MONEY: Uncontrolled government debt and unfunded liabilities!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/02/no_author/are-you-ready-for-total-war/

Are You Ready For Total Currency War?
By Ron Holland
The Daily Bell
February 19, 2015

*** begin quote ***

“Are you ready for total war?” “Sind Sie bereit für totalen Krieg?” – Joseph Goebbels

On February 18, 1943, German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels delivered a rousing speech at the Berlin Sportpalast, asking the German people, “Sind Sie bereit für totalen Krieg?” or “Are you ready for total War?” Germany had planned for Blitzkrieg and a short war and was unprepared for a world war as the combined military forces of the United States, England and the Soviet Union crushed the Reich relentlessly and systematically. Although the people and economy rallied in defense of Germany, total war only prolonged the horrors of war and delayed their inevitable defeat.

*** and ***

Personally I don’t plan on defending American politicians in Washington from foreign or domestic assault or the central banking cartel and Wall Street investment bankers who ultimately will destroy the world in a sea of debt. But emergency presidential executive orders guarantee we will not be able to protect our retirement funds, savings and investment portfolios from confiscation when the chickens come home to roost on the Washington Empire.

If we have some wealth or property left when the dollar fails, we cannot stop the future “means testing” of our Social Security and Medicare benefits. Much of our domestic real estate holdings may well be stolen by favored groups and individuals when we can’t pay the exorbitant annual property taxes just like much property in the defeated South was taken by northeastern “carpet baggers” after the War Between the States – or lost during the Great Depression, which is a more likely scenario for comparison of what all productive Americans will face in the future.

*** and ***

Americans should take advantage of recent dollar strength to diversify into gold, investments, real estate and safe haven locations outside the US dollar and the United States. Better to be early than too late because eventually the consequences of aggressive military actions, central banking manipulation and uncontrolled government debt and unfunded liabilities will come home to the American people.

*** end quote ***

While I’m a tin foil hat, I do think that this nails two concerns of Joe / Jane Sixpack, every retiree or soon to be retiree, and anyone on a fixed income, poor, or with a family.

DEBT

18T$ that can never be repaid. Unless some Star Trek / Star Wars / Deus Ex Machina arrives to save us.

What’s worse, that level of debt can not be serviced at any historical rate of interest. If we assume 5%, then the debt service is 900M$ a year. Assuming you can keep rolling it over. (It’s called counterparty risk. Who will want the other side of that stinky IOU and at what price?)

LIABILITIES

Gooferment pensions, social security, unsecured bonds are wildly underfunded.

There’s a reason that corporations are dumping defined benefit pension plans and moving to defined contribution plans. No one wants to be on the hook for that “benefit” with the risk of going broke or to jail if it’s not met.

The politicians and bureaucrats that underfunded these liabilities will be long gone when these very ugly big chickens come home to roost.

ACTION

  • Better save more and differently
  • Get “prepared” like the Amish — for hard times. Think the Great Depression on steroids
  • Demand political accountability for spending, deficits, debts, and “entitlements” aka welfare 
  • Diversify and keep a lot in reserve

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | My Sites 'n' Stuff | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Keystone XL Pipeline Bill

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline Bill

President Barack Obama Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have approved the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that is a top priority for congressional Republicans and a touchstone issue for environmentalists and the nation’s booming energy industry.

The bill would have authorized Canadian company TransCanada Corp. to construct the 1,179-mile pipeline, which has been under review by the Obama administration for more than six years. The bill, which declared the pipeline to have satisfied environmental laws, passed the GOP-controlled Congress earlier this year.

# – # – # – # – # 

Not unexpected.

Too bad since not only is it jobs and energy. It’s a safer way to transport the stuff.

Dumb!

Now the battle lines are drawn.

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Political | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INSPIRATIONAL: The Art of Intelligent Waiting

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/patience-the-art-of-intelligent-waiting.html

Patience, The Art of Intelligent Waiting
Sara, from Institute of HeartMath
February 15, 2015

*** begin quote ***

Impatience, it is clear, is not an emotion that befalls only an unfortunate few. It may be true that there is a lot of impatience in some people, but there is a little impatience in all people.

Institute of HeartMath Founder Doc Childre characterizes patience as “the art of intelligent waiting” – waiting with purpose, positive intention and a sincere belief that waiting is an important element in the unfolding of all things.

“Patience is the practice of maintaining a state of inner ease and resilience when you are tempted to be impatient,” Doc says, “especially when the mind wants to force results, rather than remain in flow.

