investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--BIDEN: Chris Dodd, VP Search Chief, Linked To Sexual Assault — Weinstein — China

Meet the team who will help Joe Biden pick his vice presidential running mate Biden ’ s vice presidential selection committee , announced Thursday morning , will include four co-chairs : Former U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd ; U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester ; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ; and Cynthia Hogan , former White House and Senate counsel to Biden .
It is after midnight and Kennedy and Dodd are just finishing up a long dinner in a private room on the first floor of the restaurant ’ s annex .
They are drunk .
Their dates , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to the bathroom .
( The dates are drunk too .
“ They ’ d always get their girls very , very drunk , ” says a former Brasserie waitress . )
Betty Loh , who served the foursome , also leaves the room .
Raymond Campet , the co-owner of La Brasserie , tells Gaviglio the senators want to see her .
As Gaviglio enters the room , the six-foot-two , 225-plus-pound Kennedy grabs the five-foot-three , 103-pound waitress and throws her on the table .
She lands on her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cutlery and the lit candles .
Several glasses and a crystal candlestick are broken .
Kennedy then picks her up from the table and throws her on Dodd , who is sprawled in a chair .
With Gaviglio on Dodd ’ s lap , Kennedy jumps on top and begins rubbing his genital area against hers , supporting his weight on the arms of the chair .
As he is doing this , Loh enters the room .
She and Gaviglio both scream , drawing one or two dishwashers .
Startled , Kennedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shaken and angry over what she considered a sexual assault , Gaviglio runs from the room .
Kennedy , Dodd and their dates leave shortly thereafter , following a friendly argument between the senators over the check .
Harvey Weinstein has donated over $ 1 million to Democrats since 2000 – here are some of the biggest names Based on Federal Election Commission records , listed Dodd as the second largest recipient of Weinstein money at $ 36,000 , behind Barack Obama , since 2000 .

Meet the team who will help Joe Biden pick his vice presidential running mate
Biden’s vice presidential selection committee, announced Thursday morning, will include four co-chairs: Former U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd; U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; and Cynthia Hogan, former White House and Senate counsel to Biden.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/04/30/joe-biden-vice-presidential-selection-committee-announced/5156761002/
Ted Kennedy on the Rocks
It is after midnight and Kennedy and Dodd are just finishing up a long dinner in a private room on the first floor of the restaurant’s annex. They are drunk. Their dates, two very young blondes, leave the table to go to the bathroom. (The dates are drunk too. “They’d always get their girls very, very drunk,” says a former Brasserie waitress.) Betty Loh, who served the foursome, also leaves the room. Raymond Campet, the co-owner of La Brasserie, tells Gaviglio the senators want to see her.
As Gaviglio enters the room, the six-foot-two, 225-plus-pound Kennedy grabs the five-foot-three, 103-pound waitress and throws her on the table. She lands on her back, scattering crystal, plates and cutlery and the lit candles. Several glasses and a crystal candlestick are broken. Kennedy then picks her up from the table and throws her on Dodd, who is sprawled in a chair. With Gaviglio on Dodd’s lap, Kennedy jumps on top and begins rubbing his genital area against hers, supporting his weight on the arms of the chair. As he is doing this, Loh enters the room. She and Gaviglio both scream, drawing one or two dishwashers. Startled, Kennedy leaps up. He laughs. Bruised, shaken and angry over what she considered a sexual assault, Gaviglio runs from the room. Kennedy, Dodd and their dates leave shortly thereafter, following a friendly argument between the senators over the check.
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www.gq.com/story/kennedy-ted-senator-profile
Harvey Weinstein has donated over $1 million to Democrats since 2000 – here are some of the biggest names
Based on Federal Election Commission records, listed Dodd as the second largest recipient of Weinstein money at $36,000, behind Barack Obama, since 2000.
www.businessinsider.com/harvey-weinstein-political-donations-2017-10
h/t CrsCrpr


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--2020 is the beginning of the 2nd great depression

There ’ s a 2007 study on the economy during , and the economic recovery following , the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic ( sourced below ) .
The study concluded that employment increased in the US during the pandemic due to a plethora of new jobs created specific to the problem .
There was no shutdown of the economy .
I then looked at historical unemployment figures .
It ’ s clear to me now that there ’ s absolutely no basis for a quick recovery of employment , especially following black swan events .
The V-shaped recovery narrative is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recover Employment can ’ t recover overnight .
There ’ s no basis for it .
Proportional to the current workforce , the most jobs we ’ ve ever gained in a single month was in September of 1983 at 1.18 Million .
After that , the jobs gain at the end of WW2 at a little over 951,000 when soldiers returned home from the war .
We ’ re currently sitting at 36.4 Million unemployed and counting .
Hourly employees have been let go ; we know white collar is next ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only going to expand in the short term .
Even if it were to stop at only 40 Million ( one more week of job losses ) , it would take the best jobs gain ever in US history for 36 months in a row to return to this February ’ s employment levels .
That won ’ t happen .
The alternative argument for a quicker recovery is that many of these people will be immediately rehired .
Based on my arguments below for a delayed recovery of many different businesses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most will not be .
The Q1 numbers were worse than you think .
Q1 saw a 4.8 % GDP drop , despite a positive January & February .
If January and February had positive GDP growth , then the March drop was proportionally equivalent to a 15-19 % contraction .
A complete shut down of our economy has never happened before .
Analysts are claiming a ~20 % + GDP drop .
It will be greater than that by as much as 10 percentage points based on unprecedented negative economic reflexivity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these analyst models .
It strains credulity to believe that people will flock to restaurants , theme parks , travel locations , community centers , festivals , concerts , sports games , etc in droves .
In fact , I think every large gathering will have low attendance , and the companies that host events as their main business may find themselves without sufficient revenue to continue operations .
This effect will lead to declines in revenue for many different other industries and businesses directly and indirectly .
The many small businesses which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ festivals rely on a certain amount of revenue to pay for their spot at the event .
These businesses will largely be defunct .
Once people decide to venture out , they ’ ll be unable to spend at pre-covid levels due to massive unemployment .
Fear will set in as revenues decline .
Investment sentiment will turn negative , and low interest rates won ’ t even be able to keep asset prices from crashing .
People making ~ $ 250k- $ 1M+ at Fortune 500 firms are taking 20-50 % salary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are first laying off their employees abroad , and next they will start trimming operations domestically .
That ’ s the word .
On face value , it appears bullish , due to lower labor costs , but instead it shows weakness in these firms and will lead to overall declines in demand across the broad economy .
There will be many companies that will find their business in shambles in this quarter ; this will drag down the indexes , even if a handful sectors happen to perform well by Q2 earnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the interim may accelerate the timeline .
Companies with recurring revenues sourced from customers with inelastic demand , such as pharmaceutical firms and military contractors will do fine for a while , but they will eventually fall as well due to high p/e relative to other income producing assets and equities .
A nationwide economic shutdown , in the manner it has been done , is like stopping a truck by running it into a wall .
Large swathes of the economy have been effectively destroyed .
They will have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years .
Employment will likely increase higher even after the economy is reopened .
Disclaimer : This information is only for educational purposes .
Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article .
Do you own due diligence .

by HarbingersRefuge
Background
There’s a 2007 study on the economy during, and the economic recovery following, the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic (sourced below). The study concluded that employment increased in the US during the pandemic due to a plethora of new jobs created specific to the problem. There was no shutdown of the economy. I then looked at historical unemployment figures. It’s clear to me now that there’s absolutely no basis for a quick recovery of employment, especially following black swan events. The V-shaped recovery narrative is bullshit.
www.stlouisfed.org/~/media/files/pdfs/community-development/research-reports/pandemic_flu_report.pdf?la=en

Employment will take years to recover
Employment can’t recover overnight. There’s no basis for it. Proportional to the current workforce, the most jobs we’ve ever gained in a single month was in September of 1983 at 1.18 Million. After that, the jobs gain at the end of WW2 at a little over 951,000 when soldiers returned home from the war.
We’re currently sitting at 36.4 Million unemployed and counting. Hourly employees have been let go; we know white collar is next (see below). The number is only going to expand in the short term. Even if it were to stop at only 40 Million (one more week of job losses), it would take the best jobs gain ever in US history for 36 months in a row to return to this February’s employment levels. That won’t happen. The alternative argument for a quicker recovery is that many of these people will be immediately rehired. Based on my arguments below for a delayed recovery of many different businesses and significantly reduced demand, many if not most will not be.

