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This webpage updated 15 June 2010 - (This is the last page of this series)

You can find much greater detail for the timeframes 1550-1700 at a new website now almost finished ... THE BUSINESS OF SLAVERY... a website book also designed to bring genealogical studies up-to-date from 1530 to the present-day... as well as questions of merchant lives and activities... Click now to... The Business of Slavery (in English history).

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Merchants and Bankers
2009-2010++

Trade - an international perspective

This Merchants and Bankers Listings website is years old and is now (from 2009) undergoing a marked identity change. Its timeline material on economic history (for 1560-1930) is being moved to a website managed by Ken Cozens and Dan Byrnes, The Merchant Networks Project. This will empty many of this website's pages which have always been in series. In due course, Merchants and Bankers Listings will carry information from the Crusades on the early development of what became “capitalism” in Europe to 1560 or so. As well as a conglomeration of data on modern developments, mostly on modern/technical industry, computing, and for the future, today's climate change problems. The editor's view is that in the context of climate change, the views of Merchants and Bankers (and Economists, politicians), the keepers of matters economic, are due for a considerable shake-up. If this website can encourage the shake-up, and help inform it reliably, well and good. -Ed

The Merchant Networks Project

	The history websites on this domain now have a companion website on a new domain, at Merchant Networks Project produced by Dan Byrnes and Ken Cozens (of London). This website (it is hoped) will become a major exercise in economic and maritime history, with some attention to Sydney, Australia.

Idea for world bank tax

From BBC World headlines on 15 June 2010

Bank tax must go ahead, say Merkel and Sarkozy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel The two leaders are looking to reignite interest in a global bank tax

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have renewed calls for a global bank levy and a financial transaction tax. The two leaders said they would call for the measures in a joint letter to the president of the G20 ahead of a summit later this month.

G20 finance ministers had distanced themselves from bank taxes at a meeting earlier this month. A bank tax would protect taxpayers from having to bail-out banks in the future.

Proceeds from the taxes would go into a fund that could be accessed during any future financial crises. A number of countries have been calling for taxes on banks since governments spent billions of dollars bailing out banks across the world following the financial crisis that began in 2008. However, so far there has been no agreement.

Many governments are concerned that if they unilaterally impose a tax, banks will simply move to countries that have not introduced such measures. Following a meeting of finance ministers earlier this month, many commentators thought the resolve for bank taxes was weakening. The French and German leaders are looking to strengthen this resolve once again ahead of the next G20 meeting in Toronto on 26-27 June.

"We are not yet satisfied with what's been achieved since the first G20 and we think we need to forge ahead on regulation," said Mrs Merkel. According to the Reuters news agency, European Union leaders will agree in principle on Thursday to introduce a levy on financial institutions, after which the details will be worked out by the European Commission. "The European Council agrees that a levy on financial institutions should be introduced to ensure that they contribute to the cost of crises," draft conclusions of a council meeting said, Reuters reported.

(Ends)

By 16-12-2009: Boeing's 787 jetliner makes first test flight (according to one of this website's special correspndents n the USA)

"India confesses it helped derail Copenhagen deal". India has lauded the lack of carbon cuts in the non-binding Copenhagen Accord, boosting claims by rich countries that developing nations derailed the deal. Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has revealed that his brief was to protect India's right to fast economic growth and so a kill-off of binding targets assisted his aim. China Brazil, South Africa, and China felt similarly. Meanwhile, Australia itself will confine itself to a self-imposed 60 per cent cut in emissions by 2050 as based on 2000-measured levels. (By 23-24 December 2009, reported Sydney Morning Herald)

Christmas 2009: This website recalls reading during the holiday season that one of the great sources of emissions in India are the small, primitive (and inefficient) cooking stoves used across India by the poor. This seems to be a serious dilemma. If India's poor were elevated in socio-economic status, presumably they would desire a variety of consumer goods including electricity-using cooking stoves. Production of the electricity would be emissions-producing. It seems that making the old cooking stoves obsolete would produce as much emissions as their continued use would institutionalise in the atmosphere.

Pessimism about Copenhagen for Christmas

PayPal - safe and secure

If you value the information posted here, and the projects of these websites in general, you may like to consider making a donation to help reduce our production costs? It would be greatly appreciated. Options include: paying via PayPal which this website uses - Ed

This website happens to feel by Christmas 2009 that the Copenhagen meeting held for world leaders regarding climate change issues/global warming was a shambles, a shemozzle and regrettably, probably the model for the future. It seems that the best the world is going to get is a patchwork quilt of badly-thought-out reactions to the issues. It seems, the world was simply not ready for any such meeting. Whether the world should have been ready is exactly the question. -Ed

Russian hackers "stole from US banks": FBI in the USA is investigating the activities of a notorious Russian computer hacker gang (Russian Business Network) amid accusations the gang has stolen tens of millions from US banks, according to Wall Street Journal. The gang has long been active in identity theft, fraud, spam and child pornography. Citigroup is supposedly one of the gang's victims but has denied such reports. (Reported 23-24 December 2009 from Guardian News)

Future by 2010?: HIV epidemic in China tipped to engulf 10 million. (Reported in Australia 21 September 2002)

2010+?: Prediction: From British physicist Stephen Hawking: The human race may be wiped out by a doomsday virus before the millennium (3000AD) is out, unless humanity sets up colonies in space: (Reported 17 October 2001).

