FASTER THAN MY BULLET.

Our polygamous love affair with Grouplove and Foster the People is one of the worst kept secrets in music, so when the two LA heavyweights went head-to-head in the remix ring with each others' signature songs in tow, we had to step in and hold up the arms of both contenders because it's a win-win for the ages. Double winning.

First up is Grouplove and Captain Cuts, who kicked of 2011 with one of the greatest life-affirming standalone remixes known to man and come damn close to outdoing themselves for once and for all here, as they tag-team "Pumped Up Kicks" and whip the undisputed anthem of the summer into a monstrous club beast. What starts off as an innocuous uptempo pleasure cruise for Foster and co. turns deadly when the Captains unleash the perfect storm of seismic synths and dramatic piano stabs in the bridge, before blue skies and the summer's biggest singalong chorus returns to right the ship in the song's final minute. We honestly don't know how Captain Cuts do it, this right here is remix ART y'all.

Foster The People scratch Grouplove's back in return by redressing "Colours" in a slick waterproof number, as Christian Zucchoni's loopy vocals become brilliantly impervious to the dripping synth washes and full-moon transformation brought into play by Foster. This lofty reimagining swells with pride and bursts at the seams with icy confetti, ultimately leaving a permanent layer of stardust in its wake. These companion remixes are dark magic of the highest order, a two headed hydra of remix perfection coming together to give you the perfect remix double drop to kick your week off right.

MP3: "Pumped Up Kicks" (Captain Cuts + Grouplove Remix) - Foster The People
MP3: "Colours" (Foster The People Remix) - Grouplove

On the Home Front

I haven't been writing enough about Korea, though Koreans have many of the same problems Americans do: a plutocratic ruling class that continues to grab more power and money, and very destructive bad weather. The cartoon above contrasts the concentration of wealth that results from construction of high-rise apartment buildings in Seoul with the losses in basement apartments caused by the recent flooding.

Tenants who usually live in half basement apartments and residents in vinyl houses incur significantly greater amounts of flood [damage], but they have been excluded from receiving compensation from the government.

According to the Hankyoreh, fifty-nine people have died in Seoul as a result of this week's massive rainstorms and mudslides, with more rain to come. There's also concern about landmines still in place since the 1960s (to deter North Korean infiltrators), which may be exposed or detonated by heavy rain. My friends over there are okay, but many people aren't.

On the Home Front

I haven't been writing enough about Korea, though Koreans have many of the same problems Americans do: a plutocratic ruling class that continues to grab more power and money, and very destructive bad weather. The cartoon above contrasts the concentration of wealth that results from construction of high-rise apartment buildings in Seoul with the losses in basement apartments caused by the recent flooding.

Tenants who usually live in half basement apartments and residents in vinyl houses incur significantly greater amounts of flood [damage], but they have been excluded from receiving compensation from the government.

According to the Hankyoreh, fifty-nine people have died in Seoul as a result of this week's massive rainstorms and mudslides, with more rain to come. There's also concern about landmines still in place since the 1960s (to deter North Korean infiltrators), which may be exposed or detonated by heavy rain. My friends over there are okay, but many people aren't.

Is that a maggot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? Mr. Grubbs & Fiona's Lucky Charm

I knew it. You are just happy to see that Alto's back. Well, maybe not full time yet, but trying to get one post out to you a week. We can try to at least.....

Last night, I was actually able to log in and play WoW. Not just a 10 minute auction post, but actually play the game. And where did I go? Crusader farm, of course! Well, kinda....




I was taking a leisurely ride on my chopper (and checking the view of the world) when I nearly ran into Fiona's Caravan, right between Eastern and Western Plaguelands. Not ever noticing this here before, I thought a "wowhead" search was in order....

The search tells me that she gives a "buff" that allows you to get a pet (after a few quests and a grind).  Fiona's Lucky Charm; it will give an extra silver'ish per mob, some gunk (errr....junk), and a chance at a pet, a little tiny maggot named Mr. Grubbs..

No, you can't sell him and make a shitton of gold, but you can have him follow you and it will help you on your way if you are a pet collector....and it only took a few quick quests (say that ten times fast) to get the buff, then after about 40 kills (all done in around 30 minutes- from first seeing her to getting the pet to drop) and looting of the Hidden Stash, I got my little yellow maggot. Ten bags later, he showed his little rotten face....I can only imagine if WoW was scratch and sniff (I am sure he would be a pungent little bug), I gots' me a couple of the little guy. Too bad they are BoP.....


Now, it's your turn. You heard me talk about getting crabs, now we got us a maggot. What is blizz gonna think of next? I guess it's only fitting that Fiona's Apple would spit out a maggot, she did look a little "grubby" in that video....

Songs for Nobodies to be performed in Sydney

Sydney Opera House will welcome the one-woman show Songs for Nobodies in August.

Theatre-goers keen to check out a top-notch production could go and see Songs for Nobodies after they get to Australia on cheap flights to Sydney.

It will be staged at Sydney Opera House's Playhouse venue from August 4th to 19th, with shows taking place every evening except Monday and matinees available at the weekend.

Songs for Nobodies tells the story of five women's encounters with iconic singers and how they changed their lives.

A representative from the venue remarked: "The wonderful new play by Australia’s renowned playwright Joanna Murray–Smith, was written especially to showcase the extraordinary talents of Australian singer and actress, Bernadette Robinson."

For more information visit here

US Muni Bond Watch Intensifies

The Euro debt crisis and the US Federal debt ceiling malarkey are the center of attention right now. Despite what you read, these are already priced into the market. Amazingly, it's been mostly a yawn so far, but I don't expect this to last. However, it is often something out of left field that scares the market into a new bear cycle. It could be Danish banks failing or the area I have been watching - a municipal bond implosion in the United States. I was recently looking for a top in the muni bond market and I think we may have just gotten it. Here's a 6 year weekly chart of the $MUNP muni bond ETF price return index thru today's close:





This ain't a bullish chart, folks. How many straws does it take before the camel's back breaks? If the US monetizes the muni debt, the Dollar could go into a tailspin. If not, we are headed for another deflationary wave in line with the 2008 fiasco. There are no good solutions, only tough choices that will be painful on main street.

