investmentwatchblog--2020-12-21--How Belarus EXPOSES the Lockdown Lie: The Belarussian case is a significant problem for those who ar

How Belarus EXPOSES the Lockdown Lie: The Belarussian case is a significant problem for those who argue that lockdowns were necessary to prevent mass deaths. The politicians that imposed lockdowns MUST be held accountable.

Top Pathologist Claims Coronavirus is “ The Greatest Hoax Ever Perpetrated on an Unsuspecting Public ” No need for vaccines , COVID pandemic is over , says Former Vice President of Pfizer Assertion by Johns Hopkins Econ and Stat Experts : “ These data analyses suggest that in contrast to most people ’ s assumptions , the number of deaths by COVID-19 is NOT alarming .
In fact , it has relatively NO effect on deaths in the United States.
” The WHO Posts COVID Study By World-Renowned Stanford Epidemiologist : Just 0.05 % of healthy under-70s who get Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatality rate of coronavirus is unknown because many are never diagnosed President of the Bulgarian Pathology Association : “ No One Has Died From the Coronavirus ” Major Study Finds Masks DON ’ T reduce COVID-19 Infection Rates : In fact , according to the data , mask usage may actually INCREASE the likelihood of infection .
German Microbiologist Issues Grave Warning Over COVID Scam : “ We are being led to our doom .
This is the downfall of civilization .
The time has come for homo sapiens to STAND UP.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – The Secret in Plain Sight : The CDC admits it does NOT have an isolated COVID virus .
Therefore , SARS-CoV-2 , the pandemic virus , has NEVER been proved to exist .
The Missing COVID Virus : Researchers can assemble the PCR test without actually having the virus .
The is no lockdown in Belarus whatsoever Most European governments instituted the shutdown of economies , restrictions on freedom of movement and other policies known as lockdown .
This was allegedly in response to the spread of Sars-Cov-2 , a dangerous respiratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Few countries rejected this approach ; Sweden is the most well known of these .
However , a more interesting case of dissent from the official narrative is Belarus and its leader Aleksandr Lukashenka .
This article will outline Lukashenka ’ s approach to the alleged pandemic , followed by an analysis of death figures and how the Belarussian case exposes the lies of lockdown advocates .
The alleged pandemic broke out in Europe in March 2020 , and most European governments followed the severe strategy of imposing lockdowns .
Lukashenka ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Belarussian press release from the 25th March talks about the quarantines set up for people who enter Belarus : Lukashenka also advocated staying at home if one has symptoms of the virus .
He also famously made some comments – reported widely in the Western media – giving health advice : I am teetotal , but in recent times I say jokingly , that it is necessary to not only wash hands with vodka , but probably that [ consuming ] 40-50 grams of a measure of clean spirit a day – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in commas in original text ] this virus .
But not at work.
” He then says that “ Today , go to the sauna .
But if [ you go ] two-three times a week that is even healthier .
The Chinese have told us that this virus can not withstand temperatures of 60 degrees ” .
Overall , the Belarussian approach has been the least authoritarian in Europe .
Belarussian football went ahead as normal and fans were allowed to continue attending games .
Theatres , cafes and other social events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy .
Victory Day Parades also went ahead on the 9th May despite being cancelled in countries such as Russia .
Neither did Lukashenka delay scheduled elections , unlike Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand .
Western media treated Lukashenka ’ s approach as a laughable curiosity ( in cases where they did not ignore it entirely ) .
They mocked Lukashenka ’ s comments about vodka and saunas , using this was a way to avoid asking any deeper questions .
According to the official narrative , Belarus should have been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Neil Ferguson ’ s modelling – one of the key pieces of propaganda used to put Britain in lockdown – predicted that left unchecked Covid 19 would kill between 54,090 and 71,616 Belarussians .
So what are the facts ?
The population of Belarus is around 9.5million .
Of this population , as of December 12 , 2020 , a total of 1,263 deaths are recorded as being from Covid 19 .
It appears the first death in Belarus attributed to this disease was Mar 31 , with between 2 and 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It goes without saying that 1,263 deaths out of a population of 9.5m is minuscule and hardly indicative of a deadly pandemic sweeping the country .
But critics of the Belarussian approach may claim that Lukashenka is hiding the reality of Covid 19 deaths in the country .
The most logical way to examine this question is to look at whether there are any excess deaths in Belarus in general over this period , and if so , how many .
Of course , just because there were excess deaths would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or otherwise – by hidden cases of Covid 19 .
But a relatively low number of excess deaths would reveal that the claim that Lukashenka is hiding mass deaths from Covid 19 is not plausible .
According to the data , there were some excess deaths in Belarus in the second quarter of 2020 ( April , May and June ) .
35,858 died in Belarus during this period , 5606 higher than in 2019 .
Examining the data , we can see that the vast majority of these excess deaths were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a small excess in May .
This figure is rather small compared with the predictions of doom and destruction put forward by the likes of Neil Ferguson .
A comparison with another country that did pursue lockdowns gives further evidence that the scaremongering predictions regarding the consequences of not locking down are unfounded .
This analysis was performed by taking the number of excess deaths for Belarus and then calculating the same figures for England and Wales from the weekly death data from 2019 and 2020 .
Belarus had 5605 excess deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a population of 9.5 million .
England and Wales had 54,798 excess deaths in the same period from a population of 59.5 million .

by axolotl_peyotl
source
READ THIS BOOK: ‘Corona, False Alarm? Fact and Figures’
Top Pathologist Claims Coronavirus is “The Greatest Hoax Ever Perpetrated on an Unsuspecting Public”
No need for vaccines, COVID pandemic is over, says Former Vice President of Pfizer
Assertion by Johns Hopkins Econ and Stat Experts: “These data analyses suggest that in contrast to most people’s assumptions, the number of deaths by COVID-19 is NOT alarming. In fact, it has relatively NO effect on deaths in the United States.”
The WHO Posts COVID Study By World-Renowned Stanford Epidemiologist: Just 0.05% of healthy under-70s who get Covid-19 will die from the disease, true fatality rate of coronavirus is unknown because many are never diagnosed
President of the Bulgarian Pathology Association: “No One Has Died From the Coronavirus”
Major Study Finds Masks DON’T reduce COVID-19 Infection Rates: In fact, according to the data, mask usage may actually INCREASE the likelihood of infection.
COVID19 PCR Tests are Scientifically Meaningless
German Microbiologist Issues Grave Warning Over COVID Scam: “We are being led to our doom. This is the downfall of civilization. The time has come for homo sapiens to STAND UP.”
The Fake Coronavirus and the Missing Study – The Secret in Plain Sight: The CDC admits it does NOT have an isolated COVID virus. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2, the pandemic virus, has NEVER been proved to exist.
The Missing COVID Virus: Researchers can assemble the PCR test without actually having the virus.
The is no lockdown in Belarus whatsoever
Most European governments instituted the shutdown of economies, restrictions on freedom of movement and other policies known as lockdown. This was allegedly in response to the spread of Sars-Cov-2, a dangerous respiratory virus that originated in Wuhan, China.
Few countries rejected this approach; Sweden is the most well known of these. However, a more interesting case of dissent from the official narrative is Belarus and its leader Aleksandr Lukashenka.
This article will outline Lukashenka’s approach to the alleged pandemic, followed by an analysis of death figures and how the Belarussian case exposes the lies of lockdown advocates.
The Belarussian Approach to Covid 19
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The alleged pandemic broke out in Europe in March 2020, and most European governments followed the severe strategy of imposing lockdowns. Lukashenka’s response was much more limited. A Belarussian press release from the 25th March talks about the quarantines set up for people who enter Belarus:
Quarantine stations were set up at all the points of entry. Screening measures include temperature checks. This system of control really works, [healthcare minister] Vladimir Karanik noted. This helped identify symptoms of a viral infection in more than 250 people, however the absolute majority of them had influenza, parainfluenza, and adenovirus. If a person tests positive for coronavirus, healthcare workers put their contacts under medical observation. “Such a targeted approach helps curb the spread of the virus,” the minister said.”
Lukashenka also advocated staying at home if one has symptoms of the virus. He also famously made some comments – reported widely in the Western media – giving health advice:
I am teetotal, but in recent times I say jokingly, that it is necessary to not only wash hands with vodka, but probably that [consuming] 40-50 grams of a measure of clean spirit a day – [can] “poison” [in commas in original text] this virus. But not at work.” He then says that “Today, go to the sauna. But if [you go] two-three times a week that is even healthier. The Chinese have told us that this virus cannot withstand temperatures of 60 degrees”.
Overall, the Belarussian approach has been the least authoritarian in Europe. Belarussian football went ahead as normal and fans were allowed to continue attending games. Theatres, cafes and other social events continued and there was no shutdown of the economy. Victory Day Parades also went ahead on the 9th May despite being cancelled in countries such as Russia. Neither did Lukashenka delay scheduled elections, unlike Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand.
Western media treated Lukashenka’s approach as a laughable curiosity (in cases where they did not ignore it entirely). They mocked Lukashenka’s comments about vodka and saunas, using this was a way to avoid asking any deeper questions.
According to the official narrative, Belarus should have been a zone of death, destruction and disaster. Neil Ferguson’s modelling – one of the key pieces of propaganda used to put Britain in lockdown – predicted that left unchecked Covid 19 would kill between 54,090 and 71,616 Belarussians.
So what are the facts?
Covid Deaths and Belarus
The population of Belarus is around 9.5million. Of this population, as of December 12, 2020, a total of 1,263 deaths are recorded as being from Covid 19. It appears the first death in Belarus attributed to this disease was Mar 31, with between 2 and 11 deaths recorded each day up until Dec.12.
It goes without saying that 1,263 deaths out of a population of 9.5m is minuscule and hardly indicative of a deadly pandemic sweeping the country. But critics of the Belarussian approach may claim that Lukashenka is hiding the reality of Covid 19 deaths in the country.
The most logical way to examine this question is to look at whether there are any excess deaths in Belarus in general over this period, and if so, how many. Of course, just because there were excess deaths would not prove that the deaths were caused – or otherwise – by hidden cases of Covid 19. But a relatively low number of excess deaths would reveal that the claim that Lukashenka is hiding mass deaths from Covid 19 is not plausible.
According to the data, there were some excess deaths in Belarus in the second quarter of 2020 (April, May and June). 35,858 died in Belarus during this period, 5606 higher than in 2019. Examining the data, we can see that the vast majority of these excess deaths were in June, with virtually none in April and a small excess in May.
This figure is rather small compared with the predictions of doom and destruction put forward by the likes of Neil Ferguson.
Belarus vs England and Wales
A comparison with another country that did pursue lockdowns gives further evidence that the scaremongering predictions regarding the consequences of not locking down are unfounded.
This analysis was performed by taking the number of excess deaths for Belarus and then calculating the same figures for England and Wales from the weekly death data from 2019 and 2020. Belarus had 5605 excess deaths in April, May and June 2020 from a population of 9.5 million. England and Wales had 54,798 excess deaths in the same period from a population of 59.5 million.
…
…
h/t axolotl_peyotl


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-21--The 2020 bear market was the shortest in modern history.