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2010: Starvation in Urban Asia: By 2010, when half of the population of Asia/South East Asia lives in cities, hunger in Asia is predicted to be mainly an urban phenomenon, according to UN analysts. Asian states will need to boost food production significantly, it's said. (Reported from Bangkok by 9 December 2000)

A sceptic's view of the Shit Happens outlook on life-in-general (recompiled by Lost Worlds) As SHIT HAPPENS in various world religions and other places in life Life lessons as shit happens for Domestic Animals Cat: (1) Why do I have to shit in this smelly pan? (2) Let me sleep, you pathetic shit. (3) Dogs are shit. (4) I do not do unelegant things like shit, I excrete. And never in the corner. If it's in the corner, it's the dog's. Dog: (1) All I do is eat, sleep and shit. (2) I did not chew the shit out of your bedroom slippers. (3) When I catch a car, it will shit! (3a) Oh shit, I caught it! Fish (in a bowl): (1) All I do is eat, swim and shit. (2) Always the same dried shit for dinner? Rat: (1) Hey, let's get out of this cage and shit somewhere ... Snake: (1) If I ever got out of this cage, you'd shit. AAA (and going global) Agnostic: (1) Shit might have happened; but then again, maybe not. How can we know? (2) It looks and smells like shit, but I haven't tasted it, so I'm not sure whether it's shit or not. (3) What is this shit?! I don't know shit! How can we know if shit happens? You can't really prove any of this shit! Amish (USA): Shit is good for the soil. This modern shit is worthless. We like the same old shit the best. Amish: Shit is good for the soil. This modern shit is worthless. Anabaptist: Shit only happens to adults. Apathism: I don't give a shit. Astrology (world-wide): Jupiter is being really shitty to me today. Agnostic (world-wide): It looks and smells like shit, but I haven't tasted it, so I'm not sure whether it's shit or not. What is this shit?! I don't know shit! How can we KNOW if shit happens? You can't prove any of this shit! Did someone shit here? Anarchism: We should be allowed to shit when we want, where we want, what we want, why we want. Anonymous - Alcoholics Anonymous - Twelve Step Programs (Common in Western World): (1) Shit happens - or fails to happen - one day at a time. (2) I am powerless to cut the shit. Atheist (world-wide): (1) I just don't believe this shit! (2) Shit doesn't happen. Shit is dead. No shit! It looks and smells like shit to me, so I'm damned if I'm going to taste it. I haven't smelt, seen, touched, or tasted it. But it's shit. AZTEC (Mexico): Cut out this shit! BBB Baha'i: (world-wide): (1) Why do you keep shitting on us? (2) Shit happens universally. (3) All shit is truly shit. It's all the same shit. Born Again Christian (Western World): Shit Happens, but Praise the Lord, I am saved. Branch Davidian (USA, and maybe in a disparate few sects): (1) May great shit happen to the FBI! (2) If shit happens, have a big barbecue. (3) David thinks he's hot shit and he sure has read a lot of Scripture! Buddhism: (1) Shit happens, but pay no mind. (2) Shit happens, but it isn't real. (3) If shit happens, it isn't really shit. (4) If shit happens, it isn't really happening TO anyone. (5) Shit will happen again to you next time. (6) Only he who totally gives up the desire for shit or its opposite will have salvation. Buddhism - Jainism (India, Indonesia): (1) Be more compassionate, don't step on that shit, it's alive! (2) When shit happens, don't step in it. CCC Cargo Cult: A barge will come, deliver good shit and take away all the bad shit. Celtic Paganism: Shit, go bragh! Christianity: Anglicanism: It's true, shit does happen -- but only to Lutherans. Christianity: Anglican USA - Episcopalianism: (1) If shit happens, hold a procession. (2) It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve the right wine with it. (3) Fecal matter occurs. Christianity: Baptist: (1) You are shitting all wrong, and you'll be punished for it. (2) We'll soon wash the shit right off you. (3) Southern Baptist (USA): Shit will happen. Praise the Lord! Christianity: Calvinism: (1) Shit happens because you don't work hard enough. (2) If you're not saved, tough Shit. Christianity: Catholicism: (1) If shit happens, you probably deserved it. (2) You were born shit, you are shit, and you will die shit. (3) Christianity: Charismatic Catholicism: Shit is happening because you deserve it, but we love you anyway. Christianity: Catholicism: (1) If shit happens, you probably deserved it. (2) Shit happens because you are bad. (3) You were born shit, you are shit, and you will die shit. (4) Charismatic Catholicism: Shit is happening because you deserve it, but we love you anyway. (5) Dominicans (Catholic): Believe in shit, or we'll boil you in it. Christianity, Charismatic: This is not shit and it doesn't smell bad. Christianity: Christian Science: (1) Shit happening is all in your mind. (2) When shit happens, don't call a doctor – pray! (3) Shit doesn't happen and I am not up to my eyeballs in it. (4) Our shit will take care of itself. (5) If Shit happens, don't worry. It will go away on its own. Christianity: Congregationalist: (1) Shit that happens to one person is just as good as shit that happens to another. (2) And, versus the Unitarian view: Shit that happens to one person is just as bad as shit that happens to another. Christianity: Creationism [Intelligent Design Theory]: God made all shit in seven days. Creationism: ... And the Lord said "Let there be shit" ... and there came piles of it. After six days of this shit, He rested. Christianity: Fundamentalism: (1) If shit happens, you will go to hell, unless you are born again. (Amen!) (2) There's no shit in the Bible. (3) Shit happens, but don't publish it. (4) When shit happens, it's really the Wrath of God! Christianity: Fundamentalism: (5) If shit happens to a televangelist, it's okay. (5a) Televangelism: Your tax-deductible donation could help to make this shit stop happening ... (6) Read Scripture daily and shit your way to a better life. (7) Shit must be born again. Christianity: Greek Orthodox: Shit happens, usually in threes. Eastern Orthodox: Rome doesn't know shit. Christianity: Lutheranism: (1) Shit happens, but as long as you're sorry, it's OK. (2) Have faith that shit will happen. (3) If shit happens, don't talk about it. Christianity: Methodist: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve grape juice with it. Christianity: Mormonism: (1) If shit happens, shun it. (2) Excrement happens. (you can't say “shit” in Utah). (3) Hey, there's more shit happening over here! (4) Our shit is better than your shit. (5) Shit happens again & again & again ... (6) This shit is going to happen again. (7) Let the shit multiply. (8) God sent us this shit. Christianity: Presbyterian: (1) This shit was bound to happen. (2) If shit happens, praise the Lord for it. Christianity: Protestantism, (general): (1) If shit happens, it's best if it happens to someone else. (2) If shit happens, Praise the Lord for it! Christianity: Quakers: Let us not fight over this