The Dow to Gold ratio broke down this week and is set to make new secular lows, almost certainly before the year is over. Physical Gold holders continue to become significantly more wealthy in common stock terms, simply by buying and holding a so-called shiny piece of worthless metal. History repeats right in front of our eyes but paperbugs still refuse to believe it. Here's a weekly log scale 5 year chart of the Dow to Gold ratio ($INDU:$GOLD) through today's close:





I can only smirk when the commentators who never saw the latest Gold rally coming are falling all over themselves to call the "imminent" top in Gold. Keep calling. I'll stay long for now in my trading account. And when the time comes, my subscribers and I will be shorting the $%&#@ out of this pig of an equity market. Specific short-term trading recommendations are reserved for subscribers. My long-term investing recommendations have been consistent for years: avoid common equities, avoid real estate, avoid paper currencies, and avoid government bonds and buy physical Gold (and a little silver) and secure it outside the banking system.

The scoreboard is getting a little lopsided in favor of those "crazy" Gold bulls, but that doesn't mean the paperbug financial massacre is coming to an end. Actually, it's going to get worse this fall. I'm sure Krugman will blame it on not enough stimulus and individual mistakes within our colossal and ineffective government, but I'll just stick with basic long-term cycles that repeat over and over. To be honest, I'm not at all bearish on the US Dollar right now relative to other paper currencies. But trampoline jumping ignores the basic premise that will sustain those willing to use common sense and ignore mainstream advice: all paper currencies are sinking relative to Gold and will continue to do so until the Dow to Gold ratio hits 2 (and we may well go below 1 this cycle). Long after Bernanke has retired or been run out of town and long after the US Dollar ceases to exist in its current form, Gold will be money. Cash is king during a bear market and Gold is the ultimate form of cash for this secular cycle.

Gold New All Time Record High $1,637.50/oz

New all time record for gold today 29 July 2011 at $ 1,637.50 in New York - New record for gold of up to $ 1,637.50 in the New York market. The prices have then pulled back to around $ 1,630 an ounce

You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto

(via)

Something that has occurred to me often when I've observed administrators talking to the proles about policy and long-term finance: either they are lying, in which case they shouldn't be in charge, or they don't know what they're talking about, in which case they're incompetent and shouldn't be in charge.

(P.S. Much as I enjoyed, and agreed with, the economist in the clip above, I was even more tickled by both speakers' careful, anxious tiptoeing around the racial politics in the scene they quote from Blazing Saddles. Though many Obama fans would like to think otherwise, however, Barack Obama is no Sheriff Bart.)

You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto

(via)

Something that has occurred to me often when I've observed administrators talking to the proles about policy and long-term finance: either they are lying, in which case they shouldn't be in charge, or they don't know what they're talking about, in which case they're incompetent and shouldn't be in charge.

(P.S. Much as I enjoyed, and agreed with, the economist in the clip above, I was even more tickled by both speakers' careful, anxious tiptoeing around the racial politics in the scene they quote from Blazing Saddles. Though many Obama fans would like to think otherwise, however, Barack Obama is no Sheriff Bart.)

How to make too much gold at low levels!

Some fishes are extremely valuable, especially the lower level ones that are needed by cooks and alchemists. Today's post focuses on the best of them, Deviate Fish. This one is mainly for horde lowbies. Alliance can make even more gold though, but a higher level toon is recommended.

Tested and approved by a poor, almost naked level 20 toon that went fishing for 1½ hours, and eventually sold the catch for 2490 gold, 30 silver and 73 coppers! Also known as too much gold, unless you like saving or investing.

Fishing pole? Check. Fishing chair? You bet!
Deviate fish can be fished up in Barrens and Wailing Caverns. But to get the most fishes/hour, you should circle around the pools in Barrens and cast your line only if you see a Deviate Fish school. There's three pools of water in Northern Barrens and each can contain a few Deviate Fish schools.

You're usually the only one fishing these so there shouldn't be any competition except during peak hours, but even so, the schools respawn  fast and can make lots of gold for you in a very little time.

Flying mount is extremely helpful, but if you do this with a lowbie, the running cuts the profits a bit.

Still, you can get even 5000g in a few hours, or at least when they've all sold! Not many have gold for their epic flying mount at level 20, why not be one of the few! But to make them sell faster, you shouldn't focus on one product only.

Barrens being on horde territory, these should sell for even more on the Alliance side!

Cook it, Brew it and Sell it!
Once you have enough fishes, you've to decide what to do with them. If you have alchemy, it's very affordable to get the recipe for Giant Growth Elixir since Cataclysm. You'll most likely find several for as little as 2g in the Auction House.

One Giant Growth Elixir requires 1x Deviate Fish, 1x Earthroot and a vial surpisingly. I'm usually the only one selling these and I usually list them for 40-60g in the auction house.

They sell surprisingly fast even though they are useless. Guess some people need more self-confidence, making things bigger and all!

Usually 5-15 elixirs sell every day, so I have plenty of Deviates for other uses also. Second best choice would be to sell them raw, let's say 35g each so people won't undercut you so much if they have alchemy aswell. If you have the cooking recipe for Savory Deviate Delight, last resort would be to create some of those. You often have competition here though, so the profit is minimal.

Oppikoppi - Unknown Brother festival poised to kick off in Johannesburg

Artists such as Zebra & Giraffe and Max Hoba are set to take the stage during the Oppikopi - Unknown Brother music festival.

People who have taken flights to Johannesburg can attend the Oppikoppi - Unknown Brother three-day festival in August.

The occasion has developed quite a name for itself over the years and the 2011 edition will hope to uphold that reputation for being a fun-packed celebration of South African music and culture.

It takes place at Oppikoppi Farm in Northam, Limpopo from August 5th to 7th.

A huge list of artists have already confirmed their appearances at the festival, including Zebra & Giraffe, Southern Gypsy Queen, Max Hoba, Johnny en die Maaiers and the unusually-monikered Haggis and Bong and Pipe Bong.

This will be the 18th edition of the event, which is often regarded as an Afrikaans music spectacle, but the organisers have stressed that a variety of cultures make up the performers and attendees.

For more information visit here

Dubai to bid for 2024 Olympic Games

Dubai has dropped its interest in hosting the 2020 Olympic Games in favour of the 2024 occasion.

Sports enthusiasts may soon be booking cheap flights to Dubai for the 2024 Olympic Games if the emirate's bid is successful.

It had originally shown an interest in applying to host the 2020 Games, but a press release has indicated that it has dropped its interest in favour of the following event.

"We fully intend to place a bid once I am totally satisfied that we are prepared to host the greatest sporting event in history in a way that would add value to the Olympic movement itself," said Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

The regal figure is a chairman on one of the Gulf Arab emirate's Olympic planning committees.

