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U.S. State Department warns Americans to leave Russia 'immediately'
Source: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2022/03/05/us-state-department-warns-americans-leave-russia-immediately/5941646511503/?u3L=1
Food prices jump 20.7% yr/yr to hit record high in Feb, U.N. agency says
ROME, March 4 (Reuters) - (This March 4 story corrects to replace year-on-year pct change in headline and first paragraph to 20.7% from 24.1% after FAO issued an official correction)
World food prices hit a record high in February, led by a surge in vegetable oils and dairy products, to post a 20.7% increase year-on-year, the U.N. food agency said on Friday.
The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) food price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 140.7 points last month against a downwardly revised 135.4 in January. That figure was previously given as 135.7.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/food-prices-hit-record-high-february-un-agency-says-2022-03-04/?taid=62237c2407024b0001560037
U.S. gas prices are rising at fastest pace ever
Yeah, right . . . this was coming LONG BEFORE this "war" that is transpiring in Ukraine. And, it is a certainty that this is the beginning of WWIII. Stagflation is here and the morons in Washington know damned well they have screwed this program up so bad that there is NO reversal possible to divert the economic disaster other than war.
Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/us-gas-prices-are-rising-at-fastest-pace-ever-as-russia-intensifies-invasion-of-ukraine-aaa-says/ar-AAUCGkA
Inflation Is "Imposing Real Hardships" On Everyday Americans; $10 Toothpaste & $4 Gas
SATURDAY, MAR 05, 2022 - 05:45 AM
Consumer goods companies are raising prices of 'essential everyday' items on Americans as inflation soars to multi-decade highs. The latest to do so is Colgate-Palmolive, an American multinational consumer products company, announced a new expensive line of toothpaste, according to Reuters.
Last week, Colgate-Palmolive CEO Noel Wallace told an industry conference that its new Optic White Pro Series toothpaste would be "vital" to its ability to raise prices. The new 3-ounce tube of premium toothpaste will cost a whopping $10.
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/colgate-launches-10-toothpaste-consumer-goods-companies-hike-prices
Soaring Wheat Prices Leave These Countries Susceptible To Uprisings
SATURDAY, MAR 05, 2022 - 10:50 AM
Ukraine is considered the "breadbasket of Europe," and the Russian invasion is choking off grain exports, sending global food prices to record highs.
Grain prices surged to record highs last week as world food prices are now higher than they were during the 2011 Arab Spring, leaving us with an abundance of caution that political uprisings due to food price shocks could be right around the corner.
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/soaring-wheat-prices-leave-these-countries-susceptible-uprisings
Putin to show STRENGTH! (See source for photo) Editor’s note: Russian satellite evidence proving the controlled demolition of the World Trade Center using “special weapons” was reviewed by a VT editor while in Moscow. The article below was forwarded to us for publication in the US and translated from Russian. It is 3 days old, published on February 7, 2015.
Moscow (Pravda): American experts believe that despite the fact that relations between the US and Russia reached the worst point since the Cold War, Putin delivered until Obama only minor troubles. Analysts believe that this is the “calm before the storm.”
Putin is going to hit once, but he’s going to hit hard. Russia is preparing the release of evidence of the involvement of the US government and intelligence services in the September 11 attacks. The list of evidence includes satellite images.
Published material can prove the US government complicity in the 9/11 attacks and the successful manipulation of public opinion. The attack was planned by the US government, but exercised using her proxy, so that an attack on America and the people of the United States looked like an act of aggression by international terrorist organizations.
The motive for deception and murder its own citizens served US oil interests and the Middle East state corporations. The evidence will be so convincing that it utterly debunks the official 9/11 cover story supported by the US government.
Russia proves that America is no stranger to using false flag terrorism against its citizens in order to achieve a pretext for military intervention in a foreign country. In the case of “the September 11 attacks,” the evidence will be conclusive satellite imagery.
If successful, the consequences of Putin’s tactics would expose the US government’s secret terrorist policies. The government’s credibility will be undermined and should bring about mass protests in the cities leading to an uprising, according to American analysts..
And as the United States will look on the world political arena? The validity of America’s position as a leader in the fight against international terrorism will be totally undermined giving immediately advantage to rogue states and Islamic terrorists.
The actual development of the situation could be much worse, experts warn.
Source: https://www.veteranstodayarchives.com/2015/02/10/pravda-putin-threatens-to-release-satellite-evidence-of-911/
Sorry about all the duplicate messages. Something is wrong with Ihub's posting tonight. Reading them once should suffice to get the point.
CHINA "WARNS" U.S.- "Will Turn Your Military to Scrap Iron"
The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a televised "warning" to the United States today, saying that if we continue to send ships through the Taiwan Strait, and encourage Taiwan Independence, our military deterrent "will be turned into scrap iron."