“Impatience is an invitation to frustration, shallow discernment, and faulty choices. With a little heart-focused intention and practice, we can effect a makeover by replacing impatience with patience – the secret sauce in the recipe for flow. When our hearts truly commit to becoming patient, then our minds will cooperate, surrender their resistance and take purposeful steps to manifest it.”

*** end quote ***

What an excellent inspirational meme.

I’ve been told that I am a good “wait-er”.

Probably my Mom’s training — “we” go “shopping” it seemed like all the time — I used to call it “inventorying” cause she rarely bought anything — and I always had a sci fi pocket book to pass the time. Maybe she was just making sure I read a lot? What do nerds do otherwise?

In any event, that was not what this describes.

I have to think about this more since it seems I’m waiting a lot more.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

4 Comments | INSPIRATIONAL | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: ‘BIRDMAN’ over ‘SNIPER’

Monday, February 23, 2015

‘Birdman’ Wins Best Picture at Academy Awards

“Birdman” won best picture and best original screenplay at the 87th annual Academy Awards. The movie’s director, Alejandro G. Inarritu, won best director. Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne took top acting honors, and J.K. Simmons and Patricia Arquette won the Oscars for best supporting roles.

# – # – # – # – # 

You have to be kidding. I saw both in the movies. BIRDMAN was a giant non-sequitur of non-sense.

Guess fat old white guy injineers don’t understand “art”, the problems of an aging actor, or the angst of the creative process.

Waste of money imho.

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Scrap the tax code

Monday, February 23, 2015

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/232688-rand-paul-scrap-the-tax-code

Rand Paul: Scrap the tax code
By Kevin Cirilli – 02/12/15 04:52 PM EST

*** begin quote ***

“The IRS is too big, too powerful, and we absolutely should scrap the code,” Paul, a prospective 2016 presidential candidate, answered. “Look for my tax plan later this spring.”

Paul was touting his “Audit the Fed” proposal, which has 30 co-sponsors and would allow the comptroller general to audit the Federal Reserve. Fed officials oppose the policy, saying that it’d politicize monetary policy.

*** end quote ***

First thing is to change the incentives from “taxing work” to “taxing consumption”. On the way to not taxing at all.

All Gooferment “services” should be on a take it / pay for it or leave it / don’t pay for it basis.

Education is a classic example of a corrupt boondoggle.

Teachers are represented by “unions” who “bargain” with politicians and bureaucrats. The “unions” contribute money and labor to the politicians. And, everyone, except the taxpayer, gets rich.

First step to disassembling this is to END Gooferment defined benefit plans. Can’t find one in industry any more. Why are they in the “public sector”?

Argh!

We need a “Hercules” to clean the Aegean Stable!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Political | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: Alecia Faith Pennington “identification abuse”

Sunday, February 22, 2015

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2015/0212/Alecia-Pennington-can-t-prove-she-s-an-American-or-even-exists.-What-would-you-do

USA SOCIETY
Alecia Pennington can’t prove she’s an American – or even exists. What would you do?
To the government, Alecia Pennington doesn’t exist. She has been unable to get a driver’s license, get a job, go to college, get on a plane, get a bank account, or vote. What can she do?
By Samantha Laine FEBRUARY 12, 2015

*** begin quote ***

On Sep. 24, 2014, 18-year-old Alecia Faith Pennington left her family and childhood home with the help of her grandparents. Having been raised in a staunchly Christian, homeschooled family in Texas, she was ready to set off and pursue a new life.

But she quickly realized that would not be possible. While she claims that she was born on Nov. 26, 1995, there is no actual proof of her age or identity, when it comes to the United States government.

Ms. Pennington, who says she’s now 19, has launched a campaign via YouTube and Facebook called “Help Me Prove It.” In the video, she explains her strange circumstance: she was born at home, after which her parents neglected to file for a birth certificate or a social security number; she was homeschooled and therefore has no school records; she has never been to a hospital and is without medical records. Furthermore, she says that her parents have been refusing to help her.

She appears caught in a Kafkaesque bureaucratic web – one that’s been dubbed “identification abuse,” which a small percentage of homeschooled children and adults sometimes experience, often due to the unconventional views held by their parents.

*** end quote ***

It seems that any court of competent jurisdiction could solve this quickly.

*** begin quote ***

For Alecia, Stollar suggests that her best option is to find a lawyer who will be willing to represent her pro bono. Her campaign has at least shed light on a situation that a small but sometimes desperate group of homeschooled children face. And the easiest solution, he notes, would be for Alecia’s parents to cooperate.