He spoke of the need to secure lasting peace in Dubai for its youth and stated that the 2024 Games would be a more appropriate event to bid for.

For more information visit here

Travel writer urges sustainable attitude 'for selfish reasons'

People cannot fully enjoy landmarks if previous tourists have ruined them.


Anyone taking advantage of cheap flights to India should hope that other tourists have acted responsibly so that landmarks continue to be maintained in good condition.

Dan Linstead, editor of Wanderlust, explained that people should pursue a sustainable agenda for this "selfish" reason, as otherwise they will not be able to enjoy stunning locations as they used to be.

"Who wants to be denied the possibility of walking in a rainforest, snorkelling a coral reef, or tramping up a wild mountain side - just because those who have been before have trashed the place?" he asked.

In his opinion, responsible, green travel is all about acting like a good guest and being considerate of how your visit is going to affect a place.

For more information visit here

A Significant Organizational Weakness

It's always bitterly funny when you see something like this:

Clearly these are horrific attacks, but they can also be interpreted as a significant organizational weakness on the part of the adversary.

That's Ryan Crocker, US Ambassador to Afghanistan, commenting on the assassination of the mayor of Kandahar by a suicide bomber on Wednesday. Like so many people with no sense of irony, he seemed unaware that his remark applies just as much to the United States, which has openly embraced assassination as a tactic against its enemies.

A Significant Organizational Weakness

It's always bitterly funny when you see something like this:

Clearly these are horrific attacks, but they can also be interpreted as a significant organizational weakness on the part of the adversary.

That's Ryan Crocker, US Ambassador to Afghanistan, commenting on the assassination of the mayor of Kandahar by a suicide bomber on Wednesday. Like so many people with no sense of irony, he seemed unaware that his remark applies just as much to the United States, which has openly embraced assassination as a tactic against its enemies.

Take Flights to Bali - Rejuvenate Mind, Body and Soul

Bali, Indonesia is the nirvana – an ancient land with aesthetically pleasing sites, serene scenery, admirable art and vivacious culture. An interesting mix of fun filled activities and infinite possibilities, Bali packs in various stunning spots and timeless marvels that appeal to all types of travel buffs. The destination has various choices for tourists spanning thrilling adventure, beach fun, devout spirituality, delectable Balinese food and indeed the panoramic views of the island’s unscathed natural splendour and inimitably picturesque setup. Read on to know all about Bali.

Best time to Visit Bali

May to August is an excellent time to visit Bali. The season is relatively dry with limited rainfall, low humidity and cool evenings. However, airlines with cheap flights to Bali may be difficult to come by during this period. The months of April and September straddle the high and low seasons. Airfares may be relatively cheaper during these months for cost conscious travellers to book tickets on cheap flights to Bali. Nevertheless, flights and hotels booking are best done well in advance irrespective of the season.

Beaches in Bali

Bali’s Kuta Coast is the best choice for a sunny retreat for sun worshippers, surfers and swimmers. The coast features unceasing stretches of soft golden sand, crystal-clear waters, rock formations and palm fringed outstanding accommodations. Apart from Kuta Coast, Nusa Dua tourist resort is something that tops the list of thousands of tourist owing to its spectacularly clean white beaches. These two destinations have ensured that flights to Bali remain highly revered commodities for travellers.

Adventure in Bali

Bali boasts hundreds of species of wild animals and birds that make it a wonderful wildlife destination in Asia. Its protected wildlife sanctuaries and parks including Bali Bird Park & Reptile Park, Bali Zoo Park and Butterfly Park are home to multihued flora and fauna life that can be discovered on a wildlife safari. Adventure enthusiasts often take up the Ayung River Rafting to pump up the adrenaline. A great scuba diving experience awaits those interested in exploring rich marine life that has made Bali popular on the world tourism map.

Temples in Bali

Temples are some of the key reasons for the popularity of flights to Bali and many claim that there are more temples in Bali than homes!

The stunning Besakih Temple is the mother temple of Bali which adorns the slope of the island’s highest peak of Mt. Agung at a lofty 3000 ft. Biggest and holiest of all the temples in Bali, Besakih is flocked by multitude of tourists every year.

The 16th century Tanah Lot Temple is surrounded by sea and built atop a huge rock off the coast of Bali. Evenings present the attractive silhouette of the temple reflecting against the sun set in the background across the horizon.

The 377 years old Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple in the mountain resort of Bratan is another of Bali’s key draws. The temple is picturesquely located by the Lake Bratan while the charming mountains around add to its captivating surroundings.

Art in Bali

Purl Lukisan and Neka Museum are the two famous museums in Bali attracting those travellers who have a penchant for classic art. Purl Lukisan referred as the centre of Balinese painting is bedecked with the impeccable collection of modern works of Balinese art. While Neka Museum showcases the ample collection of works by both Indonesian and foreign artists.

Spa, Food and Bali

Bali is definitely a suitcase full of extraordinary trappings for travellers. Spa lovers can benefit from unique relaxing massages which are a speciality in Bali for physical as well as mental healing and leave visitors rejuvenated and de-stressed.

Apart from spas, it’s the delicious Balinese food that flawlessly satiates even the most discerning palate. There is also no dearth of restaurants here that dish out lip smacking international cuisines.

Head to Melbourne for I Can Do It!

I Can Do It! is due to take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on August 6th and 7th.

A motivational conference entitled I Can Do It! may appeal to travellers who have taken cheap flights to Melbourne.

The event is due to take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on the weekend of August 6th and 7th, with a group of inspirational authors due to get the crowd going during seminars and workshops.

Louise L Hay, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Robert Holden, Doreen Virtue, John Holland and Denise Linn are among the writers who have confirmed their attendance.

Ms Virtue may be familiar to literature enthusiasts, as she recently released a new book called Saved By An Angel.

"The I Can Do It! conference supports you on your journey of personal growth and enlightenment, whether you stay for the entire weekend or just a single workshop," explained the organisers.

For more information visit here

The Feelers set for Queenstown gig

New Zealand group The Feelers are set to debut new album Hope Nature Forgives in Queenstown.

Music fans who have taken cheap flights to Queenstown can see The Feelers perform next month at the Revolver Bar.

The group will take the stage on Wednesday August 3rd and will play tracks from their new album Hope Nature Forgives, which is released just two days before the concert.

Formed in 1993, The Feelers burst on to the mainstream scene with debut record Supersystem and have garnered legions of fans in New Zealand and beyond with their brand of rock.

Two of the three members of the original line-up remain in the shape of James Reid on vocals and guitar, and Hamish Gee on drums.

