Banks, Baby Boomers & Generational War

A Triple Whammy:
Banks, Baby Boomers & Business Bust

This is a long post, so settle back into your chair and take in all that is considered here. There's a definite sense that something is truly wrong with the state of the world these days.

Two years into what has been called the most severe economic downturn since the 1930s, the Great Recession of 2007-2009 has been declared "over" in the autumn of 2009 by government officials, Wall Street, and media pundits alike.

I ask, you cannot be serious?

Nowhere does it appear that the economic recession of 2007-09 is over except in the fantasies of those who would dare say such a thing in light of the true facts:

• One of every six Americans are unemployed/underemployed
• There are eight+ million Americans out of work & growing
• Business contraction expands
• Economic output continues to contract
• There will have been 5,900 bankruptcy filings a day for 2009
• Foreclosures continue with residential housing weak
• Commercial real estate bubble is bursting
• Lending by banks remains frozen
• Entrepreneurs & new businesses cannot gain funding

What is clear is this: the generation that has produced the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression does not know what it is doing, and has to move on and retire, or the future of the country is going to put at even greater risk.

For instance, a September report from the International Monetary Fund showed that the type of recession that the United States is having, one caused by politicians, lobbyists and the financial community, is known to lead to longer term damage to a nation's growth prospects. "the path of output tends to be depressed substantially and persistently following banking crises," the IMF report said.

In short - the future of the country is at stake.

Economic recessions in general often result in lower wages, incomes, higher unemployment, and lost opportunities for the development of human capital - the most important capital of all.

This is called, "economic scarring" and is the feature of this important 2009 study by the Economic Policy Institute.

See - http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/bp243/

Bad Banks, Desperate Fed & The Screwed American Saver

According to my calculations, the world transits from now to the spring of 2011 indicate that unless great shifts are made to infuse younger workers into the economy that the long-term impacts will undoubtedly be so severe that it will take until the late 2020s and early 2030s to correct.

This is because that the generation shift that is now underway is happening too slow, and, as a result, is keeping a greater number of people out of the job markets, forcing the non-creation of new companies, to meet the demands of an aging generation that is consuming ever more resources with massive levels of debt, but creating less - leaving very little for the next generation to build on.

In addition, the policies of the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury shows that the push is to force American's to spend and consume rather than to save, which has been the direction of most Americans since the economic crisis began. High inventories from unsold products continue to be a drag on the overall economy, and this over capacity is behind the Fed's moves to keep the "bubble" alive for short term gain.

It will not work.

Amazingly, some large banks, like Wells Fargo, is betting on yet another housing bubble by issuing new thousands of "interest-only" loans deferring the balance of its borrowers between six to 10 years. This bank - the fourth largest in the country - has more than $107 billion dollars in debt of the dreaded "option-adjustable" rate mortgages. "we're banking on the fact the economy will improve and recover over time," says Michael Heid, co-president of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

The housing market has tanked, unemployment continues to skyrocket into double-digits and the world has seen about $50 trillion of global wealth evaporate. Just where is the money going to come that will see people rush out to buy houses and commercial properties that were priced much too high relative to their real value?

The reason why banks are not lending is simple: they are scared to reveal the true losses from the folly of investing in the derivatives market over the last 15 years. If the banks return to lending they will have to face the truth behind the immense losses on their books, so, rather than do this, they have tightened lending standards - which is zero - and using the bailout funds from the American people to cushion themselves while Americans on Main Street suffer as Wall Street hands out billions in bonuses to the very people who caused the economic crisis.

Let's be clear: this economic crisis is really a banking crisis, and it started with the banks; especially big banks, whose executives, and lackeys in Congress, initiated the most expensive experiment in the history of the world - with other people's money.

Now that the banks will not lend, the only lender left is the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury - both entities are now becoming the largest lender of non-prime loans in the history of the world.

Not many Americans know that over the last seven (7) years the U.S. Dollar has fallen 33 percent, and continues to drop. One economist put it this way:

"In global terms we are steadily getting poorer and poorer and the Fed and U.S. Treasury are happy to oblige. You need to remember that it would be very easy for the Fed to strengthen the dollar. All they need to do is increase the federal funds rate to encourage saving. Yet, the only people that are saving right now are foreigners and many are happy to invest at zero percent rates of return."

Is this a good thing?

"It depends," the economist says. "If you enjoy a weak dollar that is systematically being attacked."

What is happening is that the Federal Reserve is desperately trying to create inflation to get the country out of its massive debt since in a deflationary climate having debt is not a good thing at all. One reason is that asset values are falling as the value of the note stays the same.

"Housing is a perfect example of the problem," the economist said. "Say you bought a home for $500,000 and took out a $450,000 mortgage. That home is now worth $300,000. Say a current buyer purchases a similar house for $300,000 today and takes out a $250,000 notes. You then still have a $450,000 mortgage and the new buyer has a mortgage that is $200,000 cheaper than yours."

So, you can multiply this over a thousands times, and see why there's a housing crisis in this country.

At this time, the Federal Reserve is pulling out all the stops trying to get credit flowing again, but the banks are not biting.

So what will work?

Some economists say that radical means are required to take the reins away from the same bankers who brought us the Great Depression.2:

Nationalize all banks to enforce lending standards - The rational behind this is that by doing so, lending standards can be greatly eased and at the same time the government can directly oversee just how the money is being dispersed. If this is not done, then banks who continue to receive bailout money will continue not to lend at all as they look for banks to consume who can add to their bottom line - making it "appear" as if their bank is healthy while other banks that do receive bailout money continue to dissolve, as is happening now.

It appears that in these times those who are the losers are those who save another economist says.

"If you look at the savings rates at your local banks you are looking at another zero interest rate policy. The notion of dollar cost averaging into the stock market has gone out the window for probably a generation.

"If we were to go back to historical rates of 5 or 6 percent many savers would start storing money especially given the current economic shock. Yet we are doing the opposite. The Fed now is trying to make rates so low that bankers would be forced to lend."

But here is the bad news from the banks: They would rather have a zero percent rate return than face certain losses to bad borrowers who are in debt, foreclosed on, and unemployed.

Back in 2007, I read an unusual fictional novel titled Discipline, written by Paco Ahlgren, a financial analyst who studied quantum physics and spiritualism. In the novel, Ahlgren predicts a "Soviet-style breakup of the U.S.," he says may result from the simultaneous collapse of the equity markets, the failure of the U.S. dollar, and its replacement by competing private global currencies.

What does he think about the current state of monetary affairs?

"There are so many factors at play here," Ahlgren says. "Let's say the Fed makes good on its threat to buy the long end, to hold rates steady at these levels, or even bring them down further. How are they going to do that?

"They're going to have to print dollars and that's just inflationary. I don't care what kind of spin the Keynesians try to put on it. It's inflationary. We're getting into a situation where our government is printing currency and then loaning it to itself. It's just laughable.

"A lot of the TARP money went to institutions that dumped them into Treasuries, but how long will that last?" Ahlgren asks. "How long are managers going to accept these absurd rates of return from a bankrupt government? And how long are they going to perceive Treasuries as safe?

"The U.S. has pledged $8.5 trillion to bailouts -- more than all other programs and wars in our history, in real dollars, combined! We've gone from being the biggest creditor nation to the biggest debtor nation on earth. We're consuming everything, and we're not making anything! We're a nation of spoiled rich kids who sit around and watch television all day. How long do you think the rest of the world is going to continue to lend us money?

"I mourn for the U.S. Dollar," the economist said. "It is a very tough time to be a saver with our current Fed and U.S. Treasury destined to annihilate our once mighty greenback."

A Coming Generational War?

A situation of immense proportions after the economic madness since the early 1990s has come home to roost just before the start of the second decade of the 21st century begins as a aging generation not only consumes huge amounts of current resources for its own enjoyment, but also the future resources of others - at the same time.

What is most interesting in late 2009 is the fact that some of the same people of the establishment who played significant roles in the economic crisis continue to influence policy with incredible levels of ignorance designed to satisfy the current aging generation at the expense of younger generations who will inherit this mess.

Many younger people are very angry with Baby Boomers because they say that not only has this generation created the economic mess, but that they are taking jobs away from Generation X and Generation Y - refusing to retire at a time when most younger people need to get into their own careers to build equity for the future and to lead the country out of economic crisis.

See - http://samueljscott.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/why-my-generation-is-pissed-off/

"When an older generation dies off, its wealth, jobs, and responsibilities are transferred, through inheritance and other means, to the young generation. The next generation uses this capital to obtain jobs, get married, buy homes, raise families, and create more wealth. Then they will die off, and the circle continues. This is how society must function."