The story of the stock market this year has been remarkable , if not a little unnerving .
Markets plunged @ @ @ @ @ soon shrugged off the global pandemic , the record-breaking job losses and political uncertainty — @ @ @ @ @ around the world pumping trillions of dollars of stimulus into the system .
We went @ @ @ @ @ bear markets , defined as when the S & P 500 Index falls more than @ @ @ @ @ high , to see how the 2020 bounce compared with history .
The chart below @ @ @ @ @ markets , going all the way back to 1957 , such that everything revolves around @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve labelled day 0 .
It reveals two things about the 2020 bear @ @ @ @ @ simultaneously the sharpest decline and the sharpest bounce back of any of the last 10 @ @ @ @ @ 2 months from their lowest point US stocks were back to where they were at @ @ @ @ @ and they haven ’ t looked back since .

The story of the stock market this year has been remarkable, if not a little unnerving. Markets plunged in March, but they soon shrugged off the global pandemic, the record-breaking job losses and political uncertainty — mostly thanks to central banks around the world pumping trillions of dollars of stimulus into the system.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
We went back through the last 10 bear markets, defined as when the S&P 500 Index falls more than 20% from its previous high, to see how the 2020 bounce compared with history.
The chart below rebases the last 10 bear markets, going all the way back to 1957, such that everything revolves around the market bottom, which we’ve labelled day 0. It reveals two things about the 2020 bear market – that it was simultaneously the sharpest decline and the sharpest bounce back of any of the last 10 bear markets. Less than 2 months from their lowest point US stocks were back to where they were at the start of 2020 — and they haven’t looked back since.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-21--GOPLeader: FBI briefing on Swalwell & Chinese spy: “Anyone who heard what we both heard should never

GOPLeader: FBI briefing on Swalwell & Chinese spy: “Anyone who heard what we both heard should never allow him to continue serving”

Speaker Pelosi and I were briefed together by the FBI for more than an hour about Eric Swalwell ’ s @ @ @ @ @ .
Anyone who heard what we both heard should never allow him to continue serving @ @ @ @ @ pic.twitter.com/xEEopxT2CR

Speaker Pelosi and I were briefed together by the FBI for more than an hour about Eric Swalwell’s ties to a reported-Chinese spy.
Anyone who heard what we both heard should never allow him to continue serving on the Intel Committee. pic.twitter.com/xEEopxT2CR
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) December 19, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-21--J. PowellL is now less helpful than yesterday as Lawmakers reach compromise over GOP proposal to rei

J. PowellL is now less helpful than yesterday as Lawmakers reach compromise over GOP proposal to rein in Fed’s powers, clearing path for a stimulus package deal.

“ The compromise will sweep out the $ 429 billion in unspent CARES Act funding for the Federal Reserve ’ @ @ @ @ @ repurpose it as an offset for a new $ 900 billion coronavirus relief bill , @ @ @ @ @ deal will close four Federal Reserve credit lending facilities created by the CARES Act and @ @ @ @ @ standing up replica facilities in the future without congressional approval .
Those four programs include @ @ @ @ @ facility , the secondary market corporate credit facility , the Main Street lending program and @ @ @ @ @ The Fed will retain more flexibility over restarting the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility.
” @ @ @ @ @ proposal to rein in Fed ’ s powers , clearing path for a stimulus package @

“The compromise will sweep out the $429 billion in unspent CARES Act funding for the Federal Reserve’s credit lending facilities and repurpose it as an offset for a new $900 billion coronavirus relief bill, GOP sources said.
The deal will close four Federal Reserve credit lending facilities created by the CARES Act and will prevent the Fed from standing up replica facilities in the future without congressional approval.
Those four programs include the primary market corporate credit facility, the secondary market corporate credit facility, the Main Street lending program and the municipal credit facility.
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The Fed will retain more flexibility over restarting the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility.”
Lawmakers reach compromise over GOP proposal to rein in Fed’s powers, clearing path for a stimulus package deal


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Warren reintroduces bill to bar lawmakers from trading stocks. FInally the end to rediculous congres

Warren reintroduces bill to bar lawmakers from trading stocks. FInally the end to rediculous congressional insider trading?

Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
announced Friday she ’ s reintroducing a bill to prohibit lawmakers from trading stocks as Democrats look to make the issue a key aspect of Georgia ’ s two Senate runoffs .
The reintroduction of the bill by Warren and Rep. Pramila Jayapal ( D-Wash. ) coincides with scrutiny Georgia Sens .
Kelly Loeffler ( R ) and David Perdue ( R ) are facing over their own stock trading during the pandemic .
Democrats have accused the two senators , who are locked in competitive runoffs to keep their seats , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy and sell stocks during the pandemic .
Loeffler and Perdue have both denied any wrongdoing , and federal officials have not found sufficient evidence to bring any charges , but Democrats are hoping to use the issue to flip both Senate seats and hand them a majority in the upper chamber come January .
Democrat the Rev .
Raphael Warnock is challenging Loeffler , while Jon Ossoff is challenging Perdue .
If both Democrats win , the party will hold a 50-50 Senate majority , with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris being @ @ @ @ @ @

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced Friday she’s reintroducing a bill to prohibit lawmakers from trading stocks as Democrats look to make the issue a key aspect of Georgia’s two Senate runoffs.
The reintroduction of the bill by Warren and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) coincides with scrutiny Georgia Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R) and David Perdue (R) are facing over their own stock trading during the pandemic.
Democrats have accused the two senators, who are locked in competitive runoffs to keep their seats, of using private information gleaned from congressional briefings to buy and sell stocks during the pandemic.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Loeffler and Perdue have both denied any wrongdoing, and federal officials have not found sufficient evidence to bring any charges, but Democrats are hoping to use the issue to flip both Senate seats and hand them a majority in the upper chamber come January.
Democrat the Rev. Raphael Warnock is challenging Loeffler, while Jon Ossoff is challenging Perdue. If both Democrats win, the party will hold a 50-50 Senate majority, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris being able to cast tiebreaking votes.
thehill.com/homenews/senate/530968-warren-reintroduces-bill-to-bar-lawmakers-from-trading-stocks


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Once again, Democrats have put off passing the targeted relief that the American people need

Once again , Democrats have put off passing the targeted relief that the American people need pic.twitter.com/wWdKWe3XoB

Once again, Democrats have put off passing the targeted relief that the American people need pic.twitter.com/wWdKWe3XoB
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) December 20, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Looks like 2018 all over again… except worse…. Human behavior never change.

“History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.” – Sydney Harris Human behavior never change. pic.twitter.com/OJtnadpf5P — Hoz (@GinkoHoz) December 20, 2020
Dumb money has never been this confident. Biggest trap ever or his history in the making? @sentimentrader pic.twitter.com/godnsJExFd — Gianluca De Stefano (@Theimmigrant84) December 20, 2020
Anyone who calls #Bitcoin a speculative bubble should take a look at #Tesla. Musk shares up 730% YTD vs Bitcoin's 231% run. pic.twitter.com/7p4SI3nguP — Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) December 20, 2020
When this market crashes, and it will sooner than most think, and you sit there lost with your bullish FinTwit arrogance and ignorance, I just want you to know that it’s going to be me who personally tells you to go F*@k yourself — Farris BABA (@farrisbaba) December 20, 2020
…with the most speculative options market in at least 20 years… pic.twitter.com/vRsB7K7npC — SentimenTrader (@sentimentrader) December 19, 2020
most shorted index continues to stall pic.twitter.com/t0hwJ1STCs — Alastair Williamson (@StockBoardAsset) December 18, 2020
Never before have investors been so eager to give so much to such unproven companies. We're seeing the biggest ratio of money-losing to money-making IPOs, and the youngest companies able to issue new shares in 35 years.t.co/kzfnNO3ut2 — SentimenTrader (@sentimentrader) December 14, 2020
QQQ – Kiss of Death against the back trend line on Friday – Add Negative RSI and MACD Divergences and you might have a major top with the Hanging Man candle. Watch for things underneath the surface – Things that go Bump in the night. No one else sees a top, but me?? pic.twitter.com/Qu87B54N0x — David Larew (@ThinkTankCharts) December 20, 2020
A Speculative Frenzy Is Sweeping Wall Street and World Markets [Bloomberg]
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investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Jason Burack: Banksters Always Win – Large US Banks Get Fed To Change Rules To Allow Large Share Buy

Jason Burack: Banksters Always Win – Large US Banks Get Fed To Change Rules To Allow Large Share Buybacks Again!

