The Fed's expanded reach

Bernanke Tries to Define What Institutions Fed Could Let Fail" is an elucidating article written by Craig Torres at Bloomberg News (article's last update August 19.)

What is one thing I learned from this article?

That on August 10, 2005, with Greenspan as chairman, 94% of the Fed's $24 billion in outstanding repurchase agreements with Wall Street were in US Treasury notes, according to Wrightson ICAP LLC in New Jersey.

On August 10, 2008, only 14% were in Treasuries with the rest in mortgage bonds and agency securities (80%!) That's possibly misnamed, securities.

As something resembling an explanation, the NY Fed says that agency and mortgage-backed securities "--became more attractive."

Yes, they must have looked financially lovely - in the dark or by the flickering candlelight of a one-world-government glow.

But in the light of day, they look disingenuous at best, or downright fraudulent coming from much-touted 'experts' who shoulda woulda coulda known better but played the graft upon society anyway.

~:~

August 10, 2005: Sun within one degree of value-loving Venus' position of 9/11/01 when vengeful Venus triggered the Mother of All Eclipses degree from Aug 11, 1999, mentioned in astrologer Nostradamus' predictions of so many moons ago.

The imperious Sun Leo/Moon Scorpio combo has tendencies toward arrogance and overextension, with a fanatical desire for personal success and survival. There's stubborn resentment when things don't go as planned, and a cynical attitude toward life along with a double standard when it comes to relationships.

However, with this blend there is also a deep loyalty to principle which may be positive or negative depending on whether Ben lets YOUR bank be one-of-the-failed or not.

With August 10, 2008's Sun Leo/Moon Sag influence, we see hero-worship coming into play, with outspokeness, impatience, and impracticality.

Still with the Lion's flavor, this blend retains the imperiousness and loyalty as in 2005, but with more of an independent streak.

Here's a quote from an author who shares this blend natally:

Two antagonistic influences...one to mount direct to heaven, the other to drive yawingly to some horizontal goal.

--Herman Melville


It totally grumps me up to say it, but the yawing drive to some horizontal goal began decades ago in America. Our real or imagined 'exceptionalism' has been spent through bad-intentioned political capital which was stolen in the first place and nowhere near the "mandate from the people" as was proudly advertised.

One of the more basic concepts which Astrology demonstrates is: that how something or someone begins is how it/he or she will end. This won't guarantee a positive or negative outcome, of course, because the expression of the energy being offered remains up to its owner to use bwo willpower (hopefully, mind control is resisted.)

Thing is, the American people have not owned this nation in many a year, if ever. Yet we once could put some bit of trust in her continuance and sovereignty.

But you see where decades of our apathy and inattention got us...driving into a yawing horizon with a Secondary Progressed Full Moon on its way, the culmination point of our American experience for years to come, and that, in late 2008 (based on the Sibly chart) or early 2009 (from the US' Scorpio rising chart.)

The Fed, led by Greenspin, as I insist on calling him, or Bernanke the Brave, has its credibility in tattered shreds over in Europe. The damage on that score has already been done.

The West: wrong about Georgia?

Why The West Has Got It So Wrong Over Georgia

By IAIN MacWHIRTER

It's a sobering thought that, if George W. Bush had had his way and Georgia had been a member of Nato, we would now be at war with Russia.

Read more at ICH.

~:~

Or would Russia have thought twice?

Giving the Pentagon a reason to exist since 1942

"If we let people see that kind of thing, there would never again be any war."

(Actual quote from a Pentagon official explaining why the US military censored graphic footage from the Gulf War.)

That kind of thing?

So...then Pentagon officials would be out of their death-dealing jobs? Some would call that an improvement for the entire world! See image of my drawing below, Niobe's Plea.

~:~

Here's a link to a previous post concerning the Pentagon's natal chart but sans image of the monster's horoscope (image's link provided): The Pentagon, Apr 29, 1942, 10:30 am est, Washington DC.



Niobe, an asteroid whose keywords are: the grieving mother.

And Niobe eternally pleads, "Please don't bomb my baby."

Astrologer calls Bush-McCain 'poopy puppies' in blog post

Blogosphere soon recovers, however, and balance is restored!

In an effort to find astrological evidence of the reputed sameness between George Bush and John McCain, this reluctant astrologer has crossed the line of decency and called them 'poopy puppies' out loud in a blog post.