*** end quote ***

Shame on the Texas Bar association for not stepping up to the plate?

# – # – # – # – # 

probono@texasbar.com

TO: Legal Access Division Pro Bono Department

I’d hope that this prompts your organization to step up to the bar for her.

fjohn

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

FUN: George Carlin “Safe at home”

Saturday, February 21, 2015

http://youtu.be/qmXacL0Uny0

# – # – # – # – # 

RIP George. 

You always made me laugh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | FUN | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GUNS: Loaded weapons BEHIND people on the firing line?

Friday, February 20, 2015

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/02/12/american-sniper-chris-kyle-never-had-chance-to-draw-gun-texas-ranger-says/?intcmp=latestnews

REGIONS
‘American Sniper’ Chris Kyle never had chance to draw gun, Texas Ranger says
Published February 12, 2015
FoxNews.com

*** begin quote ***

The body of Chris Kyle, the former sniper killed at a rural Texas gun range in 2013, was located by rangers wearing a loaded 1911-style semiautomatic pistol that was still holstered and with its safety on, a Texas Ranger testified on Thursday.

*** and ***

Tim Moore, an attorney for Routh, said Kyle and Littlefield’s text exchange shows how Routh was spiraling out of control. He told jurors that Routh was suffering from severe mental strain that day and thought he needed to kill the two or they would turn on him.

*** end quote ***

In another earlier report, it was asserted that both men were shot from behind.

I don’t know how the range worked there, but I know how some ranges in NJ and VA operate.

There is a range safety officer, who’s watching what happens. And loaded weapons are NOT allowed BEHIND people on the firing line.

There’s no doubt that is NOT a perfect solution.

But a loaded weapon BEHIND two experienced shooters would have not gone unnoticed.

Just an observation.

# – # – # – # – # 

1 Comment | GUNS | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: I’ll have a farmed fish with a hook in it?

Thursday, February 19, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/woman-bit-fish-hook-suit-article-1.2111121

Woman bit down on fish and discovered hook was still inside at swanky Central Park South restaurant: suit
Aliona Russo said in Manhattan Supreme Court papers that she ‘felt something unusual’ after taking a bite of the seafood at Villagio’s on Central Park South last August. But a co-owner of the restaurant said she’s lying and trying to extort money from the business. The restaurant plans to file a countersuit.
BY BARBARA ROSS , CORKY SIEMASZKO NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 1:21 PM Updated: Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 10:57 PM

# – # – # – # – # 

Interesting.

Could a farmed fish have hook in it?

And a 3 inch hook is pretty big not to notice.

Should be a fun jury to be on!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

JOBSEARCH: The illusion of employment

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/02/burton-s-blumert/burt-blumerts-life/ 

My Life
By Burton S. Blumert
February 12, 2015

*** begin quote ***

After years of working for Reed’s in the South, there was an opening in the company’s California territory. Moving to a suburb south of San Francisco in 1958 was irresistible. My base was in San Mateo County’s new regional shopping center and nearby was a Coin Shop geared toward collectors. I soon befriended the owner. Within three months I evolved from a coin-collecting customer to becoming his partner. For a while I split my time between both businesses, but I knew I would have to decide upon one or the other. It wasn’t easy deciding between the security of the old-line retail firm or the risk of going on my own. I chose to go out on my own. I never had time to suffer any remorse. Incidentally, the security of Reed’s was an illusion. Two years after I sold my first gold coin, they were out of business.

*** and ***

Burt Blumert (1929-2009) was owner of Camino Coins, president of the Center for Libertarian Studies, chairman of the Mises Institute, publisher of LewRockwell.com, and the author of Bagels, Barry Bonds, & Rotten Politicians.

*** end quote ***

Note the illusion of security by being an “employee” as opposed to “being in your own business”.

It’s a akin to saving your money in bank CD as opposed to investing it in the market (in, of course, a well diversified set of asset classes).

I’ve often pontificated that having 10 ½ day “part time jobs” is much more secure than on better paying full time job. 

And, I’ve warned to income families, where both spouse work for the same firm or are even in the same line of work, about the risk they are taking.

So forewarned is forearmed, and start finding those “part time jobs”.

You never know how things will change.

Especially when your “secure job” goes “bye bye”.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | JOBSEARCH | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: MMR Vaccine — Risks and Benefits

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/02/donald-w-miller-jr-md/more-dangerous-than-measles/

Measles vs. MMR Vaccine: Risks and Benefits
By Donald W. Miller, Jr., MD
February 12, 2015

*** begin quote ***

Short-lived vaccine immunity renders people under age 55-60 vulnerable to contracting measles at a bad age, with infants less than 1 year old and adults over 20 years old at greatest risk. The day may once again come when parents, while avoiding the vaccine, hold measles parties for their children in the age window of 5 to 9 years (like some families now do in Germany) so they can have measles at the safest time in their lives, thereby achieving the benefits of a strengthened immune system and lifelong natural immunity from this disease.

