Thankful for Shelter From the Storms

Here on Day 4 of this week of thankfulness I am thankful for shelter from the storms.  A major snow storm is sweeping across a large part of the country and there will be those who are out in it -- some to take care of their livestock, others in emergency services and others who are traveling.  I am thankful to not be in it and I pray that those who must face it will do so in safety.

It is easy to take the homes in which we live for granted.  The homes in which we live -- especially here in the United States -- are often large and far beyond our needs.  I've been in places where most of the homes were built of mud bricks and there were many people living in spaces smaller than the average bedroom of an American home.  I've seen homes built of scrap wood and metal and cast away cardboard boxes.  I've also seen the homeless living on the streets in our own cities.

We all need to be thankful if we have a place to get in out of the cold, but we also should be mindful that there are those who don't.  This thanksgiving season is a good time to reach out to those in need and help where you can.  In thankfulness, share your good fortune with those who are less fortunate.

"Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter -- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?  Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." -- Isaiah 58:7-8

The Ethanol Impact

I've been saying for some time now that ethanol production in its current form is going to have serious detrimental repercussions on the consumer's food dollar. The following article indicates that the pinch is already showing itself.


Fed Oversight? Inflation Seems To Be Eating Out

Before Federal Reserve policy makers meet to decide what to do with interest rates next week, they should visit a local eatery. They'll find something unappetizing: higher prices and fewer diners. Casual-dining restaurants are getting hit by rising inflation. Corn prices have surged due to demand for corn-based ethanol.

Because corn is a big feedstock, it's trickling into the cost of everything from chicken to cheese. Wholesale butter, cream and milk prices have jumped about 20% in the past three months, according to Raymond James. Cheesecake Factory's stock tumbled 7.1% yesterday after.... (complete article here)

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As the impact on food expenditures increases, we will begin to see a secondary impact in the housing market. Many people today have interest only mortgage payments betting on rising real estate prices to create equity. As more disposable income goes to food, fewer dollars will be available for housing. The bubble will burst and mortgage companies will end up with empty houses that are worth less than the loan against them. It won't be pretty. It will make the S&L fiasco of the 80's look like a picnic.