SUNDAY 2/2/14

The Thailand social unrest continues. Poll disruptions occur as PM Yingluck casts her vote in the snap elections. The opposition protestors desire a new government for Thailand that will eliminate the ongoing corruption and favoritism. Popular car-maker TM and US and Canadian transportation officials are discussing a potential recall due to seat fabric that does not meet safety standards. Toyota has already stopped production on these models equipped with seat heaters but says the broader recall is not necessary. Models affected include the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Sienna and Tacoma vehicles.

The State health exchanges are experiencing technical glitches that are frustrating folks trying to deal with the new Obamacare law. The health care enrollment falls far short of goals. Ironically, the Obamacare web site is functioning better except for the back-end payment side so the focus shifts to the State exchange problems. The premiums for the grandfathered health care plans, that many people want to keep, are catapulting from 25% to 60% higher in cost, forcing many to give up their existing plans despite President Obama’s promises over the last few years. Television commercials, obviously in support of the republicans, publicize ongoing examples of medical patients hurt by Obamacare while also emphasizing the media-proclaimed ‘lie of the year’ where the president told everyone that you could keep your health care plan if you liked it, all the while knowing this was untrue, but he repeated the lie routinely anyway to win the November 2012 presidential election.

The California drought continues to worsen. Water reservoirs will ration water moving forward to respond to the worst drought in California’s recent history. Heavy rain would be needed for half of the days over the next five months to replenish the water back to average levels. The farming, agriculture and livestock sectors in the southwestern US will be affected by the low water supplies for the weeks and months ahead. Two SBAC cell phone towers collapse in West Virginia killing two contractors and one firefighter. SBA Communications expressed their sympathy and sadness over the loss of life and pledge to cooperate with all investigations.

Canada creates its own NSA-style scandal as information surfaces that the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) organization has collected data from wi-fi users at a Canadian airport. The NSA spy scandal continues in the States where information on Americans is routinely and unconstitutionally collected, monitored, recorded and archived.

The WSJ reports that JOSB is in negotiations to acquire private retailer Eddie Bauer. The gambling bets on the Super Bowl are expected to surpass $100 million this year setting another new record. The bookies are busier than a one-armed paper hanger.

President Obama is interviewed ahead of the exciting Super Bowl but his expression appears more like he is visiting the dentist’s office. The president admits to failures last year and makes excuses for the Benghazi scandal (the Whitehouse continues to prevent any contact with the actual eye witnesses of the event) and Obamacare debacle stressing that the health care web site is functioning much better. He says, “I try to not focus on the fumbles but instead the next play,” attempting a witty football analogy.

The Seattle Seahawks crush the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl 43-8. Bob Allen, the MSFT cofounder and originator of the name ‘Microsoft’, owner of the Seattle Seahawks, celebrates the victory. The China Services PMI is released ten minutes early dropping to 53.4 the lowest on record. From August to January the services PMI is 53.9, 55.4, 56.3, 56.0, 54.6 and 53.4, respectively, peaking back in October. The number sours the market mood. Asian markets and US futures drift lower.

The Fukishima nuclear tragedy continues with millions of starfish dying off the West Coast over the last few months likely the result of radiation poisoning. Japan continues to allow radioactive water to pour into the Pacific Ocean daily. San Francisco radiation detectors are registering 14 times the normal expected radiation levels. The Japan and US governments and media collude ignoring the ongoing nuclear tragedy. The ongoing Fukishima nuclear catastrophe and triple meltdown is the worst man-made environmental disaster in the history of the world. Seven M-class solar flares and three CME’s (coronal mass ejections) occur from the sun and are expected to reach the earth tomorrow and Tuesday. Communications interruptions are not expected (M-class flares are not as strong as X-class) although aura’s should light up the atmosphere. Stay on guard for increased sun spot activity.