What Goes Around Comes Around -- Economics Text Review.

von Mises

Human Action, by Lüdwig von Mises (Yale, 1949.) – Book Review.

From the sheer weight of the book here, and the fine print, it is evident and obvious this is a magnum opus by a premier, flagship economist of the post war Austrian School in his thesis replying to all others.  While von Mises is entirely credible today, even after his passing some time ago, and this in view of the results of lacunae in other schools, notable among them the theorists, pundits and even practitioners who just talk about what goes on in money centers.  In view of his marked omission in the text of many marquis administrative topics including things like national banking and other items examined first in the book, these are described as the well – known relationship in economic terms between “Peter” and “Paul”.  Such books as von Mises thesis here, as they are construed from the title of the text or the volume of text, issues of language, terminology and the like are sometimes described as someone’s “theory of everything”:  Human Action is by no means the hitchhikers’ guide to the galaxy as many economics texts as well might be said to be, and it stands in wonderful parallels in the States to the great text on the subject by Paul Samuelson that first appeared during the 1960’s and wonderfully termed itself, Economics.  The Samuelson book despite its age as well still explains for everyone the principles of modern economics in plain and simple English, and the concepts themselves are extremely powerful and override much of what we know to be “sociology” and “psychology” and other among the social sciences then and now.  The contrast between the thesis of von Mises of the 1950’s and Samuelson of the 1960’s to today has to do with Samuelson’s Hobbesian and overall technical and quantitative approach to the subject whereas von Mises theoretical computations have to do with commercial and money – motivated intricacies.  Economics for von Mises was the toil of a liberal psychologist in the experimental sciences (in fact, the terms here describe what today would be a kind of quackery but at the time were very seriously done and had great weight, for example, with the planners of the “Great Society” and so forth) in the areas of natural and behavioral research, and in the un – scientific realm of literary psychology (telling people what you knew as much as to not have them upset at what you say and how you say it).  Economy or economics for von Mises was a behavior, as no doubt he believed money is a huge influencer of economics and business behavior or “action”.  A second principle that runs between the lines throughout the book after being openly discussed early in the text is an acknowledgement that inequality and inequalities everywhere call for interpersonal interaction and social and societal cooperation – it is difficult given his belief in the heavy influences of capital and this latter observation as well, to tell if von Mises actually allowed for a socio – economic status quo or if he was constantly striving to find a way for this experimental science to break through the barriers of behavior as defined, economic behavior specifically, to have people find new innovative and inventive ground in many new ways.  It is evident von Mises knew that “a penny saved is a penny earned” and the like, and perhaps at the exclusion of other opportunities in life and in business / finance and economics, and with the emphasis in his book on prices and things like exchange rates and interest, it might be said he was not ‘miserly’ but might have been against spending greatly on things; and his levels of analysis indicate he had a liking for most people, especially the worker and consumer, the family man and homemaker.  To mention the spirit of von Mises as today quite happy with the federalist state of his native Europe – the relative economic stability and avoidance of poverty, the social stability as well, indicate the text was read there in a meaningful way without its being a cookbook for things as some economics text are.  Overall an excellent read.  

2014 FIFA World Result.

My unofficial attentive viewing of the recent World Cup final featuring Germany and Argentina began in the 30^th minute with the offside Argentinian goal (Argentina was offside at several crucial times at the final) at the Rio de Janeiro Maracana stadium venue.  At the 35^th minute, Cristoph Kramer (23) was off the pitch (substitution was Andre Schürrle (9)) with an apparent injury that followed some brutal play in which Germany’s Schweinsteiner (29^th minute) received a yellow.  This brutal play against the Germans was again followed by a Howedes yellow, and in the 35^th minute as well, Messi went for goal with his left.  Then in the 36^th minute, Thomas Müller went for the Argentinian goal with his right.  At the 38^th minute, it was Messi again on goal with a crucial German clearance out to the pitch’s right midfield from the German goal area.   At the 44^th minute, it was again Müller on goal with his left.  In the 45^th minute (approximately 45 :  20 and 45 : 40), Germany had corner kicks of which an outstanding header by Howedes (Kroos) that only found the middle of the right – hand post of the Argentinian frame; and the first half then ended even 0 – 0.