The Q1 numbers were worse than you think.
Q1 saw a 4.8% GDP drop, despite a positive January & February. If January and February had positive GDP growth, then the March drop was proportionally equivalent to a 15-19% contraction.

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Analyst Q2 GDP projections are too optimistic
A complete shut down of our economy has never happened before. Analysts are claiming a ~20%+ GDP drop. It will be greater than that by as much as 10 percentage points based on unprecedented negative economic reflexivity, which is not addressed in any of these analyst models. It strains credulity to believe that people will flock to restaurants, theme parks, travel locations, community centers, festivals, concerts, sports games, etc in droves.
In fact, I think every large gathering will have low attendance, and the companies that host events as their main business may find themselves without sufficient revenue to continue operations. This effect will lead to declines in revenue for many different other industries and businesses directly and indirectly. The many small businesses which profit from events, fairs, and festivals rely on a certain amount of revenue to pay for their spot at the event. These businesses will largely be defunct.
Once people decide to venture out, they’ll be unable to spend at pre-covid levels due to massive unemployment. Fear will set in as revenues decline. Investment sentiment will turn negative, and low interest rates won’t even be able to keep asset prices from crashing.

White collar layoffs are next
People making ~$250k-$1M+ at Fortune 500 firms are taking 20-50% salary reductions. Global businesses with domestic headquarters are first laying off their employees abroad, and next they will start trimming operations domestically. That’s the word. On face value, it appears bullish, due to lower labor costs, but instead it shows weakness in these firms and will lead to overall declines in demand across the broad economy. There will be many companies that will find their business in shambles in this quarter; this will drag down the indexes, even if a handful sectors happen to perform well by Q2 earnings at the latest. Although, news in the interim may accelerate the timeline.
Companies with recurring revenues sourced from customers with inelastic demand, such as pharmaceutical firms and military contractors will do fine for a while, but they will eventually fall as well due to high p/e relative to other income producing assets and equities.

Conclusion
A nationwide economic shutdown, in the manner it has been done, is like stopping a truck by running it into a wall. Large swathes of the economy have been effectively destroyed. They will have to be completely rebuilt. Demand will drop significantly for years. Employment will likely increase higher even after the economy is reopened.
Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Why does Buffet urge investors to use EBIT and not Net Income as metric for valuating companies?

Charlie and I urge you to focus on operating earnings – which were little changed in 2019 – and to @ @ @ @ @ or losses from investments , whether these are realized or unrealized .
Why is EBIT @ @ @ @ @ Income for valuating companies ?

by mrcet007
Warren Buffett’s annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders
fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/files/2020/02/22/2019ltr.pdf
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Charlie and I urge you to focus on operating earnings – which were little changed in 2019 – and to ignoreboth quarterly and annual gains or losses from investments, whether these are realized or unrealized.
My assumption
operating earnings = EBIT
quarterly gains/losses = Net income/profit
Why is EBIT a better metric than Net Income for valuating companies?


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--European Banks Reveal Scale & Complexity of Crisis. Shares Hammered Back to 1987 Level

They haven ’ t gotten over Financial Crisis 1 and the Euro Debt Crisis .
Now there ’ s a new crisis .
Deutsche Bank ’ s CEO going on TV to soothe nerves didn ’ t help matters .
The biggest European banks have started to report their earnings against a bleak backdrop of locked down economies , plunging economic activity , surging business closures and rising loan defaults .
Each earnings call laid bare the scale , scope and complexity of the problems and challenges facing a European banking sector that never really recovered from their last two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Euro Debt Crisis .
The Stoxx 600 Banks index , which covers major European banks , fell 4.5 % on Thursday .
Today , continental European stock markets were closed ( May Day ) , but the London Stock Exchange was open , and the index ticked down another 1 % ( to 88.8 ) .
The Stoxx 600 Banks index has already collapsed by 40 % since Feb 17 , when the Coronavirus began spreading through northern Italy .
After the initial 40 % -plus plunge in late February and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same dismally low range : On April 21 , the Stoxx 600 Banks Index had closed at 79.8 , down 83 % since its peak in May 2007 , and the lowest .
The following day , the ECB announced it was going to accept junk bonds as collateral when banks borrow from it .
Yesterday , the ECB was excepted to go even further and announce that it would actually buy junk-rated bonds , as the Federal Reserve announced a few weeks ago .
But the ECB didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t bought any junk bonds yet either .
Unlike the Fed , whose 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks are owned by the banks in their districts , and to whom bank stocks are therefore hugely important , the ECB couldn ’ t care less about bank stocks , as long as the banks themselves don ’ t collapse .
The ECB ’ s primary focus is on keeping the Eurozone together , a task that is growing more difficult by the day .
Now that we are in the grip of yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the banks this time , but by a pandemic and the response to it , central banks are throwing just about everything they can at the crisis , which is moving far faster and wider than the last one .
This was amply borne out by the quarterly earnings reports of the following four European banks : Societe Generale reported a net loss of €326 million after revenue from its equities trading slumped by a staggering 99 % , which the bank duly blamed on coronavirus-related market volatility .
The French lender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad loans and warned that provisions — including for defaults and two fraud cases — could hit €5 billion by the end of the year .
The bank ’ s shares , already the worst performing among large European lenders , slumped 8.6 % on the day of the report and are now down 55 % since Feb 17 .
BBVA , Spain ’ s second largest bank , reported its worst ever quarterly loss , amounting to €1.8 billion , after the bank took a whopping €2.1 billion write-down in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a €1.3 billion write-down of its stateside operations in the previous quarter .
Profits also plunged 40 % in its biggest market , Mexico , which for many years has accounted for well over a third of the group ’ s global profits .
The bank also faces risks in another major market , Turkey .
Its shares slumped 5.5 % on the day and are down 43 % since Feb 17 .
HSBC , Europe ’ s largest lender by assets , declared a pre-tax profit of $ 3.23 billion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bank has increased its bad loan provisions by $ 2.4 billion to $ 3 billion , its highest quarterly level in nine years .
That includes a significant charge related to “ a corporate exposure in Singapore , ” which is likely to be the insolvent oil trader Hin Leong .
HSBC ’ s shares have plunged 31 % since Feb 17 .
Banco Santander , the Eurozone ’ s second-largest bank by market value , after BNP Paribas , saw its quarterly net profit dive by 82 % as it set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
The bank saw particularly sluggish growth in its domestic market , Spain , and the UK , while reported income in its most profitable market , Brazil , fell 3.7 % .
Santander ’ s shares have fallen by 49 % since Feb 17 .
Neither of Italy ’ s two largest banks , Unicredit or Intesa Sanpaolo , have released their quarterly results yet .
Given the duration and severity of Italy ’ s lockdown as well as the problems that already plagued the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlikely to be pretty .
UniCredit was the first major euro zone bank to warn that it was writing down the value of its loans to reflect the fallout of the virus crisis .
Intesa Sanpaolo is on the verge of consummating another shot-gun takeover of another Italian rival .
This time the target is UBI Banca , Italy ’ s fifth largest bank .
If the merger goes through , it will value UBI at €2.7 billion , down from €4.8 billion just over two months ago , when the offer was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the euro zone ’ s seventh-largest banking group , which should be enough to finally propel Intesa into the top league of global systemically important banks .
In other words , Europe will have another Too-Big-to-Fail monstrosity on its hands , right in the thick of yet another financial crisis !
Deutsche Bank shocked its investors on Wednesday with its darkened outlook and a loss of €43 million .
CEO Christian Sewing provided some much-needed comic relief on Wednesday when he said in a televised interview , apparently with a straight face , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be bailed out this time around .
“ We are really dealing with stable banks in Germany , ” he said , adding that banks ’ balance sheets had been paired down and equity capital increased since the last financial crisis .
“ We have more than 200 billion ( euros ) free liquidity reserves , that ’ s more than 20 % of our total balance sheet , and that means for us , too , that we have to be part of the solution now , especially at this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news on Thursday , to €6.78 .
By Nick Corbishley , for WOLF STREET .

