Winter Solstice is just of the holidays observed during December. It marks the beginning of Yule in the ancient world. Stonehenge and Newgrange in Ireland are both key spots for observing the solstice. There are many others although these two spots are king.
How the ancients knew the math and science to move huge stone into place remains a mystery to the scientific and anthropological communities. The British Isles are replete with pagan sites that marked various astrological events.
The ancients were afraid of the world around them. Winter was especially horrifying. Starvation, exposure, and illness were commonplace. Many of the religious customs were guards against the impending doom of winter and were put in place for protection until the harshness of winter subsided, the lambs were born and the greenery came back.
Holiday traditions like mistletoe, holly, evergreen garland, trees and yule logs came from the ancients. It’s easier to incorporate old traditions with new so they have carried on down through the ages. Today marks the beginning of a new year. Each day will get a little longer as the earth’s axis tilts back towards the sun little by little.
Some of our friends who drop by practice ancient earth centered religions. Happy Solstice to all those who observe this seasonal special day.
Special Winter Solstice Link shows the source of Stonehenge boulders as well as a brief film.
Newgrange, Ireland link and video
Feel Free to use this thread as an open thread. There really isn’t much to say about it.
Cross posted on FB.
Winner of the most awesome statement EVER.
At our request, William Bernstein, an investment manager at Efficient Portfolio Advisors in Eastford, Conn., reviewed Rep. Paul’s portfolio as set out in the annual disclosure statement. Mr. Bernstein says he has never seen such an extreme bet on economic catastrophe. ”This portfolio is a half-step away from a cellar-full of canned goods and nine-millimeter rounds,” he says.
http://blogs.wsj.com/totalreturn/2011/12/21/the-ron-paul-portfolio/
@marin,
Why do you think that is awesome?
It sounds short-sighted to me.
Unfortunately for the rest of us, that portfolio would have vastly outperformed a more conventional portfolio over the past decade. The 21% real estate allocation might have been problematic. However, even now I invest up to 10% in domestic and international real estate ETFs, in particular the Cohen & Steers ETF (ICF). I define conventional as well-diversified allocations to various types of equity, bonds and a modest amount of cash, similar to the “typical” portfolio referred to in the WSJ article. The question is when did Ron Paul make those investments? If he held a conventional portfolio until recently, he faired about as well as everyone else. Going forward, this portfolio is a very risky bet. Looking forward to Cato’s take on this also.
Here’s what I tell relatives and friends that ask: imagine you’re standing on the beach on a nice, sunny day. In the distance, you see a Tsunami approaching. Now, it’s very difficult to get a bead on how far away that Tsunami is and how fast it’s moving from the point of view of someone standing on the beach, but you know it’s coming. In the meantime, you can probably finish getting that tan, catch a few more fish and maybe even have a bbq before you need to pack up and head inland. Having said all that, I prefer to wait until something actually breaks in one direction or the other and then react to it. Remember, the early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
Paul’s allocations reflect his inflationary worldview, which I don’t share. You need high money velocity to get real inflation, and we don’t have that. When banks receive conjured money and park it at the Fed, that’s low velocity, and that’s the situation we have. I’m in the deflation camp. Let’s go back to the old beach analogy – I own a place on the Outer Banks (north of Corolla). There’s exactly one route out – highway 12, which is one lane all the way to Kitty Hawk for the most part. If you stay too long on the beach you’re going to get stuck on that one lane highway along with the other 1 million or so people who are also trying to leave. Gold is a very crowded trade, which means that were something negative to happen a lot of people are going to hit the exits at once. I prefer to get in, make my return or take my loss, and get out. That way, I still make respectable returns but I’m only exposed to market risk about 15% of the time. Be the second mouse: the market is like a huge battleship in the sense that once it gets some momentum in one direction or the other it tends to stay in motion for a while. There’s plenty of money to be made by participating in a trend once you get confirmation, you don’t need to be out in front anticipating a direction.
Anyhoo, some of the REITS look pretty good here regardless. In particular EDR, ACC, AGNC, ESS, ELS, BRE, UDR, TWO, CLP and CPT could be worthy of your attention should the market hold up.
