investmentwatchblog--2020-07-28--Now Twitter has censored one of @realDonaldTrump ‘s tweets — again. You can’t even see what the twee

Now Twitter has censored one of @realDonaldTrump ‘s tweets — again. You can’t even see what the tweet said. It’s completely gone…. Trump is moving forward with his plan to regulate social media

You ca n't even see what the tweet said .
It 's completely gone .
Trump is moving forward with his plan to regulate social media By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America , it is hereby ordered as follows : .
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Free speech is the bedrock of American democracy .
Our Founding Fathers protected this sacred right with the First Amendment to the Constitution .
The freedom to express and debate ideas is the foundation for all of our rights as a free people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the freedom of expression , we can not allow a limited number of online platforms to hand pick the speech that Americans may access and convey on the internet .
This practice is fundamentally un-American and anti-democratic .
When large , powerful social media companies censor opinions with which they disagree , they exercise a dangerous power .
They cease functioning as passive bulletin boards , and ought to be viewed and treated as content creators .
The growth of online platforms in recent years raises important questions about applying the ideals of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Today , many Americans follow the news , stay in touch with friends and family , and share their views on current events through social media and other online platforms .
As a result , these platforms function in many ways as a 21st century equivalent of the public square .
Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , and YouTube wield immense , if not unprecedented , power to shape the interpretation of public events ; to censor , delete , or disappear information ; and to control what people see or do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made clear my commitment to free and open debate on the internet .
Such debate is just as important online as it is in our universities , our town halls , and our homes .
It is essential to sustaining our democracy .
Online platforms are engaging in selective censorship that is harming our national discourse .
Tens of thousands of Americans have reported , among other troubling behaviors , online platforms “ flagging ” content as inappropriate , even though it does not violate any stated terms of service ; making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have the effect of disfavoring certain viewpoints ; and deleting content and entire accounts with no warning , no rationale , and no recourse .
Twitter now selectively decides to place a warning label on certain tweets in a manner that clearly reflects political bias .
As has been reported , Twitter seems never to have placed such a label on another politician ’ s tweet .
As recently as last week , Representative Adam Schiff was continuing to mislead his followers by peddling the long-disproved Russian Collusion Hoax , and Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , its officer in charge of so-called ‘ Site Integrity ’ has flaunted his political bias in his own tweets .
At the same time online platforms are invoking inconsistent , irrational , and groundless justifications to censor or otherwise restrict Americans ’ speech here at home , several online platforms are profiting from and promoting the aggression and disinformation spread by foreign governments like China .
One United States company , for example , created a search engine for the Chinese Communist Party that would have blacklisted searches for “ human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Communist Party , and tracked users determined appropriate for surveillance .
It also established research partnerships in China that provide direct benefits to the Chinese military .
Other companies have accepted advertisements paid for by the Chinese government that spread false information about China ’ s mass imprisonment of religious minorities , thereby enabling these abuses of human rights .
They have also amplified China ’ s propaganda abroad , including by allowing Chinese government officials to use their platforms to spread misinformation regarding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As a Nation , we must foster and protect diverse viewpoints in today ’ s digital communications environment where all Americans can and should have a voice .
We must seek transparency and accountability from online platforms , and encourage standards and tools to protect and preserve the integrity and openness of American discourse and freedom of expression .
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( a ) It is the policy of the United States to foster clear ground rules promoting free and open debate on the internet .
Prominent among the ground rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability created by section 230 ( c ) of the Communications Decency Act ( section 230 ( c ) ) .
47 U.S.C .
230 ( c ) .
It is the policy of the United States that the scope of that immunity should be clarified : the immunity should not extend beyond its text and purpose to provide protection for those who purport to provide users a forum for free and open speech , but in reality use their power over a vital means of communication to engage in deceptive or pretextual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ censoring certain viewpoints .
Section 230 ( c ) was designed to address early court decisions holding that , if an online platform restricted access to some content posted by others , it would thereby become a “ publisher ” of all the content posted on its site for purposes of torts such as defamation .
As the title of section 230 ( c ) makes clear , the provision provides limited liability “ protection ” to a provider of an interactive computer service ( such as an online platform ) that engages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of harmful content .
In particular , the Congress sought to provide protections for online platforms that attempted to protect minors from harmful content and intended to ensure that such providers would not be discouraged from taking down harmful material .
The provision was also intended to further the express vision of the Congress that the internet is a “ forum for a true diversity of political discourse.
” 47 U.S.C .
230 ( a ) ( 3 ) .
The limited protections provided by the statute should be construed with these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subparagraph ( c ) ( 2 ) expressly addresses protections from “ civil liability ” and specifies that an interactive computer service provider may not be made liable “ on account of ” its decision in “ good faith ” to restrict access to content that it considers to be “ obscene , lewd , lascivious , filthy , excessively violent , harassing or otherwise objectionable.
” It is the policy of the United States to ensure that , to the maximum extent permissible under the law , this provision is not distorted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that — far from acting in “ good faith ” to remove objectionable content — instead engage in deceptive or pretextual actions ( often contrary to their stated terms of service ) to stifle viewpoints with which they disagree .
Section 230 was not intended to allow a handful of companies to grow into titans controlling vital avenues for our national discourse under the guise of promoting open forums for debate , and then to provide those behemoths blanket immunity when they use their power to censor content and silence viewpoints that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provider removes or restricts access to content and its actions do not meet the criteria of subparagraph ( c ) ( 2 ) ( A ) , it is engaged in editorial conduct .
It is the policy of the United States that such a provider should properly lose the limited liability shield of subparagraph ( c ) ( 2 ) ( A ) and be exposed to liability like any traditional editor and publisher that is not an online provider .
( b ) To advance the policy described in subsection ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive departments and agencies should ensure that their application of section 230 ( c ) properly reflects the narrow purpose of the section and take all appropriate actions in this regard .
In addition , within 60 days of the date of this order , the Secretary of Commerce ( Secretary ) , in consultation with the Attorney General , and acting through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration ( NTIA ) , shall file a petition for rulemaking with the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) requesting that the FCC expeditiously propose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interaction between subparagraphs ( c ) ( 1 ) and ( c ) ( 2 ) of section 230 , in particular to clarify and determine the circumstances under which a provider of an interactive computer service that restricts access to content in a manner not specifically protected by subparagraph ( c ) ( 2 ) ( A ) may also not be able to claim protection under subparagraph ( c ) ( 1 ) , which merely states that a provider shall not be treated as a publisher or speaker for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address the provider ’ s responsibility for its own editorial decisions ; ( ii ) the conditions under which an action restricting access to or availability of material is not “ taken in good faith ” within the meaning of subparagraph ( c ) ( 2 ) ( A ) of section 230 , particularly whether actions can be “ taken in good faith ” if they are : ( A ) deceptive , pretextual , or inconsistent with a provider ’ s terms of service ; or ( B ) taken after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explanation , or a meaningful opportunity to be heard ; and ( iii ) any other proposed regulations that the NTIA concludes may be appropriate to advance the policy described in subsection ( a ) of this section .
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( a ) The head of each executive department and agency ( agency ) shall review its agency ’ s Federal spending on advertising and marketing paid to online platforms .
Such review shall include the amount of money spent , the online platforms that receive Federal dollars , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of advertising dollars .
( b ) Within 30 days of the date of this order , the head of each agency shall report its findings to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget .
( c ) The Department of Justice shall review the viewpoint-based speech restrictions imposed by each online platform identified in the report described in subsection ( b ) of this section and assess whether any online platforms are problematic vehicles for government speech due to viewpoint discrimination , deception to consumers , or other bad practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Deceptive Acts or Practices .
( a ) It is the policy of the United States that large online platforms , such as Twitter and Facebook , as the critical means of promoting the free flow of speech and ideas today , should not restrict protected speech .
The Supreme Court has noted that social media sites , as the modern public square , “ can provide perhaps the most powerful mechanisms available to a private citizen to make his or her voice heard.
” Packingham v. North Carolina , 137 S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Communication through these channels has become important for meaningful participation in American democracy , including to petition elected leaders .
These sites are providing an important forum to the public for others to engage in free expression and debate .
Cf .
PruneYard Shopping Center v. Robins , 447 U.S. 74 , 85-89 ( 1980 ) .
( b ) In May of 2019 , the White House launched a Tech Bias Reporting tool to allow Americans to report incidents of online censorship .
In just weeks , the White House received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or otherwise taking action against users based on their political viewpoints .
The White House will submit such complaints received to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) .
( c ) The FTC shall consider taking action , as appropriate and consistent with applicable law , to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce , pursuant to section 45 of title 15 , United States Code .
Such unfair or deceptive acts or practice may include practices by entities covered by section 230 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not align with those entities ’ public representations about those practices .
( d ) For large online platforms that are vast arenas for public debate , including the social media platform Twitter , the FTC shall also , consistent with its legal authority , consider whether complaints allege violations of law that implicate the policies set forth in section 4 ( a ) of this order .
The FTC shall consider developing a report describing such complaints and making the report publicly available , consistent with applicable law .
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State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Practices and Anti-Discrimination Laws .
( a ) The Attorney General shall establish a working group regarding the potential enforcement of State statutes that prohibit online platforms from engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices .
The working group shall also develop model legislation for consideration by legislatures in States where existing statutes do not protect Americans from such unfair and deceptive acts and practices .
The working group shall invite State Attorneys General for discussion and consultation , as appropriate and consistent with applicable law .
( b ) Complaints described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this order will be shared with the working group , consistent with applicable law .
The working group shall also collect publicly available information regarding the following : ( i ) increased scrutiny of users based on the other users they choose to follow , or their interactions with other users ; ( ii ) algorithms to suppress content or users based on indications of political alignment or viewpoint ; ( iii ) differential policies allowing for otherwise impermissible behavior , when committed by accounts associated with the Chinese Communist Party or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) reliance on third-party entities , including contractors , media organizations , and individuals , with indicia of bias to review content ; and ( v ) acts that limit the ability of users with particular viewpoints to earn money on the platform compared with other users similarly situated .
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.
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The Attorney General shall develop a proposal for Federal legislation that would be useful to promote the policy objectives of this order .
.
.
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For purposes of this order , the term “ online platform ” means any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create and share content or engage in social networking , or any general search engine .
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( a ) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect : ( i ) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency , or the head thereof ; or ( ii ) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary , administrative , or legislative proposals .
( b ) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( c ) This order is not intended to , and does not , create any right or benefit , substantive or procedural , enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States , its departments , agencies , or entities , its officers , employees , or agents , or any other person .