Here's the video, see and listen for yourselves:
Source: https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/china-warns-u-s-will-turn-your-military-to-scrap-iron
BOOM! RUSSIA RETURNS TO THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ITS CURRENCY
Hal Turner Editorial Remarks
In one fell swoop, Russia just made the Russian Ruble the single most stable currency in the entire world.
Moreover, they just fucked the US Dollar and the EURO so badly, neither currency is likely to survive.
Nobody around the world will favor a US dollar, backed by nothing, from a nation $30 TRILLION in debt, versus a gold-backed Ruble.
Russia just completely SMASHED the United States and the EUROZONE.
Think I'm kidding? Think again.
When Muammar Qaddafi in Libya planned on a Gold-backed currency for all of Africa, the West went into Libya and overthrew him.
When Saddam Hussein in Iraq announced he would start selling oil in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, two months later was Iraq War 2 - and they hung him!
The U.S. Dollar being the sole reserve currency for this planet is why wars get waged, and now Russia has completely, totally smashed it.
You watch. The U.S. that has been saying "no nuclear war" and even Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin saying yesterday "All this talk of nuclear war is dangerous, stop it" is going to change almost overnight. The US is now in an existential crisis. Our currency has just been utterly smashed by Russia's decision to back the Ruble with Gold.
Watch the rhetoric about Russia from this moment on. You will notice it is ratcheted-up to vilification like you've never seen before. Why, they'll probably start accusing Russian troops of throwing babies out of incubators in Ukraine hospitals (like they accused Iraq) in order to justify going to war with Russia.
In my personal opinion, war with Russia is now a foregone conclusion. The US and Europe have no choice. If the Dollar and the EURO are to survive, Russia must be killed.
I hope you prepped. Food, water, medicine, etc.
Now get right with God. I mean it. The shit is about to hit the fan so badly, we'll be lucky to live through it.
Source: https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/boom-russia-returns-to-the-gold-standard-for-its-currency
Unless something very "unique" happens in the world's favor, financial Armageddon begins tomorrow.
EOM
We didn't need a Russian invasion of Ukraine for food prices to go higher. They were well on their way. Anybody with a functioning cerebral system knows that. ~ Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will likely ratchet American food prices even higher, experts say
Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/russia-e2-80-99s-invasion-of-ukraine-will-likely-ratchet-american-food-prices-even-higher-experts-say/ar-AAUkLPh
How many times must one have to mention the way nations and governments use to "resolve" economic collapse and inflation? It's called WAR!
At least those following this thread (for years) have been prepared. Or have been warned to be prepared.
I guess now we watch and see what the next step in this geopolitical crazed period transpires.
Geesh!
M&M
Putin puts Russia's nuclear forces on alert as fighting in Ukraine continues
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-invasion-war-putin-nuclear-forces-high-alert/
Traders Brace For Chaotic FX Market Open As Ruble Set To Collapse
A great deal has changed for Russia (and Ukraine) since the close on Friday and traders are bracing for chaotic movers in bond and FX markets.
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/traders-brace-chaotic-fx-market-open-ruble-set-collapse
Cyber War Alert ~ Banking Systems:
February 25, 2022
To: All Individuals and Entities Regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (“regulated entities”)
Re: Escalating Situation in Ukraine and Impact to Financial Sector
The New York State Department of Financial Services (“Department” or “DFS”) is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation in Ukraine given the Russian invasion.
Due to the recent developments, the Department is issuing this Guidance to reiterate that regulated entities should fully comply with U.S. sanctions on Russia, as well as New York State and Federal laws and regulations, including Department cybersecurity and virtual currency regulations set forth in 23 NYCRR 500 and 23 NYCRR 200, respectively. This Guidance provides a non-exhaustive summary of steps that regulated entities should be taking. The Department understands that not every measure applies to every regulated entity, however in the interest of transparency, the Department is sharing this vital information with all regulated entities.
The Department will provide further guidance to regulated entities as necessary.
CYBERSECURITY
The Russian invasion of Ukraine significantly elevates the cyber risk for the U.S. financial sector. Russia’s ongoing cyber-attacks against Ukraine could spillover and damage networks outside of Ukraine – as has happened in the past. Escalating tension between the U.S. and Russia also increases the risk that Russian threat actors will directly attack U.S. critical infrastructure in retaliation for sanctions or other steps taken by the U.S. government.
The Department expects that this risk is mitigated by the comprehensive risk-based cybersecurity program adopted by each regulated entity pursuant to the Department’s cybersecurity regulation (23 NYCRR 500) and subsequent guidance. Regulated entities should:
Review their programs to ensure full compliance, with particular attention to core cybersecurity hygiene measures like multi-factor authentication (“MFA”), privileged access management, vulnerability management, and disabling or securing remote desktop protocol (“RDP”) access.
Review, update, and test their incident response and business continuity planning, and ensure that those plans address destructive cyber-attacks such as ransomware.