shit. Christianity: Seventh Day Adventism: No shit shall happen on Sabbath Day. Shit happens every day but Saturday. Christianity: Unitarianism: (1) Come let us reason together about this shit. (2) What is this shit? (3) We affirm the right for shit to happen. (4) Go ahead, shit anywhere you want. (5) It's not the shit that matters, it's the process. (6) Shit is basically all the same. (7) Unitarian Universalism: There is only one shit and it happens to all of us. Christianity: Unitarianism (USA): Maybe shit happens, let's have coffee Christianity: Utopianism: (1) This shit does not stink. (2) Dystopianism – Shit is very real and it really stinks! Creation Science (via Bishop Ussher of Ireland): Shit has really only been happening since October 23rd, 4004 BC. Computing under threat as Shit Happens Ada: It's a package of shit, and it's private shit. AI: ...wanna bet? alt.cascade: alt.flame: Emacs is such shit! I save .00001% keystrokes with vi! Assembler: 0x000000: 53 68 69 74 20 48 61 70 70 65 6E 73 21 BASIC: It's shit. C: It's shit, but it's efficient. C++: It's shit that's in a class by itself. Cobol: It's shit, but it's also job security. Compiler: I don't care if it's shit, as long as it has semicolons in the right places. Computer Science: There's a bug somewhere in this shit. Cray: If this code weren't such a piece of shit, they wouldn't NEED a supercomputer ... Database: Where did I put that shit? Developer: Shit happens on a daily basis, that's why we have maintenance programmers. DOS: It's shit, but at least it's compatible. Emacs: Hold down Control-Meta-Shit. Fortran: It's shit, but I don't know any better. IBM/DOS: It's shit, but it's compatible. Lisp: (defun Does_Shit_Happen(exp)(cond(t t))) Macintosh: ('nuff said) Murphy's Law-ism: Shit will happen, at the worst possible time, and in the worst possible way. Pascal: Hey! That shit's the wrong type! PDP-11: It used to be good shit ... rec.humor: Can someone send me some shit? I lost mine. Me too! I want shit too! Robotics: First-law-of-robotics-ism (Asimov): Robots cannot shit nor let shit come to happen. UNIX: Bowel fault. Shit dumped. VAX/VMS: No Privilege for attempted shit. Windows: It's the same shit as DOS, only GUIer. X/Motif: That's another client's shit. Confucianism (China): (1) Confucius say, "Shit happens." (2) Confucius say, "If shit has to happen, let it happen properly." Corporate shit - When SHIT HAPPENS to major corporations Apple: We don't want this shit unless it makes a profit. That shit looks and feels like our shit! Coca-Cola: It's the Real Shit. IBM: Big Blue Shit. McDonald's: You want fries with your McShit? Microsoft: NO! That shit looks and feels like our shit! Where do want to go shit today? Motorola: Our shit is Six Sigma. NASA: For a mere couple of billion dollars, we can make your shit disappear into space. Pepsi: The shit of a new generation. Sony: Everyone wants our shit. Volvo: Our shit is boxy but it's good. Wal-Mart: We sell our shit for less, always. Cultural –various and differing interpretations, since SHIT HAPPENS in a variety of ways Americanism (Or, US foreign policy): Who gives a shit? Aneurism: Shit, my head hurts! Anthropomorphism: Shit Happens to God, too. Assertiveness (training in): Don't give me any of that shit. Avoidanceism: With all this happening, I think I'll go shit. Cannibalism: Don't eat the shit. Capitalism: Shit happens, and it'll cost you! If you're gonna sell that shit, at least make a profit. That's MY shit. Communism: It's everybody's shit. Let's spread the shit out equally among every one. It's the Imperialists cause shit to happen, Comrade! Conservatism: (1) Shit Happens, but not yet awhile, if we can stave it off, and so what I had in mind with this legislation was ... (2) Individuals are responsible for most of the shit that happens, they should all be put in jail where they belong. Dadaism: Shit bzzt gim blim ba dum boop! Democracy: Everyone has the same opportunity to make shit happen in a more equitable and transparent fashion. Denialism: What shit? Dyslexia: Tihs happens. Egoism: I am the shit! Employer: Shit happens, and then it rolls downhill. You may only shit during coffee breaks. Employee: I've done my shit, so can I take the day off? This shit's not part of my contract. Environmentalism: Shit is biodegradable. Good shit only happens once; bad shit needs to be recycled. Humanity happens, unfortunately. EST: I am at cause that shit will not happen. You're responsible for all the shit that happens. Existentialism: Shit doesn't happen; shit IS. Shit happening is absurd. J. P. Sartre: Shit is meaningless! What is shit, anyway? Fatalism: Oh shit, it's going to happen! Feminism: This shit happened before, and this time we won't clean it up! Men are shit. Why does shit only happen to women!? Put the seat back down, you Shit! (Male Chauvinism: Ok, we may be shit, but you can't live without us ...) Fetishism: I just love it when shit happens! Don't you? Gertrude Stein: A shit is a shit is a shit. Hollywood: Robin (Hollywood): Holy shit, Batman! Yoda (Hollywood): Use the shit, Luke. Do not yield to the dark side of the shit. Oliver Stone (USA): The government's behind this shit. Hedonism: There's nothing quite like a good shit. Hooliganism: Hell-raise all the shit you can. Impressionism: Seen from a certain distance at certain times to day, shit looks like a beautiful garden. Abstract expressionism: Look at this shit I just took on the canvas! Irish - An Irish spelling – Shite (pron: as in “height”) Japanese: (see also, Cargo Cult): Americans will buy all our shit. Liberalism: Society's to blame for most shit happening. Libertarianism: Get your filthy hands off my shit. Marxism: The rich shit exploits the poor shit, but deep down all shit is alike. We espouse The Dictatorship of The Shit. The workers take all the shit, but they're gonna dish it back out again. Workers of the world, unite, you have nothing to lose but your shit! Materialism: Whoever dies with the most shit wins. Mesmerism: You are getting sleepy ... soon you will find that shit will not happen ... Nihilism: (1) Let's blow this shit up! (2) No shit. Paganism: Shit happens for a variety of reasons. Political Correctness: Heavily processed, nutritionally-deprived biological output happens. Post-modernism: All new shit is just a mix of old shit. Procrastinationism: I'll take care of this shit ... tomorrow. Purism: If shit has to happen, let ONLY shit happen. Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this shit! Hey, this is good shit, mon. Realism: I think I need to take a shit. Repressionism: I'll hold this shit in forever. Republic: We elect others to take care of all the shit for us while we go to enjoy the games in the Coloniseum.  