They haven’t gotten over Financial Crisis 1 and the Euro Debt Crisis. Now there’s a new crisis. Deutsche Bank’s CEO going on TV to soothe nerves didn’t help matters.
The biggest European banks have started to report their earnings against a bleak backdrop of locked down economies, plunging economic activity, surging business closures and rising loan defaults. Each earnings call laid bare the scale, scope and complexity of the problems and challenges facing a European banking sector that never really recovered from their last two crises — the Global Financial Crisis followed by the Euro Debt Crisis.
The Stoxx 600 Banks index, which covers major European banks, fell 4.5% on Thursday. Today, continental European stock markets were closed (May Day), but the London Stock Exchange was open, and the index ticked down another 1% (to 88.8). The Stoxx 600 Banks index has already collapsed by 40% since Feb 17, when the Coronavirus began spreading through northern Italy. After the initial 40%-plus plunge in late February and early March, the index has remained in the same dismally low range:
On April 21, the Stoxx 600 Banks Index had closed at 79.8, down 83% since its peak in May 2007, and the lowest since 1987 . The following day, the ECB announced it was going to accept junk bonds as collateral when banks borrow from it. Yesterday, the ECB was excepted to go even further and announce that it would actually buy junk-rated bonds, as the Federal Reserve announced a few weeks ago. But the ECB didn’t announce it, and the Fed hasn’t bought any junk bonds yet either.
Unlike the Fed, whose 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks are owned by the banks in their districts, and to whom bank stocks are therefore hugely important, the ECB couldn’t care less about bank stocks, as long as the banks themselves don’t collapse. The ECB’s primary focus is on keeping the Eurozone together, a task that is growing more difficult by the day.
Now that we are in the grip of yet another full-blown financial crisis, triggered not by the banks this time, but by a pandemic and the response to it, central banks are throwing just about everything they can at the crisis, which is moving far faster and wider than the last one.
This was amply borne out by the quarterly earnings reports of the following four European banks:
Societe Generale reported a net loss of €326 million after revenue from its equities trading slumped by a staggering 99%, which the bank duly blamed on coronavirus-related market volatility. The French lender also set aside €820 million to cover bad loans and warned that provisions — including for defaults and two fraud cases — could hit €5 billion by the end of the year. The bank’s shares, already the worst performing among large European lenders, slumped 8.6% on the day of the report and are now down 55% since Feb 17.
BBVA, Spain’s second largest bank, reported its worst ever quarterly loss, amounting to €1.8 billion, after the bank took a whopping €2.1 billion write-down in the United States. This came on the heels of a €1.3 billion write-down of its stateside operations in the previous quarter. Profits also plunged 40% in its biggest market, Mexico, which for many years has accounted for well over a third of the group’s global profits. The bank also faces risks in another major market, Turkey. Its shares slumped 5.5% on the day and are down 43% since Feb 17.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
HSBC, Europe’s largest lender by assets, declared a pre-tax profit of $3.23 billion, down 48% year over year. The bank has increased its bad loan provisions by $2.4 billion to $3 billion, its highest quarterly level in nine years. That includes a significant charge related to “a corporate exposure in Singapore,” which is likely to be the insolvent oil trader Hin Leong. HSBC’s shares have plunged 31% since Feb 17.
Banco Santander, the Eurozone’s second-largest bank by market value, after BNP Paribas, saw its quarterly net profit dive by 82% as it set aside €1.6 billion to cover expected loan losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank saw particularly sluggish growth in its domestic market, Spain, and the UK, while reported income in its most profitable market, Brazil, fell 3.7%. Santander’s shares have fallen by 49% since Feb 17.
Neither of Italy’s two largest banks, Unicredit or Intesa Sanpaolo, have released their quarterly results yet. Given the duration and severity of Italy’s lockdown as well as the problems that already plagued the country’s economy, they’re unlikely to be pretty.
UniCredit was the first major euro zone bank to warn that it was writing down the value of its loans to reflect the fallout of the virus crisis.
Intesa Sanpaolo is on the verge of consummating another shot-gun takeover of another Italian rival. This time the target is UBI Banca, Italy’s fifth largest bank. If the merger goes through, it will value UBI at €2.7 billion, down from €4.8 billion just over two months ago, when the offer was first announced. It will also create the euro zone’s seventh-largest banking group, which should be enough to finally propel Intesa into the top league of global systemically important banks. In other words, Europe will have another Too-Big-to-Fail monstrosity on its hands, right in the thick of yet another financial crisis!
Deutsche Bank shocked its investors on Wednesday with its darkened outlook and a loss of €43 million. CEO Christian Sewing provided some much-needed comic relief on Wednesday when he said in a televised interview, apparently with a straight face, that German banks probably won’t need to be bailed out this time around.
“We are really dealing with stable banks in Germany,” he said, adding that banks’ balance sheets had been paired down and equity capital increased since the last financial crisis. “We have more than 200 billion (euros) free liquidity reserves, that’s more than 20% of our total balance sheet, and that means for us, too, that we have to be part of the solution now, especially at this time.” Shares fell 5.3% upon the news on Thursday, to €6.78. By Nick Corbishley, for WOLF STREET.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--DEFEAT DISINFO: Democrat Initiative Formed To COMBAT Digital Patriots

A new Democratic-aligned political action committee advised by retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal , the former head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan , is planning to deploy technology originally developed to counter Islamic State propaganda in service of a domestic political goal – to combat online efforts to promote President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
The group , Defeat Disinfo , will use artificial intelligence and network analysis to map discussion of the president ’ s claims on social media .
It will seek to intervene by identifying the most popular counter-narratives and boosting them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million influencers across the country – in some cases paying users with large followings to take sides against the president .
The initiative reflects fears within the Democratic Party that Trump ’ s unwavering digital army may help sustain him through the pandemic , as it has through past controversies , even as the economy craters , tens of thousands have died , and Trump suffers in the polls .
The initiative is run by Curtis Hougland , whose received initial funding for the technology from DARPA , the Pentagon ’ s research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to combat extremism overseas .
He insists Democrats are ill-prepared for the looming battle over information and attention , which is bound to play an outsize role in November .
His ambivalence is shared by large parts of the Democratic Party , which recoiled at an effort , brought to light at the end of 2018 , to use Russian-inspired tactics , including the creation of fake accounts , to sway the 2017 Senate election in Alabama .
1 .
The Democrat propaganda machine will use military technology intended for ISIS and paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president , and will be advised by a retired Army general — 2. as the Democrat Party and its leftwing surrogates push this nation to the brink .
In a chilling escalation of the left ’ s war on America , a Democrat front group will utilize techniques developed to combat ISIS propaganda to conduct a search and destroy campaign against Trump supporters online .
According to a terrifying report by the Washington Post , the assault on free speech will be spearheaded by retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal through a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defeat Disinfo .
For conservatives who thought that Google , Facebook and Twitter were bad with purges and banning , you haven ’ t seen anything yet because this report shows how serious that these people are to eradicate opposing viewpoints .

Initiative seeks to challenge Trump’s online megaphone
A new Democratic-aligned political action committee advised by retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, is planning to deploy technology originally developed to counter Islamic State propaganda in service of a domestic political goal – to combat online efforts to promote President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The group, Defeat Disinfo, will use artificial intelligence and network analysis to map discussion of the president’s claims on social media. It will seek to intervene by identifying the most popular counter-narratives and boosting them through a network of more than 3.4 million influencers across the country – in some cases paying users with large followings to take sides against the president.
The initiative reflects fears within the Democratic Party that Trump’s unwavering digital army may help sustain him through the pandemic, as it has through past controversies, even as the economy craters, tens of thousands have died, and Trump suffers in the polls.
The initiative is run by Curtis Hougland, whose received initial funding for the technology from DARPA, the Pentagon’s research arm, as part of an effort to combat extremism overseas. He insists Democrats are ill-prepared for the looming battle over information and attention, which is bound to play an outsize role in November.
His ambivalence is shared by large parts of the Democratic Party, which recoiled at an effort, brought to light at the end of 2018, to use Russian-inspired tactics, including the creation of fake accounts, to sway the 2017 Senate election in Alabama.
www.stripes.com/news/us/initiative-seeks-to-challenge-trump-s-online-megaphone-1.628186
Mark R. Levin
@marklevinshow
1. The Democrat propaganda machine will use military technology intended for ISIS and paid online disrupters aimed at smearing and defeating the president, and will be advised by a retired Army general —
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1. The Democrat propaganda machine will use military technology intended for ISIS and paid online disrupters aimed at smearing and defeating the president, and will be advised by a retired Army general — — Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) May 2, 2020
Mark R. Levin
@marklevinshow
2. as the Democrat Party and its leftwing surrogates push this nation to the brink.
2. as the Democrat Party and its leftwing surrogates push this nation to the brink.t.co/ziKS7uVIBS — Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) May 2, 2020
Dem Group To Target Trump Supporters Online Using Anti-Terrorist Technology
In a chilling escalation of the left’s war on America, a Democrat front group will utilize techniques developed to combat ISIS propaganda to conduct a search and destroy campaign against Trump supporters online.
According to a terrifying report by the Washington Post, the assault on free speech will be spearheaded by retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal through a political action committee with the Orwellian moniker of Defeat Disinfo.
For conservatives who thought that Google, Facebook and Twitter were bad with purges and banning, you haven’t seen anything yet because this report shows how serious that these people are to eradicate opposing viewpoints.
trendingpolitics.com/dem-group-to-target–trump-supporters-online-using-anti-terrorist-technology/
h/t CrsCrpr