Media Image

The Argentinians then substituted Sergio Aguero (20) for Ezequiel Lavezzi (22), and within seconds were offside again in front of the German goal on the right.  At the end of the 46^th minute, Messi made another left – footed attempt on the German goal, and the Germans replied in the 54^th minute with a left – footed attempt again by Thomas Müller on the Argentinian goal.  This was followed by a decisive save / clearance by Neuer at the opposite end and in the 59^th minute Germany had a header on goal (Klose), and again in the 61^st minute, Özil of Germany made his goal attempt of the match followed by another in the 70^th against the Argentines by Howedes.  In the 74^th minute, Messi of the Argentines tried again against Neuer with his left; still no good for the Argentines.  In the 76^th minute, the Argentines substituted Rodrigo Palacio (18) for Gonzalo Higuian (9).  Neuer made another decisive save in the 77^th, followed in the opposite end by a clearance near the Argentine goal, and at the 81^st minute, Kroos made another creative goal attempt of the match against the Argentines (right foot).  At the 85^th minute, Argentina made their final substitute with Enzo Perez (8) out and Fernando Gago (5) in, and Germany at the 87^th minute brought on Götze (19) in exchange for Miroslave Klose (11,) followed by a Götze right – footed attempt on the Argentine goal.  Regulation time ended at the 93^rd minute on or about another German attempt on the opposing goal (Müller).  One interpretation indicates Argentina at this point were tired and increasingly shaky.

At the end of the first extra time, Argentina’s Palacio (18) was at the German goal again, and the first extra time ended at the 95^th minute.  At the second extra time, and featuring throughout very physical play with a number of clashes marked a crucial serious foul called on Schweinsteiger (by Aguero), play could have gone either way save for the exhaustion of the Argentinians.  This was definitively marked by Thomas Müller’s receiving the ball on the left side within range of the Argentinian goal and making for the end line, beating his defender with a center to Götze who took the ball off his ribs, playing to his left and putting the ball in the air well by the Argentinian keeper :  At about the 112^th minute, Germany 1 : Argentina 0.  The logic of the German defense from this time carried to the end of the match, even with a midfield foul on Messi toward the end (121^st minute.)  Germany substituted Per Mertesacker (17) for Mesut Özil (8,) Messi’s free kick sailed, and extra time ended at or about the 125^th minute with the final tally again at Germany 1 : Argentina 0. 

Please note the best accounts in English are from the UK papers, but USA Today had good coverage from the U.S., and there are numerous other sites with minute – by – minute coverage.  The network broadcast I viewed, and needless to mention this was a terrific match, featured a lag in the clock, so you might assume my times are entirely incorrect plus or minus maybe four minutes either way.  Also, as of today, July 18, the great German national team captain Philipp Lahm after ten years with his

Media Image

national team is retired from football.   

45th Anniversary of Apollo Eleven.

"Click here"

A Good Book of Letters.

Media Image

The Letters of Arthur J. Schlesinger, Jr. (First Edition, Random House, 2013.)

Occasionally a book comes along that is in a different format formally than most others and readers, especially those in the area of current events and history will like the recent compilation of Arthur J. Schlesinger’s letters and related commentary that reads like the “Who’s Who” of the liberal party in the U.S. in addition to offering events and editorials, personal and public, in the recent history of that party, and for the reading public at this point.  The authors, themselves named Schlesinger, went searching for things in the New York Public Library and found approximately 35 , 000 letters and materials including notes, essays, other personal papers and the like.  There are apparently thousands of other letters of Schlesinger outside the New York Public library in people’s files and elsewhere which testify to the prolific character of this liberal and presidential adviser and confidant.  The “Who’s Who” of liberal society in the States for some time after WWII did come from the Ivy League, notably Harvard and the related crowd that due to the confluence of events and success factors at the time, politically, administratively and economically, etc., these historical figures, larger than life as they were in their academic achievements and more so in what they accomplished once given the reins of power, call for and are portrayed in a very high – impact prose in the letters as shown and in the corresponding editorials and opinions associated with the letters.  None of Schlesinger’s notes to anyone, and he had many high – powered, very accomplished friends and fellow – advisors and officials and other associates; proved to be more than a few pages.  The text also has a formal picture or two with him at his typewriter that appeared to start out as a Remington manual machine as was often the case in the days for journalists, and then that developed into the apparently more modern one as time passed. 