You can't even see what the tweet said. It's completely gone.
Source:
c19study.com/
Trump is moving forward with his plan to regulate social media
edition.cnn.com/2020/07/27/tech/fcc-social-media-petition/index.html
Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1 . Policy . Free speech is the bedrock of American democracy. Our Founding Fathers protected this sacred right with the First Amendment to the Constitution. The freedom to express and debate ideas is the foundation for all of our rights as a free people.
In a country that has long cherished the freedom of expression, we cannot allow a limited number of online platforms to hand pick the speech that Americans may access and convey on the internet. This practice is fundamentally un-American and anti-democratic. When large, powerful social media companies censor opinions with which they disagree, they exercise a dangerous power. They cease functioning as passive bulletin boards, and ought to be viewed and treated as content creators.
The growth of online platforms in recent years raises important questions about applying the ideals of the First Amendment to modern communications technology. Today, many Americans follow the news, stay in touch with friends and family, and share their views on current events through social media and other online platforms. As a result, these platforms function in many ways as a 21st century equivalent of the public square.
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube wield immense, if not unprecedented, power to shape the interpretation of public events; to censor, delete, or disappear information; and to control what people see or do not see.
As President, I have made clear my commitment to free and open debate on the internet. Such debate is just as important online as it is in our universities, our town halls, and our homes. It is essential to sustaining our democracy.
Online platforms are engaging in selective censorship that is harming our national discourse. Tens of thousands of Americans have reported, among other troubling behaviors, online platforms “flagging” content as inappropriate, even though it does not violate any stated terms of service; making unannounced and unexplained changes to company policies that have the effect of disfavoring certain viewpoints; and deleting content and entire accounts with no warning, no rationale, and no recourse.
Twitter now selectively decides to place a warning label on certain tweets in a manner that clearly reflects political bias. As has been reported, Twitter seems never to have placed such a label on another politician’s tweet. As recently as last week, Representative Adam Schiff was continuing to mislead his followers by peddling the long-disproved Russian Collusion Hoax, and Twitter did not flag those tweets. Unsurprisingly, its officer in charge of so-called ‘Site Integrity’ has flaunted his political bias in his own tweets.
At the same time online platforms are invoking inconsistent, irrational, and groundless justifications to censor or otherwise restrict Americans’ speech here at home, several online platforms are profiting from and promoting the aggression and disinformation spread by foreign governments like China. One United States company, for example, created a search engine for the Chinese Communist Party that would have blacklisted searches for “human rights,” hid data unfavorable to the Chinese Communist Party, and tracked users determined appropriate for surveillance. It also established research partnerships in China that provide direct benefits to the Chinese military. Other companies have accepted advertisements paid for by the Chinese government that spread false information about China’s mass imprisonment of religious minorities, thereby enabling these abuses of human rights. They have also amplified China’s propaganda abroad, including by allowing Chinese government officials to use their platforms to spread misinformation regarding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to undermine pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
As a Nation, we must foster and protect diverse viewpoints in today’s digital communications environment where all Americans can and should have a voice. We must seek transparency and accountability from online platforms, and encourage standards and tools to protect and preserve the integrity and openness of American discourse and freedom of expression.
Sec . 2 . Protections Against Online Censorship . (a) It is the policy of the United States to foster clear ground rules promoting free and open debate on the internet. Prominent among the ground rules governing that debate is the immunity from liability created by section 230(c) of the Communications Decency Act (section 230(c)). 47 U.S.C. 230(c). It is the policy of the United States that the scope of that immunity should be clarified: the immunity should not extend beyond its text and purpose to provide protection for those who purport to provide users a forum for free and open speech, but in reality use their power over a vital means of communication to engage in deceptive or pretextual actions stifling free and open debate by censoring certain viewpoints.
Section 230(c) was designed to address early court decisions holding that, if an online platform restricted access to some content posted by others, it would thereby become a “publisher” of all the content posted on its site for purposes of torts such as defamation. As the title of section 230(c) makes clear, the provision provides limited liability “protection” to a provider of an interactive computer service (such as an online platform) that engages in “‘Good Samaritan’ blocking” of harmful content. In particular, the Congress sought to provide protections for online platforms that attempted to protect minors from harmful content and intended to ensure that such providers would not be discouraged from taking down harmful material. The provision was also intended to further the express vision of the Congress that the internet is a “forum for a true diversity of political discourse.” 47 U.S.C. 230(a)(3). The limited protections provided by the statute should be construed with these purposes in mind.
In particular, subparagraph (c)(2) expressly addresses protections from “civil liability” and specifies that an interactive computer service provider may not be made liable “on account of” its decision in “good faith” to restrict access to content that it considers to be “obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing or otherwise objectionable.” It is the policy of the United States to ensure that, to the maximum extent permissible under the law, this provision is not distorted to provide liability protection for online platforms that — far from acting in “good faith” to remove objectionable content — instead engage in deceptive or pretextual actions (often contrary to their stated terms of service) to stifle viewpoints with which they disagree. Section 230 was not intended to allow a handful of companies to grow into titans controlling vital avenues for our national discourse under the guise of promoting open forums for debate, and then to provide those behemoths blanket immunity when they use their power to censor content and silence viewpoints that they dislike. When an interactive computer service provider removes or restricts access to content and its actions do not meet the criteria of subparagraph (c)(2)(A), it is engaged in editorial conduct. It is the policy of the United States that such a provider should properly lose the limited liability shield of subparagraph (c)(2)(A) and be exposed to liability like any traditional editor and publisher that is not an online provider.
(b) To advance the policy described in subsection (a) of this section, all executive departments and agencies should ensure that their application of section 230(c) properly reflects the narrow purpose of the section and take all appropriate actions in this regard. In addition, within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), in consultation with the Attorney General, and acting through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), shall file a petition for rulemaking with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting that the FCC expeditiously propose regulations to clarify:
(i) the interaction between subparagraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of section 230, in particular to clarify and determine the circumstances under which a provider of an interactive computer service that restricts access to content in a manner not specifically protected by subparagraph (c)(2)(A) may also not be able to claim protection under subparagraph (c)(1), which merely states that a provider shall not be treated as a publisher or speaker for making third-party content available and does not address the provider’s responsibility for its own editorial decisions;
(ii) the conditions under which an action restricting access to or availability of material is not “taken in good faith” within the meaning of subparagraph (c)(2)(A) of section 230, particularly whether actions can be “taken in good faith” if they are:
(A) deceptive, pretextual, or inconsistent with a provider’s terms of service; or
(B) taken after failing to provide adequate notice, reasoned explanation, or a meaningful opportunity to be heard; and
(iii) any other proposed regulations that the NTIA concludes may be appropriate to advance the policy described in subsection (a) of this section.
Sec . 3 . Protecting Federal Taxpayer Dollars from Financing Online Platforms That Restrict Free Speech . (a) The head of each executive department and agency (agency) shall review its agency’s Federal spending on advertising and marketing paid to online platforms. Such review shall include the amount of money spent, the online platforms that receive Federal dollars, and the statutory authorities available to restrict their receipt of advertising dollars.
(b) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the head of each agency shall report its findings to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(c) The Department of Justice shall review the viewpoint-based speech restrictions imposed by each online platform identified in the report described in subsection (b) of this section and assess whether any online platforms are problematic vehicles for government speech due to viewpoint discrimination, deception to consumers, or other bad practices.
Sec . 4 . Federal Review of Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices . (a) It is the policy of the United States that large online platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, as the critical means of promoting the free flow of speech and ideas today, should not restrict protected speech. The Supreme Court has noted that social media sites, as the modern public square, “can provide perhaps the most powerful mechanisms available to a private citizen to make his or her voice heard.” Packingham v. North Carolina, 137 S. Ct. 1730, 1737 (2017). Communication through these channels has become important for meaningful participation in American democracy, including to petition elected leaders. These sites are providing an important forum to the public for others to engage in free expression and debate. Cf. PruneYard Shopping Center v. Robins, 447 U.S. 74, 85-89 (1980).
(b) In May of 2019, the White House launched a Tech Bias Reporting tool to allow Americans to report incidents of online censorship. In just weeks, the White House received over 16,000 complaints of online platforms censoring or otherwise taking action against users based on their political viewpoints. The White House will submit such complaints received to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
(c) The FTC shall consider taking action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, pursuant to section 45 of title 15, United States Code. Such unfair or deceptive acts or practice may include practices by entities covered by section 230 that restrict speech in ways that do not align with those entities’ public representations about those practices.
(d) For large online platforms that are vast arenas for public debate, including the social media platform Twitter, the FTC shall also, consistent with its legal authority, consider whether complaints allege violations of law that implicate the policies set forth in section 4(a) of this order. The FTC shall consider developing a report describing such complaints and making the report publicly available, consistent with applicable law.
Sec . 5 . State Review of Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices and Anti-Discrimination Laws . (a) The Attorney General shall establish a working group regarding the potential enforcement of State statutes that prohibit online platforms from engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The working group shall also develop model legislation for consideration by legislatures in States where existing statutes do not protect Americans from such unfair and deceptive acts and practices. The working group shall invite State Attorneys General for discussion and consultation, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.
(b) Complaints described in section 4(b) of this order will be shared with the working group, consistent with applicable law. The working group shall also collect publicly available information regarding the following:
(i) increased scrutiny of users based on the other users they choose to follow, or their interactions with other users;
(ii) algorithms to suppress content or users based on indications of political alignment or viewpoint;
(iii) differential policies allowing for otherwise impermissible behavior, when committed by accounts associated with the Chinese Communist Party or other anti-democratic associations or governments;
(iv) reliance on third-party entities, including contractors, media organizations, and individuals, with indicia of bias to review content; and
(v) acts that limit the ability of users with particular viewpoints to earn money on the platform compared with other users similarly situated.
Sec . 6 . Legislation . The Attorney General shall develop a proposal for Federal legislation that would be useful to promote the policy objectives of this order.
Sec . 7 . Definition . For purposes of this order, the term “online platform” means any website or application that allows users to create and share content or engage in social networking, or any general search engine.
Sec . 8 . General Provisions . (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-28--The suppression of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 by the media, politicians, and muc

