Tuesday, October 27, 2009

What Position Is My Cervix

Call for Code: Elektor Wheelie Open Firmware


The times they are a-changin ...

The main microcontroller inside the Elektor Wheelie is a ATmega32, driven by a firmware made by Chris Krohne in cooperation with the Elektor lab. Because this is an open project the source code of the firmware is open too. And even better: The firmware is written with Bascom , a BASIC compiler for AVR microcontrollers from Atmel. So you have not to be a ace in software engineering to modify this code.
Günter Gerold, a busy poster in the German Elektor forum, has kindly taken the work on his shoulders to simplify the original code and add many comments (in English) - even for me the code is comprehensible now
The result is the starting point where you come into play. Yes: you!
Because this is a call to participate and cooperate to help each other build a optimized firmware for the wheelie. More brains have more ideas and more eyes see more bugs

link to the sub-forum

And There You can download this new firmware as a hex file too to try it out ...

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join call for: Elektor Wheelie Open Firmware

The central microcontroller Elektor Wheelie is a ATmega32, programmed with a
firmware that was created by Chris Krohne, in cooperation with the Elektor Lab. Because this is but a so-called open project the source code is open too. Even better: The firmware is written with Bascom , a BASIC compiler for AVR microcontrollers from Atmel. So you have to be no high-caliber software engineers to modify this code.
Günter Gerold, a prolific poster in the German Elektor forum, has kindly taken the task of simplifying the original code and add comments (in English language so that the whole world can join) - now it is understandable even for me
The result is the starting point where you come into play. Yes, you!
Because this is a Auruf to build on cooperation and mutual assistance to an optimized version. More heads, more ideas and more eyes find more bugs

link to the subforum

And: You can download the firmware there as a hex-file and out for a spin ...

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Sample For Vote Of Thanks For A Wedding

Kapitalmarkteinschätzung 2010

capital market assessment 2010 (Stand: 17.10.2009)
Dirk Schmidt-sense (dissi@web.de)

The rapid price rise in various asset classes since March 2009, leaving many operators with mixed feelings. After perceived world mood at the beginning of investors have stabilized in a rally hope the capital markets by all types of papers in high-risk corrected the underweight and reinvested.
In late autumn 2009, many have Anlageklassen ein Niveau erreicht, welches im Marktkonsenz so ambitioniert ist, daß nun harte Fakten über weitere Kursveränderungen entscheiden werden. War der bisherige Aufschwung stimmungsgetragen, kann ein weiterer Kursanstieg nur von deutlichen Verbesserungen in der realen Wirtschaft getragen werden. Bleibt diese Verbesserung aus, droht den Märkten neues Ungemach.

1.) Die ökonomische Großwetterlage
2.) Die Situation der Unternehmen
3.) Anlagenotstand in allen Assetklassen
4.) Ausblick 2010

1.) Die ökonomische Großwetterlage

Der Schuldenstand der Industrienationen (USA, Europa, Japan) ist durch Finanzkrise und Rezession auf absolute Höchststände gestiegen. Die Rettung der Banken und die Stimulierung der Wirtschaft durch Konjunkturprogramme der Regierungen hat immenses Kapital verschlungen - nun droht den Staaten in den nächsten Monaten die Einnahmeseite wegzubrechen. Um diesem Einbruch zu begegnen, stehen Steuererhöhungen an, werden Konjunkturpakete zurückgefahren und drohen harte Kosteneinsparungen im Fiskalhaushalt.
Diese Maßnahmen sind unpopulär und schrecken die Politik. Die Hoffnung auf einen nun selbsttragenden Aufschwung der Realwirtschaft wird damit zum einzig verbliebenen Rettungsanker. Nur ein höheres Wirtschaftswachstum verspricht mehr Steuereinnahmen und reduziert die Notwendigkeit unangenehmer Handlungsalternativen. Und da Wirtschaft bekanntlich consists of 80% of psychology, a little optimism can not hurt.
Especially in the U.S., the publication of numerous economic data rather marketing
character. A clear picture of the actual development of local economic situation in the U.S. can be deduced not to the numbers and their identification is often too nebulous.

is a fact that was avoided only by huge government intervention in the economy, a stronger fall into recession. Scrapping of cars, sales incentives for real estate, interest subsidy for defaulting mortgagees, relief packages for troubled companies, time allowances and tax rebates for to name but a few measures - consumption.
Such support the economy in the long run is not affordable and therefore the self-sustained upswing brought about praying. The effects of this recovery in turn have to compensate for the abolition of state intervention.

