NASA

Never A Straight Answer

HOLIDAY ON THE SUN 

Nasa to launch Solar Probe Plus mission to the surface of the SUN to protect Earth from ‘huge solar event’

NASA is gearing up to send a robot to the Sun to help prepare for a “huge solar event” that could wreak havoc on Earth.The Solar Plus Probe will come within four million miles of the sun’s surface, facing heat and radiation like no spacecraft has endured before.

 DYI:  Don’t get me wrong I’m not one of those flat earth crazies.  NASA or Never A Straight Answer agency has so many inconsistencies you would think they are the gang who couldn’t shoot straight.  The Orion project is their newest capsule – by their admission has to be tough as nails – in order to protect the electronics ( and future astronauts) from the Van Allen belt’s radiation¹.  So….NASA is going to send a probe within 4 million miles of the sun??  You can’t have it both ways NASA boys and girls.  My suspicion that goes back for decades is a skimming operation for Space Command to fund secret manned and unmanned orbiting military platforms.  My best guess about 15% of the budget goes for core scientific research the remainder is all military.

DYI

11.)   If the Van Allen belt’s radiation is so bad just use the Apollo technology for the moon landings.  Sorry folks as close as America put a man on the moon was in a studio most likely in London England.  A pure propaganda event to win the Cold War.   

Environmentalists

Leaves

 An

Environmental

Disaster

Massive clean up underway after Dakota Access protesters leave behind environmental mess

Clean-up crews are racing to clear acres of debris at the largest Dakota Access protest camp before the spring thaw turns the snowy, trash-covered plains into an environmental disaster area.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Friday that the camp, located on federal land, would be closed Feb. 22 in order to “prevent injuries and significant environmental damage in the likely event of flooding in this area” at the mouth of the Cannonball River in North Dakota.“Without proper remediation, debris, trash, and untreated waste will wash into the Cannonball River and Lake Oahe,” the Corps said in its statement.

DYI:  An earlier post I defended the 10^th Amendment and I will defend the 1^st Amendment as well.  What I will not defend is leaving your area in absolute filth – despite your holy than thou environmental attitude.  This makes you HYPOCRITES…Leaving the land spoiled with junked cars and trucks plus mountains of trash and untold amounts of human waste.  Who will pay for the clean up??  The American Taxpayers!...Shameful…Yet so typical.

DYI

The Huffington Post - Trump Tells Governors He’s All About States’ Rights. That Must Mean He’ll Leave Marijuana Laws Alone.

 Bill of Rights

10^th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The idea that the feds may go after state pot laws is “totally counter” to what the president told us, says Oregon Gov. Kate Brown.

According to one of the governors in the room, Trump repeatedly told the group he wants states to focus on crafting their own policies without fear of the federal government butting in. The president never mentioned marijuana laws, but for some, his strong defense of states’ rights signaled he’s not about to send the feds after states that are currently regulating the plant on their own.

DYI:  If Donald Trump desires to go down in history as the greatest President since the founding fathers – all he needs to do is follow the playbook – THE CONSTITUTION.  That includes areas he would love to mettle in but are clearly a State right.  In other words this will require rigor and discipline on his part along with his administration not to stick the heavy hand of the Fed’s where it does not belong.

Let’s hope this is simply the left hand (press Secretary Sean Spicer) not knowing what the right hand’s position is (President Trump).  With a hot issue as this we won’t have to wait long.

I personally was hoping that Trump right out of the gate would rescind all of the executive orders that were clearly designed to be legislation by Presidential fiat.  I’m speaking to both political parties, up to and including executive orders he agrees with.  So far I’ve little action – despite Obama’s multiple executive orders restricting gun ownership – giving Trump a bevy of ammunition [like the pun?] to bolster the constitution and play to his core supporters.

This blogger is a card carrying Libertarian and I did vote for Trump.  As the alternatives Clinton whose baggage is beyond imagination or the Libertarian candidate who is in no shape or form a libertarian plus an embarrassment for the party with his moronic statements leaves Trump as the clear choice – at least in my mind.  So…Time will tell…so far I’m seeing opportunities slip from this new administration.

 DYI

“Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, one by one.” Charles Mackay, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds

Bubble

News

It’s Bubble Time!

Wisdom & discipline will separate winners from victims

Most of you reading this might be thinking “Hey, I’m a reasonable intelligent person. I won't fall victim to the next bubble.” Perhaps, but maybe not. The numbers say that the majority of you will. Unfortunately, being smart -- even a genius -- is no protection against being ruined by a bubble. 