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Pompeo Says ‘Enormous Evidence’ Links Virus to Wuhan Laboratory

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said “ enormous evidence ” shows the novel coronavirus began in a laboratory in Wuhan , China , and that Beijing has refused to give international scientists access to learn what happened .
“ I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan , ” Pompeo said on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” “ These are not the first times that we ’ ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab.
” Pompeo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man-made , noting that he agreed with a report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that ruled out genetic modification or it having been man-made .
The virus ’ s origin has become a flash point in the pandemic and ratcheted up tensions between the U.S. and China .
President Donald Trump has escalated efforts to attach blame to China as U.S. pandemic deaths pass 66,000 .
“ I ’ ve seen what the intelligence community has said , ” said Pompeo .
“ I have no reason to believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Pompeo declined to say whether the Chinese intentionally released the virus .
WASHINGTON , D.C. – The Office of the Director of National Intelligence today issued the following Intelligence Community ( IC ) statement : “ The entire Intelligence Community has been consistently providing critical support to U.S. policymakers and those responding to the COVID-19 virus , which originated in China .
The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified .
The intensifying debate over COVID-19 ’ s possible origins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims by US President Donald Trump that the virus likely originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology , even as his own officials say they agree with the scientific consensus that the novel coronavirus was “ not manmade or genetically modified.
” The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization ( CSIRO ) , the Australian federal agency responsible for scientific research , has been involved in the training and funding of the work of a team of Chinese scientists who would go on to engage in the genetic modification of deadly coronaviruses transmittable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Australia ’ s The Daily Telegraph has reported .
The report , based on a 15-page intelligence dossier on the COVID-19 outbreak by the Five Eyes , the Anglophone intelligence alliance consisting of the US , the UK , Canada , Australia and New Zealand , alleges that senior researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology , the institute at the heart of President Trump ’ s claims as to the virus ’ s origins , either received training or were employed by CSIRO ’ s Australian Animal Health Laboratory .
Furthermore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CSIRO and the Chinese Academy of Sciences appears to be ongoing .
The names of Chinese scientists working in Australia are said to include Dr. Shi Zhengli , director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases the Wuhan lab , who lived in Australia over a three month period in 2006 as a visiting scientist , and who was said to have engaged in research into the SARS virus .
Peng Zhou , another senior researcher who currently heads up the Bat Virus Infection and Inmmunology Project at the Wuhan lab , spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , completing his doctorate at CSIRO between 2009 and 2010 and going on to engage in bat research at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory between 2011 and 2014 .
In 2019 , the researchers published a paper in the Viruses medical journal warning of the danger of cross-species coronavirus transmission originating in bats .
They are saying it ’ s not man made..
They are NOT saying that it didn ’ t escape from the lab intentionally or not .

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said “enormous evidence” shows the novel coronavirus began in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, and that Beijing has refused to give international scientists access to learn what happened.
“I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan,” Pompeo said on ABC’s “This Week.” “These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab.”
Pompeo stopped short of saying the virus was man-made, noting that he agreed with a report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that ruled out genetic modification or it having been man-made.
The virus’s origin has become a flash point in the pandemic and ratcheted up tensions between the U.S. and China. President Donald Trump has escalated efforts to attach blame to China as U.S. pandemic deaths pass 66,000.
“I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said,” said Pompeo. “I have no reason to believe that they’ve got it wrong.” Pompeo declined to say whether the Chinese intentionally released the virus.
www.bnnbloomberg.ca/pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-links-virus-to-wuhan-laboratory-1.1430762
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ODNI News Release No. 11-20
April 30, 2020
Intelligence Community Statement on Origins of COVID-19
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of the Director of National Intelligence today issued the following Intelligence Community (IC) statement:
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“The entire Intelligence Community has been consistently providing critical support to U.S. policymakers and those responding to the COVID-19 virus, which originated in China. The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified.
www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/item/2112-intelligence-community-statement-on-origins-of-covid-19
State-Funded Lab in Australia Linked to China’s Coronavirus Research – Reports
The intensifying debate over COVID-19’s possible origins has taken on a political dimension amid claims by US President Donald Trump that the virus likely originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, even as his own officials say they agree with the scientific consensus that the novel coronavirus was “not manmade or genetically modified.” The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the Australian federal agency responsible for scientific research, has been involved in the training and funding of the work of a team of Chinese scientists who would go on to engage in the genetic modification of deadly coronaviruses transmittable from bats to human beings in Wuhan, Australia’s The Daily Telegraph has reported. The report, based on a 15-page intelligence dossier on the COVID-19 outbreak by the Five Eyes, the Anglophone intelligence alliance consisting of the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, alleges that senior researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the institute at the heart of President Trump’s claims as to the virus’s origins, either received training or were employed by CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory. Furthermore, the newspaper says that cooperation between CSIRO and the Chinese Academy of Sciences appears to be ongoing. The names of Chinese scientists working in Australia are said to include Dr. Shi Zhengli, director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases the Wuhan lab, who lived in Australia over a three month period in 2006 as a visiting scientist, and who was said to have engaged in research into the SARS virus. Peng Zhou, another senior researcher who currently heads up the Bat Virus Infection and Inmmunology Project at the Wuhan lab, spent five years studying and working in Australia, completing his doctorate at CSIRO between 2009 and 2010 and going on to engage in bat research at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory between 2011 and 2014. In 2019, the researchers published a paper in the Viruses medical journal warning of the danger of cross-species coronavirus transmission originating in bats.
sputniknews.com/asia/202005031079182622-state-funded-lab-in-australia-linked-to-chinas-coronavirus-research–reports/
They are saying it’s not man made..
They are NOT saying that it didn’t escape from the lab intentionally or not.
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--CALIFORNIA: 33 People Arrested During Sacramento Freedom Rally

‘ Freedom ’ protest against coronavirus orders leads to arrests at California Capitol The demonstration was unauthorized and not permitted by the California Highway Patrol , but CHP officers did not disperse protesters until late in the afternoon when tense moments led to a handful of arrests .
A woman who identified herself only as Michelle expressed outrage as multiple California Highway Patrol officers secured her wrists with plastic ties .
“ We were peacefully assembling and I am getting arrested , ” she fumed as her 14-year-old daughter stood by , separated from other family members .
The young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in tactical gear with batons out , into a press of protesters , searching for her sister .
Police in full riot gear outside the state house in Sacramento , California !
Governor Gavin Newsom can ’ t be happy with this crowd !
Freedom Protesters Arrested !
Women Dragged Over Capitol Steps In California By Police In Riot Gear Apparently protesting a governor for redress of grievances , during a time of arbitrary suspension of the first amendment to the U.S. constitution , is grounds for arrest .
As a result 33 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor ’ s order they were protesting against .
Their failure of citizens to keep distant from each-other made them scofflaws to the dictates of the state government .

‘Freedom’ protest against coronavirus orders leads to arrests at California Capitol
The demonstration was unauthorized and not permitted by the California Highway Patrol, but CHP officers did not disperse protesters until late in the afternoon when tense moments led to a handful of arrests.
A woman who identified herself only as Michelle expressed outrage as multiple California Highway Patrol officers secured her wrists with plastic ties.
“We were peacefully assembling and I am getting arrested,” she fumed as her 14-year-old daughter stood by, separated from other family members. The young girl fled past the line of officers in tactical gear with batons out, into a press of protesters, searching for her sister.
news.yahoo.com/rowdy-crowd-protests-coronavirus-lockdowns-215541105.html
Shawnasaurus Rex
@ShawnG927
Police in full riot gear outside the state house in Sacramento, California! Governor Gavin Newsom can’t be happy with this crowd!
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Police in full riot gear outside the state house in Sacramento, California! Governor Gavin Newsom can’t be happy with this crowd! 😎👍🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/sVvfkDyEIW — Shawnasaurus Rex (@ShawnG927) May 2, 2020
Freedom Protesters Arrested! Women Dragged Over Capitol Steps In California By Police In Riot Gear
Thirty-Three People Arrested During Sacramento Freedom Protest
Apparently protesting a governor for redress of grievances, during a time of arbitrary suspension of the first amendment to the U.S. constitution, is grounds for arrest.
As a result 33 Californians were arrested for not complying with the governor’s order they were protesting against.
Their failure of citizens to keep distant from each-other made them scofflaws to the dictates of the state government.
theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/05/02/33-people-arrested-during-sacramento-freedom-protest/
h/t CrsCrpr


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--For the #TrumpIsNotADoctor Crowd…

For the #TrumpIsNotADoctor Crowd…

AOC is not an economist .
Joe Biden is not winning in 2020 .