See - http://samueljscott.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/the-upcoming-generational-war/

What is amazing about this is that many Baby Boomers, now in their early 70s, 60s, and late 50s, do not seem to be clued in to the immense amount of anger from younger people that is felt about their time as the establishment. Anytime this issue is brought up it is met with immediate defensiveness to evade the issue by any means necessary.

There is the immediate response from among many Boomers that it is not right to "blame all the woes of the world" on one generation, or, will refute the concerns of younger generations with comments designed to avoid all responsibility for their years as the ruling establishment.

A typical defensive response from a Baby Boomer is seen here:

"I am sick of the crap spewing from the mouths of immature children on the Internet. I deal with many of these kids on a daily basis and the vast majority of them are wonderful but every now one pops up tells me, literally, that I need to retire, or better yet, die. These same piss ants living in mom's basement infest the Internet and somehow believe that their one year of college and Mickey D's experience entitles them to a $40k managerial job drinking diet sodas and smoking weed. I'll quit now else I really start ranting-- I'll close with Rambo's great line, the heart of Vietnam veteran breaks here, 'All we ever wanted was for our country to love us as much as we loved it.' "

It's as if there is a need to deny the obvious; allowing little insight about this generation's failures personally, while casting blame not where it is due, but onto those who have not been holding any of the reins of of power at the Establishment during the last 17 years. This attempt to deny that any generation is responsible and held accountable is typical of many Boomers today, and it is frightening.

The reason why it is scary is because it feeds into a general denial of nearly everything that is important in these times. Many people have noticed that the Baby Boomers generation is in denial about their own aging, as if it is not happening and feel entitled to not only remain in the same positions they've held for 30 years, but intending on staying put - yet every generation ages. Not one single generation has ever lived forever.

Trend watchers are very concerned about all this as it is estimated that 10 million Baby Boomers will come down with Alzheimer's disease as well as suffering from a host of maladies associated with aging and not prepared to deal with the realities of being elderly.

We find that there are shrinking amounts of primary care physicians able to meet the challenges of the Baby Boomer generation's aging population, and elder care facilities are nowhere near capable of meeting the expected influx of tens of millions of Baby Boomers about to swamp the healthcare system. Little is being said about this, but the time is growing near where reality will set in and these matters must be faced. Time is a very formidable opponent for those who deny it and do not prepare for the passages of life.

We find most Baby Boomers entirely unprepared for aging, and for retirement - stating that they will work until they drop when no other generation in the history of the world has ever done this.

What to make of all this denial?

One non-Boomer put it like this:

"The word “entitlement” has picked up a negative connotation it shouldn’t have. If you go to the bank and deposit $20, you are entitled to get your $20 from the bank. If you fulfill your half of a contract, you are entitled to the other party’s performance.

"Sure, its a problem when you feel you deserve something you don’t deserve—but there is nothing wrong with acknowledging a legitimate debt. So let’s ask why some people in their 20s might feel the older generation hasn’t kept its end of the bargain…

"For those who just graduated, there was no job. That’s not technically true. There was a job—but somebody older has it and isn’t letting go. It turns out the whole system is rigged. Education and intelligence and everything we were told was important turn out to be worth nothing next to seniority and experience…

"Take health insurance. Decades of pressure to lower wages for new hires and cut benefits means that the employer-provided system means that even if you can find a job, it probably won’t offer health insurance.

"Paying for insurance out of pocket is prohibitively expensive if you’re healthy and coverage is entirely unavailable if you’re not. And if you have a minimum-wage job serving coffee, you’re still getting a chunk taken out of your paycheck to finance a program that won’t be solvent by the time you’re old enough to use it.

"But any effort to change this system is met with seniors screaming about communists taking away their medicare. And if 20-somethings back a legislative initiative that would help them obtain coverage, they’re slackers living in their parents basements. And let’s not even get into the individual mandate in the health-reform bill that will require the healthy and young to subsidize the health-care of their older and generally wealthier parents.

"Should twenty-somethings who have done everything asked of them their entire lives feel like somebody pulled one over on them? Probably—but bad things happen. And hopefully all those years of education taught us enough empathy not to be vindictive.

"Call us gullible—but don’t call us lazy or selfish. If some of us push for a few reforms that could help us succeed even when our parents have dropped the ball—back them, and be thankful that we’re not talking outright revolution."

If any generation should be very keen on what is happening in this light - it should be Baby Boomers, considering the history of this generation in their own establishment wars of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

It is important for Baby Boomers to clearly understand that the generations that follow them - Generation X and Generation Y - are seething with anger at the mess that is being left behind and of the immense resources that have been squandered by a generation that should have clearly known better.

World Transits

All of the above is a serious problem because it foreshadows trends that will become front and center in the 2010s. This is seen by the global transits that show strong radicalism rising among the younger generations and seething anger at those deemed responsible for creating the mess.

The world transits of 2010s are very challenging. It will be this decade that will be the decade where the aftereffects of the 18 prior years of the Boomer establishment will be felt most. It will be a painful, radical, and stomach-turning decade filled with revelations and seething with anger at the truths behind the economic depression along with its causes, promoters, and authenticators.

The most powerful of the global transits will be those of the outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto - as these celestial bodies in mundane astrology reflect the effects of generational incompetence, corruption, greed and ideological wars that will, when all is said, and done, be shown to have led to the crisis of the next decade.

It has started already, and is now in its early stages. The year 2010 sees the Cardinal Crisis transits that will continue into 2011, and by 2012 through 2015, there will be seven (7) exact squares between Uranus and Pluto that reflect revolutionary and radical battles that originated back in the 1990s and 2000s.

The year 2010 is the great transitional year where many hidden truths begin to be revealed and causes many who would have been more understanding and friendly to become even more outraged at the tremendous wealth and future resources that have been squandered, stolen, and misused to support a generation that sought only their own personal fulfillment - with massive consumption on itself in the short-term - at the expense of the futures of their own children.

All this will come down as the Baby Boomers will have since been shown the door and retired; yet, the tremendous burdens placed on next establishment, Generation X, as well as on the children of the Boomers - Generation Y - will be so great as to usher in a generational war that demands accountability from an elderly generation that is no longer holding all the cards under the mantle of the reins of power.

Each generation has its own time as the ruling establishment, and as such, each generation is judged by its own time in power, its own actions as a generation. This time usually lasts about 17-18 years, and, under this astrological cycle, the establishment of the Baby Boomers, which began in 1993, and that is now coming to an end; indicates that it will be impossible for the Boomer generation to even consider undoing the catastrophic damage it has done to the country, and the world over those years.

Even some Baby Boomers themselves realize this:

See - http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=44881

See - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpNZi9UjmhQ&feature=channel

Another Baby Boomer put it this way about his own generation:

"Some generations are better than others. I think my generation dropped the ball completely, and yeah, I'm sorry. We were supposed to be the generation that learned the lessons of Vietnam, and Watergate amongst other things and yet here we are, in Iraq, here we are in Panama, Grenada, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Kuwait. Here we are after 8 years of corruption and abuse of executive power that makes Nixon look like a boy scout.

We abdicated our responsibilities as citizens while we focused on personal fulfillment. We turned the economy over to the greediest and most corrupt people in our country while we went shopping and focused on our kids resumes.

We watched one corporate crime wave after another inflate and burst bubbles dragging us into one recession after another; and we learned absolutely nothing from any of these experiences.

Now our kids are graduating into an economy in shambles, albeit with impressive resumes. Not only do they inherit a war, they inherit two wars.

We're the only generation in US history to pass two wars on to the next generation.

And now we stand in front of them at graduation and say what exactly? The excuses offered are so banal they're beneath contempt. The only advice we can offer with a straight face is: "don't do what did."

Baby Boomers & The 2010s

The Aging Bubble About To Burst

For nearly 17 years I have been warning those of the Baby Boomer generation born between 1939-1953 to prepare for the future. It was a very difficult thing to do considering that this generation of "youth" had been in denial about aging to the point of attempting to "turn back time" with pills, liposuction and Viagra, all to no avail.

The majority of all Baby Boomers are now in the 60s, while the oldest Baby Boomers have turned 70 years old in 2009 and the last of this generation will turn 60 years old by the year 2013.

What is most amazing about this generation is the fact that with all the denial of aging that has been a part of the Boomer "consciousness" that the passage of time itself continues to show that along with the denial of aging has come the lack of any preparation for the realities of aging which is now upon the Boomer generation.

