Economic Rocket Science

Tags

, , , , , ,

It usually isn’t on display in the economic/business news. For instance, does anyone of any measurable intelligence really believe making every person on the planet a billionaire would change anything?

The world’s first trillionaire won’t come from cryptocurrency or some clever new app – he or she will become rich from asteroid mining.

That’s what bankers Goldman Sachs reckon, anyway – and several companies are now vying to be the first into space.

NASA estimates that the total value of asteroids out there could be up to $700 quintillion – equivalent to £75 billion each for us here on Earth.

That is the equivalent of saying a wolf told you that a fox was hungry and thus every chicken would be happier.

The asteroid mining idea is real and will happen – but not with every single body orbiting the Sun. Someone will likely become extremely wealthy as a result. If The Goldman Sachs has its way, then that someone will be in some way directly related to Goldman Sachs. (And why switch dollars to pounds in the same sentence?)

If the real obtainable value of the celestial rocks really is $700 quintillion, then expect Goldman, the Fed, and Mordor to arrange future loans in the septillion range, with derivatives betting on the order of decillions. Gresham’s Law dictates they would still find a way to kill positive growth with funny money.

The zeros behind the $ or the £ mean nothing. That’s why, even if one distributed the actual cash value of the space debris to each and every person on Earth, turning everyone into billionaires, nothing would change. Zimbabwe is replete with billionaires – who can’t afford lunch.

In his defense, Rob Waugh is an excellent jack-of-all-trades journalist; maybe economics just isn’t one of them. However, that should be (should be) a specialty over at Bloomberg, where they supposedly push business news.

Yet, they seem surprised we have inflation in America and that that cuts into wages.

U.S. inflation accelerated in May to the fastest pace in more than six years, reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s outlook for gradual interest-rate hikes while eroding wage gains that remain relatively tepid despite an 18-year low in unemployment.

The consumer price index rose 0.2 percent from the previous month and 2.8 percent from a year earlier, matching estimates, a Labor Department report showed Tuesday. The annual gain was the biggest since February 2012 and follows a 2.5 percent increase in April. Excluding food and energy, the core gauge was up 0.2 percent from the prior month and 2.2 percent from May 2017, also matching the median estimates of economists.

Fed. Fed. Fed. Fed. Rates. Rates. Rates. In Bloomberg’s defense, they are actually in the business of promoting certain interests, like those of Goldman.

The narrative works something like this: The economy is great, never stronger. Unemployment is low, officially. Wages are rising. Inflation is low. Oops, for completely unforeseen reasons, likely related to gas prices, it reared its ugly head. Time to raise rates on the flood of fiat. Sally School teacher in Iowa sees her recent raise evaporate. But that doesn’t matter; Goldman is mining the Moon or something.

They leave out: That all the money, almost all of it, is fake, based on debts that cannot be repaid. Everything in the economy depends on said fake money (it’s like mixing in helium for a dive – a little boosts depth range, too much kills). Wages are always one of the last things to “catch up” after a correction – only just in time for the next correction. Real wage buying power (how much the pay is really worth) only this year returned to levels last seen in 1973. 45 years of loss, and the new, temporary gains are now squashed by inflation.

It’s almost like we’ve entered into a terminal phase wherein the wages will not, cannot recover. Workers and earners see their purchasing power decline to ancient levels, their standards of living plunge toward serf-like proximity.

When this all hits the fan the next time around, it may hail the curtain call for the banksters. That would be the good news.

TO GO WITH STORY "SPACE-JAPAN-AUSTRALIA-

Maybe there’s a way to relocate the banksters and their political pets to the heavens? Metro/UK.

Government School is Child Abuse – and Attempted Cover Up

Tags

, , , , ,

More and more and more reasons manifest – causes to keep children out of the failed American “public” school cabal. Here’s another stunner: Valedictorian’s mic was cut off when she brought up sex assault in grad speech:

A California high school valedictorian was abruptly cut off when she tried to speak about sexual assault during her graduation speech, according to reports.

“I felt like I was worthless,” recent Petaluma High School grad Lulabel Seitz told CNN about the incident.