Bill Nye is not a scientist.
Greta Thunberg is not a climate expert.
Hillary Clinton is not a President.
AOC is not an economist.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
CNN is not a news network.
Joe Biden is not winning in 2020.
Michael Obama is not a woman
…and Jeffrey Epstein didn’t kill himself.
For the #TrumpIsNotADoctor crowd… Bill Nye is not a scientist. Greta Thunberg is not a climate expert. Hillary Clinton is not a President. AOC is not an economist. CNN is not a news network. Joe Biden is not winning in 2020. …and Jeffrey Epstein didn't kill himself. — DeAnna Lorraine 🇺🇸 (@DeAnna4Congress) April 24, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Washington pushed back reopening until June (which may force every state in The Western States Pact

Washington pushed back reopening until June (which may force every state in The Western States Pact to do the same)

So Colorado , Nevada , California , Washington , and Oregon are in something called “ the Western States Pact @ @ @ @ @ synchronize their reopenings .
Yesterday Washington decided to push back their reopening until June .
@ @ @ @ @ something that will impact our economy ( especially businesses that rely heavily on those states @ @ @ @ @ priced in .

by AryaRemembers
So Colorado, Nevada, California, Washington, and Oregon are in something called “the Western States Pact” and have agreed to synchronize their reopenings.
www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2020-04-27/colorado-nevada-join-western-states-pact-to-fight-covid-19
Yesterday Washington decided to push back their reopening until June.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/inslee-announces-extended-stay-home-order-outlines-plan-to-reopen-washington-in-phases/
In theory this seems like something that will impact our economy (especially businesses that rely heavily on those states) and is probably not priced in.
Thought y’all would find it interesting.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Bone-Chilling WTF Charts of the Collapse in US Demand for Gasoline, Jet Fuel, and Diesel

It started in mid-February for jet fuel and in mid-March for gasoline .
Oil companies are reporting financial fiascos every day : Today Exxon reported its first quarterly loss since 1999 ( $ 610 million ) , on a “ market-related ” $ 2.9 billion write-down .
“ We ’ ve never seen anything like what the world is facing today , ” CEO Darren Woods said .
On Thursday , Texas-based shale-driller Concho Resources reported a quarterly loss of $ 9.3 billion , after writing down the value of its oil and gas assets by $ 12.6 billion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Oklahoma-based Chesapeake Energy , a pioneer in shale-drilling , was preparing to file for bankruptcy ( what ’ s taking so long ? )
.
Still on Thursday , Royal Dutch Shell shocked the markets when it announced that it would reduce its dividend for the first time since 1945 ( by 66 % from $ 0.47 to $ 0.16 ) .
“ The duration of these impacts remains unclear with the expectation that the weaker conditions will likely extend beyond 2020 , ” the statement said .
The already beaten-up shares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Shares are down 47 % year to date .
Earlier in April , among the oil companies that have already filed for bankruptcy , were two high-profile oil drillers , Whiting Petroleum and Diamond Offshore Drilling .
The drama is centered on the collapse in demand for crude oil .
Crude oil is primarily used for two purposes : transportation fuel and as feedstock for the chemical industry .
Even before the crisis , demand growth has been weak , particularly as transportation fuel in developed countries .
But production has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply , prices were already weak , when the coronavirus hit .
Demand for transportation fuel in the US collapsed .
For gasoline , it started in mid-March when the measures to tamp down on the spread of the coronavirus took effect .
For jet fuel , it started in mid-February as flight cancellation from the US to China , and then to other countries took effect .
We can see this in the weekly data provided by the EIA .
The EIA measures weekly consumption in terms of product supplied , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by retail sales .
Consumption of motor gasoline was still up 3.1 % in the week ended March 13 , compared to the same week last year , according to EIA data .
But then demand just collapsed .
In the week ended April 3 , gasoline demand was down 48 % compared to the same week a year earlier : In terms of barrels per day ( b/d ) , demand for motor gasoline was well above 9 million b/d in the four weeks up to mid-March , but then demand collapsed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the week ended April 3 .
Then demand ticked up .
By the week ended April 24 , demand was 5.86 million b/d .
Those last four weeks were by far the lowest on record in the EIA ’ s data going back to 1991 : Consumption of jet fuel ( kerosene type ) collapsed even more , peaking , if you will , in the week ended April 10 with a 72 % year-over-year plunge .
The decline in jet fuel demand started earlier than with gasoline , as flight cancellations were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : In terms of barrels per day , demand for jet fuel collapsed to just 463,000 b/d in the week ended April 10 .
The last four weeks – ranging from 463,000 b/d to 800,000 b/d – were by far the lowest in the data going back to 1991 : Consumption of distillate is highly variable because of its uses .
It includes diesel fuels and fuel oils , such as for space heating and power generation , which are seasonal .
So this is not as clear cut .
Distillate consumption plunged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last three weeks , compared to the same weeks a year ago .
But consumption of fuel oil for heating and power-generation is so seasonal and so volatile that these moves are not totally unusual .
However , consumption in the week ended April 10 plunged to 2.76 million barrels per day , the lowest weekly demand since 1999 : Combined , gasoline , jet fuel , and distillate consumption , plunged by 22 % to 43 % over the last four weeks .
In terms of barrel per day , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8.3 million b/d in the week ended April 10 and has ticked up since then .
The last four weeks , ranging from 8.3 million b/d to 9.8 million b/d , were by far the lowest in the data going back to 1991 : In terms of transportation fuels , this is what the oil industry is facing : an unprecedented , and until now unimaginable collapse in demand that has persisted for over four weeks .
While it may improve ever so gradually as we move forward , it will remain at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s travel and commuting patterns , and its shipping patterns find their way to whatever the new normal might look like .
Oil companies are faced with the double whammy of the collapse in demand in terms of volume , where they sell much less product ; and the collapse in prices , where they get fewer dollars for the product they do sell .