Remember from the video that even Sir Isaac Newton, easily one of the most brilliant humans ever to live, got his clock cleaned by the South Sea Bubble: 

But when the bubble pops, though, action becomes much harder to take. At first, everyone assumes that the sudden drop is a temporary aberration and that the party will shortly resume. As prices fall further -- and they typically fall at a faster rate than when they were rising -- folks become paralyzed by fear on the way down, slowly realizing that their paper profits may indeed be gone for good. At first they're unwilling to give up the dream of the "sure thing" they so recently had, and then, once the losses start mounting, they find themselves resistant to locking in those losses by selling. Instead, they hold on to the increasingly threadbare hope that prices will at least recover to where they can ‘get their money back.’

Americans now Hold Over $4.1 Trillion in Consumer Debt: Last Debt Bubble Peak was at $2.5 Trillion.

Americans now hold an incredible $4.1 trillion in consumer debt.  This latest data shows that Americans are now back to having an insatiable appetite for spending beyond their means.  Unlike mortgage debt, consumer debt is not building up any future equity here.  The largest category of consumer debt is student loan debt.  Even at the peak of the last debt bubble, consumer debt totaled roughly $2.5 trillion.  While student debt makes up about $1.4 trillion of the consumer debt here, auto debt is above $1 trillion.  We’ve also seen a large rise in subprime auto debt suggesting that people are borrowing beyond their means to consume.  Delinquencies are also rising suggesting any tiny slip up in the overall economy and this credit bubble can burst too. 

Consumer debt being over $4.1 trillion is troubling when student debt, auto loans, and credit cards are leading the way forward.  Apparently we like repeating history and people may like to forget that at the root of the Great Recession was a giant credit bubble.

DYI

Traitor

John

John McCain Illegally Travels To Syria, Meets With Leaders And Fighting Groups; 

No Criticism From MSM

Shortly after the mainstream media erupted in hysteria and neo-McCarthyistic attacks against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn for having a routine conversation with the Russian Ambassador and for once having dinner with the President of Russia as part of an event, aging warmonger Senator John McCain recently announced that he had traveled illegally into Syria to meet with U.S. troops illegally stationed there as well as to meet with ISIS supporter and President of Turkey, Recep Tayip Erdogan. McCain also met with the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and crown prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In addition, McCain also met with Kurdish fighters on the ground in Syria.

DYI:  I’m simply amazed as the MSM continuously doubles down with either obvious omission or outright fake news despite being repeatedly caught by the alternative news media.  MSNBC is dead with toilet bowl ratings along with dying CNN then NBC, ABC and CBS pulling up the caboose.  The MSM did not deliver Hillary Clinton to the White House; a purge of talking heads is on its way. The bet I have with myself Rachel Maddow at MSNBC will be the first to go.  This house cleaning will be to no avail, as MSM continues with their penchant of distortions and omission, all they have left is petitioning the government to censor their competitors.  So far the MSM has failed in this attempt – they are a day late and a dollar short!

DYI

Why American millennials may never get to live alone

Once upon a time, 30% of your income was the maximum you were supposed to spend on rent, but these days the median amount renters spend across the country is almost 40%. As MarketWatch reported last month, many renters of all ages spend north of 30%. On average, renters in the Marin County/San Francisco metro area will spend over 77% of their salary to pay rent in 2017, according to a study by Attom Data Solutions, the parent company of real-estate website RealtyTrac. 

More than 20% of millennials lived with a roommate as of 2015, Trulia said, but many others are holding off on rent and still living at home with their parents. “Young people today are increasingly living with a roommate — whether it’s their parents, siblings, other relatives or friends,” said Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist at Trulia. “Many are saddled with college debt and struggling to find good paying jobs that will enable them to form their own households. Until they do, many will continue to rely on roommates to save on housing costs.”

It’s worse than you thought: Americans are drastically under-saved for retirement

Many experts urge millennials to take note and begin saving as soon as possible, though many have trouble putting money away for such a distant goal and struggle to envision themselves as retirees. Younger workers may also question how to balance their paychecks: saving for retirement is important, but some place higher importance on saving for a home or another financial goal, said John Scott, director of the Retirement Savings Project, part of Pew Charitable Trusts, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit non-governmental public policy organization.

NASA weighing risk of adding crew to megarocket's first flight

NASA is weighing the risk of adding astronauts to the first flight of its new megarocket, designed to eventually send crews to Mars.

