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"We do not exclude anything ... but for now this is an entirely hypothetical question," he told his conference audience,"Conditions (in the Slovenian banking sector) are going in the bad direction, but for now I do not see a reason that Slovenia would need to ask for (international) help." He also made the point that "Yields on our (Slovenian) debt are very high but poor availability of (financial) resources is even more worrying,"
If the bailout materialises (and it seems to me likely it will) this will put the country in the same group as Spain and Ireland, who are to receive EU assistance for their banking sectors (even if Ireland's share is still to be negotiated) as a result of having credit driven construction booms which were incentivised by excessively lax monetary policy at the ECB.
In fact during the years prior to 2009 Slovenia consistently ran an inflation rate which was higher than the Euro Area average. At the time we were told these inflation differentials were relatively benign, since they were in part a product of the Balassa-Samuelson effect. Nowadays EU leaders are more willing to accept that these inflation differentials represent a problem, but the sad truth is that the damage is now done.
What makes Slovenia interesting despite the fact it is a small country (population circa 2 million) is that it is a relatively new entrant to the euro (2007) and was the first of the Eastern European countries to join the common currency, so there could be important lessons here for others who would like to join in the future. For some years it seemed that the country was one of the Euro project's shining beneficiaries, as living standards shot up, and the country even overtook older members like Portugal. Now it looks as if all that prosperity was at least partially founded on sand, and as the storm clouds gather all that new found wealth seems to slip away and out of sight.
Credit And Construction Boom
According to last years IMF Article IV report, "Slovenia's economy is gradually recovering following one of the sharpest GDP declines in the euro area during the crisis. Real GDP declined over 10 percent from peak to trough owing to: a sharp decline in external demand; a significant tightening in external credit conditions forcing banks to curtail domestic credit supply; and an abrupt end of a construction and housing price boom".
The sharp slump part is certainly valid:
But the steady recovery bit, alas, is no longer so, since GDP decined in each of the four quarters in 2011, bringing in a small negative result for the year. The IMF now forecast an additional 1% fall this year, and next year we will see.
The issue is that something has gone wrong, badly wrong, in much the same way as it did in Ireland and Spain, even if, thankfully, the scale of the problem is smaller. As the IMF point out the root of the problem was an overheating in domestic demand from the time of the run-in to Euro membership, an overheating which was produced by an inflow of funds from the current account surplus countries.
House Prices in Slovenia surged between 2004 and 2008 and then fell back sharply before making a timid recovery in the second half of 2009 (see chart). Since the start of 2011 house prices have again been falling, and the price of new built flats fell sharply (by 8%) in the first quarter of 2012, according to the latest data from the Slovenian statistics office.
And as a result retail sales and domestic demand generally have stagnated.
While unemployment has continued to rise.
Time to regain competitiveness?
Slovenia's economy lost competitiveness significantly during the high inflation boom years. As a result, despite the fact that exports have done well since the global recession, they have not done well enough (since the sector is not big enough) to pull the economy out of the ditch into which it has fallen. This is a familiar picture for anyone who has been closely watching events on Europe's periphery.
In addition with the external environment deteriorating as the Euro Debt Crisis worsens exports have now fallen back again, and are consistently below the level of one year earlier.
Slovenia enjoys significant income from tourism, but the goods trade balance remains in deficit.
In another of the tell tale signs of Europe preiphery membership, the country has moved from a small current account surplus in the early years of the century to a consistent deficit today. The deficits in 2007 and 2008 were noteworthy for their size.
No Demographic Dividend
What sets East Europe apart from other developing economies is their unusual demography, in the sense that under the earlier communist regimes they went through their demographic transition without getting any real growth bonus. Now they have been having rapid catch-up growth and rising elderly dependency ratios at one and the same time.
Slovenia, like most of the rest of Eastern Europe has had long term below replacement fertility.
The country has high male life expectancy for the region (over 75) and as such has one of the oldest populations by median age in Eastern Europe.
One plus feature about Slovenia is that the population has not been falling like that of many countries in the region, and indeed has risen steadily over the last decade, help by a constant flow of immigration. From an economic point of view it is important to find solutions to the current economic crisis, since otherwise the migration flows could invert, following a now familiar pattern elsewhere.
Debt And Deficit Problems
Like most countries on the EU's Eastern European flank Slovenia does not have a large accumuated sovereign debt issue. But since the deep recession of 2008/2009 deficits have been high (5.7% in 2011, and 4.7% forecast by the IMF for 2012.
As a result sovereign debt has been creeping upwards, and reached 47% of GDP in 2011. The IMF forecasts it will reach 52.5% of GDP in 2012, and pass the permitted 60% in 2015. This may seem low by Southern and Western European standards, but we should remember the rapid ageing in Eastern Europe, and the comparative absence of accumulated savings as a heritage of the communist era.