It started in mid-February for jet fuel and in mid-March for gasoline.
By Wolf Richter for WOLF STREET.
Oil companies are reporting financial fiascos every day: Today Exxon reported its first quarterly loss since 1999 ($610 million), on a “market-related” $2.9 billion write-down. “We’ve never seen anything like what the world is facing today,” CEO Darren Woods said.
On Thursday, Texas-based shale-driller Concho Resources reported a quarterly loss of $9.3 billion, after writing down the value of its oil and gas assets by $12.6 billion.
Also on Thursday, it was reported that Oklahoma-based Chesapeake Energy, a pioneer in shale-drilling, was preparing to file for bankruptcy (what’s taking so long?).
Still on Thursday, Royal Dutch Shell shocked the markets when it announced that it would reduce its dividend for the first time since 1945 (by 66% from $0.47 to $0.16). “The duration of these impacts remains unclear with the expectation that the weaker conditions will likely extend beyond 2020,” the statement said. The already beaten-up shares plunged another 17% in two days. Shares are down 47% year to date.
Earlier in April, among the oil companies that have already filed for bankruptcy, were two high-profile oil drillers, Whiting Petroleum and Diamond Offshore Drilling.
The drama is centered on the collapse in demand for crude oil. Crude oil is primarily used for two purposes: transportation fuel and as feedstock for the chemical industry. Even before the crisis, demand growth has been weak, particularly as transportation fuel in developed countries. But production has been surging, and amid ample and growing supply, prices were already weak, when the coronavirus hit.
Demand for transportation fuel in the US collapsed.
For gasoline, it started in mid-March when the measures to tamp down on the spread of the coronavirus took effect. For jet fuel, it started in mid-February as flight cancellation from the US to China, and then to other countries took effect. We can see this in the weekly data provided by the EIA.
The EIA measures weekly consumption in terms of product supplied, such as by refineries and blenders, not by retail sales.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Consumption of motor gasoline was still up 3.1% in the week ended March 13, compared to the same week last year, according to EIA data. But then demand just collapsed. In the week ended April 3, gasoline demand was down 48% compared to the same week a year earlier:
In terms of barrels per day (b/d), demand for motor gasoline was well above 9 million b/d in the four weeks up to mid-March, but then demand collapsed, down to 5.07 million b/d in the week ended April 3. Then demand ticked up. By the week ended April 24, demand was 5.86 million b/d. Those last four weeks were by far the lowest on record in the EIA’s data going back to 1991:
Consumption of jet fuel (kerosene type) collapsed even more, peaking, if you will, in the week ended April 10 with a 72% year-over-year plunge. The decline in jet fuel demand started earlier than with gasoline, as flight cancellations were starting in the second half of February:
In terms of barrels per day, demand for jet fuel collapsed to just 463,000 b/d in the week ended April 10. The last four weeks – ranging from 463,000 b/d to 800,000 b/d – were by far the lowest in the data going back to 1991:
Consumption of distillate is highly variable because of its uses. It includes diesel fuels and fuel oils, such as for space heating and power generation, which are seasonal. So this is not as clear cut.
Distillate consumption plunged between 18% and 25% in the last three weeks, compared to the same weeks a year ago. But consumption of fuel oil for heating and power-generation is so seasonal and so volatile that these moves are not totally unusual. However, consumption in the week ended April 10 plunged to 2.76 million barrels per day, the lowest weekly demand since 1999:
Combined, gasoline, jet fuel, and distillate consumption, plunged by 22% to 43% over the last four weeks. In terms of barrel per day, the combined consumption collapsed to a low of 8.3 million b/d in the week ended April 10 and has ticked up since then. The last four weeks, ranging from 8.3 million b/d to 9.8 million b/d, were by far the lowest in the data going back to 1991:
In terms of transportation fuels, this is what the oil industry is facing: an unprecedented, and until now unimaginable collapse in demand that has persisted for over four weeks. While it may improve ever so gradually as we move forward, it will remain at multi-decade low levels until the US economy’s travel and commuting patterns, and its shipping patterns find their way to whatever the new normal might look like.
Oil companies are faced with the double whammy of the collapse in demand in terms of volume, where they sell much less product; and the collapse in prices, where they get fewer dollars for the product they do sell.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--First wave: Job losses… Second wave: Bankruptcies

First wave: Job losses Second wave: Bankruptcies Note: This is initial jobless claims before 30 million people lost their jobs. pic.twitter.com/tYJMdL8709 — Remi Tetot (@RemiGMI) May 3, 2020
Doing some quick checking on valuations (using #Fridays close) versus S&P's 4/30/20 estimates. Two conclusions:
1) Estimates have not been revised down nearly enough
2) Market remains exceptionally overvalued considering what's coming on the data front. pic.twitter.com/vTEoeNgZw6 — Lance Roberts (@LanceRoberts) May 3, 2020
$VIX futures forward curve went back into a strong backwardation configuration last week. Also spot $VIX is poised explosively right next to the front month futures. This has preceeded strong pivots both higher and lower for stocks this year. That chart could materialize. t.co/zvgUEbAySs pic.twitter.com/DMWXMY8bgc — Jon Tait Ⓥ (@jontait) May 2, 2020
We were all waiting for Buffett to buy preferred stock in the airlines or Boeing as he did in some banks in ‘08. He didn’t. Does it mean he thinks this crisis is far worse than the Great Recession and not easily reversible? My bet is absolutely yes. — Scott Wapner (@ScottWapnerCNBC) May 3, 2020
the cycle was turning way before covid-19 – the virus crisis was a shock during the window of vulnerability period that has resulted in 2q depression pic.twitter.com/fQvakL5Gl5 — Alastair Williamson (@StockBoardAsset) May 3, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--GLD, Stagflation, and You

GLD, Stagflation, and You

Now , there is a reason that commercial advertisements for gold target demographics that we will generously call “ unsophisticated ” .
Gold is perfect for short term thinkers/investors because doesn ’ t actually grow in the long term the way equities or bonds do .
But to understand the powerful short term play I ’ m talking about , we need to understand the role gold actually plays in the international monetary system .
After WW2 , the Allied powers got together and realized that they needed a way to avoid the hyperinflation of 1930 ’ s Germany which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to ensure currency stability the entire world agreed to peg their currencies to USD .
And USD would be backed by gold .
If one of the currencies was too much in demand , threatening the carefully managed exchange rates , than the IMF would step in and pump or dump the currency until it returned to the right exchange rate .
That system worked great until around 1971 , when Nixon lost tons of the government ’ s tendies napalming rice paddies .
The US government paid for the war with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was afraid of actually getting margin called .
So he , with no notice to anyone , announced that the US dollar was no longer backed by gold .
Suddenly it was a free for all .
The US economy was hit with both high unemployment and high inflation , other currencies floated all over the place .
Basically , it was the chaos we have today .
So Duncan , you might ask , does anyone buy gold today ?
Well , almost every central bank in the world continues to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reason they do so is the same reason almost all historic currencies were based on gold : that because gold can ’ t easily be printed , it can ’ t be easily be manipulated , and it can ’ t easily be degraded or destroyed .
In fact , it ’ s perks strongly parallel those of Bitcoin .
In the event of a crisis , a country can liquidate its gold reserves for more currency .
This is especially helpful when a reserve currency , or the native currency is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see Venezuela , whose own currency is totally worthless , USD reserves are useless due to sactions , and therefore it has turned to its gold reserves to pay for imports of food and medicine .
Gold ’ s reputation as a systemic-risk hedge is so great , that in times of market instability or crisis , it actually assumes a negative beta .
That is , it moves opposite equities .
However because it is an almost fixed quantity asset , it also changes value against other currencies .
So , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ printer like crazy , increasing the money supply at an unprecedented rate , he should be increasing the price of gold , or rather , making the USD/Gold exchange rate higher .
In fact , we see that around late 2018 the trump tax cut began to pump more liquidity into an already hot economy , starting a USD/Gold price increase .
Likewise , as the world economies look more and more risky , and the world ’ s reserve currency ’ s M2 expands faster than Boogie2988 after a breakup ; we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gold as a hedge against continued economic instability .
The Fed has made it clear , that it will do everything possible to avoid deflation .
However , after 10 years of historically low interest rates and at times QE , consumers simply have not seen wages or prices increase significantly .
So where has that steadily increasing money supply gone ?
Well , the answer appears to be that some assets are experiencing inflation : Financial instruments , urban housing , medical care , and college tuition–anything that can be funded through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile the average American consumer can ’ t even find 4 hundred dollar bills to rub together in an emergency .
So we can be almost certain that the Fed will keep printing , in the misguided belief that its freshly minted money will eventually trickle down to the American consumer , but in the process the Fed will raise the price of stocks , bonds , houses , colleges , medicine , and most importantly gold .
As we have discussed , gold is good for two things : hedging inflation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , both of those traits are looking very , very valuable .
Disclaimer : This information is only for educational purposes .
Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article .
Do you own due diligence .

