Mining Productivity Miracle

The following chart shows the mining industrial production index divided by the number of mining employees (thousands).

Bagger 293

Bagger 293 is 96 metres (314.9 feet) tall (Guinness World Record for highest terrestrial vehicle, shared with Bagger 288). It is 225 metres (738.2 feet) long (same as Bagger 287), weighs 14,200 tonnes (31.3 million pounds), and requires five people to operate.

At what point are these fully-automated and/or self-replicating?

Our New Dog Just Signed Up on Twitter

Her name is River. She will be 8 weeks old tomorrow, and we'll be bringing her home. You can follow her story on Twitter @RiverGSD. It's just getting started. No politics. No religion. No economics. Just tons of pictures and a lifetime of realtime memories (hopefully)!

Real prosperity, baby. That's what I'm talking about. :)

Man's Best Friend

April 25, 2017
Dog doesn’t recognise owner after he lost weight – until he sniffs him

Trust us, you’ll want to watch this video of a dog overjoyed to reunite with his owner after a hospital stay.

The trust is completely warranted. :)

The Dog Who Knew Real Prosperity

Filmed in 2014. Rest in peace, Honey.

0.5 Cents per Hour

That's how much I've spent on the video game Real Racing 3 for the iPhone so far this year.

That's 1,061 hours of game play for $5.46 (an initial accelerator game pack helped get me started and removed in-game advertising, including sales tax). I have no choice but to declare this my favorite video game of all time, based solely on the number of hours played.

I'm still just addicted as ever. The price per hour should only go down from here, which is good because 1/2 a penny per hour seems a bit excessive for high quality entertainment these days. ;)

Is it any wonder newspapers and movie theaters are struggling? Seriously.

In the eyes of a gamer such as myself, this is real prosperity. No doubt about it. Too bad we can't carry it over to property taxes and health care expenses.

I do believe that it will someday carry over to tuition though. It should only take one seriously gifted physics professor to create online physics courses for the entire country. Right? In theory, that should be an incredibly cheap learning environment. Perhaps even 0.5 cents per hour too. Just sayin'.

The Planet Fitness Report v.001

August 6, 2015
5 things to know about Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness, Inc. priced its initial public offering at $16 a share late Wednesday, the high end of its guidance range. The company sold 13.5 million shares to raise $216 million. Shares will start trading later Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PLNT.”

I used their local facilities in the past a few times as a guest (my girlfriend had a membership). As far as gyms go, I liked it.

I joined last week. Including taxes, the start up fee, the annual membership fee, and monthly fee, it will cost me roughly $200 for the first year. I think it is a pretty good value, especially if it keeps me motivated. I can't say if my particular membership will be a good value for them though.

I've used their exercise equipment for 10 hours in one week. Assuming I keep the pace (definitely not a given), that's 520 hours in a year. I have never resold a piece of exercise equipment. I use them until they die. I paid roughly $2000 for a high quality stair climber about 15 years ago. It was a good investment but it's dying. It developed a squeak and nothing I have tried has fixed it. I bring this up because 520 hours on exercise equipment is a lot of wear and tear.

One thing that always motivates me is getting my money's worth when I buy something.

I intend to do just that at Planet Fitness. It's four miles from where I live. It will cost me about $4 each visit (wear and tear, gasoline). That expense dwarfs the membership costs. I wonder how many factor that in? In order to justify the trip, I want to exercise a lot when I am there. That's why I intend to use their equipment for two full hours.

I also intend to visit often. I'm paying Planet Fitness whether I use their facilities or not. I'm therefore choosing, as a night owl, to visit at 3am in the morning each weekday. Or does that make me a morning person? Beats me, lol. But hey, it's working. I've been 5 times and enjoyed it. I do 30 minutes on a recumbent bike (moderate resistance), 30 minutes on the treadmill (2 mph, 11% incline), 30 minutes on the bike, and then 30 more minutes on the treadmill. The routine burns between 900 and 1000 calories in total. Should improve as I lose weight and get into better shape, not that it should matter. That's a lot of exercise and a lot of calories. I feel it.