Today , the Fed announced that large US banks passed a new ( phony ) stress test and were allowed to do share buybacks again .
Fed loosens restrictions on bank share buybacks after second stress test www.aol.com/fed-loosens-restr… And almost immediately after this announcement , JP Morgan Chase Bank ( NYSE : JPM ) announces a new $ 30 billion share buyback plan to start boosting the share price again .
But how are tens of billions per year in large bank profits so insulted from the pain in the real economy and banks are not making loans into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of money ?
Jason talks about how banks have changed their business models for profit over the last few decades thanks to insights from former manager director of Goldman Sachs and Bear Stearns , Nomi Prins .
Jason Burack is an investor , entrepreneur , financial historian , Austrian School economist , and contrarian .
Jason co-founded the startup financial education company Wall St for Main St , LLC , to try to help the people of Main Street by teaching them the knowledge , skills , research methods , and investing expertise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find Jason ’ s work at his blog website at www.jasonburack.com .

Wall St. For Main St., Released on 12/18/20
Today, the Fed announced that large US banks passed a new (phony) stress test and were allowed to do share buybacks again.
Fed sees ‘strong capital levels’ at banks after stress tests, green lights share buybacks news.yahoo.com/fed-sees-stron…
Fed allows banks to resume share buybacks, JPMorgan stock jumps 5% www.cnbc.com/2020/12/18/fed-t…
Fed loosens restrictions on bank share buybacks after second stress test www.aol.com/fed-loosens-restr…
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
And almost immediately after this announcement, JP Morgan Chase Bank (NYSE: JPM) announces a new $30 billion share buyback plan to start boosting the share price again.
JP Morgan Chase to Launch $30 Billion Share Repurchase Program in 2021 www.fool.com/investing/2020/1…
But how are tens of billions per year in large bank profits so insulted from the pain in the real economy and banks are not making loans into the real economy as measured by the velocity of money? Jason talks about how banks have changed their business models for profit over the last few decades thanks to insights from former manager director of Goldman Sachs and Bear Stearns, Nomi Prins.
Jason Burack is an investor, entrepreneur, financial historian, Austrian School economist, and contrarian. Jason co-founded the startup financial education company Wall St for Main St, LLC, to try to help the people of Main Street by teaching them the knowledge, skills, research methods, and investing expertise of Wall Street. You can also find Jason’s work at his blog website at www.jasonburack.com.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Trump TV! Trump floats idea of his own news network to counter CNN

President Donald Trump on Thursday proposed starting a news network to counter one of his favorite media targets .
“ @ @ @ @ @ really seems to be the voice out there and it ’ s a terrible thing @ @ @ @ @ Trump said , diverging from his speech on protecting Medicare for seniors at an event @ @ @ @ @ “ We ought to start our own network and put some real news out there @ @ @ @ @ bad for our country.
” “ We ’ re looking at that .
We should @ @ @ @ @ too , ” he added .
“ Put some really talented people and get a @ @ @ @ @ not a voice that ’ s fake.
” The president initially slammed the media within @ @ @ @ @ pointing at journalists in attendance while saying that “ the fake news is back there.
@ @ @ @ @ with an uproar of boos from the crowd .

President Donald Trump on Thursday proposed starting a news network to counter one of his favorite media targets.
“CNN is a voice that really seems to be the voice out there and it’s a terrible thing for our country,” Trump said, diverging from his speech on protecting Medicare for seniors at an event in The Villages, Fla. “We ought to start our own network and put some real news out there, because they are so bad for our country.”
“We’re looking at that. We should do something about it, too,” he added. “Put some really talented people and get a real voice out there, not a voice that’s fake.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The president initially slammed the media within minutes of the event, pointing at journalists in attendance while saying that “the fake news is back there.” The comment was met with an uproar of boos from the crowd.
www.politico.com/news/2019/10/03/trump-proposes-creating-own-news-network-025988


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--What Would Happen If the Fed Ceased to Exist?

Extremes get more extreme until risk breaks out ; then the reversal will be as extreme as the bubble expansion .
What would happen if the Federal Reserve ceased to exist ?
We all know the answer : global markets would instantly collapse and the global financial system , now entirely dependent on Fed stimulus , intervention , manipulation , free money for financiers and endless printing of trillions of dollars out of thin air , would crash , leaving nothing but a steaming , fetid pile of corruption infested by the cockroaches scurrying around gobbling up the few crumbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal Reserve ceased to exist ?
The Treasury would sell its bonds on the open market , where buyers and sellers would set the yield on the bonds .
Private banks would take deposits and lend money at rates set by supply and demand .
We all know what would happen : yields and interest rates would explode higher in response to risk having to be priced in and every flimsy , worm-eaten enterprise that depended on zero-interest rates would collapse in a heap and every putrid , staggering zombie corporation would crumble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , illusions generated solely by the artificial spew of the Fed , would fall to their real value , i.e .
near zero .
Let ’ s modify the question slightly : what would happen if the Fed ’ s policies stopped working ?
In other words , what if the Fed ’ s spew no longer created the illusion of risk-free gambling in bubble-valuation assets ?
What if risk raised its Gorgon-like head despite every intervention , every manipulation , and every foul burp of propaganda from the Fed ?
Please glance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in incremental change .
The faith in the Fed ’ s omnipotence that magically reduces the perception of risk to zero is ultimately a faith in incremental change : the Fed tweaks the dials of bond purchases and its spew of free money for financiers , and voila , risk is banished and risk assets get another rocket booster .
Alas , risk can not be banished , it can only be transferred to others .
The Fed ’ s endless spew and its constant tinkering with incremental adjustments have created a delusional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ever .
All that ’ s actually happened is the Fed ’ s spew has transferred the skyrocketing risks generated by its policies to the entire economy .
The economy has been capacious enough to absorb the astronomical risks generated by Fed policies , but the economy has been stuffed to the gills with Fed-generated risk , and now the bursting of the risk bubble is upon us .
Put another way , there ’ s no closets left to hide the risk in .
Now the risk will escape the Fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decimate the financial sector , which is now the dominant force in the economy .
Once the delusions of no-risk gambling and phantom valuations implode , the real economy with undergo a devastating cold turkey withdrawal from the Fed ’ s malevolent spew of free money for financiers masquerading as “ stimulus.
” Extremes get more extreme until risk breaks out ; then the reversal will be as extreme as the bubble expansion .
Delusions , illusions , phantoms of value : these are not real .
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by Charles Hugh-Smith
Extremes get more extreme until risk breaks out; then the reversal will be as extreme as the bubble expansion.
What would happen if the Federal Reserve ceased to exist? We all know the answer: global markets would instantly collapse and the global financial system, now entirely dependent on Fed stimulus, intervention, manipulation, free money for financiers and endless printing of trillions of dollars out of thin air, would crash, leaving nothing but a steaming, fetid pile of corruption infested by the cockroaches scurrying around gobbling up the few crumbs left.
What would happen if the Federal Reserve ceased to exist? The Treasury would sell its bonds on the open market, where buyers and sellers would set the yield on the bonds. Private banks would take deposits and lend money at rates set by supply and demand.
We all know what would happen: yields and interest rates would explode higher in response to risk having to be priced in and every flimsy, worm-eaten enterprise that depended on zero-interest rates would collapse in a heap and every putrid, staggering zombie corporation would crumble to dust, and its phantom assets, illusions generated solely by the artificial spew of the Fed, would fall to their real value, i.e. near zero.
Let’s modify the question slightly: what would happen if the Fed’s policies stopped working? In other words, what if the Fed’s spew no longer created the illusion of risk-free gambling in bubble-valuation assets? What if risk raised its Gorgon-like head despite every intervention, every manipulation, and every foul burp of propaganda from the Fed?
Please glance at this chart of the delusional faith in incremental change. The faith in the Fed’s omnipotence that magically reduces the perception of risk to zero is ultimately a faith in incremental change: the Fed tweaks the dials of bond purchases and its spew of free money for financiers, and voila, risk is banished and risk assets get another rocket booster.
Alas, risk cannot be banished, it can only be transferred to others. The Fed’s endless spew and its constant tinkering with incremental adjustments have created a delusional faith that these tweaks will work forever and ever.
All that’s actually happened is the Fed’s spew has transferred the skyrocketing risks generated by its policies to the entire economy. The economy has been capacious enough to absorb the astronomical risks generated by Fed policies, but the economy has been stuffed to the gills with Fed-generated risk, and now the bursting of the risk bubble is upon us.
Put another way, there’s no closets left to hide the risk in. Now the risk will escape the Fed’s rusting, hubris-soaked chains and decimate the financial sector, which is now the dominant force in the economy. Once the delusions of no-risk gambling and phantom valuations implode, the real economy with undergo a devastating cold turkey withdrawal from the Fed’s malevolent spew of free money for financiers masquerading as “stimulus.”
Extremes get more extreme until risk breaks out; then the reversal will be as extreme as the bubble expansion. Delusions, illusions, phantoms of value: these are not real. Want to know what’s real? Risk.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Is Bitcoin Strangling The Other Cryptocurrencies?