*** end quote ***

This, to me at least, was a very interesting well-reasoned piece about the tradeoffs we’re making.

Could it be that profits bought politicians and bureaucrats? And, now we are stuck with it.

And, of course, it’s unlikely that there will be any reasoned discourse on it.

I’m not a doctor, scientist, or parent, so I’m relegated to the role of “bystander” watching this particular “traffic accident”.

I’ve gone around on the more times than a revolving door. Now I’ve arrived at the position that “parents know best”. And, perhaps, “measles parties” are the best strategy. Certainly the cheapest. And, possibly, the one with the least side effects.

Hmmm, I wonder if there are other “choices” that are foisted on us by others “who know what’s good for us”?

As a little L libertarian who is pro-choice pro-life and anti-war, I’s suggest that everyone should make their own choices in life. Just don’t make me pay for them. 

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

11 Comments | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: Part numbers for suits?

Monday, February 16, 2015

Why don’t suits have part numbers like every other gadget? And their color and pattern?

As a fat old white guy injineer, I’m partial to dark blue or black suits.

(Supposedly it makes one look thinner?)

My problem is after a while they all look a like.

It would seem obviously easy for manufacturers to help us poor old guys out.

Put the suit part number in the jacket and the pants. Then when the cleaner splits them up, I can get them back together without a bright light, magnifying glass, and some guessing!

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

3 Comments | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: The definition of a farce

Sunday, February 15, 2015

http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/weekly-updates/irs-obstructs-justice/

Obama IRS Obstructs Justice?

*** begin quote ***

Well this one doesn’t come as a surprise, but it does demonstrate that justice delayed can be justice denied. We have just obtained new internal documents from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that show how the IRS Office of the Chief Counsel worked to delay a meeting between an IRS employee and DOJ and FBI investigators about the Obama IRS abuse and harassment of Tea Party and conservative groups and individuals who were in the way of Barack Obama’s reelection effort.

*** and ***

We don’t know why the emails needed to be filtered. And we don’t know what the witnesses shared with investigators. We do know this “investigation” is an ugly mess and it is no surprise that, after nearly two years, the criminal investigation of the Obama IRS by its co-conspirators at the Obama Justice Department is a farce.

*** end quote ***

But isn’t any Gooferment investigation of Gooferment wrong doing by definition a farce?

Why would “We, The Sheeple” care?

First they came for the Tea Party … …

“First they came …” is a famous statement and provocative poem attributed to pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the cowardice of German intellectuals following the Nazis’ rise to power and the subsequent purging of their chosen targets, group after group. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came_…

Where does it end?

I can only see three results — totalitarian dictatorship guised as what we have today, violent revolution, or peaceful secession.

Two out of three won’t end well for the average joe or jane sixpack.

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Political | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: “False Flag”, Iraq, and 9/11?

Saturday, February 14, 2015

http://www.thedailysheeple.com/42-admitted-false-flag-attacks_022015

42 ADMITTED False Flag Attacks
Washington’s Blog
February 9th, 2015

*** begin quote ***

(31) Similarly, the U.S. falsely blamed Iraq for playing a role in the 9/11 attacks – as shown by a memo from the defense secretary – as one of the main justifications for launching the Iraq war. Even after the 9/11 Commission admitted that there was no connection, Dick Cheney said that the evidence is “overwhelming” that al Qaeda had a relationship with Saddam Hussein’s regime, that Cheney “probably” had information unavailable to the Commission, and that the media was not ‘doing their homework’ in reporting such ties. Top U.S. government officials now admit that the Iraq war was really launched for oil … not 9/11 or weapons of mass destruction (despite previous “lone wolf” claims, many U.S. government officials now say that 9/11 was state-sponsored terror; but Iraq was not the state which backed the hijackers).

*** and ***

False flag operations are covert operations conducted by governments, corporations, or other organizations, which are designed to appear as if they are being carried out by other entities. The name is derived from the military concept of flying false colors; that is, flying the flag of a country other than one’s own.

*** end quote ***

How does one ever get to the truth?

And, why would one ever believe ANY politician and bureaucrat?

Also, once inoculated with such cynicism, how does one more forward in life?