The 17-year-old began her speech on June 2 recalling the students’ first days as freshmen, then went on to talk about devastating wildfires, teacher strikes and her own family’s struggles.

But when it seemed like she was about to bring up her own sexual assault, which allegedly happened on school grounds — her mic was cut off.

In a video of the incident, the teen is visibly upset as she yells inaudible words to someone off camera.

Moments later, her peers and people in the crowd started chanting, “Let her speak! Let her speak!”

After nearly a minute of silence, she returns to her seat.

Seitz — a member of student government who played trumpet in jazz band and maintained a GPA of over 4.0 — said administrators warned her not to “speak against them” in her speech.

But the night before commencement, as she watched Martin Luther King Jr. speeches, she was inspired to speak out.

“When they cut my mic, I was appalled at them,” Seitz told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. “I thought this is a public school with freedom of speech.”

Seitz, who is heading to Stanford in the fall, decided to post the uncensored version of her speech on YouTube.

That speech contains the line: “Even learning on a campus where some people defend perpetrators of sexual assault and silence their victims, we didn’t let that drag us down.”

The teen said she reported her assault, but that the school did nothing about it.

The definitional best student at this “school” was assaulted (I’ll just take her word) and the school did nothing (for her). They did do something against her, shutting her speech down following intimidation. Double abuse. This case is reminiscent of an episode in Florida wherein a middle school girl as abused on campus. Her school did nothing. Frustrated, she reached out to local talk radio for support and help. The school responded – by suspending her.

Our valedictorian by no means should feel worthless. That sentiment is rightfully reserved for her failed school. Thank God she’s moved beyond their reach. Of course, they did nothing about the abuse! They’re in the same business themselves.

She now surely knows that public “schools” and freedom, of speech and otherwise, do not go together. She’s going to be fine. She’s one of those high IQ students who simply cannot be held down, no matter who tries. She’ll do well at Stanford. She’ll be a success.

The “school” won’t. It isn’t. It cannot claim any responsibility for the success of those who happen to excel despite the torment. I don’t even need to consult with one of those services that tell just how bad the schools are; I know this one is failed. Abolish it. Now!

I’m sure they did warn her not to “speak against them.” Her disregard speaks to her fortitude. I’ll also speak against them. Damn you morons to hell! Stop harming children. How’s that?

This is pathetic. It is also the norm these days. As these are our children, can we really continue to tolerate this? I think not.

nimbus-image-1528734681297

YouTube.

Hope for England, Hope for the West. #FreeTommyRobinson!

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Oops. Looks like there are still some Britons in Britain. London of all places.

They turned out in the thousands to hear Geert Wilders.

Then they sent the police state police running.

More than 1,000 Tommy Robinson supporters clash with police in London

Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders, 54, attended and spoke at the protest

He was banned from Britain in 2009 only to get it overturned and says Robinson is a ‘freedom fighter’

EDL founder jailed for 13 months after admitting Facebook Live was contempt

Five arrests have been made at the protest and five police officers have reported injuries, none of which are serious

Supporters of Tommy Robinson have clashed with police at a Whitehall demonstration after hearing Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders call for the English Defence League founder to be freed.

Rows of riot police blocked the gate down the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace where the Royal Family gathered on the balcony after celebrating Trooping the Colour just hours before.

These colours run.

4D152D3400000578-5807395-image-a-1_1528562778469

This is what Soros was whining about. Ain’t seen nothing yet, Kapo. Daily Mail.

Thank you, Geert, and thank you, Men of England.

Now, watch the running of the Bobbies:

YT.

**For instant delivery of every post, kindly hit the “Follow” Button or enter your email over on the left side of the screen:

nimbus-image-1528638046881 - Edited (1)

A Day in the Life in the Police State

Tags

, , , ,

Watch the TSA molest a 96-YO Woman in a Wheelchair. This keeps us safe from them tar’ists!

Nearly 9 million people have watched the video — and many have weighed-in about the security pat-down of a 96-year-old woman in a wheelchair. The screening happened at Dulles Airport in Washington.