Republicanism: There's nothing quite like a good shit. Better flush the toilet now, do you think? Shirley MacClaine: Haven't I seen this shit before...? Socialism: The same shit happens to everyone. Soviet Union (Now defunct): None of that shit worked very well. Spoonerism: Hit shappens. Surrealism: Fish. Vandalism: Break all the shit you can as quickly as you can. Victorianism (English): Excrement occurs, but we do not discuss it at all in civilized society. When shit happens, dealing with it can be quite character building, you know. Vegetarianism: If it happens to shit, don't eat it. Yuppie Shit: It's my shit! All mine! Isn't it beautiful? DDD Darwinism: Survival of the shittiest. This apparent shit was once food for some life form or other. Deism: Shit just happens. Deism: God does not make shit happen. Denialism: What shit? Descartes: I shit, therefore I am. Determinism: Obviously, that shit was bound to happen to you. Dianetics: Your mother gave you shit before your were born. Discordianism: (1) Shit makes the flowers grow and that's just simply beautiful. (2) Some funny shit happened to me today. Druidism: Shit Happens. The Trees say so in verse. EEE Albert Einstein: God does not play shit with the universe. Shit is relative. Shit comes in a continuum like time and space. Empiricism: Prove that shit! Epiphenomenalism: Shit's in the air and falling down. Epistemology: How do you know that shit? Eschatology (End-time movement): You think shit happens now, you just wait ... you ain't seen nothin' yet! EST: If my shit bothers you, that's your fault. EST: I am at cause that shit will not happen. You're responsible for all the shit that happens. Evangelism: Shit Happens. (Pass it on) Evolutionism: The world is getting shittier all the time. Existentialism: Shit doesn't happen; shit IS. What is shit, anyway? FFF Fascism: Political shit that makes the trains run on time. Fatalism: Oh shit, it's going to happen. Forteanism: No shit?? GGG Graeco-Roman Mythology: The Gods will tell us when Shit happens. Genocidalism: Far less shit will happen if we kill everybody that's different. HHH Hare Krishna (via India): Shit Happens, Rama Rama Ding Ding. She-it happens, She-it happens, happens, happens, she-it, she-it ... (Repeat until you become one with she-it) Please take this flower and buy our shit. Heisenbergianism: Shit happened, we just don't know where or how much. Hinduism: This shit has happened before. Hinduism: I've seen this shit happening before. This shit is not a religion, it is the way of life. This shit happening IS you. Hinduism: I've seen this shit happening before. This shit is not a religion, it is the way of life. This shit happening is YOU. Holism - Holistic: There's more shit happening here than I initially figured on. HOPI Indian (USA): Corn fertilizer happens. HUMANISM – SECULAR: Shit evolves. III Idealism: I can deal with any shit. Idolism: Let's bronze this shit. Illuminism (The Illuminati): We make shit happen, we really can do that, but we do it in secret. International Red Cross / Red Crescent: Shit has happened - send money now. Issac Newton: So why did that shit fall on my head? Islam: (1) Shit happens if it is the will of Allah. (1a) (If shit happens, it is due to the will of Allah, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the wills or actions of individual Muslims or of any groups of Muslims.) (2) We don't take any shit. (3) If shit happens, it is the will of Allah. (4) Whatever happens, happens. Sunni Islam: (1) If it happens to be shit, it's Allah's will and you'd better submit! (2) Shi'ite happens. Shi'ite Islam: (1) WE WILL DESTROY YOUR SHIT! (2) If shit happens, take a hostage. Nation of Islam: (1) Don't take no shit! (2) Don't ever take no shit! (3) Also, singer Billy Joel at the end of his concerts these days, “Don't' take no shit!” Islam - other: (1) If this shit happens, it is the will of Allah. (2) If shit happens, take a hostage. (3) We don't take any shit. (4) If shit happens, kill the person responsible. (5) If shit happens, blame Israel. Islam - Nation of Islam (USA): Don't take no shit! (NB: US Singer Billy Joel feels this way also, not forgetting the movie line, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!") JJJ Jehovah's Witnesses: No shit happens until Armageddon. There is only a limited amount of good shit. Knock Knock, "Shit Happens." Here, we insist you take our shit. Shit happens door to door. Good Morning, I have some shit here for you to read. Jehovah's Witnesses: No real shit happens until Armageddon, and then you'll really see some shit happening! There is only a limited amount of good shit. The best shit happens in the Watchtower. Knock Knock, here we are again, "Shit Happens." Here, we insist you do take our shit. Our best shit happens door to door. Good morning, I have some interesting shit here for you to read. Want to buy a subscription to our shit? May we have a moment of your time to show you some of our shit? Shit has been prophesied and is imminent; only the righteous shall survive its happening. Jesuitism: If shit happens and when nobody is watching, is it really shit? Jesuitism (or in first-year philosophy courses at certain universities, to this very day): If shit happens and nobody sees or hears it fall, did it really make a plopping sound? Jim Jonesism: If shit happens, gather your children and drink poison Kool-Aid. Judaism: Why does shit always happen to US? Judaism - Hasidism: Shit never happens the same way twice. Lubavitcher Hasidism: Blessed are they upon whom He sends His most holy Shit to happen. Judaism: Why does shit always happen to US? Why does shit always happen just before closing the deal? Judaism: (Reform): Got any laxatives? Judaism: Why does shit always happen just before closing the deal? Conservative Judaism: Why does shit always happen to us? Orthodox Judaism: So shit happens, already! Judaism (Reform): Got any Kaopectate? Reform Judaism: Got any laxatives? Shit happens to whom it may concern. LLL Literary - Steel Magnolianism: "Honey chile, the shit that happens makes us stronger." Hitchhikerism of the Galaxyism: The answer to all shit is 42. James Tiberius Kirk: ... to boldly shit where no one has shit before! Shirley MacClaine (or, the experience of deja vu): Haven't I seen this shit before. Shakespeare: To shit or not to shit, that is the question. Edgar Allan Poe: The telltale shit. Milan Kundera: The Unbearable Lightness of Shit. MMM Manichaeism (Re-read St. Augustine for a refutation): How can Shit be Happening? There's good shit, and bad shit, but it's all shit. Masocism: Do shit to me! Masonic: Shit happens, but we can't discuss it during Lodge meetings. Meliorism Shit is happening now, but soon it will cease to happen. Mennonite (USA): None of this modern shit now. Mithraism: (Ancient Iran, religion of Roman Army): Bullshit happens. Moonies: Only happy shit really happens. Mysticism: What really weird and very ineffable shit is this! NNN Native American Church: We want our Shit Back! Native Americans: Shit when it happens is sacred. New Age: Visualize shit not happening. That's not shit, it's feldspar. A firm shit does not happen to me. This isn't shit if I really believe it's chocolate. I create my own shit. If shit happens, honor it and share it. Sheeeeeeeeeeit! Were all part of the same shit. For $300, we can help you get in touch with your inner shit. Shit happens, and it happens to smell good. This isn't shit if I really believe it's