Hence the concerns about Slovenia's debt. In a now familiar patternon Europe's periphery, the Slovenian economy is broken, the old construction and consumption model now won't work, yet the economy is not internationally competitive enough to attract the investment it needs to move to sustainable export driven growth, so politicians under pressure to raise living standards run deficits.
In an attempt to break the cycle, Slovenia's government recently introduced the EU fiscal stability law, much to the chagrin of the country's opposition parties. Indeed Prime Minister Janez Jansa even threatened the opposition with a bailout if they didn't vote for the law. "If we continue to get more and more debt", he told them, "we will see a Greek scenario here and the next generation will have to pay dearly for the stupidity of those that have delayed decisions". It is noteworthy that Mr Jansa has subsequently backed away from his earlier declarations, and now argues the threat has subsided. "Such a danger was eliminated when we adopted and enacted the legislation to balance public finances," he told the Slovenia-based Radio City. Obviously a bailout is something you mention when it is unlikely and call improbable when it may really happen.
Credit Crunch Needs Solving
While Prime Minister Jansa argued a full bailout would not be necessary, he did admit was that the banks might need help in the same way their Spanish counterparts did. A thorough evaluation of the souring loans problem at Slovenian lenders has yet to be completed, he told the radio, but whatever the outcome the decision taken by European Union leaders at the recent summit to enable countries to receive bank aid without the debt directly impinging on the sovereign would mean there would be no direct sovereign debt implications. Slovenia would apply for such aid "if the situation demanded it," he said.
The European Commission approved last week an additional capital injection of €382.9 million for Nova Ljubljanska Banka Group (NLB) to enable it to meet the minimum 9% capital requirements required by the European Banking Authority. NLB is the largest Slovenian bank by assets and holds about one third of total assets in the Slovenian banking sector. The majority shareholder is the Republic of Slovenia while the Belgian bank KBC has a significant minority stake. In order to recapitalise NLB issued contingent convertible - or coco - bonds, that were subscribed by the government (thus sticking to the letter of a government promise that no new government money would be put into the bank, since technically the it is a loan, until, of course, it is finally converted into equity). In addition 62 million Euros of new stock was subscribed by government owned funds (KAD and SOD), since KBC backed out of the whole deal at the last minute, alleging EU rules had prevented them from participating (KBC is itself in receipt of EU approved state aid which involves eventually selling its holding in NLB).
The country's second and third largest banks, state owned Nova KBM and privately owned Abanka Vipa also need fresh capital this year to meet tougher capital requirements. The Bank of Slovenia suggest the entire sector will end 2012 with an aggregate loss for the third consecutive year due to the mounting pile of non performing loans, lead by those in the real estate sector. Provisions for non-performing loans were up by 27 percent in the first five months of 2012 while the country's banking sector had an aggregate pre-tax loss of 45.7 million euros over the period.
Just like Spain, problems in the financial sector are inflicting a severe credit crunch on the whole economy. In May this lending to the non-banking sector of the economy shrank an annual 4.8 percent on declining loans to both companies and households.
Slovenian banks, which now heavily rely on loans from the European Central Bank, are restricting credit to the economy due to lack of access to wholesale funding and because they are setting aside record reserves to cover bad loans. Non-performing loans in Slovenia rose to 11.8 percent of all outstanding bank loans in March and totalled some 6 billion euros. Bad loans rose by 300 million euros on the month, the biggest monthly increase to date, mainly because of non-performing loans to construction companies and to financial services and insurance firms. In fact, at Nova Ljubljanska Banka NPLs are higher, and currently represent about 20 percent of the loan portfolio (or around 3 billion euros), according to chiefexecutive Bozo Jasovic.
Slovenia is still hoping to go to the bond markets in the coming months, even though an earlier attempt in April was pulled after yields reached 5% following a Fitch statement that the country had one of the weakest banking markets in Central and Eastern Europe due to rising non-performing loans. Yields on their 10 year benchmark, which broke 7% last November before falling back have once more started to rise. They passed 6% again in mid June and today hit 6.51% in morning trading today (Thursday 5 July), up 0.13 percentage points from the open, and fast approaching the 6.55% yield currently available on Spanish ten-year bonds.
Thus while it is not true to say that the country is shut out of the markets, it is now a very close thing. My bet is we will see some sort of rescue in the near future, but as we have seen in Spain moving from rescue to getting credit flowing and getting back to sustainable growth looks set to be a very hard road.
This post first appeared on my Roubini Global Economonitor Blog "Don't Shoot The Messenger".


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Take Advantage of URJ Support for High Holidays this Year
Rosh HaShanah
Telling Stories: How to Inspire One Another in Your Congregation
Inviting people to share memories of interesting, meaningful experiences in their lives – especially on Yom Kippur – always proves to inspire others.