by Sten_Duncan2
Now, there is a reason that commercial advertisements for gold target demographics that we will generously call “unsophisticated”. Gold is perfect for short term thinkers/investors because doesn’t actually grow in the long term the way equities or bonds do. But to understand the powerful short term play I’m talking about, we need to understand the role gold actually plays in the international monetary system.
After WW2, the Allied powers got together and realized that they needed a way to avoid the hyperinflation of 1930’s Germany which had led to the war. In order to ensure currency stability the entire world agreed to peg their currencies to USD. And USD would be backed by gold. If one of the currencies was too much in demand, threatening the carefully managed exchange rates, than the IMF would step in and pump or dump the currency until it returned to the right exchange rate.
That system worked great until around 1971, when Nixon lost tons of the government’s tendies napalming rice paddies. The US government paid for the war with debt, and by 1971, Nixon was afraid of actually getting margin called. So he, with no notice to anyone, announced that the US dollar was no longer backed by gold. Suddenly it was a free for all. The US economy was hit with both high unemployment and high inflation, other currencies floated all over the place. Basically, it was the chaos we have today.
So Duncan, you might ask, does anyone buy gold today? Well, almost every central bank in the world continues to hold gold, and lots of it. The reason they do so is the same reason almost all historic currencies were based on gold: that because gold can’t easily be printed, it can’t be easily be manipulated, and it can’t easily be degraded or destroyed. In fact, it’s perks strongly parallel those of Bitcoin. In the event of a crisis, a country can liquidate its gold reserves for more currency. This is especially helpful when a reserve currency, or the native currency is in trouble. For example, we see Venezuela, whose own currency is totally worthless, USD reserves are useless due to sactions, and therefore it has turned to its gold reserves to pay for imports of food and medicine.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Gold’s reputation as a systemic-risk hedge is so great, that in times of market instability or crisis, it actually assumes a negative beta. That is, it moves opposite equities. However because it is an almost fixed quantity asset, it also changes value against other currencies. So, when we have our friend Jerome running his printer like crazy, increasing the money supply at an unprecedented rate, he should be increasing the price of gold, or rather, making the USD/Gold exchange rate higher. In fact, we see that around late 2018 the trump tax cut began to pump more liquidity into an already hot economy, starting a USD/Gold price increase. Likewise, as the world economies look more and more risky, and the world’s reserve currency’s M2 expands faster than Boogie2988 after a breakup; we should see central banks continue to purchase gold as a hedge against continued economic instability.
The Fed has made it clear, that it will do everything possible to avoid deflation. However, after 10 years of historically low interest rates and at times QE, consumers simply have not seen wages or prices increase significantly. So where has that steadily increasing money supply gone? Well, the answer appears to be that some assets are experiencing inflation: Financial instruments, urban housing, medical care, and college tuition–anything that can be funded through cheap debt–have taken the brunt of inflation. Meanwhile the average American consumer can’t even find 4 hundred dollar bills to rub together in an emergency. So we can be almost certain that the Fed will keep printing, in the misguided belief that its freshly minted money will eventually trickle down to the American consumer, but in the process the Fed will raise the price of stocks, bonds, houses, colleges, medicine, and most importantly gold.
As we have discussed, gold is good for two things: hedging inflation, and reducing systematic risk. And right now, both of those traits are looking very, very valuable.
8/1 180c GLD
Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Saudi stock market has crashed

Saudi stock market has crashed

• Riyadh ’ s Tadawul All Share Index ends the day down 7.4 % • Equity gauges in the U.A.E @ @ @ @ @ Egypt also drop Saudi Arabian stocks dropped the most in almost eight weeks after the @ @ @ @ @ said “ painful ” measures — including deep spending cuts — were needed to respond @ @ @ @ @ crash in oil prices .
The Tadawul All Share Index closed down 7.4 % , @ @ @ @ @ .
Oil giant Saudi Aramco retreated 5.2 % to 30 riyals per share , while @ @ @ @ @ Bank , National Commercial Bank and Saudi British Bank plunged at least 6.7 % .

Riyadh’s Tadawul All Share Index ends the day down 7.4%
Equity gauges in the U.A.E, Kuwait, Qatar and Egypt also drop
Saudi Arabian stocks dropped the most in almost eight weeks after the kingdom’s finance minister said “painful” measures — including deep spending cuts — were needed to respond to the coronavirus crisis and crash in oil prices.
The Tadawul All Share Index closed down 7.4%, the most since March 9. Oil giant Saudi Aramco retreated 5.2% to 30 riyals per share, while major lenders including Al Rajhi Bank, National Commercial Bank and Saudi British Bank plunged at least 6.7%.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/saudi-stocks-slump-as-minister-warns-of-painful-measures-ahead


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Robots and cameras: China’s sci-fi quarantine watch…  Russia to use helicopters, drones to monitor…

Robots and cameras: China’s sci-fi quarantine watch…  Russia to use helicopters, drones to monitor…  Cellphone monitoring spreading.

Robots delivering meals , ghostly figures in hazmat suits and cameras pointed at front doors : China ’ s methods to enforce coronavirus quarantines have looked like a sci-fi dystopia for legions of people .
Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralysed the country for months .
With cases imported from abroad threatening to unravel China ’ s progress , travellers arriving from overseas have been required to stay home or in designated hotels for 14 days .
Beijing loosened the rule in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arriving from abroad and Hubei , the province where the virus first surfaced late last year .
At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing , a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements .
The solitude is broken by one of the few visitors allowed near the rooms : A three-foot-tall cylindrical robot that delivers water bottles , meals and packages to hotel guests .
The robot rides the elevator and navigates hallways on its own to minimise contact between guests and human staff .
When the robot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the landline phone in the room and informs the occupant in an eerie , childlike voice : “ Hello , this is your service robot .
Your order has arrived outside your room .
”

Robots and cameras: China’s sci-fi quarantine watch
Robots delivering meals, ghostly figures in hazmat suits and cameras pointed at front doors: China’s methods to enforce coronavirus quarantines have looked like a sci-fi dystopia for legions of people.
Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralysed the country for months.
With cases imported from abroad threatening to unravel China’s progress, travellers arriving from overseas have been required to stay home or in designated hotels for 14 days.
Beijing loosened the rule in the capital this week — except for those arriving from abroad and Hubei, the province where the virus first surfaced late last year.
At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing, a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements.
The solitude is broken by one of the few visitors allowed near the rooms: A three-foot-tall cylindrical robot that delivers water bottles, meals and packages to hotel guests.
The robot rides the elevator and navigates hallways on its own to minimise contact between guests and human staff.
When the robot arrives at its destination, it dials the landline phone in the room and informs the occupant in an eerie, childlike voice: “Hello, this is your service robot. Your order has arrived outside your room.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Russia reported 9,623 new coronavirus cases – its highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic

# Russia- Russia reported 9,623 new coronavirus cases – its highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic – @ @ @ @ @ , mostly in the capital Moscow .

#Russia- Russia reported 9,623 new coronavirus cases – its highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic – bringing the total to 124,054, mostly in the capital Moscow.
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🔴 #Russia– Russia reported 9,623 new coronavirus cases – its highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic – bringing the total to 124,054, mostly in the capital Moscow. — Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu) May 2, 2020
h/t Builder


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Tim Pool: Trump Declares National Emergency Amid Military Escalation With China, US Ship Expelled Ch

Tim Pool: Trump Declares National Emergency Amid Military Escalation With China, US Ship Expelled China Claims

Tim gives his take on the news Are we in a cold war with China yet ?

Tim gives his take on the news
Are we in a cold war with China yet?
The executive order in full
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www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-securing-united-states-bulk-power-system/
AO


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Tara Reade canceled her interview scheduled with Chris Wallace that was set to air on Fox News Sunda

Tara Reade canceled her interview scheduled with Chris Wallace that was set to air on Fox News Sunday morning.

Tara Reade ’ s cancellation of her interview on Fox News follows a troubling 24 hours .
-MSNBC confirms they @ @ @ @ @ after Reade claims they did not -Neighbor no longer sure about what Reade told her @ @ @ @ @ she never filed a formal complaint

Tara Reade’s cancellation of her interview on Fox News follows a troubling 24 hours.
-MSNBC confirms they invited Reade for an interview after Reade claims they did not
-Neighbor no longer sure about what Reade told her years ago
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-Reade now says she never filed a formal complaint
Tara Reade’s cancelation of her interview on Fox News follows a troubling 24 hours. -MSNBC confirms they invited Reade for an interview after Reade claims they did not
-Neighbor no longer sure about what Reade told her years ago
-Reade now says she never filed formal complaint — Travis Akers (@travisakers) May 2, 2020
FA


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--China is buying Australia and Australians have had enough…

China is buying up land and recently took over Australia ’ s dairy production China is buying land and building farmland , solar farms etc .
China is buying up property in WA/Sidney and now Chinese investors own a large portion of property and stock in Australia ’ s largest cities A Chinese spy submarine was recently spotted near one of Australia ’ s largest ports Prime minister Rudd and his cabinet have signed upwards of up to billions of dollars of negotiations with China which includes investments into Australia ’ s most profitable exports and industries .
Here are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I lived in Australia for 22 years and watched all of this unfold .
I always wondered whether Australia was being targeted by HAARP to drive the farmers off the land for this very reason .
Australia IS a country of feast and famine however I believe what is being blamed on Global Warming is actually Scalar Weapons .
For a time Australia manufactured a lot of their own vehicles and produced the bulk of their food…… during those 22 years I saw all of that change .
There is a very contentious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been telling the Australian people this for years .
It is only a very recent thing that people are realizing she is right .
China more or less OWNS Australia .

