Sublime Christmas Beauty
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Mid-month Christmas ruminations…
I’ve always been a big fan of the Christmas season*, even if that appreciation has morphed from that typical childhood manic Santa-Greed, to that middling “purchasing for others” egotistic patronage phase, and finally now onto the “enjoying the little ones’ joy” segment. For what it’s worth, this last bit has been the best. You wish they could stay small forever, but even into their teens, the kids are a treat on Christmas morning and throughout the holiday season.
But as I’ve gotten older I’ve also realized that Christmas is about more than rejoicing with my immediate family and friends, it’s about attending to one’s community as well. I like to think of the season as a kernel to build upon for the new year — and as a reminder of what the heck we’re doing here in the first place.
Christmas is a gentle ego aide — that helps me remember we are not here to build wealth or careers or even organizations — or at least we are not here to strive for those goals for their own sake. We are here to serve one another, to serve the least and even the greatest if that is the call.
I was therefore dismayed to hear an older gentlemen (50’s) the other day say he “was just about Christmas’ed out,” (this was December 10th). I first thought to myself, “how cynical,” but then upon further reflection I realized this was probably an indication of seasonal depression, most likely caused by a prematurely arrested Concept of Christmas. If one saw each Christmas as a wholly commercial exercise, bracketed by obligatory holiday parties and regimented relational visits, I could see that getting rather tiresome as one approached a half century on this planet.
But instead, if one could see Christmas as a challenge… or even as an annual quest to find the right person, group or community to serve for the season, and perhaps even for the new year, then Christmas becomes something else, something even more wonderful than the joyous mornings of our wrapping paper youth. And I’m not just talking about the quotidian forms of charity, although those are certainly important and necessary. I’m talking about reaching out to that Bob Cratchit in your life if you are a boss, or that Ebenezer Scrooge if you are an employee.
Someone needs you, right now. What better time to take that excuse to reach out, and to offer a hand — even anonymously– to those in need of a friend or a patron? Take this Season and make it special, and carry that extra joy with you into the new year and onto the next. I promise you will never be “Christmased out” again.
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*(Please be assured that when I mention “Christmas” as the season, I recognize that the December Holiday Period is a time of joy and familial reflection for many cultures and faiths, just as the New Year is a time for renewal for us all. I believe the prescription mentioned above is a fitting one for all men and women of good will, not matter their affiliation, or lack thereof. )
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As of this writing, the dollar is rallying again, and flirting with that $79-$80 range that has been been our “top” since last January. All I can do is wait and see if Santa is going to be good to the little PM trader girls and boys. If we breach our late November highs, then I will be shaving down to more cash, but until then, I will be eating samiches (sic), and thinking about bell ringing.
My best to you all.
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Looking at the time stamp I see where you had trouble sleeping because of the excitement of a Tebow and Giants come behinds.
I was out at dinner w. the family when the Next Tebow Miracle happened… and I just happened to be near a big screen plasma at the time.
You have to admit, that schit is starting to get a bit weird, no?
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But if you want real “touched by God” stuff, listen to that Christmas Cantata above — it’s part of an hours long piece (I just ordered it on Amazon)of which every minute is a gift from heaven. It just boggles my mind that he was writing that stuff in the early 18th century and yet it remains so fresh and transcendental almost 300 years later. Just awe-inspiring.
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As for the Giants, well… except for Eli and JayPeePee, not a one of them deserved that win — most especially not our defense (save JPP).
That said, I’m glad I don’t have to listen to that asshat Alf this morning.
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Also be respectful to the poor and needy, and give them alms and good things in right measure according to your wealth and possessions, and when doing so consider that you will not be able to take one thing to the realm of the invisible (other world/death-life) from all that you have gathered together in terms of goods and chattels and possessions and wealth, because there are no pockets in which you could take anything with you.
Truly, when you are knowing in the truth and you do good works in respect and honesty, and carry out your duty, and if you give your alms and good gifts to those who need them, then your reward will be love and equitableness (fairness), and therefore you will not have to fear that anyone will revile you as a stingy one or someone without equitableness (unfair one/irresponsible one), nor that others will cause sorrow in you.
Do not prevent yourselves from honestly giving alms (gifts) to the poor and needy or to any other good cause, because if you are righteous ones (responsible) then you do not allow yourselves to fall into passivity when you see poverty and need which you can relieve through gifts (alms and donations).