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: Sox with serial numbers

Friday, February 13, 2015

Why don’t sox have serial numbers like appliances?

It’s not like it would add a lot of costs.

Gold Toe could use #1001 for one type of black. #1002 for another type.

Then when I have to match them, problems solved!

Otherwise, I have “orphans” and mismatches.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

NEWJERSEY: NJ parents abdicate to the police

Thursday, February 12, 2015

http://bearingarms.com/fearful-nj-parents-freak-trigger-lockdown-school-play-prop/

Fearful NJ Parents Freak Out, Trigger Lockdown Over School Play Prop
Posted by Bob Owens on February 12, 2015 at 2:11 pm

*** begin quote ***

A prop gun sparked a brief lockdown at Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest, New Jersey, police say.

A student came to school on Knickerbocker Road this morning carrying a prop rifle for the school’s production of Hello Dolly, police said.

Some parents saw her and thought the gun was real, and they alerted authorities.

Police identified the girl within 10 minutes of responding to the scene.

*** end quote ***

It took ten minutes to id her?

Seriously!

In any event, how many would have been dead in those minutes (i.e., time to respond and time to find).

<<Remember the bumpersticker: “When seconds count, the police are minutes away.>>

And, where were the brainiac parents? 

After calling the police, if my child was in that school, then I’d have been over there to “speak” with “gun toter”.

Assuming it was pointed at anyone, it would have been a short conversation.

Assuming it was, I have done my best imitation of Richard Marvin Butkus. (Arguably the meanest middle linebacker to play “American” football.)

Instead, the parents were content to go on their way and leave it to the police to clean up the mess?

Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerzee is sadly going in the wrong direction.

3 Comments | NEW JERSEY | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Data systematically “adjusted” — I’d say fudged!

Thursday, February 12, 2015

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/globalwarming/11395516/The-fiddling-with-temperature-data-is-the-biggest-science-scandal-ever.html

By Christopher Booker
10:15PM GMT 07 Feb 2015

*** begin quote ***

When future generations look back on the global-warming scare of the past 30 years, nothing will shock them more than the extent to which the official temperature records – on which the entire panic ultimately rested – were systematically “adjusted” to show the Earth as having warmed much more than the actual data justified.Two weeks ago, under the headline “How we are being tricked by flawed data on global warming”, I wrote about Paul Homewood, who, on his Notalotofpeopleknowthat blog, had checked the published temperature graphs for three weather stations in Paraguay against the temperatures that had originally been recorded. In each instance, the actual trend of 60 years of data had been dramatically reversed, so that a cooling trend was changed to one that showed a marked warming.

*** end quote ***

SO when do we hear the litany of apologies?

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

JOBSEARCH: The Labor stats are as cooked as Enron’s books

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/us-job-market-february-2015-jeff-altman?trk=hb_ntf_MEGAPHONE_ARTICLE_POST

Jeff Altman
Recruiter.
The US Job Market: February 2015

*** begin quote ***

Jim Clifton, the Chairman of the Gllup Organization, broke down the data.

“Say you’re an out-of-work engineer or healthcare worker or construction worker or retail manager: If you perform a minimum of one hour of work in a week and are paid at least $20 — maybe someone pays you to mow their lawn — you’re not officially counted as unemployed in the much-reported 5.6%.”

“The official unemployment rate, which cruelly overlooks the suffering of the long-term and often permanently unemployed as well as the depressingly underemployed, amounts to a Big Lie.

And it’s a lie that has consequences, because the great American dream is to have a good job, and in recent years, America has failed to deliver that dream more than it has at any time in recent memory. A good job is an individual’s primary identity, their very self-worth, their dignity — it establishes the relationship they have with their friends, community and country. When we fail to deliver a good job that fits a citizen’s talents, training and experience, we are failing the great American dream.

Gallup defines a good job as 30+ hours per week for an organization that provides a regular paycheck.

Right now, the U.S. is delivering at a staggeringly low rate of 44%, which is the number of full-time jobs as a percent of the adult population, 18 years and older. We need that to be 50% and a bare minimum of 10 million new, good jobs to replenish America’s middle class.”

So there you have it.

*** end quote ***

Interesting that those who know are calling a foul.

When will “We, The Sheeple” wake up, pick up their pitchfork and torches, and storm “the castle” in the “District of Corruption”?

It’s a shame for those who are “out”.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #  

Leave a Comment » | JOBSEARCH | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MONEY: 401(k) Programs — Methadone for the Middle Class?