Well, that was informative. Thanks guys.
Cato, is your OBX place accessible by beach only?
I was equally looking for Cato’s take and liked the analogy.
I think you’re spot on that it reflects his worldview and if nothing else shows his consistency. What I was surprised to see was the stock-shorting holdings. I recall a friend years ago telling me how it was un-American to short a stock because you are betting on people losing their jobs but to me that’s just pure capitalism.
…and I love it.
I do appreciate the humor though in comparing his holdings to a cellar with food, medical supplies and lots o’ guns. It had me in stitches.
@marin,
Why do you love people losing their jobs? Is that a tough guy image? I hate to hear about people losing a job. I know what it does to their finances and their self esteem.
@Cato the Elder
I agree, except that I’m not in the deflationary camp. At some point, demand in the economy and velocity, will pick up. That will cause inflation to rise but signs do not point towards it now. I watch a lot of the Federal Reserve stats for early warning signs.
Interesting mouse analogy. Just this weekend we trapped a few mice under kitchen sink cabinet that sneaked into the house. I told Mrs. NTK that we would keep catching them until some cheese is left on the trap in front of the dead mouse’s smashed head (sorry for the gory description). The other mice come to eat the cheese from around the dead one’s corpse. This is a lot like investing, and avoiding being the first mouse. By the way, it does work when trying to figure out if you’ve caught all the mice.
Mice cannot resist snickers bars. It works much better than cheese. Hide your paper towels. Its nesting season. Put a real mousetrap on top of the sticky ones if you are serious about getting rid of those mice. There is no second mouse getting the cheese if you do that. Well…he/she gets the cheese but its the last supper, if you get my drift.
Or…you can take your mice over to Elena’s house and she will help it relocate in the woods. I find my way quicker and dirtier.
There’s nothing un-American about shorting stocks. That’s what makes a market. If I buy a share of Apple from a guy willing to sell it to me at 380, that’s me calling BS on his lack of conviction and him calling BS on my optimism. As for my views on deflationary risks, I’ll expand on those if I get some time today. The concept of fiat money is rooted in trust; trust in the government, trust in your counter party, trust in your bank etc. – I’m intermediate to long-term bearish trust.
@Moon-howler
Yes, it’s about 7 miles north of Corolla. You actually leave the road in Corolla and drive on the beach for 6 miles or so, so you need a 4×4 to get there.
I used to go up to the state line all the time when I was down there at Christmas. It was one of my favorite things to do. I call that the real beach road. Tyndall always stays up there when she goes to obx.
How often do you get down there?
I use a two week block late summer, and if I don’t have it rented in April I try to go down then when the Drum start to run.
I’m surprised I haven’t seen any mention of the ultimate liberal Christmas Gift by the DHS. Arpaio is taking a public beating right now. Lots of TV cameras and lines of deputies throwing their badges down in a pile like a vanquished army.
I haven’t been following it? What is the issue? Does that make me a bad ultimate liberal? Waaaahhhhh! I want to be an ultimate liberal.
@pokie
And that is great that all the folks will be there. I wouldn’t want to be you when they all go home and your kids have become spoiled rotten brats. Mine were always dreadful when the grandparents went away. I made sure that happened when I became a gparent also, Revenge is best served up cold….
Cato,
My favorite place in the Outer Banks! We love going up there. It has been a little bit too crazy the last couple of years with all the traffic on the beach, but the beach up there is so much nicer than in Duck. In upper Corolla you can walk way out before the water gets too deep…in Duck you get knocked over by huge waves as soon as you step in!
Yes, Twinad, I agree. Its pretty cold out there this time of year which is when my up the beach trips took place.
“Some of our friends who drop by practice ancient earth centered religions.”
Let me guess…….
I doubt if you know the person I was thinking of. Remember Fire Dancer? I always put up a Solstice page for her. I always like to acknowledge it myself, although not a practicioner.
Ok, who did you think it was for. Tell us who you think the druid is.