They have been joined by Andy Lynch and Matt Short on guitar and bass respectively since 2008.

While attendees will hope to hear new material, there will also be plenty of affection for crowd favourites such as Right Here Right Now.

For more information visit here

New government report tells us how many employees can include same AND different-sex domestic partners on their health benefits

This week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report on benefits offered employees in the public and private sphere in March 2011. For the first time, the data include the percentage of employees eligible for health benefits that cover domestic partners. The report includes separate statistics for how many employees can cover same-sex partners and and how many can cover different-sex partners. (The report uses the term "opposite sex." Several years ago some trans folks raised my consciousness about the term "opposite," and ever since I have used "different.")

While a gay rights perspective might be primarily concerned with access for same-sex partners, my "beyond marriage" perspective cares as much about access for different-sex partners. (The report does not include data on employers that offer a "plus one" benefit or access for anyone the employee lives with in an interdependent relationship, something I have written about often).

The big picture: 30% of workers have access to health benefits for a same-sex partner; 25% for a different-sex partner. State and local government employees are more likely than private sector employees to have this benefit. (33% vs 29% for same-sex partners; 28% vs 25% for different-sex partners). The report breaks down availability based on numerous criteria, including type of job, relative wages, geographical area, union and nonunion, and size of workforce.

I specifically looked for where the greatest discrepancy existed based on the sex of the employee's partner. Here are some interesting statistics. Those in unions were much more likely to have access to DP benefits than nonunion employees. But when nonunion employees did have such benefits, 27% could cover a same-sex partners and 23% a different-sex partner. Although 49% of union employees could cover a same-sex partner, only 38% could cover a different-sex partner. Of course 38% is still much higher than that available to nonunion employees, but I find the discrepancy interesting. And it's even higher if one looks only at private sector employees. There, 46% can cover a same-sex partner but only 31% a different-sex partner. Does it mean unions fight harder to cover same-sex partners?

Size of workforce also mattered. Where the workforce was under 100, coverage for same- and different-sex partners was close (18% and 16% respectively). But for workplaces of 500 or more, 49% could cover same-sex partners and only 38% could cover different-sex partners. In the private sphere, the discrepancy was quite large -- 54% compared to 41%. Perhaps the sheer number of heterosexuals who can take advantage of such a benefit is so high in large workplaces that employers resist coverage.

In all instances, there is a smaller discrepancy among public sector employees. When looking at the factor of workforce size, for example, 40% can cover same-sex partners and 34% different-sex partners. In most of the country, public employees were more likely to have DP coverage than private sector employees, but there are some odd anomalies. In the south, private sector employees are significantly more likely to have DP benefits. That's to be expected. But in New England, public sector employees also have less access to DP benefits than their private sector counterparts. I did not expect that.

The big winners? In the Pacific region, 84% of public employees can cover same-sex partners and 82% can cover different-sex partners. There are no percentages anywhere near those for any other region or any other characteristic examined in the report.

The Way of a Man With a Lad ...

There are three things too wondrous for me, yea, four things which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way people keep talking about homosexuality as an "identity," though they have no idea what an identity is. Or homosexuality, for that matter.

I've just begun reading the new, uncensored, annotated edition of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, published this year by Harvard University Press. The editor, Nicholas Frankel, has gone back to the magazine publication and Wilde's typescript, which apparently contain more obviously homoerotic content than the book version. That should be interesting, since even some very sensible queer scholars have doubted that Wilde intended sodomitical interpretations of his characters.

But so far I'm still in the introductory material, and damned if Frankel didn't put his foot in it almost immediately. From page 7:

It is worth bearing in mind, however, that in the Victorian era, sexual preference was less clearly seen as an identity; indeed, the word homosexual did not enter the English language until 1892, when it was used adjectivally in a translation of Richard Krafft-Ebing’s book Psychopathia Sexualis (it was first used as a noun in 1912). Wilde and the other men who participated in London’s homosexual subculture, many of them leading secret double lives, would have been viewed by the majority not as homosexuals per se but as men indulging in “unclean” vices. Even so, homosexual acts were generally considered repugnant and deviant – and for the first time, with the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, sexual activities of any nature between men were not merely sinful but unlawful. (The criminalization of homosexuality and the example of Wilde’s life and work are widely credited with instating homosexuality as a distinct sexual and social identity.)

Here we have the usual confused and contradictory thrashing around. If it is so significant that "the word homosexual did not enter the English language until 1892," if it marks some kind of sociocultural watershed, how could London have had a "homosexual subculture" before 1892? How could "homosexual acts" be considered repugnant if they didn't exist before they bore that name, and how could "homosexuality" be criminalized by a law passed seven years before the word entered the language?

Yes, I'm being deliberately pedantic here, but I think it's justified. If "homosexual" uniquely denotes "identity" (a word that neither Frankel nor most other scholars who use it bother to define), it can't be applied to anything that occurred or existed before it passed into the language. It would also be nice if someone explained how the advent of the word "homosexual" magically produced "homosexual identity." As I've said before, talk like this is generally based on a misreading of Michel Foucault, and is more of a genuflection to his influence than a well-founded historical statement.

And no, I'm not being too hard on Frankel. Look again at the latter part of the quotation above:

... for the first time, with the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, sexual activities of any nature between men were not merely sinful but unlawful. (The criminalization of homosexuality and the example of Wilde’s life and work are widely credited with instating homosexuality as a distinct sexual and social identity.)

This is clumsily written, but on its face it's false. What changed with the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885 (often called the Labouchere Amendment after the Member of Parliament who introduced it) was that a wider range of genital contact between males became unlawful. Henry VIII's statute made "Buggery either with Mankind or with any Animal" a capital crime; there wasn't absolute agreement as to what constituted buggery, whether it extended to oral-genital contact or was limited to anal penetration -- the law required proof of penetration, and was generally interpreted to refer to the latter. The death penalty was abolished for most crimes in 1828. (I'm drawing here on H. Montgomery Hyde's The Love That Dared Not Speak Its Name: A Candid Look at Homosexuality in Britain [Little, Brown, 1970], pages 91-93 and 134-136.) If by "homosexuality" Frankel means "sexual relations between males," then homosexuality had been criminalized centuries before Labouchere; if he means "acts labeled 'homosexual,'" then Labouchere didn't even touch on them.