Many Boomers have been fighting aging, and the knowledge of it with a passion. One would have witnessed this with the emergence in the late 1990s and 2000s with the rise of the anti-aging industry and pharmaceutical drugs that swarmed into the public consciousness via 24-hour a day commercials/infomercials hawking everything from Viagra, Botox, pills for nearly every malady known to humanity along with the potions and lotions to hide the effects of the passage of natural time.

From injecting toxic strains of bacillus into one's face to unwrinkle skin to having multiple plastic surgeries and liposuction to improve physical appearance, the generation of the Baby Boomers have been on a very expensive quest over the last 17 years in their efforts to turn back the hands of time.

And we all know that Time cannot be "turned" back.

What has emerged as the world enters the second decade of the 21st century is a large generation wholly unprepared for the future, and for their own care as senior citizens.

Attending to the use of drugs while avoiding becoming naturally healthier has led to increasing rises in obesity, heart disease and type II diabetes, among other maladies that will swarm the health care system of the 2010s and 2020s with elderly Baby Boomers wholly unprepared for retirement.

An "aging bubble" has been quietly taking shape since the end of the 20th century. I say "quietly" because from the time that Boomer generation became the establishment in 1993 to the time this generation leaves the reins of power as the establishment in 2010 there has nary been a public call from amongst Baby Boomers to prepare for old age.

The very word "senior citizen" is not used by Boomers, who have long admired their own youth from a far and up close without looking down the road to make preparations for becoming senior citizens themselves.

Much of this can be attributed to the positions of the outer generational planets, especially those of Neptune, and Pluto, that, during the era the Boomers were born into (1939-1953) shows a generation obsessed with ego reflection, drugs and youth.

Troubles Ahead

Most of the problems ahead that the Baby Boomers and society faces is that this "aging bubble" comes at a time when the world will be dealing with the after-effects of the global economic crisis that will linger into the decade of the 2010s.

Coming just prior to the time that Baby Boomers as a generation will retire, the healthcare demands and costs of this generation easily outstrips all budget concerns and frightens the few politicians who had seen this disaster int he making build year after year with little to no attention to making preparations.

Looking ahead to the next decade, we can see that by the year 2010, during the start of the Cardinal Crisis transits that begin in mid-summer of that year, that from this time onwards into the decade of the 2010s, there are signs everywhere that the Baby Boomer generation is in serious trouble based on not providing for their own care as the new elderly, simply because of denial of aging, which happens to all generations.

The troubles ahead is a long list, but here are some highlights of what to expect:

Shortage of Doctors

There is a severe shortage of physicians worldwide, as many doctors are also Baby Boomers who are aging. It is estimated that the United States will need as many as 125,000 new doctors by the year 2025.

Figures show that there are only 700,000 active doctors in the U.S. in 2009-2010, but by 2025 the population of people who are over the age of 65 will have increased by an astounding 75% - from 37 million people in 2010 to 64 million by the year 2025!

From my calculations of astrological transits over this period of time, this is confirmed, and means that the number of doctors will fall dramatically at the same time that demand for doctors will increase.

This is a disaster that has been building for some time, and comes as a direct result of a generation that has been in complete denial about aging and the facts of life.

The problem comes from the Baby Boomers themselves, which is amazing, considering that this generation will be the most hard pressed to find adequate medical professionals to support them in old age.

"We're not producing enough primary-care physicians," President Barack Obama said at one forum on health care. "The costs of medical education are so high that people feel that they've got to specialize."

• Over the last 5 years, a declining number of US medical school graduates have been choosing careers in internal medicine and family medicine - the two fields that are the source of applicants for geriatric fellowship programs
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• Physicians in internal medicine, family medicine - and geriatrics - earn significantly less and have less predictable work schedules than those in other medical and surgical specialties, especially disciplines such as dermatology, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, radiation oncology, and emergency medicine
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• A career focused on caring for older adults can be particularly financially unattractive for physicians who carry increasingly large medical school loan debts
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• Over 86% of medical school graduates carry educational debt and the median debt burden for graduates of medical institutions is over $100,000
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• The median salary for a geriatrician in private practice in 2005 was $162,977 - significantly lower than that of most other medical and surgical specialties
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• In many parts of the U.S., Medicare payment rates for physicians are lower than commercial insurance rates
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• Medicare reimbursement rates for mental health services are discounted even further than rates for geriatric medical services
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• Medicare reimbursement is the major source of income for most geriatricians and, as a result, community-based geriatricians have lower incomes than most other physician specialists.
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• Doctors who are trained in general internal medicine are the the physicians who are on the front line of primary care. However, because of pressure from Boomer administrators and the artificially -raised costs of healthcare to meet the demands of corporations many doctors have been swarming into entire ranges of sub-specialties of internalized medicine, like cardiology and oncology - and have left primary care to fewer and fewer physicians who are low paid.
  

It is estimated that newly trained physicians owe more than $140,000+ in student loans by the time they graduate. Moreover, the two decades of pressure from Baby Boomer administrators to "specialize" in medical areas has squeezed out training for primary care physicians, the very medical professionals who will be needed in droves to service millions of aging Baby Boomer elderly.

Senator Max Baucus, a Democrat from the state of Montana complained that Medicare payments were directed against primary-care doctors. These are the very physicians required to care for older people who have chronic conditions like congestive heart failure, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. "Primary-care physicians are grossly underpaid compared with many specialists," Baucus said.

Nowhere is this problem observed more than in the field that the Baby Boomer generation will increasing depend, and one that this generation itself has caused a severe shortage in - Geriatric medicine.

Geriatric Medicine

When I give counseling advice to clients interested in the medical field, I always point them to primary care and Geriatric medicine, for these are the growth areas in healthcare for the next 40-50 years.

What is amazing about the coming shortages of doctors, is that it is already here; especially in the very medical sector that deals with the primary care of the elderly.

Some facts:

• According to a recent JAGS editorial, 30 percent of the most frail Medicare beneficiaries will need to be cared for by a geriatrician and because of the frailty, one geriatrician can care for a patient panel of 700.
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• Primary care internists and family physicians would manage the healthier and better functioning 70% of older adults
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• There are only 7,345 certified geriatricians practicing in the US -- a 5.4 percent decrease from the year 2000 and roughly half the number currently needed
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• That said, currently about 1.1 million 65 and older Americans would benefit from the care of a geriatrician - a shortfall of 8,421 geriatricians.
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• There are far fewer geriatric psychiatrists. Currently there are 1,596 - one for every 11,372 older Americans. That ratio is projected to decrease by 2030 to one geriatric psychiatrist for every 20,195 Americans 75 and older.
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• In 2007, 91 residents who graduated from U.S. medical schools (USMDs) entered geriatric medicine fellowship programs (slightly more than 0.5% of all medical students in that graduating class), down from 167 in 2003. In 2007, 24 USMDs entered geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs (less than 0.2% of all medical students in that graduating class), down from 30 in 2003.

Shortage of Care Facilities

There are severe shortages in nursing home, or assisted-living, facilities across the country. There are also shortages in home health care companies and staff to provide even independent services to the elderly.

In addition, the current training capacity for geriatrics faculty cannot even sustain the current level of faculty over the next 10 years. To correct the current and future deficit, substantial increases in both geriatrics fellowship positions and mid-career training positions will be necessary.

A 2008 study prepared by Florida's insurance underwriters' of elderly care assisted-living facilities and nursing homes states that:

"Our medical industry cannot handle the onslaught of all these new patients at once. Therefore, nurses will be even in higher demand than they are right now.

Due to the higher demands there will be fewer people that are qualified to work in in-home care situations, or assisted living facilities to help the elderly Generation.

"The long-term care industry will have to change with the changing demands of an escalating senior population. Liability insurance products also will have to change.

"Shorter nursing home stays with most residents requiring more than custodial care will expose operators to more risks that require liability coverage.

"Agents will be expected to increase liability protection to home health care workers and hospice facilities impacted by the expanding population, as well as to the full range of long-term care environments including nursing homes, assisted / independent living, and continuing care retirement communities."

Baby Boomers & Old Age

From the looks of the global transits of the 2010s and 2020s it clearly reveals that the Baby Boomer generation will want to live independently until they can no longer care for themselves. This presents a serious problem because of the shortages of doctors, nurses, assisted-living facilities, and home health care personnel a crisis is surely in the making.

This mounting problem comes from the Baby Boomer generation with little to no funding for expansion of assisted-living facilities, while at the same time cutting these services while encouraging physicians over two decades to avoid primary care and to specialize, which has left the primary care sector gasping for air, and facing severe shortages.

Another 2007-08 study reveals just how serious this problem will become in the 2010s, 2020s and into the 2030s:

"Baby Boomers whose parents may have been satisfied with nursing home care will opt for independent or assisted living until they can no longer care for themselves. The study projects a need for nearly 160,000 new assisted living units, as 60 percent of residents who would have chosen nursing homes can be served in assisted living facilities.