Hell, I might like to be a druid except they have to poke around in bird intestines. I wouldn’t like that part of it at all!
Ah, bowl season and usual headlines out of Blacksburg.
“Va. Tech football player Journell among 3 charged in alleged Blacksburg home invasion”
Speaking of stirring the pot…..[evil grin] 😈
@Moon-howler
Not at all. We just had a coworker dismissed and I’m very sad about it. It’s not about a tough guy image. I actually agree more with Cato on shorting stocks. My friend was the one that told me it’s unamerican – I simply disagree with that. I think it IS American.
Merry Christmas to the Druids, too!
I like it when you admit you have a heart. I know you really do have a big one. Sometimes I think you like to hide it under a bushel basket.
I don’t think shorting stocks is unAmerican either.
Cavalier Daily 12-22-2011
Grad Happy Hour runs out of green bottles, students contemplate riot but opt for Gusburgers instead.
In other news, the sun rose in the east and the sky is blue.
LOVE the picture Moon!
You know I am a PETA person, gotta love those Mice. Dewey doesn’t usually eat them, just plays with them, Catch and release even with the cat in my house!
Yes, I did rat you out, Elena. That was the dumbest story I have ever heard, starting with the fact you caught him with a broom. I quite giving $$ to PETA years ago, after they started squirting ink on people with furs on. I supported them when they were trying to stop testing cosmetics on animals.
@Moon-howler
As someone who ran the Outer Banks in his youth and “before marriage”, anytime on the Banks is a good time..regardless of weather.
Loved Duck for surfing – with it being right about where NC forms that “V” and you get the Labador and Gulf currents colliding, made for the best runs!
@marinm
Speaking of pure capitalism, the State of South Carolina is $500,000 short of what it needs for the upcoming Republican presidential primary and the state Republican party refuses to pony up. The State Elections Commission is faced with spending money the State doesn’t have (the dreaded “deficit spending”) in order to hold the Republican primary. Up steps South Carolina native and Great American Patriot Stephen Colbert. Colbert has offered to write a check to fill the $500,000 funding gap. All he asks in return for his generous act of philanthropy is that the State name the primary “The Colbert Super PAC Republican Primary.” It’s hard to imagine how free market capitalists could object.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g2R4anbP4rOe_bvB_yEszMu5utuQ?docId=2b6fc00d41cb42f380b75c8c74702233
Gotta love the in your face Colbert!
And the chances of that happening? Zero
@Ray
That had to be when Duck was the low rent district. 🙂
Duck is now the highfalutin neighborhood. We hicks live up in 4×4 territory.
@Cato, yup, where the paved road ends.
Tyndall stays up there because those rentals generally allow dogs. Her husband would put her in the kennel before his dogs.
@Morris Davis
That would be awesome. Hell if you can sponsor a stadium, a high school test or a stock car…why not a primary?
Maybe we can have the Exxon-Texas “99 Octane” SuperCaucus. 🙂
@Moon-howler
Don’t go out spreading rumors about me having a heart. Bah-humbug. I don’t want anyone to ever question my conservative bona fide’s… 😉
Duck is poseur territory, as is almost everything south of the Corolla Food Lion.
Mom,
LOL.
The family favorite Christmas dessert is Edy’s peppermint ice cream with our cookies. Apparently it’s been a year since I’ve bought ice cream. What used to be a 1/2 gallon container that sold for $2.50 on sale is now 1 1/2 quarts at $3.99, on alleged “sale.” Wow.
Where is it even on sale? i paid over $5 bucks a couple weeks ago.
I bought it at Shoppers on Liberia today.
Don’t order it through peapod or you will pay an arm and a leg.
Merry Christmas to all.
You too, Pat. I am glad you are on our blog. You always have much of value to say.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Happy Kwanzaa! And too all…a good night!
Reposted from FB:
Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope all of my friends and family have a great Christmas and that you take a moment to say a few words to those that serve to protect us here and abroad.
Hold friends and family tightly and remember to tell them every time you see them that you love them and how meaningful they are to you.
marinm, how did the twins enjoy their first Christmas?