The Month of Av is Here - and This is What it Signifies
Rosh HaShanah, the new Jewish year arrives in two months... and they're two months that will pass quickly. It is time to get ready.
Racial Justice Resources for the High Holidays
When Winter Storm Jonas hit D.C. in January, we were eagerly looking forward to the balmy, humid temperatures of the D.C. summer. Now, with August already upon us, the summer will sadly be over soon.
How to Focus on Racial Justice During the High Holidays
This High Holidays season, as we think about racial justice and voting rights this late summer and fall, we're also thinking about other key issues that are important to repairing our broken world and combating racial injustice.
Resource Roundup: Everything You Need for the High Holidays
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subset: commoncrawl


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We'll always wonder why. But, for Matthew Sturdevant '97 the story of Newtown, Conn., is about how. How will the community repair itself?
Sturdevant, a journalist who has essentially been embedded since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary,
is telling that story.
"My task has always been to follow the people," says Sturdevant who, along with other members of the staff of the Hartford Courant, is a runner up for the Pulitzer Prize.
By following and by listening, Sturdevant has uncovered touching stories behind tattoos, a very special animal sanctuary and other tributes to people lost in the infamous shooting Dec. 14. They are now a part of Sturdevant's own story, the unlikely tale of a psychology and business major who almost became a potato farmer.
Sturdevant struggled academically and financially at Oswego, working toward two degrees while pulling endless shifts in the dining hall. A roommate—a communication studies major—planted the seed of journalism, and Matthew discovered his gift for storytelling post-grad as he sampled various jobs and traveled the east coast.
A lover of the outdoors, Sturdevant spent five summers as a guide at a Boy Scouts of America High Adventure base in Maine during and after college. He returned to the city of Oswego for a time as a therapy aide in the mental health wing of Oswego Hospital.
"No question, working with people at such an acutely sensitive time in their lives helped me in journalism," he says, a fact born out when the Pulitzer committee commended the Hartford Courant staff for its sensitivity in handling coverage in Newtown.
While living in northern Maine, Sturdevant applied for a job at a weekly in rural Caribou, where he, with help from textbooks provided by his editor, essentially taught himself the skills of journalism.
"If it hadn't worked out being a reporter those few days, I would have been harvesting potatoes," Sturdevant recalls.
But, it did work out. And Sturdevant developed a talent for digging deep for stories. He initiated a "Not Forgotten" series at the Glens Falls Post Star that became almost a tutorial in how to handle sensitive topics. Each week, he would choose sparse obituaries, call the relatives for information, and craft proper tributes to the deceased.
Since arriving nearly four years ago at the Hartford Courant after stints at the Caller-Times in Corpus Christi, Texas, and the Daily Press in Newport News, Va., Sturdevant has again employed his Oswego experience as a business reporter and blogger.
But, when not covering health care, insurance and business, he's often called to journalism's front line of breaking news, the Boston Marathon bombing and Superstorm Sandy among them.
His most difficult assignment to date, though, he's still working on: the stories of all the survivors, those children with lifetimes left to live.
"Once the basics of the story have been told, it's really the story of how this town is coping," he says. "The rest of the world may have moved on, but in Connecticut, especially in Newtown, they'll be talking about this for decades."
—Shane M. Liebler
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Tech Gadgets—Help or Hindrance?
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Highlights from the February Trail Runner Blog Symposium on tech gadgets on the trails
The February 2014 Trail Runner Blog Symposium topic was: Are tech gadgets more help or hindrance on the trails?
Our Editors' Choice, "How Taking a GPS is Like Taking a Lover," by Vanessa Rodriguez, details all the ways—for better or worse—that taking a GPS device on a trail run is similar to getting into a romantic relationship. As she writes, "The idea seems great in theory but there's a chance you'll end up miserable."
Happy reading! Stay tuned to Inside Dirt for next month's topic.
***Editors' Choice
As enamored as we are with the ideal image of that powerful and gadget-less trail runner bounding nearly-nude over mountains with his beard flowing three feet behind him, chances are we have more in common with the huffing mid-packer trying to decide which hills to walk and glancing nervously at his beeping GPS while he scarfs down yet another gel.
—Vanessa Rodriguez, Vanessa Runs
If having [your cell phone] with you gives you peace of mind that your spouse or children can reach you in case of an emergency (or vice versa), then that'll be good because you'll run more relaxed. But if you're always glancing at the screen to check your work email or (God forbid!) you actually take calls on the trail, then that's a bad thing. In each of these cases, though, the device is neutral. Use it properly and it helps. Use it improperly and it's a hindrance.
—Jacob Wyatt, Sometimes I Run
The metrics that I value most on the trails are different. I care about how difficult something feels so that I know whether to run it on an easy day or a hard day. I care about the hill grade, because moderately hilly terrain is great for short bursts of speed, whereas steep hills are better for bounding drills. I care about the type of terrain, in case I'm doing a long progression run and I want to avoid a surprise ascent in the fastest part of my run.