It can be, and has been, argued that buggery doesn't equal "homosexuality," so under that rather strained interpretation "homosexuality" wasn't criminalized before the Labouchere Amendment. But it it wasn't criminalized after it, either: what the Amendment criminalized were acts, however vaguely specified, not identities. And so matters remained as far as the law was concerned: the "sodomy" laws overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2003 also were about acts, not identities. Most of these laws penalized sodomy between males and females, as well as between males, so they didn't criminalize homosexuality either.

Besides, "bugger" is also an identity. I think it was in a biography of Virginia Woolf that I read that when she began meeting her brother's male friends who loved other males, she had to learn to refer to them as "buggers," not "sods." Despite their bugger identity, several of them married and sired children; despite their heterosexual marriages, most of these men continued having it off with other men. Probably "sodomite" had functioned as an identity long before that, as Mark Jordan suggested in his The Invention of Sodomy in Christian Theology (Chicago, 1997).

Nor is it clear what homosexual or gay "identity" means today, or why it matters. That's what bothers me about discussions like Frankel's: there doesn't seem to be any point in invoking identity here. It doesn't explain anything, and it doesn't make much sense.

The Way of a Man With a Lad ...

There are three things too wondrous for me, yea, four things which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way people keep talking about homosexuality as an "identity," though they have no idea what an identity is. Or homosexuality, for that matter.

I've just begun reading the new, uncensored, annotated edition of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, published this year by Harvard University Press. The editor, Nicholas Frankel, has gone back to the magazine publication and Wilde's typescript, which apparently contain more obviously homoerotic content than the book version. That should be interesting, since even some very sensible queer scholars have doubted that Wilde intended sodomitical interpretations of his characters.

But so far I'm still in the introductory material, and damned if Frankel didn't put his foot in it almost immediately. From page 7:

It is worth bearing in mind, however, that in the Victorian era, sexual preference was less clearly seen as an identity; indeed, the word homosexual did not enter the English language until 1892, when it was used adjectivally in a translation of Richard Krafft-Ebing’s book Psychopathia Sexualis (it was first used as a noun in 1912). Wilde and the other men who participated in London’s homosexual subculture, many of them leading secret double lives, would have been viewed by the majority not as homosexuals per se but as men indulging in “unclean” vices. Even so, homosexual acts were generally considered repugnant and deviant – and for the first time, with the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, sexual activities of any nature between men were not merely sinful but unlawful. (The criminalization of homosexuality and the example of Wilde’s life and work are widely credited with instating homosexuality as a distinct sexual and social identity.)

Here we have the usual confused and contradictory thrashing around. If it is so significant that "the word homosexual did not enter the English language until 1892," if it marks some kind of sociocultural watershed, how could London have had a "homosexual subculture" before 1892? How could "homosexual acts" be considered repugnant if they didn't exist before they bore that name, and how could "homosexuality" be criminalized by a law passed seven years before the word entered the language?

Yes, I'm being deliberately pedantic here, but I think it's justified. If "homosexual" uniquely denotes "identity" (a word that neither Frankel nor most other scholars who use it bother to define), it can't be applied to anything that occurred or existed before it passed into the language. It would also be nice if someone explained how the advent of the word "homosexual" magically produced "homosexual identity." As I've said before, talk like this is generally based on a misreading of Michel Foucault, and is more of a genuflection to his influence than a well-founded historical statement.

And no, I'm not being too hard on Frankel. Look again at the latter part of the quotation above:

... for the first time, with the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, sexual activities of any nature between men were not merely sinful but unlawful. (The criminalization of homosexuality and the example of Wilde’s life and work are widely credited with instating homosexuality as a distinct sexual and social identity.)

This is clumsily written, but on its face it's false. What changed with the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885 (often called the Labouchere Amendment after the Member of Parliament who introduced it) was that a wider range of genital contact between males became unlawful. Henry VIII's statute made "Buggery either with Mankind or with any Animal" a capital crime; there wasn't absolute agreement as to what constituted buggery, whether it extended to oral-genital contact or was limited to anal penetration -- the law required proof of penetration, and was generally interpreted to refer to the latter. The death penalty was abolished for most crimes in 1828. (I'm drawing here on H. Montgomery Hyde's The Love That Dared Not Speak Its Name: A Candid Look at Homosexuality in Britain [Little, Brown, 1970], pages 91-93 and 134-136.) If by "homosexuality" Frankel means "sexual relations between males," then homosexuality had been criminalized centuries before Labouchere; if he means "acts labeled 'homosexual,'" then Labouchere didn't even touch on them.

It can be, and has been, argued that buggery doesn't equal "homosexuality," so under that rather strained interpretation "homosexuality" wasn't criminalized before the Labouchere Amendment. But it it wasn't criminalized after it, either: what the Amendment criminalized were acts, however vaguely specified, not identities. And so matters remained as far as the law was concerned: the "sodomy" laws overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2003 also were about acts, not identities. Most of these laws penalized sodomy between males and females, as well as between males, so they didn't criminalize homosexuality either.

Besides, "bugger" is also an identity. I think it was in a biography of Virginia Woolf that I read that when she began meeting her brother's male friends who loved other males, she had to learn to refer to them as "buggers," not "sods." Despite their bugger identity, several of them married and sired children; despite their heterosexual marriages, most of these men continued having it off with other men. Probably "sodomite" had functioned as an identity long before that, as Mark Jordan suggested in his The Invention of Sodomy in Christian Theology (Chicago, 1997).

Nor is it clear what homosexual or gay "identity" means today, or why it matters. That's what bothers me about discussions like Frankel's: there doesn't seem to be any point in invoking identity here. It doesn't explain anything, and it doesn't make much sense.

Gold new all time record at $1,631.20/oz today !!!

July 27 - New record for gold today that the New York market has reached 1,631,20 dollars an ounce.Record high in London too at , $ 1,628.05 . Gold has pulled back from the all time record high since but I won't be surprised that another all record high will be broken either tomorrow or in few days as most analysts expect one of the hottest summers for Gold ever ....

Emirates to offer cheap flights during Ramadan

Travellers are being offered cheap flights by Emirates to help bring expatriates back to their families for Ramadan.


People may be able to find cheap flights to Dubai offered by Emirates over the coming month as a result of a new promotion.

The airline revealed that it is offering up to a 20 per cent reduction on travel between 32 destinations across the world.

Khalid bel Jaflah, vice president commercial UAE at Emirates, highlighted how important it is for families to be together during Ramadan.

"The UAE is largely an expatriate community with family networks often spread around the globe. To help bring families together during the holy month Emirates has established these special fares," he remarked.