The suppression of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 by the media, politicians, and much of the medical business establishment is one of the greatest scandals of all time.

* Governors banned HCQ early on in COVID ( do they ban anything normally ?
no ) * Fake stories @ @ @ @ @ dangers of HCQ ( untrue ) — propaganda * Suppression of anything HCQ related on @ @ @ @ @ — controlled propaganda * Governors sending sick COVID patients back to nursing homes ( 1/2 @ @ @ @ @ when hospitals were empty ( far more deaths than 9/11 btw ) * Highly inflated @ @ @ @ @ die of anything , report as death from COVID ) * Sudden drop in deaths @ @ @ @ @ impossible to explain , except re-categorized as COVID * Switch from reporting on death rate @ @ @ @ @ ( more testing ) … total BS second wave * Widespread fake positive reporting on @ @ @ @ @ … where testing centers returned 100 % positive and eliminated all the negatives to falsely @ @ @ @ @ ( LIES ) Disclaimer : This is a guest post and it doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ IWB .

by Venus230
* Governors banned HCQ early on in COVID (do they ban anything normally? no)
* Fake stories from MSM 24/7 on the dangers of HCQ (untrue) — propaganda
* Suppression of anything HCQ related on youtube, twitter, facebook — controlled propaganda
* Governors sending sick COVID patients back to nursing homes (1/2 of all deaths resulted) when hospitals were empty (far more deaths than 9/11 btw)
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* Highly inflated reporting of COVID deaths (die of anything, report as death from COVID)
* Sudden drop in deaths by other causes, statistically impossible to explain, except re-categorized as COVID
* Switch from reporting on death rate … to reporting of CASES (more testing) … total BS second wave
* Widespread fake positive reporting on states like FL, TX … where testing centers returned 100% positive and eliminated all the negatives to falsely show extreme rates of positive (LIES)
Disclaimer: This is a guest post and it doesn’t necessarily represent the views of IWB.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-28--Deutsche Bank Immediately Ends Funding For Oil Sands And Arctic Oil Projects

Deutsche Bank is ending financing for new oil and gas projects in the oil sands and the Arctic region effective immediately , becoming the latest major bank to reconsider lending money to fossil fuel projects in sensitive areas .
Deutsche Bank will no longer finance any new projects in the Arctic or the oil sands and will review all its existing business in the oil and gas industry , the bank said in a statement on Monday .
Deutsche Bank unveiled an updated Fossil Fuels Policy to set new limits on financing business activities that involve oil , gas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its global business activities in coal mining by 2025 at the latest “ in order to help drive the transformation to a sustainable economy.
” “ In its current form , the Policy sets us ambitious targets and enables us to help our long-standing clients with their own transformation .
It will allow us to play our part in protecting the climate and helping the EU to achieve its goal of being climate neutral by 2050 , ” CEO Christian Sewing , who also chairs Deutsche Bank ’ s Sustainability Council , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 129 other banks – representing a third of the world ’ s banks , worth a total of US $ 47 trillion in assets , committed to align ing their business to the Paris Climate Agreement , in the biggest pledge to climate sustainability from the banking sector yet .
Many banks , especially in Europe , have faced in recent years increased public and activist pressure to stop funding fossil fuel projects .
Some of them have said they would stop providing project-specific financing for coal-fired power plants or exploration and production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arctic .
In the United States , Goldman Sachs said in December 2019 that it would decline to finance new Arctic oil exploration and production and new thermal coal mine development or strip mining .
Wells Fargo and JPMorgan have also said they would stop financing new oil and gas projects in the Arctic .

