Reno Bike Project

12 January 2009

Change

Posted by Noah under: Uncategorized .

was definately the buzz word for ‘08.

It seems that right now we are right between its coming and going.

It’s going with a gargantuan economic, politicol and social transition that has been fueled by ten years of “salad days.”

It’s coming becuase everyone has looked into the eye of this beast and seen that Yogi Berra was right when he said “the future ain’t what it used to be.”

Vivienne French from the Food Bank of Northern Nevada sent this to me and it summerizes much of what we at RBP feel is most important.

Read it and take some comfort in our impending discomfort.

Jump on the bandwagon and make the changes your heart knows are critical.

Best wishes in 09,

Noah

2009:  The Year of  Global Reexamination – Jim Patrick

The era of “he who dies  with the most toys” is  over. Ethics
exited stage right and greed was solidly at the helm as
executives struggled to recover from the tech boom and 9/11.
Horizons were reduced to twelve months, then quarterly. The
perfect storm joined with the perfect tsunami.  Make your
numbers now and the rewards will be huge. Miss the numbers,
you are gone.

Now, a shift of values is upon us.  Each of us will be tested.
Many will lose their toys and some their  homes. Expect to see
massive numbers of businesses fail in the Q1 and Q2 of 2009.
Unemployed numbers will come close to the great depression.

Look for a more basic lifestyle, less stressful. Reeducation,
training and tooling will be required. You will not see alien
workers returned to their native countries as they will be
our trainers as we rebuild skills and reinvent America.

The American electorate will not tolerate much longer a
bailout of corporations for their sins with themselves, their
employees and customers. Banks and lenders will be expected to
find solutions in Q1 or strong voices will insist on  re-
regulation.

The result will not be a  recovery, but new methods and
processes. We will  hit bottom in Q2 with dismal corporate
earnings and government deadlock.  The masses will demand
change and enforcement to develop a new economy.  You can’t go
back to the future.

Layoffs will end after Q2 and innovation will begin.  Our
drive for survival will force us to find solutions.  Basics in
social lifestyle will boom as flea markets, swap meets and
garage sales will abound.

Stores will reduce amount of shelving and floor space for
retail. Expect more store brands and less big name brands.
Electronic couponing will be an all time high. Retail loyalty
programs will skyrocket.

Low mileage used cars will  be readily available as people
downsize, move closer to rapid transit to rid themselves of
debt.  A debt free movement will be most desired. Credit card
companies who continue to use punitive interest rates will see
their demise in Q3.  Consumers will give up.

New, low priced vehicles will be introduced prior to August
and will be imported with new labels from international
sources. Fuel costs will continue to drop with demand through
Q2, but expect huge increases in all forms of energy as
supplies dwindle  later.

A boom for technology and data processors showing innovative
ideas.

A movement to urban centers or “Farmersville” as society
readjusts and working from home increases.  Fashion labels
will be shunned and replaced with durable, functional and
affordable.

Family camping and the usage of parks and lakes will grow
profoundly.  Fishing will see a huge growth for  ”food.”
Gardens will be everywhere for food as  well. Farmers will
leave their fields fallow with the lack of credit driving up
feed costs.

Animal shelters will be  bulging as owners downsize to save on
costs.  Schools  will move to a four day week,  add an hour a
day, to save cash.

Look for multiple families to share housing as they lose their
homes. Costly retirement centers will refine their excessive
charges or face calamity. Fix it your self will increase and
professional  technicians will see a decline in revenue.  Look
for older hotels to be re-skinned for senior citizen
apartments.  Home furnishings industry in for a  tough year.
Used furniture,  tools, appliances will be in demand.

Air travel is already being  redesigned downward for smaller
cities and less demand. Foreign investment limits will to be
amended, allowing greater  foreign ownership to raise capital.
Two  rental car companies will fail. Look for regal packages
at great resorts at low prices, just to stay in business.

Medical over the counter remedies will become the first line
of defense.  Wal*Mart’s in-house clinics will be popular and
duplicated by grocers. Vets, dentists and specialists will see
a  negative impact as health insurance runs out on many in
Q2.

What will be hot: Farmer’s  markets, bikes, thrift stores,
discounters, county fairs,  local events, community banks,
local mechanics (not dealers), mail order pharmacies, fast
food alternatives,  make your own clothes, gardens, resume
writers, hiking  and back packing, green anything, politicians
who actually talk and listen to their people, cottages 1-2
bedrooms, wood  stoves, used sewing machines, tools  and
lawnmowers, churches, kites, canning equipment and alcoholic
beverages.

Summary:  2009 will  see the biggest changes in any living
person’s lifetime.

The ride will be confusing, a testing of ones character to
stay focused and adventurous. New opportunity can be  found if
you are willing to seek it out.  If you wait for someone to
step in and solve the important issues in your life will be a
total waste of time.  Be proactive.  USA will  be seen
differently throughout the world by the end of 2009.   Every
ethnic and demographic  group should examine their
contribution to our society, then drop their identity and
adopt the identity as Americans during this crisis.  We  have
an opportunity to be the  Greatest or Worst Generation
ever….the choice is  ours.

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