"Demand for independent living facilities also is expected to increase sharply, creating a need for an additional 260,000 units. Skilled home care services funded by Medicare, Medicaid, and other governmental sources are expected to more than double by 2030.

"The wide range of health care options surely will increase professional and general liability risks and create a need for increased liability insurance in an uncertain market.

Perhaps the most daunting challenge facing the industry over the next couple of decades is the expected shortage of professional healthcare workers. This threatens to reduce the quality of care available to meet demand from the rapidly mounting population of senior citizens.

Demand for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) is expected to grow by 30,000 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) over the next 22 years. Demand for nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal-care attendants is expected to grow by 122,000 FTEs.

However, the study predicts a severe shortage of RNs by 2030. As of June, 2007, 43 percent of licensed RNs were over 50 years old, and 15 percent were over 60 years old. Academic programs are not producing enough nurses to replace those retiring.

The salary differential is growing between nurses employed by hospitals and those serving in long-term care. Long-term care RN salaries in some Florida markets are not considered as generous as hospitals or other settings, which will result in even greater shortages for skilled care, home care, and assisted living.

"Informal care givers will be the key to managing the explosion in demand for aging services. Approximately 40 percent of women and 19 percent of men over 65 in 2005 lived alone.

"As the population ages, the numbers living alone are expected to increase. Without informal family help, it’s more likely they will require support to meet their daily needs.

"The study concluded that dramatic growth is required in home care, much of it to be funded through public programs and Medicare. The problem is that availability of home-care givers, including family and other informal providers, is expected to decline 41 percent by 2030.

"This means that 420,000 more seniors 85 years and older may be without help at home or moved into already burdened nursing homes and assisted living facilities."

The challenges of the future of the Baby Boomer generation as they become the new elderly will require an massive expansion in all phases of health care: from assisted living, to primary care and support needs of a size that is nowhere being prepared for at this time.

It is already too late to make up for the last 25 years that could have solved these problems. Rather, the problems have been kicked further down the road, and now, that road is coming to a dead end.

As with crumbling infrastructures, the traditional nursing care system has fallen apart. Therefore, we can expect the aging bubble to become a crisis of huge proportions in the 2010s and 2020s that will seek to consume resources that are, at this time, are limited, and not available to even meet the existing demands that are now on the horizon.

2010 Economic Forecast: The Cardinal Crisis

2010 Economic Forecast: The Cardinal Crisis
Global Action, Tolerance & The Great Turning

At this time, most people throughout the Earth know that there are great changes ahead. As tens of millions of people in many nations feel the pain of the global economic crisis most already can sense that a great turn is just ahead.

Where that "turn" leads to is the mystery to many who are understandably very concerned, and angry about the corruption of Wall Street Bankers were the economic crisis found its genesis along with the very bad decisions of politicians in the late 1990s and 2000s that have led to what will surely go down as the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

The effect on society is palatable. People are emotionally distressed from foreclosures, lost jobs, and the subsequent stresses on their personal and professional lives. The rate of unemployment keeps climbing despite assurances from some that the "recession is over."

For many people the recession is far from over, but their former lives surely seems to be.

As much as I would like to offer more positive news on the economy, seeing the global transits, I cannot. I forecasted these hard times back in the 1990s. I called it the "brown time" relating to the color of the Great Depression. We are now in these times, and, from what I can see, things will get worse before they get better.

There are advantages to be had in these changing times, and those who are able to navigate fluidly will do much better than those who are not. One of the keys to surviving is to not only know your own personal astrological transits, but also to know the world transits of the future.

Know this - astrologically - on a global scale: times are indeed changing, and will continue to change into the decade of the 2010s. In order to survive into the next decade it is essential to think and act outside of the box and to learn not only how to see coming trends, but to also prepare for them while navigating tough economic times.

Coming to terms with the high levels of debt, tight labor market, and the malfeasance of banks is not an easy thing to do for those who have seen their businesses go into bankruptcy, and for those who have lost jobs.

What is also taking place is generational. As the Baby Boomers, who've been the ruling establishment since 1993, are now finding it very difficult to make up for their economic losses in this time of very high unemployment along with the stresses of having to face a bleak job market that cannot pay these workers the wages and benefits they have been used to. This means a gloomy future for this generation about to retire.

Younger workers, those of Generation X and Generation Y face a new era where new ideas must take hold faster than normal,while also dealing with the economic ruins of the poor decisions made in the latter half of the 20th century.

In effect, nothing will ever be the same for those who have been used to the status quo of the last 17-18 years.

Astrologically, in previous entries on the coming Cardinal Crisis transits of 2010 I've pointed out just how powerful these global transits will be: especially by the northern hemisphere summer of 2010.

As the winter season of 2010 approaches, I continue to warn that the Great Depression of the 21st century is on the horizon and that the year 2010 will be the year of this depression. The transits are unmistakable:

• Saturn in Virgo opposed to Uranus in Pisces
• Pluto in Capricorn
• Jupiter and Uranus to meet near 0-Aries
• Mercury's synodic cycle showing 2010 to be a bit like 1931
• The Lunar Nodes on the Capricorn/Cancer Axis
• The 2010 Cardinal T-Square: Saturn, Uranus, Pluto
• The coming Jupiter/Saturn opposition (2010-2012)
  

I have been researching these mundane outer transits for over 18 years, and now - it is almost here.

The ripple effects from the global economic crisis that really began quietly in the autumn of 2006, spreading in 2007, and reaching its current crisis point one year ago this month continues to wreak havoc across the United States.

See - http://www.time. com/time/ nation/article/ 0,8599,1921445, 00.html

At this time in September nearly every state capitol in the union is searching for ways to add to their coffers while city mayors have to choose between closing libraries, park, police, and fire services to save their cities from going bankrupt.

Even the most recent "optimistic" news of the impending "recovery" does not hide the fact that most people in the U.S. believe the unemployment rate is well above 18 percent. Some believe that it has already reached 20% and will get higher in 2010.

The housing crisis, started by Wall Street traders and banks gambling that housing prices would never fall and spurring tens of millions of people to take on mortgages on properties that are now losing half their value - is not abating.

"We think this will be the worst financial disaster in the nation's history," said Thomas Martin, president of Americas Watchdog, a web site that has been warning about the real estate crisis for nearly three years.

Back in 2006 when I was warning astrologers and anyone else who would listen that a crash was coming in the real estate and economy, I received emails from many who complained that I was a "doom and gloomer" and did not understand that people were making lots of money in the real estate market.

I said that most of that money would evaporate by 2008. And so would the real estate market. But, I was mocked, and laughed at by some of the very same people who could understand that Saturn was about to enter Virgo in 2007, and, within a year, would begin to oppose Uranus in Pisces.

Being a predictive astrologer is not easy. For years, many people saw astrology merely through their own nativities, however, being trained in mundane astrology - I knew, and dreaded, what was to come.

So, I continued to forecast, and to prod people into making changes so they could survive. I spoke about how the housing market would collapse to the point where values across the country would fall to 75% below the high-prices of properties marketed in 2006.

That drew more attacks - many from economists who told me that they were surprised that "even an astrologer" would say this. So, I repeated what I said, that housing values would collapse and fall so hard, that by the year 2010 - we will see nearly a 75-percent drop in housing values.

Still, few listened, and now I read this:

See - http://www.cnbc. com/id/32773345/ site/14081545

Back in 2005 and 2006, I talked with some homeowners about the high prices they were putting on their houses, and wondered aloud why they would do this. I was laughed at since obviously I did not know that prices like these were common across the country.

I continued to talk about the coming crisis, and tried to keep the astrology to a minimum, however, I could help to mention that "times were about to change" and that it would be wise to
get out of the real estate market while the going was good.

Prices though continued to remain high. All through 2006, 2007, and 2008, one could easily see that housing prices did not reflect the true value of the houses on the market across the country.

Today, some realtors cannot believe just how much in denial many homeowners who want to sell now really are:

Realtor Gary Neubauer with Coldwell Banker in Fort Myers, Fla., said that he has seen home prices in his market fall nearly 35 percent in luxury gated communities and 50 percent overall this year.

He says sellers now live in one of two worlds: fantasy or reality. "Sellers that are in fantasy have completely clouded themselves to what has really happened as far as prices," he says.

"They keep complaining that they're on the market and nothing is happening. In reality, they're on the market, but they're not in the market because they're so ridiculously priced."

See -
http://www.cnbc. com/id/32799826

"Wall Street talks like the problem is behind us," Martin said. "In reality the problem is just in its initial stages with more severe hardships that will effect individual homeowners as well as the over all economy."