By Tsvetana Paraskova
Deutsche Bank is ending financing for new oil and gas projects in the oil sands and the Arctic region effective immediately, becoming the latest major bank to reconsider lending money to fossil fuel projects in sensitive areas.
Deutsche Bank will no longer finance any new projects in the Arctic or the oil sands and will review all its existing business in the oil and gas industry, the bank said in a statement on Monday.
Deutsche Bank unveiled an updated Fossil Fuels Policy to set new limits on financing business activities that involve oil, gas, or coal, and pledged to end its global business activities in coal mining by 2025 at the latest “in order to help drive the transformation to a sustainable economy.”
“In its current form, the Policy sets us ambitious targets and enables us to help our long-standing clients with their own transformation. It will allow us to play our part in protecting the climate and helping the EU to achieve its goal of being climate neutral by 2050,” CEO Christian Sewing, who also chairs Deutsche Bank’s Sustainability Council, said.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Last year, Deutsche Bank and 129 other banks – representing a third of the world’s banks, worth a total of US$47 trillion in assets, committed to align ing their business to the Paris Climate Agreement, in the biggest pledge to climate sustainability from the banking sector yet.
Many banks, especially in Europe, have faced in recent years increased public and activist pressure to stop funding fossil fuel projects. Some of them have said they would stop providing project-specific financing for coal-fired power plants or exploration and production of oil sands and oil in the Arctic.
In the United States, Goldman Sachs said in December 2019 that it would decline to finance new Arctic oil exploration and production and new thermal coal mine development or strip mining. Wells Fargo and JPMorgan have also said they would stop financing new oil and gas projects in the Arctic.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-28--Microsoft And Halliburton Are Building The Oilfield Of The Future

The oilfield has historically been a place where brawny men , and mighty machines came together to bore holes deeply into the earth to wrest stores of oil and gas from the depths .
This model , which developed over many decades of exploration and production activity carried huge costs , particularly as the focus of this activity moved into more and more inaccessible regions .
The current oil crash and resultant industry consolidation , began in 2014 , and continues to this day .
Downturns are nothing new to this industry .
The difference this time is the longevity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any real recovery from taking place in the broader industry .
Companies have been forced into retrenchment after retrenchment in both the operating and service industry .
Rystad As the Rystad graphic above illustrates , capital has fled the E & P sector , due in large part to uncertainties about oil and gas prices and a shift toward renewable forms of energy .
Energy giant , Halliburton , ( NYSE : Hal ) reported results last week , and largely surprised analysts with their ability to cut costs and generate Free Cash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What escaped much notice in the conference call after the earnings release , was the direction that Halliburton CEO , Jeff Miller sees shaping up for the oilfield of the future .
In this article we will take a look at some of the key manifestations of this change .
A smaller industry footprint to producing increasing amounts of oil and gas Miller pointed out in the call that the cuts are permanent reductions in employee count and facilities infrastructure .
“ Halliburton is charting a fundamentally different course .
The growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength in the returns for our shareholders .
We believe that the strategic actions we are taking today will further boost our earnings power and free cash flow generation ability as we power into and win the eventual recovery.
” Source To fully understand the implication of Miller ’ s comments it is important to combine the reduction in capex supplied to the industry with the continuing need for oil and gas well into this century .
EIA This graphic from the EIA shows that global energy growth to mi d-century and beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of oil and gas .
The story of how companies like Halliburton will achieve these energy production goals , while at the same time having less and less money and resources to employ in this effort is the focus of the rest of this article .
Technology seems to gravitate to the oilfield .
Doing more with less has always been in the background as the industry responded to ever increasing markets with large explosions of capex .
Those days are gone as we have noted , and increasingly what would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more flexible components that deliver value while packing in profits to the supplier .
You will also see more joint ventures with participants each bring key attributes to increasingly digital solutions .
Here are some examples noted in the Halliburton , second quarter conference call- • Halliburton and TechnipFMC introduced Odassea™ , the world ’ s first distributed acoustic sensing solution for subsea wells .
The technology platform enables operators to execute intervention-less seismic imaging and reservoir diagnostics to reduce total cost of ownership while improving reservoir knowledge .
Halliburton provides the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis for reservoir diagnostics .
TechnipFMC provides the optical connectivity from the topside to the completions .
The Odassea platform strengthens digital capabilities in subsea reservoir monitoring and production optimization .
“ Interventionless ” is the key term I ’ ve bolded in the above statement .
Interventions are expensive shutdowns of producing wells that often require a rig-a big expensive piece of machinery .
They can be done rigless , but that ’ s an outlier .
In this case the company is describing smart equipment that will remotely engineered solutions can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Microsoft announced a five-year strategic agreement to advance Halliburton ’ s digital capabilities in Microsoft Azure .
Under the agreement , Halliburton will complete the move to cloud-based digital platforms and strengthen our customer offerings by enhancing real-time platforms for expanded remote operations ; improving analytics capability utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence ; and accelerating the deployment of new technology and applications for overall system reliability and security .
How will this work ?
Researchers and engineers from both companies will leverage and optimize Microsoft technologies in machine learning , augmented reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Industrial Internet of Things , as well as Azure ’ s high-performant infrastructure and built-in computing capabilities to deliver tightly integrated solutions across the energy value chain .
Areas of collaboration include As a first step in the alliance , Halliburton has made its DecisionSpace® 365 available on Azure , enabling real-time data streaming from IoT edge devices in oilfields and the ability to apply deep-learning models to optimize drilling and production to lower costs for customers .
Using the power of DecisionSpace® on Azure , big computing and predictive deep-learning algorithms will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploration and deep-earth models by using software to fill gaps in sensor data , while reducing the number of steps and time required to render models .
Nagaraj Srinivasan , senior vice president of Landmark and Halliburton Digital Solutions , commented in a recent press release from Microsoft- “ Halliburton is at the forefront of the digital transformation occurring in the E & P industry .
We believe open architecture and community-based innovation are necessary to drive this fundamental change and we ’ re proud to work closely with an industry leader like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital business solutions to our customers across the globe.
” • Halliburton recently launched DynaTrac™ Real-Time Wireless Depth Correlation System , a new technology that reduces uncertainty and saves rig time by enabling operators to accurately position packers , perforating guns and the bottom-hole assembly without running wireline or moving the work string .
Depth correlation is one of the most problematic scenarios in the oilfield .
I can remember being shut down for hours as wireline was rigged up to confirm firing depth for guns ( Hey , in the shallow GoM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be 5-feet total ) , prior to perforating .
Or is my packer-a zonal isolation device , where it needs to be to land out my completion string ?
Questions like this have to be answered , and Halliburton is doing this without the mechanical risk-you don ’ t always make it out the hole with everything that goes in .
In the oilfield the term “ fishing trip , ” doesn ’ t have pleasant connotations .
• Finally , Halliburton has introduced SPECTRUM® e-IP , the industry ’ s first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precision and reliability for the placement of selective treatments , such as acidizing , water shut off , sand consolidation , and remedial integrity .
This is especially relevant in the current market conditions , to increase the well performance in existing assets .
The platform is digitally enabled to provide data acquisition , interpretation , and real-time control .
Mechanically set packers run on pipe or wireline have been the standard for the industry for decades , as changing the circulation path was also mechanical process .
Pushing a button to set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a dream of the industry .
Not having to move the tool is a critical step change improvement , capable of saving 10 ’ s of thousands of hours of lost rig time globally .
The oilfield will be a smaller place in the decades to come .
Companies like Halliburton will have to adapt from the old model of spending huge sums of capex and hiring tens of thousands of employees .
The model of the future will be one where AI leverages the power of fewer employees to control the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generating improved returns on capital invested .
Halliburton is trading higher in the days after their earnings release !