Review and implement practices not already in place in the Department’s June 2021 Ransomware Guidance, which sets forth key controls that reduce the risk of destructive cyber-attacks. Regulated entities should immediately confirm they have backups that will be protected from a ransomware attack and an updated incident response plan.
Re-evaluate their plans to maintain essential services, protect critical data and preserve customer confidence considering the realistic threat of extended outages and disruption.
Conduct a full test of their ability to restore from backups. Regulated entities should not assume that they can restore until a full test has been successfully completed.
Provide additional cybersecurity awareness training and reminders for all employees.
Senior management, boards of directors, and other governing bodies of regulated entities should exercise oversight of all such planning and implementation.
Regulated entities should also closely track guidance and alerts from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (“CISA”) and Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (“ISACs”). Indicators of compromise (“IOCs”) for known threat actors should be immediately incorporated into network defenses. And regulated entities should review and implement practices not already in place that are recommended in the following CISA issuances:
Understanding and Mitigating Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Threats to U.S. Critical Infrastructure.
CISA Insights Article: Implement Cybersecurity Measures Now to Protect Against Potential Critical Threats.
Preparing for and Mitigating Foreign Influence Operations Targeting Critical Infrastructure.
Furthermore, regulated entities that do business in Ukraine and/or Russia should take increased measures to monitor, inspect, and isolate traffic from Ukrainian or Russian offices and service providers, including over virtual private networks (“VPNs”). Regulated entities should review firewall rules, active directory and other access controls, and should segregate networks for Ukrainian or Russian offices from the global network.
Regulated entities must report cybersecurity events that meet the criteria of 23 NYCRR Section 500.17(a) as promptly as possible and within 72 hours via the secure Department Portal, which can be accessed from the Cybersecurity Resource Center. Regulated entities should also report cybersecurity events immediately to law enforcement, including the FBI and CISA at https://www.cisa.gov/uscert.
SANCTIONS
The President of the United States and other leaders around the globe have imposed severe economic sanctions on Russian individuals, banks, and other entities. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) has been issuing orders and guidance on implementation of these sanctions.
All orders and guidance on sanctions, including financial entities on the Specially Designated Nationals (“SDN”) List, are accessible on the U.S. Treasury Department’s website. In anticipation of frequent additions, regulated entities are urged to sign up on that site for email updates directly from the U.S. Treasury to ensure timely implementation of any further sanctions.
U.S. persons (including, without limitation, banks, virtual currency businesses, insurers and other financial institutions as well as insurance producers and third-party administrators) are prohibited from engaging in any financial transactions with persons on the SDN List, unless OFAC has authorized otherwise, through licenses listed on the OFAC website, or by obtaining a separate license for a particular transaction. While not on the SDN List, more limited, yet stringent, sanctions have been placed on several Russian entities with respect to their ability to raise debt and equity and/or with respect to their correspondent and payable-through accounts. Regulated entities must review the specific restrictions as contained on the OFAC website to ensure continued compliance.
Regulated entities should take the following actions immediately:
Monitor all communications from the Department, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, OFAC, and other Federal agencies on a real-time basis to stay abreast of the latest developments to ensure that their systems, programs, and processes remain in compliance with all the requirements and restrictions imposed.
Review their Transaction Monitoring and Filtering Programs to make any modification that is necessary to their systems to capture the new sanctions as they are proposed, and to ensure continued compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including Part 504 of the Superintendent’s Regulations.
Monitor all transactions going through their institutions, particularly trade finance transactions and funds transfers, to identify and block transactions subject to the OFAC sanctions and follow OFAC’s direction regarding any blocked funds.
Ensure that their OFAC compliance policies and procedures are being updated on a continuous basis to incorporate these sanctions and any new sanctions that may be imposed on additional entities.
VIRTUAL CURRENCY
The Russian invasion also significantly increases the risk that virtual currency transfers may be used to evade sanctions for listed individuals and entities, including through transmission of virtual currency to or from users located in comprehensively sanctioned jurisdictions. Accordingly, all regulated entities engaging in virtual currency business activity — including but not limited to a BitLicensee or a Limited Purpose Trust Company — must have tailored policies, procedures, and processes to protect against the unique risks that virtual currency present including through implementation of existing federal and Department guidance related to sanctions compliance. These include but are not limited to:
OFAC Sanctions Compliance Guidance for the Virtual Currency Industry.
Part 200 Virtual Currencies and, specifically, Section 200.15 Anti-Money Laundering Program.
Regulated entities should pay special attention to the effectiveness of virtual currency-specific control measures including, but not limited to, sanctions lists, geographic screening, and any other measures relevant to each entity’s specific risk profile.
Examples of virtual-currency-specific internal controls include:
Use of geolocation tools and IP address identification and blocking capabilities to detect and prevent potential sanctions exposure.