One of the most devastating problems that has come out of the business contraction is the fact that people are not finding new jobs. In fact, it has been reported that all the jobs created in the
private sector since 1999 have vanished in the last 18 months!

Only now, as the 2009 selling season of spring and summer begins to wind down that reality is setting in. It was something I knew years ago, but was very difficult to get others to see ahead of the economic crisis.

What Now?

The national unemployment rate, which is really bordering at, or near 20-percent, clearly reflects world transits. As next year's T-square and Cardinal Crisis transits build I cannot say that things will get better - but worse.

This is because many of the personages that created the economic crisis have not been tasked with leaving their positions of power in many corporations, banks, insurance companies and pension fund organizations. This includes those whose very poor judgment and greed have led cities and states to the brink of insolvency.

I expect much of the shakeout of the prior establishment to begin to take place in just a few months into 2010. We see the coming Saturn/Pluto square this autumn, and early winter 2010, which is a "preview" of sorts of the coming Cardinal Crisis transits - the major T-square between Saturn in Libra, Uranus in Aries, and Pluto in Capricorn that occurs next summer.

This T-square really signals the depth of what I see as the Great Depression of 2010 - which surely is on the way according to my calculations. The signs are there for those who want to see them. The Dow Jones is overbought, and many of the big banks continue to refuse to lend money though tens of billions of losses remain on their books while smaller banks exposed to the coming commercial real estate bubble bust are on the precipice of insolvency.

In my estimation, unemployment will reach about 23-percent, which nearly equals the 25% jobless rate of the Great Depression of the early 1930s. The U.S. labor market has been destroyed since the early 1990s and will take at least 15 years to return to health and will be very different than the labor market of the late 20th century and early 2000s.

It will not be a pleasant sight.

Already, we are seeing states struggle with paying out unemployment benefits which for many Americans will begin running out between September 2009 and March 2010. Many of California's cities are going broke:

See - http://vodpod. com/watch/ 2005731-calif- cities-going- broke-2009

Looking to the East, we find Miami, Florida on the verge as well:

See - http://www.nbcmiami .com/news/ local-beat/ City-of-Miami- Going-Broke. html

Even the City of Brotherly Love, the cradle of America, is suffering

See - http://thefinancial physician. blogspot. com/2009/ 09/cities- and-states- going-broke. html

See - http://cbs3. com/topstories/ Philadelphia. Budget.mayor. 2.1157773. html

Transits of 2010

As the autumn of 2009 fades into the winter of 2010, it will have become very obvious to most people that the so-called "recovery" has not taken hold. During the first six months of 2010, world transits show that many nations will begin to suffer from revolts and rebellions - seeking revenge against those who are to blame for their lot in life.

The anger is building again in autumn 2009 with another exact opposition between Saturn and Uranus on the Virgo/Pisces axis. Then, in late October 2009, Saturn enters tropical Libra, and immediately squares Pluto in Capricorn - stressing the USA Constitution natal transits (Sept. 17, 1787) with this square aspect that also squares the North/South Lunar Nodes of the Constitution Chart on the Capricorn/Cancer axis.

There is a deep-seated anger building, particularly towards Wall Street and the banks, which are expected to give out billions in bonuses before the coming Christmas holiday season. This anger at Wall Street, which will rise dramatically in 2010 is already being witnessed in the autumn of 2009:

See - http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1933093,00.html

As November 2009 gives way to December 2009, we see the waning of the Jupiter/Chiron/ Neptune stellium in tropical Aquarius that, for most of 2009, has held the economy in check - briefly.

However, as Jupiter moves out of Aquarius and enters tropical Pisces in January 2010, we will begin to see that my forecasted "double-dip" recession turn into a full blown economic depression by mid-2010.

This is because by June 2010, the pressures on the federal government to "bail out" the American people, the cities and states that cannot print their own money - will significantly grow into a near rebellion, and by summer 2010 - tens of millions of Americans will be in no mood to vacation during next summer. This will be the start of the Cardinal Crisis transits of June, July, August and September 2010.

Next year will see loud calls to fire and prosecute those in positions of power who played roles in bankrupting the nation. These calls will be heard, and a great mass of aging workers will be forced to leave jobs they've held on for decades as local and state governments try to figure out ways to keep cities and states operating as pension funds shrink.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate will peak, according to my calculations, to about 23-24% with official numbers stating that unemployment is about 11-12 percent.

In all, more than seven (7) million Americans have lost their jobs since December 2007:

See - http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=qvMnH9MOUvo

However, even now, many people do not believe that the current unemployment rate is below 10 percent. Economist Peter Schiff says that in September, the unemployment rate is about 16.8 percent:

See - http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=7vU_yxAYvVA

The year 2010 will be the Great Transition Year. This transition will lead to an unprecedented demand to restore jobs throughout the world, and the slowness of this "jobless recovery" will undoubtedly lead to increased rebellions, revolts, suicides, and physical violence as people in many nations struggle to simply make ends meet.

How To Prepare

The first six months of 2010 offer transits that allow for people to survive the last six months of 2010, which are very tough.

Prepare for 2010 by using the months of January-March 2010 to relocate, and settle in to new regions, cities, states, and to prepare for a summer at home. Travel is not advised during the late spring 2010 through to early spring 2011.

The months of January, February and March 2010 can be used well to prepare for the very active and malefic transits of spring/summer/ autumn 2010. The transits of those seasons are very challenging, and so those who act earlier during 2010 and who are able to settle into a basic
routine will do much better than those who try to force changes by the spring, summer and autumn months of 2010.

During the run-up to next summer's "Cardinal Crisis" transits, it will be nearly impossible for any world leader, regional, state, or city leader to ignore the facts that unless something radical is done that people who have nothing to lose will - in fact - lose it.

Emotions run high, people are pissed off, as business contraction continues - forcing many people to believe that they have been robbed of their futures.

I see this as a very real possibility considering the strength of global transits. Planets in cardinal signs want "action" and will get it one way or another. The influences will be one of intense frustrations as millions of people will demand immediate action on many fronts at the same time, and will take out their frustrations on institutions - including banks - that they see as the cause of the economic depression.

I have warned institutions and some of their leaders about the transits of 2010. Most say that they "do not believe in transits."

My answer is, and always has been - "yes, but transits believe in you."

Not making healthy decisions because one "does not believe in Astrology" in no way means that transits will not arrive on time and have their influences. The stars do not compel, but they do incline - and, as we all will witness next year - they shall incline - and do so - powerfully.

The energies of autumn 2009 through the Saturn/Uranus opposition and then the Saturn/Pluto square continue to add pressure to the already stressed economy.

The final Jupiter/Neptune conjunction of December 21, 2009 ends the common year with hesitations about the approaching Christmas holidays.

The news of December will feature bad news about expected poor holiday sales along with sad news featuring public stress as the unemployment rate continues to rise. The month of December ends with Mercury and Mars retrograde, and the quiet month of January 2010 ends with the second Saturn/Pluto square re-emerging after Saturn's retrograde in tropical Libra
on January 13th.

Still, the months of January, February and March 2010 offer people the ability to make changes to be able to withstand the coming tense transits of Spring 2010, and the onslaught of the Cardinal Crisis transits of Summer 2010 and the after effects into 2011 and 2012.

The fourth Saturn/Uranus opposition on the Virgo/Pisces axis arrives on April 26, 2010. This opposition is followed by the first Jupiter/Saturn opposition a month later on May 22-23, 2010, then followed by Saturn's station to direct motion May 30th, which is also followed by a Jupiter/Uranus conjunction on June 8, 2010.

This shows that the transits of spring 2010 leading into early summer 2010 are quite powerful. There are mass protests in the cities as people, now into their second and third years without jobs, and with the economy still reeling from the collapse of residential and commercial real estate - have had enough.

Next year, it is important to clear your schedules for spring & summer 2010 because the energies will simply be too powerful for most people to handle. The second half of 2010 contains some of the most powerful world transits observed in some time and indicates a need to restrain from emotional outbursts and gathering in large groups, though this will not stop many from doing just that.

I advise those reading this to prepare in advance for the powerful time next year - as 2010 will go down as one of the historic years of the early 21st century. The economies of many countries will crash, and some governments will fall leading to a decade of revolutionary sentiments in many regions of the world.

