I have shared the teaching of Master Shi in multiple posts. This is a long interview and he revisits many of his wise learnings. If you have an itch that tells you there is something missing in your life. Or self doubt clouds your journey, I highly recommend this video. https://youtu.be/atejm2w2jWY
jimg
April 25, 2025 9:14 am
#46429
Russia Oil Drilling at Fastest Pace in 5 Years as Curbs Ease
“Goldman Sachs has a pitch for investors: It’s more than just a bank. It’s a leading alternative asset manager, and thus, its chiefs need to be paid like they’re at one.”
“Shareholders are set to vote on Wednesday on whether to approve $160 million in special bonuses for Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and President John Waldron, my colleague Todd Gillespie reported.”
Just an observation. My business is importing various jewelry components from china and then reselling them. Couple weeks ago I placed a bunch of orders to come fedx express and they arrived yesterday. I did not get any additional charges on my shipments. My fedx driver said they were very very busy with people doing the same thing as I was. Today and from now on I believe we are in uncharted waters. Because that appears to have ended. One of my suppliers is now only selling from stock. They do not want to produce anything more in advance. They also told me they are no longer shipping through DHL or Fedx. Everything for some reason must go through the postal system. I can’t express to you how long and fouled up things will get if that is the case. Our postal system has been slowly dismantled beginning with the first Trump administration. Requiring them to collect duty and remit it to the treasury will be a nightmare. I have another supplier I work with in Hong Kong. I use Hong Kong post from that location. Today I read Hong Kong post will no longer except shipments of product to the USA. Anything requiring customs to be involved in they no longer want to deal with.. I don’t really think people have any idea what could happen if Trump does not immediately fix the tariff issue. The fact of the matter is even though the price of my product will more then double, I have serious reservation whether it will be able to get into the county even if I can get a carrier. What I think is about to happen is something very similar to what went on during covid. Everything is made in china, I really do not see how the USA would win this Tariff war. I was also heard some very defiant talk from suppliers. Something similar that I hear from my Canadian friends. I really think things could get much worse economically very quickly. A bit surprised the market has held up this well so far, I sort of doubt that will continue unless our fearless leader has some major change of direction or breakthrough allowing him to claim victory.
World Economic Forum founder and CEO Klaus Schwab abruptly quits.
An age-related resignation is paired with a continuity search period. This resignation took effect immediately. This is a story here.
Who might the replacement be? One of the front-runners would be Mark Carney, but in six days, Carney will either be elected or defeated in his bid to become Canada’s next Prime Minister. Currently, Carney is ahead in the polls, but the gap has narrowed significantly. I hope he loses the election and moves on to head the WEF, so Kaimu and I can diss every word that comes out of both sides of his mouth.
The debate between Harvard and the Trump administration has sparked considerable discussion over free speech, academic freedom, and government power in the United States. I mentioned this issue earlier because it concerns me, and CNBC hosts were discussing it early today.
At the heart of the conflict: The Trump administration is threatening to cut billions in federal funding to Harvard, claiming the school isn’t doing enough to stop antisemitism on campus. Harvard, a private university, relies on this funding for research and programs in law, medicine, business, and other fields. However, Harvard argues that the government’s demands infringe upon its First Amendment rights and academic independence.
The administration wants Harvard to ban certain student groups and revise its policies, but Harvard refuses, arguing that it would mean allowing the government to control free speech.
“Perspective is not constitutional.”
This line from CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin today stuck with me. The First Amendment protects all viewpoints—left, right, or center—but doesn’t declare any one “right.” The government can’t favor or punish opinions. If the Trump administration pressures Harvard over antisemitism claims, it would be unfairly targeting certain views, which many legal experts say is unconstitutional.
Is Antisemitism the Real Issue?
The administration says pro-Palestinian protests at Harvard are antisemitic and must be stopped. But is this really about discrimination, or is it a way for Trump to push political goals, like influencing faculty or hiring practices?
Why This Matters
If the administration wins, it could mean more government control over private universities, weakening their independence. If Harvard wins, it strengthens free speech and academic freedom nationwide.
This isn’t just about Harvard—it’s part of a broader fight between the Trump administration and academia, with similar clashes also occurring at Columbia and Princeton. It’s also part of the administration’s battles with the media and law firms.