Transaction monitoring and investigative tools, including blockchain analytics tools, to identify transaction activity involving virtual currency addresses or other identifying information associated with sanctioned individuals and entities listed on the SDN List, or located in sanctioned jurisdictions.
Regulated entities should have policies, procedures, and processes in place to implement necessary internal controls, with appropriate training, risk assessments, and testing and auditing against their risk profile.
If you have any questions, please email your primary point-of-contact at the Department and copy info@dfs.ny.gov, which is continuously monitored as this situation unfolds.
Sincerely,
Adrienne A. Harris, Superintendent
New York State Department of Financial Services
https://www.dfs.ny.gov/industry_guidance/industry_letters/il20220225_ukraine_escalation_impact_financial
Seriously? NO KIDDING! Energy Shock: Ukraine Crisis to Push Inflation Higher
Source: https://www.moneymetals.com/news/2022/02/24/energy-shock-ukraine-crisis-to-push-inflation-higher-002484
I sent a special message out to my family and friends from my ventures in and on this world. It is not a joke. I'm not letting my education fail me or others.
If you are not prepped . . . you better get busy and I mean fast. The system has broken. It cannot be repaired. Don't listen to the political morons who are primarily followers of Lucifer and the Luciferian Doctrine. Those of us that "know" have been monitoring you for quite some time.
Hopefully . . . those with "understanding" will listen. And those with eyes to see . . . will see.
This financial market is now officially and illusion. Anyone playing with it had better know how to read what is going on because Satan himself is ready to pull the cards off the table.
Pray for everyone you know, with all types of prayers and requests. And pray for me as well, that words will be giving to me in accordance with divine will whenever I type.
Set up camp. Warriors sharpen your swords. The "game" has begun and the genie is officially out of the lamp.
Peace,
Mark
Brace yourselves. The "impossible" will be proven. No doubt. This is one show we're all going to be a part of! Be prepared!
I just have to shake my head at what is happening with inflation. This is the beginning of a monster that can't be stopped. I hope all of you planned ahead and are positioned in life as well as financially to endure whatever it is that is unfolding right before our eyes.
I knew it was going to be bad . . . but somehow I figured there might be a way to escape the madness. I believe I may have figured out a way to get around the disaster but at the same time ~ it will be important to fight through it. God . . . be with us all.
Hang tight everyone ~ you are in for the ride of your lives!
Peace,
M&M
It doesn't appear that things have gotten much better! Who would have imagined?
I just wonder how long the Plunge Protection Team (PPT) can keep the ball rolling. Does one really believe this market is being held up by the average investor?
Inflation is getting out of control. Market indicators tell a tale of more downside risk (much) to come. One more bounce left? Will the masters of the universe pull it off?
Be prepped. This "euphoria" that has been in effect since the False Flag operation of 9-11 has all been a giant illusion.
Peace,
M&M
Took some time off. Been through a few states and am now landed. Or, whatever. Looks like interesting times ahead. I'll have an update soon.
Peace,
M&M
Also . . . in my research has always been how the minds of people like this (see video below) can change so rapidly into monsters:
Well, what all of this research apparently leads to is a situation in which none of us will be happy with the outcome. Particularly those with children.
I have a good idea of what is going on because I have travelled 3/4 of this nation in the past 18 months and can testify that this "pandemic" is hammering ALL of the states in which I have been through. Now, these jack asses in DC have to be the most scandalous group of idiots I have ever seen in my life. However, they are painting the picture of what is going on ~ quite well. They are of the Luciferian doctrine. The "Illuminati".
Doc Marquis (God rest his soul) was a GREAT informant on the illuminist movement here in the United States:
"Joseph "Doc" Marquis (1956–2018) was a Christian writer who claimed to be an ex-member of the Illuminati . According to his version of events, he was initiated into the group at the age of four by his foster aunt, became a high priest at thirteen and a master witch at seventeen before eventually leaving in 1979."
Jim Marrs was another GREAT iformant:
"Jim Marrs, born James Farrell Marrs Jr. (December 5, 1943 – August 2, 2017), was an American newspaper journalist and New York Times best-selling author of books and articles on a wide range of alleged cover-ups and conspiracies. Marrs was a prominent figure in the JFK assassination conspiracy theories community and his 1989 book Crossfire was a source for Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK."
If you believe for one moment that I have been sitting around since observing what was going on within the financial markets and also watching the events of 9-11-2001 transpire ~ you are fooling yourself!
I hope you got it. I just want make sure you hear this ~
Music Freaks & Favs: Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (Official Video) (advfn.com)
It appears my message has been deleted?
Who knows? If you got it, you got it.
I will only write when I am in "the zone," so to speak. Just read a bit of Bradbury and you will figure that one all out on your own.
Peace,
I've got things to do as do you.
Take care ~ I will see you all in the future.
M&M Man
(If you have my email, you know the entire story).