chocolate. Crystal power counteracts Shit. NIHILISM: (1) Who needs this shit? (2) Suicide bombers: Let's blow this shit up! OOO Objectivism: (1) Our shit is good for you. (2) Shit is shit. Occupationally, just how does SHIT HAPPEN? ------------------------ Accountant: Why doesn't this shit add up? Acupuncturist: Hold still or it will hurt like shit. Let all that shit go. This will really get the energy shit moving. Artist: (1) Shit, I wish I had thought of that. (2) Anything you can buy for $2.99 isn't art, it's shit. (3) If Jessie Helms likes it, it's shit. Biologist: Is this shit alive? Botanist: What this daisy needs is some fresh shit. Bureaucrat: (1) I'm sorry, but we can't make this shit happen until you fill out form XJ-314159 to make an appointment with our Assistant Sub-Deputy Manager to obtain form ZN-271828. (2) Red tape is the shit we do. Chef: It needs some more of this green shit. Chemist: Gee, what'll happen if I mix this and ... SHIT!!!! Damn, this shit smells! ... Chemist: I hope this shit doesn't blow up on me. Computer software developer: Computer shit happens on a daily basis, that's why we have maintenance programmers. Computer Programmer: It's shit, but at least it compiles. Dean of faculty: Now, let's see how much shit the faculty'll take. Doctor: Take two shits and call me in the morning. Yes, it's definitely a case of shit happening. $90, please ... Economist: I hope no one figures out that I don't really understand this shit. Engineer: I hope this shit holds together. Farmer: (USA, EU): I get subsidies for my shit. (In novel Catch-22, one of the characters has a father who is the biggest non-producer of alfalfa in his entire state!) Historian: The same shit happens again and again. IRS Auditor (USA): I'll make 'em squirm for putting this shit on their tax forms. Lawyer: For a sufficient fee, I can get you out of ANY shit. Linguist: What I'm doing is a bunch of faeces tauri (Latin for excrement of a bull). Mafia boss: Rub the little shits out. Mathematician: Shit happening is just a special case ... Mechanic: Shit, this will cost a lot, mister ... Musician: This shit is out of tune. New York taxi driver: Damn, looks like I hit that shit. Philosophy SHIT HAPPENS - according to the Philosophers as follows: Thales: Earth, Air, Fire, and Shit. Epicurus: If shit happens, enjoy it. Socrates: What is shit? Why is shit? The truly wise do not claim to know shi t... Know thy shit. Plato (on how most people live): ... watching flickering images, living deep in shitty caves. Plato: There is an ideal shit, of which all the shit that happens is but an imperfect image. Aristotle: The essence of shittyness ... Archimedes: Hmmm... why doesn't this shit float? Give me a place to stand and I'll move any piece of shit. Descartes: I think, so why am I in this shit? I shit, therefore I am. Leibniz (as interpreted by Voltaire): The best of all possible shit in this world made for shit. Thoreau: I wanted to live deliberately ... to suck all the shit out of life. Freud: Shit is a phallic symbol. Jung: The Shitter is the most important Archetype. Jungianism: Shit is a fundamental archetype. Utilitarianism: Whatever does the most shit for the most people is best. Utopianism: This shit does not stink. Epicureanism: Shit happens, but best in moderation. Scientificism: We seem to think that Shit Happens, but it's just a theory. Poet: My childhood was shit, let me share ... Politicians: Taking shit from politicians: Iraqi Ba'aathist: Oh shit! Politician: It's shit, but it'll get me elected. If you elect me, shit will never happen again. Shit happening is bad for the economy. My Fellow Americans, Al I stand for is shit. Psychologist: Shit is in your mind. Everything that happens is shit; some of it is just you repressing its subconscious shittiness. Physicist (Theoretical): Shit SHOULD happen. Physicist (Experimental): To within experimental error, shit DID happen. Quality Control Inspector: This shit isn't good enough. Social Scientist: Let's pretend that shit doesn't happen ... Social Scientist: Let's pretend that shit doesn't happen ... (Political scientist: And so now we can be much clearer about the shit that went on when ... Statistician: There is an 83.7% chance that shit will happen. Maybe. Surgeon: Shit, where's this organ supposed to go? Teacher: Repeat after me: one shit + one shit =? Union Leader: Give us more shit or we'll strike. PPP Practicality/Pragmatism: Deal with shit one day at a time. Popular Culture: Shit! KEEP SHOVELLING!! PSYCHOANALYSIS: Shit happens because of your toilet training. QQQ Quakers: Let us not fight over this shit. Be silent and wait for shit to happen, friend. RRR Rajhneesh: Give us your shit and put on this orange shit. Realism: I think I need to take a shit. Repressionism: I'll hold this shit in forever. SSS Sadism: I will shit on you! Satanism (Western World): (1) We hope bad shit happens to all of you. (2) We will make your shit happen. Satanism: We hope bad shit happens to all of you. We will make your shit happen. Shit doesn't just happen ... it's created by an asshole. What's wrong with shit happening? SNEPPAH TIHS. Shit rules! Scepticism: Nope, I will not necessarily be convinced that shit is necessarily happening, not at all! Scientology (USA): (1) All this happens to be shit. (2) If you leave us, bad shit will happen to you. (3) This shit has happened before, but we can clean it up if you pay us enough. (4) This Shit is expensive. Scientology: If shit happens, see "Dianetics", p. 157. SCIENTOLOGY: Shit happens if you're on our shit list. Shamanism: (1) Whoaa ... Holy Shit! (2) Only some can see the real shit. Shintoism: (1) You inherit the shit of your ancestors. (2) Shit is everywhere, so as long as you're stepping in it, show it some respect. (3) Everything except Japan is Shit. SHINTOISM: Shit is everywhere. Shit happens. Sikhism (India): Leave our shit alone. Solipsism: All this shit is just a creation of my own imagination. Stoicism: This shit happening is good for me. Stoicism: So shit happens, big deal, I can take it. TTT Taoism: (1) Shit happens. (2) If you can do shit, it isn't shit. (3) Shit happens, so flow with it. Taoism: (1) Shit happens. (2) If you can do shit, it isn't shit. (3) Shit happens, so flow with it. Theosophy: You don't know half of the shit that happens. VVV VOODOO: (1) Hey, that shit looks just like you! Voodoo: Shit doesn't just happen -- somebody dumped it on you. Let's stick some pins in this shit! This shit's gonna get you! WWW WICCA (English version of Witchcraft, etc): (1) Mix this shit together and make it happen! (2) And if it harm none, let shit happen. (3) If shit happened once, it will happen twice more. (4) The Goddess makes shit happen. ZZZ ZEN BUDDHISM (Western variety a la Alan Watts et al): (1) What is the sound of shit happening? (2) Shit is, and is not. (3) First, shit was shit, then it wasn't; now I'm one with Zen, and shit is shit again. ZOROASTRIANISM: (1) Bad shit happens, and good shit happens. (2) Shit happens half the time. (3) Christianity stole half its shit from us. (Ends the Shit Happens listings)