The First Amendment protects free speech for everyone, no matter their views. By using funding as leverage, the Trump administration is testing those limits. The outcome could reshape education and free speech in America for years to come, which is why voters and the media should pay very close attention.
IMHO it’s NOT a Free Speech issue. It’s a How Many Billions of Tax-Payer $ should we be sending to xyz university per year???? I think we need to “ZERO-Baseline” them ALL. GO Back to ZERO per Year and Let’s Restart from There.
Probably Churches as well. Lots of scams there too I suspect.
There was an old CIA guy I worked with over @ NRO … Frank S. “All you have to do is scratch a little below the surface and you find out some BS going on.”
Sounds like someone wants Jay Powell gone pretty bad. Does no one in the WH understand that markets cannot be forced to do their bidding? They want lower interest rates, that doesn’t mean you just arbitrarily lower them with zero regard for monetary policy and market outlooks.
jimg
April 21, 2025 10:52 am
#46351
Felix Zulauf 3 for 3 from his market projection in December 2024.
“He usually only does public interviews once a year, but given the recent market turbulence, he has decided to return early to help investors make sense of what’s most likely to happen next from here.”
Justice Alito’s dissenting statement in Alien Enemies Act case After detailing how SCOTUS ignored controlling law, he closed with: “Both the Executive and the Judiciary have an obligation to follow the law.”
The total dollar amount of shares sold by 3,867 “insiders” (per Washington Service data) between January 2025 and April 2 is $15.5 billion.
BBG continues: “Insider selling overall was down compared with the first quarter of 2024, which saw 4,702 insiders unload shares worth a total of $28.1 billion, according to Washington Service.
Billcara.com gets Spam attacks at least twice daily from Binance account opening-related email. They are creative and get through too but are quite dated so readers don’t see them. It’s just frustrating there are so many wasters in the world.
Toronto Maple Leafs hosting Ottawa in Game 1 of their playoff series tonight at 7pm. Two good teams. I always pull for the Leafs, which last won a cup in 1967, a 58-year drought.
“You could do the earliest Fed nomination and create a shadow Fed chair. And based on the concept of forward guidance, no one is really going to care what Jerome Powell has to say anymore.” — Bessent, Barron’s interview, Oct. 9, 2024
“If you believe forward guidance is good, why can’t you give forward guidance on who the Fed chair is going to be. You could do one of two things: The current Fed chair could be reappointed, so you’ve created a path there. Or the new Fed chair nominee would give forward guidance beyond the current Fed chair’s sell-by date.” — Bessent, Bloomberg Radio on Oct. 11, 2024
That’s the 6th mass shooting in Florida this year.
In all of Canada, there have been 3 mass shootings and 2 deaths in the past 17 months. Two were in Toronto.
Canada is 171% bigger in population than Florida, but Florida, which is a relatively safe State, has had 6 mass shootings in 4 months, including 2 deaths yesterday.
This is one reason why Canadians would never become the 51st State.
Another is medical bankruptcy.
In the US, about 500,000 families experience medical bankruptcy annually, with 23 million Americans (7% of the population) having significant medical debt. Unless Canadians suffer an unexpected, catastrophic illness in the US and are not covered by travel insurance, no Canadians are bankrupted annually, and zero have been in the past 40 years. Canadians also have universal access to family doctors, specialists, and hospitals. They live longer.
I could discuss cultural reasons, but those are two reasons why Canadians would not become American.
Just the thought that Trump would consider Canada a State with a governor when there are 10 provinces with Premiers and three other territories is enough to piss off most Canadians. The Republicans would never want to see 13 new States, probably 11 of which would be voting Blue.
Many Americans are unaware of the size of Toronto. In the US, there are five cities with a population of 250,000, located in New York, Pennsylvania, and throughout New England. As a comparison, there are five within 15 miles of me in Toronto. If these cities and suburbs were combined into one city, it would be the size of New York City.
The investments and annual expenditures that Torontonians alone make in the US would shock most Americans. But, sadly, thanks to Trump, that relationship is over. Throughout most of Canada, US alcoholic products have been removed from shelves, and in retail stores, Canadians have a clear preference not to purchase any product marked as American. Stickers featuring the Canadian maple leaf are prominently displayed up and down the aisles, and that’s where Canadians are making their purchases. The US-made goods inventory is quickly increasing, and as a result, purchase orders are decreasing. In terms of travel, the Delta airlift from Toronto has dwindled to almost nothing. Canadian-owned real estate is being sold quickly, adding to the local inventory of houses in States like Florida and pushing prices lower. Hotels, motels, and restaurants are laying off people as a result. Canadians are being advised by governments and tour operators that crossing the border may be ill-advised. During March break, there is usually a massive line-up of cars, but this year, TV programs showed no traffic right up to the ICE border station.