Significant Dates in 2010

• April 6-7, 2010 - Pluto stations retrograde at 5-Capricorn
• April 7, 2010 - Saturn re-enters tropical Virgo
• April 26, 2010 - Saturn opposes Uranus (4th opposition)
• May 23, 2010 - Jupiter opposes Saturn (first time since 1990-91)
• May 27-28, 2010 - Uranus enters tropical Aries
• May 30th, 2010 - Saturn stations direct motion
• June 5-6, 2010 - Jupiter enters tropical Aries
• June 6-7, 2010 - Mars enters tropical Virgo
• June 8, 2010 - Jupiter conjoins Uranus

• July 5, 2010 - Uranus stations retrograde at 0-Aries
• July 8, 2010 - Jupiter turns North in declination
• July 11, 2010 - New Moon total eclipse at 19-Cancer (not seen in N. America)
• July 21, 2010 - Saturn re-enters tropical Libra for good
• July 23, 2010 - Jupiter stations retrograde
• July 25, 2010 - Jupiter Squares Pluto
• July 26, 2010 - Fifth Saturn/Uranus opposition
• July 31, 2010 - Mars & Jupiter turn S in Declination

• August 3, 2010 - Jupiter, retrograde, Squares Pluto again
• August 6, 2010 - Venus turns South in Declination
• August 13-14, 2010 - Uranus re-enters tropical Pisces
• August 16, 2010 - Jupiter Opposes Saturn
• August 20, 2010 - Mercury retrogrades in Virgo
• August 21, 2010 - Saturn Squares Pluto

• September 8, 2010 - Saturn turns South in declination
• September 8, 2010 - New Moon at 15-Virgo
• September 8, 2010 - Venus enters Scorpio
• September 8-9, 2010 - Jupiter re-enters tropical Pisces
• September 12, 2010 - Mercury stations direct
• September 14, 2010 - Pluto stations direct
• September 14, 2010 - Mars enters Scorpio
• September 19, 2010 - Jupiter conjoins Uranus in Pisces
• October 8, 2010 - Venus stations retrograde in Scorpio

The autumn of 2010 will be dark, warm, and rainy. After the intense summer of 2010 when Jupiter and Uranus hover over the dangerous fixed star of Scheat at 29-Pisces, expect the news of summer and autumn 2010 to be about the worst one can expect regarding world news, and feelings in general.

The weather will feature heavy rains and floods in the South and Southeastern U.S. due to the position of Jupiter and Uranus to Scheat in 2010. Flooding, mudslides, and death by drowning from accidents on the high seas is also forecasted.

If at all possible, avoid travel - especially over water - from April 2010 to April 2011. The transits over the fixed star Scheat by Jupiter, and Uranus during this time, and then, by Mars in late March/early April 2011 forecasts accidents by air and sea.

Scheat, at the end of Pisces, is not a very favorable star, and is well known in mundane astrology for its malefic influences.

See - http://www.constell ationsofwords. com/stars/ Scheat.html

The power-packed world transits will feature so much negative news, and lowered expectations amid the desires for "action" in the midst of the global economic depression that it will appear
that there is too much to do with little organized efforts to get much accomplished.

By the time October 2010 rolls around, and with the retrograde of Venus, and then the conjunction to Mars in Scorpio in early October, the climate will turn wet and basically gloomy.

I advise those who read this to prepare for next year: especially the summer and autumn months of 2010. Avoid emotional depression, and use caution when trying to force situations that have not yet reached a point of maturity. Patience during the year of 2010 will be required in order to see the coming opportunities that arrive by the spring of 2011.

This is the dark before the light of 2011, so do not despair. However, the months from April to December 2010 will be very energized that I advise people to take it easy, and to not make things worse than they already will be next year.

The year 2010 is a major transition year for the world as the era of the late 20th century finally closes and the new era of the 21st century dawns.

As some of the transits of 2010 winds down in the Winter of 2011 new opportunities will arise that will begin the true recovery, however, the historic events of the decade of the 2000s, and especially of the Year 2010 will stick with the world during most of the decade of the 2010s.

The best ways to prepare is to look ahead, and to plan for entrepreneurial activities with others that feature vision, creativity, and down-to-earth common sense. Positive attitudes are essential as is a pragmatic and progressive outlook.

It is important to know your own astrological transits. Different ages and transits of individuals are also shaped by the current and future world transits. So knowing favorable and unfavorable dates is very important. There are different kinds of "weather" so to speak, and knowing your own "weather" can make all the difference between success and failure.

I warn those who would seek to attempt what they "think" are "tried and true" methods to understand that the world is entering a new age, and this new age calls for new thinking, and new behaviors. The old ways of the past 18 years will simply no longer work for those who are stuck in the past.

Thinking in a 21st century way will accomplish more than most people now believe. The world is now leaving the ways of the 20th century, and those who are able to forge new alliances with others who feel and think the same way will accomplish more than those who cannot.

Do your very best to have a safe 2010, and remember that these world transits too - will pass. Caution and patience are the keywords for those who seek to survive the world transits of 2010-2011.

Stay faithful, and watchful on the world news over the course of next year, because the planets and stars will incline strongly and the world will re-act in kind.

Stay safe out there.

2010 Horoscope: Cruise Ship Dangers

2010 Forecast
Coming Calamities At Sea

If you know anyone who is planning to spend any time on the water in 2010, then this forecast is for you.

I decided to put out this early warning forecast for those thinking of traveling on the high seas in 2010 because people need advance warnings such as these to carefully plan ahead.

This is especially true for the year 2010, which will go down as one of the most active and dangerous years on the high seasons witnessed for some time.

In reading the world transits for 2010, accidents and dangers at sea come from a wide variety of sources: from storms at sea, boats running aground, serious problems on-board huge cruise liners and from the dangers of piracy on the high seas.

The year 2010 will be special because this is the year where a high number of ocean-sailing vessels will see tens of thousands of people vacationing for a series of events from the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament in South Africa to cruise ships transversing some of the most dangerous points on Earth - from the hostile waters of the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somali, to the waters of the Caribbean, Malacca Strait, South China Sea, and the Mediterranean.

2010 will also see a number of tall ship races from a number of countries during the year as well as massive cruise ship tours throughout the world. According to my calculations, 2010 is not the year to spend any time on the world's oceans.

On October 30, 2009, the world's biggest commercial vessel - the 16-deck Oasis of the Seas - sailed from its shipyard dock in southwest Finland towards its November voyage to Florida where it will be taken over by Royal Caribbean International.

Costing $1.5 billion dollars the cruise liner which spans about 1,200 feet with 2,700 cabins can hold 6,300 passengers and 2,100 crew members. The cruise liner is scheduled to make its American debut on Nov. 20, 2009 at its home port in Port Everglades, Florida and ten days later will be officially named by Royal Caribbean International.

Astrological Transits

The problem with 2010 is that position of Jupiter and Uranus in the tropical Sign of Pisces, ruling the high seas. Both planets will conjoin the evil fixed star Scheat, at the end of tropical Pisces, which has been associated with accidents, misfortune, dangers and deaths on the high seas for many centuries.

The star Scheat will rise in the northern hemisphere on March 20, 2009, and will be active through the spring and summer months when activity on the seas is highest.

From what I can discern from my astrological calculations, the problems on the seas begins almost immediately during the spring months of 2010, and, by the month of May and June 2010, with the opposition of transiting Saturn in tropical Virgo opposed to Scheat, and also to transiting Jupiter/Uranus conjoined at the end of Pisces, so I am warning that 2010 is not the year to take any chances on the water.

On May 30, 2010, transiting Saturn stations direct in motion at 27-Virgo, and is opposed to Scheat, Jupiter, and Uranus in tropical Pisces.

By early June 2010, both Jupiter and Uranus enter tropical Aries, and pass over the star Scheat while at the same time transiting Saturn during the month of June is in a strong opposition to Jupiter, Uranus and Scheat as transiting Mars enters Virgo in early June.

Saturn's transit in June 2010 is very strong and there will be world news of accidents involving the deaths of many people on the seas. These strong unfavorable transits continues into the months of July and August 2010.

Dangers exist on the high seas during 2010, so it is advised to not engage in any sea going vessels during 2010 into early 2011. The global transits are unfavorable for activities in and around water - especially for cruise liners, tall ships, yachts and other vessels.

New Moons Of Autumn 2009

General Transits of Autumn 2009
Family, Friends, Avian Flu & Taking Care Of Business

As Mercury has left its shadow on October 14th after stationing direct on Sept. 29th, and most people have emerged out of a tough month of September and the first two weeks of October.

This period had seen many people struggling to make sense of the events of last year while looking ahead towards an uncertain future. The New & Full Moons of October through the end of December 2009 reveal that this period of time heading into the common year of 2010 shows on many levels the need to restructure personal and professional lives ahead of the world transits of next year.