—Jacklyn Giron, Frequent Runner, Lifelong Traveler
I think that whatever gets you out and aids in your training is great. If a watch motivates you to get off the couch and go hit a target of time or miles, I say great! If it helps you stay away from injury, I say more power to you and your gadget!
—Rachel Bell Kelley, Trail Wisp(erings)
As a new trail runner, I seek solace from my hectic schedule in nature; on a singletrack path surrounded by the symphony of Creation. This is my time to simplify things. It is a retreat from the incessant sensory overload of email, phone calls, and noise. There is something raw and organic when in nature which is why on my next trail run you'll find my GPS watch safely stowed inside of my fuel pack with all alerts set to silent.
—Jeneen Olive, Caffeine? Yes, Please!
Smart phones-again, a phone can be a help until it goes dead and becomes a hindrance! I had a friend who went off course during a 50K last summer. She utilized her phone as both a map-to locate what road she was on, and as an actual communication device with the Race Director, who was able to get her back to the proper route.
—Kimba, Ultra Trail Goddess
My watch does not hinder me. It propels me forward. It gives me the necessary data to keep going. It keeps me on track in my training. It tracks my progress. It helps me. Some will say to leave it at home. Without it you will be free. And I know that. I know that I would be fine. But I don't want to. There is no reason for me to give it up. I need my data, I need my watch.
—Emir Dedic, Japod Runner
I have been told I am unusually sociable for a person who spends 5 hours on a Sunday in the middle of the forest alone. And it's true. Being plugged in, dialed in and engaged to the world is often the opposite of what trail runners are trying to achieve in a long run, so bringing a smart phone can seem completely counterintuitive.
—Jessica Kuepfer, Laces and Lattes
The one thing I do know is no matter what fancy gadgets we continue to amass around the house the bottom line is it's me running. No amount of gear is going to do it for me, there's no miracle cure for injuries or stomach issues. I have to do the training, log the miles, work on nutrition. And I'm the one that's out there on race day. These things might make my body feel better while I'm out there, but it's still just my legs turning over across the trail and up each mountain.
—Siobhan Pritchard, Run Hard
The same smartphone that can get me assistance in an emergency and play me pumped-up music when I hit a rough patch also interrupts my focus with texts and phone calls–things I wouldn't have a problem missing if I'd just left it behind. Stopping because I feel the need to reply to a text can definitely hinder a workout.
—Dana Davis, Treading on the Heights


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God has already told Pat Robertson who the next president is going to be.
Man, god sure gives ol' Pat remarkably long and detailed messages.
God has already told Pat Robertson who the next president is going to be.
Man, god sure gives ol' Pat remarkably long and detailed messages.
samsalerno says
Congratulations Pat. You win the biggest douche bag in the universe award.
Glen Davidson says
Gee, what do you want to bet that God's voice was almost exactly the same as Pat's as well?
After all, what were the odds that Pat and God think almost exactly alike? Why they must be no more than 1 in………………………1.
'Tis Himself, OM. says
I've often noticed how gawd has identical opinions and prejudices as the person gawd supposedly talks to.
DLC says
So, he's predicting that a dangerous radical (Ron Paul) will be elected and will bring down widespread economic chaos.
Right, gotcha. Have to see to it that the boring professorial Barack Obama gets re-elected.
christinelaing says
He's delusional. Either that or he's a cynical lying sociopath. I don't know, I never understood these sorts of people when I was religious. Ignore all the fellow prophets saying the opposite. Ignore the lousy track record. Ignore the fact that if he keeps saying this then eventually the economy will go bad. No matter what happens, Pat's ego remains intact. A year from now when the economy is better, not worse than it's been since 1960, Pat will be saying the prayers worked. That HIS prayers worked. As if God would listen to him even though the Almighty already let down all those Biblical prophets.
chrisv says
Drivel. An endless stream of irrational drivel. Now god has a degree in macroeconomics? And doesn't want kids to be insured with existing conditions? I don't remember seeing that in the bibble. Ah, but then I haven't read the bibble. Just the Cliff Notes, You know, I really wouldn't care what these folk believe if they weren't trying to pass laws designed to throw people like me jail for not sharing their delusions. Fools like this would be funny if they weren't…well…so…not funny. Very not funny.
DLC says
@5 : Pat has ties to the blood diamonds business, so economic chaos is in his favor. At least according to DailyKos, who write http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/01/14/825050/-Pat-Robertson,-Freedom-Gold-and-Blood-Diamonds .. .
JeffreyD says
Sure it happened – gawd told him it would be Obama. That is why he does not wish to share the news.
kaorunegisa says
Hey, guys, no. Pat's right. What this country needs more than anything is prayer! That's why I believe Pat and his viewers should spend election day praying while sane people go vote. I'm sure God will stuff a few ballot boxes for them.
palmettoyankee says
Pat doesn't want prayers. He wants DOLLARS$
Scare 'em and fleece 'em – the story of religion.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says
Sure it happened – gawd told him it would be Obama. That is why he does not wish to share the news.