And consider when you give alms (gifts) that you shall not be stingy, rather act according to the best of your ability regarding what you can give in goods and riches, but see that you yourselves have enough and do not have to suffer privations through distributing (donating) alms and gifts (donations); but consider stinginess which is a terrible thing and is of no use to you at the end of your days, because you cannot take anything with you into the realm of death (death-life); therefore it is also senseless for you to have gifts and great riches (grave offerings) placed into the grave; and therefore it is senseless for you to have gold and other valuable things forged into coverings on your face (death masks) and to have yourselves wrapped in expensive and sumptuous garments or for you to want your dead body preserved (embalmed) with expensive oil since what has lost the bloom (breath) of life remains behind on the earth and decays in its time (sooner or later); and truly neither your dead body nor anything of what you place into the grave can be taken into the realm of death (death-life) that is not made of firmness (material), but is in truth of the finest power (energy) which is the equivalent of that of the primal power of all primal power (Creation).
Polly want a cracker?
Bruce — a link might suffice if you are quoting.
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True story; the last two years I gave all the poor free healthcare.
Allegedly…
Probably not though…
A gentlemen in his 50’s is “older” Fuck You whippersnapper.
and Merry Christmas!
lol, that crack me up too. happy happy bro. wait till they are in their late 20’s. maybe as a gift to their dad,4 brand new tennis balls for the walker.:)
@Dk — I know that came out wrong… I actually meant to characterize him as “not that old.” When I said “older” I meant “older than me,” and someone who really should NOT have been so cynical at that relatively middle age.
I could see someone who is older who might be having family troubles or health problems being cranky about Christmas, but this guy didn’t really have an excuse. I meant to use him, therefore, as the example of one who was “doing it wrong.”
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Drummer —
That reminds me of the joke my brothers and I used to tease my late father with when we were in our teens and early twenties…
Don’t worry, Dad, (we’re) going to be a big success, and THEN we’re going to get you THE BEST NURSING HOME MONEY CAN BUY!
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lol.
RFLOL. Forgive me Jake, but that WAS funny.
This was deep Jake:
“But instead, if one could see Christmas as a challenge… or even as an annual quest to find the right person, group or community to serve for the season, and perhaps even for the new year, then Christmas becomes something else, something even more wonderful than the joyous mornings of our wrapping paper youth. And I’m not just talking about the quotidian forms of charity, although those are certainly important and necessary. I’m talking about reaching out to that Bob Cratchit in your life if you are a boss, or that Ebenezer Scrooge if you are an employee.”
ps. that might be the best Headline ever LOL.
I plan on passing a Hundo to one of our local Houston Homeless, I’m just struggling to find one thats not a meth addict or drunk.. but I continue my Quest..
great blog!!
I give to organized charities rather than individuals. There are distinct advantages. E.g. with reputable organizations that use the money to feed or shelter the homeless, I am sure that my money will not be used for meth.
While Frog is correct in his making sure some of his money is “safe” via being distributed through a responsible organization (and no, that doesn’t mean the gummint), I don’t see a problem with an act of singular charity like Dave suggests.
True, many many homeless people are plagued with drug and alcohol problems which can only be exacerbated by putting fungible cash in their hand. However, what is the nature of a gift, anyway?
Maybe you split the diff, Dave, and get the guy a decent parka from Old Navy for $50, and then give him the Grant in change with it. He may go get drunk with it, but at least he won’t be a bumsicle in the morning.
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What a great post Jake
Beautiful post, Jake. I usually give to Doctors Without Borders and the two local children’s hospitals, but this year I’ve been working with my kids’ school to contribute to the neighborhood food bank as well.
That’s excellent. I’m a big believer in “local first.” If one is a “conservative,” then one can’t demand that government get out of the redistribution business without taking up that burden — especially at the local level — oneself.
The argument being put force is that no one knows what needs must be addressed locally better than a local who sees those needs every day.
Doctors without Borders is a great one, but don’t forget about the Salvation Army kettles, and St. Vince DePauls, local food banks, etc, etc.
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way too early in the morning to read all of that
but from the replies it must be something good
Well said Senator. As to today, are you thinking of lightening your PM hoard?
Yes, to my chagrin. I’ll let you know for sure.
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exk under 11 now,my mouth is starting to water.