I keep attempting to contact the people who should be informed of what is going on with my research and it appears my own emails are being held back for a period in time. I can't pull them up and review them. I forgot to add myself to the latest mailing. Oh well. You will get it. Then you will know what's up.
Peace,
M&M Man
Still monitoring the markets & the news. There is nothing much that is changing. Things are not getting better and until I see some improvements I am going to sit back and watch. Keep an eye on the banking industry. It appears the Fed is very interested in saving the banks. Unemployment rates are skyrocketing and job availability is out there. People just aren't going to work when they get paid by the government to stay home and they don't have to wear face masks at home. Why go to a job that is going to force you to get vaccinated, have another damned COVID test and wear a face mask! Then they want you to have a good attitude about it all!
Whatever. Go to work in production or something where wearing a face mask isn't a part of the game. Make better money and be around people who are of the same mindset.
Well, I will see you all as events transpire that are worthy of following. Right now the news is ridiculous on the government front. The markets will continue to stay afloat as long as the Fed keeps pumping it up and people who don't NEED stimulus checks get them and plug that cash into the stock market while living off of their incomes. That is what is happening that is keeping the markets up (at least it is playing a major role!).
Peace . . . see you soon enough.
M&M
How Do You Cull 7 Billion People?—Convince Them To Beg For The Poison That Kills Them?
How Do You Cull 7 Billion People?—Convince Them To Beg For The Poison That Kills Them?
“I’ll do one more mind experiment with you: If everyone on the planet were to get Covid and not get treated, the death rate globally would be less than half a percent. I’m not advocating for that, because 35 million people would die. However, if we follow the advice of some of the global leaders– like Bill Gates who said last year said “7 billion people need to be vaccinated”– then the death rate will be over 2 billion people! SO, WAKE UP! THIS IS WORLD WAR 3! We are seeing a level of malevolence that we haven’t seen in the history of humanity!”
Dr. Vladimir Zelenko, Author of The Zelenko “Early Treatment”
Did the regulators at the FDA know that all previous coronavirus vaccines had failed in animal trials and that the vaccinated animals became either severely ill or died?
Source: https://survivaldan101.com/how-do-you-cull-7-billion-people-convince-them-to-beg-for-the-poison-that-kills-them/
'Food Is More Expensive Than Almost Anytime In The Past 60 Years'
Full Article: http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=62549
Hello everyone, I am here. I'm just watching. What I have to post you already know. Look out. Hyperinflation is inevitable. New banking laws coming into effect. Stock market over-valued and homebuyers that are purchasing are in for one hell of a disaster when the pullback happens. That either happens, or genocide. Pick your poison.
U.S. Poverty Rate Rose From 60-Year Low, Incomes Fell Amid Virus
Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/us-poverty-rate-rose-from-60-year-low-incomes-fell-amid-virus/ar-AAOqYyk
Well, it took a little while to get back on. Not much has changed out there. Inflation is going through the roof and it looks like NY and CA residents are going to experience some extreme levels of taxation.
It has felt good to kick back and not focus much on the markets for a while. Will keep you all posted if I see something worth mentioning. The economy still looks shaky.
Peace,
M
I have several stocks on my "watch" list that have broken out over 6% this morning. Attention is once again coming to the junior mining companies. On PTMN: Get in now because it won't go lower. I sold for reasons of my own purposes and will but back when I am able to without violating trading rules. If I understand he rule correctly I believe that if you sell a security ~ you cannot just jump back in and purchase it again. It takes 30days before you can get back in. Good news is ~ I have 30 days to relax and buy back in when able.
Start a "watch list" and learn how to research. Use the CANSLIM method devised by William J. Oneil of Investors Business Daily to get started. You can't go wrong with that book or that man. "How to Make Money In Stocks) is the name of the Bible of investing. Just LEARN for a while. you will be able to identify the crooks from those that actually need work.
Keep the faith ~
Mark
Why the Wheels Are Coming Off
August 20, 2021
Is that the scent of smoke? What's that red glare? Must be nothing.
Why are the wheels coming off the American Project? Afghanistan is front and center in the news flow for obvious reasons, but since I have no expertise on that nation or America's role there, I am stipulating these are general comments from a systemic perspective.
By the American Project I mean 1) global hegemony in both hard and soft power and 2) American Exceptionalism, the belief that America is not just uniquely strong but uniquely right in terms of holding the high moral ground.
1. If you don't understand the problem, you can't possibly arrive at a solution. It's long been painfully obvious that U.S. presidents would be best served by their closest advisors being anthropologists with long in-country experience in whatever nation the U.S. is engaging.
Any anthropologist with experience in Vietnam would have dismissed the idea of an American "victory" by any means as a possibility. The same can be said of Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, American presidents don't listen to anthropologists, they listen to advisors with no real understanding of the nation and people the U.S. is engaging. Lacking a grasp of the situation, every characterization of the "problem" will necessarily be completely misguided and the proposed "solutions" cannot but fail miserably.
