What Your Name Says about Your Politics.

What your name says about your politics.

Saint Patrick Wasn't Irish. And He Wore Blue. Happy St. Patty's Day! And A Sprinkle of Economics Gold Dust.

Saint Patrick Wasn't Irish. And He Wore Blue. Happy St. Patty's Day!

Sicarr/Wikimedia Commons

Who is St. Patty? 

Saint Patrick was born in Britain but then kidnapped by Irish Pirates. He was a slave in Ireland for 17 years. 

Why is he a big deal? 

He is known and celebrated to have brought Christianity to the people of Ireland.

Why March 17th? 

He died that day. 

Ireland Economy

Although it's known as one of the notorious PIIGS, Ireland has seem to be recovering. It was the first country among the PIIGS to leave the bailout program. Given that, over the past year, Ireland ETF has had a 47% return. With these celebrations, investors may try their luck and hope for a even bigger pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

Science of Spiciness [VIDEO]--Mouth on fire? Wasabi Make you Cry? Why?

Science of Spiciness:

Mouth on fire? Wasabi Make you Cry? Why? 

There are hot and cold receptors. 

Why one burns your mouth vs one makes your eyes water? 

• Black and Chili Peppers have large molecules: ALKYLAMIDES
• Mustard and Horseradish are made up of smaller molecules: ISOTHIACYANATES (which rise up to your sinuses)

The Cost of Making Pennies and Nickels is More Than What The Coins are Worth--Two Graphs.

WashingtonPost: Taxpayers lost $105 million on pennies and nickels last year

"In 2013, the cost of making pennies and nickels exceeded their face value for the eighth year in a row. The cost of minting a penny stood at 1.8 cents, nearly twice its face value. Nickels cost twice as much as dimes – 9.4 cents vs. 4.6 cents – despite being worth only half as much."

Two graphs that explain everything. 

Everybody wants Drones. Amazon, Facebook, Etc.

Everybody wants Drones. Amazon, Facebook, Etc. 

WASHINGTON POST: "Facebook is in talks to acquire Titan Aerospace, a drone-production company that has just started taking orders for its Solara 50."

TECH CRUNCH: "From our understanding, Facebook is interested in using these high-flying drones to blanket parts of the world without Internet access, beginning with Africa. The company would start by building 11,000 of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), specifically the “Solara 60″ model."

Energy Investor? Russia, Ukraine, Global LNG (and Energy) Landscape (plus Investment Opportunities).

Energy Investor? Russia, Ukraine, Global LNG (and Energy) Landscape (plus Investment Opportunities).

Update yourself:
This is what was going in Ukraine. 

This is what happened to Russia's economy--stocks, currency, and oil/gas. Plus Updates.

This is WHY it is important and how it contributes to the Dynamic Energy Landscape: 

Europe relies on natural gas and oil from Russia--so does Ukraine. These recent events could demonstrate why the US Government's FERC should expedite Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export proposal applications soon. US LNG exports could potentially relieve European area's reliance on Russia's gas exports and weaken Russian influence with Ukraine and in general, within the energy sphere. 

MAIN Quick Important Question (QIQ): However, what would happen to U.S. domestic gas prices? Power/Utility companies wouldn't be so thrilled.

NEW UPDATE 3/6/14: Crimea Parliament is asking to be part of Russia (BBC). Further push for US Government to approve gas export proposals. 

Investment Opportunities due to the Natural Gas Boom in the United States: 

VALUE LINE (Investment Research Publishing): Key Movements And Investment Opportunities In The Dynamic Energy Landscape--SRajani:

Shale Gas RevolutionThe shale gas revolution has catalyzed the dynamic energy landscape in the United States. Domestic natural gas production has surged to record levels. This unexpected high shale gas output is primarily due to hydraulic fracturing technology, or fracking, which has allowed new discoveries of gas resources of reserves to pay off. These include Marcellus in the northeast, Bakken in North Dakota, and Eagle Ford in Texas.

LNG LandscapeBecause of the high supply of shale gas, there has been a surge in applications for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals to ship U.S. gas internationally. About 30 export applications have been sent to the U.S. Government Department of Energy’s (DOE) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). However, it has been a challenge for LNG market participants to get these export permits approved. The DOE aims to limit the amount of U.S. LNG that can be exported to resist domestic natural gas price spikes. There is also pressure from power companies and/or petrochemical companies that use natural gas as feedstock for production of petrochemicals to restrain exports. Those include: DowChemical (DOW), Huntsman Corp. (HUN) Celanese (CE), and Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN).