Bitcoin has had a helluva week .
And many of its fans see its recent spike as just the beginning of a run that converts it from cult favorite to global reserve currency .
That ’ s an exciting prospect for a lot of reasons .
But it ’ s not yet a done deal .
One of the many concerns that non-HODLers have about bitcoin is that its algorithmically-constrained supply might be a kind of mirage , because other cryptocurrencies with similar characteristics and utility can be created in infinite numbers .
From a trader ’ s perspective , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If bitcoin keeps rising relative to , say , ethereum and litecoin , it creates an arbitrage in which investors sell bitcoin and reinvest their profits in much-cheaper but otherwise similar – and therefore equally attractive as a store of value – coins .
So bitcoin ’ s price falls ( or at least rises more slowly ) while ethereum and litecoin gain ground .
The crypto universe diversifies and expands , partially at bitcoin ’ s expense .
And bitcoin , while still successful , misses its chance to conquer the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentioned this concern to a very smart , highly committed bitcoin fan , and his response ( I ’ m paraphrasing a bit ) was : “ Those other coins are trash .
Bitcoin is draining all the air out of the crypto space .
The others will die and bitcoin will absorb their market cap , along with most of the capital now in gold and the dollar , on its way to a price of $ 1 million per coin.
” That ’ s … compelling , considering that you hardly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One way to check this , of course , is to see what the other coins are doing .
If they ’ re falling as bitcoin rises , then yes , this might indeed be a one-horse race and those comparisons of bitcoin ’ s tiny-by-design supply to the number of US dollars , ounces of gold , etc.
, that yield insanely high bitcoin prices look more valid .
If , on the other hand , smaller-cap cryptos are taking wing along with bitcoin , then the jury is still out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is limited to its own ledger or has to include the rest of the crypto space .
Which makes its supply theoretically unlimited just like any crappy fiat currency .
So let ’ s go to the charts : Bitcoin ’ s dominance of the crypto space has fluctuated in the past year , falling from a massive 70 % to the mid-50s and then rising back to pretty much where it started .
The verdict : It ’ s definitely the big player in this space .
But is bitcoin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the inevitable death of all those no-name/no-future coins that came to market during the recent ICO frenzy ?
Or is it due to defections from the other viable cryptos that might someday challenge bitcoin ’ s dominance ?
If the former , you ’ d expect some of the other cryptos to be rising in price along with bitcoin .
And some of them are .
In the past week : During a week in which bitcoin had an epic run , the other well-known cryptos did okay .
The oxygen may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with market caps approximating zero , but ethereum , litecoin and bitcoin cash all caught a bid .
These charts actually paint a picture that resembles precious metals mining .
Bitcoin is a Barrick or Newmont that just had a really good year , while the lesser cryptos look like mid-tier or junior miners being swept along in the sector whale ’ s wake .
Which means the crypto ecosystem might be evolving into a normal market , with big and small players and a common-sense dynamic in which a big player ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food chain in search of juicier percentage gains .
With one difference : The supply of viable gold miners is constrained by geology .
There ’ s just so much gold out there , and most of it has already been found .
But the number of cryptos with algorithmically-constrained supplies is potentially infinite .
And as money flows into that space , the incentive to create more bitcoin clones – and to sell bitcoin itself to buy those potential hundred-baggers – rises .
Put yet another way , bitcoin ’ s first-mover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its dominance imposed by the other viable cryptos seem real too .
Very few sectors are swallowed up by a single entity , and it ’ s not yet clear that cryptos are an exception to that rule .

BY JOHN RUBINO
Bitcoin has had a helluva week. And many of its fans see its recent spike as just the beginning of a run that converts it from cult favorite to global reserve currency.
That’s an exciting prospect for a lot of reasons. But it’s not yet a done deal.
One of the many concerns that non-HODLers have about bitcoin is that its algorithmically-constrained supply might be a kind of mirage, because other cryptocurrencies with similar characteristics and utility can be created in infinite numbers.
From a trader’s perspective, here’s what that means: If bitcoin keeps rising relative to, say, ethereum and litecoin, it creates an arbitrage in which investors sell bitcoin and reinvest their profits in much-cheaper but otherwise similar – and therefore equally attractive as a store of value – coins. So bitcoin’s price falls (or at least rises more slowly) while ethereum and litecoin gain ground. The crypto universe diversifies and expands, partially at bitcoin’s expense. And bitcoin, while still successful, misses its chance to conquer the global monetary system.
The other day I mentioned this concern to a very smart, highly committed bitcoin fan, and his response (I’m paraphrasing a bit) was: “Those other coins are trash. Bitcoin is draining all the air out of the crypto space. The others will die and bitcoin will absorb their market cap, along with most of the capital now in gold and the dollar, on its way to a price of $1 million per coin.”
That’s … compelling, considering that you hardly ever hear about those other coins anymore.
One way to check this, of course, is to see what the other coins are doing. If they’re falling as bitcoin rises, then yes, this might indeed be a one-horse race and those comparisons of bitcoin’s tiny-by-design supply to the number of US dollars, ounces of gold, etc., that yield insanely high bitcoin prices look more valid. If, on the other hand, smaller-cap cryptos are taking wing along with bitcoin, then the jury is still out on whether bitcoin’s “supply” is limited to its own ledger or has to include the rest of the crypto space. Which makes its supply theoretically unlimited just like any crappy fiat currency. So let’s go to the charts:
Bitcoin’s dominance of the crypto space has fluctuated in the past year, falling from a massive 70% to the mid-50s and then rising back to pretty much where it started. The verdict: It’s definitely the big player in this space.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
But is bitcoin’s recent gain in market share due to the inevitable death of all those no-name/no-future coins that came to market during the recent ICO frenzy? Or is it due to defections from the other viable cryptos that might someday challenge bitcoin’s dominance?
If the former, you’d expect some of the other cryptos to be rising in price along with bitcoin. And some of them are. In the past week:
During a week in which bitcoin had an epic run, the other well-known cryptos did okay. The oxygen may have been sucked out of the no-names with market caps approximating zero, but ethereum, litecoin and bitcoin cash all caught a bid.
These charts actually paint a picture that resembles precious metals mining. Bitcoin is a Barrick or Newmont that just had a really good year, while the lesser cryptos look like mid-tier or junior miners being swept along in the sector whale’s wake.
Which means the crypto ecosystem might be evolving into a normal market, with big and small players and a common-sense dynamic in which a big player’s success sends money flowing down the food chain in search of juicier percentage gains.
With one difference: The supply of viable gold miners is constrained by geology. There’s just so much gold out there, and most of it has already been found. But the number of cryptos with algorithmically-constrained supplies is potentially infinite. And as money flows into that space, the incentive to create more bitcoin clones – and to sell bitcoin itself to buy those potential hundred-baggers – rises.
Put yet another way, bitcoin’s first-mover advantage is real, but the constraints on its dominance imposed by the other viable cryptos seem real too. Very few sectors are swallowed up by a single entity, and it’s not yet clear that cryptos are an exception to that rule.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Robert Kyosaki: Gold is not dead and pensions are about to implode … Jerry Robinson: Look for the do

Robert Kyosaki : Gold is not dead and pensions are about to implode … Jerry Robinson : Look for the @ @ @ @ @ a bit ” of value in 2021 … Lawrence Lepard : Gold will do a @ @ @ @ @ Jakobsen : An epic commodities boom is starting …

BY JOHN RUBINO
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Robert Kyosaki: Gold is not dead and pensions are about to implode … Jerry Robinson: Look for the dollar to lose “quite a bit” of value in 2021 … Lawrence Lepard: Gold will do a moonshot next year … Steen Jakobsen: An epic commodities boom is starting …


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Bob Hoye: What Does It Mean When Small Caps Lead Rally?

Almost NONE showed up to Biden 's dystopian rally at a Hunger Games warehouse

Howe Street, Released on 12/18/20
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Bob Hoye is a trained geologist, successful resource investor and economic historian. Bob is the chief investment strategist for chartsandmarkets.com.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--It’s Happening! Covid Mutation – MORE SEVERE – LOCKDOWNS INTENSIFY – VACCINES DON’T MATTER NOW

This could go on for decades .
UBI will be necessary .
A new strain of coronavirus is “ out @ @ @ @ @ of southern England , the U.K. health secretary has warned , adding that it has @ @ @ @ @ away as Australia .
Matt Hancock , was speaking the day after a stricter lockdown @ @ @ @ @ surrounding areas after scientists confirmed the existence of a new variant of the virus that @ @ @ @ @ percent more transmissible .
Speaking on Sunday morning political shows , Hancock said that people @ @ @ @ @ they have the virus in order to stop it spreading .
“ Unfortunately this virus @ @ @ @ @ was out of control , we ’ ve got to get it under control and @ @ @ @ @ that , the only way you can do that is by restricting social contact and @ @ @ @ @ needs to behave as though they might well have the virus , ” he told @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday .

It’s Happening. Lockdowns are indefinite. Vaccines are irrelevant.
This could go on for decades. UBI will be necessary.
A new strain of coronavirus is “out of control” in parts of southern England, the U.K. health secretary has warned, adding that it has also been found as far away as Australia.
Matt Hancock, was speaking the day after a stricter lockdown was announced for London and surrounding areas after scientists confirmed the existence of a new variant of the virus that could be up to 70 percent more transmissible.
Speaking on Sunday morning political shows, Hancock said that people needed to act as though they have the virus in order to stop it spreading.
“Unfortunately this virus, the new strain, was out of control, we’ve got to get it
under control and the way we can do that, the only way you can do that is by restricting social contact and essentially—especially in tier 4 areas—everybody needs to behave as though they might well have the virus,” he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL STATES TRUMP WILL NOT BE CONCEDING!