The economic damage caused by Trump is more substantial and will be much longer-lasting than the American media generally conveys. Even with a change in the US administration, it may take a decade, perhaps a generation, before the relationship is repaired. Yes, it’s that serious! One of the reasons, frankly, is that tens of millions of Americans either don’t care or support Trump’s regular attacks on Canada. There are Canadian property owners in Florida communities who claim they are no longer welcome, and their American friends who genuinely care are afraid to speak out. In general conversations, I frequently hear the word “danger.” I know many Americans care, but it’s up to them to solve the problem.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Friday that President Donald Trump and his team would “continue to study” whether Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could be fired. – CNBC
USD-to-silver ratio 1,043/oz. USD-to-gold ratio 8,077/oz.
I’m still influenced by The Death of Money, describing the collapse of the German mark in the 1920-1923 Weimar republic. In October 1923, Germany experienced the 4th-highest inflation rate in history, 29,500% for the month. Banknotes of 1924 approached denominations in the trillions.
Someone mentioned US debt last week which made me visit the US debt clock, currently stands at 36.74 Trillion. I guess the 36 Tril number was passed some time ago with little notice in the press. According to my research, Trump 1.0 and Biden together added some 16 Trillion in just eight years. This is never getting better. My strategy is to hold on to gold bullion and own some shares in a precious metals mining fund.
In a perfect world, Congress and the courts would keep President Donald Trump’s executive branch in line by balancing out his portion of the country’s power base. Absent their effectiveness, the financial markets may be the last line of defense to moderate Trump’s behavior, according to new analysis in The Bulwark.
Writer Matt Johnson posited that even as these vital institutions cave in to Trump’s demands, “one important check remains: There’s nothing Trump can do to bend global financial markets to his will.”
I continue to say that every time Trump boasts that he can order commodity prices or interest rates to fall, he shows he is financially illiterate.
The forex market is the world’s biggest financial market, and in that market, Mr Trump’s influence cannot compare to that of Mrs. Watanabe, the Japanese housewife.
There is a good documentary series if you search youtube for Planet Finance. I especially enjoyed segments 1 and 2 which discussed the oil fiasco of April 2020 when it traded negative 40 a barrel. There is a segment on Mrs. Watanabe the Japanese housewife currency traders. Very well done series.
Wondering where else this is happening. This is a pretty devasting development for small businesses out in the middle of the IndoPacific trying to support an ongoing pretty large military buildup….
The U.S. Small Business Administration Guam Branch office has closed operations on the island.
KUAM confirmed the closure took effect by the close of business day today.
Branch Manager Ken Lujan told KUAM via email the Guam branch office is now closed.
He advised anyone needing assistance to contact the SBA Hawaii District Office at 808-541-2990 or [email protected].
The closure of the Guam office comes as the U.S. Small Business Administration announced its plans for an agency-wide reorganization.
Officials noted recently, “To return to its founding mission of empowering small businesses, and to restore accountability to taxpayers, the agency will reduce its workforce by 43% – ending the expansive social policy agenda of the prior administration, eliminating non-essential roles, and returning to pre-pandemic staffing levels.”
Officials added, “The strategic reorganization will begin a turnaround for the agency by restoring the efficiency of the first Trump administration, as well as its focus on promoting small businesses. Core services to the public, including the agency’s loan guarantee and disaster assistance programs, as well as its field and veteran operations, will not be impacted.”
For decades, the politicization of universities in the West has concerned me. Recently, my concerns have become worries. A remedy must be found. However, I have always believed that if something is broken, the onus is on the stakeholders to fix it. Regarding universities, there are many brilliant people among the direct stakeholders, and there is a lot at stake. Why does the Trump administration feel capable and empowered to solve this problem in a manner that suits itself politically?