The woman’s daughter complained that the 6-minute search was quote “prolonged and repetitive.”

A woman can be heard criticizing the TSA agents in the video. “What the hell do you think she’s going to do? Set off a shoe bomb?” she asks.

Honestly, there’s no thought involved, unless it’s a sadistic pleasure in harming innocent Americans. And, NEVER utter “bomb” in the presence of these clowns – surefire way to get arrested…

For their part, Dulles, who by their FB avatar, promote the month’s “diversity” in flaming fashion, issued a banal call for calm: “Shut up and enjoy the groping! Have some pride. Tasty ethnic food.”

The woman’s indignant, surely intolerant daughter spoke out: “She didn’t know what to say. She does not want to fly again ever. She didn’t know what they were looking for. She was scared,” Clarkson said of her mother. “She was just following directions. She said she didn’t know what to do.”

No one knows what to say to a robber or rapist, if “Die, MF!” isn’t an option. Who the hell would want to fly these days – the sheep among us excluded? Likely, they didn’t know what they were looking for; it’s all theater. People should be scared. She just followed directions, they were only following orders… What to do? Well, when a hard sweep and an ax kick to the throat aren’t an option, there’s avoiding commercial aviation entirely.

You voted for this shit. You tolerate it. Many willingly undergo similar treatment. A few brag about the same. Treatment for nothing. This has nothing to do with fighting terror. No one is “kept safe” from this BS. Worse than anything George III ever did. Odds are, upon seeing this video, he would urge rebellion.

At your own peril, people.

nimbus-image-1528564545962

Did she thank that hero for his service? CBS.

Get Ready for More Debt!

Tags

, , , , , ,

Maybe the new editors at the WSJ can reinstitute some truth controls. There’s a glaring error in this story:

The Social Security program’s costs will exceed its income this year for the first time since 1982, forcing the program to dip into its nearly $3 trillion trust fund to cover benefits.

This is three years sooner than expected a year ago, partly due to lower economic growth projections, according to the latest annual report the trustees of Social Security and Medicare released Tuesday. The program’s income comes from tax revenue and interest from its trust fund.

The trust fund will be depleted in 2034 and Social Security will no longer be able to pay its full scheduled benefits unless Congress takes action to shore up the program’s finances. Without any changes, recipients then would receive only about three-quarters of their scheduled benefits from incoming tax revenues.

The report also said that Medicare’s hospital insurance fund would be depleted in 2026, three years earlier than anticipated in last year’s report. Absent changes, the program then would be able to handle 91% of costs.

The nation’s aging population is boosting the costs of Social Security and Medicare, while revenue gains lag due to slower growth in the economy and the labor force.

Where, exactly, is this $3 Trillion reserve fund, this “lockbox,” located? My guess would be in that D.C. museum with the Constitution, the dinos, and other things that don’t exist.

The “reserves” are but an accounting trick which, simply put, is just more debt for you and your kids to enjoy in the future.

There is probably some hidden truth in the story if one knows what to look for. Those dates in the late 20’s and early 30’s. Something else will probably fail around that time.

122206295

Found it!

Grit and Steel: Fiction at TPC

Tags

, ,

And, by fiction, for once I don’t mean a goofy political poem. A short, short story:

It was as delightful a late-October afternoon as anyone could want, cooler and quieter than most. Wendell “Dell” Hubbard looked out the office window as the leaves shimmered in a breeze, their autumnal transformation slowly proceeding. It was a great afternoon, a great Friday afternoon. So far as Wendell knew he was the last man in the building. Friday’s usually meant leaving a little early. And now it was a little late – five past five. ‘No rush,’ he thought as his gaze returned to the stack of files on his desk. His blushing bride and her sister were held up at the family beach house for the weekend. He could afford to take it easy. Stay a little longer. Get a little more done. Later, perhaps, a cigar and a little Scotch was in order.

READ THE WHOLE THING AT TPC

*Is this the beginning of the Dell Hubbard chronicles? Who knows?