The real savings will come in other ways though. It's been a rough two years. First, I had that horrible ankle sprain two summers ago. Last year I got Shingles. This year I was just plain lazy. So began the blood pressure medication. Enough is enough. I want off of it. I refuse to become obese. At my age (51), nothing good could come from that.

So anyway, that's my plan. One week down. I'm 6'3" and 230 pounds. Barring injury or illness, I'm not stopping until I see 200. No excuses. I figure if I put it in writing here, then I will feel obligated to do it. Thanks support team!

I don't know what my other long-term goals with Planet Fitness are. This may be just a one year and done situation. I may just be using them as a motivating kick start. Next summer I hope to be doing more hiking. The treadmill should prepare me well for that.

And lastly, I feel really good about this. Hello exercise endorphins. Seriously, I just got back from exercising this morning. Riding the wave, baby. That's what I'm talking about. Life is good. :)

If You Listen to Glenn Beck Religiously, Then Please Heed His Advice!

August 13, 2015
Glenn Beck lists 15 cities “to avoid like the plague”: Seattle is No. 3

As one who lives in the Seattle area, I could not agree more! You cannot be happy here!!

The former Fox News pundit Glenn Beck, a native of Washington, has ranked Seattle as No. 3 on a list of what he calls “15 cities to avoid like the plague when things go bad,” a list based on cities’ lack of religious observance.

“These are cities to avoid like the plague and if you look at that list, these are the cities that are already having trouble and we haven’t even hit the road bump,” Beck said Tuesday on his radio program.”

People living in Seattle are generally open-minded, laid-back, and friendly. There's ample seafood. We have mountain ranges, clean air, and awe-inspiring state and national parks. We care about our environment. There's no state income tax. The unemployment rate is far below the national average. It's also a well-educated city with plenty of creativity. We have many tech companies positioning themselves for the future. Both Amazon.com and Starbucks are headquartered here. Perhaps you have heard of them? Our murder rate is considered low for a city of our size.

We also have excellent modern hospitals based on actual science. Even our pets have access to excellent health care, much to the surprise of those who think they are simply expendable toys, perhaps since they lack human souls and are therefore not part of the chosen master species. Pretty shocking. Right?

We are already having trouble though. Our growth rate may be too high. It seems that many people, perhaps way too many, wish to share our fantastic standard of living and our lack of religious shackles. Oh, the humanity!

If you are the kind of person who religiously listens to Glenn Beck, then I implore you to do us all a favor and avoid us like the plague! Please! I'm begging you! God would not want you living in the sin that we do!!

I'm so worked up over the crappy city that I once lived in and still live near, that I'm going to storm out of my house, cross the street, climb down the gorgeous 200' of vertical hiking trail filled with trees and ferns, cross the road at the bottom, walk another 100' or so, and wade out into the same tiny river that is known for its salmon runs. It's a tough life here in the Pacific Northwest. I try to deal with it as best I can.

Seriously. I've walked down to that river at least three times in the past week. It is a great hardship. I'm especially annoyed by the patch of wild blackberries that I find along the way. No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to resist the deliciously sinful free snacks. I am a slave to them, and that is just no way to live.

Seattle area! Sinful!! Stay away!!! This is your last warning!!!!

Glenn Beck? Are you out there? Somebody needs a hug for all that hate you've locked up inside. Is there a way we could meet on neutral ground? I can bring the dogs. A few good licks to the face could cheer you right up. It certainly couldn't hurt, lol. Sigh.

If We Could Eat Gasoline Then Americans Could Feed the World!

Americans consume 350 million gallons of gasoline per day.

A gallon of gasoline contains roughly 31,000 calories. Tasty!

There are 7.3 billion people on the planet.

If all that gasoline was distributed worldwide, then each and every person on the planet could consume 1,500 calories per day. Once again, that's only if we could eat gasoline.

It's food for thought the next time you are stuck in traffic. Perhaps it is best to go a bit light on the horn, on the off chance some in the world think we are pampered.