Lettuce Prey… ;)
paulburnett says
Well, at least Pat just wants his deluded followers to pray, as opposed to actually doing anything. He's not advocating armed insurrection or rebellion or overthrowing the Constitution or anything, like some Rethuglicans and Christian Reconstructionists. This may be progress.
cafeeineaddicted says
I don't know what you're all talking about. The man is absolutely correct. In fact, I call for all right-minded, Christian folks to shun the worldly trappings, and spend the days up until after the election in thoughtful prayer.
Indeed, they should not do as the heathen do, and tempt the Lord their God by challenging his authority to determine the ruler of the American nation, by actually appearing at a voting booth, or sending a mail-in ballot. NO! The only way for God to return to America is for them to pray. Trust in the LORD, godly people, not your own works, and not your own vote…
caseyboucher says
It seems like the religious wingnuts WANT the economy to collapse. The next pertinent questions are why, and what could they hope to gain from facilitating such a collapse?
Who would vote for this? Why would anybody vote for this?
Is it too late to move to Canada?
What a Maroon says
Ah, but then I haven't read the bibble. Just the Cliff Notes
So you've read more of the Babble than the average Xian.
Like a lot of atheists, I've read most of it, though I have to admit, I skipped a bunch of begats.
Anyway, god tells me that the smart money is on Gary Johnson.
mxh says
With pretty much every Republican saying that God told them to run, God must just be hedging his bets.
Alverant says
If what Pat said is true, then we should arrest him and his followers for election tampering.
Dr. Audley Z. Darkheart, liar and scoundrel says
So, he's predicting that a dangerous radical (Ron Paul) will be elected
Oh, thank you, DLC! You've saved me! I really don't want to watch that video. Pat Robertson gives me the fucking willies.
magistramarla says
So, does this mean that his supernatural friend-in-the-sky is smarter or more important than the ones who have been talking to all of the candidates who claim that "Gawd" told them to run and is on their side?
Wait a minute, now just how many "Gawds" are there in Iowa?
shouldbeworking says
Since the US is a xian country, just get RP to Washington to do the Lard's work and save the country some money at the same time, money that can be used to do Jeebus' work, perhaps build the Ark Park?
I see the woman is obeying gawd's Law too, by being silent in church.
jasbrimstone says
This guy is brilliant. Gawd told him, but he won't tell us… so no matter who's elected, no one can prove he didn't know! I can play that game too! FSM told me who the next President will be, but I can't tell anyone else. hahaha! See!? The FSM told me something (his voice sounded oddly like mine with a mouthful of spaghetti, but that's beside the point), and you can't prove he didn't because I won't tell you what he said until I can claim that what I was told was spot on correct…
Also, the destruction of our nation is coming in the form of an economic collapse… have I been living in an alternate dimension for the past 4ish years? Aren't we kind of, you know… living through one of those right now?
Oh, and if only they would all listen to Pat's God and do nothing but pray a whole lot, that would be great! The problem is they don't just pray, they vote, they discriminate, they proselytize, they try to legislate their religious bigotry, they try to sneak their stupidity into our school science classes… If massive amounts of prayer were all that we rational people had to worry about, we'd be doing a lot better.
frankb says
Why is Robertson sitting around in that same suit and tie? At his age he ought to be in something more comfortable like a sweatsuit, or something that the medics can rip open easily to start pounding on his chest. He's already delirious, they had better check his pulse.
arrantprac says
So God asked Pat to ask Christians to ask God to fix things?
Makes perfect sense to me.
robertwatkins says
mxh @16 – God told them to run, not that they would win. Maybe God is hoping to stimulate the economy via taking money from conservatives and using to prop up the all-important advertising industry…
subbie says
God said, and I quote….
Absolutely priceless!
Yes, by all means, anyone who follows this hateful bigot should spend all of election day deep in prayer. That would certainly be the only beneficial instance of prayer ever documented in the history of mankind.
autumn says
Wow. Pat has God quoting Abraham Lincoln. I'm not sure if that's good or bad for Abe's memory.
marlorocci says
He's expecting us to listed to God for economic advice when God can't put a decent price on raping a virgin.
StevoR says
Reading between the lines, Pat Robertson is saying Obama (a.k.a. Teh AuntyChrist) will win?
I hate to say it but for once I think he's right.
@What a Maroon :
Anyway, god tells me that the smart money is on Gary Johnson.
Never heard of him.
Btw. Which god? Aphrodite? Isis? Thor? Freya? Baal?
FWIW, I predict a Romney versus Obama showdown for 2012 with Obama winning.
