No Longer Neutral?

Switzerland, with its infamously secretive banks, has agreed to impose sanctions against Russia, while maintaining it isn’t compromising political neutrality. Hillbilly Moon Explosion is from Switzerland, and Arielle Dombasle joined them for this catchy little number.

I hope the Russian sanctions don’t include the fabulous Messer Chups! Here’s their latest music video.

Green Day

What do I have that’s green for St. Patrick’s Day? I have bananas! Bananas that have been green for two weeks.

green bananas

I’ve been told they will eventually ripen, and that putting them in a paper bag will help to hasten the process.

paper bag

How long will it take for these bananas to ripen? Stay tuned to find out!

Something by Green Day. Will the situation with Russia get bad enough that Selective Service returns to having the Draft?

Raising in Order to Lower

The Fed has been fueling stock market inflation for a long time. Steven Liesman comments on the Fed finally taking action against consumer inflation.

Liesman asks, can inflation be self-correcting? By putting downward pressure on demand, could inflation ease on its own, without intervention from the Fed? If that were the case it would have happened by now.

Back on July 18 I said, “I don’t see inflation becoming a chronic problem unless income inequality is addressed. Perhaps we’re getting a taste of that, with more people demanding a higher minimum wage.” I’m thinking we are indeed getting a taste of that, resulting from the rise in wages.

It’s an uncomfortable possibility that income inequality is a factor in helping to keep inflation under control. The implication is there has been a benefit to the decline in good paying union jobs. Some smart economist should write a book about this, if there isn’t one already.

Seduction of the Gullible

The closest thing to TCM on broadcast TV is the Movies! TV Network. Here in Boston it’s found on standard definition sub-channel 17-2 [later 38-5]. The station recently showed While the City Sleeps (1956), directed by Fritz Lang. On TCM the movie comes without commercials and with Eddie Muller’s always inciteful and enlightening commentary.

Estes Kefauver was a politician with Presidential aspirations, whose Senate committee on organized crime was depicted in The Godfather Part II.

Kefauver saw a connection between organized crime and juvenile delinquency, which the notorious Dr. Frederick Wertham insisted had a direct correlation to kids reading comic books. Which of course it didn’t. This clip is from a TV show that was directed by Irvin Kershner, the director of the first Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back.

By the way, the comic book killer in the movie was played by Drew Barrymore’s dad.