,
I don't have any inside information this time. When I first heard about the retirement I thought "uhhh oh." Put "calpers" in the search box above to see past posts.

It seems this time the retirement is as much avoiding a sh¡tstorm that's coming as walking away from a minor stumble in the current portfolio performance. If I were heading CalPERS I'd be ready to get out before the State tries to ransack the liquid assets, withdraw contributions and ruin the economy you are most exposed to. Then there's the coming public backlash at a generous system while people are rationing "Senior Vittles" in the private sector.

Akubi said...

Not even beer is immune. Sales of inexpensive domestic beers, like Keystone Light, are up; sales of higher-price imports, like Corona Extra, are down, the firm said.

Akubi said...

Oops - just discovered CR was already on that one.

Adam said...

Akubi
I've noticed, Corona has been on a $3 off a 12 pack for several weeks everywhere I've looked. It's nice timing as my wife discovered that Corona with a lime is pretty tasty. I'm surprised there is that much trading down from $1 a bottle beer to $.50 a can beer. Seems like other savings would be more meaningful.