Alverant says
Pat just gave justification to voter suppression and election fraud. They are doing God's work and anyone who's against them is persecuting christians.
petzl20 says
When did God start taking Fox News/GOP talking points? Are Murdoch/Roger Ailes THAT powerful?
What a Maroon says
Btw. Which god? Aphrodite? Isis? Thor? Freya? Baal?
StevoR says
@26. autumn :
Wow. Pat has God quoting Abraham Lincoln. I'm not sure if that's good or bad for Abe's memory.
Abe's memory or Pats?
@27. marlorocci :
He's expecting us to listed to God for economic advice when God can't put a decent price on raping a virgin.
Given Lot's story I reckon God prefers the price for that to be indecently cheap. ;-(
Zeno says
Sure is a smooth talker, that God. You'd think an omnipotent, omniscient being would be a little more eloquent. I kept waiting for, "And God spake: Buyest thou gold!" Then cut to Gold-Line commercial.
StevoR says
@petzl20 :
When did God start taking Fox News/GOP talking points? Are Murdoch/Roger Ailes THAT powerful?
Nah, if they were then god would be predicting a Rick Santorum win given that's Murdoch's golden boy here.
petzl20 says
This guy is literally saying he's having a back-and-forth conversation with God, where God is specifically answering yes/no to his various interrogatives. He's literally saying "Here's what God said, and I quote…" What's scary is, he's allowed to function outside of a padded cell. What's scary is, his co-host is smiling instead shrinking back in apprehension from this escaped inmate.
anteprepro says
When did God start taking Fox News/GOP talking points? Are Murdoch/Roger Ailes THAT powerful?
It's hard to be LESS powerful than something that doesn't exist.
Alternatively: Jesusgod is a little desperate for worshipers. Perhaps he gets something out of the deal (like in fictional settings where a god's power is proportional to the number that believe in it). As a result, Jesusgod's knows where his bread is buttered in the U.S. Fox News is the great Republican propaganda machine, and Republicanism is thoroughly linked to the most blinkered, hardcore versions of Christianity. Therefore, it's in Jesusgod's best interests to assure that Fox Noise is spewing from every American orifice and get the entire country genuflecting and self-flagellating in His Name. That will teach that fucker Thor.
StevoR says
@35. petzl20 :
Yep – and don't forget god is even telling him to kill.
(eg. President Hugo Chavez – remember that?)
Brother Ogvorbis, OM -- Still Not Grokking says
Total economic collapse. "This is not my (gods') judgement, they are bringing it on themselves." And Roberstson is correct. The GOP is trying to create economic collapse in order to take down Obama. Makes sense to me.
Loqi says
"God said, and I quote…"
That made me laugh hysterically. And then I realized that millions of people believe this. That made me weep uncontrollably.
StevoR says
@36. anteprepro :
That will teach that fucker Thor.
Nah, Thor is still going hammer him!
shouldbeworking says
Then Apollo will run him over with the chariot.
kraut says
The old saying: If you talk to god, then you've got religion.
If god talks to you – time for the loony bin.
mscheeky says
As an Aussie brought up in a fairly religion free environment, I'm not exposed to this kind of stuff. I sat watching this just waiting for the punchline, the studio audience to crack up laughing or something, anything. But he's serious. And she's listening, smiling and nodding. Wow. How can anyone take this seriously? 'God said, and I quote…'. This guy needs a straitjacket.
Crudely Wrott says
For once I will speak in favor of poor ol' Pat. He did end up saying that its all about the money and for that he should be lauded because it is indeed true.
It is not amazing or startling that most human industry usually ends up being about the money. Look at all of human endeavors; without funds, nothing; most of the time. Unless one is gifted in begging. The highest pinnacle of begging is to convince someone that they can actually have something beyond possibility by simply making a monthly pledge. Pat has that down cold.
What else is suspect is his ability to deliver; money comes in, promises go out. He can't explain that. Money. Promises. Nothing changes. Perhaps he's waiting for someone else to precipitate a miracle. No matter. Whatever happens is on purpose.
Poor ol' Pat has just pissed in his own hat.
Francisco Bacopa says
So Robertson is predicting a Republican win and a subsequent economic collapse that will bring forth protests that make the sixties look lame.
He is predicting that things will become so corrupt that Occupy will grow into so strong a force that it can call for a new Constitutional Convention? Have no doubts we can do this, as we chant to ourselves "We are unstoppable, another world is possible. Don't think we can't do this. We took down the Port of Houston CEO on #D12. I was up on the embankment getting the trucks to honk and rubbernecking in support on the 610 bridge. I saw HPD's red tent go over our sleeping dragon which blocked off the old gates at exit 29 for three hours. Don't doubt for a minute we don't have what it takes.
Mic Check!
Mic Check!
This is the beginning!
Of the beginning!