The entirety of the text shows probably several hundred of his best correspondence to the Kennedys, Dean Acheson, Harry Truman, Averill Harriman, and the list goes on and on of major people in the day.  Mr. Schlesinger died in 2007 and was still writing at the time.  Throughout the text, the prose he set down is thrilling to read and the book a page – turner – the letters themselves have a hopeful mood and attitude, and his coverage of people’s lives in these indicates the early emphasis of U.S. politics as it developed after WWII, again, as increasingly oriented, however silently, to foreign policy; and for instance to the fate of places like Israel, Berlin, T’aiwan, and others.  Naturally, liberal people are more oriented to things like foreign policy and world society, and especially during the 1950’s onward, and even up to today, U.S. influence, political power and even outright controlling of circumstances, and conditions outside the country is the banter of the day in these circles.  Same had been true of the leftist / communist capitals since some time ago, and this brought out the hefty anti – communism even of the most liberal U.S. high officialdom at the time.  As much is evident the perception that communism, and this even more so during the Kennedy polity, and its dangers, realized and materialized for free and democratic countries the kind of backward form of oppression that it was known for in the States while at some times in its detail giving cause for the uninformed to suspend belief.  It is obvious as well from the text that Mr. Schlesinger knew lives of well – educated, humble and very capable people were spent on this, if not set completely adrift for the duration given what happened in the day, especially for example to those who were knowledgeable and action, reform, and anti – communist – oriented, but who were cut to the quick by the communist device of calling the opposition, even the left opposition behind the Iron Curtain incapable and too lightweight.  The telling drinking bouts of the then soviet leadership at the time are evidence of this though the author does not speak of these. 

The text is written in its commentary and editorials on the correspondence therein by two very cogent and inspiring people themselves in the way they chose the notes and presented them with comments and richly referenced as well, might I add.  The journalistic style of the book is intimate in every way as the author knew the subject matter “growing up” as even, and this is my guess, these so – called journalists knew at their adolescent years they would make history, that they were different and more capable and genial and “can – do” than their contemporaries – as a result of this, they were journalists, but might have completely avoided the daily television news and daily papers (this is just a guess, but the nature and detail of the letters in the text lends credence to it).  Directly and indirectly as well, the book is a history of the liberal polity in the States starting in the 1950’s right up to today in great part.  Really a great read.  

Sur "Attali sur Marx" -- un sommaire de son discours en 2006.

Media Image

SOMMAIRE EN BREF -- CONFERENCE SUR MARX – OCTOBRE 2006 – JACQUES ATTALI (IMPRIME PAR EDITIONS PLEINS – FEUX , 2006)

Au moment où l’on parle de Karl Marx à ce point, malgré le discours de M. Attali en 2006, une date récente, on ne puisse guère parler que de son legs quoique pratique quoiqu’intellectuel et dont l’opinion d’autant de marxistes soit également que l’intérêt des écrits de Marx dépasse celui de tous les romans du monde.  Le mouvement mondial du marxisme soit en effet une politique internationale caractérisée par une humanité très personnelle dans l’engagement de la théorie communiste / socialiste.  Dans les dernières années de sa vie, Marx avait tel inquiétude au sujet de l’usage de ses théories et dans lesquelles on ait fait tel confiance à l’époque.  La potence des théories de Marx avait pour un temps une bienveillante domicile en France en cause de quelques faiblesses dans le système d’enseignement dont on n’a pas considéré de tous les propres côtés.   Le statut de la religion auprès du Marxisme considérait l’échelle du monde à laquelle nous nous trouvons, et son influence parme les personnes fascinantes dont Mao T’se – toung et son « Le petit livre rouge » donnant une collection de locutions fascinantes. 

Né dans la Rhénanie allemande, et créant une théorie politique et économique de l’utopie, une fois construites et éventuellement effondrée et discréditées, les idées de Marx ont caractérisée des barbaries, etc., du XIXème siècle, qui ont bloqué une bonne mondialisation et une réussite éventuelle et encore la bonne mondialisation dans le XXème siècle.  Toutefois, il y a des liens en commun entre l’histoire personnelle de Marx et le trajet de cette politique qu’il inventait dont le destin extrême et le rapport administratif eux – mêmes de ses théories.  Marx naquit en 1818, et fût élevé dans l’absence de la religion et au moment donné dans sa jeunesse tombait facilement sous l’influence hégelienne.  Son père était avocat, et il suit donc son père dans ses études de droit premièrement à Bonn et plus tard à Berlin à l’âge de 18 ans.  Hegel pour Karl Marx représentait une philosophie allemande, érudite dans les idées, s’agissant de la liberté sociale contre la monarchie ; et un esprit de siège du monde contre Hegel.  Dans ses études parallèlement, il fréquentait Engels, un personnage de famille d’industriels.  Depuis un bureau de droit à Trèves, son père paya les études de droit de Marx et assurait sa voie envers l’obtention du diplôme en même temps. Marx renonce à l’idée de devenir professeur de droit à la fin de ses études, et grâce au modèle de sa philosophie exprimât le propos de devenir le plus grand homme d’idées allemandes au XIXème siècle – ceci fût pendant le temps où il rencontrât Engels pour la première fois et son père est mort à l’époque aussi.  En ce temps, il relit la philosophie et lit tous les économistes du jour qui auraient pesé sur ses théories :  Celles – ci, d’une grande partie basées sur une réalité économique et politique que cultivent la société.  A la fois, il rencontre aussi « Jenny », sa femme, et avec qui il fait un voyage des noces.  Il est possible, étant donné aussi le trajet de la vie de Marx et les réflexions sur ses pensées dont certains citations, que le bien de ses théories indiquait en même temps une haine de soi.  Pareillement, il haït les systèmes de croyances religieuses, et en commençant à publier ses articles, sembla aimer Hegel et son existentialisme. 