Apart from certain 'blackout periods', the promotion applies to flights booked from now until August 20th for travel until September 30th.

For more information visit here

I Love Coffee Festival to cause a stir in Cape Town

Cape Town is readying itself to host the I Love Coffee Festival at the Old Biscuit Mill on Saturday July 30th.


The I Love Coffee Festival will be a must-see event for many people taking cheap flights to Cape Town this month.

It is being held at the Old Biscuit Mill in the Woodstock area of the city, where coffee lovers will gather to celebrate their favourite caffeinated drink.

This unusual occasion is taking place on Saturday July 30th and will give people the chance to learn about the industry as well as drink some great coffee.

"The festival brings together some of country's best roasters and offers coffee lovers an opportunity to taste remarkable coffees while gaining insight into roasting, cupping and brewing methods," revealed Cape Town Tourist Board.

In a blog post for I Love Coffee, Cindy Taylor recently offered a series of reasons why the drink is better than tea.

For more information visit here

Anatomy of a Technical Trade

By Scott Silva

Editor,  The Gold Speculator

7-27-11

One of the laws of market espoused by those that embrace the efficient-market hypothesis states

“Stock market prices are unpredictable.”  Technical analysis, however, has proved effective at predicting future price direction through the study of past market information, primarily price and volume. To be sure, predicting future prices of a stock or commodity can be challenging, and not always successful, but the speculator can profit from correct technical analysis of a traded good. The price movement of silver over the last eleven months provides a good example. So let’s examine the anatomy of a technical trade in silver.

One of the most liquid markets for silver is the market for silver futures, traded on the COMEX.

Other markets for silver include exchange traded funds, or ETFs, which trade similar to stocks. Price and volume history for each type security are readily available, which allows the technician to work.

The technical analyst searches for chart patterns that develop with price action over time. Volume associated with price action is an important factor in evaluating the validity of a particular chart pattern. Independent indicators can also help confirm the validity of the primary pattern. Back in September 2010, we identified a breakout pattern in COMEX silver that predicted a bullish move up. We saw this play out in higher silver prices since that prediction. 

Here is what we observed on September 3, 2010:

BREAKOUT

                As we survey the various elements of the precious metals group in the run-up to Labor Day, it becomes very clear that something big is brewing.  As we see, the chart of silver has formed an ascending triangle going back to Dec. ’09.  This triangle has broken out today, and it presages breakouts throughout the precious metals group. Using the semi-log continuation chart (www.timingcharts.com) we can predict the price objective for silver at about $60 using the present data.

Technical analysts know the ascending triangle pattern is a bullish formation that usually forms during an uptrend as a continuation pattern. Although there are instances when ascending triangles form as reversal patterns at the end of a downtrend, they are typically continuation patterns. Regardless of where they form, ascending triangles are bullish patterns that indicate accumulation. The length of the pattern can range from a few weeks to many months with the average pattern lasting from 1-3 months. As the pattern develops, volume usually contracts. When the upside breakout occurs, there should be an expansion of volume to confirm the breakout.

We use the ascending triangle pattern to calculate the price target by projecting a line parallel to the ascending trend line (bottom trend line) starting at beginning of the horizontal resistance line, and extend it to intersect the price scale. This can be seen as a mirror of the ascending triangle with a common horizontal base. Care must be taken to account for semi-logarithmic price scale. For COMEX silver, the September 3, 2010 breakout from the ascending triangle pattern produced a target price of $60/oz.

We recommended subscribers buy COMEX Silver at $20.78 on September 17, 2010.

Price action in November and December produced bullish pennant patterns that confirmed the continued move up for silver. The chart below was explained to subscribers on December 10, 2010.

       The key technical formation of the moment is the pennant which formed in silver over the month of November.  Silver did move into new high ground early in December.  But it fell back and appears to have met support at the $28-$29 level. The November pennant gives a point count to $40.  There was a 61% move in silver from late August to early Nov., and the pennant predicted an equal (percentage) move.  A 61% rise from $25 gives us a target price a touch over $40.  Our objective for silver at $40 is mid February (on the argument that the second leg out of the pennant will be equal to the first leg in time).

We know that commodities, including silver correspond to movements in the Dollar. This makes sense since silver is usually purchased in Dollars. So when the Dollar weakens, the same ounce of silver commands more Dollars in exchange. Likewise, the strong Dollar buys more Troy ounces (31.1034768 grams) of silver. Hence, silver usually has an inverse relation to the Dollar. It is important to recognize that the price movement of one does not cause the price movement of the other. Prices rise when there are more buyers than sellers for a particular good. The value of the Dollar decreases with increases in the money supply.  The technical analyst can use these facts to his advantage in predicting future price movements.

We can see the inverse relationship between the Dollar and silver in the chart below.

We saw the Dollar drop steeply in September-October 2010. This corresponded to the first large leg up for silver over the same period.  In December we recognized a bearish pattern (head-and-shoulders top) on the Dollar index that broke to the downside for the next five months. This corresponded to the second large leg up for silver over the same period.

Here is what we told clients about the Dollar on December 15, 2010:

Here is the weekly basis chart of the US Dollar.  Notice that the chart gives the clear head-and-shoulders top. This formation has to dominate our thinking on the intermediate term.  A breakdown from the neckline predicts a drop to 74 or lower.  We can expect commodities to benefit on the Dollar decline.

We saw silver continue on a parabolic rise on its way to $60/oz. At $50/oz, the CME slammed the door on buyers by raising margin requirements to 50% of position value. Retail buyers who got in late bailed out, or were called out on margin. Since then, silver has made a return to over $40/oz as investors return to silver and gold as the debt crises in the EMU and the US unfold.

Today, silver and gold have reclaimed milestones. Gold is trading over $1600/oz and silver is trading over $40/oz. The Dollar is selling off, just a point away from its May low of 72.86.

Resolution of the US debt issue is likely to reverse the Dollar’s slide, and pressure gold and silver. But the US debt issue has devolved into a day-to-day melee; Congress and the White House may not be able to control the situation before the credit agencies take action. One thing is certain- downgrade of the US sovereign debt would be catastrophic for the markets here and around the globe.

So, how should the prudent investor be positioned today? Technical analysis helps show the way.

Investors from around the world benefit from timely market analysis on gold and silver and portfolio recommendations contained in The Gold Speculator investment newsletter, which is based on the principles of free markets, private property, sound money and Austrian School economics.