By David Messler
The oilfield has historically been a place where brawny men, and mighty machines came together to bore holes deeply into the earth to wrest stores of oil and gas from the depths. This model, which developed over many decades of exploration and production activity carried huge costs, particularly as the focus of this activity moved into more and more inaccessible regions. The current oil crash and resultant industry consolidation, began in 2014, and continues to this day. Downturns are nothing new to this industry. The difference this time is the longevity and severity of this downturn has kept any real recovery from taking place in the broader industry. Companies have been forced into retrenchment after retrenchment in both the operating and service industry.
Rystad As the Rystad graphic above illustrates, capital has fled the E&P sector, due in large part to uncertainties about oil and gas prices and a shift toward renewable forms of energy.
Energy giant, Halliburton, (NYSE: Hal) reported results last week, and largely surprised analysts with their ability to cut costs and generate Free Cash Flow, in a constantly shrinking market. What escaped much notice in the conference call after the earnings release, was the direction that Halliburton CEO, Jeff Miller sees shaping up for the oilfield of the future. In this article we will take a look at some of the key manifestations of this change.
A smaller industry footprint to producing increasing amounts of oil and gas
Miller pointed out in the call that the cuts are permanent reductions in employee count and facilities infrastructure.
“Halliburton is charting a fundamentally different course. The growth in digital technologies, the position of strength in the returns for our shareholders. We believe that the strategic actions we are taking today will further boost our earnings power and free cash flow generation ability as we power into and win the eventual recovery.”
Source To fully understand the implication of Miller’s comments it is important to combine the reduction in capex supplied to the industry with the continuing need for oil and gas well into this century.
EIA This graphic from the EIA shows that global energy growth to mi d-century and beyond, will primarily derive from continued production of oil and gas.
The story of how companies like Halliburton will achieve these energy production goals, while at the same time having less and less money and resources to employ in this effort is the focus of the rest of this article.
Technology driving the future
Technology seems to gravitate to the oilfield. Doing more with less has always been in the background as the industry responded to ever increasing markets with large explosions of capex. Those days are gone as we have noted, and increasingly what would have been big capex solutions are moving to smarter, more flexible components that deliver value while packing in profits to the supplier. You will also see more joint ventures with participants each bring key attributes to increasingly digital solutions.
Here are some examples noted in the Halliburton, second quarter conference call-
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Halliburton and TechnipFMC introduced Odassea™, the world’s first distributed acoustic sensing solution for subsea wells. The technology platform enables operators to execute intervention-less seismic imaging and reservoir diagnostics to reduce total cost of ownership while improving reservoir knowledge. Halliburton provides the fiber optic sensing technology, completions and analysis for reservoir diagnostics. TechnipFMC provides the optical connectivity from the topside to the completions. The Odassea platform strengthens digital capabilities in subsea reservoir monitoring and production optimization.
“Interventionless” is the key term I’ve bolded in the above statement. Interventions are expensive shutdowns of producing wells that often require a rig-a big expensive piece of machinery. They can be done rigless, but that’s an outlier. In this case the company is describing smart equipment that will remotely engineered solutions can fix itself.
Halliburton, and Microsoft announced a five-year strategic agreement to advance Halliburton’s digital capabilities in Microsoft Azure. Under the agreement, Halliburton will complete the move to cloud-based digital platforms and strengthen our customer offerings by enhancing real-time platforms for expanded remote operations; improving analytics capability utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence; and accelerating the deployment of new technology and applications for overall system reliability and security.
How will this work?
Researchers and engineers from both companies will leverage and optimize Microsoft technologies in machine learning, augmented reality (AR), user interactions and Industrial Internet of Things, as well as Azure’s high-performant infrastructure and built-in computing capabilities to deliver tightly integrated solutions across the energy value chain. Areas of collaboration include
Applying deep learning to reservoir characterization,
Modeling and simulation,
Building domain-specific visualization for mixed reality,
Creating highly interactive applications,
Fueling the digitalization of E&P assets.
As a first step in the alliance, Halliburton has made its DecisionSpace® 365 available on Azure, enabling real-time data streaming from IoT edge devices in oilfields and the ability to apply deep-learning models to optimize drilling and production to lower costs for customers. Using the power of DecisionSpace® on Azure, big computing and predictive deep-learning algorithms will help optimize field assets and enable next-generation exploration and deep-earth models by using software to fill gaps in sensor data, while reducing the number of steps and time required to render models.
Nagaraj Srinivasan, senior vice president of Landmark and Halliburton Digital Solutions, commented in a recent press release from Microsoft-
“Halliburton is at the forefront of the digital transformation occurring in the E&P industry. We believe open architecture and community-based innovation are necessary to drive this fundamental change and we’re proud to work closely with an industry leader like Microsoft to deliver tailored E&P digital business solutions to our customers across the globe.”
Source
Halliburton recently launched DynaTrac™ Real-Time Wireless Depth Correlation System, a new technology that reduces uncertainty and saves rig time by enabling operators to accurately position packers, perforating guns and the bottom-hole assembly without running wireline or moving the work string.
Depth correlation is one of the most problematic scenarios in the oilfield. I can remember being shut down for hours as wireline was rigged up to confirm firing depth for guns (Hey, in the shallow GoM where the sand interval between shale strata can be 5-feet total), prior to perforating. Or is my packer-a zonal isolation device, where it needs to be to land out my completion string? Questions like this have to be answered, and Halliburton is doing this without the mechanical risk-you don’t always make it out the hole with everything that goes in. In the oilfield the term “fishing trip,” doesn’t have pleasant connotations.
Finally, Halliburton has introduced SPECTRUM® e-IP, the industry’s first electrically operated inflatable packer. It provides precision and reliability for the placement of selective treatments, such as acidizing, water shut off, sand consolidation, and remedial integrity. This is especially relevant in the current market conditions, to increase the well performance in existing assets. The platform is digitally enabled to provide data acquisition, interpretation, and real-time control.
Source
Mechanically set packers run on pipe or wireline have been the standard for the industry for decades, as changing the circulation path was also mechanical process. Pushing a button to set, reset or shift this tool has been a dream of the industry. Not having to move the tool is a critical step change improvement, capable of saving 10’s of thousands of hours of lost rig time globally.
Your takeaway
The oilfield will be a smaller place in the decades to come. Companies like Halliburton will have to adapt from the old model of spending huge sums of capex and hiring tens of thousands of employees. The model of the future will be one where AI leverages the power of fewer employees to control the production of smarter machines, and hopefully generating improved returns on capital invested.
Halliburton is trading higher in the days after their earnings release!
By David Messler for Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-29--NBA HARDEST HIT:  People over 6 feet tall are more likely to contract coronavirus.

People over six feet tall are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with the coronavirus , the results @ @ @ @ @ .
The global team of researchers , including experts from the University of Manchester and @ @ @ @ @ people in the country , as well as the US , to determine whether their @ @ @ @ @ living practices might play a role in transmission , The Telegraph reported .
The results @ @ @ @ @ at a higher risk , which researchers say suggests that the contagion is spreading through @ @ @ @ @ would not be a factor if the virus was only contractible through droplets , according @ @ @ @

People over six feet tall are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with the coronavirus, the results of a new survey reveal.
The global team of researchers, including experts from the University of Manchester and Open University, surveyed 2,000 people in the country, as well as the US, to determine whether their personal attributes, work and living practices might play a role in transmission, The Telegraph reported.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The results found that taller people are at a higher risk, which researchers say suggests that the contagion is spreading through the air — because height would not be a factor if the virus was only contractible through droplets, according to the report.
nypost.com/2020/07/28/people-over-6-feet-tall-are-more-likely-to-contract-coronavirus/


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-29--Next Stimulus: More Spending, Smaller Unemployment Benefits, Tax Breaks for Eating Out

Just days before boosted unemployment benefits for millions of American workers who have lost jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic are set to expire , Senate Republicans have unveiled a new stimulus package that would prevent those payments from vanishing entirely .
The proposal outlined on Monday afternoon by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R–Ky . )
would give unemployed workers an additional $ 200 per week on top of whatever benefits they receive through state-level unemployment insurance programs .
That ’ s one-third of the current $ 600 unemployment benefits boost that the federal government has been paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Recovery , and Economic Security Act ( CARES Act ) in late March .
“ The American people need more help , ” McConnell said on the Senate floor as he announced the Health , Economic Assistance , Liability Protection and Schools ( HEALS ) Act .
The continued-but-reduced payments are on one hand an acknowledgment of the depth of the economic recession triggered by COVID-19 and associated lockdowns—more than 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since the start of the pandemic .
On the other , they reflect a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country ’ s finances after more than $ 3.6 trillion in emergency spending in recent months , as well as concern that the $ 600 per week payments might hamper the post-coronavirus recovery .