**TPC fans: the National Affairs shall return in force next week.

IMG_20180605_154936046 - Edited

Perrin.

At Last: A Flying ‘Car’ That Flies!

Tags

, ,

Slowly. And it’s more of a (barely) flying kayak drone than a car. Anyway, you can certainly trust the Google guy who invented those murderous “autonomous” vehicles.

With a gentle touch on a sliding nob, Rachel used her hand to take off inside the Flyer from a dock on Lake Las Vegas, 25 miles from downtown. Using a simple Atari-esque joystick in her other hand, she began to carefully pilot the Flyer around, traveling between three and 10 feet above the lake. (Her speed was capped at 6 mph — experienced pilots can fly up to 20 mph).

As Rachel glided above the lake, Kitty Hawk’s mission control team monitored her flight from a small building nearby and provided guidance through speakers in her helmet. Five minutes later, Rachel returned to the dock, landing the Flyer like a pro.

She threw her arms up in celebration. We all cheered.

20 MPH, a 100 Mile range, and a video game controller. Call George Jetson. Tell him to leave the family behind (no passengers) and set aside plenty of extra time.

At least it kind of flies.

180605231522-kitty-hawk-flyer-thumbnail-780x439

Faster than a sickly snail, able to leap smaller sickly snails with a good running start. CNN.

Meet ‘Norman,’ MIT’s Pet Psycho

Tags

, , , ,

From America’s and the World’s preeminent tech school comes a project bound to safely provide a happy, secure ending for all. Or, at least, an ending for some…

In one of the big musical numbers from The Life Of Brian, Eric Idle reminds us to “always look on the bright side of life.” Norman, a new artificial intelligence project from MIT, doesn’t know how to do that.

That’s because Norman is a psychopath, just like the Hitchcock character that inspired the research team to create him.

Like so many of these projects do, the MIT researchers started out by training Norman on freely available data found on the Web. Instead of looking at the usual family-friendly Google Images fare, however, they pointed Norman toward darker imagery. Specifically, the MIT crew stuck Norman in a creepy subreddit to do his initial training.

This is just what we need. I was telling the boys at the cigar club just the other day how badly the world needs a dark-minded, no-hearted, psychopathic killer robot running amok in Boston. Forget the duck boats and the Union Oyster House. Come see Norman! And die at his cold, mechanical hands!

Well, I imagine that, right now, he’s confined to a computer in a lab. The Dr. Frankensteins at DARPA surely have a bodily cure for that.

I can’t help but notice that he was trained in the dark arts using existing anti-social media, stock off them internets. How many other non-AI psychos are training there too? You, please stick to this highly respected web log; no Norman here…

Hey! Given his location and disposition, maybe his full name is Norman Kennedy.

norman-625x352

Kennedy/Skynet 2020.

Another Good Alternative to Public “Schools”

Tags

, , , ,

Last week’s TPC column on high schools and its predecessor generated heavy readership and commentary. The people, some of them having direct experience in the government prison schools, raised a myriad of issues even I hadn’t thought of – from expenses to parent disinterest to fidget spinners. All seemed willing to explore options in search of real education.

In furtherance thereof, here’s a piece from LRC, today, on Ron Paul’s Curriculum:

Of course many parents choose homeschooling as a means of protecting their children from federal education “reforms” such as Common Core. Other parents are motivated by a desire to protect their children from the cultural Marxism that has infiltrated many schools.

The spread of cultural Marxism has contributed to the dumbing down of public education. Too many government schools are more concerned with promoting political correctness than ensuring that students receive a good education. Even if cultural Marxism did not dumb down education, concerns that government schools are indoctrinating children with beliefs that conflict with parents’ political, social, and even religious beliefs would motivate many families to homeschool.

Even when government schools are not intentionally promoting cultural Marxism or other left-wing ideologies, they are still implicitly biased toward big government. For example, how many government schools teach the Austrian economics explanation for the Great Depression — much less question the wisdom of central banking — or critically examine the justifications for America’s hyper-interventionist foreign policy?

Another installment of TPC cometh tomorrow – and of a totally different make than the usual. Stay tuned.