Weekend Funnies - 13 Dec 09

Las Vegas Rock "n" Roll Marathon

Yesterday morning I joined over 27,000 other people who braved a brisk 34 degree temperature to run the entire length of the Las Vegas Strip and back - 13.1 miles for the 1/2 marathon (Note: > 5,800 of these runners chose to complete the entire 26.2 mile marathon - but not this guy).

The run was a complete blast, as the Rock "n" Roll event included 35 live bands dispersed throughout the course, groups of cheerleaders from the local community, skydivers, show girls, run through weddings, fireworks at the start, etc...

I ran the course with a buddy of mine who kept me motivated throughout while setting a superb pace... My finish time was 2:10:02 (averaging just under a 10:00 mile or just over 6mph)... I certainly know it's no where near a competitive time, but I was merely out to have fun for the day and meet my targeted goal for a finish time (which I did)... To put my time in perspective: of the nearly 18,000 1/2 marathon finishers, I finished 5,600 - in the top third... Not too bad for a 210lb crusty old fart!

This was my second year doing the event and I would highly recommend it to anyone...

Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

Here's a video clip of the course:

Now for a bit of trivia/history: So where did the word Marathon come from?

The name Marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon, which took place in August or September, 490 BC. It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming (Nenikékamen, 'We have won.') before collapsing and dying. The account of the run from Marathon to Athens first appears in Plutarch's On the Glory of Athens in the 1st century AD who quotes from Heraclides Ponticus's lost work, giving the runner's name as either Thersipus of Erchius or Eucles. Lucian of Samosata (2nd century AD) also gives the story but names the runner Philippides (not Pheidippides). (Source: Wikipedia)

Weekend Funnies - December 5, 09

Gold: A Rush to Safety!

Fox Business 12/2/09 - Gold in a long-term Bull run; silver even better - will outperform gold!

Astrology

Question for readers. Does anyone here study and/or follow Astrology and if so, what are your thoughts regarding the subject?

My reason for asking: Well a friend and I were having a conversation about it the other day and though quite sceptical myself, I read an email last night from this person that was eerily "spot on". Here goes:

I know this subject is not to be taken too seriously, but it's fun to read and quite entertaining for small talk. I am referring to the brief conversation we had about Astrology signs (not horoscopes), one of my subjects in school is Astrological Psychology, and I have fun studying it. Here's what I have to share with you. According to my study someone like you who was born under the cusp - you are considered Sagittarius and Capricorn - you have these traits:

The visionary, intuitive Sagittarius combines with the pragmatic, imperial Capricorn.
You demonstrate a talent for sensing the future.
You are determined.
You usually do not have a good deal of patience with those who fail to appreciate you.
You will move on alone if not supported by others.
You recognize the power of silence.
You must allow your warm side to show and to keep your heart open.

Your cusp (Sagittarius/Capricorn) is also called the "cusp of prophecy"... that explains your wisdom to look into the future.

Prior to this conversation and email, I've never given any thought to Astrology, however - with these projected traits being so close to reality, one must ask: "is there really something to this?"

So, if you know anything about this subject (pro or con), please do share, as my curiosity has been piqued..

Thanks

Beautiful Charts!

Dubai's Financial Crisis

For those of you unaware, late last week Dubai surprised the financial markets when it asked creditors of Dubai World to agree to a six-month standstill on debt payments for debt totaling > $80 Billion.

In a world of bailouts totaling many tens of trillions thus far, $80 billion certainly seems like a pittance, but many believe this is a black swan event that will parallel the panicked collapse of Lehman Bros - where the contagion spread like a fast moving virus, stoking global credit market fears and paralysing the world economy...



If that is indeed the case, get ready for global economic crisis phase 2 (remember March 2009?). I suggest you keep your eye on the markets in the coming days and weeks, get conservative if you haven't already done so and prepare yourself for the worst...

Bottom line: That light at the end of the tunnel - the one our political and corporate controlled media system keep harping about - may certainly be near, but unfortunately it's not what they had anticipated - it's actually a high speed, fully ladened, out of control freight train coming right at us... Are you ready??

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Just a year after the global downturn derailed Dubai's explosive growth, the city is now so swamped in debt that it's asking for a six-month reprieve on paying its bills —causing a drop on world markets Thursday and raising questions about Dubai's reputation as a magnet for international investment.

The fallout came swiftly and was felt globally after Wednesday statement that Dubai's main development engine, Dubai World, would ask creditors for a "standstill" on paying back its $60 billion debt until at least May. The company's real estate arm, Nakheel — whose projects include the palm-shaped island in the Gulf — shoulders the bulk of money due to banks, investment houses and outside development contractors.

In total, the state-backed networks nicknamed Dubai Inc. are $80 billion in the red and the emirate needed a bailout earlier this year from its oil-rich neighbor Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.