Just days before boosted unemployment benefits for millions of American workers who have lost jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic are set to expire, Senate Republicans have unveiled a new stimulus package that would prevent those payments from vanishing entirely.
The proposal outlined on Monday afternoon by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R–Ky.) would give unemployed workers an additional $200 per week on top of whatever benefits they receive through state-level unemployment insurance programs. That’s one-third of the current $600 unemployment benefits boost that the federal government has been paying since the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) in late March.
“The American people need more help,” McConnell said on the Senate floor as he announced the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The continued-but-reduced payments are on one hand an acknowledgment of the depth of the economic recession triggered by COVID-19 and associated lockdowns—more than 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since the start of the pandemic. On the other, they reflect a growing concern among Republicans about the status of the country’s finances after more than $3.6 trillion in emergency spending in recent months, as well as concern that the $600 per week payments might hamper the post-coronavirus recovery.
reason.com/2020/07/28/the-next-coronavirus-stimulus-plan-more-spending-smaller-unemployment-benefits-and-tax-breaks-for-going-out-to-eat/


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-29--TECH RECKONING? Why AMAZON may have most to lose from tech’s Hill showdown

Washington ( AFP ) – US lawmakers will grill the chiefs of Amazon , Apple , Facebook and Google Wednesday about how they wield marketplace power in what promises to be a rare political spectacle .
The House of Representatives hearing comes amid rising concerns over Big Tech dominance , which has become even more pronounced during the coronavirus pandemic .
The unprecedented joint appearance before the House Judiciary Committee features Tim Cook of Apple , Jeff Bezos of Amazon , Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Sundar Pichai of Google and its parent firm Alphabet .
The CEOs of four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies will testify remotely , less than 100 days before the US election .
It will be the first time Bezos has testified before a congressional committee .
Why AMAZON may have most to lose from tech ’ s Hill showdown Jeff Bezos has spent the past five years trying to become a fixture in Washington — hiring President Barack Obama ’ s press chief , flooding the town with lobbying cash , buying The Washington Post , and even choosing a spot along the Potomac River for Amazon ’ s second headquarters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t likely to buy Bezos a break on Wednesday .
Bezos is due to take his place — virtually — alongside Facebook ’ s Mark Zuckerberg , Apple ’ s Tim Cook and Google ’ s Sundar Pichai as four of the tech industry ’ s most powerful chief executives face a grilling from lawmakers .
And Bezos ’ Everything Store , the $ 1.5 trillion corporation that he started in his garage as an online bookstore 25 years ago , may have the most to lose as he makes his first-ever appearance @ @ @ @ @

Washington (AFP) – US lawmakers will grill the chiefs of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google Wednesday about how they wield marketplace power in what promises to be a rare political spectacle.
The House of Representatives hearing comes amid rising concerns over Big Tech dominance, which has become even more pronounced during the coronavirus pandemic.
The unprecedented joint appearance before the House Judiciary Committee features Tim Cook of Apple, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Sundar Pichai of Google and its parent firm Alphabet.
The CEOs of four of the world’s most powerful companies will testify remotely, less than 100 days before the US election.
It will be the first time Bezos has testified before a congressional committee.
news.yahoo.com/tech-titans-spotlight-us-antitrust-hearing-053431693.html
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Why AMAZON may have most to lose from tech’s Hill showdown
Jeff Bezos has spent the past five years trying to become a fixture in Washington — hiring President Barack Obama’s press chief, flooding the town with lobbying cash, buying The Washington Post, and even choosing a spot along the Potomac River for Amazon’s second headquarters.
But all that money isn’t likely to buy Bezos a break on Wednesday.
Bezos is due to take his place — virtually — alongside Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Apple’s Tim Cook and Google’s Sundar Pichai as four of the tech industry’s most powerful chief executives face a grilling from lawmakers. And Bezos’ Everything Store, the $1.5 trillion corporation that he started in his garage as an online bookstore 25 years ago, may have the most to lose as he makes his first-ever appearance before a skeptical Congress.
www.politico.com/news/2020/07/29/amazon-antitrust-hearing-385632


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-29--The Nation Is Falling Into the Abyss Between Wall Street and Main Street

The abyss between the Fed ’ s illusion of phantom wealth for Wall Street and the collapse of Main Street is bottomless , and our descent into the abyss is accelerating .
I know this runs counter to every dominant narrative , but a vaccine doesn ’ t really matter , opening up doesn ’ t really matter , and the size of the “ free money ” stimulus checks doesn ’ t matter .
What matters is that the nation is falling into the abyss that ’ s opened between Wall Street and Main Street , and nothing will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order other than a fundamental re-ordering of the way we create and distribute money and political power , as money buys political influence .
The last economic tide with widespread benefits to Main Street was 30 years ago .
Since then , the Federal Reserve and other central banks have incentivized globalization and financialization , two dynamics that favor mobile capital and financier skims amd scams .
There are a number of factors behind the widening canyon of economic inequality , but the primary driver is financialization .
Financialization has given those with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skim great wealth from the system without creating any value whatsoever .
Financialization isn ’ t a consequence of having capital : it ’ s the consequence of having access to unlimited central bank credit , leverage and low-risk , low-tax skimming operations ( for example , tax codes enable hedge funds to declare income as low-tax long-term capital gains ) .
Leveraging phantom collateral is another feature of financialization .
Commoners were allowed a taste of this when subprime lenders were offering no-document , no-down payment mortgages back in 2004-2007 .
Phantom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing-but-leverage loan .
Financialization is not about investing in productive enterprises ; it ’ s all about skimming wealth while providing no value to the real economy or society .
The hidden toxin in financialization is the resulting concentration of wealth can buy concentrations of political power .
Financialization is thus self-perpetuating : once the skimming operations generate billions of dollars in profit , it only takes a relatively small piece of these profits to buy/influence the political class .
Once the politicos are in your pocket , the regulators and judiciary fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statutes or gutted budgets .
Financialization is the disease eating away what ’ s left of democracy .
Financialization is the exploitation of assets/income that were previously safe from predation by central bank funded financiers .
While definitions vary , mine is : Financialization is the commoditization of debt collaterized by previously unsecuritized assets , a pyramiding of risk and speculation that is only possible in a massive expansion of low-cost credit and leverage for those at the top of the wealth-power pyramid : financiers , banks and corporations .
One example is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which prior to financialization did not exist .
A previously safe from predation asset/source of income–college degrees–has been securitized so that loans issued to students for largely worthless diplomas can be sold globally as “ secure assets with guaranteed yields.
” That the exploited class of students have little to no income and no guarantee of income doesn ’ t matter .
What matters is a previously unexploited asset can be turned into debt that can be sold at an immense profit .
And so student loan debt has skyrocketed from near-zero to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generation .
This rapacious , ruthless exploitation would not have been possible without the central bank ( Federal Reserve ) and federal government enabling and enforcing the supremacy of private capital and the predation of the higher-education cartel .
Globalization and financialization have been the two engines of soaring wealth inequality .
Globalization can mean many things , but its beating heart is the arbitraging of the labor of the powerless and commodity , environmental and tax costs by the powerful to increase their profits and wealth .
In other words , globalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of the wealth-power pyramid shifting borrowed capital around the world to exploit lower costs of labor , commodities , environmental regulations and taxes .
This manifests as offshoring of jobs , the stripmining of forests , minerals , etc.
, the degradation of local ecosystems , the decline of tax revenues derived from capital and the explosive rise in stock market valuations as wages stagnate or decline .
A key element in globalization is the transfer of risk from the owners of capital to the workers and public resources .
Examples of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than pay workers benefits , corporations game part-time/full-time labor laws so workers ’ health insurance is paid by taxpayers ( Medicaid ) .
Corporations pay wages too low to survive so workers depend on public-sector assistance ( food stamps , etc . )
Alas , all good predations end when the prey has been dragged to the ground and consumed .
All the fruit of financialization and globalization have been plucked by the powerful , and now both the engines of “ growth ” are sputtering as the hollowed-out Main Street economy implodes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t create collateral or creditworthy borrowers , and without those foundations , the decayed , rotted shack of debt will collapse .
If we set aside the proximate causes of social disorder , we discern the salient cause : the socio-economic political system no longer works for anyone but those skimming wealth from globalization and financialization .
Main Street has been in slow-motion collapse for a generation , but this terminal decay was masked by hyper-financialization and debt-fueled spending by consumers who became accustomed to filling the widening gap between their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their lifestyle ( rising ) , as they chased the top 5 % who benefited from globalization and financialization .
Debt creates the warm and fuzzy illusion of wealth , but at a cost : debt payments never disappear , but income and profits can slide effortlessly to zero .
We come now to the key dynamic of this era : socio-economic psychosis , as most people are incapable of making sense of the contradictory messages being given by the status quo .
The next result is madness , as every attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way from reality .
The relentless rise of Wall Street is constantly presented as “ proof ” the status quo is “ creating wealth ” and is enormously successful .
It is impossible to reconcile this claim with the decay and collapse visible in Main Street , and so people lash out at whatever they can identify as the proximate cause of their suffering and poor prospects .
Ask yourself these questions : What kind of system will we get if the vast majority of the trillions created out of thin air by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
What kind of system will we get if these financiers and corporations use some of this free money to buy political influence ?
What kind of system will we get if the really big money is skimmed by financial games that generate no goods or services , no jobs , and no productivity–in essence , they are completely worthless to the real economy and society ?
What kind of system will we get if the stock market bubble is touted as “ proof ” the system is working splendidly and wealth is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fed ’ s magic money machine ?
The answer is a system that ’ s crazy-making and doomed by its internal contradictions .
The Fed can create dollars out of thin air and sluice it to the super-wealthy to feed their skims and scams , but it can ’ t create jobs , oil , tools , collateral or productivity out of thin air , The abyss between the Fed ’ s illusion of phantom wealth for Wall Street and the collapse of Main Street is bottomless , and our descent into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I discuss The disconnect between the Markets and the Economy ( 51 min ) in our recent podcast .
We also explore the silver linings for successful adaptation that are coming into focus .
Charles Hugh Smith on the disconnect between the Markets and the Economy ( 51 min )