Dan Scavino , The White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Director of Social Media posted a series @ @ @ @ @ that many took as a ominous sign of what ’ s coming , but then @ @ @ @ @ post stating “ President Trump Will Not Be Conceding ” .
This is an official @ @ @ @ @ official .
I think we all knew this already , however , it ’ s @ @ @

Dan Scavino, The White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Director of Social Media posted a series of tweets late last night that many took as a ominous sign of what’s coming, but then he also made a Facebook post stating “President Trump Will Not Be Conceding”.
This is an official statement from the White House official. I think we all knew this already, however, it’s official now.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Stacey Abrams CAUGHT Red Handed Defying Orders Dems LOVE

Lin Wood : GA law says if you were n't eligible to vote in 11/3 election , you ca n't @ @ @ @ @ and Stacy Abrams cut a deal to ignore this .
ILLEGAL !
They are CHEATING @ @ @

Henry Rodgers from the Daily Caller reports, Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who was named as the presiding officer of the state electors meeting, continued to not wear a mask for extended periods of time Monday in the state Capitol building.
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Read More/Source/Credit/FairUse:
dailycaller.com/2020/12/14/st…


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Michael Flynn Reveals the Dirtiest Secret Politicians Don’t Want you to Know

Jonathan Davis from Trending Politics reports , Without a doubt , retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn , former head of @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump ’ s short-lived national security adviser , is the most persecuted American @ @ @

Jonathan Davis from Trending Politics reports, Without a doubt, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency and President Donald Trump’s short-lived national security adviser, is the most persecuted American in modern history
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Read More/Source/Credit/FairUse:
trendingpolitics.com/michael-…


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Economic Crisis Hits Americans as Millions Out of Job, Buildings Empty, More Wage Cuts Coming

The financial system is seeing a major change in 2020 .
With more investment in tech stocks , people are @ @ @ @ @ i buy ?
More cash , debt , money is flowing into equities .

The financial system is seeing a major change in 2020. With more investment in tech stocks, people are asking which tech stocks should i buy? More cash, debt, money is flowing into equities.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--BLM Finally Realizes that Joe & Kamala Only Talked the Talk – Now They’ve Responded with Rage

Leah Barkoukis from Townhall reports , Shortly after the media projected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as winners of the @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter sent a letter to the pair congratulating them and asking for a @ @ @ @ @ the group ’ s support wasn ’ t going to come for free .

Leah Barkoukis from Townhall reports, Shortly after the media projected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as winners of the 2020 election last month, Black Lives Matter sent a letter to the pair congratulating them and asking for a meeting. After all, the group’s support wasn’t going to come for free.
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Read More/Source/Credit/FairUse:
townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbar…


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--EU poised to trigger no deal TONIGHT: Brexit talks to collapse over Brussels’ deadline

THE European Union could trigger no deal tonight as Brexit talks collapse over Brussels ’ deadline , sources have said @ @ @ @ @ passed a deadline claiming EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier must present them with the trade @ @ @ @ @ In bold defiance of their resolution , France ’ s European affairs minister , and @ @ @ @ @ , Clement Beaune insisted negotiations will continue if needed .

THE European Union could trigger no deal tonight as Brexit talks collapse over Brussels’ deadline, sources have said.
This week, MEPs passed a deadline claiming EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier must present them with the trade agreement by December 21. In bold defiance of their resolution, France’s European affairs minister, and close ally of Mr Macron, Clement Beaune insisted negotiations will continue if needed.
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www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1374845/Brexit-news-no-deal-uk-eu-trade-talks-david-frost-michel-barnier-boris-johnson


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--US plans major expansion of facial recognition authority at airports

“ US Customs and Border Protection has filed for a significant expansion in its authority to conduct facial recognition at airports .
On November 19th , the agency submitted a filing to the Federal Register seeking to expand the ongoing biometric exit program , broadening the program ’ s scope to include all air and land ports .
The filing also shifts the program ’ s focus entirely to facial recognition , at the expense of alternate methods like fingerprinting .
The filing is subject to public comment for a brief time after its submission .
That comment period will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ First deployed in 2017 , biometric exit has operated as a pilot program , limited to a handful of ports in order to assess its viability , although customs officials spoke openly about plans to expand it .
As part of the pilot authorization , Customs officials could only collect data from select ports and travelers — but this new proposal would allow border agencies to expand the program at their own discretion .
If this proposed rule is adopted as a final rule , CBP would continue to expand testing as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In particular , that will mean a blanket authorization to collect photographs of the faces of non-citizens .
Under the new rule , anyone going through customs on the way in or out of the country should expect to have their face photographed and run through a facial recognition program .
The system may also be used to identify US citizens , although they retain the option to opt out .
”

“US Customs and Border Protection has filed for a significant expansion in its authority to conduct facial recognition at airports. On November 19th, the agency submitted a filing to the Federal Register seeking to expand the ongoing biometric exit program, broadening the program’s scope to include all air and land ports. The filing also shifts the program’s focus entirely to facial recognition, at the expense of alternate methods like fingerprinting.
The filing is subject to public comment for a brief time after its submission. That comment period will end on Monday, December 21st.
“First deployed in 2017, biometric exit has operated as a pilot program, limited to a handful of ports in order to assess its viability, although customs officials spoke openly about plans to expand it. As part of the pilot authorization, Customs officials could only collect data from select ports and travelers — but this new proposal would allow border agencies to expand the program at their own discretion.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
If this proposed rule is adopted as a final rule, CBP would continue to expand testing as necessary,” the filing reads.
In particular, that will mean a blanket authorization to collect photographs of the faces of non-citizens. Under the new rule, anyone going through customs on the way in or out of the country should expect to have their face photographed and run through a facial recognition program. The system may also be used to identify US citizens, although they retain the option to opt out.”
www.theverge.com/2020/12/18/22188526/airport-facial-recognition-us-customs-biometric-exit-expansion


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Collectible Weapons: Protecting Your Wealth, And Your Family, With Valuable Guns?

It ’ s an unusual means of investment , but one that we think will appeal to our readers on a deep level : collectible weapons .
There are a number of advantages to investing in collectible weapons that will appeal both to those who love weapons and those who keep an eye on their money .
Indeed , this is a popular investment category for people who like something a little more durable than stocks , bonds and cryptocurrency .
They can also provide protection during uncertain times .
Antique weapons in particular can be an attractive means of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they ’ re not making any more .
Like any antique investment , it helps to have an eye for the material at hand .
You ’ ll have to be able to appraise both the current condition of the weapon and have some idea of how its value might appreciate in the future .
The good news is that firearms made before 1899 are not covered by federal firearms laws , though they might be regulated by your state .
This also means that , even in the event that Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate goes Democratic , that barring a sweeping change in firearms law – certainly not out of the question , but also not very likely – no background check will be required to buy or sell your antique firearms made before 1899 , which are covered by a special carveout under federal firearms law .
What ’ s more , there are a number of weapons on a special ATF list that are not subject to the same background check laws as other firearms .
This includes guns like the World War I-era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These are historically significant firearms that are at least 50 years old – but note that “ 50 years old ” now goes up to the end of the 1960s .
With sweeping firearms bans potentially coming down the pike , firearms not subject even to the old rules might well skyrocket in value as other avenues of self defense are closed off .
The price point for entry in the antique firearms market is about $ 1,500 , though more common and desired weapons go for about $ 2,500 as of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchased by people looking to invest in collectible weapons and , as far as we know , there are no plans to make sweeping restrictions on the purchase of these .
When you buy an antique firearm , it ’ s extremely unlikely that the value is going to go down .
While it ’ s true that the broader trends of the weapons market change , there are some models , like the Winchester Model 1873 , that never go out of style and are always sought after by people who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Condition of the weapon and its rarity always play a role in the purchase price .
From the perspective of someone who is actually planning to use the weapon as well as purchase it , you can ’ t really do better than the classic weapons that are so sought after by collectors .
You can purchase antique , collectible firearms at auctions or gun shows , as well as in private transactions .
However , as with any private firearms transaction , you need to be cautious when making such a purchase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the buyer must always beware , but this is doubly true when dealing with private sellers .
There are two types of investors in collectible weapons , broadly speaking , known as “ treasure hunters ” and “ connoisseurs.
” Determining which you are will be helpful in terms of figuring out how to begin investing in firearms .
Each fits in with a particular personality type .
• Treasure hunters are the yard sale aficionados of the gun investment .
Indeed , you will spend a lot of time at yard sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little gun shops way out of the way if you ’ re a treasure hunter .
This is because a treasure hunter is constantly on the hunt for the deals to be had .
You might buy a classic Winchester for $ 350 and immediately flip it for $ 100,000 , but chances are a lot better that you ’ re going to end up buying a lot of weapons with moderate appreciation .
• Connoisseurs are the niche collectors of the gun investment world .
They know a lot about a specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun manufacturer .
For example , a connoisseur might know everything there is to know about one particular Colt revolver , and so they do nothing but purchase that particular weapon .
Which of these should you be ?
Honestly , the better question is “ which of these are you already ?
” If you like going antiquing or yard saling or picking through people ’ s junk , you ’ re already a treasure hunter .
If you have an affinity for a particular kind of antique weapon , you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just figuring out how you ’ re going to incorporate investing in collectible weapons into your pre-existing personality type .
Much like stocks , there are a number of weapons that are simply always a good purchase because they gain value consistently , if not quickly and wildly .
At the very least , they are not going to lose value – meaning that if you ever want to cash out your investment , you will get back what you paid .
These weapons include , but are by no means limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposite end of the spectrum , we have weapons that are virtually always bad investments .
This isn ’ t because the weapons are bad guns .
On the contrary , you will likely look at this list and think at least once : “ Hey , I own one of those and it ’ s a great gun !
” Sure , it ’ s a great gun , but it ’ s a lousy investment because it probably lost a lot of value the second that you completed the purchase and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two worst investments ?
Any kind of AR or AK build .
Again , this isn ’ t because there ’ s anything wrong with either of these .
It ’ s just that there ’ s so many of them that there ’ s little chance they will become collectible at any point during your lifetime .
There are occasionally spikes in prices due to fears of a ban , but they ’ re not solid investments .
Evaluating the Value of Collectible Weapons At some point you will have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowledge of the Blue Book of Gun Values .
As the name would imply , this is what people use to evaluate their knowledge of weaponry in the investors market .
Online gun marketplaces can also give you an idea of which weapons are likely to increase in value over the long and short term .
Some of the factors to look at when purchasing weapons include : • Branding : There are certain brands that are always going to be worth more than others because of their iconic status .
Think Colt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These have a cachet that is impossible to deny , a status similar to Coca-Cola or Levi ’ s 501s or the Chevrolet Corvette in terms of recognizability and general interest .
• Nostalgia : Similar , but not identical , to this is the concept of nostalgia as it pertains to weapons .
Dirty Harry ’ s Smith & Wesson Model 29 or the 1911 from Magnum , PI are two examples of weapons that are almost certainly going to hold , if not increase , in value over time because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that comes along with it .
• Perception : Quality is great , but the perception of quality is even better .
Glock and Benelli are two examples of brands that are largely perceived as being of exceptionally high quality .
Whether or not the individual weapons live up to that reputation is less important than the fact that they are perceived as such .
• Rarity : Limited edition weapons are always going to be worth more than weapons made in a totally unlimited quantity .
There will always be a market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited supply , regardless of how “ good ” the gun actually is .
One tip ?
Buy guns that you like .
In some cases it can take decades for a weapon ’ s value to increase .
So if you ’ re not enjoying the weapon while you wait for its value to appreciate , you ’ re simply collecting paperweights .
Finally , for those who want to invest in weapons but aren ’ t interested in the weapons themselves , there ’ s the stock market .
Gun sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the stock market reflected this boom in prices .
This is a particularly attractive option for people who like guns , and like the idea of guns , but aren ’ t looking to get themselves a safe full of them .
Either way you decide to invest , one thing is for certain : the future is a bright place for people who put their money behind weapons .