Mere words cannot express my good fortune in being born where and when I was. I am thankful each and every day. Here's the thing that really gets me though. We have it so incredibly good here so why do we feel the need to constantly borrow more? What kind of sick and demented unsustainable long-term plan is that?

"Give Me a Kiss"

"Thank you." :)

The Economic Stimulus Vehicle of Choice!

December 8, 2014
'Calgary's Worst Driver': Woman gets ticket after video of botched backing up goes viral

Police have tracked down and issued a traffic ticket to a woman after a video dubbed “Calgary's worst driver” went viral over the weekend.

December 11, 2014
We’ve all been there: In defence of Calgary’s Worst Driver

It’s one thing to be a bozo on your own time, but as soon as you drag someone else into your incompetence, you should do the right thing and leave a note on your victim’s windshield.

I suggest, "We just stimulated the global economy! Congratulations!"

Defense? Who needs a defense? This is an economic miracle! We've all been there and we need to keep doing it. You know, smashing into stationary vehicles and then fleeing the scene. It can really add to GDP if we all do our part!

Repair labor bills? Cha-ching!
Repair shop employment? Cha-ching!
Repair part bills? Cha-ching!
Part manufacturer employment? Cha-ching!
Traffic ticket government revenue? Cha-ching!
Traffic enforcement employment? Cha-ching!
Reporter employment? Cha-ching!
Google (YouTube) shareholder profits? Cha-ching!

Real prosperity, baby. That's what I'm talking about. Or not. Your call.

Illusion of Prosperity Infects Virtual Prosperity World

I've been playing quite a bit of Real Racing 3 on my iPhone. It's a free to play game and last night I received the following exclusive offer.


Click to enlarge.

$250,000 in virtual currency not enough? Try $250,000!
66 in virtual gold not enough? Try 66 gold!

Yes! 0% more value! It's an exclusive offer just for me! Hahaha!

In the game's defense, the offer actually bumped up to 50% more when I went looking for it. So this screen shot is simply a bug. The virtual currency and gold would set me back $14.99 plus tax. Not interested. The currency is easy to earn while enjoying the game and I have built up 914 virtual gold right now. Don't need more any time soon.

I'm loving these free to play games that simply require a bit of patience.

To summarize, I earn virtual currency and virtual gold virtually gaming and just received a virtual exclusive offer that I chose to refuse. Can't you just feel the long-term virtual prosperity rolling in?

I've spent $4.99 plus tax in total for about 90 hours of game play. That works out to about 6 cents per hour so far. I don't see myself paying any more than that. The cents per hour should therefore fall from here.

Special thanks to those subsidizing my gaming in this new and improved virtually prosperous world!

And don't even get me started on The Sims FreePlay. Fun game. Haven't spent any real money on it yet. I have earned virtual currency willingly watching daily advertisements for other free to play games, so that's something I guess.

How many developers are making even more free to play games right now? Can't wait to almost pay for them when they come out! Strong job market! Best ever!!

Dogs Are Fun! v.3

Dogs Are Fun! v.2

Dogs Are Fun!

Real prosperity, baby. That's what I'm talking about. :)

Cyber Weekend Madness: Honey vs. Thingamabob

As is the case everyday, we "spent" some quality time with our pets.

Real prosperity, baby. That's what I'm talking about.

1500' TV Tower Climb

I saw this at Gongol.com and feel the need to share.



What a job! What a view!

Gardens vs. Gold

A nursery near me closed recently. I suspect a subdivision or apartment complex will replace it. According to the Better Business Bureau, the nursery was started in 1969. I was therefore curious about employment in that industry. As seen in the following chart, the closure appears to be the exception and not the rule.


Click to enlarge.

I have added observations on the gold market to the chart. Keep in mind that correlation does not prove causation. That said, this is real prosperity. I'd like to see more of it. Time will tell.

I would not complain in the slightest if I am wrong to be a permabear. I've been asked what it would take to change my opinion on that. Fusion power would be a great start. Let's see how we're doing on that front.