by Charles Hugh-Smith
The abyss between the Fed’s illusion of phantom wealth for Wall Street and the collapse of Main Street is bottomless, and our descent into the abyss is accelerating.
I know this runs counter to every dominant narrative, but a vaccine doesn’t really matter, opening up doesn’t really matter, and the size of the “free money” stimulus checks doesn’t matter.
What matters is that the nation is falling into the abyss that’s opened between Wall Street and Main Street, and nothing will stave off the collapse of the social order other than a fundamental re-ordering of the way we create and distribute money and political power, as money buys political influence.
The last economic tide with widespread benefits to Main Street was 30 years ago. Since then, the Federal Reserve and other central banks have incentivized globalization and financialization, two dynamics that favor mobile capital and financier skims amd scams.
There are a number of factors behind the widening canyon of economic inequality, but the primary driver is financialization. Financialization has given those with access to central bank credit ways to skim great wealth from the system without creating any value whatsoever.
Financialization isn’t a consequence of having capital: it’s the consequence of having access to unlimited central bank credit, leverage and low-risk, low-tax skimming operations (for example, tax codes enable hedge funds to declare income as low-tax long-term capital gains).
Leveraging phantom collateral is another feature of financialization. Commoners were allowed a taste of this when subprime lenders were offering no-document, no-down payment mortgages back in 2004-2007. Phantom income was posted as collateral for the nothing-but-leverage loan.
Financialization is not about investing in productive enterprises; it’s all about skimming wealth while providing no value to the real economy or society.
The hidden toxin in financialization is the resulting concentration of wealth can buy concentrations of political power. Financialization is thus self-perpetuating: once the skimming operations generate billions of dollars in profit, it only takes a relatively small piece of these profits to buy/influence the political class. Once the politicos are in your pocket, the regulators and judiciary fall into line or are marginalized by new statutes or gutted budgets.
Financialization is the disease eating away what’s left of democracy.
Financialization is the exploitation of assets/income that were previously safe from predation by central bank funded financiers. While definitions vary, mine is:
Financialization is the commoditization of debt collaterized by previously unsecuritized assets, a pyramiding of risk and speculation that is only possible in a massive expansion of low-cost credit and leverage for those at the top of the wealth-power pyramid: financiers, banks and corporations.
One example is the student loan “industry,” which prior to financialization did not exist. A previously safe from predation asset/source of income–college degrees–has been securitized so that loans issued to students for largely worthless diplomas can be sold globally as “secure assets with guaranteed yields.”
That the exploited class of students have little to no income and no guarantee of income doesn’t matter. What matters is a previously unexploited asset can be turned into debt that can be sold at an immense profit.
And so student loan debt has skyrocketed from near-zero to $1.6 trillion in less than a generation. This rapacious, ruthless exploitation would not have been possible without the central bank (Federal Reserve) and federal government enabling and enforcing the supremacy of private capital and the predation of the higher-education cartel.
Globalization and financialization have been the two engines of soaring wealth inequality. Globalization can mean many things, but its beating heart is the arbitraging of the labor of the powerless and commodity, environmental and tax costs by the powerful to increase their profits and wealth.
In other words, globalization is the result of those at the top of the wealth-power pyramid shifting borrowed capital around the world to exploit lower costs of labor, commodities, environmental regulations and taxes.
This manifests as offshoring of jobs, the stripmining of forests, minerals, etc., the degradation of local ecosystems, the decline of tax revenues derived from capital and the explosive rise in stock market valuations as wages stagnate or decline.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
A key element in globalization is the transfer of risk from the owners of capital to the workers and public resources. Examples of this transfer of risk abound: rather than pay workers benefits, corporations game part-time/full-time labor laws so workers’ health insurance is paid by taxpayers (Medicaid). Corporations pay wages too low to survive so workers depend on public-sector assistance (food stamps, etc.)
Alas, all good predations end when the prey has been dragged to the ground and consumed. All the fruit of financialization and globalization have been plucked by the powerful, and now both the engines of “growth” are sputtering as the hollowed-out Main Street economy implodes.
Central bank free money for financiers doesn’t create collateral or creditworthy borrowers, and without those foundations, the decayed, rotted shack of debt will collapse.
If we set aside the proximate causes of social disorder, we discern the salient cause: the socio-economic political system no longer works for anyone but those skimming wealth from globalization and financialization.
Main Street has been in slow-motion collapse for a generation, but this terminal decay was masked by hyper-financialization and debt-fueled spending by consumers who became accustomed to filling the widening gap between their income (stagnant) and the costs of their lifestyle (rising), as they chased the top 5% who benefited from globalization and financialization.
Debt creates the warm and fuzzy illusion of wealth, but at a cost: debt payments never disappear, but income and profits can slide effortlessly to zero.
We come now to the key dynamic of this era: socio-economic psychosis, as most people are incapable of making sense of the contradictory messages being given by the status quo. The next result is madness, as every attempt to reconcile the contradictory messages veers further way from reality.
The relentless rise of Wall Street is constantly presented as “proof” the status quo is “creating wealth” and is enormously successful. It is impossible to reconcile this claim with the decay and collapse visible in Main Street, and so people lash out at whatever they can identify as the proximate cause of their suffering and poor prospects.
Ask yourself these questions: What kind of system will we get if the vast majority of the trillions created out of thin air by central banks goes to financiers and corporations?
What kind of system will we get if these financiers and corporations use some of this free money to buy political influence?
What kind of system will we get if the really big money is skimmed by financial games that generate no goods or services, no jobs, and no productivity–in essence, they are completely worthless to the real economy and society?
What kind of system will we get if the stock market bubble is touted as “proof” the system is working splendidly and wealth is bubbling up without any limit thanks to the Fed’s magic money machine?
The answer is a system that’s crazy-making and doomed by its internal contradictions. The Fed can create dollars out of thin air and sluice it to the super-wealthy to feed their skims and scams, but it can’t create jobs, oil, tools, collateral or productivity out of thin air,
The abyss between the Fed’s illusion of phantom wealth for Wall Street and the collapse of Main Street is bottomless, and our descent into the abyss is accelerating.
Richard Bonugli and I discuss The disconnect between the Markets and the Economy (51 min) in our recent podcast. We also explore the silver linings for successful adaptation that are coming into focus.
Recent Podcasts:
AxisOfEasy Salon #14: Jobageddon and the Coming Education Revolts
Charles Hugh Smith on the disconnect between the Markets and the Economy (51 min)
My COVID-19 Pandemic Posts