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

http://www.garynorth.com/public/13421.cfm

401(k) Programs: Methadone for the Middle Class
Gary North – February 06, 2015

*** begin quote ***

Methadone is a legal drug that is taken by former heroin addicts. It eliminates the “rush” that heroin offers, but it also eliminates withdrawal symptoms. It lets heroin addicts escape the need to buy the expensive illegal drug.

Methadone is for heroin addicts who just cannot bring themselves to go cold turkey from an addictive drug that distorts their perception.

That is what a 401(k) retirement plan is for middle-class workers.

*** end quote ***

Even a gold bug, such myself, understands the concern that the 401k may not be enough.

And, the younger the person, the more they are at risk.

Clearly SocSec isn’t enough retirement savings, especially when the Gooferment cheats on inflation, COLA, Medicare rates, and — of course — the ULTIMATE cheat making SocSec ½ taxable income!!!

A similar concern exists with 401ks and IRAs. The “rules” can be changed. And, when you think of the 18T$ “debt” and 17T$ in tax deferred savings accounts under the control of about 2100 “custodians”, it’s not hard to imagine the political mischief that could emerge. There was a “trial balloon” about “saving” “We, The Sheeple” from “market risk” by swapping the 401k/IRA money for an “enhanced social security benefit”. It died a quiet death, but bad ideas are like Dracula rising from the grave.

So while I think folks “must” participate in the 401k / IRA system, they must also realize that there is a “counter party risk” and you better have other assets.

For once I’m glad I’m old.

# – # – # – # – #  

Leave a Comment » | MONEY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GOLD: Russia or China could put a stake in the heart of the USA easily

Monday, February 9, 2015

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/02/marcia-christoff-kurapovna/is-russia-planning-a-gold-based-currencye280a8/

Is Russia Planning a Gold-Based Currency?
By Marcia Christoff-Kurapovna
Mises.org
February 7, 2015

*** begin quote ***

Nor is that prospect too far-fetched. As Dutch author Willem Middelkoop has written in his 2014 book The Big Reset: War on Gold and the Financial Endgame,

A system reset is imminent. Even before 2020 the world’s financial system will need to find a different anchor. … In a desperate attempt to maintain this dollar system, the United States waged a secret war on gold since the 1960s. China and Russia have pierced through the American smokescreen around gold and the dollar and are no longer willing to continue lending to the United States. Both countries have been accumulating enormous amounts of gold, positioning themselves for the next phase of the global financial system.

*** end quote ***

One has to be very circumspect about gold and the manipulation there of.

The central banks, most notably the FED, have an incentive to keep the paper merry go round moving.

That being said, for the little people, they have to defend their own wealth.

Folks long the Swiss Franc were rewarded when that peg was removed.

Folks long the US Dollar have a long way to fall if the Russians and Chinese move to a gold standard.

While one can’t tell when the “music for the chairs” stops, it’s going to be rough in the US for the poor and middle class. Inflation will roar back and make the Carter 21% look like child’s play.

The only saving grace is that China is our “partner” in this bubble.

# – # – # – # – # 

2 Comments | GOLDBUG | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: The Seahawks’ Play Calling

Sunday, February 8, 2015

https://freedom-to-tinker.com/blog/felten/in-partial-defense-of-the-seahawks-play-calling/

In Partial Defense of the Seahawks’ Play Calling
FEBRUARY 2, 2015 BY ED FELTEN

*** begin quote ***

The conclusion that run-pass-run is the best sequence is fairly robust against changes in the probability assumptions. If it’s wrong, it’s probably because of the assumption that run-run-run isn’t an option.The Seahawks’ decision to pass on second down wasn’t crazy, but a better choice would have been to pass on third down. Announcers who said “just run twice” were giving bad advice. The Seahawks didn’t make a terrible play call; they made a reasonable choice but were defeated by a great defensive play.

*** end quote ***

I think this analysis over looks that the NE Pats had timeouts.

I doubt Bill B would not try to save some time for a “Hail Mary” by Brady.

Hence a stuffed run, might get a “free” time out from NE.

Interesting discussion.

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

PRIMAL: Add ¼ cup of flax seeds to one’s diet

Saturday, February 7, 2015

http://nutritionfacts.org/video/flax-seeds-for-hypertension/

Volume 22 · January 26th 2015 · Michael Greger, M.D.Flax
Seeds for Hypertension

Extraordinary results reported in a rare example of a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of a dietary intervention (flaxseeds) to combat one of our leading killers, high blood pressure.