Why resort to such vicious name-calling - don't we have politicians for that? Why, yes, we do!

And they do it very well, but sometimes the stars have a little something to say about planetary pups and old dogs who use the same tired tricks to bamboozle us unawares.

See what the secretive Neptunes of Bush-McCain are up to by clicking above link...

Indecision 2008's Virtual Podium Contest

Enter Indecision 2008's Virtual Podium Contest, sponsored by Comcast, for your chance to win a trip to rustic, out of the way New York City and two passes to Comedy Central's exclusive, star-studded election night party! Simply make a video where you lay out your presidential platform in two minutes or less.

Or, if video isn't your bag, simply vote as many times as you want for your favorite entries.

Because this is a democracy, entries will be judged by you the voter and our secret cabal of judges. Winners will be announced this fall.

Enter or Vote here!


~:~ my thanks to Laurie C. for sending this link! jc

Russia has a natal chart, too

There's a freshly published smorgasbord of Astrology bits relating to Russia's 1990 natal chart, 9/11, Islam's Neptune Return, and current Eclipse info waiting patiently for you at Jude's Threshold where I attempt to weave a bloggish tapestry of Art, Astrology, Politics, and the occasional political rhyme around the fringes.

But not to fret for no mention of the Beijing Olympics appears and there are no political rhymes lurking there at the moment - and for these lacks you may be most thankful!

Stars Over Washington has a new look!

Please pardon our progress but the Stars are morphing colors, fonts, and who-knows-what to update and give you something new to experience here at Stars Over Washington.

So far the changes have been easy to make for this non-techie (thanks, Blogger!) yet old buttons, ads, and links will need retaining as soon as I can figure out how to pollinate them from the classic template to the new one.

Sheesh! I almost like the old 'code creakiness' better - this drop'n'draginess will take some getting used to (although I use it without much effort at Jude's Threshold already.)

An Oddity: in Preview mode this post isn't displaying in full...hmmm-m-m-m...is there a problem afoot? Guess I'll Publish and see what happens.

Anyway let me know what you think of the new colors and design because things are still in the baby stage - and I hope today's Lunar Eclipse is good to ya!

Lunar Eclipse weekend's Eclipse Cam!

Space Weather News for Aug 15, 2008

LUNAR ECLIPSE: This Saturday, August 16th, people on every continent *except* North America can see a lunar eclipse. At maximum, around 2110 UT (5:10 pm EDT), more than 81% of the Moon will be inside Earth's shadow, producing a vivid red orb in the night sky visible to the naked eye even from light-polluted cities. The entire eclipse lasts more than 3 hours, so there's plenty of time for gazing, drinking coffee, and taking pictures.

North Americans can watch the eclipse via live webcast beginning 3:30 pm EDT on Saturday afternoon. Eclipse-cam links may be found, along with time tables, visibility maps, and eclipse photo galleries, at SpaceWeather.com.

PERSEID RECAP: The Perseid meteor shower peaked on August 13th with maximum rates exceeding 130 meteors per hour. Despite interference from the bright Moon, it was arguably the best Perseid show in years. Browse the gallery starting here.

Some notes on Bill Gwatney

You'll find that a few notes on Wednesday's transits to the solar natal chart of Bill Gwatney have been published at Jude's Threshold.

As Dem Party chairman for Arkansas, Mr. Gwatney (born August 26, 1959) and was shot and killed Wednesday, August 13, at Dem headquarters in Little Rock by a man who had been fired from his job earlier in the day. Why Gwatney had to pay isn't known but three transits in particular to his chart indicate risky times and confrontations - plus drunken Bacchus was conjunct Mars on Wednesday.

If you have any comments or observations concerning this sad case, please leave them at the above blog or here, for more details will surely come out as the investigation goes forward.

American Insouciance, Nukes, and Israel

Will American Insouciance Destroy the World?

By Paul Craig Roberts

The neoconned Bush Regime and the Israeli-occupied American media are heading the innocent world toward nuclear war.

===


U.S. Puts Brakes on Israeli Plan for Attack on Iran Nuclear Facilities

By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent

The American administration has rejected an Israeli request for military equipment and support that would improve Israel's ability to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

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"The Neocons Are Dying to Nuke Iran"

An interview with Dr. Paul Craig Roberts By Kathy Sanborn

What was your wake-up call, Dr. Roberts, to the fact that the current administration was determined to take away the civil liberties of Americans?