Rather than seek a deep understanding the nation and its people, U.S. presidents and their advisors see everything through the distorting lens of great-power rivalries, geopolitical juggling, American prestige and power and a profoundly parochial, provincial view of other cultures and societies. The resulting ignorance of U.S. policy is stupefying.
Willful ignorance and blind ambition are fatal siblings.
2. Since the U.S. can conjure trillions of dollars out of thin air at will, money is squandered freely without any accountability or care. From a systemic perspective, the primary role of the Federal Reserve is to conjure as many trillions of dollars as needed to supply the American Project with money to squander--as long as a healthy slice of the squandered trillions butters the bread of private interests in the U.S.
3. There was a weary-sounding saying in the Vietnam years: "It's the only war we got." Indeed. Historians of Imperial Projects may well note approvingly that America is a war-like nation. This is not uncommon in history, rather it is the rule. Being war-like is unexceptional.
America's Founding Fathers were extremely wary of foreign entanglements and wars because America was extremely weak in its initial decades, lacking a Navy for defense and power projection. Nonetheless, war was viewed as unavoidable within a decade following the final ratification of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (the Barbary War in 1801) and a full-blown war with Great Britain followed 11 years later (1812). Two wars in 21 years more or less set the pattern.
As many have noted, war is an extremely profitable business if one manages to keep the conflict out of the home country. War profiteering has as long a history as war itself, and it took extraordinary efforts to put any sort of limits on war profiteering in the "good war," World War II.
If a nation becomes politically and economically dependent on a vast, politically powerful and politically sacrosanct industry, then that industry will continue to do what it does, regardless of conditions. If that industry is construction, then when useful construction projects dwindle, the industry will soak up billions building bridges to nowhere, fully supported by the political and financial classes.
If the industry is warfighting, then wars will manifest, with "victory" being the stated goal but utilization and expansion of assets being the actual purpose. Wars that cannot possibly be "won" in any conventional sense are the ideal means to maximize profits and the utilization of assets.
It's nothing personal, it's just the way things work: "It's the only war we got." Provide a better war and the make-work one drops away.
The war-fighting cartel is not unique. America is little more than a putrid porridge of politically powerful and politically sacrosanct cartels: Big Tech, Big Pharma, Big Ag, Big Banks, Higher Education, Sickcare, Bread and Circuses and so on. The only constants are infinite greed and near-infinite corruption and incompetence.
4. Sunk costs. When the costs of some misadventure / poorly executed investment reaches a threshold, stakeholders can't stomach the loss to their pride and prestige, never mind the financial losses. And so they continue doing more of what's failed spectacularly.
The sunk costs of America's misadventures are piled to the rafters but losses aren't allowed, so prevailing policy is to pile the losses and risks ever higher, hoping nobody will connect the dots when the whole rotten construct collapses in a heap of magical thinking and corruption.
5. The hubris of endlessly printed trillions. Since the Federal Reserve has gotten away with printing trillions out of thin air to buy the U.S. Treasury bonds that have conjured trillions out of thin air for the government to squander, American Exceptionalism now includes the eventually-fatal hubris that we can always buy our way out of trouble by conjuring another trillion or three out of thin air.
Since there's no limit on how many trillions we can conjure out of thin air, there's no limits on how many trillions we can squander and therefore there are no limits on American Exceptionalism or the American Project.
Since everything is for sale, and we can conjure endless trillions, then we can buy whatever is needed to keep the wagon rolling forever.
Until the wheels fall off, of course. And when that happens, then we can always deploy the last refuge of failing enterprises:
6. Managing narratives has replaced actually solving pressing problems. It's now impossible in America to actually address pressing problems without stepping on the toes of one politically powerful and politically sacrosanct cartel or another, and so problems fester and multiply to the point they cannot be solved within the status quo, regardless of how many trillions are conjured and squandered.
To mask the coming collapse, narratives must be tightly controlled. Since collapse can't be forestalled without making powerful enemies, the only politically expedient option left is to eliminate any dissent that questions the officially sanctioned happy-stories.
When a society and a state give up the search for solutions because real solutions will negatively impact politically powerful cartels, collapse is only one step away. It's all fun and games in the unwinnable wars and simulacra reforms stage, but managing narratives isn't the same as managing the real world, and the real world eventually crushes the happy-story narratives and those who actually believed them.
Is that the scent of smoke? What's that red glare? Must be nothing. The wheels are coming off, but never mind, here's a happy story to tide you over until the banquet of consequences is served.
For more ~ READ HERE: https://www.oftwominds.com/blogaug21/wheels-come-off8-21.html
Any of you that are on my email list will need to be informed my email has changed. If you are on my list, I am on yours. Contact me for the new email.