The major transits between mid-October & December are:

* October 14, 2009 - Jupiter stations direct at 17-Aquarius. Jupiter will enter tropical Pisces on Jan. 17, 2010. It's next retrograde starts July 24, 2010.

* November 5, 2009 - Neptune stations direct at 23-Aquarius.

* November 15, 2009 - Saturn squares Pluto: This is a "preview" of a series of configurations leading to the Cardinal Crisis Transits of mid-summer 2010. The Saturn/Pluto square will be active during the late autumn and into the winter of 2010 in the northern hemisphere.

* December 1, 2009 - Uranus stations direct at 22-Pisces.

* December 20 - Mars stations retrograde at 19-Leo: A long retrograde lasting to Mars' station to direct motion on March 10, 2010.

* December 21, 2009 - Jupiter conjoins Neptune at 24-Aquarius. This is the last conjunction of both planets as Jupiter prepares to enter tropical Pisces in mid-January 2010.

* December 26, 2009 - Mercury retrogrades at 21-Capricorn until turning direct Jan. 15, 2010.

* January 13, 2010 - Saturn stations retrograde at 4-Libra. The general world transits listed above set the tone for the Winter of 2010, which arrives with the New Capricorn Moon of January 15, 2010. The winter season is excellent for getting various projects accomplished by
April 14, 2010.

Some people will miss the opportunities of winter, and thus, will get caught up in the Mercury retrograde of April 17 to May 11, 2010, and most of the month of May as Mercury still transits within its own shadow path until the end of that month.

To avoid this - use the months stretching from mid-October 2009 to mid-April 2010 very well. This is a period to work consistently on personal & professional plans.

The Mercury retrograde of late December 2009 into mid-Jan. 2010 takes place during the holiday season and this allows people to take time off to review and reassess plans & projects during the early weeks of winter without feeling as if valuable time has been lost.

The one strong feature of Winter 2010 will be the energies of the Saturn/Pluto Square. There are two (2) exact partile squares between them in this period. The first is November 15, 2009. The second is Jan. 31, 2010. The third one will not occur until August 21, 2010.

Mainly, as Saturn transits tropical Libra and squares Pluto in Capricorn during the late autumn and into winter 2010 the vibrations are one of "power plays" and "clashes" in high places; within governments, boards, corporations, and institutions where self-interested individuals and groups are involved in conflict.

The positive side of this Saturn/Pluto square allows for the expression and use of free will with determination to overcome barriers and to succeed. Using one's skills with others to lay out positive plans can bear fruit in the late winter months and into spring 2010 lasting through all of next year for those willing to remain disciplined, practical, and undeterred by those who waste time in ego-power plays and cynical self-interests.

People who are able to use this influence well will be those who seek to transcend the limitations of the recent past, and are able to project their will power and thought processes towards constructive projects that will yield results in 2010 and 2011.

The negative octave of the Saturn/Pluto square can influence others to show unsympathetic attitudes while expressing cold feelings towards others. Personalized professional conflicts inside organizations stem from attempts by honest individuals and groups to be pitted against corrupted individuals and groups to maintain the status quo by any means necessary.

Under this influence plots involving attempts at blackmail, threatening others, corruption and dishonesty in professional and personal matters can proliferate with Saturn's square aspect to Pluto. Attempts to coerce others dishonestly will backfire in light of the coming transits of 2010.

The decisions made by those under the Saturn/Pluto square during the autumn months of 2009 and winter 2010 will determine the outcomes of many situations by the late summer of 2010.

New Libra Moon Month
October 18 to November 16, 2009

The New Moon at 24-Libra (Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1:33 a.m. EDT) highlights the Third House where we find Mercury, Pallas, and Ceres - this signifies communication, strategic planning and affairs associated with children.

Venus in Libra sits on the Third House cusp, and, as ruler of Libra, we find in society at large - through the general management of women - is highlighted with this New Moon kicking off the start of social season which culminates in December during the Christmas holiday season.

The Third House is where the action will be strongly influenced from October 18th to November 16. With Venus ruling Libra, this period starting on Oct. 18th features personal/family life along with communications with neighbors, short-trips, emotional reasoning, decision making, practical use of resources, and the sharing and expressing of creative ideas.

This New Moon at 24-Libra opens up the social season. Venus is strongly highlighted. Coming off a tight Venus square aspect to Pluto in Capricorn (Oct. 14-18) many male-female issues over finances commanded attention.

This square, occurring over a last quarter lunar cycle, shows that these contentious issues can be managed and wisely sidestepped by those who are aware of the need to discover alternatives methods but to not become emotionally involved in these matters.

The mid-October Libra New Moon allows for more sharing of ideas with like-minded family and friends while avoiding time-wasters who are only interested in what they can personally obtain through contacts with others. Socializing, fashion, communication, working with neighbors, and assisting children is highlighted.

The energies of this New Libra Moon can help to bring people out of their shells after the nagging problems of September and the first 17 days of October 2009. This is an excellent time to talk with partners about a wide variety of issues, but to do so objectively and avoid those who use discussions to begin intrigues that have no value other than to cause trouble and consternation.

Libra is an Air sign, and with the air trines to the stellium in Aquarius at the start of this New Moon month features the ability to think things through, to communicate very effectively, and to find new paths towards changing one's life direction without succumbing to negativity or over-emotionalism.

The emotional detachment of Venus' transit in Libra can be of great use for those who are able to be objective without falling into gossip, or talking down about others. The energies of the coming Saturn/Pluto square which is exact by mid-November can turn molehills into mountains for those who fail to use these celestial influences in a positive manner.

It is a good time to express interests in long-term projects while personally planning for the winter season of 2010. Many people find themselves in transition, so the Libra New Moon is helpful in helping to stabilize relationships while also planning extensively to begin new projects for 2010.

It is important to remember to use the transits of autumn 2009 and winter 2010 very well by concentrating on improving one's own personal and professional lives before mid-summer's Cardinal Crisis transits of mid-2010.

The Avian Flu & Concerns About The Vaccine

As the influenza season begins in the northern hemisphere, and with the continued threat of infection by the H1N1 virus, the New Moon of October 18th, 2009 is a very good time to begin to strengthen one's immune system.

Many people continue to doubt the effectiveness and safety of the Avian Flu Vaccine, which is now being shipped to all American states to inoculate everyone - especially schoolchildren. Nations like France, Sweden, Norway, and Canada for example, have said that they intend to vaccinate every single person in their countries by ordering two shots of the Avian Flu vaccine per person. In the United States, the national vaccines are set to begin in mid-October and continue through November and December 2009.

For those who want to understand the potential dangers of the Avian Flu vaccine, please read -

See - http://www.alchemistsshop.com/-about-swine-flu---a-personal-opinion--public-service-info-29-c.asp

For those who seek alternative methods to strengthen one's immune system see the amazing uses and protection of astrological medicine featuring the application of Colloidal Silver:

See - http://curezone.com/foods/silver.asp

Also See - http://colloidal-silver-bullet.blogspot.com/2006/11/colloidal-silver-purchase.html

New Scorpio Moon Month
November 16 to December 16, 2009

The New Moon at 24-Scorpio (Monday, Nov. 16 at 2:13 p.m. EST) highlights the Eighth House and features the complexities of personal relationships.

November's lunar transits are mainly favorable for those who are personally active enough to remain clear-headed since the main feature of the Sun/Moon conjunction in November is its square to Neptune in Aquarius and Venus/Mars squares in the last eight (8) days of November that brings challenges to personal relationships.

Still, the month of November is the best month this autumn season. There are many opportunities to achieve many things in this month for those who would like to progress further before the Christmas holiday season starts in December.

The cycle here shows the economic stresses associated with the coming Christmas holidays. Those who could not budget earlier to ensure that there is enough financial resources to take on the coming Christmas season are now looking for "quick fixes" to try and catch up.

However, the month of November has better transits and energies than the month of December. Those who would like to make sure that the coming holidays go smoothly will want to use November very well in order to take the edges off the month of December.

Before this lunar month begins, it is a good time to make sure you check your oil, gas lines, and make sure that drains are cleaned out before mid-November arrives. Some people may experience digestive problems with these transits as well.

This lunar month from mid-November to mid-December 2009 can also lead to influences of personal self-deception and laziness - mainly trying to escape the practical responsibilities of life at this time. Over socialization is a problem as is abuse of drugs, and sexual indulgence. This new moon cycle and its aspects can also lead to unwanted pregnancies.

Women may notice their female friends having emotional problems during this lunar month. Family issues are highlighted, and problems that have been left to fester can now be more cloudy and complex under these influences.

What is important to remember here is to practice clear thinking in all areas of life; especially personally, and to not become emotionally tangled in situations that can lead to more problems in the month of December and 2010.