October 15, 2014
Skunk Works Reveals Compact Fusion Reactor Details

Hidden away in the secret depths of the Skunk Works, a Lockheed Martin research team has been working quietly on a nuclear energy concept they believe has the potential to meet, if not eventually decrease, the world’s insatiable demand for power.

Of course, we've heard this many times in the past. The ongoing joke is that fusion power is 20 years away. Always has been, always will.

You know, kind of like the ending of ZIRP. It's always a year or two away. Always has been, always will. Just need to be patient! Hahaha! Sigh.

The team acknowledges that the project is in its earliest stages, and many key challenges remain before a viable prototype can be built. However, McGuire expects swift progress.

I believe fusion power will happen at some point in the future, perhaps even as early as McGuire believes. It won't be all biscuits and gravy though. There would still be one more hurdle to face over the long-term.

November-December 2009
“Waste Heat” a Potential Threat to the Climate

“The second law problem says that if you create and use energy you have to eject waste heat,” says Dennis Bushnell, chief scientist at the NASA Langley research facility. He says that, as more humans create and use more energy, eventually the waste heat “will reach a level, that in order for the planet to reject it into space, the whole planet will have to warm up.”

It's not an opinion. It's not a theory. It's a law.

We love to consume. Give us unlimited power and we'll no doubt try our darndest to consume as much of it as humanly possible. That's just what humans do, like individual locusts in a swarm. Unfortunately, waste heat is not something we can place in garbage bags and set out on the street for pickup. The laws of physics would eventually see us burn. Won't change a thing about what we do of course, if history is any indicator. Progress at any price, borrowing it if need be! Burning if need be!

In summary...

Up with gardens. Up with Fusion power. That's real prosperity. It's not necessarily utopia for those who come after us though, but what's new? We're already giving the next generations our excessive debts. What's a little added waste heat among friends?

Source Data:
BLS: CES Databases

A Glimpse of Real Prosperity

January 14, 2014

After a month of research and looking through over 10,000 vintage teddy bears on online, I was able to find clues to reconstruct her childhood teddy bear "Whitey." Whitey was given to her as a gift during her mother's baby shower for Jess, so he is technically older than she is!

When I began this venture, Whitey was in two pieces (his head ripped off) and missing an ear, his nose, both eyes, and not to mention half of his stuffing was gone. So, I took him to the Secaucus Doll and Teddy Bear Hospital, and after a week, they were able to restore him to his original glory.

Sometimes the best things in life really do come in small packages. :)

Shameless Pet Plug

Behold the power of our dog Honey when confronted with my girlfriend's new iPhone.

The phone was a gift from her mother. Honey is the gift that keeps on giving. :)

Vehicle Miles Traveled vs. Oil Consumed

There are no doubt many explanations for the trends in the chart. Here are a few off the top of my head.

1. Vehicles (and other energy using goods) are becoming more energy efficient. Real prosperity!
2. We waste less energy when energy prices are higher.
3. We use less energy when we're deep in debt.
4. We use less energy per capita when we build fewer things per capita (houses, infrastructure).
5. We use less energy when we outsource energy intensive work (manufacturing).

The last one on the list isn't really energy conservation. It simply means that some other country uses that energy instead of us.

Chinese Government: Report on the Work of the Government (2012)

We will keep labor-intensive exports stable, expand the export of high-tech and high-value-added products, and limit the export of goods whose production is energy intensive and highly polluting. We will work hard to promote trade in services and undertake more services outsourced by other countries.

Good luck on that one.

March 9, 2010
China's Pollution in Photos

The media loves a good story about how China has shed its old industrial ways and is leading the charge into a clean economy. We've even done it, with this glowing story about the Chinese solar sector. And it's probably all true. But China is a big country, and one where you can be leading the world in solar production in one place and still be pumping disgusting chemicals into their rivers somewhere else.

Bonus Thought

Note that the trend starting in November of 2011 is eerily similar to the one that started at the beginning of our last recession.

Are people hunkering down again?

Source Data:
EIA: U.S. Product Supplied of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products
St. Louis Fed: Moving 12-Month Total Vehicle Miles Traveled