2010 and later: Prediction: From Dr Peter Adler, "There is no doubt that the big international disputes of the next 50 years, particularly in nations such as Africa, will be over increasingly depleted natural resources such as water. How we manage and distribute our natural resources will, in the future, determine our quality of life."
Dr Adler is an Hawaii-based expert in the field of environmental and natural resources dispute resolution. He is affiliate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at University of Hawaii.

2010 is the year set in China by forestry administration as target date for halting "the shifting sands of Longbaoshan". Some 70km north of Beijing, the area is in the path of advancing desert. (Reported 17 June 2000)

2010: NASA in the US is reported in early 2000 to have projected a more concerted SETI search in space - is there any entity out there?

2010: Predictions: The Aral Sea in Central Asia may dry up entirely by now. Due to a large irrigation scheme for cotton gone wrong; where pesticide residues for the cotton are let into the sea by water, and as the sea dries, the pesticides now poison part of the population. (The world's fourth largest inland sea. Australian TV news, 9 May 2001)

24 December, 2011: According to standard interpretations of the "Long Count" of the Mayan Calendar, the world will now end. (James/Thorpe, p. 491) (Bye bye)

2012: About 40 per cent of the world's coral reefs will be dead by about 2012. By 2030, another 20 per cent will die. According to Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (speaking in mid-2001). By 2001, some 27 per cent of coral reefs are already dead. There is an irrevocable loss of 11 per cent of coral reefs. The world-wide coral-bleaching phenomenon of 1998 was also destructive. The Indian Ocean is particularly at risk. See: Al Gore (former US vice-president), his Foreword to report, Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000:
(From The Australian Magazine, 12-13 May 2001)

2014: Burma and drugs: Burma's Foreign Minister, Win Aung, claims lately that his country, which is a massive producer of heroin and amphetamine-type stimulants, could eliminate its narcotics problem by 2014 - one year inside the target date set by the Association of South-East Asian Nations to rid the region of drugs. Mr Win Aung devoted his entire speech at yesterday's ASEAN (13-nations including Australia) post-ministerial conference to a wide-scale defence of the Burmese Government's so-far much-criticised efforts to combat the drug trades within its borders. He has claimed that cultivation of opium has fallen from 151,200 acres in 1997-1998 to only 90,437 acres in 1999-2000. A 15-year plan is in place to totally eliminate the cultivation, production and abuse of narcotics by 2014. (Reported 29 July 2000)

2015: Prediction of April 2003: By 2015, the population of Tokyo will be 26.4 million.

2015: Prediction of October 2003 that cites Lagos and Cairo will be the first African cities to become megacities, that is, with a population of more than 10 million.

2015 predictions: A US study aimed at predicting global trends by 2015 had found that it is almost impossible to predict what kind of nation China will become. The study was conducted by US National Intelligence Council (NIC), titled, Global Trends 2015. (Reported 23 December 2000)

2020: Alignment of the planets happens this year: prediction.

Sickness in 2020: By the year 2020, non-communicable diseases are expected to account for seven out of every ten deaths in the developing regions compared with less than half today. Source: The Global Burden of Disease, Harvard University Press, 1996. Some experts claim that "by 2010, 66 million fewer people [will be alive] in the 23 countries with the most severe [AIDS] epidemics. Source: Confronting AIDS: Evidence from the Developing World, a report of the European Commission and the World Bank.