The question for you to consider is how are you going to protect yourself from the vagaries of the fiat money and economic uncertainty?  We publish The Gold Speculator to help people make better decisions about their money. Our Model Conservative Portfolio gained 66.7% in 2010, and 55% for 1Q2011. Subscribe at our web site www.thegoldspeculatorllc.com  with credit card or PayPal ($300/yr) or by sending your check for $290 ($10 cash discount) The Gold Speculator, 614 Nashua St. #142 Milford, NH 03055

Which story is a lie?

Which story is a lie?

THE WAR IS ALREADY WON.

We can thank PLAINS, aka Michael McGinnis, for the stroke of scuzzy genius that is "Innovator". It comes fully stocked with joyriding guitars and angst-ridden synths, egged on by spaced out vocals that curiously swoop in and out of sight like a 21st century UFO. Once it crosses the great sonic expanse and reaches the eureka moment of pensive drum traps and whizzing solos, he's achieved the perfect middle ground between The Pixies and Miami brethren/labelmates (and Neon Gold darlings) ANR. It sounds progressively mischievous and deeply full of ulterior motives, and that's exactly why we love it so, plains and simples. So really we had no choice but to include PLAINS on next week's Popshop bill as one of two surprise live guests. Surprise.

MP3: "Innovator" - PLAINS

Gold is going one way and one way only and that is Up Up and Up

Gold is going one way and one way only and that is Up Up and Up .says Owen Hegarty, Vice-Chairman & Executive Director at G-Resources, he also talks about various ways of investing in gold.Gold equities are going to have a very good run in the next few years he says they are probably going to outperform other equity markets , the supply of silver has calmed down there is certainly a shortage of silver and like gold he believes that silver has one way and one way only to go and that is up up and up , the gold supply from the mines has been in decline , Gold is very difficult to find

Follow the Money

One of my Facebook friends, a fellow blogger, posted a link today to this article from the Fiscal Times, "Why Taxpayers Are So Angry and So Wrong About Spending." The author, Mark Thoma, begins:

Republicans, emboldened by public support for spending cuts, have taken the country to the brink of default as they fight to dial back government programs and vehemently oppose any tax increases to attack the deficit. But is the fight over the debt ceiling really an ideological battle between the two parties over the size and role of government? Or is a lot of the public support for GOP positions driven by myopia about entitlement spending and misplaced public anger?

I immediately wondered about this. From what I've seen, polls show that most Americans vehemently support tax increases (for the rich, anyway), and do not support the Republican / Obama program of cutting government programs that help ordinary Americans. So I clicked through that first link, which took me to a Gallup Poll report on the debt ceiling, which not only didn't mention tax increases but explained, "The question wording did not mention the rationales for or against raising the debt ceiling, nor did it explain that any such move would ultimately be a part of a broader budget bill involving spending cuts and perhaps tax increases."

Next I did some digging to see what polling on taxes showed. This FAIR blog post pointed out that in the political mainstream, "raising taxes on the wealthy is considered a non-starter--even though most Americans would support it." As evidence, two links: one to a Reuters poll which found that 12% of respondents favored tax increases to reduce the deficit, and 56% favored a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, for a total of 68% who were willing to increase taxes, with only 19% favoring only spending cuts. A Pew poll came up with exactly the same numbers.

The second link was to a Bloomberg article which begins:

Americans want Congress to bring down a federal budget deficit that many believe is “dangerously out of control,” only under two conditions: minimize the pain and make the rich pay.

That aversion to sacrifice is at odds with a spate of recent studies, including one by President Barack Obama’s debt panel, that say reductions in Medicare, Social Security, military and other spending are necessary to curb a deficit that totaled $1.29 trillion in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, or 9 percent of the gross domestic product.

Of course that debt panel was packed with men whose biases toward cutting social programs was well-documented before they began their "study."

The article goes on to cite polling data and interviews. Some of the poll results are surprising at first glance, but maybe not so much when you think about it. It turns out that it's at best a half-truth even to say that "Republicans ... vehemently oppose tax increases to attack the deficit." For example,

While Republican congressional leaders have opposed increases in taxes paid by high-income families, sentiment among the party’s rank and file is mixed. Republicans are divided on eliminating the tax cuts for the wealthy, with 50 percent opposing and 47 percent supporting. An increase in the cap on earnings subject to Social Security taxes splits Republicans almost evenly.

The poll shows there’s little appetite across all parties and demographic groups for changes to entitlements.

Eighty-two percent of respondents opposed benefit cuts to the Medicare health-insurance system for the elderly, with about half of Republicans wanting to see both the current Medicare and Social Security systems preserved. Just 35 percent of all respondents back a system in which government vouchers would help people pay for their own health insurance.

“Nobody wants to fail to take care of children who need medicine or the elderly,” said Tea Party supporter Randy Thorman, 45, a high school social studies teacher in Pryor, Oklahoma. “We don’t want to throw people out without some type of help.”...

Cathy Freeman, a 64-year-old Republican and retired bookkeeper from Waco, Texas, said the deficit should be addressed by ending tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, not slashing the entitlement programs her family relies on.

“We need to look at that before you start hurting the little guys,” Freeman said. “Let’s look at some things that aren’t fair in our system.”

A majority of 72 percent also opposes reducing benefits for the Medicaid health program for the poor. This is true even of Tea Party supporters who have built a movement around smaller government, with 66 percent against reducing Medicaid benefits. Seventy-two percent of those earning $100,000 or more also are opposed.

And so on. I should mention that Thoma's article turned out not to be quite as bad as I thought: he favors social spending and professes himself disappointed by Obama's failure to be the progressive Thoma had hoped for when he was elected. The trouble is that Thoma has bought into the corporate media line that most Americans support the Republican program. A much more accurate headline would be something like "Why Republican and Media Elites Are So Angry and So Wrong About Spending." But that wouldn't be news, I guess.

Follow the Money

One of my Facebook friends, a fellow blogger, posted a link today to this article from the Fiscal Times, "Why Taxpayers Are So Angry and So Wrong About Spending." The author, Mark Thoma, begins:

Republicans, emboldened by public support for spending cuts, have taken the country to the brink of default as they fight to dial back government programs and vehemently oppose any tax increases to attack the deficit. But is the fight over the debt ceiling really an ideological battle between the two parties over the size and role of government? Or is a lot of the public support for GOP positions driven by myopia about entitlement spending and misplaced public anger?