by Sam Jacobs via Ammo.com
It’s an unusual means of investment, but one that we think will appeal to our readers on a deep level: collectible weapons.
There are a number of advantages to investing in collectible weapons that will appeal both to those who love weapons and those who keep an eye on their money. Indeed, this is a popular investment category for people who like something a little more durable than stocks, bonds and cryptocurrency. They can also provide protection during uncertain times.
Antique weapons in particular can be an attractive means of investing – after all, like land, they’re not making any more. Like any antique investment, it helps to have an eye for the material at hand. You’ll have to be able to appraise both the current condition of the weapon and have some idea of how its value might appreciate in the future.
Old Guns Aren’t Subject to ATF Snooping
The good news is that firearms made before 1899 are not covered by federal firearms laws, though they might be regulated by your state. This also means that, even in the event that Joe Biden is installed as President and the Senate goes Democratic, that barring a sweeping change in firearms law – certainly not out of the question, but also not very likely – no background check will be required to buy or sell your antique firearms made before 1899, which are covered by a special carveout under federal firearms law.
What’s more, there are a number of weapons on a special ATF list that are not subject to the same background check laws as other firearms. This includes guns like the World War I-era US Military Colt 1911 Pistol .45. These are historically significant firearms that are at least 50 years old – but note that “50 years old” now goes up to the end of the 1960s. With sweeping firearms bans potentially coming down the pike, firearms not subject even to the old rules might well skyrocket in value as other avenues of self defense are closed off.
The price point for entry in the antique firearms market is about $1,500, though more common and desired weapons go for about $2,500 as of this writing. Knives and swords are also purchased by people looking to invest in collectible weapons and, as far as we know, there are no plans to make sweeping restrictions on the purchase of these.
When you buy an antique firearm, it’s extremely unlikely that the value is going to go down. While it’s true that the broader trends of the weapons market change, there are some models, like the Winchester Model 1873, that never go out of style and are always sought after by people who are trying to get into the market. Condition of the weapon and its rarity always play a role in the purchase price.
From the perspective of someone who is actually planning to use the weapon as well as purchase it, you can’t really do better than the classic weapons that are so sought after by collectors.
How to Begin Purchasing Collectible Firearms
You can purchase antique, collectible firearms at auctions or gun shows, as well as in private transactions. However, as with any private firearms transaction, you need to be cautious when making such a purchase for both legal and economic reasons – the buyer must always beware, but this is doubly true when dealing with private sellers.
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There are two types of investors in collectible weapons, broadly speaking, known as “treasure hunters” and “connoisseurs.” Determining which you are will be helpful in terms of figuring out how to begin investing in firearms. Each fits in with a particular personality type.
Treasure hunters are the yard sale aficionados of the gun investment. Indeed, you will spend a lot of time at yard sales, estate sales, pawn shops and little gun shops way out of the way if you’re a treasure hunter. This is because a treasure hunter is constantly on the hunt for the deals to be had. You might buy a classic Winchester for $350 and immediately flip it for $100,000, but chances are a lot better that you’re going to end up buying a lot of weapons with moderate appreciation.
are the yard sale aficionados of the gun investment. Indeed, you will spend a lot of time at yard sales, estate sales, pawn shops and little gun shops way out of the way if you’re a treasure hunter. This is because a treasure hunter is constantly on the hunt for the deals to be had. You might buy a classic Winchester for $350 and immediately flip it for $100,000, but chances are a lot better that you’re going to end up buying a lot of weapons with moderate appreciation. Connoisseurs are the niche collectors of the gun investment world. They know a lot about a specific gun, type of gun, or gun manufacturer. For example, a connoisseur might know everything there is to know about one particular Colt revolver, and so they do nothing but purchase that particular weapon.
Which of these should you be? Honestly, the better question is “which of these are you already?” If you like going antiquing or yard saling or picking through people’s junk, you’re already a treasure hunter. If you have an affinity for a particular kind of antique weapon, you’re already a connoisseur. The issue is just figuring out how you’re going to incorporate investing in collectible weapons into your pre-existing personality type.
Much like stocks, there are a number of weapons that are simply always a good purchase because they gain value consistently, if not quickly and wildly. At the very least, they are not going to lose value – meaning that if you ever want to cash out your investment, you will get back what you paid. These weapons include, but are by no means limited to:
And then, on the opposite end of the spectrum, we have weapons that are virtually always bad investments. This isn’t because the weapons are bad guns. On the contrary, you will likely look at this list and think at least once: “Hey, I own one of those and it’s a great gun!” Sure, it’s a great gun, but it’s a lousy investment because it probably lost a lot of value the second that you completed the purchase and walked it out to your car.
The two worst investments? Any kind of AR or AK build. Again, this isn’t because there’s anything wrong with either of these. It’s just that there’s so many of them that there’s little chance they will become collectible at any point during your lifetime. There are occasionally spikes in prices due to fears of a ban, but they’re not solid investments.
Evaluating the Value of Collectible Weapons
At some point you will have to familiarize yourself with and get a working knowledge of the Blue Book of Gun Values. As the name would imply, this is what people use to evaluate their knowledge of weaponry in the investors market. Online gun marketplaces can also give you an idea of which weapons are likely to increase in value over the long and short term.
Some of the factors to look at when purchasing weapons include:
Branding: There are certain brands that are always going to be worth more than others because of their iconic status. Think Colt, Smith & Wesson and the like. These have a cachet that is impossible to deny, a status similar to Coca-Cola or Levi’s 501s or the Chevrolet Corvette in terms of recognizability and general interest.
There are certain brands that are always going to be worth more than others because of their iconic status. Think Colt, Smith & Wesson and the like. These have a cachet that is impossible to deny, a status similar to Coca-Cola or Levi’s 501s or the Chevrolet Corvette in terms of recognizability and general interest. Nostalgia: Similar, but not identical, to this is the concept of nostalgia as it pertains to weapons. Dirty Harry’s Smith & Wesson Model 29 or the 1911 from Magnum, PI are two examples of weapons that are almost certainly going to hold, if not increase, in value over time because of their cultural recognition and the nostalgia that comes along with it.
Similar, but not identical, to this is the concept of nostalgia as it pertains to weapons. Dirty Harry’s Smith & Wesson Model 29 or the 1911 from Magnum, PI are two examples of weapons that are almost certainly going to hold, if not increase, in value over time because of their cultural recognition and the nostalgia that comes along with it. Perception: Quality is great, but the perception of quality is even better. Glock and Benelli are two examples of brands that are largely perceived as being of exceptionally high quality. Whether or not the individual weapons live up to that reputation is less important than the fact that they are perceived as such.
Quality is great, but the perception of quality is even better. Glock and Benelli are two examples of brands that are largely perceived as being of exceptionally high quality. Whether or not the individual weapons live up to that reputation is less important than the fact that they are perceived as such. Rarity: Limited edition weapons are always going to be worth more than weapons made in a totally unlimited quantity. There will always be a market for weapons that were made in extremely limited supply, regardless of how “good” the gun actually is.
One tip? Buy guns that you like. In some cases it can take decades for a weapon’s value to increase. So if you’re not enjoying the weapon while you wait for its value to appreciate, you’re simply collecting paperweights.
Finally, for those who want to invest in weapons but aren’t interested in the weapons themselves, there’s the stock market. Gun sales were booming in the spring of 2020 and the stock market reflected this boom in prices. This is a particularly attractive option for people who like guns, and like the idea of guns, but aren’t looking to get themselves a safe full of them.
Either way you decide to invest, one thing is for certain: the future is a bright place for people who put their money behind weapons.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--The Bipartisan Stimulus Hoax