How hard should be, can be guessed by the example of the scrapping.
The scrapping was an anticipation of the purchase of vehicles reached the next few years. The used car market has suffered tremendously in this time and the producer of medium-and luxury-class carriages have hardly benefited.
particular, small, fuel-efficient cars were sold. In 2010, the demand in this Segment by up to 30 - 40% collapse. If this decline offset by new car buyers who buy because of the improved economic situation, new cars? reduce

If the states its support for the economy clearly in the worst case, a relapse into recession threatens. Budgetary discipline and rising taxes are just falling load factors for economic growth.
If three factors that could speak for higher economic growth.
The consumer, the companies (see Chapter 2) and the emerging countries (China, India, Latin America)

The consumer has been found in Europe and Japan as a pillar of the economy. If the
Privatkonsum in den letzten Jahren, speziell in Deutschland, eher als Wachstumsbremse begriffen, zeigte sich in der Krise, daß ein sparsames Volk in schlechten Zeiten eher in der Lage ist, sein bisheriges Konsumverhalten beizubehalten. So schnell wird aus einer Bremse ein Stabilisator. Länder mit einer niedrigen Sparquote in der Vergangenheit verfügten nicht über diesen Stabilisator.

Entscheidend für die Stabilität des Konsums ist auch die Arbeitsplatzsicherheit.
In Nationen mit geringem Kündigungsschutz sind die Arbeitslosenzahlen bereits enorm gestiegen, bspw. in USA, wo sich die Arbeitslosenquote verdoppelt hat auf fast 10 %. Während die Amerikaner möglicherweise zukünftig ihren Arbeitsmarkt schneller stabilisiert bekommen, drohen in Deutschland durch den Wegfall der Kurzarbeit stark steigende Arbeitslosenzahlen. Dies dürfte den Konsum in 2010 belasten.

Der Wegfall von Konsum in den Industrienationen könnte durch einen erhöhten Konsum aus den Schwellenländern ausgeglichen werden. In einer ersten Globalisierungswelle wurden einfache und personalintensive Fertigungsschritte an Billiglohnstandorte übertragen. Dies führte dazu, daß Länder wie China und Indien einen Boom erlebten, der allerdings stark von ausländischer Nachfrage getrieben war.
Andere Länder wie Russland und Brasilien finanzierten ihren Konsum durch den Verkauf ihrer Rohstoffe auf dem Weltmarkt. Mit dem Einbruch der Rohstoffpreise sank dieser Konsum clear again.

China has responded to the global financial crisis with a huge economic package for the local infrastructure, creating the foundation for further economic growth. The country has recognized that - can not achieve sustainable development of its economy - just as a cheap producer for foreign consumption.
But the development of its own purchasing power in China will not run as dynamic as it took place during the international outsourcing of production to cheap labor. Now it is time to position your own products in the international competition. At the same time, countries such as China and India continue their much lower labor costs, even for qualified and highly qualified benefit activities can. However, this development is to be less dynamic than in the first wave of globalization was the case.
The decline in foreign consumption will limit economic growth in emerging countries. The contribution of these countries to world economic growth will be significantly positive, but not the fall in demand in the industrialized nations to offset.

Conclusion. ! "The recession is over" - because recession is defined as a fall in gross domestic product (GDP) of at least three consecutive quarters which in turn means that the first quarter with positive growth the end of the recession means.
Following the Lehman bankruptcy, economic output fell rapidly within a very short time.
broke Above all, the GDP is a massive. This effect is running in the fall of 2009, ie on the basis of previous tests, the tremendous decline in economic disappears from 2010
. The end of the recession in no case means a return to growth rates of previous years. Permanent
demand failures generate excessive debt situation of the Americans (households, communities and government) and the indebtedness situation of national budgets of developed nations. Tax increases and the withdrawal of state aid packages will cost the demand.
has offset the rising Nachfrage aus den Schwellenländern. Sie wird allerdings die dauerhaften Nachfrageausfälle aus den Industrienationen nur zum Teil kompensieren.
Die Industrienationen könnten versucht sein, ihre angespannten Staatshaushalte weiterhin zu ignorieren und unter Erhöhung der Staatsschulden weiterhin weder Steuern zu erhöhen, noch die Kosten im Staatshaushalt zu senken und bei Bedarf die Wirtschaft weiterhin auf Pump zu stützen. Dies würde die Staatsschulden exlodieren lassen, aber weiterhin ein Wirtschafts-
wachstum „auf Kredit" erzeugen.
Politisch wird man sich folglich für einen Mittelweg entscheiden - „Das eine tun, das
andere nicht lassen !" In diesem Szenario wäre ein moderates, allerdings little dynamic growth possible.

