Rhein Watch Trend Tracker

Watching the ripples so you can catch the waves

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Trends

Rhein Watch Trends for 2006:
1. Economy:
Dangers : A. An already overleveraged society might not be able to pay increased interest costs, local taxes, pump and burner prices and continue to fuel the economy by buying stuff B. Housing sales softening could cause manufacturing and construction sectors to suffer. (Job market watch out). C. Our over reliance on high priced energy could cut into profit margins and cause a significant decline in productivity and GNP (national debt and imbalance of trade watch out) . D. Should the "New Fed" continue to bump up interest rates it would put further downward pressure on the boom. E. State and local taxes are sapping consumer resources at alarming rates and causing migrations to low tax states as well dislocations in purchasing patterns. F. Corporations may not be able to absorb the increases in labor, material, insurance, legal liability, transportation, propery taxes etc., etc. etc. without raising prices to protect their franchises. G. Politicians, refusing to accept the supply side principles that have given us such a resillient business scenario, might attempt to raise taxes on the "wealthy" (Noose the Goose) by letting the sun set on the Bush tax cuts. If successful there will be a temporary increase in quickly be dissapated revenues, followed by a period of stagflation.
The Bright Side: A. The stock market is still undervalued. B. Our economy is the strongest in the world. C. We have managed to inflict wounds on the terrorist establishment, and tightened our security, so far successfully. C. We have made more of our citizenry self reliant, and less dependent on welfare government.

Society: A. More citizens are pushing for ways to increase civility, values and creative leadership. B. More confusion awaits the medicare drug plan. C. Look for Increasing costs of medicines in order to cover litigation demands and research.

2. Ethics:
A. Most people see politicians as corrupt or coruptable (just part of the package and consequently not of too much concern)...look for legislation and rules changes in an attempt to win public confidence (we feel little can be done to affect change in this perception). B. The public has a hard time, in general, accepting the large salaries and bonuses paid to top executives. They compare these outlays to their own comparitively low incomes. Little attention is being paid to the responsibility held and sacrifices made by those in senior positions. This is dangerous thinking and could ignite the flames of socialism. It already has in some key areas in South America, and we expect this trend to continue. C. Corporate corruption is perceived to be a bigger problem than it actually is, but for the public, image is everything.
3. Keep your Eyes On:
A. Terrorists and their sponsors could (easily) bring down the world's economic infrastructure B. Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, China and North Korea are threats to economic and social stability in diverse ways. The picture changes with each turn of the kaleidescope. Read the hues in the news. C. Piracy is becoming an increasing problem in the Far East. D. The Israeli Palistinian situation will continue to be disruptive. E. The ASEAN economic bloc and its alure for U.S. business operations will continue to bring blessings and curses F. Our treatment of entitlement programs for Baby Boomers will become an increasingly sensitive issue, and will need to be addressed soon. G. The rapidly growing reliance on the Internet for more and more of our information and commercial needs will affect the way we live, do business and educate our people.

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Wednesday, February 08, 2006

FOCUS The National High School News Magazine

FOCUS, a timely, "New Media" breakthrough, will assist teachers in their compliance with the "No Child Left Behind" mandate.

The idea of a free (controlled circulation) magazine, accessable to everyone and edited to educate 13 to 19 year old students (keeping them focused on intellectual and critical thinking subjects) once seemed like an imposible dream, but now it is about to become a dream come true.

WR Keegan Corporation, 127 Second Street in Garden City, New York 11530 Area Code 516 741 0099 is looking for sophisticated investors to fund an interdisciplinary, interactive "hybrid" medium especially edited by educators to teach students on their chosen turf (in class and on the Web). Using the portable (in your hands when and where you want it) aspect of a magazine and the ubiquitous (accessable to anyone) feature of the World Wide Web, FOCUS will provide a gigantic lift for raising the bar for education standards.

Web experienced, BraveLine Technology is designing FOCUSHSN.com and plans to have the "ubiquitous classroom" available for use by September 2006.

Well-respected magazine publisher, Rodale Press has been commissioned to launch FOCUS The National High School News Magazine in January 2007 with a guaranteed circulation of 1,000,000 ( including students, teachers and administrators).

FOCUSHSN.com will work in tandem with the magazine when it is published. Until then it will be a stand-alone useful working model teaching tool.

FOCUS' business plan projects the magazine will have advertising revenues of $45,000,000 in 5 years. At that time circulation is expected to be in excess of a guaranteed 3,000,000 (with a waiting list). Many millions more in advertiser revenues are anticipated from the use of the Website. A minimum of 3 million viewers (driven by the magazine) will be using it for homework and research, and a multitude of others who are outside of the controlled circulation base will have access as well. The publishers expect a vigorous income stream from Focus related ancillary activities and product sales.

The magazine/Website educational tool is the brainchild of entrepreneur/educator Bill Keegan who will be CEO of the organization. Contact him if you want to do well by doing good.

Who is Col. Chambers?

A new book from Green Rhino Pixelbooks contains more than 30 cartoons and proverbs relating to the lifestyle of a fictitious Victorian Cold Stream Guard Col. The book, a composition of John H.W. Rhein III is for sale @$50 from The Investor Intelligence Group, 96 Tenth Street in Garden City New York 11530. If you are interested in purchasing a copy (dedicated to all of those who have made a difference in the author's life) call 516 248 6642 or write to The Investor Intelligence Group. The book is wire bound and makes a fine coffee table or reception area read.