Il s’est décidé à rester en Allemagne, mais en était chassé avec sa famille dû aux activités de son Ligue Communiste ; et donc se trouvèrent à Bruxelles à l’âge de 29 ans où il embauche son appel à la politique mondiale de ses théories, etc.  Aussi pendant ce temps, il perd dans la pauvreté trois de ses six enfants, et à la suite déménageait à Londres où il refuse de travailler.  Il était finalement devenu correspondant pour un grand journal new yorkais, le « New York Daily Tribune » et fût publié fréquemment dans ses écrits en continuant à écrire ses tomes et ayant en ce temps un enfant avec une bonne qui nettoya la pièce de la famille.  En ce temps aussi, il travailla dans les syndicats et publia son « Le Capital » en 1867 au moment où il concentrait encore sur le « Socialiste Internationale ».  Bismarck en ce temps avait fait des liens aux communistes / socialistes pour réunir l’Allemagne administratif et politique, et Marx fût devenu, à partir de 1871, le cause célèbre et patron majeur du communisme / socialisme mondial. 

La suite de ces mouvements politiques et économiques, surtout au niveau des compromis allemands dans la politique qui étaient pour Marx des coups réussites, engendrait pour le Marxisme une piste et sillons sur sillons de barbaries idéologiques et pratiques qui saignaient l’histoire des états ayant accepté le communisme / socialisme.  Le Commune de Paris, et la suite d’évènements Marxistes dès 1871 ont fait preuve de quelques de ses idées dans les ombres :  la paupérisation, celles des grandes entreprises mondiales et le pouvoir industriel partout, et une baisse dans le taux de profit pour l’industrie dans le monde développé.  D’autres points, dont la dictature du prolétariat de Marx, servit pour quelques de se débarrasser du monde du capital en vue d’une « économie de liberté » selon lui.  

"Dumbbell Training" by Allen Hedrick

More often in the past, but recently as well, I have picked up some dumbbells for exercise, and while

Mr. Hedrick

basic statistics show that as one ages that strength training typically enhances your health if not prolongs your life.  Apart from this, athletic training with dumbbells can be fun, in addition to being on the same level as NCAA, Olympic, and other championship people in training :  You can use the same method as used by professional athletes and Olympians for strength and endurance training for your own body with this text.  An excellent deal for $ 20 U.S. that illustrates much of the technical about weights exercise within the binding of a short and very well - put - together text on weight training. The book for the larger part covers individual dumbbells exercises that range from those for cross - country and other athletes that have more slow and deliberate, repetitive motion over their foot races, to more powerful and explosive routines that allow for better performance, the goal of all physical exercise, in sports calling for those attributes.  Weight training for swimmers is even touched upon here, and resistance training is the norm here while some tailored exercises that focus more on different activities by the athlete are in the text as well that's made up mostly of exercise routines like a smorgasbord or Chinese menu of exercises.  In a former life as a competitor, people like me used athletic facilities while carrying on weight strength training, people like me used an interval exercise routine or routines, and this text seems like an extension of that everyone needs know of at this point.  Before that I used a training text itself with sporting exercises (Csanadi - 1954).  The routines in this text are not for the faint of heart, and make sure you are cleared by your physician before beginning your routine here -- certainly the book will recommend that for everyone.

The training routines in the text have break times that I do not really "get" though that is understandable as after the quite intensive sets the author prescribes, maybe such rests are necessary.  At one time I am supposed to have carried on a "six minute" workout, and when something new came along that had higher training impact it was nice to try, though most of these were fads.  There are probably as many fads in the sports and exercise training world as there are weight - loss diets from So Cal and the like, Hollywood, etc., where one might tend to lose oneself and eventually forget about the training -- this is wrong as well.   The text here is outstanding in that it speaks mostly to those who're not playing right now and want to engage in some exercise while readying themselves for a future contest or contests.  Great!