cdymek's Blog!

The author, in attempting to argue that the Federal Reserve system is a giant conspiracy designed to enrich the banking elites at the expense of the citizenry, makes the following argument (p. 76):

Consider that when a person deposits $50 in a bank, this is in effect a loan to the bank since it must be repaid on demand. Therefore, on the books the $50 is considered a libaility. However, the bank then loans the $50 to someone else who must repay it with interest. Now the $50 is considered an asset. The same $50 is both an asset and a liability, thus counteracting each other, proving that money is essentially worthless.

Does anyone else that actually reads this want to comment on this argument before I do? I’m having a very difficult time swallowing it, as I can’t help but feel that in making this argument, the author is neglecting an important philosophical principle. If only I had paid more attention in my philosophy classes…

The Beckham stlying only confirms what a nifty country Japan is.

A lucky handful were able to pick up the new Harry Potter book earlier this week!

I’m so excited! Friday Ram’s coming over, and on Tuesday Jess invited me over and is cooking dinner. I can’t wait to catch up with her; I just hope she’s not planning any seafood dishes…

Contrary to the opinion I often here expressed, New York does cost more than San Francisco, which coincides with what I thought. Mercer’s annual survey is available here for those interested in discovering more about the most expensive places to live.

I did some additional reading in Rule by Secrecy last night, through the section where the author accuses the Council on Foreign Relations of being a secret society whose members are bent on world domination through a new global government. While the over-the-top paranoia strikes me as extreme, I will concede a moderate score for the author. The links between career politicians and bureaucrats of both parties through these organizations would, through the exchange of opinions and information, account for a partial narrowing of the differences in our political spectrum. Because much of the discussion is taken offline to these kinds of forums, the political response is already calculated by the time it reaches public discussion.

An article in the NY Times on the topic of Tokyo being the world’s most expensive city contains the following:

Hundreds of Americans, largely in finance and banking, are moving back to the United States this summer from Tokyo, often ordered home by stateside managers who don’t think Japan’s stagnant economy is worth the high cost of maintaining workers there.

The WHO today announced that travel restrictions related to SARS are being lifted to all but Beijing. Hong Kong is looking up!

I’ve started reading a book called Rule by Secrecy lent to me by my aunt. As I read this, I will be more than happy to post incorrect facts and amusing theories, as this book strikes me as a delight in insanity. Who knows, maybe I’ll even find myself paranoid by the end.

Page 8: In 1991, newly installed President Bill Clinton appointed his close friend and golfing buddy Webster Hubbell associate attorney general of the Department of Justice. Response: The fact checkers missed the date, and I’d definitely love to read Hubbell’s account of the rest of the exchange between himself and Clinton. According to the author, Hubbell was charged with finding out the truth about aliens and JFK, which obviously leads to the conspiracy connection!

In the interest of learning more about the Total (Terrorism) Information Awareness (TIA) program, I decided to take a look at their web site. Once I have more to say, you can guarantee I’ll be back on here with it. Nonetheless, I did find one aspect amusing. Despite the recent rebranding from Total to Terrorism, the logo still has the Total in it. Definitely a truer representation, which is why I will continue to use the old branding scheme.

Here’s a copy of the logo, in the event that DARPA updates it.