Ceres, in Scorpio, is square to Jupiter, so it is a good time to make sure that children are well cared for and to remind those supervising your children to be clear in their direction of them.

This New Moon's square to Neptune is tight and so there can be strong neurotic reactions among people highlighting the areas of possessions, money, and personal relationships with family and friends. Neptune's position in Aquarius in square to the Sun/Moon conjunction at 24-Scorpio can interfere with getting things done practically during this lunar month.

The peak of this energy occurs during the Full Moon Week of Dec. 2-9. The full moon at 10-Gemini on December 2 is mainly concerned with finances and the coming Christmas holidays. Emotions are high during the beginning of the month of December.

During November to mid-December some people will tend to withdraw from others at this time, involved with alcohol and drugs while avoiding their responsibilities, using deception to hide problems from those that care about them.

This is a time of emotional stress that can be solved by remaining pragmatic and thinking clearly. The energies of this lunar month produce nebulous situations that can only make matters worse later if not handled honestly and directly by all involved.

By taking care of business in November, one can avoid the rushed feeling that is about to arrive in the month of December with the coming Sagittarius New Moon of December 16. Completing all one's personal and professional responsibilities in November will go a long way towards making the coming winter season more relaxing, and easier to handle than in delaying one's responsibilities in November.

New Sagittarius Moon Month
December 16 to January 15, 2010

The New Moon at 24-Sagittarius (Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 7:02 a.m. EST) eases up the stresses of the first two weeks of December.

The main feature of this Sun/Moon conjunction just off the Ascendant in the First House, is a sextile aspect to the Jupiter/Chiron/Neptune stellium in Aquarius, that sits in the Second House of Resources.

Transiting Mars in Leo is in opposition to this stellium in Aquarius - showing impatience and anger concerning financial resources within families. Mars has been slowing towards its coming Dec. 20 station to retrograde so the energies here are strong during the month of December.

Arguments based on differing values and cultural views are disguised to hide the true reasons: economic uncertainty. It is important to remember the true reasons behind the Christmas and avoid conflicts over material resources. Mars' transit in Leo brings about a need to reassess one's own personal value system during the winter of 2010.

During mid-December, there is some relief that is felt in the midst of the Christmas season where there is some feeling of having just enough prosperity that some families can feel a sense of well-being - though the economic times continue to be fraught with concern.

The Sun/Moon conjunction is also in square aspect to Uranus in tropical Pisces. The influences can be witnessed in impulsive and headstrong attitudes and behaviors during the run-up to the Christmas holiday.

Watch for, and avoid inconsistent and unreliable people, who, because of the financial demands of the coming holiday season, may gamble with limited resources due to the impulsiveness of the Sagittarius New Moon.

This Sun/Moon square to Uranus can also produce some emotional instability; especially among women. It is important for women with families to understand how their personal moods can effect the entire family and to be aware of the need to be friendly, open-minded, and welcoming to others during this lunar month.

The issues shown by the Sun/Moon Square to Uranus are mainly economic with money issues arising that can cause separations among family members, friends and neighbors.

One may witness erratic behaviors among family, friends and neighbors during this lunar month. While some incidents may be simply to get attention from others; there are other situations that have been left to fester which may peak at this time because of the nearness of Christmas.

Heavy drinking, depression, arguments over finances, etc., become serious problems at this time and should be guarded against by paying close attention to friends and family members who show signs of emotional instability.

This time also shows that it may not be the best time to hold holiday parties within one's home since the Sun/Moon square to Uranus can bring about high emotional tensions from unexpected domestic issues that are sure to arise less than 10 days from Christmas Day.

Uranus' semi-sextile and mutual reception to Neptune can help to off-set some of the holiday tension with the help of family, and friends to help make Christmas 2009 more appealing during the month of December.

Still, many people appear to want to keep to themselves this Christmas holiday and many families will stick to traditional celebrations in order to keep within their budgets during what normally is an expensive time of the year.

Mercury stations retrograde at 21-Capricorn on Dec. 26th. conjoined to the North Lunar Node. There is a disappointment with Christmas as retail sales are lower than expected. However, on this Saturday, people rush to the stores seeking bargain items - flooding electronic outlets looking for good buys on the day after Christmas.

The money to be made for retailers happens with the Moon's ingress into Aries on Christmas Eve, December 24th, with impulse buying, and then again, on December 26th, with bargain shopping.

All this emotional energy peaks by the Full Moon Week of Dec. 31-Jan. 7 with the Full Moon at 10-Cancer (Thursday, Dec. 31 at 2:12 p.m. EST.)

There is an emotional peak with this full lunar cycle on the day of New Years' Eve. Full Moons increase the water content in the human body, and there are over-emotional reactions in society. Because this full Moon is in tropical Cancer - a water sign - expect the new moon week of Dec. 31 to Jan. 7th to be very active.

The Full Cancer Moon sits in the Second House opposed to the Sun in the Eighth House with Venus coming off a conjunction to Pluto in Capricorn. Again, this continues the financial stresses associated with personal relationships.

During the Full Moon Week of December 31-January 7 we see that Juno in Aries opposes Saturn in Libra with both squared by Pluto in Capricorn. This cardinal T-square signifies that many marriages are under enormous stresses by late December into early January 2010.

Relationships between men and women have become strained not only because of the economic recession, but the inability of both males and females to learn how to work together as a team.

The problems are exacerbated by the refusal of partners to listen to one another, and to adapt themselves accordingly within their relationships. Juno in Aries is headstrong: signifying females who have failed to understand their own roles with their marriages and who have become defensive without realizing their own personal inadequacies.

The stresses are mainly economic with accusations that one, or the other partner has not lived up to their promises. However, most of the reasons have to do with the stress placed on marriages by the recessionary climate. Others who feel "trapped" in a marriage because of financial reasons are also stressed because of thoughts of leaving, but unsure about their own economic well-being and those of children involved.

Saturn, entering the sign of Libra, ruled by Venus, causes the marriage problems to become crystallized in the form of divorce. The square from Pluto features hard, cold, and unsympathetic attitudes that show that larger-scale forces, i.e., the economy, lack of jobs, etc., plays a crucial role in breaking up marriages and families.

There are hidden plans, plots, accusations, blackmail and threats associated with personal relationships and also within professional partnerships overall as signified by the Saturn/Pluto square of autumn 2009 and winter 2010.

High unemployment among males does not make things easier. Women who continue to blame men for the problems within relationships are mainly doing so because of the general economic pressures in general.

The feature of Juno in Aries opposed to Saturn in Libra clearly shows that the true reasons for the failures of one's relationship is tied to the fact that one's own role was never solid to begin with - and the pressures on marriages come from not being able to adapt and to work as a team - which is what a marriage demands.

Gender roles are under pressure according to the overall transits of autumn 2009, and this will continue into 2010 as well. Mars, which has left tropical Cancer in October 2009, reveals that males are under great pressure to produce earnings in contracted economic environment.

Mars, which retrogrades, at 18-Leo in mid-December 2008 sits in the Fourth House of the December 31 Full Moon attempting to make sense of the confusing and changing times. The end of the year energies are strong with this full moon in Cancer. Though people want to celebrate, the mood is blunted by the recessionary times and the effect on the lives of many in society.

The T-square aspect that peaks with the Juno-Saturn-Pluto T-square on Dec. 31, 2009 reveals that News Years' celebrations will be muted because of the emotional drain that has been impacting marriages and personal relationships.

The best way to counter such influences is to compromise, and to learn to listen to your partner without pushing blame on one another. The larger-scale forces which play a crucial role in heightening the tensions must be faced, but it will take personal intelligence, patience, and understanding to overcome. Those who are immature, unwise, and impulsive in their actions will pay the price by mid-2010.

The full moon week; especially News Years' Eve 2009 is not a time to press matters within relationships, but to relax, and spend this time quietly rather than engaging in contentious actions between marriage partners, or playing friends off of one another, which is shown in the transits of New Years' Eve.

The energies of the month of December end as a 50/50 month. People are glad to see the end of the common year of 2009 but wonder what the new year will bring. Feelings are high on December 31-January 1 with this Full Moon cycle. It is a time for reflection, and for planning for the power-packed year that will be 2010.

These astrological cycles of autumn 2009, and those cycles from January 2010 to June 2010 indicate that this period of time is essential to concentrate on personal/professional development as well as to strengthen and protect the mental, emotional, and physical health of you and your family.

This is a time to be strategic and practical towards planning for the global transits of 2010 and beyond. Those who take these forecasts seriously and act on them will do much better than those who do not. Pre-act rather than simply re-act.

Stay safe out there.