Occupy is the wave of the future, the more it is held back the stronger it grows. If Pat Robertson wants there to be a war, we will be there if it happens. Our non-violent actions countered with violence will be the shame that takes them down.
Seriously folks. Donate to Occupy Supply. Occupy Houston and Occupy Oakland need money for court costs. Pitch in if you can. We are your future. we support the American Dream which has been dying for almost 40 years.
raven says
But he's serious. And she's listening, smiling and nodding. Wow. How can anyone take this seriously?
Hey!!! Pat R. makes a lot of money from his act. In fact, he is reputed to be a billionaire. That is a lot of money.
He is also a fraud. He started out as a faith healer. For a while in the 1980's he did the Rapture-Second Genocide thing and predicted the End of the World when jesus shows up. Which didn't happen.
If we would stone false prophets to death like it says to do in the bible, Pat would have disappeared under a pile of rocks decades ago.
cybercmdr says
Translation: OK everyone, we all know Obama is a secret Muslim and we really don't like having a black guy in the White House, but God has an answer. He told me that we have to go vote Obama out. Now, understand that if I tell you how to vote, I might lose my tax free standing, so instead I'll just say you need to pray. Pray real hard when you pull that lever on election day!
ryancunningham says
Wow. Pat has God quoting Abraham Lincoln. I'm not sure if that's good or bad for Abe's memory.
Actually, Lincoln and Robertson are both quoting Mark 3:24.
And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
robro says
Perhaps ol' Pat had a vision of Santorum's surprise today in Iowa.
raven says
Perhaps ol' Pat had a vision of Santorum's surprise today in Iowa.
Satanorum isn't a Real Xian. He's a Catholic for Cthulhu's sake.
Although Pat doesn't seem to have much of a problem with Catholics for a fundie. Maybe they send him enough money.
He really hates the Episcopalians, Methodists, and Presbyterians for some reason. Probably they never kick in enough money.
Grimalkin says
I like how he won't say whom God said the president would be. That's like saying that you know this weeks lottery numbers, but you're not going to buy a ticket with those numbers or tell anyone them.
Then when the numbers are revealed you get to say that yep, those were the ones you thought.
roquetin says
I like how he won't say whom God said the president would be.
Exactly. In fact, God didn't seem to have anything to say at all. There's going to be internal stress? Really? In an election? No way. And the president will be at odds with the majority in at least one case? That never happens either, does it?
So, either God just likes to creep into people's minds and state the bleeding obvious, or Robertson himsef doesn't believe the message actually is from God.
maxamillion says
In my best Tommy Tiernan voice.
What is this shit!
agenoria says
I've heard a bit about the Iowa caucuses on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 in the UK. The other day, one of the presenters commented, in an apologetic way, that the various candidates were a bit odd. [Er, yes, they're Republicans.]
On Saturday 31st December Today had a guest editor, Stewart Lee. When it came to the (infamous) Thought for the Day, Stewart Lee wasn't interested in choosing a speaker for the regular slot. But he did ask Alan Moore for an alternative Thought for the Day. Alan spoke about the glove puppet god he worships called Glycon. (I hadn't heard of Alan Moore before – he wrote The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen which I never watched.)
Audio here:
Alan Moore's alternative Thought for the Day
Full transcript here:
The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log Alan Moore's Thought For The Day
One paragraph:
But I'm also interested in having a god who is demonstrably a ventriloquist's dummy. After all, isn't this the way we use most of our deities. We can look through our various sacred books and by choosing one ambiguous passage or one interpretation over another we can pretty much get our gods to justify our own current agendas. We can make them say what we want them to say.
It seems to me that Pat Robertson also worships a glove puppet god.
maxamillion says
Sorry about the video link folks.
I didn't realize that it would embed itself.
It certainly didn't show up in the preview
RFW says
Whatever his motivation, one thing is certain about Pat Robertson: he's a gas bag.
He's been saying crap like this for decades, a good fifty years or so. You'd think by now his followers would have wised up, but I guess the suckers are being born at least as fast as they're coming to their senses.
Slugsie says
…and I quote…
So Pat Robertson is the only person on Earth who is getting direct quotable words from God?
Hairy Chris, blah blah blah etc says
@agenoria #54
In Alan Moore's defence, he's the writer of the original graphic novel, and of "The Watchmen", "V for Vendetta" and a whole host of other work. He's a legend in the field.
And he has disassociated himself completely with all movie adaptions of his books…
mucklededun says
P-Rob will never be able to top Oral Roberts
& the 900-foot-tall Jesus.
epicure says
And the Lord said… and I think he was right…
Zeno says
Perhaps God offered him words of comfort: "The next president will be Hillary Clinton, but not till Obama completes his second term in 2017. But be not afraid, you won't be there to see it."
penningtrap says
@5 christinelaing:
"A year from now when the economy is better, not worse than it's been since 1960, Pat will be saying the prayers worked. That HIS prayers worked."