I immediately wondered about this. From what I've seen, polls show that most Americans vehemently support tax increases (for the rich, anyway), and do not support the Republican / Obama program of cutting government programs that help ordinary Americans. So I clicked through that first link, which took me to a Gallup Poll report on the debt ceiling, which not only didn't mention tax increases but explained, "The question wording did not mention the rationales for or against raising the debt ceiling, nor did it explain that any such move would ultimately be a part of a broader budget bill involving spending cuts and perhaps tax increases."

Next I did some digging to see what polling on taxes showed. This FAIR blog post pointed out that in the political mainstream, "raising taxes on the wealthy is considered a non-starter--even though most Americans would support it." As evidence, two links: one to a Reuters poll which found that 12% of respondents favored tax increases to reduce the deficit, and 56% favored a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, for a total of 68% who were willing to increase taxes, with only 19% favoring only spending cuts. A Pew poll came up with exactly the same numbers.

The second link was to a Bloomberg article which begins:

Americans want Congress to bring down a federal budget deficit that many believe is “dangerously out of control,” only under two conditions: minimize the pain and make the rich pay.

That aversion to sacrifice is at odds with a spate of recent studies, including one by President Barack Obama’s debt panel, that say reductions in Medicare, Social Security, military and other spending are necessary to curb a deficit that totaled $1.29 trillion in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, or 9 percent of the gross domestic product.

Of course that debt panel was packed with men whose biases toward cutting social programs was well-documented before they began their "study."

The article goes on to cite polling data and interviews. Some of the poll results are surprising at first glance, but maybe not so much when you think about it. It turns out that it's at best a half-truth even to say that "Republicans ... vehemently oppose tax increases to attack the deficit." For example,

While Republican congressional leaders have opposed increases in taxes paid by high-income families, sentiment among the party’s rank and file is mixed. Republicans are divided on eliminating the tax cuts for the wealthy, with 50 percent opposing and 47 percent supporting. An increase in the cap on earnings subject to Social Security taxes splits Republicans almost evenly.

The poll shows there’s little appetite across all parties and demographic groups for changes to entitlements.

Eighty-two percent of respondents opposed benefit cuts to the Medicare health-insurance system for the elderly, with about half of Republicans wanting to see both the current Medicare and Social Security systems preserved. Just 35 percent of all respondents back a system in which government vouchers would help people pay for their own health insurance.

“Nobody wants to fail to take care of children who need medicine or the elderly,” said Tea Party supporter Randy Thorman, 45, a high school social studies teacher in Pryor, Oklahoma. “We don’t want to throw people out without some type of help.”...

Cathy Freeman, a 64-year-old Republican and retired bookkeeper from Waco, Texas, said the deficit should be addressed by ending tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, not slashing the entitlement programs her family relies on.

“We need to look at that before you start hurting the little guys,” Freeman said. “Let’s look at some things that aren’t fair in our system.”

A majority of 72 percent also opposes reducing benefits for the Medicaid health program for the poor. This is true even of Tea Party supporters who have built a movement around smaller government, with 66 percent against reducing Medicaid benefits. Seventy-two percent of those earning $100,000 or more also are opposed.

And so on. I should mention that Thoma's article turned out not to be quite as bad as I thought: he favors social spending and professes himself disappointed by Obama's failure to be the progressive Thoma had hoped for when he was elected. The trouble is that Thoma has bought into the corporate media line that most Americans support the Republican program. A much more accurate headline would be something like "Why Republican and Media Elites Are So Angry and So Wrong About Spending." But that wouldn't be news, I guess.

Exploring Nagrand - 5000g in 60 minutes

There's some easy gold to be made in some of the Outland zones, especially for Engineers. Previous trick focused on Zangarmarsh, but this time I'll tell you how to make gold in Nagrand instead. Again,  mainly from it's Gas clouds. This zone also has treasure chests, so if you want to, you can make your own route by using the Routes addon with Gathermate2 and add chests to it aswell.

Image source: wowhead.com

Clouds, Ore, Water and Flowers!
While in Nagrand, the best source for gold would be Windy Clouds, pools of Pure Water, Fel Iron/Adamantite/Khorium deposits, Treasure Chests and Felweed. That being said, if you have mining, engineering and fishing, you can make a killing!

Windy Clouds - Engineering
If you have engineering, you can gather motes from the clouds here. Each cloud contains 3-5 motes usually. To extract the motes from a cloud, you need a Zapthrottle Mote Extractor. This can be obtained from a level 62 quest in Zangarmarsh. The reward is a schematic though, so you'll have to craft it. Click here to see the faction specific quests.

It's often cheaper to buy the raw materials and craft the required items yourself, so here's the basic materials for the mote extractor:

• 16 x Fel Iron Ore


• 40 x Motes of Life


• 1 Thorium Ore


• 1 Arcane Crystal


• 1 Ironweb Spider Silk

From the Windy Clouds alone I can get about 8-10 Primal Airs in 30 minutes. Most of the time these sell for 100-200g each. They seem to be more valuable than their watery counterparts usually.

Khorium Ore - Mining
Nagrand is nothing special when it comes to mining, but you may be lucky and run into Khorium deposits while flying around the zone. Each bar sells for even 150g, but most people don't know their value and will sell under that often. Fel Iron and Adamantite is also often valuable, and they should be mined if you are after Khorium. Khorium ore is rare and sometimes spawn instead of a Adamantite or Fel Iron deposit.

Pools of Pure Water - Fishing Pole Recommended!
There are a few Pools of Pure Water in Nagrand and if you have fishing, you should definitely check them out. More info about Pure Water fishing here: http://www.elsanglin.com/fishing_pure_water.html

Felweed - Herbalism
You may want to pick up herbs while flying around the zone. A stack of Felweed selling for 300g is not unheard of.

Treasure Chests
There's 2-4 Chests per zone usually. See the map below for their spawn locations. These level blues usually sell very slowly though, but still for a decent price. Don't hold your breath when selling them.

30 minutes of farming
The toon I did the farming with had engineering, mining and fishing. I made about 1200g from the Primals, 1000g from Khorium which I turned into Power Cores with Engineering (Sells for 500g each) and 300g from Treasure Chests. That's a total of 5000g if I would have farmed for a hour instead, assuming I would have found the same amount of goods again!

Windy Cloud and Treasure Chest spawn points

Keep in mind though, that none of the above items sell fast. For me it took 7 days to sell them all and I play on a high population realm. They are needed by some professions, but Auction House often has a void around these items, so they are expensive.

 

RNG and Price Difference
Sometimes you don't find a single Khorium Deposit, or alternatively Khorium Power Cores sell for only 100g and Primals 20g on your realm. Gold estimates are based on the prices on my main realm when I performed this method.