*** begin quote ***

Rarely do we see a dietary study of this caliber. A prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial—you know how hard that is in a nutrition study? For drugs it’s easy: you have two identical looking pills, one’s active, one’s placebo, and until the end of the study neither the researcher nor the patient has any idea which is which, hence double blind. But people tend to notice what they’re eating. So how did they sneak a quarter cup of ground flax seeds into half of the people’s diets without them knowing? They created all these various flax or placebo containing foods, and even added like bran and molasses to match the color and texture so it was all a big secret until 6 months later when they broke the code to see who ate which.

*** end quote ***

With no side effects.

Seems like a good idea to me.

I’ll try it.

What’s to lose?

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | PRIMAL | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Case Snares Bill Clinton

Friday, February 6, 2015

http://dailycaller.com/2015/01/13/will-the-jeffrey-epstein-pedophile-case-snare-clinton/

Updated: 2:00 PM ET January 20, 2015
Will The Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Case Snare Clinton?
Is This The Scandal That Ends Hillary

*** begin quote ***

Is this the scandal that ends Hillary’s campaign? Former President Bill Clinton visited the hedonistic private island of a billionaire pedophile who police found was engaging girls as young as 12, multiple times. Now a new lawsuit may compel the former president to testify under oath about what he was doing there. The New York Post reported that Hillary is furious that Bill is mired in the scandal.

Democrat mega donor and billionaire Jeffrey Epstein was tied by Palm Beach Police to as many as 40 underaged girls and allegedly provided minor girls to Prince Andrew and lawyer Alan Dershowitz, among others. Now, a lawsuit to overturn a secret and controversial sealed wrist slap plea deal that got Epstein a mere 15 months in a Palm Beach Halfway house, may reveal what Clinton was doing on the island and why Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane 10 times to party abroad, according to FAA Logs. One woman abused on the island by Epstein told the UK Daily Mail Clinton was provided with two women “no older than 17″ when he visited Epstein’s island.

A lawsuit to overturn the secret plea and a secondary defamation suit deal filed by a respected former Judge and a Fort Lauderdale lawyer may force Dershowitz to testify, and could rope in Bill Clinton.

 *** and ***

A few nights ago on FOX, Ann Coulter spoke the truth on the Jeffrey Epstein case. She hit the nail on the head when she said, “This is the elites circling the wagon and protecting a pederast.”

Let’s take Coulter’s observations a step further: the Epstein case is about the pedophile elite VIP friends of Jeffrey Epstein circling the wagons and protecting not just Jeffrey Epstein, but themselves.

“Elitism” is really about people who believe, because they have huge amounts of power, money, and connections, that the rules of society that the common man or woman must follow do not apply to them. Jeffrey Epstein was running a well- organized sex trafficking ring that provided underage girls for himself and his pedophile friends, many of whom were VIP figures in business and politics with names you would recognize.

*** and *** 

All stories like this have a butler. In this case Epstein’s Butler Alfredo Rodriguez, who was arrested and did time for his role of paymaster to Epstein, marked up a copy of Epstein’s little black book for Palm Beach Police showing who Epstein had pandered pre-teen girls to. The list, which I have seen, is mind blowing. It includes a former governor, a billionaire Republican donor, a Prime Minister, a former Senate Majority Leader, a well known lawyer, royalty, socialites and scientists. Kingpin sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s take on all this?: “I’m not a sexual predator, I’m an ‘offender.’ It’s the difference between a murderer and a person who steals a bagel.”

*** end quote ***

Really!

Remember innocent until PROVEN guilty. Provided that the Prosecutor didn’t take a dive! IF he did, then there’s no justice. And should be no peace.

We always “knew” the Bill was a pig and a moral disgrace.

How much Hillary knew, when did she know it, and what did she do about it?

(Is she still an “officer of the Court” with a law license?)

In any event, I’ve never trusted her since the details of WhiteWater (i.e., ripping off poor sometimes illiterate retirees with shady, sharp, and possibly illegal tactics) and cattle futures trading (i.e., disguised bribery).

Hopefully, this scandal gets me justice for the many (greater than 40) under age girls so molested.

And, every person involved should pay the price and be forever dismissed from being taken seriously.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #  

Leave a Comment » | Political | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

JOBSEARCH: The IBM débâcle

Thursday, February 5, 2015

http://spectrum.ieee.org/view-from-the-valley/at-work/tech-careers/massive-worldwide-layoff-underway-at-ibm

Massive Worldwide Layoff Underway At IBM
By Tekla Perry
Posted 3 Feb 2015 | 17:00 GMT

*** begin quote ***

Project Chrome, a massive layoff that IBM is pretending is not a massive layoff, is underway. First reported by Robert X. Cringely (a pen name) in Forbes, about 26 percent of the company’s global workforce is being shown the door. At more than 100,000 people, that makes it the largest mass layoff at any U.S. corporation in at least 20 years. Cringely wrote that notices have started going out, and most of the hundred-thousand-plus will likely be gone by the end of February.