The Bipartisan Stimulus Hoax

Democrats and Republicans publicly argue and bicker with one another .
Outwardly , there is conflict .
But when it @ @ @ @ @ of government in every direction , there couldn ’ t be more harmony between them @ @ @ @ @ power and destruction of individual liberty is a bipartisan affair laced with endless lies .
@ @ @ @ @ ” is in the headlines , with the stated intention of “ helping ” Americans @ @ @ @

by Ron Paul of Ron Paul Liberty Report
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Democrats and Republicans publicly argue and bicker with one another. Outwardly, there is conflict. But when it comes to expanding the power of government in every direction, there couldn’t be more harmony between them. The growth of state power and destruction of individual liberty is a bipartisan affair laced with endless lies. Word of another “stimulus” is in the headlines, with the stated intention of “helping” Americans and the economy.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Chinese Communist Party loves Seattle…and what has become of democracy

WATCH JUST 2 MIN…you will know just as they have planned Will our politicians sell their own country out ?
@ @ @ @ @ investigation for his China dealings .
A suspected Chinese spy named Fang Fang , or @ @ @ @ @ laid honey traps for American politicians , like Rep. Eric Swalwell .
Senator Tom Cotton @ @ @ @ @ out to China .
The FBI goes after China ’ s “ Fox hunters ” @ @ @ @ @ US State Department under Mike Pompeo sanctions more Chinese Communist officials over the crackdown in @ @ @ @ @ building facial recognition cameras to spy on Uyghurs .
millions of counterfeit u.s. dollars siezed @ @ @ @ @ Over millions at U.S .
Airports from 2000-2016 $ 900k in Fake US Currency in @ @ @ @ @ YOUR NEW VOTER I.DS FROM CHINA.. U.S. Customs Seize Nearly 20,000 Fake Driver ’ s @ @ @ @ @ CODES ON THESE I.D ’ S WORKED… THANKS FOR ALL THE PERSONAL INFO ON CHINESE @ @ @

WILL IT SPREAD…
WATCH JUST 2 MIN…you will know just as they have planned
Will our politicians sell their own country out?
Hunter Biden’s China Deals Under Investigation | Honey Trap Spy Targets Politicians
Hunter Biden is under federal investigation for his China dealings. A suspected Chinese spy named Fang Fang, or Christine Fang, may have laid honey traps for American politicians, like Rep. Eric Swalwell. Senator Tom Cotton criticizes Wall Street for selling out to China. The FBI goes after China’s “Fox hunters” in the US. The US State Department under Mike Pompeo sanctions more Chinese Communist officials over the crackdown in Hong Kong. Huawei is building facial recognition cameras to spy on Uyghurs.
millions of counterfeit u.s. dollars siezed at u.s airports
FEDS Seized Over millions at U.S. Airports from 2000-2016
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$900k in Fake US Currency in Shipping Container from China
1 dollar notes..900k..internation falls airport a few months ago,
HERES YOUR NEW VOTER I.DS FROM CHINA..
U.S. Customs Seize Nearly 20,000 Fake Driver’s Licenses From China
THE BAR CODES ON THESE I.D’S WORKED…
THANKS FOR ALL THE PERSONAL INFO ON CHINESE GOOGLE PLAY APPLICATIONS..TICKTOCK
h/t Christbeliever


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Lin Wood: GA law says if you weren’t eligible to vote in 11/3 election, you can’t vote in run-off. R

Lin Wood: GA law says if you weren’t eligible to vote in 11/3 election, you can’t vote in run-off. Raffensperger and Stacy Abrams cut a deal to ignore this. ILLEGAL! They are CHEATING AGAIN already.

Today in “ Lin Wood is lying ” we have a consent decree from when Kemp was SOS that says @ @ @ @ @ by the deadline of 12/7 ( regardless of if you voted in 11/3 election ) @ @ @ @ @ That deadline ’ s what Loeffler and Perdue were up in arms about , remember @ @

Today in “Lin Wood is lying” we have a consent decree from when Kemp was SOS that says otherwise.
If you registered by the deadline of 12/7 (regardless of if you voted in 11/3 election) you’re eligible. That deadline’s what Loeffler and Perdue were up in arms about, remember? pic.twitter.com/0krCiMbswY
— stephen fowler covers Georgia's election! (@stphnfwlr) December 18, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-20--Virus 1 – Media 0

Virus 1 – Media 0

Over the past 5 years I ’ ve addressed this numerous times , and it just goes on .
When the MSM , WaPo , NYT , CNN , MSNBC , started to feel a real threat to their existence and survival from social media , they changed course radically .
They no longer attempted to inform people , they began to shape their readers ’ and watchers ’ opinions .
And it worked .
That change appears to bear fruit .
The WaPo announced the other day they ’ re hiring 150 more “ reporters ” .
Who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting they ’ re more like narrators .
They ’ re servants to the narratives favored by editors and owners , the ones they expect -and know- to generate the most clickbaits .
Superficially , the media landscape sort of still looks the same , same logos , same slogans , but below the surface everything has changed .
What ’ s important is no longer News , but the favored interpretation of it .
It seems to work miracles for the MSM , but it ’ s dangerous for the nation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get your news , on the basis of which you can form your own opinion ?
And if you can ’ t get news that doesn ’ t already have an inbuilt opinion , how are you supposed to have a opinion of your own ?
At the end of the day , you will be left with a nation that is poorly informed and has no opinions of its own .
Everyone just regurgitates opinions forced upon them 24/7 .
The main difference with 5 years ago is probably that social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They now all force-shape opinions for clickbait .
And nobody puts a loophole in their way : Facebook has reversed its election-season policy of prioritizing mainstream media stories in News Feed after a similar move from Twitter .
This is as Mark Zuckerberg is sued for allegedly helping tip the vote in favor of Joe Biden .
An algorithm tweak that saw Facebook users deluged with mainstream media stories following last month ’ s elections has been reversed , the social media behemoth told the New York Times on Wednesday , insisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic for establishment outlets like CNN , NPR , and the Times itself while suppressing alt-media and right-wing sites – was never meant to be permanent .
Boosting the importance of “ news ecosystem quality , ” essentially a reputational score applied to news outlets , was “ a temporary change we made to help limit the spread of inaccurate claims about the election , ” Facebook spokesman Joe Osborne told the outlet .
He explained that the platform was still prioritizing so-called “ authoritative and informative news ” on “ important global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change.
” The tech giant opted to return to pre-election policies despite the protests of some employees who preferred the “ nicer news feed , ” sources present at one post-vote Facebook meeting claimed , describing the prioritization of establishment sources as one of several “ break glass measures ” designed for the care and feeding of a desirable post-election narrative .
And that feeds through to all news : Twitter To Remove Tweets That Spread Lies About COVID Vaccines This is of course not about lies about vaccines , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not supposed or allowed to ask questions about them , we ’ re supposed to take them and shut up .
Emergency , don ’ t you know ?
!
More on that in a minute .
First , let ’ s step back 5 years or so .
The MSM were very quick in denouncing Trump ’ s candidacy for President .
That then led to -much- more of the same when he was elected , by which time they realized Trump meant more clickbait than they could ever have imagined , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation .
“ Based ” on blatant lies and propaganda , it was all reported as “ news ” for 3-4 years .
More such empty nonsense then led to the impeachment procedure , which the current Hunter Biden probe entirely cuts down to size : there were plenty reasons for Trump to ask Zelensky to look into Hunter ’ s history with Burisma .
And then some .
But the one half of Americans who get their “ news ” from the MSM will have completely missed that , just like they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter world .
Negative stories about Trump generate clickbait , and not-so-negative ones do not .
That right there is your entire American media landscape today , and yes , again , it ’ s dangerous for the nation .
It ’ s bad enough if people draw different conclusions from the same news , but it ’ s a whole other story if they have don ’ t have access to the news in the first place , but only to half of it , boiled and brewed in a narrative sauce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barely more than 5 minutes to declare Joe Biden the president-elect , even though they know that ’ s not their announcement to make .
They just do it , because they trust their audience won ’ t notice the difference .
Still , that , too , is dangerous .
Which leads us , seamlessly , into the vaccine reporting .
It would appear that today is THE day to question the vaccines being rolled out by the billions , but the media tell us we ’ re not supposed , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your shot and shut your face .
But the “ approved ” vaccines so far , the Pfizer and Moderna ones , are based on an entirely new and untested technology , messenger RNA .
Could they work , could they be a new frontline for medicine ?
Yes , perhaps they could .
But shouldn ’ t their mid- and long term effects be assessed ?
Of course they should .
mRNA is being treated like GMOs , which lobby to be declared safe as soon as someone doesn ’ t drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re playing games across generations with our own genetic material .
And at the same time that the mRNA vaccines are being rushed through , potentially much less questionable approaches , like vitamin D , hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin , are said to need much more research before they can be rolled out .
That looks like there ’ s a game being played , and the MSM are a big player in it .
Nothing to do with reporting the news , but with only a part of it .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
- web of opinions disguised as news .
We can not ask the questions that we know everyone should ask .
The Moderna mRNA vaccine was approved in the US the other day as it was simultaneously found to offer immunity for just 2 months .
And on the basis of that , vaccination passports are being prepared for all of our societies .
While we might find much better protection in vitamin D , HCQ and ivermectin .
Or the Russian and Chinese vaccines .
But those must not be discussed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From what I can see , only in the short term .
And we ’ re already way past the short term .
Beyond that , you start ripping apart society itself , you start tearing down what makes society function , i.e .
the people in it , and their interactions .
Without which those people won ’ t be the same people anymore .
We can pretend we still have societies without people ’ s contacts and interactions , but the longer it takes , the more it becomes pretense .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians and their scientific advisors behave , and manage to hold on to power and public trust , but if you watch the performance of the media , it ’ s not terribly surprising .
If you shut down any dissent before it even happens , things will appear hunky-dory for a while .
Thing is , it will be short-lived .
The odds of the virus vanishing from the northern hemisphere before spring sets in , just based on untested mRNA vaccines , don ’ t look good .
Maybe we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good at this sort of thing .
But to me it looks like we ’ re betting everything on red , just because certain parties and interests like it that way .
Can mRNA vaccines save us ?
Perhaps .
But we have no way of knowing , we ’ re just gambling .
We should try a multi-pronged approach , look at all vaccines developed so far , Russian , Chinese , Cuban and Western .
Throw in HCQ and ivermectin , get everyone on 5,000 IU of vitamin D per day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re doing this wrong , and the media tell us to do it wrong .
It ’ s a business model they ’ ve perfected in the Trump era .
And we are much poorer for it .
We no longer think , we let others think for us .
Based on a model of unleashing an overkill cacophony of ever-repeating messages , to which very few of us have any resistance .
Neither in politics nor in epidemiology is that ever a wise idea .
But first of all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own thoughts , their own ideas , their own opinion , based on actual news reports .
Because if we don ’ t , this thing will blow up in many more faces than we care to even imagine before spring even arrives .
Be careful out there .
We try to run the Automatic Earth on donations .
Since ad revenue has collapsed , you are now not just a reader , but an integral part of the process that builds this site .
Click at the top of the sidebars for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for your support .
I ’ d like to take you to the ceremony Well , that is if I remember the way You see Jack and Jill they ’ re going to join their misery I ’ m afraid it ’ s time for everyone to pray You can see they ’ ve finally taken cover They ’ re willing , yeah they ’ re willing to obey Their vows are difficult , they ’ re for each other So let nobody put a loophole , a loophole in their way Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cohen