2) The situation of the company

The world economic crisis will, in some sectors for accelerated cleanup of the excess capacity. Companies with high gearing are eliminated from the market or inhibited in their further growth in the absence of lending.
is difficult the situation with large companies that are in the national context "too big to fail". These companies are held with state of life support, leading the industry to a situation to reduce excess capacity in the market is not. This burden globally the whole industry, such as "saved" again as a company Wettbewerber auftreten und die Marktbereinigung nicht erfolgt, bzw. nur in den Ländern erfolgt, die eine staatliche Stützung ihrer Unternehmen ausschließen Ab einer gewissen Unternehmensgröße folgt daraus, daß diese Unternehmen auf Kosten anderer kleinerer Wettbewerber am Leben gehalten werden d.h. perspektivisch zu Lasten noch gesunder Wettbewerber. Dies fördert den Konzentrationsprozess und die Entwicklung noch größerer Unternehmen und bedeutet mittelfristig erhöhte Abhängigkeiten im Wirtschaftssystem.

In vielen Branchen sind die Umsätze stark rückläufig gewesen und oftmals auch heute noch zweistellig im Minus ggü. 2007. Die Unternehmen haben in der Krise schnell und effizient auf der Kostenseite respond and compensate the sales and profits slump by cutting costs, at least in part.
was in the quarterly reports of the last two quarters, clearly, improved corporate earnings have been less affected by revenue increases, but the measures taken were due on the cost side. This is reflected in the sharp rise in unemployment, and the sharp rise in short time. With adjusted cost structures, companies are able to survive the crisis.

Since early summer 2009, the companies have filled their warehouses until then reduced again and the production slightly increased in order to stabilize the industry's needs. These effects have initial indications for improved economic activity supplied must confirm, however, by real sales growth in the coming quarters. If not, sales rise significantly in the coming months, little else remains
potential for rising corporate profits.

Further steps on the cost side will be the re-relocation of labor-intensive steps to low-wage locations, which means a further release of employees in the industrialized nations. A considerable increase in unemployment in turn will have a negative impact on consumer demand in industrial nations.

Ergo hope international companies rests on a rising Auslandsnachfrage der bevölkerungsstarken Schwellenländer. Dort sind höhere Stückzahlen absetzbar, zu allerdings geringeren Margen. Sollte die Auslandsnachfrage deutlich steigen, könnten diese Unternehmen davon profitieren und in der Folge die heimischen Zulieferer und damit die heimische Wirtschaft ebenfalls. Andernfalls würden die Rufe nach neuen staatlichen Fördermaßnahmen laut, um die nächste Durststrecke ohne große Blessuren zu überstehen.

Fazit : Die Rezession ist vorbei - die Märkte haben sich stabilisiert. Die Überkapazitäten in vielen Bereichen sind noch da, die Kapazitätsauslastung ist historisch niedrig. Dies ist ein Umfeld für Verdrängungswettbewerb, more countries with new competition from emerging
. Moderate increases in sales will require the companies on the cost side
. In this environment, the earnings momentum will be from the current level of the low side. Was it to the last possible under the stabilizing trend quickly
the profit expectations of the markets to surpass, this will be more difficult in the coming quarters. The growing sales potential in the emerging markets are facing stagnating or declining sales in the industrialized nations.
Corporate profits will rise more than moderate.

3) installation of emergency in all asset classes

Die Niedrigzinspolitik der internationalen Notenbanken hat die Kapitalanlage der letzten Monaten stark beeinflusst. Die kurzfristige Liquidität war aufgrund der Risikoaversion der Marktteilnehmer ohnehin sehr hoch. Diese Liquidität wurde durch die Rettungsaktionen für die Banken sogar noch erhöht.
Aufgrund fehlender Investions- und Anlagealternativen und mit steigender Risikobereitschaft fließen diese Gelder nun zurück an die Kapitalmärkte und werden dort in vermeintlich fortlaufend handelbaren Anlageklassen investiert.
Interessant ist hierbei, daß das Kapital kaum in der Realwirtschaft investiert wird, sondern überwiegend die Preise in fast allen Assetklassen in die Höhe treibt. Während Unternehmen über eine schlechte Lending to complain, the liquidity of the market participants in the international capital markets will be invested. While inflation remains

in the HICP (Harmonised consumer price index) at a low level, the price increase is in the asset classes government bonds, corporate bonds, equities, commodities at a very high level. Stock markets rise in no time by 60% or more, government bonds are extremely expensive, although explode the national debt and corporate bonds have little chance of return, despite continuing difficult environment for businesses.

problem is that state when the emergency system almost exclusively by rising prices in the capital markets processed, and is actually invested in the real economy hard. This condition inevitably leads again to the permanent formation of speculative bubbles, the bursting of the capital markets put in extreme stress. Almost inevitably, are then again banks involved, their field of activity "by definition" include the capital markets

During fell in the crisis all asset classes in unison -. Except
government bonds and bank deposits - now all asset classes to rise at the same time again, with the said exceptions where yields remain low. Keep interest rates low, is gradually more and more capital from low-return assets switchen in risky assets. The synchronization in the pricing of risk assets will again mean that the portfolio diversification effects are hard to reach. This increases the fluctuation
all portfolios susceptibility, with the exception of government bonds "good" issuers and banking systems.