The Trump team claims it’s a matter of antisemitism, which, because we know Trump for precisely the despicable person he is, is the opposite of his intentions. After Adolf Hitler was appointed German Chancellor in January 1933, the new Nazi government began an effort to reorder public and private life in Germany completely as Trump is doing today. According to Wiki, which I believe is evidentially well supported, the Nazi regime at the time immediately targeted German universities—claimed to be among the most elite in the world at the time—for restructuring according to Nazi principles. This is my worry. I want politicians to keep their hands off our universities. These are not primary schools. The students are adults. They have the same rights under the law as the Trump administration.
I have heard a troubling incident that, if true—and I believe it is—has probably been the case across America in the past few months. In a world-class university, Trump has installed his person as a “guest” at the university board meetings. The Board is now afraid to speak its mind or manage its responsibilities in the normal course of business.
Any talk that would not please Raul Castro was forbidden. We lived under constant threat of deportation, so we ensured our protection by living the way Castro would have wanted. No political talk.
But in a dictatorship, things happen to people who are innocent, yet vulnerable. One year, 2015, I think, there was a Zika virus concern that the authorities were spraying chemicals everywhere to prevent an outbreak. One day, a knock on the door came from two officers who told us we had to remove ourselves from our home so they could spray chemicals everywhere. No warning. Food on the table, and so forth. We were ordered to leave immediately. We were invited to return ten minutes later while one officer wrote an official record of the incident. Then, he looked at me sternly and said he found mosquito larvae in a refrigerator. But that fridge was never used. When I took over the condo, I completely renovated it with new plumbing, wiring, an additional bathroom, and all appliances. This condo would not have been out of place in Manhattan. I only kept that tiny old Cuban fridge everyone receives from the government as a potential bar fridge. I stored it under stuff in a bedroom and never used it. But the officer pointed to a speck of dirt on the end of his pencil so small that a person with poor eyesight would not have seen it. He told me that his report would require the immigration people to come and deport us from the country. I was in awe.
He kept looking at his notes, so I figured this was a shakedown. He told me he was authorized to resolve the matter quickly if I signed a new report he’d make and paid him US$50. Since I knew he and his partner earned the equivalent of US$25 a month, they were there to make that 20 minutes worth their month. Of course, I agreed. When you live in a dictatorship, you agree to every demand of the dictator.
Universities, law firms, broadcast companies, and the list goes on. All of them are law-abiding Americans now paying money to Trump because he is demanding and threatening.
We cannot allow our universities to be threatened and dictated to. These young people are our future. Trump, like all dictators eventually are, will soon be dead.
Can our financial markets survive under a dictatorship?
While credibility would be an issue as we’d be watching Trump’s sycophants enrich themselves at our expense, the capital markets would continue. China and Russia are proof of that. So too is the US Capitol in Washington, DC.
After all, if Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Pelosi can build their wealth allegedly from political inside knowledge, we’re almost there.
Of course, Greene’s spokesperson dismissed the idea of a probe as “utterly absurd.” But here’s what’s actually absurd: Greene’s net worth ballooned from around $700,000 before taking office to an estimated $22 million today. Her base salary as a member of Congress is $174,000. Either she’s a once-in-a-generation financial savant, or—more likely—she’s benefiting from the kind of legalized corruption the rest of us would do prison time for.
And this is hardly exclusive to Greene. Insider trading is Washington’s favorite bipartisan hobby. Consider Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her husband Paul, whose stock trades are so prescient they should be taught at Wharton. Like in 2024, when Paul sold $500,000 in Visa stock right before the Department of Justice announced an antitrust lawsuit against the company. You couldn’t script a more suspiciously well-timed move. But again—it’s apparently not illegal if Congress does it.
Great writing. Yes they can. Just like the French revolution where the public thought they won and simply got new masters, the same thing will happen in America. We will go from far right to far left until the pot bursts. Then a new form of America will emerge and a rebranded suppression will follow.
Elites eating the Elites. The bottom 99% will still be the bottom 99%.
We’ll soon find out if the US is no longer a democracy.
The Trump Administration must decide whether to refuse to be subjected to a criminal contempt order if it comes from a federal judge, knowing that the US Supreme Court will support the judge in this matter.
I have shared the teaching of Master Shi in multiple posts. This is a long interview and he revisits many of his wise learnings. If you have an itch that tells you there is something missing in your life. Or self doubt clouds your journey, I highly recommend this video.
https://youtu.be/atejm2w2jWY
Russia Oil Drilling at Fastest Pace in 5 Years as Curbs Ease
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/russia_oil_drilling_at_fastest_pace_in_5_years_as_curbs_ease-25-apr-2025-180334-article/
“Goldman Sachs has a pitch for investors: It’s more than just a bank. It’s a leading alternative asset manager, and thus, its chiefs need to be paid like they’re at one.”