@14 caseyboucher:
"It seems like the religious wingnuts WANT the economy to collapse."
Ofcourse! A prediction is made and it MUST come true. And even if it doesn't, it will be because all the good xians prayers have been answered by the mercyfull gawd.
It's a win-win situation for them.
Besides you can't get any decent funding these days without a good doomsday scenario … right? Look what Harold Camping pulled in.
redgreeninblue says
Let me get this straight, Pat: last night God told you that massive economic and political turmoil is coming, but says, "It's not my fault, you brought this on yourself." But you told me he's omniscient and omnipotent! Don't you think he could manage his anger a little better than he is? Pat, honey, this really sounds like an abusive relationship. … Yes, I know it's God's house, but this guy's no good for you. You need to get out of there before he does you and the kids any more harm!
jeffnoisician says
Hilarious – Pat knows who the next president will be but "can't tell us". Really? That's the story you're going with, Pat?
And God told him "a house divided cannot stand"? What, God can't think of his own metaphors and has to crib from an old Lincoln speech?
Tualha says
Robertson's god seems oddly impotent. If he doesn't want Obama to be President, you'd think he would hit Obama with lightning or something like that. Instead, he just whispers in the ear of an old man who shows every sign of being a con artist.
I like kaorunegisa's idea. And he should know what god wants, being an angel and all.
Thursday's Child says
1) Have conversation to voice in head
2) Prophesy
3) ?????
4) Profit
christinelaing says
Given Lot's story I reckon God prefers the price for that to be indecently cheap. ;-(
Lot owned his daughters and their virginity. It was his to bestow upon a mob (a rightly angry mob that correctly suspected that Lot was plotting with his visitors to open the city gates to intruders–this mob was too sensible to be distracted by the offer of a gang rape). Virginity was also his to get drunk and take, and of course it was all the daughter's idea because they went along with it after Lot told them that they had to do it.
The cheap price of virginity in the Old Testament is only paid if you're not the girl's father, and it is paid to the father, not the girl. Of course good Christians are guided by the Holy Spirit and know that all this is a bad example, not a good one.
eoleen says
The man must be – no, let me correct that – IS ,barking mad…
stewart says
It needed to be pushed just that little bit further:
adamatkins says
I don't know why you'd post something like this PZ. I told you I was allergic to bullshit. =(


text:
In episode 98 of the Functional Nerds Podcast, Patrick Hester and John Anealio welcome John Joseph Adams and Karin Lowachee to discuss the new Armored anthology from Baen.
About John:
John Joseph Adams is the bestselling editor of many anthologies, such as Under the Moons of Mars: New Adventures on Barsoom, Brave New Worlds, Wastelands, The Living Dead, The Living Dead 2, By Blood We Live, Federations, The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and The Way of the Wizard. He is a two-time finalist for the Hugo Award and a three-time finalist for the World Fantasy Award. He is also the editor and publisher of Lightspeed Magazine, and is the co-host of Wired.com's The Geek's Guide to the Galaxy podcast.
About Karin:
Karin was born in South America, grew up in Canada, and worked in the Arctic. Her first novel WARCHILD won the 2001 Warner Aspect First Novel Contest. Both WARCHILD (2002) and her third novel CAGEBIRD (2005) were finalists for the Philip K. Dick Award. CAGEBIRD won the Prix Aurora Award in 2006 for Best Long-Form Work in English and the Spectrum Award also in 2006. Her second novel BURNDIVE debuted at #7 on the Locus Bestseller List. Her books have been translated into French, Hebrew, and Japanese, and her short stories have appeared in anthologies edited by Julie Czerneda, Nalo Hopkinson, and John Joseph Adams. Her current fantasy novel, THE GASLIGHT DOGS, was published through Orbit Books USA in April 2010.
- Armored (official website)
- John Joseph Adams (website)
- John on Twitter
- Karin Lowachee (website)
- Karin on Twitter
© 2012 Patrick Hester and John Anealio
This episode contains original music by John Anealio.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS
4 Responses to Episode 098 – John Joseph Adams and Karin Lowachee
[…] Functional Nerds interviews John Joseph Adams and Karin Lowachee […]
Me, I always loved Bolos and, especially, O.G.R.E's
I'm reading this book now (just started the last story). Loving it!


text:
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Architects: Longhi Architects: Longhi Architects - Luis Longhi
Photographs:Juan Solano Ojasi
Text description provided by the architects. Beach house CN belongs to Carlos andNeni a pediatrician and a gynecologist and their two college kids. The way to interpret their dreams for summer life was that of having three separated clusters in a site with strictregulations for a single house. The house is composed of three volumes separated by open spaces that allow natural light and cross ventilation for all private spaces while providing common vertical and horizontal circulations articulated by cast in place sculptural elements that pretend conversations with the sun during different times of the day.
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