Thank you,
Mark
Here Comes Stagflation: Goldman Slashes GDP Estimate For Second Time In 3 Weeks, Sees "Bigger Inflation Surge"
It was good while it lasted, but the party is well and truly ending.
Just three weeks ago, Goldman Sachs - which last year was the first bank to unveil materially above consensus GDP projections - cut its 2021 second half consumption growth forecast, resulting in 1% downgrade to its GDP growth forecasts for Q3 and Q4 to +8.5% and +5.0%, respectively, "as it is becoming apparent that the service sector recovery in the US is unlikely to be as robust" as the bank had expected. Which is odd considering the trillions in monetary and fiscal stimulus that have entered into the economy. One wonder how many more trillions would be needed for Goldman to be happy.
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/here-comes-stagflation-goldman-slashes-gdp-estimate-second-time-3-weeks-sees-bigger
Here Comes Stagflation: Goldman Slashes GDP Estimate For Second Time In 3 Weeks, Sees "Bigger Inflation Surge"
It was good while it lasted, but the party is well and truly ending.
Just three weeks ago, Goldman Sachs - which last year was the first bank to unveil materially above consensus GDP projections - cut its 2021 second half consumption growth forecast, resulting in 1% downgrade to its GDP growth forecasts for Q3 and Q4 to +8.5% and +5.0%, respectively, "as it is becoming apparent that the service sector recovery in the US is unlikely to be as robust" as the bank had expected. Which is odd considering the trillions in monetary and fiscal stimulus that have entered into the economy. One wonder how many more trillions would be needed for Goldman to be happy.
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/here-comes-stagflation-goldman-slashes-gdp-estimate-second-time-3-weeks-sees-bigger
US Collective Suicide
The return of the Taliban to power will be one more signpost of the end of the American empire — and nobody will be held accountable.
By Chris Hedges
August 12, 2021"Information Clearing House" - "Scheerpost," -- The debacle in Afghanistan, which will unravel into chaos with lightning speed over the next few weeks and ensure the return of the Taliban to power, is one more signpost of the end of the American empire.
The two decades of combat, the one trillion dollars spent, the 100,000 troops deployed to subdue Afghanistan, the high-tech gadgets, artificial intelligence, cyberwarfare, Reaper drones armed with Hellfire missiles and GBU-30 bombs and the Global Hawk drones with high-resolution cameras, Special Operations Command composed of elite rangers, SEALs and air commandos, black sites, torture, electronic surveillance, satellites, attack aircraft, mercenary armies, infusions of millions of dollars to buy off and bribe the local elites and train an Afghan army of 350,000 that has never exhibited the will to fight, failed to defeat a guerrilla army of 60,000 that funded itself through opium production and extortion in one of the poorest countries on earth.
Source: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/56713.htm
Well, I am very surprised at what I am seeing with the activity on both gold and silver. I keep hearing from the professionals on that particular commodity that they are going to bolt north (Peter Schiff, Mike Maloney, Bob Moriarty and many others that have followed the financial systems) and they are dead. How? The paper chase is the answer ~ the "paper/EFT" markets. Many are placing their finger on Morgan Stanley. I'd put Jamie Diamond in there too, somewhere along the line. The Central Banks, as well. You cannot put the finger on one person that is holding the precious metals down. It is a collective group. They know this phony money that is being handed out ~ can't continue. We'd be moving into a Weimer (German) if it did. Oh wait . . . we are there!
Afghanistan. What a joke! We should have never put our fingers in that pie and we were warned a LONG time ago by Russia (who also got sacked over there) that we .shouldn't get involved. Now Biden takes the hit. This started a HELL OF A LOT PRIOR TO BIDEN (not that I think he should be president but this particular moment could have transpired long before he became president. Go back to the Bush Administration [George H.W. Bush, that is. You will find answers and I guarantee Dick Cheney's name will be all over the works).
Well, how are you enjoying the first stages of hyperinflation? Apply for Food Stamps no-matter what you are doing. You will qualify as long as you are making less than a certain amount. Quite frankly the people who really need Food Stamps can't get on the (EBT program) because they don't have a home base from which to put an address on. The leaders of this nation have turned it totally upside down. Obesity should be a parameter for those getting "Free Food". That's the truth.
We are heading straight on into what I have saying for years ~ we are headed to war. I can't point my finger on exactly what they are doing with "food" but I do know these masterminds that want to rule the world ~ put you first on the list . . . for the "ruling" that is.
Good luck. Each man, woman, child and family had better learn hom to become minimalists as quickly as possible. The collapse in the stock market of last year is a harbinger of things to come . . . and here it is happening. The Feds step in and pump up the market with fake money and give the people more worthless Paper. I can assure you when you get hungry enough you will see how life changes when a monetary collapse transpires.
Silver/Gold (in that order ~ are where to focus on as we wade through the mud of water . . . long before Biden). Anybody impressed by that man needs to read his record. It's probably when he was put into office. Since the Manchurian Monkey did little to protect the people but he sure covered his ass with his following of complete and utter morns.