“Shareholders are set to vote on Wednesday on whether to approve $160 million in special bonuses for Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and President John Waldron, my colleague Todd Gillespie reported.”
https://archive.is/26flP
“Eric Schmidt says intelligence is about to decouple from us.”
“The computers are now doing self-improvement.. They don’t have to listen to us anymore.”
“Within six years: a mind smarter than the sum of humans — scaled, recursive, free. We have no language for what’s coming.”
https://x.com/vitrupo/status/1911934053378588842
Could be unlimited upside.
Just an observation. My business is importing various jewelry components from china and then reselling them. Couple weeks ago I placed a bunch of orders to come fedx express and they arrived yesterday. I did not get any additional charges on my shipments. My fedx driver said they were very very busy with people doing the same thing as I was. Today and from now on I believe we are in uncharted waters. Because that appears to have ended. One of my suppliers is now only selling from stock. They do not want to produce anything more in advance. They also told me they are no longer shipping through DHL or Fedx. Everything for some reason must go through the postal system. I can’t express to you how long and fouled up things will get if that is the case. Our postal system has been slowly dismantled beginning with the first Trump administration. Requiring them to collect duty and remit it to the treasury will be a nightmare. I have another supplier I work with in Hong Kong. I use Hong Kong post from that location. Today I read Hong Kong post will no longer except shipments of product to the USA. Anything requiring customs to be involved in they no longer want to deal with.. I don’t really think people have any idea what could happen if Trump does not immediately fix the tariff issue. The fact of the matter is even though the price of my product will more then double, I have serious reservation whether it will be able to get into the county even if I can get a carrier. What I think is about to happen is something very similar to what went on during covid. Everything is made in china, I really do not see how the USA would win this Tariff war. I was also heard some very defiant talk from suppliers. Something similar that I hear from my Canadian friends. I really think things could get much worse economically very quickly. A bit surprised the market has held up this well so far, I sort of doubt that will continue unless our fearless leader has some major change of direction or breakthrough allowing him to claim victory.
World Economic Forum founder and CEO Klaus Schwab abruptly quits.
An age-related resignation is paired with a continuity search period. This resignation took effect immediately. This is a story here.
Who might the replacement be? One of the front-runners would be Mark Carney, but in six days, Carney will either be elected or defeated in his bid to become Canada’s next Prime Minister. Currently, Carney is ahead in the polls, but the gap has narrowed significantly. I hope he loses the election and moves on to head the WEF, so Kaimu and I can diss every word that comes out of both sides of his mouth.
Harvard vs. Trump: A Free Speech Battle
The debate between Harvard and the Trump administration has sparked considerable discussion over free speech, academic freedom, and government power in the United States. I mentioned this issue earlier because it concerns me, and CNBC hosts were discussing it early today.
At the heart of the conflict: The Trump administration is threatening to cut billions in federal funding to Harvard, claiming the school isn’t doing enough to stop antisemitism on campus. Harvard, a private university, relies on this funding for research and programs in law, medicine, business, and other fields. However, Harvard argues that the government’s demands infringe upon its First Amendment rights and academic independence.
The administration wants Harvard to ban certain student groups and revise its policies, but Harvard refuses, arguing that it would mean allowing the government to control free speech.
“Perspective is not constitutional.”
This line from CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin today stuck with me. The First Amendment protects all viewpoints—left, right, or center—but doesn’t declare any one “right.” The government can’t favor or punish opinions. If the Trump administration pressures Harvard over antisemitism claims, it would be unfairly targeting certain views, which many legal experts say is unconstitutional.
Is Antisemitism the Real Issue?
The administration says pro-Palestinian protests at Harvard are antisemitic and must be stopped. But is this really about discrimination, or is it a way for Trump to push political goals, like influencing faculty or hiring practices?
Why This Matters
If the administration wins, it could mean more government control over private universities, weakening their independence. If Harvard wins, it strengthens free speech and academic freedom nationwide.
This isn’t just about Harvard—it’s part of a broader fight between the Trump administration and academia, with similar clashes also occurring at Columbia and Princeton. It’s also part of the administration’s battles with the media and law firms.