DYI:  NASA how about putting a man or women on the moon first.  Any enlightened citizen already knows Neil Armstrong along with the subsequent astronauts never reached the moon.  I’m not going to get into who, what’s, and why’s as all you have to do is go to YouTube enter faked moon landings and all of the evidence is there.  So overwhelming it has become comical.  The faked moon landing is the GOLD STANDARD for fake news.  The Apollo programs MASSIVE FRAUD conjured up against the American public – an attempt to beef up the failing Nixon administration and win the propaganda war with Russia – to the tune of $24.4 billion in 1973 or in today’s dollars that would be 144 billion.

So what’s going on NASA (Never a straight answer)?  Attempting to rip us off again?

DYI

The

Lunatic Left

‘Refuse Fascism’ Organizer Tells Tucker, Trump Is ‘Operating Out Of Hitler’s Playbook’ [VIDEO]

Political activist Sunsara Taylor told Tucker Carlson Tuesday night that, “in the name of humanity, [the] 7 billion people on this planet need to pour into the streets” and protest President Trump. 

“Look, we’re facing an emergency,” the “Refuse Fascism” organizer told The Daily Caller founder. “Humanity is facing an emergency. A fascist regime has seized the reins of power in one of the strongest — no the sole super power in the world. Trump and Pence are operating out of Hitler’s playbook, only they have nuclear weapons.”

DYI:  You will see more of this firebrand Sunsara Taylor as an articulate, poised, and ruthless in her sincerity creating an environment of credibility despite her lunatic opinions.  This lends an ability to sway the disenfranchised and gullible.  She has a future – unfortunately not the future I envision – but a future none the less.

DYI

The Billionaire-Owned, Corporate Media is as Worthless as Ever

The

Propaganda

War

These 15 Billionaires Own America's News Media Companies

1. Michael Bloomberg - Bloomberg  LP and Bloomberg Media
2. Rupert Murdoch - News Corp
3. Donald and Samuel "Si" Newhouse - Advance Publications
4. Cox Family - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5. Jeff Bezos - The Washington Post
6. John Henry - The Boston Globe
7. Sheldon Adelson - The Las Vegas Review-Journal
8. Joe Mansueto - Inc. and Fast Company magazines
9. Mortimer Zuckerman - US News & World Report, New York Daily News
10. Barbey family - Village Voice
11. Stanley Hubbard – Hubbard Broadcasting
12. Patrick Soon-Shiong - Tribune Publishing Co.
13. Carlos Slim Helu - The New York Times
14. Warren Buffett - regional daily papers
15. Viktor Vekselberg - Gawker

The Billionaire-Owned, Corporate Media is as Worthless as Ever

Rather than focus its journalistic energy on chronicling the economic insecurity plaguing so many of our fellow Americans, the billionaire-owned corporate media appears entirely obsessed with chattering endlessly about Russia conspiracy theories and domestic coup plots. Instead of looking in the mirror and admitting how its countless errors and propaganda pushing led to multiple humanitarian disasters over the last couple of decades, the oligarch-owned mainstream media insists upon a narrative that Trump the individual is at the root of our problems, as opposed to an entrenched executive branch with excessive power. This is because the mainstream media isn’t actually concerned about our cancerous, systemic metastasizing statism, it merely doesn’t want Trump in charge of it. I, on the other hand, want to dismantle that unconstitutional state entirely and transfer power to the American people where it belongs — self-government. Does anyone actually think for a second the media would be this adversarial if Hillary won?

 You can be a staunch defender of the free press and the 1st Amendment, and at the same time point out that the billionaire-owned media has failed us. This is my position, and Trump’s election hasn’t changed that. The handful of corporations and billionaires who control the mainstream press do not = “the press.” They (and the deep state) are currently trying to convince the public that they’re the only ones standing between you and fascism. This is complete stupidity, and if we fall for it, we will get what we deserve.

 Billionaires don’t buy media outlets to make money, they already have that. They buy them to manipulate public opinion.

DYI 

Russia’s

Relentless

 Drive to Price Oil in

GOLD!

Russia Gold Buying Is Back – Buys One Million Ounces In January

The increase in the gold reserves came after Russia did not buy a single ounce in December – a move seen as potentially a signal or an olive branch to the U.S. and the incoming Trump administration.

Russia has been steadily buying bullion since before the global financial crisis and is now the sixth-biggest holder of gold reserves internationally – after the U.S., Germany, Italy, France and the IMF.

 Russia places much strategic importance on its gold reserves. Both President Putin and Prime Minister Medvedev and have been photographed on numerous occasions holding gold bars and coins. In May 2015, we pointed out how the Russian central bank views gold bullion as “100% guarantee from legal and political risks.” 

Astute, risk aware investors are following Russia’s lead by diversifying and having an allocation to physical gold coins and bars.

DYI:  Russia’s continues their push to end major central banks export; inflation.  Once Russia prices oil then gas and eventually all of her natural resources in gold the U.S. Dollar as the World’s reserve currency will end. Will this collapse the U.S. Dollar??  NO!  However the days on running chronic budget deficits and allowing banks to leverage up at will – will end.  The U.S. Dollar will share its status with gold.  If Putin succeeds this will crunch America’s military might forcing to spend money that we actually have not digital dollars ginned up from the Federal Reserve as our populous’ will not tolerate high rates of inflation.  There is no doubt this is the path the Russian’s are on. 

 DYI

Pharmaceutical

Smack Down

(It’s About Time!)

How states are using the law to bring drug executives to heel

By JOHANNA MAYER

Controversies arising from the 500% hike in the generic price of the EpiPen, used to deliver epinephrine for life-threatening allergic reactions, or the 5,400% explosion in the price of Daraprim for the treatment of potentially deadly parasite infections, have only fueled price-fixing accusations. 

But now generic drug executives can expect to face tougher legal repercussions, as evidenced by two federal court lawsuits filed late last year—one in November brought by Eatontown, N.J.-based Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. against two of its former executives, Jeffrey Glazer and Jason Malek, using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), and one in December that 20 states have filed against six companies, including Heritage, after a major antitrust investigation by the state of Connecticut.

 For brother-in-laws Glazer and Malek, the legal problems started on Nov. 10, when Heritage filed its lawsuit in the U.S.District Court for the District of New Jersey against Glazer and Malek, claiming that they “looted tens of millions of dollars from Heritage by misappropriating its business opportunities, fraudulently obtaining compensation for themselves, and embezzling its intellectual property. Glazer and Malek accomplished this brazen theft by creating at least five dummy corporations, which they used to siphon off Heritage’s profits through numerous racketeering schemes.” 

Then, on Dec. 13, the U.S. Department of Justice filed criminal charges against the two men for price-fixing. The DoJ nailed Glazer Heritage’s former CEO, and Malek, the company’s ex-president, with creating several dummy corporations so they could orchestrate elaborate racketeering schemes and pilfer company profits.

DYI: The above two paragraphs is standard operating procedure for the Medical Industrial Complex.  This is NOT an isolated occurrence; it is so prevalent it is institutionalized FRAUD on a MASSIVE SCALE!  Apparently large campaign donations are no longer enough for the political class to look the other way.  My suspicions as the political class of gullible Boomers exit the 76 million strong Millennials are running over corrupt Generation X; this is the beginning of the end for corruption in the medical field.

I’m don't  believe in coincidences – as reported earlier – Rand Paul has proposed legislation repealing Obama Care (that’s great) but buried in the bill exempts health care professionals from the Clayton Act.  This act is 100 year old law dealing with the robber barons who colluded, price fixed, created monopolies (trusts) all to the detriment of consumers.  Apparently Rand Paul – despite his father being Ron Paul the staunch libertarian – is pushing legislation in an effort to thwart civil and CRIMINAL penalties against his largest campaign donors – The Medical Industrial Complex!

If Rand Paul’s bill achieves any traction it will be interesting how the Trump Administrations deals with it – up to and including using his power of veto.  By the way one of most underrated President was Gerald Ford who stated there are three things to being a great president – VETO – VETO – VETO.  Inflation dropped like a rock during the short time he was president – during the 1970’s – as he contained budget deficits.

 DYI

Bubble

(Down Under)

News

Australia headed for ‘economic armageddon’

AUSTRALIA is headed for an “economic Armageddon”, with record household debt, record foreign debt and a massive housing bubble creating a perfect storm that could “wipe out” millions of families if there is a global shock.

That is the apocalyptic warning of a former government economic advisor, who says the government needs to cut tax incentives such as negative gearing and welfare handouts and the RBA needs to increase interest rates in order to avoid a “devastating depression”.

Worse still, Australia is particularly vulnerable because of significant structural imbalances, including record levels of household debt not seen since the lead up to the last great depression in the 1920s.

Corporate governance specialist John Adams, who was an economics and policy advisor to Senator Arthur Sinodinos and management consultant to a big four accounting firm, believes he has found seven disturbing signs that the global economy is primed for a major fall.

Sign 1: Record Australian Household Debt

According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, Australia’s household debt as a proportion of disposable income now stands at a record high of 187%.

The two closest episodes were the 1880s and the 1920s, which both preceded the only two economic depressions ever experienced in Australian history in 1890 and 1929.

Sign 2: Record Australian Net Foreign Debt

Australia’s net foreign debt now stands at more than $1 trillion and as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product was at a record high of 63.3% in June 2016.

This makes Australians much more vulnerable to international economic developments such as higher global interest rates, international financial crises or major government or corporate bankruptcies.

Sign 3: Record Low Interest rates

Australia has its lowest official interest rates on record with the Reserve Bank of Australia’s cash rate sitting at 1.5%. The current low rate of interest is not sustainable over the medium term and will inevitably rise.

Australians, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, who have borrowed record amounts of money are very susceptible to higher interest rates.

Sign 4: Australian Housing Bubble

The expansion of credit by the Reserve Bank of Australia has been pumped into the Australian housing market over the past 25 years. Credit, which has been directed to Housing as a proportion of Australia’s GDP, has exploded from 21.07% in June 1991 to 95.06% in June 2016.

Over the same period, credit which has been directed at the business sector or to other personal expenses has remained relatively steady as a proportion of GDP.

Sign 5: Significant Increases in Global Debt

The General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements stated on 6 February 2017:

“Total debt in the global economy, including public debt, has increased significantly since the end of 2007 ... Over the past 16 years, debt of governments, households and non-financial firms has risen by 63% in the United States, the euro area, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, 52% in the G20 and 85% in emerging economies. Heavy debt can only leave less room for manoeuvre in responding to future challenges.”

Sign 6: Major International Asset Bubbles

There are significant asset bubbles in bonds, stocks and real estate in major economies such as the United States and China, which has been fuelled by the significant increases in global debt.

For example, the Shiller PE Index in the United States which measures the price of a company’s stock relative to average earnings over the past 10 years is now at 28.85. This is the third highest recorded behind the Tech Bubble in 1999 and “Black Tuesday” in 1929.

Sign 7: Global Derivatives Bubble

According to the Bank for International Settlements, the value of the over the counter derivatives market (notional amounts outstanding) stood at US$544 trillion.

Much of these derivatives contracts are concentrated on the balance sheets of leading global financial and banking institutions such as Deutsche Bank. The concentration of complex derivative contracts on bank balance sheets poses significant risks to both individual institutions and the global financial system.

DYI:  China and a host of western countries including the U.S. are deeply in debt with Australia being the spendthrift poster boy.  When the bough (bubble) breaks the cradle (economy) will fall (depression).  Have massive amount of savings – relative to each of our personal situation – in high quality credits and a modest amount of gold.  Your shopping list ready once markets are down at least 50% from their highs.  In other words – be a good Boy Scout – BE PREPARED!  You may want to look at the closed end fund Australia Equity Fund symbol IAF for future purchase.

As a side note Russia has made giant strides in monetary reform hardening the Ruble.  Their central bank has positive interest rates wringing out inflation plus systematically purchasing gold for their national reserves.  If they have the political will to maintain this positive monetary stance their population will and currently are on a saving spree flooding the banks with low cost non inflationary capital.  Plus with positive rates the flip side of savings is debt reduction as Russian citizens are paying down debt at a record rate.  Encourage by their government to save in gold and silver coins creating additional confidence further expanding their monetary reform.

Why is this important???   

It is my opinion Russia is setting the stage to price first oil then gas along with the rest of her natural resource in GOLD!  Will this be the end of the U.S. dollar?  NO…Will it be the end of the U.S. being the world’s reserve currency?  YES…The U.S. Dollar will have to share its place with gold.  The Russian economy is too small to become the new reserve currency.  However they could make big inroads into central Europe.  This is my judgement is what all of the Russian screaming is about.  

If this occurs and I believe this be a high probable event, America’s free monetary ride will end.  Interest rates will rise, prices will be “jacked up” and Congress’ days of deficit spending will end.  America will have to live within its means, in the short run, to put it bluntly, it will SUCK!  The long run will force monetary reform here in the U.S.  Donald Trump is aware of this.  In the Oval Office for everyone to see is a painting of Andrew Jackson -- who did away with America’s 2nd central bank.      

Here is a YouTube presentation explaining the PetroDollar and its end:

END of the PETRO DOLLAR?

Updated Monthly

AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO - ACTIVE ALLOCATION - 2/1/17

Active Allocation Bands (excluding cash) 0% to 60%

75% - Cash -Short Term Bond Index - VBIRX

20% -Gold- Precious Metals & Mining - VGPMX

 5% -Lt. Bonds- Long Term Bond Index - VBLTX

 0% -Stocks- Total Stock Market Index - VTSAX

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DYI