The further development of the national debt will affect the assessment of "good" issuer ". This is imperative for further escalating government deficits, the credit rating to reduce the country concerned. States should pay higher risk premiums, falling prices for government bonds.

are the same asked the international central banks, Exit-Strategien zu
entwickeln, um die enorme Liquidität der Märkte zu verringern, sofern sich die
wirtschaftliche Erholung fortsetzt. Im übrigen muß die Liquidität auch dann verringert werden, wenn sich die wirtschaftliche Erholung nicht fortsetzt. Die Liquidität würde ansonsten fortwährend die Preise kapitalmarktnotierter Assetklassen treiben, da dort die höheren Renditehoffnungen locken. Zu befürchten ist, daß die Kapitalmärkte in dem Moment, in dem die Notenbanken die ersten Schritte in diese Richtung andeuten, in deutlichen Streß geraten. Die Hoffnung muß sein, daß die restriktivere Notenbankpolitik ein Indikator für eine verbesserte Wirtschaftslage ist.

Die Task of the central bank will thus be fully consider the actions of the exit strategy
in many small steps that can come on a progressive recovery of the economy
be implemented in stages.

Conclusion: early in the crisis became apparent that the supposedly secure capital investments do not ultimately exist. For any form of investment with real rate of return (inflation adjusted) growth, there are needs in the economy. If the economy of this growth requirement can not be long term and return to claim loss of all perspective.
Since the capital markets - as the name suggests - by the amount of the provided Capital to be moved out, a loose monetary policy of central banks to the formation of speculative bubbles and market imbalances. Early trends this are already clearly visible once again.

4) Outlook 2010

was in a crisis "Cash is King". After the crisis is "Invest, Invest ...!".
As market participants in the capital markets are mostly driven by fear and greed, their behavior usually not very rational. While there was still trump security yesterday, tomorrow is the fear of not in a recovery to be there. Appropriate return expectations of investors
reinforce this dilemma.

In times of sustained Economic growth, the majority of investors achieve adequate long-term returns. Without economic growth, the investment is increasingly becoming a game of chance. The fluctuation in the markets is increasing and investors are challenged in time for outperformance enter and exit. Entirely logical that this is not the majority of investors can succeed. Without growth, no real value has been manufactured by the real economy and the capital markets only money is redistributed.
For quite some time on the stock, commodity and property markets a growing range of fluctuation (volatility) can be recognized. Even government bonds - still unfairly as a "haven of stability" single - recorded in the financial crisis first time, a higher volatility.

do for 2010, the states and central banks to further economic recovery. But they will do many things. Restrictive steps are kept well-measured to the fragile little plant growth not by a withdrawal of the measures taken back to nip in the bud.
Only a growing momentum of economic recovery would enable faster and more effective approach.

by operators in the capital markets is probably a less attentive behavior is expected. The rapid gains from 2009 have to defend and a high fluctuation in the market creates the conditions für weitere schnelle Gewinne.

Basiseffekte in der Messung des Wirtschaftswachstums führen ab 2010 dazu, daß im Vorjahresvergleich über Monate hinweg ein deutliches Wirtschaftswachstum berichtet werden kann. Die Stimmungsindikatoren sind jetzt bereits wieder nahe ihrer Höchststände.
Auch die Unternehmensgewinne werden in den nächsten Monaten im Vorjahresvergleich deutlich angestiegen sein. Allerdings sind dies statistische Größen.
Wenn die Temperatur von 1 auf 2 Grad gestiegen ist, dann handelt es sich statistisch gesehen um einen Anstieg um 100 % - aber es ist immer noch kalt.

In der Vergangenheit haben Anleger in einem derartigen Umfeld weiterhin investiert.
Die folgenden Kursanstiege have other market participants "performance pressure" brought and other investments held for security. The market drew almost even up. support experienced the markets always have been due to low interest rates the central bank. This used by some investors to further speculation to operate on credit. From today's perspective, one must assume that repeat these patterns of action.

Only decisive action by central banks and governments to the doings prematurely put an end. And that this action will be necessary to improve the resilience of the system.

Would Instead, the operators also act "prudently" remains, for 2010 little potential for further gains in prices in many asset classes. (Stocks, commodities, real estate, corporate bonds, Treasuries)

Dirk Schmidt-sense
dissi@web.de