The First Amendment protects free speech for everyone, no matter their views. By using funding as leverage, the Trump administration is testing those limits. The outcome could reshape education and free speech in America for years to come, which is why voters and the media should pay very close attention.
IMHO it’s NOT a Free Speech issue. It’s a How Many Billions of Tax-Payer $ should we be sending to xyz university per year???? I think we need to “ZERO-Baseline” them ALL. GO Back to ZERO per Year and Let’s Restart from There.
Probably Churches as well. Lots of scams there too I suspect.
There was an old CIA guy I worked with over @ NRO … Frank S.
“All you have to do is scratch a little below the surface and you find out some BS going on.”
Sounds like someone wants Jay Powell gone pretty bad. Does no one in the WH understand that markets cannot be forced to do their bidding? They want lower interest rates, that doesn’t mean you just arbitrarily lower them with zero regard for monetary policy and market outlooks.
Felix Zulauf 3 for 3 from his market projection in December 2024.
“He usually only does public interviews once a year, but given the recent market turbulence, he has decided to return early to help investors make sense of what’s most likely to happen next from here.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUwgobvt-Jo
Justice Alito’s dissenting statement in Alien Enemies Act case
After detailing how SCOTUS ignored controlling law, he closed with: “Both the Executive and the Judiciary have an obligation to follow the law.”
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a1007_22p3.pdf
Click bait headline from Bloomberg?
Zuckerberg, Dimon Are Among Top Sellers Ahead of Tariff Stock Rout
https://archive.is/azkai#selection-1201.0-1201.66
Grok summary:
The total dollar amount of shares sold by 3,867 “insiders” (per Washington Service data) between January 2025 and April 2 is $15.5 billion.
BBG continues: “Insider selling overall was down compared with the first quarter of 2024, which saw 4,702 insiders unload shares worth a total of $28.1 billion, according to Washington Service.
Billcara.com gets Spam attacks at least twice daily from Binance account opening-related email. They are creative and get through too but are quite dated so readers don’t see them. It’s just frustrating there are so many wasters in the world.
Toronto Maple Leafs hosting Ottawa in Game 1 of their playoff series tonight at 7pm. Two good teams. I always pull for the Leafs, which last won a cup in 1967, a 58-year drought.
6-2 Toronto
Great game.
“You could do the earliest Fed nomination and create a shadow Fed chair. And based on the concept of forward guidance, no one is really going to care what Jerome Powell has to say anymore.” — Bessent, Barron’s interview, Oct. 9, 2024
https://www.barrons.com/articles/trump-fed-chair-powell-fire-4b79079f
https://archive.is/1tAXd
“If you believe forward guidance is good, why can’t you give forward guidance on who the Fed chair is going to be. You could do one of two things: The current Fed chair could be reappointed, so you’ve created a path there. Or the new Fed chair nominee would give forward guidance beyond the current Fed chair’s sell-by date.” — Bessent, Bloomberg Radio on Oct. 11, 2024
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2024-10-11/have-roadmap-for-trump-economic-policy-bessent-video
That’s the 6th mass shooting in Florida this year.
In all of Canada, there have been 3 mass shootings and 2 deaths in the past 17 months. Two were in Toronto.
Canada is 171% bigger in population than Florida, but Florida, which is a relatively safe State, has had 6 mass shootings in 4 months, including 2 deaths yesterday.
This is one reason why Canadians would never become the 51st State.
Another is medical bankruptcy.
In the US, about 500,000 families experience medical bankruptcy annually, with 23 million Americans (7% of the population) having significant medical debt. Unless Canadians suffer an unexpected, catastrophic illness in the US and are not covered by travel insurance, no Canadians are bankrupted annually, and zero have been in the past 40 years. Canadians also have universal access to family doctors, specialists, and hospitals. They live longer.
I could discuss cultural reasons, but those are two reasons why Canadians would not become American.
Just the thought that Trump would consider Canada a State with a governor when there are 10 provinces with Premiers and three other territories is enough to piss off most Canadians. The Republicans would never want to see 13 new States, probably 11 of which would be voting Blue.
Many Americans are unaware of the size of Toronto. In the US, there are five cities with a population of 250,000, located in New York, Pennsylvania, and throughout New England. As a comparison, there are five within 15 miles of me in Toronto. If these cities and suburbs were combined into one city, it would be the size of New York City.