You will be drooling when it goes under $10 this week.
Don’t be so sure FIG. The dollar isn’t “there” yet.
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Nice post Senator. Will buy more physical in just a bit. I’m sure you are well aware of Pat but if not he has some things to say about Euroland in his latest comment:
http://www.patcondell.net
I didn’t find the bit on Euroland (unless it was in the vid), but I did see this in his Q&A:
Q: How do you vote in elections?
A: In the past I’ve always voted for the fattest candidate on the basis that they’ll take up more room on the House of Commons benches thereby giving me more democracy for my valuable franchise, but now that Britain is being turned into a vassal state of a federal Europe I’ll be voting UKIP.
Not altogether irrational.
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150MA on gold has been very consistent as support.
My favorite quote on giving from one of my favorite authors-
“In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charities expenditure excludes them.”
C.S. Lewis
What a great treatise.
I really think there should be a movement afoot to make that guy a saint… if only via the Thomas Aquinas Learned Teacher model.
(I know, technically he was Anglican, but he sure writes like a Catholic.)
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Completely agree. However I think his proclivity for tobacco and alcohol would be a big stumbling block for the more self-righteous out there.
LOL.
Not the Catholics! Maybe if he was going for Baptist sainthood…
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Senator, so the plan is to stay put if we don’t breach 79.7 level? I hope I don’t get too fat from all this sammich eating:)
That’s my plan. I’m down about 4% in PM positions right now, so I’m in for a penny, as it were…
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Jake,
Longer term, do you still think we are in secular bull market for PMs? Looks like it will be pretty tough to breach new highs that we made early in April, no?
It might be tough in the near term, but I’m pretty confident they’ll be breached… maybe by late winter.
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Thanks Jake. I’m in it for the long run. As all my IRA money is in AGQ.
Say WHAT??
Holy shit, remedy that situation IMMEDIATELY!
I can’t believe your broker even let you put any AGQ in your IRA, never mind ALL of it….
Geez! MAYBE 5%… TOPS!
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LMAO!! that was my reaction as well
Needless to say, I’m feeling the pain here as well! I wonder what my mentor’s mentor is planning to do?
He’s as steady as a rock. Interestingly, he’s been dabbling in the silver, which is kind of a first for him.
I wouldn’t put that up for anything more than me cheerleading it to him for a while now…
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Major break of the 3 month uptrend in SLV and GLD
No new lows yet but technically it’s a shit show
I am looking at the weekly chart and we are touching (almost) the 34-week EMA ($160.23) with a LOD of $161.14, about one dollar north.
That 34 week EMA has been support for GLD since early in the recovery (’09).
If it broke through there, I would be getting to cash quickly.
Take a look for yourself to note the many times we’ve visited that 34 week EMA.
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$30 looks like similar support for SLV, btw.
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The 34 week EMA has certainly been a winner since early 2009 for GLD
Hopefully it works out again otherwise the measured move from the broken triangle is nasty
Just got the chance to to post a late reply due to a ‘lil ‘mergency.
Great post Brother Jake. Merry Christmas.
Jake
a very timely and well written post. a challenge to us all. good for you!!.
merry christmas.
Probably a bit of curve fitting but still interesting
http://profitimes.com/free-articles/gold-model-forecasts-4380-gold-price/
Original model was based on real interest rates but this one goes a step further
Senator, I can’t wait to see if you can write a quick blog entry and throw up a few charts for us after the wild action today! Thanks for the calm fortitude in the face of the storm. I lost track of how many sammiches I ate today. I think I was feeding some of the leftovers to the 3-yr-old at lunchtime:)
i added a GLD outta the money feb call today, does that
help ? 😉
Gambling is fun!
😉
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I concede that perhaps I am doing it wrong (investing/trading, that is). Nonetheless, I did not yet capitulate and sell silver for massive losses.
Well, you’re in good company. According to the Senator, both he and his mentor are still holding strong to their positions.
One of my fib. charts hints that gold’s $1640 is “crucial.” Meaning, either it’s a floor or a, now infamous, “$NFLX elevator stop.”
I believe the former, but wanted to check in with Senator, MeThinks it’s time to, in the spirit of your post, spread some $hiny around to my family and friends this year.
Is this “a floor”, or an elevator stop back down to the $ 1,500’s?
Thoughts appreciated Senator!