-Caveat Lector- from: http://www.aci.net/kalliste/ <A HREF="http://www.aci.net/kalliste/">The Home Page of J. Orlin Grabbe</A> ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Today's Lesson From A Letter to Felice (November 1, 1912) by Franz Kafka My life consists, and basically always has consisted, of attempts at writing, mostly unsuccessful. But when I didn't write, I was at once flat on the floor, fit for the dustbin. My energies have always been pitifully weak; even though I don't quite realize it, it soon became evident that I had to spare myself on all sides, renounce a little everywhere, in order to retain just enough strength for what seemed to me my main purpose. When I didn't do so (oh God, even on a holiday such as this, when I am acting as duty officer, there is no peace, just visitor after visitor, like a little hell let loose) but tried to reach beyond my strength, I was automatically forced back, wounded, humbled, forever weakened; yet this very fact which made me temporarily unhappy is precisely what gave me confidence in the long run, and I began to think that somewhere, however difficult to find, there must be a lucky star under which it would be possible to go on living. I once drew up a detailed list of the things I have sacrificed to writing, as well as the things that were taken from me for the sake of writing, or rather whose loss was only made bearable by this explanation. ===== Russian Follies Another Tough-Talking Russian Temp Today's fill-in from Rent-a-Prime-Minister calls for "calm and order". VLADIMIR PUTIN, the man named by President Yeltsin as his preferred successor, made a grim appeal for more discipline yesterday as he was confirmed as Russia's new prime minister. His speech during the parliamentary debate on his approval was tough on law and order, but revealed little about the dour former KGB spy who is being promoted by the Kremlin as the next president. State Duma deputies voted by a margin of 233 to 84 to confirm him as prime minister - a post that would wield considerable power were it not for Mr Yeltsin's habit of sacking those who hold it. Mr Putin, Russia's fifth head of government in 17 months, said: "No tasks can be completed without introducing elementary discipline in the country." He also called for "calm and order" and inveighed against the shadow economy. He asked to be judged by results, saying that only his government's achievements would grant him "the moral right to lay claim to the post of president". Duma debates on new premiers used to be showdowns between the president and the communist-dominated parliament. But there have been so many recently that the ritual has become surreal and the opposition no longer puts up a fight. Mr Putin, 46, succeeds Sergei Stepashin, whom Mr Yeltsin sacked a week ago after only 82 days in office, without explaining what he had done wrong. The new premier, who has a reputation as a shrewd bureaucrat, is seen as a tougher defender of Kremlin interests in the run-up to parliamentary and presidential elections. His appointment is widely regarded as a mark of the Kremlin's panic about the succession and as evidence of the fears of Mr Yeltsin's closest associates that they could face criminal investigation when he retires. Turning Mr Putin into a realistic candidate for president will be a major challenge, as his charisma-free performance in the Duma yesterday made only too obvious. For much of the session, he sat in the government box, unsmiling and alone. As deputies voted, he looked close to tears. Kremlin strategists have been trying to market Mr Putin as a latter-day Yuri Andropov, the late Soviet leader and KGB chief who masterminded a campaign for more discipline during a brief spell as Soviet leader. However, voters choosing a new president next year may prefer Yevgeny Primakov, another former intelligence chief and prime minister. Mr Primakov, 69, has called a press conference for today at which he is expected to announce his intention to lead a Centrist alliance in December's parliamentary elections. The spectacle of Mr Primakov teaming up with Yuri Luzhkov, the ambitious mayor of Moscow, in an electoral bloc will strike fear into the hearts of some Yeltsin aides. One well-informed Kremlin-watcher said: "The Kremlin hates Luzhkov - but it is afraid of Primakov." While outwardly loyal to Mr Yeltsin, Mr Primakov is thought to be bitter about his dismissal as premier in May, and is too close to the Communists for the Kremlin's liking. A decision to stand for parliament would be a strong hint that he is also considering a run for president. The London Telegraph, August 17, 1999 Wool Market Global Slump in Wool Continues Another basic commodity in oversupply Global wool production in 1998-99 fell to its lowest level for 40 years and is forecast to slide further over the next two years. This is a result of falling demand for wool, high world stocks and poor profitability because of low wool prices, according to The Woolmark Company, the promotional body funded by Australia's sheep farmers. After falling to 1,376m kilogrammes (clean) in 1998-99, the Woolmark Company expects a further 2 per cent decline in 1999-2000 and another slight fall in wool production in 2000-2001. But this should be the bottom of the production slump because of modest improvements in global raw wool demand and prices, said The Woolmark Company in its study World Wool Supply to 2005. The global raw wool stock overhang, especially Australia's 122m kg official stockpile - the legacy of attempted price control during the 1980s by sheep farmers - is forecast to be reduced by the end of 2002-2003, according to The Woolmark Company. Even so, recovery in the wool industry is forecast to be modest, with global wool production in 2004-2005 to be just 2 per cent higher than in 1998-99 and real wool prices, as measured by the Eastern Market Indicator price, to edge marginally higher as the global stock overhang is run down. Australia and the countries of the former Soviet Union are expected to experience the sharpest production declines in the next two years. Wool production in Australia is already at a 17-year low of 444m kg clean. Australia, however, remains the largest wool producing country in the world, accounting for 32 per cent of global wool production. Australian wool production is expected to continue to fall to 422m kg in 2000-2001 with sheep numbers down to 112m, their lowest since 1950. At the moment there are early signs of recovery in the wool market, says Chris Wilcox, manager of information and trade policy at The Woolmark Company. "There is clearly a recovery under way in Asia. In Japan, South Korea and Thailand, activity at the combing level is estimated to be 20 per cent higher for the September quarter year-on-year and raw wool, yarn and fabric stocks are well under control," he said. And in the US over the past five years there has been a 50 per cent increase in final wool consumption, said Mr Wilcox. In western Europe however, wool stocks remain above normal levels and activity levels in the September quarter appear to be down again by about 18 per cent year-on-year, said Mr Wilcox. Others are not so confident. "The wool market hasn't a lot of upside over the next 1-2 years," said Bob Richardson, former chief executive of Wool International, now WoolStock Australia, the body charged with liquidating Australia's official wool stockpile. The commodities that have rallied so far are those that have had production slashed; such as crude oil, nickel and copper. But wool production, while seemingly down in Australia by more than 40 per cent since 1989-90, is down from levels that were artificially buoyed by massive price support. Long-term production trend growth would put current Australian wool supply at about 750m kg greasy. With potential stock liquidation, that is cur-rently about where Australian supply stands, said Mr Richardson. And on the demand side, wool continues to face structural changes. The move away from formal woollen suits and slacks towards more casual non-wool clothing continues in western Europe and Japan. "I don't see wool regaining those markets," said Mr Richardson. Price is telling this story. The Australian dollar wool price almost halved from June 1997 (when Asia began to unwind) to October last year. In US dollars it fell to just $3/kg (A$4.65/kg), its lowest nominal price for 25 years. Since then it has recovered, but just. It is currently trading (measured by Eastern Market Indicator price) at about A$5.50/kg. The Financial Times, August 17, 1999 ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End Kris DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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