Worry re New Millennium Message: What Does The Future Hold For You?
From the Jehovah's Witnesses at Lost Worlds' own front door, during December 2000. Yes, we are visited too by these God-botherers!
Gee, just consider here the immense scope of just a few of the problems we humans face.
Pollution: Industrialized lands are "causing environmental damage on a global scale and widespread pollution and disruption of ecosystems". If present trends continue, "the natural environment will be increasingly stressed". From Global Environment Outlook, 2000, UN Environment Program
Sickness: By the year 2020, non-communicable diseases are expected to account for seven out of every ten deaths in the developing regions compared with less than half today. Source: The Global Burden of Disease, Harvard University Press, 1996. Some experts claim that "by 2010, 66 million fewer people [will be alive] in the 23 countries with the most severe [AIDS] epidemics. Source: Confronting AIDS: Evidence from the Developing World, a report of the European Commission and the World Bank.
Poverty: "Nearly 1.3 billion people live on less than a dollar a day, and close to one billion cannot meet their basic consumption requirements". Source: Human Development Report 1999, United Nations Development Program
War: "Violence within [various lands] could reach unprecedented levels... generated by ethnic, tribal and religious [divisions]... such violence will form ... the most common type of conflict in the next quarter century... killing hundreds of thousands each year". Source: New World Coming: American Security in the 21st Century, US Commission on National Security/21st Century.

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By 2020: A billion people worldwide will be aged over 60. (From a magazine).

Wars by 2020?: "Violence within [various lands] could reach unprecedented levels... generated by ethnic, tribal and religious [divisions]... such violence will form ... the most common type of conflict in the next quarter century... killing hundreds of thousands each year". Source: New World Coming: American Security in the 21st Century, US Commission on National Security/21st Century.

From New Millennium Message: What Does The Future Hold For You?
- from the Jehovah's Witnesses at Lost Worlds' own front door, December 2000:
(Ever noticed that Christian fundamentalists are always discussing wars and rumour of wars, as they fear from reading The Book of the Apocalypse, while the fact is, anyway, there are always, all the time, independent of one's preferred ideology, somewhere in the world, wars and rumours of wars... ? More fool, humanity? -Ed)

2025: Australian population is predicted in mid-2000 to reach 25 million, though the population might also be contracting.

Prediction for November 2026: End of the World scenario? In the 1960s, commentators on population projections (Heinz von Foerster and colleagues) in the journal Science predicted an end of the world scenario due to excess population, by, say November 2026. (Reported by The Sunday Telegraph, Sydney, on 30 June 2002 in Science column by Graham Phillips).

2030: Climate change now threatens China's food supply: Global warming will cut China's annual grain harvest by up to 10 per cent (some 30-50 million tonnes of grain), placing extra demands on the country's shrinking farmland and threatening its notion of food security, according to head of State Meteorological Administration, Zheng Guogang, speaking to an agricultural forum. Meaning, China would need an extra 10 million hectares of farmland by 2030. Fighting new insect pests and disease would be more expensive. Ground water evaporation will probably increase, making any drought conditions worse. China had exceeded its likely quota of available arable land by the end of 2006, some 120 million hectares or more. Increasing urbanisation in China has been chewing up arable land, as well (8 million hectares have been lost to cities since 1966). Rainfall may drop 10-30 per cent. Corn and rice production will suffer more than wheat production. Glacial sources for some of China's rivers have been shrinking. And weaker winter harvests may means extra risks of inflation. (Reported Sydney Morning Herald, 24 August 2007)

2030: Humanity will make contact with intelligent life on other planets by 2030. According to noted sci-fi writer, Arthur C. Clarke, reported on 30 December 2000.
(Incidentally, here is "Clarke's Law" on technology: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic".)

2030: Australia by March 2007 produces about 217,000 gigawatt hours of electricity per years. By 2030, Australia will need about 360,00-gigawatt hours annually, an increase of 67 per cent. The 2007 value of the Australian energy supply business is about $110 billion and about $100 billion in future extra investment will be required. Governments will be needing to apply a stable regulatory environment, is 2007 thinking, in terms of planning, building, development timing, locations, fuel-type and size of power-generation units. According to Energy Supply Association Australia, which wants to see a national policy pitched at 2050. (Weekend Australian, Special report on Climate Change, 24-25 March 2007)

2030, approx: Predictions by 2000 that in Australia, social life will be dominated by the older generation, Seniors. Seniors will control money and investments, marketing to Seniors will be a product of the baby-boomer generation for the baby-boomer generation. Younger generations, tremble.

2030: Population: Two billion more Third World People are predicted to present themselves by 2030. (Boston Globe, 4 August, 1994)

2040: Arctic ice to be gone by 2040 say scientists: From San Francisco is a report that global warming will melt the Arctic's during summer by as early as 2040. This will have serious environmental, commercial and strategic outcomes, say scientists at US National Snow and Ice Data Centre at University of Colorado in Boulder. There may well be a slow but steady decline of Arctic ice (as measured September-to-September), with a “dramatic tipping point” arising about 2020-2025, after which ice will retreat four times faster than previously. Supercomputers have been used for modelling work on the problem. By about 2040, perennial ice would only be found on the north coasts of Greenland and Canada.. The mode of opening new shipping routes will benefit Canada and Russia, but wildlife will presumably suffer. (Sydney Morning Herald, 13 December 2006, see recent issue of journal, Geophysical Research Letters)

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2042: Projection on population of Australia for 2042 is 25 million. In 2002 the Australian population was 19.6 million.

By 2050 - In July 1999, UN reaffirmed idea to bring world population growth to a halt by year 2050. On population generally, and while estimates vary, we find the following: Humanity arose about 100,000-50,000 years ago. When people were hunter-gatherers, the world population was possibly about 10 million. About the time of Jesus, world population was around 300 million. It took until about 1800 for world population to reach one billion, 1930 for two billion, 1960 for three billion, 1974 for four billion. By about 2000, population was 6.1 billion. Seven billion may be reached around 2012. It is estimated by Carl Haub, a demographer at Population Reference Bureau in Washington DC that to 2000, about 106 billion people have been born.