 *** end quote ***

Most interesting is the lack of any comment by the political class in the “District of Corruption”, the various bureaucrats at EOE, FTC, SEC, or Labor, the “State” politicians, or the Big Media.

Wonder if this will show up on the radar of the phone DoL “unemployment numbers”.

I would point out about three years ago there was an IBM-er who said that in a few years IBM would reduce its US employment by 75%. I’m trying to find a source for that. I remember it because it was a topic of conversation with my “old friend”. He got the 3 treatment, but didn’t sue. 

AS I have always ranted, the days of “personnel”, as opposed to “Human Resources”, is long over.

Will this give rise to the White Collar Union movement? If I was the AFL-CIO, then I’d be organizing.

It’s really time to move a contract workforce meme. Workers need protection form arbitrary “Resource Actions”. 

In a truly “free market”, the Crony Capitalists have to compete for labor.

Clearly, anecdotally, it appears to be anti-US worker, anti-woman, and anti-age.

We’ll see if there is any reaction. 

If I had a contract for service from IBM, then I’d be very afraid. Clearly, where is the work going to be done.

And BTW congrats to IBM for great optics for paying bonus and giving raises to the Executives while destroying people’s lives.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #  

Leave a Comment » | JOBSEARCH | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: Maybe I can trademark “fowgi”?

Thursday, February 5, 2015

http://time.com/money/3688483/taylor-swift-this-sick-beat-trademark/

EVERYDAY MONEY
TAYLOR SWIFT
Can Taylor Swift Really Trademark “This Sick Beat”?

*** begin quote ***

Yes, and Here’s Why
Jacob Davidson @JakeD  
Jan. 29, 2015     

Taylor Swift just tried to trademark “This Sick Beat.” Here’s why she can, and why it makes a whole lot of financial sense.

The internet almost exploded Thursday over news that pop star (and freshly minted New Yorker) Taylor Swift has trademarked the phrases “This Sick Beat,” “Nice to Meet You. Where You Been?,” and “Party Like It’s 1989,” among others.

Actually, that’s not quite true. Contrary to many reports, Swift has not yet been granted any of these trademarks—she’s merely applied for them and is awaiting approval by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

*** end quote ***

Well, that’s “my girl”.

Business say and always finding a new wrinkle!

Like Cher, “barbara streisand”, and Dolly Parton, you have to back the beauty with brains.

Argh!

300$ a pop for trademarks?

Maybe I can trademark “fowgi” and “fat old white guy injineer”?

Too descriptive of a real thing? 

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MONEY: Having a pantry and a garden might be a good hedge for the future

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

http://www.granny-miller.com/survivalist-prepper-or-housewife/

Survivalist, Prepper or Housewife?
by Katherine Grossman • November 4, 2012

*** begin quote ***

The average American housewife for most of the 20th century didn’t work for wages. Food, clothing and shelter were her specialties. She knew how to cook, sew family clothing, kill and dress a chicken and get by without electricity or indoor plumbing if she had to. She had a full pantry, backyard garden, raised her own children and had plenty of time for her outside interests and community. She also didn’t have a car payment, a TV, credit card debt and managed to marry and stay married.

The average American housewife from 1920 – 1970 would today be considered a survivalist. For many of you reading this, your great-grandma was a hard-core prepper.

*** end quote ***
I humorously shared this with all the “gals” I know.

I remember my Great Aunt Marion and her basement full of “stuff” — wrote about it in CHURCH. It was impressive.

I was told that my paternal Grandmother Reinke in Portland had a prodigious pantry, “root cellar”, and “cold storage” that was under her log cabin house and it was actually bigger than the house. This was the woman who didn’t have electricity until the 50’s and a frider until the 60’s.

I often rant on my blog that it takes “two income families” today because one person works to pay the taxes.

Not sure if we can EVER regain our lost freedoms. Not sure if we can ever get back to simpler times. But, I am sure that there will be hard times ahead.

Having a pantry and a garden might be a good hedge to have.

(Marge François is the only one I know who has the knowledge and skills to pull that off. Maybe I can induce her to move to New Hampshire and join Kelly’s Dad raising more that purple potatoes.)

Laugh.

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | MONEY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »