Breakouts and Breakdowns Early On In 2018
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This week was another big one for markets. US equity markets show continued strength but look at the 10 year yield and oil which are at levels not seen since 2014. Also the USD just closed the week at the lowest level since 2014 and Bitcoin had an almost 50% correction early in the week. All of these topics are covered in this week’s show.
As a reminder I will be at the Cambridge House Resource Investment Conference on Sunday and Monday. If you are in Vancouver be sure to swing by and visit me at booth 1108. If you can not make the show but would like me to touch base with any companies be sure to email me with those company names and any questions you have. I can always be reached at Fleck@kereport.com.
- Segment 1: Chris Martenson kicks off the show with comments on rising yields but still a flat yield curve.
- Segment 2: Epoch Times Business Editor Valentin Schmid, shares his thoughts on the volatility of Bitcoin and how he stays sane with his money in the sector.
- Segment 3: Chief Investment Officer at Merk Investments, Axel Merk, looks at the USD breakdown, US markets good start to the year, and his comments on the precious metals
- Segment 4: We wrap up the first hour with Byron King and how better economic data should be viewed for metals investors.
- Segment 5: Beware of the Media Big Al and Jeff Deist discuss their sources of choice for information.
- Segment 6: Jeff Pontius and Big Al discuss the importance of politics as it relates to investor sentiment.
- Segment 7: Big Al discusses the need for a third party with Professor Steven Nemerovski.
- Segment 8: We continue our discussion with Professor Steven Nemerovski focusing on specific political players and issues.
Exclusive Company Updates and Interviews This Week.
Segment 1
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Segment 2
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Segment 3
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Segment 4
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Segment 5
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Segment 6
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Segment 7
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Segment 8
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You are certainly all welcome, Skeeta. As I have said numerous times you and certainly our guests are keeping Big Al sane!
What’s the vibe in North American shops at the moment? Are people feeling buoyant, happy to spend money on things?
I know tha some of the brick & mortar companies have been doing badly but is that just because they are old and out of touch? Are people spending money in other perhaps newer brand shops?
Just trying to get a guage of whether shoppers are indicative of a boom or coming recession?
Bob, the clothing retailers are selling junk to the public that they buy at next to nothing from companies in countries like Bangladesh. Most of these goods end up in landfill sites a few years later, about 10% can be recycled but the rest is just garbage. Most clothes made these days are produced from a blend of synthetic chemicals, rayon, nylon, with maybe 10% cotton. These fibers are too expensive to separate so many of them are bundled up, shipped, and resold in Africa, or sent to landfill sites here where they leach into the environment. They are made so cheaply and sold so cheaply that it gives people the illusion that our society is affluent when in effect it is a debt bomb built on garbage sold to the public.
Interest rates are going up fairly quickly here but in small increments, they are desperate to keep their hands on the financial levers but they don’t know what is happening or we wouldn’t be in this mess. We live in a society where people don’t understand buying quality or backing a currency with gold. The illusionists are good at fooling people with cheap tricks and you know that magic is just that until you are told how it is done or you can’t be fooled anymore. I don’t see a boom or a recession, this can only end up with the dreaded “D” word that our economists don’t utter anymore because they play on our ignorance and fear. DT
Thanks Dick – much appreciated.
I was trying to find out more whether there is that ‘feel-good factor’ that, whether via debt or not, is reulsting in people spending and keeping the US & Canadians econmies turning over or even flourishing?
My aim being to try to find some more indication of whether this bubble in the stock-market may well continue for another 6 or 12 months.
This Big Bull Market has become a national mania, where have we heard that before. The government has been promoting it because it covers a multitude of sins. It looks sunny outside to most people but there is much trouble none the less. Few people imagine that the peak has actually been reached. The majority expect The Big Bull Market to go on and on. In 1921 The US had a depression but it only lasted a year because the system was allowed to cleanse itself. This time it could very well be like the 1930’s because the state can’t keep their hands off the levers. They have been able to forestall the inevitable so it is hard to predict when we will hear Crash, Boom, Bang, but it can’t go on much longer. DT
For the reason of sanity, I choose to be optimistic.
I have always been very quick on my feet in term of adjusting to new conditions. The proof of that is that I started a business with absolutely no capital and beat the odds by achieving a certain amount of financial success.
Don’t get me wrong Mr. Tracy, most of my colleagues made much more money that I did. But I had very different priorities which I would guess I still do.
With all due respect (and respect it is that I have), Big Al …
I think the comments were directed at the sentiment of the markets (and marketplace).
I actually enjoy listening to your opinions, Al, since they counterbalance my negativity (I’m an old sourpuss, if you want to know … and I need a few optimists like you to bring me up now and again).
Anyway, I always enjoy reading everyone’s viewpoints (I hope to glean some insights … whether it’s looking up or down).
Many thanks!
Many thanks for the comment, Mike/
People in my neck of the woods are very optimistic about the direction of the stock market. I have to say that my impression is that The Donald has instilled a lot of optimism in certain segments of society.
The market has increased 31% so far during his time in office. So what if we get a 10% correction? In the big picture that is “chump change”
You Al may be an optimist but I am a realist. When Trump came along I knew he had a great shot at winning and I said so long before most others. Realistically I am glad he is there but the system needs to correct and not be interfered with. That I believe will change a lot of what is wrong with America and Canada.
I agree with you Mr. Tracy about the quality of much of the clothing. Interest rate are also a fascinating subject for me. Cars are no longer quoted by price but by payment amount and length of contracts. Capital One Visa cards with bonus poits are all the rage. Capital One is also starting a bank supposedly offering higher interest on savings rates.
Rather than fall into the trap of credit, I use an American Express Card and a Diners Club Mastercard both of which have to be paid off monthly and i do that.
Capital One is a scammer……..for beginners….. they like to get people hooked at 24% plus , on the interest rates. They can afford to pay higher rates to savers…….jmo
Is their interest on credit cards actually that high? Because I refuse to use cards that are totally credit with no 30 day pay off required, I did not know that. Of course it is immoral.
Yes………
Count on it as I have already talked with Timmy; Jim; and, one other fellow about doing a “Boys at the Bar” editorial. I am trying to put it together for tomorrow.
My daughter keeps getting offers, …..She knows the Rule of 72 and chuckles ……
A “chip off the old block”, OOTB
Anecdotally, the spending level seems high to me.
But I’m in California, where many have money in excess of needs.
Thanks CFS.
Yes, California might not be a good indicator of the wider North American ‘feel-good or not factor’ for the reason you mention.
CFS, I know the demographics of your neck of the woods pretty well. Admittedly, the people who I know and have met, are older and pretty successful. My impression though of what I call the valley is that it is a pretty optimistic place. I don’t know if that is still true because we haven’t been down there since the devastating fires. My guess that the folks who I know have enough character that they realize the futility of pessimism as I do!
In my part of the world, people don’t seem to be concerned about an upcoming recession.But, UK Bob, you have to remember that I live where just a short drive south (under two hours) “never-never land really exists as many, many people are employed by either Amazon or Microsoft. Many of them make salaries that I never thought would exist.
Thanks Al,
I am very aware that this time last year there were endless doom and gloom articles and posts online by people saying that the stockmarkets were about to crash, that the economy was going into recession…
The same people are saying the same things this year so, rather than listen to them, I am trying to gauge what is happening on the High Streets and Main Streets of the US, UK, Canada, Germany, etc.
Most of the “experts” who are saying that are simply “milking” the folks who want pessimistic validation. And, the “validators” are again making huge profits from their actions.
I would like people to go back 40 years and read again some of the validators’ work. Has the world ended? Is there outright revolution as there was in, let’s say Russia or China? What about the concept of having your garage filled with non perishables and canned food. Most of those proponents and today very wealthy and their philosophies have not proven to be correct.
I was a guy who accurately predicted the housing bubble and the economic problems of around 08, but I never went totally extreme
Segment 2: The recent “crash” in Bitcoin et al (not a crash; an organized takedown in order to allow the Big Boys to get in with their Christmas bonuses at before-Christmas prices) is already recovering. I fully expect Bitcoin suppression similar to GATA’s record of gold and silver suppression to attempt to control the prices of altcoins. The cost of transactions of Bitcoin is more harmful to the popularity than these takedowns, in my opinion. Fix the transaction cost/speed problems and watch Wave II of Bitcoin go to $40,000.00! With the altcoins following.
I am not a chartist, but did any of you folks look at charts of Bitcoin?
Anyone capable of T.A. could have seen the totally anomalous overbought condition Bitcoin got into. It was hardly surprising it corrected violently.
> Is It Time to Kick the Can?
Gary Wagner – January 19, 2018 #VIDEO #TechnicalAnalysis #Charts
$GOLD $SILVER #DOLLAR #SPX $BITCOIN
Ira Epstein’s Metals /3Video (1/19/2018)
#TechnicalAnalysis #Gold #Silver #Copper #Platinum #Bitcoin
Human Nature Never Changes
SmartMoneyTracker – Jan 18, 2018
#TechnicalAnalysis #Charts $Gold $GDX
https://blog.smartmoneytrackerpremium.com/2018/01/human-nature-never-changes.html
G.S. cracks me up. He mentions that nobody bought the low in mid December pre-FOMC meeting and I must have discussed a dozen times on here FAR in advance in Oct & Nov & Dec that I’d be adding my final tranche for 2017 near the end of tax loss selling and pre-FOMC meeting. In addition I publicly mentioned on the KER that prior Fri/Mon/Tue that I was adding to many positions.
Buying and getting positioned before the FED’s Dec rate hike seemed like a pretty clear and easy trade and we discussed this on here for MONTHs before it happened. The move since December 13th in Gold has been one of the most aggressive moves up in the metals and miners that we’ve seen since early 2016.
So his comment that nobody was buying down there isn’t really true, and anyone that had a calendar could have looked back to all the prior rate hikes and noticed that after each Fed hike that gold prices and miners surged, and that the time after each hike was shrinking each time and becoming more immediate after each succeeding hike.
#Gold: Is The Consolidation Over?
Morris Hubbartt – Jan 19, 2018
Super Force #PreciousMetals #TechnicalAnalysis
> SF60 Key #Charts & #Video Update
https://superforce60.com/video/2018jan18sf60/2018jan18sf60.html
Morris Hubbartt – Jan 19, 2018
> SF Juniors Key #Charts & #Video Analysis
$GOEX $AKG $ABN
https://superforcejuniors.com/video/2018jan18sfj/2018jan18sfj.html
Sam Broom | Top 2018 Resource Sector Investing Opportunities
MiningStockEducation – Jan 19, 2018
“In this interview, Sam Broom, an investment executive with Sprott Global Resource Investments Ltd., shares regarding his approach to natural resource investing, investor pitfalls to avoid and his top natural resource sectors to invest in for 2018”
0:05 Introduction of Topic and Guest
0:42 Sam’s background and how he came to work at Sprott Global
2:24 Sam describes his approach to natural resource investing
5:50 Biggest resource investor mistakes to avoid
8:56 Addressing North American-based investors’ objections to investing on the ASX
11:42 Sam shares his top resource sectors to invest in for 2018
17:07 Where we are in this commodity bull cycle and what type of companies Sam looks to invest in
I remember you stating that…….and I also remember another individual (who me???) who was looking at selling some nice small cap winners just after the FOMC as the tax loss selling came to end ….but who’s counting..😉
Agreed Wolfster. There were others as well.
In general I agree with G.S. that the masses weren’t positioning Before the FOMC or immediately after it, but clearly some people were as there are buyers on every transaction where there are sellers. Someone was buying into those deep dives down in commodity prices and the related miners before the FOMC as they were being sold down on every trade.
Now, clearly on the 13th everyone came out with guns blazing with large volume in gold & silver and most mining shares and they rocketed up for the last 4-5 weeks. For him to state that “nobody” was buying down there was a bit rich, especially where just on this tiny web blog we were discussing openly doing just that for months BEFORE the FOMC rate hike, and sure enough, it marked the bottom as expected.
You guys might want to listen to N. Prins…….concerning the FED and rate hikes,
https://usawatchdog.com/
Thanks OOTB. I enjoy her insights.
JHP:
All 1400? I don’t think so.
But you did use a good analogy. Bitcon is just as suppressed as GATA claimed silver was suppressed all the way from $4 to $50. And Bitcon will have a similar ‘correction’ as silver did from $50 to $13.60.
For those who understand you couldn’t possibly “suppress” silver from $4 to $50 or gold from $252 to $1923, you also understand that silver went parabolic in 2011 (and a few predicted a major crash) and bitcon went parabolic in December and is in the midst of the same major crash. And some called that with great accuracy.
You don’t really need a conspiracy to invest as long as you understand human behavior.
Just want you to know, Robert, that I recommended you book about Peace to our book club members yesterday.
My recommendation resulted from the piece that I read on Lou Rockwell.com pertaining to the Uranium One deal.
Who knows, maybe history will prove you to be correct.
But there is a difference between Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” of the multiples of free individuals in a free market, and the top-down gauntlet of iron along with collectivism of one class of people, with a ruling hierarchy above them.
Too many people have a vested interest in seeing gold, silver, and Bitcoin (any foreign exchange) go a certain way each day.
Sorry Mr. Pace. Could you please explain as I am just a dumb Polack/Ruskie
JHP:
Everyone has a vested interest in seeing gold, silver, and bitcon go a certain way each day. It’s called a market and all participants do their level best to manipulate it and always will.
But human stupidity never changes and if you understand it, you can make a whole lot of money. All you have to do is bet against the mob.
In today’s market,playing the momentum of the herd will also make you a whole lot of money…..it’s just that greed and stupidity get in the way…could easily have gotten your original investments in cryptos out and just let your profits ride……
Mr. Pace, I have to repeat, for the record, that I have chosen to stay away from I think is a huge “tulip mania”
Something for nothing usually evolves into nothing for nothing!
Regarding Tulip manias……
To the moon with Crypto Wars — Issue No. 10
Your dose of crypto news and analysis from @BTO and @Goldfinger
https://ceo.ca/@bto/to-the-moon-with-crypto-wars-issue-no-10
The Best in Crypto News – (1/19/18)
By Goldfinger on Thursday, January 18, 2018
Brazil has more than twice Bitcoin investors than its stock market and treasuries combined
January 21, 2018
Your posts among others are proof of the valuable, often ahead of the curve, prove the value of this site. It is due to all of you.
South Korea’s Second Largest Bank Supports Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Traders Relieved
January 21, 2018
I am not surprised as the Asian folks always seem to be way ahead of us.
Thanks Big Al. Most of the posters here on the KER do a pretty good job of finding out about the news of the day, market trends, political trends, and breaking stories before the masses are aware. By the time the main stream media outlets start covering a new development we typically have been reviewing it here for some time.
Thanks for building such a great platform and website, and inviting on such a rotation of interesting guests, full of mind expanding insights. It has attracted a very interesting group of folks over the years that come here to exchange ideas and is truly appreciated.
DITTO EX>>>>>>>spot on……
Well, don’t get me wrong, Big Al, but I am hanging my hat entirely on Mr. Clif High and his web bot predictions of Bitcoin to $40,000.00 in 2018. I’ve also made money already in one altcoin by listening to jsnip4, who reads Clif High’s reports (when I can’t afford them), as well as his own enthusiasm for crypto currencies.
So I believe 2018 will be a very, very good year for the crypto currencies! I am also expectant of gold and silver being restored to primacy, as is their due.
I don’t even know what Mr. High’s record is.
The Future is not Blockchain. It’s Hashgraph.
The Assemblage – Nov 2, 2017
“What happens when someone builds a distributed ledger technology that is safer than the competition and operates at 50,000 times the speed? That’s Hashgraph. Hashgraph is not Blockchain. It is an entirely new distributed ledger technology. Could it displace the entire blockchain ecosystem? Is it the future of the Blockchain?”
“In a panel moderated by Demetri Kofinas, host of the Hidden Forces podcast, the conversation at The Assemblage NoMad looked at how this small but explosive company may very well change the world, and displace an entire industry with it. The implications of this technology are tremendous.”
Been following hashgraph since late October…..only problem is Swirlz is the only company I found and for some inexplicable reason they didn’t contact me when they were doing a financing so I will have to wait for them to go public just like the rest of the herd
Wolfster – yes it is a bit early for Hashgraph adoption at this point, but the implications of what it could do to the newly emerging Blockchain movement are worth considering.
In a way it reminds me of Fusion energy replacing Fission based nuclear power. If it does ever come to fruition, it will be a disruptive sector with many advantages, but so far it remains an idea that is still being tested and for now Nuclear energy is here to stay.
Right now blockchain is starting to be adapted by different companies and services, but it is still in its infancy, and hashgraph has a ways to go before it’s ready.
This information was posted a couple of months ago. I read the original article twice and the point was made very clearly!
Thanks Big Al. I think I remembered reviewing it back then, but someone else referenced it this weekend to me and I thought it was worth posting again for consideration. Ever Upward!
Segment 6: Big Al, the people of America do have a glimmer of hope due to the actions of candidate Trump and President Trump. It’s not complete and across all barriers and evils, but some sections are looking much better to the common person compared to just two years ago! Having leadership that believes in America rather than condemning America counts. But no movement can succeed without the 3% growing to encompass the entire nation.
I agree that Trump has so far been good for America.
I worry, however, about the debt problem, which I do not believe he will attempt to ameliorate.
CFS:
Don’t you mean Trump has been good for Israel? He sold out America for $30 million.
Even Hillary got $145 million for renting out the State Department. He’s not nearly as good as he thinks he is.
Robert, I am absolutely convinced that The Donald is much too smart to do that.
I think that he is much more in your camp than you make think. Again history will be the final judge.
Sheldon Adelson donated $30 million to Trump’s campaign and $5 million to the inauguration. Adelson demanded Trump move the capital to Jerusalem. Trump did in spite of it being anti-US policy for 50 years, anti all international law, anti the UN and just plain stupid.
He’s bought and paid for just as much as Hillary ever was but to give the Clinton crime family credit, they have been running a really successful scam for 30 years and took in far more money than I ever dreamed.
Look for Frank G and Bill Clinton to be in deep trouble over Uranium 1.
Yep…..Old Frank G. better get himself a good lawyer, who knows the judge.
Re: Section 5 with Jeff Deist.
He mentions CNN.
Anyoine that trusts CNN is lacking brain-power.
I find CNN a major source of bias and slanted comments. Not to be trusted.
Agree ! CFS !
I know exactly how Jeff feels about CNN and believe me his feelings are similar to yours and mine. There is a reason to watch it and that reason is not what you might think at first glance.
Al, I don’t know what CFS thinks he heard but Jeff came off just fine with respect to CNN.
Segment 6.
Big Al, The reason gold backed off is simple: It got over-bought. Look at the chart:
http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=%24gold
Jeff would not disagree with your rationale.
Slowly killing the Mainstream Media is the plan ! Dick Cheney ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-jHqkoLCBM
So far, “killing the mainstream media” has not really worked.
You watch eventually the mainstream media will eventually change it tune and tactics. It will do it out of economic necessity.
Segment 7.
We seriously need an extra line on the voting system: None of the Above,
Then it might be worth voting.
Big Al, how can Trump be a good communicator with 90% of the media just plain anti-Trump and prepared to distort anything he says.
I also believe in the 21st century, voting should br proportional to the amount of tax paid by an individual.
Interesting but then 10% of the people would control the country. Explain that one to me CFS!
But any stable system has “negative feedback”. (Without that there cannot be a stable balance point.)
If the 10% enrich themselves by dropping their taxes, they lose power.
Do you really believe the country should be controlled by total democracy?
Remember that half the population has less than average intelligence.
Remember that half the population has less than average awareness of current affairs.
(Sarcasm on)
Remember how good the current swamp is, with current democracy of one person-one vote.
I almost prefer the Swiss democratic system, except the masses voted to sell all their gold, demonstrated flaws.
This is a much more complicated subject than one that can be covered in simple and short forum posts.
How about a future Daily Editorial on this subject. Count on it.
Very easy CFS. Simply by being a healer instead of a defensive (in many cases) Jersey Brawler!
CFS, the medial clearly has an agenda. Trump could perform miracles and the media, at this point would not recognize any of them.
Which Senators Voted For The Government Shutdown
Legislation to prevent the government from shutting down failed Friday night in the Senate ahead of the midnight deadline. The total on the procedural motion was 50-49, but 60 votes were needed to advance the bill.
Here’s how every senator voted:
Alaska
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Republican: YES
Sen. Dan Sullivan, Republican: YES
Alabama
Sen. Doug Jones, Democrat: YES
Sen. Richard Shelby, Republican: YES
Arkansas
Sen. John Boozman, Republican: YES
Sen. Tom Cotton, Republican: YES
Arizona
Sen. Jeff Flake, Republican: NO
Sen. John McCain, Republican: Did not vote
California
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Democrat: NO
Sen. Kamala Harris, Democrat: NO
Colorado
Sen. Michael Bennet, Democrat: NO
Sen. Cory Gardner, Republican: YES
Connecticut
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Democrat: NO
Sen. Christopher Murphy, Democrat: NO
Delaware
Sen. Thomas Carper, Democrat: NO
Sen. Chris Coons, Democrat: NO
Florida
Sen. Bill Nelson, Democrat: NO
Sen. Marco Rubio, Republican: YES
Georgia
Sen. Johnny Isakson, Republican: YES
Sen. David Perdue, Republican: YES
Hawaii
Sen. Mazie Hirono, Democrat: NO
Sen. Brian Schatz, Democrat: NO
Iowa
Sen. Joni Ernst, Republican: YES
Sen. Chuck Grassley, Republican: YES
Idaho
Sen. Mike Crapo, Republican: YES
Sen. Jim Risch, Republican: YES
Illinois
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Democrat: NO
Sen. Dick Durbin, Democrat: NO
Indiana
Sen. Joe Donnelly, Democrat: YES
Sen. Todd Young, Republican: YES
Kansas
Sen. Jerry Moran, Republican: YES
Sen. Pat Roberts, Republican: YES
Kentucky
Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican: NO
Sen. Rand Paul, Republican: NO
Louisiana
Sen. Bill Cassidy, Republican: YES
Sen. John Kennedy, Republican: YES
Massachusetts
Sen. Edward Markey, Democrat: NO
Sen Elizabeth Warren, Democrat: NO
Maryland
Sen. Ben Cardin, Democrat: NO
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Democrat: NO
Maine
Sen. Susan Collins, Republican: YES
Sen. Angus King, Independent: NO
Michigan
Sen. Gary Peters, Democrat: NO
Sen. Debby Stabenow, Democrat: NO
Minnesota
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Democrat: NO
Sen. Tina Smith, Democrat: NO
Missouri
Sen. Roy Blunt, Republican: YES
Sen. Claire McCaskill, Democrat: YES
Mississippi
Sen. Thad Cochran, Republican: YES
Sen. Roger Wicker, Republican: YES
Montana
Sen. Steve Daines, Republican: YES
Sen. Jon Tester, Democrat: NO
North Carolina
Sen. Richard Burr, Republican: YES
Sen. Thom Tillis, Republican: YES
North Dakota
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, Democrat: YES
Sen. John Hoeven, Republican: YES
Nebraska
Sen. Deb Fischer, Republican: YES
Sen. Ben Sasse, Republican: YES
New Hampshire
Sen. Maggie Hassan, Democrat: NO
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat: NO
New Jersey
Sen. Cory Booker, Democrat: NO
Sen. Robert Menendez, Democrat: NO
New Mexico
Sen. Martin Heinrich, Democrat: NO
Sen. Tom Udall, Democrat: NO
Nevada
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Democrat: NO
Sen. Dean Heller, Republican: YES
New York
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat: NO
Sen. Chuck Schumer, Democrat: NO
Ohio
Sen. Rob Portman, Republican: YES
Sen. Sherrod Brown, Democrat: NO
Oklahoma
Sen. James Inhofe, Republican: YES
Sen. James Lankford, Republican: YES
Oregon
Sen. Jeff Merkley, Democrat: NO
Sen. Ron Wyden, Democrat: NO
Pennsylvania
Sen. Bob Casey, Democrat: NO
Sen. Pat Toomey, Republican: YES
Rhode Island
Sen. Jack Reed, Democrat: NO
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat: NO
South Carolina
Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican NO
Sen. Tim Scott, Republican: YES
South Dakota
Sen. Mike Rounds, Republican: YES
Sen. John Thune, Republican: YES
Tennessee
Sen. Lamar Alexander, Republican: YES
Sen. Bob Corker, Republican: YES
Texas
Sen. John Cornyn, Republican: YES
Sen. Ted Cruz, Republican: YES
Utah
Sen. Orrin Hatch, Republican: YES
Sen. Mike Lee, Republican: NO
Virginia
Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat: NO
Sen. Mark Warner, Democrat: NO
Vermont
Sen. Patrick Leahy, Democrat: NO
Sen. Bernie Sanders, Independent: NO
Washington
Sen. Maria Cantwell, Democrat: NO
Sen. Patty Murray, Democrat: NO
Wisconsin
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Democrat: NO
Sen. Ron Johnson, Republican: YES
West Virginia
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Republican: YES
Sen. Joe Manchin, Democrat: YES
Wyoming
Sen. John Barasso, Republican: YES
Sen. Michael Enzi, Republican: YES
https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/20/politics/senate-vote-government-shutdown/index.html
It is easy to see some swamp-critters that need to go:
Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.
With leadership such as those the Republican Party is lost.
Mike Lee was no help either.
Mike Lee is one of my favorite senators. I wonder why he and Rand Paul voted no?
Bonzo, unlike the Democrats, Rand voted no for the right reasons. His stance respects the constitution and is, therefore, the most American.
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/01/18/rand-paul-why-he-voting-no-short-term-spending-bill
To embrace Keynesian economics is to embrace the worst of the left and the Republicans did just that a long time ago. It’s a one party big government system that is more than fine with as much central planning as it can grab (a major part of Marxism). The Libertarian party probably wouldn’t exist if the Republican Party hadn’t moved so far away from its original principles.
Wow CFS, what a truly idiotic comment.
Matthew, which comment are you referring to? If it is the one concerning voting and taxes paid I would not go so far as calling it idiotic, but I would say that I am very surprised that he said that.
No Al, it’s the one where he calls Rand Paul a swamp critter. That is as dumb as it gets.
That also happens to be the exact opposite of my definition of a swamp critter, Matthew.
The politicians won’t shut down the government, on Monday morning they will be back at their desk issuing more debt and circuses to keep the plebs happy, and their paycheck rolling in.
Mr. T, I just hope that I get chocolate cake which I am watching the clowns and the high wire act! (A little red wine would also be good!)
Thanks. Your chocolate cake reference reminded me to order raw cacao powder; high in Flavonoids, good for lowering blood pressure.
I grind up raw cacao nibs into my chocolate protein shakes. A number of health benefits:
The Science: How Cacao Benefits The Brain & Body
by Michael McPherson October 02, 2017
Thanks for the breakdown1
Whose Fault Is the Shutdown?
Who will America blame: Democrats, Republicans or President Trump? Seventeen pundits analyze what happened, and what comes next.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/01/20/who-will-america-blame-216487
Of course, the Great Unwashed and the Great Uneducated will blame The Donald.
That’s right, Al.
Btw, doesn’t anyone wonder why these “government shutdowns” never affect the agencies that The People would like to see shut down? The gov is by the people and for the people? Really?
Kind of an interesting point, Matthew. I find it important to remember that the shutdowns never last for any length of time. That is why the comments about the SEC and the IRS seem a bit irrelevant even though, true in the short term.
Why is it they turn off the panda cam at the national zoo when the government shuts down, but keep paying the guy to feed the pandas? Why not leave the panda cam on and stop feeding the pandas and see how long the public could stand it?
Typical Texas attitude!
Demos are Dreamers……….dreaming they can stay in office with the illegal’s vote…..LOL
The problem with the Libertarian Party is poor quality/no leadership.
I know you, Big Al, like Ron Paul, but despite his economic ability, he is a pacifist.
He appears to wish to withdraw the U.S. from most, if not all overseas positions
Those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat mistakes.
Let me remind you of some history, from which one SHOULD learn:
In January 2933, Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany.
In violation of the Treaty of Versailles he immediately started re-arming Germany and the powers, U.S., England, France did nothing.
In March 1936, Hitler occupied the Rhineland, and the Powers did nothing.
In March 1938, Germany absorbed Austria, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, and the Powers did nothing.
In September 1938 Hitler occupied part of Czechoslovakia, and this time the continental powers got worried. They whimpishly talked to Hitler and created the Munich Pact: wherein Hitler would keep the peace, not annex any more of Czechoslovakia.
(Remember Chamberlin (the Ron Paul of yesteryear?)
In March of 1939, Hitler annexes the rest of Czechoslovakia, and the Powers do nothing.
At this point Poland is worried and confirms with England that it has an agreement of an unconditional guarantee of military assistance in the event of any attack on its soil.
On 9/1/39 Germany marches into Poland and WWII starts.
No Ounce of Prevention and millions of lives are lost.
That is why I disagree with Ron Paul’s foreign policies.
(PLease note, I am not saying I believe the US is right in having so many troops in so many places. What I am saying is that a universal withdrawal is totally wrong.
No, CFS, you disagree with Ron Paul’s foreign policies because you don’t understand the real world. A remedial history course is in order.
It’s a course that will never happened in the gooberment youth indocrination camps and the universities of higher indoctrination. The welfare/warfare state would never tolerate it.
Damn right Ebolan, and the sheeple are too pathetic to even sense that they’ve been had.
Left or right, you’d think more people would be smart enough to recognize that U.S. foreign policy doesn’t change with different administrations. Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and many before them, are all neocons, and what a con it is.
Any country that pursues war ends up losing their treasury, their citizen’s blood, and their gains, and in some cases they become overrun like The Romans. If The Germans had won they would never have held the peace. The British tried it in America, The Russians tried it in Eastern Europe, and Manchuria, The Americans tried it in Vietnam, and now they are still trying to separate and subjugate North Korea. The list goes on and on……..
We actually discussed this very topic at our Book Club yesterday. Didn’t really come to any conclusions on this complicated topic. I did suggest to our members that they read “The Art of Peace” and then see how they feel.
CFS likes to ignore what he can’t grasp. For example, I explained to him that RP is not a pacifist recently, yet, here he is making that claim again. Luckily, RP has addressed this himself and, whaddayaknow, the truth is exactly what I said it was:
Non-interventionism is not Pacifism…It’s also not Isolationism
For the record, I will post Dr. Paul’s speech. Thank you Matthew.
Matthew, I would like to hear your rationale on this statement.
Matthew, In as much as I di not have a U.S,-centric view of the world, You’re right.
Although I have lived more of my life in the US, I have lived in other countries off and on, spending my time travelling for the last 25 years and living in the US and the UK about equally, when not travelling.
I clearly don’t think like those who spend most of their time in the U.S.
That is obvious, CFS
CFS:
I agree with your position that universal withdrawal from the world is not smart. But the analogy of pre WWII and Hitler (the world’s best example of a dangerous megalomaniac is really outdated. Not that we should not be aware and remember, but the only personality that remotely resembled Hitler was Stalin. The world’s better segments checked both. Just sayin’.
Hitler never would have come to power if Woodrow Wilson would not have involved this country in WW1. Intervention begets more intervention that is even worse. But interventionists like you never learn that.
No Ounce of Prevention and millions of lives are lost.
An ounce of Woodrow Wilson’s “prevention” planted the seeds for the rise of fascism, communism and the loss of over 20 million lives.
I TOTALLY DISAGREE.
It was NOT the intervention in WWI, but the stupid Treaty of Versailles that produced the rise of Hitler.
And what led to that treaty? The intervention of the Americans.
The Americans tipped the power to the British and French. Prior to that the situation had been a bloody stalemate that could have ended with a completely different treaty.
I see it that way too Eb.
I never agreed with this “Hitler was the most evil man in history” either, not sayin he didnt knock over a tea cup or two, but he was far from the only power to kill and enslave millions and millions.
People really dont study history much, they dont seem to care to know it.
Know wonder its so easy for the victor to write the history.
Churchill was responsible for a few million deaths in India too, he was a “good” guy, his method, starvation. Just one guy of the great British empire.
And then there was the potato famine even though Ireland was exporting perfectly good grain, etc to England. Boy, talk about “Man’s total inhumanity to Man”!
It was the damn French that insisted on having their pound of flesh.
They were primarily responsible for the form of the treaty.
I understand why the French insisted on heavy reparations penalty of the Treaty of Versailles. For them, they felt justified, because much of the war was fought on their soil.
Farms and whole villages were totally destroyed. There were poisons and toxic damage to the countryside.
England tried, but could reduce the penalties imposed on the Germans, and the Brits were just pretty much fed up with the whole war by the time of the treaty.
Loss of memory is a wonderful thing.
B,
I remembering correcting you previously on the death of Indians. Clearly you did not bother to check the facts I presented.
The reason so many Indians died of famine was due to two
consecutive monsoon failures and a worldwide rice shortage. LOOK IT UP.
Sure the politicians, wanting to whip up enthusiasm for independence blamed Churchill, but he did not have the god-like power to stop monsoons, necessary for crop production.
Winston Churchill has as much blood on his hands as the worst …
http://www.independent.co.uk › News › World › World History
Sep 8, 2017 – An Indian politician has put Winston Churchill in the same category as some of “the worst genocidal dictators” of the 20th century because of his complicity … at the Melbourne writers’ festival broadcast by ABC, the Indian MP noted Churchill’s orders related to Australian ships carrying wheat at Indian docks.
Possibly b, but simply looking from a different perspective.
The Real Churchill
The Gang of Four: Hitler, Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill and the Destruction of Europe
https://mises.org/library/gang-four-hitler-stalin-roosevelt-and-churchill-and-destruction-europe
Rethinking Churchill
That particular treaty certainly played a HUGE role in his success and in Germany’s subsequent failure. Any student of history knows that.
The American involvement tipped the balance and lead to Germany’s defeat. Then Britain put a blockade on Germany so its people were near starvation.
Given that the Allies had Germany literally starving what incentive did the French and British have to not impose the harshest terms possible on Germany? Terms that the Germans could in no way meet. The rise of Hitler or someone else like him was inevitable.
For whatever reason, of course it was inevitable, Eddy!
Hitlers competition for “fuher” was Rohm, a good friend of his, Hitler killed him and 5000 of his guys in one night.
Thanks b, Hitler killed a lot of people. He was a “real gem” wasn’t he?
He did alot of good things, lots of stuff people would consider “christian”,
he was more popular than any leader or pope before him.
He respected the Balfour declaration(free trips to palistine from 1933-1941) he got rid of the interest paid on currency, he cleaned up berlin,(the best place on earth for good debauchery at the time) he took the poorest most indebted nation on earth to the most lucrative and powerful in about 5 years, the list of positives is very long.
There were reasons the german people loved him and became so loyal to him.
Funny, he offered peace to Britain about a dozen times, wanted to clear up the “polish” issue without conflict, but he was turned down each and every time.(we never hear that for some reason)
Eventually he felt he was left with no choice but to attack, and still he continued to offer peace which was again rejected.
He eventually got tired of offering.
But still, he refused to invade britain and turned east. yup, he was nuts alright.
Growing space was always east, and guess who supported stalin? lol
American banks,tanks,trucks and ducks all went to russia, and american companies? BIG business in germany, ask Prescot Bush. lol
Hitler did not want peace.
b, you are factually incorrect.
Ribbentrop advised him against invading Poland.
It was Hitler desire to invade.
Hitler lied about wanting peace, and Chamberlain was stupid enough to believe him.
The Mufti of Jerusalem was friends with Hitler.
Britain, of course, was devastated by WWI; while for 3 years the U.S. profited from selling arms. Britain did not publicise the fact that the war almost bankrupted them and did not seek excessive reparations. They were more interested in ensuring that Germany would not militarize again, although the Monarchy had close ties to Germany.
Sure, “lend lease”
Agreed, U.S. folks (Prescott Bush} did sell products to Germany. Isn’t capitalism great!)
cfs,
that debate has gone on ever since.
I feel had he wanted war with britain he would have invaded when britain was beaten, why did he even have to offer/ask for peace?
mien kampf kinda makes it clear his intentions were east.
he didnt believe the west actually approved on communism, at the end of the war he actually thought his war with the west would end and the west would join in moving against stalin.
I guess regular doses of meth can give a person different outlooks on things.
As can large doses of “Boodels” Look it up!
CFS:
Iraq was a military and financial disaster for the US. Afghanistan was a military and financial disaster for the US. Libya was a financial disaster for the US, Syria was a financial and military disaster for the US. Israel wants the US to destroy Iran on the basis of a totally fictional nuclear weapons program when anyone with a lick of sense realizes that the only country in the mIddle east with a nuclear weapons program that has threatened to use them is Israel. To understand what is really going on in the world the first thing a person needs to to is to stop lying to himself.
When one country has started 82% of all of the wars since 1945 and been worse off after every single one of them, there is a clear pattern. While you would be quite comfortable with the US fighting wars for Israel until the last drop of American blood and last dollar before utter bankruptcy others might disagree.
Insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result. By that definition, you would be quite looney.
For the neocons, the old saying, “Nothing succeeds like failure” is true.
(PLease note, I am not saying I believe the US is right in having so many troops in so many places. What I am saying is that a universal withdrawal is totally wrong.
Rm, You simply always put up straw dogs and knock them down.
I don’t now and never have supported total interventionism and the industrial-military complex.
I am saying both all-in and all-out policies are not optimum.
What a freudian slip…..I meant straw men, not straw dogs.
(I must have been thinking violent movies.)
CFS, on this one I am in your camp. Total withdraw all at once is not a good idea!
Al:
Give me a break. Syria had a fair and free election. The US not only sponsored and paid for terrorists to attack the legal government, they invaded part of the country illegally. Why would an immediate withdrawal not be just a spiffy idea?
It’s not our war. Why are we fighting wars that are not in our interest? That’s insane. I can see making an argument that being policeman of the world is a great idea if it worked but it hasn’t worked, we have created more refugees than after WW II and you are saying it’s good idea? What would it take for you to realize it’s a terrible idea, expensive, we are donating the blood of our children and we stand to gain nothing at all.
Any war worth fighting is worth winning. Any war not worth fighting is not worth fighting.
My point Robert, is that it was never reported that Tillerson actually said that he and his colleagues actually would support a the results of a second free election.
As I have tried to bring up in other posts today, I am beginning to agree rather than disagree with you.
When you have had a free election that was supervised by international watchers you should stand by the results if you like them or not. Assad won a fair election. What would you need a 2nd election for? We had one, it was fair, he won, live with it.
The same traitors who led us into Iraq and Libya are lying us into Syrian and Iran and you have fallen for it.
War is the american way, always has been.
The idea of Liberty itself was/is complete hypocrisy and lies for the easily duped.
The thing is, it doesnt matter which time period,where on earth or what was the dominant religion, people kill each other, so, americans are simply being human.
Makes good debate material anyway.
Remember b, He did endow us with free will.
Here’s an oldie that goes back to the ’90s and the first Gulf War.
Thinking about what’s happened since…Iraq War 2, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Niger and the list goes on…it’s clear nothing has changed….
Of course there was Serbia after Carlin did that skit and now I’m sure we’ve got mercs in Ukraine plus I’m sure before it’s all over our gooberment will mix it up with the Rooskies so it’s more than brown people (or yellow or black people). Our rulers will try to kill anyone who gets in their way. Just ask the Branch Davidians, Randy Weavers family, Bundies… the list is endless.
Pretty interesting world isn’t it Ebolan?
He did endow us with free will is debatable, maybe he did and its the parents of the child that take it away.
Parents can be either hugely positive or, on the other hand, hugely negative even though they have the best intentions.
thats true, I was talking about parents taking away a childs free will.
remember, a child takes everything a parent says as absolute fact, that becomes belief.
Makes no dif what society a child is born into, they believe they are in the “right” one.
I disagree, b, withe statement War is the American Way.
The U.S. was slow to enter WWI.
The U.S. was slow to enter WWII.
It took a Japanese attack, before the US entered WWII.
War may be the Way of Democrats.
LBJ escalated Vietnam.
Bush was stupid to attack Iraq, but he had several reasons…..the public wanted retaliation for 911.
He was worried about a gold Dinar.
If I Recall, Iraq I was won with only the loss of 4 US military lives, but stopped to soon.
Bush really wanted out, and pulled out too abruptly.
Iraq II was a disaster. Afghanistan invasion was stupid.
US should have learned from history. British ans Russians defeated.
My guess is that the comment had nothing to do with legitimate conflicts, but the myriad of other ones.
good points countering war is the american way.
as al suggests im speaking from the beginning.
You could say that the world wars were an executive decision and not really democratically decided upon.
The zionists guaranteed american involvement for the balfour declaration so, the people were duped as they were for the second war.
so,good point.
All kinds of way to dissect a subject.
One of the first things Trump did on entering office was to cut off support for ISIS.
The closet-Muslim Obama had said (lying), he was against ISIS, while secretly supplying them.
Very good point, G
Next will we hear from b that the Zionists decided it was good for 6 million Jews to die at Hitler’s hands, so that they would get a homeland.
Did you ever wonder why just one genocide is referred to as a holocaust? If you google the term, the second definition that pops up is kind of interesting: a Jewish sacrificial offering that is burned completely on an altar.
Coincidence?
JW Pres. Tom Fitton: ‘The House Ethics Committee is Protecting the Obama Gang over Unmasking’
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) uncovered the fact that the Obama administration was unmasking Americans in its intelligence gathering on matters unrelated to Russia. For his efforts on blowing the whistle on the truth, the House Ethics Committee issued him a complaint, charging that he “may have made unauthorized disclosures of classified information, in violation of House Rules, regulations, or other standards of conduct.”
Meanwhile, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA) each publicly commented on unmaskings with respect to Lt. General Michael Flynn. Judicial Watch subsequently called upon the committee to investigate both Schiff and Speier under the same standard.
The House Ethics Committee is investigating Nunes on exposing the truth, but are not investigating Schiff and Speier for disclosing classified information. It is being used for partisan purposes to protect the Obama administration from the consequences of potentially abusing intelligence tools.
How are the top stock picks from VRIC 2017 doing? -http://www.pennyminingstocks.com/how-are-the-top-stock-picks-from-vric-2017-doing/
Sorry Anon, all I do is politics now.
Mr. Cory,
Any chance you could get Jimmy Song and Valentin to debate Robert Moriarty and Erik Townsend on Bitcoin? After all they do have slightly different opinions. 🙂 Would be real interesting to say the least.
Ebolan:
How can you debate a bubble that has burst? I don’t think it is going to burst, I said it was going to burst just days before it did, then repeated that it had burst. Investors in the bitcons just lost $450 billion in paper assets. What’s to debate? I don’t care how many people want to whine about how it’s coming back. I wrote a best seller telling everyone how to recognize a bubble in advance. It’s not rocket science.
Yes you did call it once again Bob M. Cheers!
Ah come on Bob, be a good sport. They think bitcoin will go on to new highs and you and Townsend don’t (or if it does it will collapse again in an even worse fashion). Even if it changed no one’s mind a discussion about that would be worth it for the entertainment value alone. 🙂 And if there are any crypto newbies in the audience they might hear something that they haven’t heard before.
Ebolan:
I’m either 100% right or I am not. As of now I am 100% right and the cheerleaders are 100% wrong.
The race is not always to the swiftest nor the battle to the brave but that is the way to bet.
I would no more debate the merits of 1400 pseudo currencies than I would debate the merits of 1400 Beanie Babies. Some things are just too obvious and shouldn’t need debate. Anyone who actually believes 1400 pseudo currencies are going to thrive is too dumb to debate.
Ain’t that the truth!
90% of Bitcoin’s value could get wiped out, Wall Street veteran Peter Boockvar warns
Stephanie Landsman – 2 Hours Ago
“Wall Street veteran Peter Boockvar predicts an epic crash will hit the cryptocurrency market.”
“He isn’t sure if it’ll come to a grinding halt or be a slow and steady drop — but he says it’s coming.”
“Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Advisory Group, is certain crypto is in a giant bubble, and the air is already coming out.”
“When something goes parabolic like this has, it typically ends up to where that parabola began,” he said on CNBC’s “Futures Now.”
“Boockvar, a CNBC contributor, contends bitcoin is in danger of dropping 90 percent from current levels. He calls it a classic bubble.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if over the next year it’s down to $1,000 to $3,000,” he added.
I love those kinds of panel debates but really they don’t have to be mutually exclusive and it is OK for investors to hold or invest in different asset classes. It isn’t like we all have to only pick 1 sector and that’s it.
While you are waiting on this debate here’s another Bitcoin versus Gold barn-burner:
________________________________________________________________
Max Keiser vs. Peter Schiff – Bitcoin vs. Gold Debate
> Peter Schiff and Max Keiser debate Gold vs. Bitcoin at the Nexus Conference in Aspen, Colorado September 22nd 2017.
Max goes a bit off the deep end on this one, and for the first time I can remember there were a few times where Peter couldn’t get a word in edgewise. (lol).
Here’s another one where Peter Schiff debates Gold versus Bitcoin & Cryptos:
> Peter Schiff Debates on Bitcoin, Blockchain, Gold
“Peter Schiff Debates bitcoin bubble, bitcash, Litecoin, Ether, gold, dollar, market, blockchain, satoshi, crypto and cryptocurrency, Inflation, on RT December 21st 2017.”
Bitcoin vs Gold – Peter Schiff defends Gold
Bitcoin Uncensored – Streamed live on Oct 23, 2017
“Peter Schiff is a legendary economist, author, and promoter of Gold based investment. And on this show, Peter and I discuss what’s different about Bitcoin and Gold. Whether bitcoin is a ‘scam’, and how investors can benefit (or not!) by risk exposure to both products.”
Peter Schiff Argues w/ Bitcoin Activists in Heated Debate
“Peter Schiff debates bitcoin bubble, bitcash, Litecoin, Ether, gold, dollar, market, blockchain, satoshi, crypto and cryptocurrency on The Heat December 19th 2017.”
That Valkenburgh twerp is way out of his league with Schiff but clearly doesn’t know it.
Agreed. Schiff brings up points each time that they conveniently don’t answer. They are entertaining though.
I don’t find him to be entertaining at all, just a really great salesman!
The obnoxious Valkenburgh needs a haircut and then a swirly.
He is that too Big Al 🙂
Matthew – funny!
What else is there really to debate at this point?
Investors can make up their own minds to buy Gold, Bitcoin, neither, or both.
Ever Upward!
Many, many, people around here buy brand new Mercedes and Bimmers, their credit is in a bubble but they think and so do most passersby’s that these people have arrived. I can understand the concept of looking like a showboat but I also understand how easy it is to get torpedoed. LOL! DT
Ha! Yes good point, although back in the financial crisis when they were doing “Cash for Clunkers” and the “Home Credit” under the Obama admin it was to stimulate the economy because most consumers credit bubbles had popped and were deflating.
I’ve never understood people borrowing more money than they have to “showboat” in a car that there is no way they can afford the payments on. Also the insane mentality of trading in a car that was bought new just 2-3 years later and repeating that (when most of the value destruction on new cars is in the first few years) is one of the worst financial disciplines there is.
10-20 years ago I was an insurance agent and also did auto loans and people would come in with most ridiculous vehicles for their children or their spouses that they could not afford for the “social proof” but really the proof was in pudding and they were “faking it before making it.”
I’m not sure what any of this has to do with Bitcoin versus Gold debates, but I agree that it is easy for the average consumer, with no saving discipline, no spending discipline, and the desire to look glamorous to get “torpedoed.” 🙂
https://youtu.be/2Hzv4C6UCbM?t=210
TA on gold and Bitcoin.
CFS – I did respond to your post up above in this blog with some TA videos that also did analysis on Bitcoin, along with other TA Videos. Gary Wagner had a good section on Bitcoin at the end of his segment, as did Ira Epstein.
Not Content Scamming $1.5 Billion, Bitconnect Wants Another $500 Million for ICO
Bitcoin Games
1 day ago | Kai Sedgwick
“The fall of Bitconnect was as certain as night follows day. A pyramid scheme wrapped inside a Ponzi with a side order of WTF, Bitconnect was as crazy as it was calamitous. The only miracle was that the racket lasted so long. When the ringleaders shut up shop on Wednesday, causing the token to plummet from $290 to $8, that ought to have been the end of the matter. Remarkably though, BCC continues to be actively traded, and has even recovered some of its value. The reason for the mini revival? Bitconnect is launching an ICO.”
Willful Delusion: What is Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Really?
— JAMES WEST JANUARY 21, 2018 0
“One could argue that the relentless and unconditional faith that cryptocurrency proponents have is merely a result, in the majority of cases, of the sector’s meteoric rise in value. The plethora of “experts” who were doing something completely unrelated until they made an unexpected score on their crypto flyer are far in excess of the relatively small number of developers who were there before 2012.”
“One might reasonably conclude that the promise of cryptocurrency is based on a delusion: that digital alternatives to fiat paper is somehow immune from the human interferences that cause wealth disparity and hyperinflation.”
“To be fair, it could be argued from the crypto side, that those who fail to grasp the utterly disruptive revolution that are inherent in the rise of cryptocurrencies are themselves delusional, and is the perspective exclusively of those who lack the vision and imagination to understand what is going on around them…”
https://www.midasletter.com/2018/01/willful-delusion-cryptocurrency-blockchain-really/
IMF Urges International Cooperation on Cryptocurrency Regulation
January 22, 2018
https://www.ccn.com/imf-urges-international-cooperation-cryptocurrency-regulation/
CFS, your home state of Colliefornia just did this.
California state payroll increased by $1 billion in 2017, twice as fast as previous year
And that didn’t include the payroll increases for the university system.
Also, see the head of CalPERs got a big raise. I guess in Colliefornia (as Ahnode calls it) when you run an underfunded, underperforming ponzi scheme that automatically qualifies you for a big raise.
No wonder the politicians there just rammed through those huge tax increases on gas, diesel and vehicle registration. And I guarantee you more are coming.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article195655949.html
Chris Martenson still has a good grasp of the macro picture and aiming one’s future partially in his direction of focus can’t hurt anyone.
His comments about stretched PE’s and waiting for income and dividends: These are thoughts on new minds……we’re into the FOMO era and folks are expecting to see their ‘claims’ on future output to grow by 20-30% a year, just like the years they have missed out on by being prudent and cautious. The Ponzi scheme will end and they’re in the group of final ‘investors’ who will inherit the most pain…….Nothing ever changes really, as long as the Fed is directing the orchestra! JMO
Is not FOMO the usual cause for a blow off top?
According To These 3 Measures The Stock Market Is Now Literally Off The Charts
jessefelder – January 16, 2018
“Three aspects of the stock market that I follow closely are fundamentals, sentiment and technicals. According the measures below, all three now show the stock market has entered uncharted territory.”
Ex, I was intrigued the other day when you were commenting on Jackpot Digital. I started reading snippets about them around two years ago, so my mind was tweaked and I intend on looking at them more closely, gambling on a gambling stock interests me. At some point the volume will be there, although I hold very few companies I like momentum. DT
Yeah (JP) Jackpot is getting into crypto mining, so that is my main interest in them.
If people want a blockchain company based on gambling there is LOTO (LottoGopher)
Here was that article that was referenced:
_________________________________________________________________________
Miners requesting to use Quebec’s energy grid for Bitcoin Mining
January 11, 2018
“Just when we thought we had enough of energy consumption in the world, a publicly traded bitcoin miner Jackpot Digital (JPOTF) (JP), in conjunction with Electrium Mining based out of Hungary (being acquired), is knocking on the doors of Quebec’s province – to mine bitcoin. Sources tell us that Jackpot Digital and Electrium have production capabilities that are progressively set to increase to as much as 50,000 rigs or beyond by 2020. It seems that the blockchain revolution has reached Quebec.”
“In fact Jackpot Digital isn’t the only company knocking. According to coin desk, Quebec is luring cryptocurrency miners as China moves to ban miners from their turf. But what happens when this significant amount of miners move into the region? There are over 30 miners as reported recently.”
“It also seems that companies like Jackpot Digital / Electrium Mining are going to expand their operations such as banking operations includingATMs and mortgage lending, investment banking, and expand into other blockchain technologies – as can be seen from this chart taken from Electrium website. This bodes well for the entire province of Quebec and Canada’s economy, so perhaps the energy consumption could be justified:”
Jackpot Digital has deployed their technology in several casinos though and it is actually be used for something at present (unlike most blockchain companies).
(JP) (JPOTF) Jackpot Signs with Costa Rica’s Taormina Hotel & Casino
January 18, 2018
(JP) Jackpot Signs Agreement with New Brunswick’s Grey Rock Casino for Jackpot Blitz™
January 5, 2018
In retrospect, taking out a small (JP) Jackpot Digital position may be the peak of speculation as it is a $.045 penny stock, that has blockchain technology for gambling platforms, and it is getting into crypto mining.
For the record, it is just a small punt that I’m treating like a “lottery ticket” 🙂
Ex……
According to Flannigan of the Gann Report, the 60 yr. cycle for stock market comparison , this present stock market has some more legs to go. This market is the 2nd. longest, not the longest. Therefore, he thinks according to the 60 yr. cycle, the stock market has more upside.
The longest goes back to the 1800’s.
Well OOTB – that is fine with me as I have a chunk of change in my retirement account fully deployed in the general stock markets. I’m just fine if they keep rising. 🙂
Thanks
Out of twenty locations Toronto was the only Canadian city that made the short list for Amazon’s second headquarters. I know you don’t want your city to become like Detroit or Baltimore, but we have just too much development going on here and we don’t need anymore especially from such a huge disruptive company. Our property prices are way too high. I don’t think we have a shot anyway and Trump is on our side in this regard, he wants American business to remain at home so I applaud his decision as far as Amazon is concerned. LOL! DT
Why would Amazon chose to inflict import problems on itself? It will not choose Toronto, for distribution to the U.S.
CFS, tell that to the many US companies that have second quarters in Canada. Toronto has a lot to offer, but like I said I hope we don’t see Amazon coming here. We are still in NAFTA. Big companies don’t care where they locate as long as they get what they want, distribution is only one part of such a deal. DT
Amazon…..Total Automated GROCERY…….
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-01-21/history-making-amazons-first-automated-grocery-store-opens-public
I bought a car today. nutin special.
Paid cash. The guy would have preferred a smart phone transfer, I guess ya just pass smart phones by each other somehow and the money transfers instantly.
(obviously I dont have a “smart” phone)
Anyway, so much for the bitcoin/crypto advantage.
I have never found a “need” for bitcoin and still dont, and if I ever buy a “smart” phone I still wont.
Amazing somthing can go so nuts there isnt even the slightest need for, eventually people gotta figure that out.
Sure he makes a lot more money if you use credit.
Al, nutin to do with credit, the cash just moves from 1 account to another.
Exactly what the big deal of bitcoin was supposed to be.
No we find out it takes awhile to transfer useing bitcoin.
Let me elaborate b,
It is very easy for a seller to make a deal, without the other side thinking, by simply saying, “you are automatically approved because I vouch for you” and you can drive the car away and then pay the loan off immediately. See what I mean?
well, this time I was approved cause I had cash. lol
What did you get? New, used? How many miles?
I buy old cars, when they need sumtin, tires a battery…wipers maybe…i get another one.
this time 2001 chrysler with 149k on it. $1000, the price of used vehicles has gone up.
Joe Mazumdar Recaps His Presentation at Metals Investor Forum
January 21, 2017 – Jordan Roy-Byrne CMT, MFTA
https://thedailygold.com/joe-mazumdar-recaps-presentation-metals-investor-forum/
Eric Coffin, Co Founder of Metals Investor Forum-2
Jay Taylor Media – Dec 18, 2017
“Eric Coffin tells why the time is right to invite Vendetta Mining Corp. and Fireweed Zinc to the January 2018 Metals Investor Forum.”
I am in LITECOIN BUT ONLY WITH TINY AMOUNTS . I buy 200 dollars at a time and now have 800 worth . will stop at 1000 . I have more in hive blockchain stock at break even now. Hive mines ETHER COIN which is more profitable than bit . symbol is HVBTF use limit orders only . Trump is no negociator thats for sure. Proud of my third party vote. Pray for sanity S
Here’s a good update on Genesis Mining (the team doing the actual mining at HIVE)
https://www.facebook.com/GenesisMining/videos/1684537531612410
Hey USA government is not broke !!! Gov owns huge amounts of real estate , most of which should never be sold . Gov owns patents and formulas that are also very valuable . great briten has been borrowing money for 500 years and still has a viable bond market . Admittedly the value of GBP has fallen a lot over many years , but gov. dont have to repay debt as long as they manage it well. Assets Trump debt in the end . and weak government invite military attack . PRAY s
And the pound sterling used to be worth one pound of sterling silver which is roughly $230.00 today even with silver still near a bear market low.
No, the gov never has to repay its debt; that’s a job for its clueless sheeple.
Think Russell!
In order to pay off debt, you consider selling off public land. Do you really want much of public land to be i. privately owned, or ii. owned by China or other foreign countries to which the debt is owed.
Maybe we could get a few trillion for Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Grand Tetons, Mt. Rainier, Smokey Mtns, Big Bend, Carlsbad Caverns, Acadia, and Rushmore. And we could sell Pearl Harbor to the Nips for a pretty penny.
Or at the very least charge an exorbitant admission!
Charge a very high admission fee to foreigners and a low fee to US citizens. I have a Gold Eagle pass than lets me in national parks for fre.e
The idea of a one time fee for a life long pass is a good idea. Thanks Bonzo
i would like to suggest that the download link be embedded in the page. so that clicking it to listen will not display a new page.
+1
This makes you wonder why the TSA exists:
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/19/woman-ohare-no-ticket-london/
This time just an older woman, next time someone carrying a real bomb?
TSA makes some people feel comfy. I person am simply reminded of who won the 9/11 attack.
But was it a wound the USA self-inflicted?
In order to bring the nation together?
Certainly to legitimize NSA’s unconstitutional spying on its own citizens.
Building 7.
Certainly expenditure on the military industrial complex was vastly increased.
Which company provided all the Xray machines and which Swamp-critters benefited?
The revolution is way overdue.
Nomi Prins on USAWatchdog discussing $21 Trillion of debt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uAmHS-Tc64
Nomi Prins says companies will buy more of their own stock this year.
I, personally, would assume any company buying their own stock at this high a valuation is not doing so in the best interest of their stockholders. I will dump most companies I own, if they do that.
The exceptions being only those that are undervalued…….very few.
Nomi Prins needs to figure out a way to bring her brains to millennial women if they will listen to her.
So she thinks SDRs will be the bail out mechanism, partly involving gold.
Bix Weir thinks Cryptos will be.
I think just a flat agreed default possible.
If only we knew when and how!
At Least she confirms all the central banks are colluding.
perhaps it is time they all be abolished, with their owners responsible for debt.
Wow, that is a profound statement…….”perhaps it is time they all be abolished, with their owners responsible for debt………..
HOW ABOUT A JUBILEE……………………..lol
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Las Vegas Shooting story changes?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvZkfr26Qk4&feature=youtu.be
The House Intelligence Committee has said the FISA memo will be released…..may take a month.
Since Big Al asks for references here’s the pre-empt on that:
https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/21/gop-congressman-reveals-house-intel-committee-will-release-top-secret-fisa-memo-to-public
Many thanks, CFS.
I think that you will find today’s Boy’s at the Bar” editorial to be of interest.
Chartster,how much credience do you put in “True Pundit”?
He’s an ex intelligence officer. ( he used to brief a president on daily Intel ) So he knows some things that most don’t.
great Post CHartster………..
Thanks OOTB! I hope your having a great new year. It certainly is an exciting 2018.
Hoping the same for you…….
Despite a 4.5% pullback, SILJ is still up 20%+ since last month’s low. Here are some support/resistance levels:
http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=SILJ&p=W&yr=2&mn=9&dy=0&id=p51768848367&a=572064157
Matthew – Thanks for the Silver Jr miners chart. 2018 is going to be a great year for the Silver Jrs after a lackluster 2017, and so far things looks pretty constructive.
Here’s another look. The daily chart suggests more downside while the weekly looks like it will limit that downside.
http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=SILJ&p=D&yr=1&mn=6&dy=0&id=p57451213416&a=565760662
TWBYA – Q says: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3WxZJkb7ec
Esq. the link does not work for me. Is it, by chance, the same video that I posted?
thanks for the POST……..works for me…….
Byron King’s section #4 nails it with many of the Producers that have made accretive acquisitions, and he specifically mentioned First Majestic’s recent takeover of Primero, and McEwen Minings recent acquisition of Primero’s old Black Fox mine/mill. (It should be noted that Argonaut Gold also grabbed one of Primero’s development stage projects Cerro del Gallo. )
http://www.argonautgold.com/news_events/news/news_release/index.php?content_id=360
________________________________________________
In addition, Byron mentioned the value that many of these near term Developers has moving into production in this rising metals price environment over the next 2-3 years. He specifically mentioned Alexco and Victoria Gold – both of which are stellar companies.
I liked some of the exploration names he tossed out as well. Good interview. Cheers!
WPM – Wheaton Precious Metal may have obtianed the best of the WIN WIN WIN Primero deal…check out the stream they take away. Good thing they changed their name from Silver Wheaton.
McEwwn also has an interesting stake along w Sprott in Golden Predator ….an early stage Yukon concern formerly Northern Tiger who hurt some here with severe share dilution. Still worth a look.
Yes, I’m familiar with WPM and they did come out winners, but also First Majestic and Primero both benefited from this transaction. Honestly, this is the first merger I’ve seen in a while where it was a win all the way around, and there has been very little grumbling about it from investors.
Yes I’m familiar with the 4 aces project at Golden Predator from when they were Northern Tiger (and followed that a long time ago). I believe Gregg McCoach highlighted them at the MIF this last weekend.
So here’s the latest in Silver-backed blockchain…. I’d still rather just own Silver Miners with their silver locked in the vault of the Earth, but these new ideas are interesting:
_________________________________________________________________________
Introducing Silver Money A New Paradigm
CRYPTOGRAPHIC SILVER – A NEW PARADIGM
“Today, blockchain architecture is incubating innovative new business models, and many experts believe that the technology will empower new monetary systems, and perhaps even disrupt the usurious money employed and mandated by todays centralized institutions.”
LODE SILVER-MONEY SYSTEM –TWO DIGITAL ASSETS
EACH WITH A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP TO SILVER
The first asset, LODE Coin, will provide the silver contributing member an ownership stake in the LODE Ecosystem, and a right to rewards as the project grows. Register today and click on the Members Section to learn more.
“The second asset, AGX Coin, will represent an actual gram weight of vaulted and verifiable LODE silver held in reserve, and provide the holder, the freedom to use AGX Coins by simply transferring them onto a Credit/Debit card enabled Digital Wallet which will enable them to be used at millions of affiliated merchants worldwide.”
Sounds like a scam to me………. 🙂
Searching for an identity ………
It will be interesting to see how this one gets contrasted against the Gold Money crew.
Yes, indeed……… 🙂
Hecla Tried To Buy This Junior (Dolly Varden)
Pinnacle Digest – January 21st, 2018
“Silver Stock Dolly Varden Has Storied History
The history behind our new Featured Silver Company’s main project began after the turn of the last century. Financiers, including Herbert Hoover, before becoming the 31st President of the Herbert HooverUnited States, financed historic production of the Dolly Varden Mine in the Pacific Northwest of British Columbia, Canada. Hoover was one of, if not the, wealthiest men to ever hold the presidency and made his fortunes as a mine engineer and financier. He was a businessman first, President second.”
“On June 27, 2016, just as the mining world was creeping out of one of its worst bear markets in a generation, Hecla Mining made a takeover bid for all of the outstanding shares of Dolly Varden Silver (DV: TSXV) – our Featured Company we are introducing today….”
https://www.pinnacledigest.com/mining-stocks/hecla-mining-takeover-offer-dolly-varden/
In case it wasn’t posted already here’s a short interview with Brent Cook
http://www.kitco.com/news/video/show/VRIC-2018/1822/2018-01-21/To-Pick-Miners-Look-For-Potential-Buyouts—Brent-Cook
Ex…….this is a good listen to……..Uranium is dead per Cook……..
Cook is sharp, but he’s no expert in Uranium mining, and they are dogging on the producers in interviews lately, because they went in too early in Energy Fuels, but haven’t taken the time to even understand some of them.
For example Ur-Energy is blending some of their low cost production in the $20’s and augmenting it by buying Uranium on the spot market at $21 and selling around $48-$49 into their longer term off-take agreements. Also Peninsula energy is a producer with an offtake agreement around $51 per lb, so those companies are doing just fine. They love to make blanket statements though whether Silver, Lithium, Cobalt, Uranium, etc… At least they finally got on board with Zinc and Tinka last year (after much of the move had already happened), but they are mostly Gold/Copper guys.
I agree that the exploration stocks are safer considering the unknown ramp up in Uranium prices, but keep in mind the focus of their newsletter “EXPLORATION Insights”. 🙂
That’s why I like their evrim recommendation. More in line with their insights.
Ex , just thought you would be interested, and thanks for the info. on Brent….Like he said he likes smoking pot……
Thanks OOTB. I have a great deal of respect for Brent and Joe on the exploration side of Gold/Copper mining, but they’ve never given Silver or until recently Lithium a positive statement, and when callers asked him about a number of companies like Americas Silver and Excellon he didn’t even know who some of them were (when they’ve been at most of the conferences he’s been at for decades).
As for Uranium, they always say there are just a handful of companies, but there are over 60 I’m tracking, and I bet he couldn’t even name most of the developers or explorers outside of Canada.
I believe in utilizing the expertise of individuals when they have it, but they would not be who I was listening to for advice on Uranium companies.
Also his oft-touted “stages of the mining cycle” chart is great on the front end, but if you looked at the chart for what happens at production it says “fully valued” which is horse dung. It is because they are so biased towards the exploration side of the business, but the problem is lots of newbies buy everything they say hook, line, and sinker.
Again, Hecla has been producing for 125 years, so their chart just got started at production and didn’t end there, nor was it remotely close to fully valued there. It doesn’t account for Producing companies that continue to develop their pipeline of projects, or that may grow through acquisition, or that may just simply improve their mining process or metals recovery. There are so many producers that can just keep growing once they have revenues coming in (think Kirkland Lake that took over their pick Newmarket Gold, or Oceana Gold, or First Majestic, or Agnico Eagle, etc… etc…)
Everyone’s “expert” opinion even the Rick Rule, Robert Friedland, John Kaiser, Doug Casey, Marin Katusa, Frank Holmes, etc… should always be taken with a grain of salt. They have their own limitations, blinds spots, and biases like anyone else.
Great comments……..After being around for years, one can pick up on the BS artist…..jmo
I do like that First Majestic guy…….
Agree with you on the other people you mentioned….RR,JK,FH,……. 🙂
Callinex might have interesting day
– My Broker was Stunned –
Three weeks ago, as the 31st of December arrived, my wife, my 15-month old daughter, and myself were in Colmar, France. The famous village has one of the most picturesque Christmas markets in Europe and a special atmosphere for children, as it is full of amusements and theme playgrounds.
As we put my daughter to bed for the last time in 2017, I decided that one of my goals for 2018 was to open a brokerage account in her name.
My wife and I discussed the details later that evening as we prepared for the countdown for the New Year, when she told me that it had to be a one-of-a-kind portfolio strategy. “Every 2-3 years, we’ll have to bank profits and pay the larger expenses, associated with her life, using the gains. We’ll always keep that same principal in place, though, so we can repeat the process.” she said.
This idea isn’t new. Many investors use it in the bonds market or in private lending. They can’t risk the principal and they want the funds available in 2-3 years, so they invest it in liquid assets with a high guarantee that the principal is not in jeopardy.
But, what my wife wanted me to create is a hybrid between this strategy of short-term investments and the wild gains, now available in resource sector. Her vision was that I focus specifically on stocks that are currently undervalued and have a 2-3 year masterplan to be taken over for a premium.
You see, not only is gold, the barometer of all commodities, cheap and historically undervalued compared with the S&P 500, but within the hard assets sector itself, the junior miners are historically cheap compared with the underlying commodity.
There’s never been, in 100 years, a more defining moment for hard assets and the companies that produce them.
I told my wife that it would take me weeks to find the ideal company, which would be our daughter’s first-ever stock, if such a company even exists.
My requirements were:
I would have to completely trust the management team and know them personally.
The stock would have trade at least 40%-50% discount to its direct peer group.
The shareholder base would have to include at least one major resource legend, which has deep involvement with the stock.
The jurisdiction must be the safest there is.
There must be a major short-term catalyst and a definite plan in motion to advance towards a buyout in 2-3 years.
These are truly abnormal times for the resource sector because I thought that I’d never be able to meet these strict thresholds, but I couldn’t settle – not when it comes to picking the ideal stock for my daughter’s portfolio.
The barbaric bust cycle in commodities has made it possible for us to make a killing. I’ve set aside a 5-figure sum, which I’ll deploy this week with the objective of making a serious return in a 2-3 year timeframe.
The underlying commodity is experiencing acute shortages – that’s why it’s up 90% in years.
This is the one, which I’m buying on behalf of my own daughter – consider owning Callinex Mines (TSX-V: CNX & US: CLLXF).
This is the only company that checks all of the 5 mandatory requirements, but what jumped out most during my research was how silly-cheap it is.
CEO Max Porterfield, who I’ve known for years, and I, went through the list of all pure zinc plays and our conclusion was that Callinex Mines could rally just to catch up with its peer group that trades 274% higher – that’s a potential 64% discount for CNX – unreal!
Then, we zoomed in on its closest direct competitor and the premium it had on Callinex was 551%. Put differently, this company is 81% cheaper than the most similar stock is.
What made this ideal, though, was the timing. Not only is zinc up 29% in 2017 and going into backwardation on the futures markets, like silver did when it was unstoppable in 2011, but Callinex Mines will be releasing its most important news in a matter of weeks.
Consider Making Callinex Mines (TSX-V: CNX & US:CLLXF) your GO-TO Stock for a Takeover Potential Set Up.
Best Regards,
That was from the wealth research group. My copy paste didn’t get that part
Wow….callinex is getting the super hype mode going…
http://mailchi.mp/futuremoneytrends/vcgheynjp9-493005?e=25ed7e0602
Makes you wonder…….who is doing the hyping…….
Ohhh…..for sure it’s the company itself….but the last time they did it with RR it ran nicely and I’m sure this time is no different…..they do have properties in both cases that are near producers with depleting ore bodies so story could become reality….again as I stated this weekend in crypto discussion playing the momo with the herd works if you don’t get greedy…..same goes for pot stocks…their day of consolidation is coming
Thanks for the added info on RR………
Callinex just had some nice drill results as well.
Yup that too….either way. Enjoying the pop. 😁
Yes, it is nice to enjoy the pop.
Wealth group doubling down on the hype
http://mailchi.mp/wealthresearchgroup/killin-it?e=2f29542649
thanks again……..
Thanks as always for the Weekend Show fella’s.
Much appreciated.
Cheers.