The investments and annual expenditures that Torontonians alone make in the US would shock most Americans. But, sadly, thanks to Trump, that relationship is over. Throughout most of Canada, US alcoholic products have been removed from shelves, and in retail stores, Canadians have a clear preference not to purchase any product marked as American. Stickers featuring the Canadian maple leaf are prominently displayed up and down the aisles, and that’s where Canadians are making their purchases. The US-made goods inventory is quickly increasing, and as a result, purchase orders are decreasing. In terms of travel, the Delta airlift from Toronto has dwindled to almost nothing. Canadian-owned real estate is being sold quickly, adding to the local inventory of houses in States like Florida and pushing prices lower. Hotels, motels, and restaurants are laying off people as a result. Canadians are being advised by governments and tour operators that crossing the border may be ill-advised. During March break, there is usually a massive line-up of cars, but this year, TV programs showed no traffic right up to the ICE border station.
The economic damage caused by Trump is more substantial and will be much longer-lasting than the American media generally conveys. Even with a change in the US administration, it may take a decade, perhaps a generation, before the relationship is repaired. Yes, it’s that serious! One of the reasons, frankly, is that tens of millions of Americans either don’t care or support Trump’s regular attacks on Canada. There are Canadian property owners in Florida communities who claim they are no longer welcome, and their American friends who genuinely care are afraid to speak out. In general conversations, I frequently hear the word “danger.” I know many Americans care, but it’s up to them to solve the problem.
In my bar theory, a group opined Trump could be trying to Franchise pieces of the govt and collect a forever royalty for his family tree. If he can do this with the Fed it would be the Pinnacle of the Trump franchise.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Friday that President Donald Trump and his team would “continue to study” whether Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could be fired. – CNBC
USD-to-silver ratio 1,043/oz.
USD-to-gold ratio 8,077/oz.
I’m still influenced by The Death of Money, describing the collapse of the German mark in the 1920-1923 Weimar republic. In October 1923, Germany experienced the 4th-highest inflation rate in history, 29,500% for the month. Banknotes of 1924 approached denominations in the trillions.
Milliarden = Billion
Billionen = Trillion
Someone mentioned US debt last week which made me visit the US debt clock, currently stands at 36.74 Trillion. I guess the 36 Tril number was passed some time ago with little notice in the press. According to my research, Trump 1.0 and Biden together added some 16 Trillion in just eight years. This is never getting better. My strategy is to hold on to gold bullion and own some shares in a precious metals mining fund.
No politician is stronger than ‘Mrs. Watanabe.’
I continue to say that every time Trump boasts that he can order commodity prices or interest rates to fall, he shows he is financially illiterate.
The forex market is the world’s biggest financial market, and in that market, Mr Trump’s influence cannot compare to that of Mrs. Watanabe, the Japanese housewife.
There is a good documentary series if you search youtube for Planet Finance. I especially enjoyed segments 1 and 2 which discussed the oil fiasco of April 2020 when it traded negative 40 a barrel. There is a segment on Mrs. Watanabe the Japanese housewife currency traders. Very well done series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V7XklEC1Qk
I think you might enjoy it.
Wondering where else this is happening. This is a pretty devasting development for small businesses out in the middle of the IndoPacific trying to support an ongoing pretty large military buildup….
The U.S. Small Business Administration Guam Branch office has closed operations on the island.
KUAM confirmed the closure took effect by the close of business day today.
Branch Manager Ken Lujan told KUAM via email the Guam branch office is now closed.
He advised anyone needing assistance to contact the SBA Hawaii District Office at 808-541-2990 or [email protected].
The closure of the Guam office comes as the U.S. Small Business Administration announced its plans for an agency-wide reorganization.
Officials noted recently, “To return to its founding mission of empowering small businesses, and to restore accountability to taxpayers, the agency will reduce its workforce by 43% – ending the expansive social policy agenda of the prior administration, eliminating non-essential roles, and returning to pre-pandemic staffing levels.”
Officials added, “The strategic reorganization will begin a turnaround for the agency by restoring the efficiency of the first Trump administration, as well as its focus on promoting small businesses. Core services to the public, including the agency’s loan guarantee and disaster assistance programs, as well as its field and veteran operations, will not be impacted.”
Have America’s chips controls backfired?
https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcast/have-americas-chips-controls-backfired/
The Limits of Chip Export Controls in Meeting the China Challenge
https://www.csis.org/analysis/limits-chip-export-controls-meeting-china-challenge
Trump still threatens Harvard after Harvard rejected his demands and earlier threats.