Year 2050 Prediction: An Australian research station has been involved in research which suggests that the hole in the ozone layer might disappear by 2050. (Reported in The Australian newspaper, 5 December 2000)

2050: Australia's Great Barrier Reef at risk: By 2050, the Barrier Reef will lose most of its coral cover. Tourism and fishing industries will suffer greatly. The prediction comes from researchers on coral bleaching at Centre for Marine Studies, Queensland University, Professor Hoegh-Guldberg and his economist father, Hans. Loss of coral could cost the economy AUD$8 billion and more than 12,000 jobs even by 2020. Seafood will have to come from aquaculture, not fishing. (Sydney Morning Herald, 21-22 February, 2004)

UK by 2050: Blair unveils Britain's 2050 vision on climate change. The British government has proposed mandatory reductions in carbon emissions (by 60 per cent as comparing 1990 levels to 2050), taking the lead in Europe's efforts to slow the pace of global climate change. It is proposed to conduct five-year "carbon budgets" with their outcomes being reviewed annually. Blair and his government hope their Bill will become law by 2008. Wide topics discussed in related matters in Britain include more investment in renewable energy sources, encouragement of new fuel technologies, rafts of taxes, fines on polluting industries and new manufacturing standards (as for light bulbs, and more reduction of energy-use via better standby functions for electronic equipment). (Sydney Morning Herald, 15 March 2007)

By 2050, India will begin to overtake population of China, India to then have population of 1.5 billion. As predicted by 2000.

Year 2050? - On 19 May 2004: At a Sydney Futures Forum, Australian author Tim Flannery warns that Australia is to see "devastating environmental change" and "possibly ghost cities". Perth in Western Australia especially may face a lack of water. Flannery is the author of a book on the impact of humans on Australia, The Future Eaters.

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Future?: The world is aging so fast that the elderly will soon outnumber the young for the first time by mid-century (2050?) with profound implications for financial and labour markets as well as politicians, says the UN Nations Population Division. (Reported 2 March 2002)

Year 2050: ....changes will affect a world population expected to increase from about 6 billion people today to about 9 to 10 billion by 2050. In spite of technological changes, most of the world's people will continue to be subsistence or small-scale market agriculturalists, who are similarly vulnerable to climatic fluctuations as were the late prehistoric/early historic societies. Furthermore, in an increasingly-crowded world, habitat-tracking as an adaptive response will not be an option.
(From a website reviewing book on climate change by H. H.(From a website reviewing book on climate change by H. H. Lamb, Climate History and the Modern World.):

By Year 2051, the population of Australia could be 28 million, it is predicted by 26 January 2002, when the population is currently 19,157,000.

Year 2050: Pakistan by 2050 will be world's third-most-populous nation, with about 350 million people.

Saving the earth can't be left up to God, the faithful are warned: A consortium of religious leaders in Australia has formed to issue a statement (named Common Belief) on spiritual duties and attitudes that the faithful should adopt in terms of environmental challenges. However, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Dr George Pell, has refrained from comment, though he has earlier said that “pagan emptiness” and Western fears of the uncontrollable forces of nature were leading to “hysteric and extreme claims” about global warming. Anglican bishop of Canberra and Goulbourn, George Browning, said, “If Christians believe in Jesus they must recognise that concern for climate change is not an optional extra but a core matter of faith.” ... the church's commitment to eradicate poverty was an empty dream without address of questions of climate change. Bishop Browning added in the practical area, for less reliance on heating and air-conditioning, use of energy-saving lights, use of rain tanks and grey water systems. The more general message for Christians is that they should become responsible stewards of God's creation and quickly tackle relevant questions of environmental care. Almost by definition, Christians are answerable to God for the way their actions will affect future generations. The groups concerned are Australian Evangelical Alliance and Australian Christian Lobby in association with the Climate Institute, and are Anglican, Greek Orthodox, Baptist, Salvation Army, Lutheran, Catholic, Uniting Church, plus Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Jews. (Reported Sydney Morning Herald, 5 December 2006)

About Year 2090: Climatologists predict global warming of between 1.5C and 5.9C this century, with the effects most severe in Russia, where Moscow by late July 2001 was experiencing a heatwave involving the deaths of 1000 Russians and Ukrainians (many of them also drunk) trying to find comfort in pools, river and lakes.

Year 2100: Sea levels to rise?: Sea levels may rise by 50cm during the next century, according to a report in Australia of 5 May, 2000. The prediction comes from ice dynamics researcher David Vaughan of the British Antarctic Survey, who has been examining Antarctic ice sheets. He says: 70 per cent of the world's fresh water is stored in the Antarctic ice sheet, the potential for rising sea levels is "massive", sea levels have risen by tens of metres in the past 10,000 years, modifying land masses. It is difficult to know if the Antarctic ice sheet is in a state of equilibrium, or not. It may still be reacting to events associated with the end of the last Ice Age.

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About Year 2100: By the end of the century up to two-fifths of the land surface of the Earth will have a hotter climate, unlike anything that now exists, a study of global warming predicts. At worst, the current climatic conditions on another 48 per cent of the land surface - including southeast Australia - would no longer exist on the planet. Some of the biggest losers regionally will probably be the tropical Andes, some parts of highland  Africa, south-east Australia, parts of the Himalayas and the Arctic. Biodiversity hotspots such as the Amazonian and Indonesian rainforests will be in severe trouble. Species will have pressure to adapt or become extinct. Perhaps one million species will be affected if not rendered extinct. In the interim, some species seem to be shifting to the poles at about six kilometres distance per year. (Sydney Morning Herald, 28 March 2007)

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- Dan Byrnes (otherwise indicated in these pages as -Editor)

Note: You will find even greater detail than is given here, for specific periods in American - English - Australian history, with regard to merchants, traders, bankers and financiers, as part of the website, The Blackheath Connection...

Stop Press: For late entries

1994: The Alliance of Small Island States - many of whom fear they will disappear beneath the waves as sea levels rise - adopt a demand for 20 per cent cuts in emissions by the year 2005. This, they say, will cap sea-level rise at 20 centimetres. (Greenhouse Timeline)

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