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-29--Now Americans Are Rioting Over Mini-Golf And Bagels

Have you noticed that people all over the country are starting to completely flip out for little to no reason ?
People are becoming violently angry even over very trivial matters , and you never know when someone might erupt .
One moment you could be talking to a seemingly mild-mannered middle-aged woman , and the next moment she could transform into a raging “ Karen ” .
And of course I am not singling out women in particular , because most of the people that have been involved in the violent riots that we have seen around the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People of all ages and backgrounds are suddenly going completely nuts , and what we have experienced so far is just the beginning .
The mainstream media deserves a lot of the blame for this .
Over and over they keep telling us that the riots that are happening in our major cities each night are “ peaceful ” , but everyone can see that they are not .
In Portland , protesters have been regularly firing projectiles , vandalizing buildings and setting fires , and they keep getting away with it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ news outlets in this country have put their full stamp of approval on what these rioters are doing , and that sends a very dangerous signal to everyone else .
If it is perfectly acceptable for rioters to attack police officers , destroy buildings and commit other acts of violence because they are “ offended ” by the system , then a lot of other young people out there are going to give themselves permission to violently erupt when they are “ offended ” by something as well .
For example , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of teens started going on a violent rampage at a mini-golf center because “ the game machines ate their cash ” … To really get a feel for this incident you need to see some video footage , and someone posted a short clip of the chaos on Twitter right here .
100 years ago , young people in America never would have conducted themselves in such a manner , and this is yet more evidence of how dramatically our culture has decayed .
Over on the east coast , three male @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused 13,000 dollars in damage to a bagel shop when they were told that they had arrived too late to get food… In a civilized society , people resolve their differences calmly and peacefully , but the truth is that we are becoming less civilized with each passing day .
For many people , resorting to violence is becoming option number one and talking things out rationally is way down the list .
Down in South Florida , nobody is quite sure why a bunch of people in bathing suits started “ pummeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it ended up making headlines all over the globe… At this point , video of the brawl has been seen more than four million times , and I suppose that should not come as a surprise to any of us .
As I was writing this article , several lines penned by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament came to mind… Everywhere you look , people are exceedingly angry , and we are starting to see Americans take out their anger on one another with frightening regularity .
And if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the U.S. going to look like when events really start to spiral out of control ?
The way that we raise and educate our children really matters .
For decades , most of the country has completely thrown out all traditional forms of morality , and we have raised our children to believe that they can define “ right ” and “ wrong ” however they wish .
Our education system is a complete and total joke , most children have been raised without any real moral foundation , and our culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the heads of our young people .
A society is only as strong as the sum of the individuals that make up that society , and right now the lack of character in the United States is absolutely frightening .
Yes , there are certainly lots of exceptions .
I know some truly wonderful people , but I just wish that there were a whole lot more of them .
Unfortunately , the social decay that is eating away at our society like a cancer is getting worse with each passing year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought us to this point , and there are no indications that our nation is going to choose a different course any time soon .

by Michael Snyder
Have you noticed that people all over the country are starting to completely flip out for little to no reason? People are becoming violently angry even over very trivial matters, and you never know when someone might erupt. One moment you could be talking to a seemingly mild-mannered middle-aged woman, and the next moment she could transform into a raging “Karen”. And of course I am not singling out women in particular, because most of the people that have been involved in the violent riots that we have seen around the nation in recent weeks have been men. People of all ages and backgrounds are suddenly going completely nuts, and what we have experienced so far is just the beginning.
The mainstream media deserves a lot of the blame for this. Over and over they keep telling us that the riots that are happening in our major cities each night are “peaceful”, but everyone can see that they are not. In Portland, protesters have been regularly firing projectiles, vandalizing buildings and setting fires, and they keep getting away with it. Other than Fox News, the major news outlets in this country have put their full stamp of approval on what these rioters are doing, and that sends a very dangerous signal to everyone else.
If it is perfectly acceptable for rioters to attack police officers, destroy buildings and commit other acts of violence because they are “offended” by the system, then a lot of other young people out there are going to give themselves permission to violently erupt when they are “offended” by something as well.
For example, there was just an incident in Tennessee where hundreds of teens started going on a violent rampage at a mini-golf center because “the game machines ate their cash”…
A Tennessee mini-golf center erupted in chaos Saturday night when 300 to 400 teenagers began terrorizing staffers and smashing up the premises because the game machines ate their cash, Jam Press reported. The riotous scene at Putt-Putt Fun Center, at Golf and Games Family Park in Memphis, was caught on camera by an alarmed bystander and shows the violent teens go berserk and throw various heavy objects at staff because they didn’t issue the kids a refund.
To really get a feel for this incident you need to see some video footage, and someone posted a short clip of the chaos on Twitter right here.
100 years ago, young people in America never would have conducted themselves in such a manner, and this is yet more evidence of how dramatically our culture has decayed.
Over on the east coast, three male “Karens” completely freaked out and caused 13,000 dollars in damage to a bagel shop when they were told that they had arrived too late to get food…
Footage released by police shows the suspects smashing up The Brothers Deli & Bagel in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn at around 5.30pm on Friday after workers had packed up and were waiting for their deliver man to bring the bikes inside. The video shared Tuesday shows the would-be customers knocking drinks off a shelf, flipping over snacks, and turning tables after seemingly realizing they were too late to buy food.
In a civilized society, people resolve their differences calmly and peacefully, but the truth is that we are becoming less civilized with each passing day.
For many people, resorting to violence is becoming option number one and talking things out rationally is way down the list.
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Down in South Florida, nobody is quite sure why a bunch of people in bathing suits started “pummeling each other” at a local casino, but it ended up making headlines all over the globe…
Three people were arrested and several more were banned from a South Florida casino after they were filmed in a violent brawl. Video on social media shows several individuals, wearing bathing suits, while pummeling each other inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood on Friday.
At this point, video of the brawl has been seen more than four million times, and I suppose that should not come as a surprise to any of us.
As I was writing this article, several lines penned by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament came to mind…
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Everywhere you look, people are exceedingly angry, and we are starting to see Americans take out their anger on one another with frightening regularity.
And if things are this bad already, what is the U.S. going to look like when events really start to spiral out of control?
The way that we raise and educate our children really matters. For decades, most of the country has completely thrown out all traditional forms of morality, and we have raised our children to believe that they can define “right” and “wrong” however they wish.
Our education system is a complete and total joke, most children have been raised without any real moral foundation, and our culture relentlessly pounds a “victim mentality” into the heads of our young people.
A society is only as strong as the sum of the individuals that make up that society, and right now the lack of character in the United States is absolutely frightening.
Yes, there are certainly lots of exceptions. I know some truly wonderful people, but I just wish that there were a whole lot more of them.
Unfortunately, the social decay that is eating away at our society like a cancer is getting worse with each passing year. Decades of incredibly bad decisions have brought us to this point, and there are no indications that our nation is going to choose a different course any time soon.