This travelling does certainly have an effect on one's body. Whew. Nevada is certainly interesting. Face masks MUST be worn in all casinos that I have visited. Everyone must wear one. The same is true when travelling. Wild! I guess the "vaccine" program didn't work out so well after all.
Hmmmmm?
Stay tuned for more updates as time permits.
Peace,
M&M
Fed President Warns Maybe Ready To Taper as Inflation Runs HOT! Highest In 3 Decades
Gold & Silver Smashed - Where To From Here? Mike Maloney & Adam Taggart
It appears PTMN broke through resistance today to the "up" side. That is my major position at the present moment. It's good to go to a potential double from here.
Keep watching.
Peace,
Mark
Foreigner: I'm Gonna Win
American Guaranteed Income Proposal - $1200 Monthly Stimulus Checks | Daily News Report
PTMN setting up one hell of a good launching pad. Trading around 2.40 per share:
Portman Ridge Finance Corporation is a closed-end, externally managed, non-diversified management investment company. The Company invests in middle market businesses that operate across a wide range of industries. It employs fundamental credit analysis, targeting investments in businesses with relatively low levels of cyclicality and operating risk. The Company’s middle market investment business originates, structures, finances and manages a portfolio of term loans, mezzanine investments and selected equity securities in the middle market companies. The Company’s investment activities are managed by its investment adviser, Sierra Crest Investment Management LLC.
Reverse Split for General Electric (GE)
General Electric (GE) has announced a 1-for-8 reverse stock split that takes effect on Saturday, July 31. Shareholders will receive one share of (new) GE common stock for every eight shares they currently own. The stock price will increase to eight times the July 30 close, so shareholder net positions at market open on Monday, August 2 will be the same as before the split, plus or minus market movements. All impacted client accounts will be fully processed and will reflect the new positions and pricing prior to Monday morning.
I get knocked down, but I get up again
Trader’s Corner
Last month’s blog suggested Gold was forming a new pre-summit base at $1750 – higher than its previous base camp at $1675. Can we be sure of this? Of course not. Gold has a nasty habit of dropping $100 in the blink of an eye, wiping out stop losses and returning to its previous state and price, innocently denying it left an instant trail of destruction behind it. ‘Me, no, it wasn’t me, honest Guv’. Its younger brother, Silver, inherited the more extreme genes and can be twice as destructive. If it came to a choice between fighting the Kray twins or Gold and Silver, I would get a fairer fight with the former.
A test of $1750 or $1675 is therefore not out of the question, but whilst I have been yawning daily with the continual stalling tactics around $1800, I am fully aware we are arriving at one of Gold’s seasonally strong parts of the year and so spring hopes eternal that $1800 will fall again and become the new pre-summit base.
There is no consensus amongst commentators as to which direction Gold will go next. ‘Looks like $1675 will be tested’, ‘Dollar strength could see a Gold flush to $1650’ ‘Big opportunity in Gold stocks’, ‘the COT is at bullish extremes’, ‘the intermediate low is complete’. Could be confusing, but to be honest, this is how I like it – if everyone sat on the same side of the boat, it would tip over and we would all drown. I am thankful for the contrarian views to challenge my own thinking and to keep me level-headed. Unfortunately, however, this situation keeps me suspended, non-committed in my own trading thoughts. Not wanting to go all in and wanting to keep powder dry should further falls ensue means waiting patiently for the right signs.
We have been in a relatively tight range of $1776 – $1834 for July and if we compare this with last year’s range of $1770 – $2075, it looks positively anaemic. Welcome to the world of precious metals, where the bull market will either throw you off the bucking bronco in one violent move or bore you off it with weeks of dullness. Sentiment is low and many bludgeoned precious metal shareholders have thrown in the towel already, looking for greener pastures. Barrick is 30% off its 2020 peaks and 15% off its most recent peak just 2 months ago. Pan American is the same, as is Hecla Mining and most Gold or Silver related shares. Not at all positive, is it? In fact, it’s carnage and if you consider a stock market crash could be round the corner, precious metal shares could dip even further. But hang on a minute, Barrick’s all-in sustaining costs for each ounce of Gold, for example, is around $1000 and with the manipulated paper price at $1800, they are earning shedloads of cash. Slower growth and high inflation mean a very positive stagflation environment for Gold so that is good enough for me. Whilst painful, I am sitting tight and hoping this is merely a retreat and consolidation and sentiment will indeed return and coincide with the seasonally strong period coming up.
Source: https://goldtradingpsycho.wordpress.com/2021/07/30/i-get-knocked-down-but-i-get-up-again/
Position on the move: PTMN. Watch this one closely. eom
Ephesians 6:12 ~
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places."
All Star Economics News
The Culmination of A Global Collapse
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