For decades, the politicization of universities in the West has concerned me. Recently, my concerns have become worries. A remedy must be found. However, I have always believed that if something is broken, the onus is on the stakeholders to fix it. Regarding universities, there are many brilliant people among the direct stakeholders, and there is a lot at stake. Why does the Trump administration feel capable and empowered to solve this problem in a manner that suits itself politically?
The Trump team claims it’s a matter of antisemitism, which, because we know Trump for precisely the despicable person he is, is the opposite of his intentions. After Adolf Hitler was appointed German Chancellor in January 1933, the new Nazi government began an effort to reorder public and private life in Germany completely as Trump is doing today. According to Wiki, which I believe is evidentially well supported, the Nazi regime at the time immediately targeted German universities—claimed to be among the most elite in the world at the time—for restructuring according to Nazi principles. This is my worry. I want politicians to keep their hands off our universities. These are not primary schools. The students are adults. They have the same rights under the law as the Trump administration.
I have heard a troubling incident that, if true—and I believe it is—has probably been the case across America in the past few months. In a world-class university, Trump has installed his person as a “guest” at the university board meetings. The Board is now afraid to speak its mind or manage its responsibilities in the normal course of business.
This situation is no different than what Pat and I lived with in Havana, Cuba. Every block and large building was assigned an “observer” to serve in defense of the Revolution.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committees_for_the_Defense_of_the_Revolution
Any talk that would not please Raul Castro was forbidden. We lived under constant threat of deportation, so we ensured our protection by living the way Castro would have wanted. No political talk.
But in a dictatorship, things happen to people who are innocent, yet vulnerable. One year, 2015, I think, there was a Zika virus concern that the authorities were spraying chemicals everywhere to prevent an outbreak. One day, a knock on the door came from two officers who told us we had to remove ourselves from our home so they could spray chemicals everywhere. No warning. Food on the table, and so forth. We were ordered to leave immediately. We were invited to return ten minutes later while one officer wrote an official record of the incident. Then, he looked at me sternly and said he found mosquito larvae in a refrigerator. But that fridge was never used. When I took over the condo, I completely renovated it with new plumbing, wiring, an additional bathroom, and all appliances. This condo would not have been out of place in Manhattan. I only kept that tiny old Cuban fridge everyone receives from the government as a potential bar fridge. I stored it under stuff in a bedroom and never used it. But the officer pointed to a speck of dirt on the end of his pencil so small that a person with poor eyesight would not have seen it. He told me that his report would require the immigration people to come and deport us from the country. I was in awe.
He kept looking at his notes, so I figured this was a shakedown. He told me he was authorized to resolve the matter quickly if I signed a new report he’d make and paid him US$50. Since I knew he and his partner earned the equivalent of US$25 a month, they were there to make that 20 minutes worth their month. Of course, I agreed. When you live in a dictatorship, you agree to every demand of the dictator.
Universities, law firms, broadcast companies, and the list goes on. All of them are law-abiding Americans now paying money to Trump because he is demanding and threatening.
We cannot allow our universities to be threatened and dictated to. These young people are our future. Trump, like all dictators eventually are, will soon be dead.
Can our financial markets survive under a dictatorship?
While credibility would be an issue as we’d be watching Trump’s sycophants enrich themselves at our expense, the capital markets would continue. China and Russia are proof of that. So too is the US Capitol in Washington, DC.
After all, if Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Pelosi can build their wealth allegedly from political inside knowledge, we’re almost there.
Great writing. Yes they can. Just like the French revolution where the public thought they won and simply got new masters, the same thing will happen in America. We will go from far right to far left until the pot bursts. Then a new form of America will emerge and a rebranded suppression will follow.
Elites eating the Elites. The bottom 99% will still be the bottom 99%.
Politicians are not above the law, or are they?
We’ll soon find out if the US is no longer a democracy.
The Trump Administration must decide whether to refuse to be subjected to a criminal contempt order if it comes from a federal judge, knowing that the US Supreme Court will support the judge in this matter.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/trump-officials-face-criminal-contempt-after-defying-judge-s-orders-in-alien-enemies-act-case/ar-AA1D30sN
America has never been so close to being a dictatorship as it is today. The courts and Trump will soon decide the issue.