Recently, the FERC approved an export license (subject to environmental review) for the Cameron LNG. This was a significant step towards final approval. Cameron LNG terminal is located near a major pipeline hub that serves about two-thirds of all U.S. natural gas markets. This application was submitted by Sempra Energy (SRE). Sempra Energy’s stock went up 1.5% topping at $94.21 per share that day. After the environmental review is completed, the next step will be the final regulatory approval.
The Cameron terminal is located near the Texas border near Hackberry, LA. A big proponent of this approval, Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, will soon be chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Gas Committee.Cheniere Energy Inc. (LNG) is also building a $10 billion LNG export terminal. Given this upcoming senatorial change, export approvals may be expedited, which could be a plus for Cheniere.....continued. Read more.  

850,000BTC Disappeared. Bitcoin Era is Over? UPDATE 3/4/14: No.

850,000BTC Disappeared. Bitcoin Era is Over? .(Satoshi Nakamoto--you must be a really rich person now)

MTGOX CEO says 850,000 BTC (worth half a billion dollars) are gone. Disappeared. Poof. 

There are different opinions on whether this may lead to the fall or strength for BTC. Clear the way of faulty BTC institutions vs.  pave the way for more. TBC

If you know the language

UPDATE 3/4/14:  Bitcoin is now worth about 700 dollars. 3/4/14 3:17 PM. 

bitcoinwisdom

Ukraine, Russia, Stocks, Ruble, Economics. Quick Important Questions (QIQs)

Ukraine, Russia, Stocks, Ruble, Economics. Quick Important Questions (QIQs)

Spiegel

Update yourself: Click This is what was going on in Ukraine and why Russia was involved. 


Summary: There were protests in Ukraine. Half of Ukraine did not want to be involved with Russia. Protests ousted Ukraine President Victor Yanukovych, who was pro-Russian.

UPDATE STARTS HERE:

US warns Russia not to intervene in Ukrainian matters.  Russia invades Ukraine taking over Crimea. Russian troops are telling Ukrainians to support the pro-Moscow leaders.

What is Ukraine thinking? Ukraine Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said: "If President Putin wants to be the president who starts the war between two friendly and neighboring countries, he has [almost] reached this target. We are on the brink of disaster. There was no reason for the Russian Federation to invade Ukraine."

Now Russia Is Going Crazy, Economically.

STOCKS: Russian stock market crashed (RTS Index is down 12 percent.)

Moscow Exchange 3/3/14 11:15 AM EST:

RTS Index	18:40	1,115.06	-12.01%
RGBI	18:44	128.17	-1.31%
MСXCBITR	18:41	244.77	-0.50%
MICEXMBITR	18:42	179.51	-0.47%
RTSVX Index	20:06	73.73	-0.98%
MICEXINNOV	18:39	335.48	-8.08%

CURRENCY: Russian Ruble plunged. 

(Dollar hit all time high (1USD = 37 Ruble, 1EUR = 51 Ruble)
(good time to travel there)

Russian Central bank raised their interest rate from 5.5 percent to 7 percent to save their currency.
(sell your rubles)

COMMODITIES: Oil prices hiked. Russia is the world’s largest oil producer and the main supplier for refined products to Europe.

Silver lining: Norway’s Statoil stocks are benefitting. Why? They are the largest non-Russian supplier of gas to Europe.

Basically? Everyone is shutting out Russia.

What is the US doing? Secretary John Kerry has gone to Kiev for diplomatic talks/actions. 

MAIN QIQ: Is the US going to go to war because of this? TBC

NEW UPDATE 3/6/14: Crimea Parliament is asking to be part of Russia (BBC). Further push for US Government to approve gas export proposals. 

Quick Putin Humor. 

Love Wine? Here is a 'Miracle Machine'....It Makes Wine in 3 Days...

Love Wine? Here is a 'Miracle Machine'....It Makes Wine in 3 Days...

The Science: 

The Miracle Machine: "At the heart of the miracle machine lies the fermentation chamber. Obviously we’re keeping the exact science under wraps, but we can tell you the chamber uses an array of electrical sensors, transducers, heaters and pumps to provide a controlled environment for the primary and, as needed, secondary fermentation stages. 

For example, while a digital refractometer measures the sugar content of the liquid during the fermentation process, a custom-designed ceramic air-diffuser pumps filtered air under a regulated micro-oxygenated environment, aerating the wine and thus softening the tannins. Meanwhile an ultrasonic transducer, positioned directly underneath the chamber, resonates effectively speeding up the flavor development of the wine. Each of these components, and others, are connected to an Arduino microcontroller that ensures the Miracle Machine is doing its job of making a fine wine of your creation in just a matter of days."

The Miracle Machine from The Miracle Machine on Vimeo.