by Raúl Ilargi Meijer
Salvador Dalí Mi esposa desnuda 1945
Over the past 5 years I’ve addressed this numerous times, and it just goes on. When the MSM, WaPo, NYT, CNN, MSNBC, started to feel a real threat to their existence and survival from social media, they changed course radically. They no longer attempted to inform people, they began to shape their readers’ and watchers’ opinions. And it worked.
That change appears to bear fruit. The WaPo announced the other day they’re hiring 150 more “reporters”. Who are not really reporters, in the new setting they’re more like narrators. They’re servants to the narratives favored by editors and owners, the ones they expect -and know- to generate the most clickbaits.
Superficially, the media landscape sort of still looks the same, same logos, same slogans, but below the surface everything has changed. What’s important is no longer News, but the favored interpretation of it. It seems to work miracles for the MSM, but it’s dangerous for the nation. Because: where are you going to get your news, on the basis of which you can form your own opinion?
And if you can’t get news that doesn’t already have an inbuilt opinion, how are you supposed to have a opinion of your own? At the end of the day, you will be left with a nation that is poorly informed and has no opinions of its own. Everyone just regurgitates opinions forced upon them 24/7.
The main difference with 5 years ago is probably that social media have joined the MSM in their strategy. They now all force-shape opinions for clickbait. And nobody puts a loophole in their way:
Facebook Joins Twitter In Reverting To Pre-Election News Feed Algorithms
Facebook has reversed its election-season policy of prioritizing mainstream media stories in News Feed after a similar move from Twitter. This is as Mark Zuckerberg is sued for allegedly helping tip the vote in favor of Joe Biden. An algorithm tweak that saw Facebook users deluged with mainstream media stories following last month’s elections has been reversed, the social media behemoth told the New York Times on Wednesday, insisting that the change – which significantly boosted traffic for establishment outlets like CNN, NPR, and the Times itself while suppressing alt-media and right-wing sites – was never meant to be permanent.
Boosting the importance of “news ecosystem quality,” essentially a reputational score applied to news outlets, was “a temporary change we made to help limit the spread of inaccurate claims about the election,” Facebook spokesman Joe Osborne told the outlet. He explained that the platform was still prioritizing so-called “authoritative and informative news” on “important global topics like elections, Covid-19 and climate change.” The tech giant opted to return to pre-election policies despite the protests of some employees who preferred the “nicer news feed,” sources present at one post-vote Facebook meeting claimed, describing the prioritization of establishment sources as one of several “break glass measures” designed for the care and feeding of a desirable post-election narrative.
And that feeds through to all news:
Twitter To Remove Tweets That Spread Lies About COVID Vaccines
Twitter will remove tweets that spread harmful misinformation, starting with the Covid-19 vaccine, the company has announced – and from 2021 it will begin to label tweets that push conspiracy theories. The move sees the company follow Facebook and YouTube in tightening up policies around the coronavirus vaccination as the rollout of the jab begins across the world. “Starting next week, we will prioritise the removal of the most harmful misleading information,” the US company said in a blogpost. “And during the coming weeks, we will begin to label tweets that contain potentially misleading information about the vaccines.”
This is of course not about lies about vaccines, it’s about questions about vaccines. We are not supposed or allowed to ask questions about them, we’re supposed to take them and shut up. Emergency, don’t you know?! More on that in a minute. First, let’s step back 5 years or so.
The MSM were very quick in denouncing Trump’s candidacy for President. That then led to -much- more of the same when he was elected, by which time they realized Trump meant more clickbait than they could ever have imagined, and that in turn became the Mueller investigation. “Based” on blatant lies and propaganda, it was all reported as “news” for 3-4 years.
More such empty nonsense then led to the impeachment procedure, which the current Hunter Biden probe entirely cuts down to size: there were plenty reasons for Trump to ask Zelensky to look into Hunter’s history with Burisma. And then some. But the one half of Americans who get their “news” from the MSM will have completely missed that, just like they now miss what really goes on in Hunter world.
Negative stories about Trump generate clickbait, and not-so-negative ones do not. That right there is your entire American media landscape today, and yes, again, it’s dangerous for the nation. It’s bad enough if people draw different conclusions from the same news, but it’s a whole other story if they have don’t have access to the news in the first place, but only to half of it, boiled and brewed in a narrative sauce.
Similarly, it took the MSM barely more than 5 minutes to declare Joe Biden the president-elect, even though they know that’s not their announcement to make. They just do it, because they trust their audience won’t notice the difference. Still, that, too, is dangerous.
Which leads us, seamlessly, into the vaccine reporting. It would appear that today is THE day to question the vaccines being rolled out by the billions, but the media tell us we’re not supposed, or allowed, to do that. Take your shot and shut your face.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
But the “approved” vaccines so far, the Pfizer and Moderna ones, are based on an entirely new and untested technology, messenger RNA. Could they work, could they be a new frontline for medicine? Yes, perhaps they could. But shouldn’t their mid- and long term effects be assessed? Of course they should. mRNA is being treated like GMOs, which lobby to be declared safe as soon as someone doesn’t drop dead in the first hours. While we’re playing games across generations with our own genetic material.
And at the same time that the mRNA vaccines are being rushed through, potentially much less questionable approaches, like vitamin D, hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, are said to need much more research before they can be rolled out. That looks like there’s a game being played, and the MSM are a big player in it. Nothing to do with reporting the news, but with only a part of it.
We’re getting lost in a -dark?- web of opinions disguised as news. We can not ask the questions that we know everyone should ask. The Moderna mRNA vaccine was approved in the US the other day as it was simultaneously found to offer immunity for just 2 months. And on the basis of that, vaccination passports are being prepared for all of our societies. While we might find much better protection in vitamin D, HCQ and ivermectin. Or the Russian and Chinese vaccines. But those must not be discussed.
Are lockdowns a good idea? From what I can see, only in the short term. And we’re already way past the short term. Beyond that, you start ripping apart society itself, you start tearing down what makes society function, i.e. the people in it, and their interactions. Without which those people won’t be the same people anymore.
We can pretend we still have societies without people’s contacts and interactions, but the longer it takes, the more it becomes pretense. It’s interesting to see how politicians and their scientific advisors behave, and manage to hold on to power and public trust, but if you watch the performance of the media, it’s not terribly surprising.
If you shut down any dissent before it even happens, things will appear hunky-dory for a while. Thing is, it will be short-lived. The odds of the virus vanishing from the northern hemisphere before spring sets in, just based on untested mRNA vaccines, don’t look good. Maybe we should ask the bookies, they’re good at this sort of thing.
But to me it looks like we’re betting everything on red, just because certain parties and interests like it that way. Can mRNA vaccines save us? Perhaps. But we have no way of knowing, we’re just gambling.
We should try a multi-pronged approach, look at all vaccines developed so far, Russian, Chinese, Cuban and Western. Throw in HCQ and ivermectin, get everyone on 5,000 IU of vitamin D per day, and see where we get. We’re doing this wrong, and the media tell us to do it wrong. It’s a business model they’ve perfected in the Trump era.
And we are much poorer for it. We no longer think, we let others think for us. Based on a model of unleashing an overkill cacophony of ever-repeating messages, to which very few of us have any resistance. Neither in politics nor in epidemiology is that ever a wise idea.
But first of all, we need to give everyone back their own thoughts, their own ideas, their own opinion, based on actual news reports. Because if we don’t, this thing will blow up in many more faces than we care to even imagine before spring even arrives. Be careful out there.
We try to run the Automatic Earth on donations. Since ad revenue has collapsed, you are now not just a reader, but an integral part of the process that builds this site.
Click at the top of the sidebars for Paypal and Patreon donations. Thank you for your support.
I’d like to take you to the ceremony
Well, that is if I remember the way
You see Jack and Jill they’re going to join their misery
I’m afraid it’s time for everyone to pray
You can see they’ve finally taken cover
They’re willing, yeah they’re willing to obey
Their vows are difficult, they’re for each other
So let nobody put a loophole, a loophole in their way
Why Don’t You Try – Leonard Cohen