China is buying up land and recently took over Australia’s dairy production
China is buying land and building farmland, solar farms etc.
China is buying up property in WA/Sidney and now Chinese investors own a large portion of property and stock in Australia’s largest cities
A Chinese spy submarine was recently spotted near one of Australia’s largest ports
Prime minister Rudd and his cabinet have signed upwards of up to billions of dollars of negotiations with China which includes investments into Australia’s most profitable exports and industries.
Here are some videos, please read the comments
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
I lived in Australia for 22 years and watched all of this unfold.
I always wondered whether Australia was being targeted by HAARP to drive the farmers off the land for this very reason.
Australia IS a country of feast and famine however I believe what is being blamed on Global Warming is actually Scalar Weapons.
For a time Australia manufactured a lot of their own vehicles and produced the bulk of their food…… during those 22 years I saw all of that change.
There is a very contentious Politician over there called Pauline Hanson who has been telling the Australian people this for years. It is only a very recent thing that people are realizing she is right. China more or less OWNS Australia.
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--The Horror Of Meat Shortages Are Going To Be Much Worse! Be Ready For Economic Collapse

As many different sectors in the economy are facing massive output cuts in production , the food supply chain is also dealing with hardships , especially in a number of meat processing facilities around the globe .
In most states of the US , meat has become already rare to find in groceries and supermarkets , and when people do find them , they ’ re limited to purchase one or two items – a modern version of food rationing , based on the effects of the current health outbreak .
With many workers getting infected by the virus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid even more contamination , many meat processing industries are shutting their activities down , leading to an increase in meat shortages in the whole world .
In a recent survey made by USA Today , it was shown that American slaughterhouses are processing roughly 1 million fewer cattle , sheep , and hogs than it did only a year ago , accelerating the drop in meat production by 25 % last week , as reported by the US Department of Agriculture , and a 42 % drop compared to the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
Big meat processing corporations are worried about the constant threat of a class-action lawsuit if they decide to reopen during this infectious collective crisis without any health and safety standards for their employees that are actually approved and enforced by the American government .
Just as the CEO of the National Cattlemen ’ s Beef Association ( NCBA ) , Colin Woodall , has been calling for unity and support among industries , producers and the administration in face of the impacts of this disruption on the meat supply chain across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment , it is impossible to measure all the effects of the disease or to determine how it can continue to develop .
Although the entire beef supply chain is being challenged by the outbreak , all segments of the industry are working together and must continue to do so.
” He continued by mentioning that this current uncertainty faced by beef producers is shared by all agriculture workers and by all Americans , but he believes that if all sectors work together , it is possible to overcome these obstacles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , otherwise , it can take months to re-establish this market .
It seems that America is falling behind in taking care of their own livestock and agricultural food chains .
If leaders delay to step in and create regulations allowing the work in these industries to continue , the market devastation will only increase as the dissemination of the illness drags on .
Whereas , the US Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) has been deeply criticized for letting millions of pounds of food rot at the same time that numerous food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their colossal demand .
The Agriculture Department is tumbling behind other federal agencies in its crisis response , as reported by Politico last Sunday , that it took them over a month to “ make its first significant move to buy up surplus fruits and vegetables — despite repeated entreaties.
” Another aggravating factor is that many pigs , chickens , and cattle are being put down while no action is properly enforced .
Reuters recently published an article exposing that these animals are likely to be euthanized because they can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ dairy farmers are trying to decide between dumping their milk and selling their dairy cows for beef .
Contract chicken growers on the Eastern Shore have been asked to “ depopulate ” nearly 2 million chickens .
Hog farmers in Iowa and Minnesota are starting to euthanize their pigs .
For contract and cooperative farmers – producers in the food system who are obligated to a larger entity – the options are limited.
” Either way , the senior vice president of the feed business at the National Grain and Feed Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company is reaching out President Trump to take actions to facilitate the conditions of workforce with health measures and practices that could allow businesses to restore their operations , as he had suggested the implementation of non-medical-grade face coverings , disinfection and sanitation supplies , temperature monitoring devices , and antibody testing among other measures to re-establish the confidence among employees and consumers .
Besides , he defends that there must be a support system for the industry to avoid economic collapse , for instance , providing tax incentives and including a payroll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food and agricultural sectors to remain at their job posts , preventing even more fractures in an already fragile economic scenery .
With all that said , it is clear that there are options that could help weaken the impacts of this crisis and if we ever have to face a massive food shortage because of it , it will be related to the competence of our representatives in assessing the issue .

As many different sectors in the economy are facing massive output cuts in production, the food supply chain is also dealing with hardships, especially in a number of meat processing facilities around the globe.
In most states of the US, meat has become already rare to find in groceries and supermarkets, and when people do find them, they’re limited to purchase one or two items – a modern version of food rationing, based on the effects of the current health outbreak.
With many workers getting infected by the virus and many of them sent to lockdown to avoid even more contamination, many meat processing industries are shutting their activities down, leading to an increase in meat shortages in the whole world. In a recent survey made by USA Today, it was shown that American slaughterhouses are processing roughly 1 million fewer cattle, sheep, and hogs than it did only a year ago, accelerating the drop in meat production by 25% last week, as reported by the US Department of Agriculture, and a 42% drop compared to the same time a year ago was marked on this Wednesday.
Big meat processing corporations are worried about the constant threat of a class-action lawsuit if they decide to reopen during this infectious collective crisis without any health and safety standards for their employees that are actually approved and enforced by the American government.
Just as the CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Colin Woodall, has been calling for unity and support among industries, producers and the administration in face of the impacts of this disruption on the meat supply chain across the country, declaring that “at the moment, it is impossible to measure all the effects of the disease or to determine how it can continue to develop. Although the entire beef supply chain is being challenged by the outbreak, all segments of the industry are working together and must continue to do so.”
He continued by mentioning that this current uncertainty faced by beef producers is shared by all agriculture workers and by all Americans, but he believes that if all sectors work together, it is possible to overcome these obstacles. However, the government must act soon, otherwise, it can take months to re-establish this market.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
It seems that America is falling behind in taking care of their own livestock and agricultural food chains. If leaders delay to step in and create regulations allowing the work in these industries to continue, the market devastation will only increase as the dissemination of the illness drags on.
Whereas, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been deeply criticized for letting millions of pounds of food rot at the same time that numerous food banks were struggling to keep up with their colossal demand. The Agriculture Department is tumbling behind other federal agencies in its crisis response, as reported by Politico last Sunday, that it took them over a month to “make its first significant move to buy up surplus fruits and vegetables — despite repeated entreaties.”
Another aggravating factor is that many pigs, chickens, and cattle are being put down while no action is properly enforced. Reuters recently published an article exposing that these animals are likely to be euthanized because they can’t be sold. Forbes explained that many “dairy farmers are trying to decide between dumping their milk and selling their dairy cows for beef. Contract chicken growers on the Eastern Shore have been asked to “depopulate” nearly 2 million chickens. Hog farmers in Iowa and Minnesota are starting to euthanize their pigs. For contract and cooperative farmers – producers in the food system who are obligated to a larger entity – the options are limited.”
Either way, the senior vice president of the feed business at the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) told FeedNavigator that the company is reaching out President Trump to take actions to facilitate the conditions of workforce with health measures and practices that could allow businesses to restore their operations, as he had suggested the implementation of non-medical-grade face coverings, disinfection and sanitation supplies, temperature monitoring devices, and antibody testing among other measures to re-establish the confidence among employees and consumers. Besides, he defends that there must be a support system for the industry to avoid economic collapse, for instance, providing tax incentives and including a payroll tax holiday to encourage workers of the food and agricultural sectors to remain at their job posts, preventing even more fractures in an already fragile economic scenery.
With all that said, it is clear that there are options that could help weaken the impacts of this crisis and if we ever have to face a massive food shortage because of it, it will be related to the competence of our representatives in assessing the issue.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--BILL GATES ‘warns’ that PHASE 2 of the VIRUS will be a BIO TERROR ATTACK

By now most of us here know that BILL GATES backed EVENT 201 which was held in Oct 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ live , and almost perfectly laid out everything we are experiencing now with CoronaVirus .
@ @ @ @ @ have such an ‘ uncanny ’ ability to predict the future… …it would probably be @ @ @ @ @ makes another prediction… “ a pathogen with a high death rate would be picked ”

By now most of us here know that BILL GATES backed EVENT 201 which was held in Oct 2019, 6 weeks before Covid-19 went live, and almost perfectly laid out everything we are experiencing now with CoronaVirus.
So since Bill seems to have such an ‘uncanny’ ability to predict the future…
…it would probably be wise to listen when he makes another prediction…
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“a pathogen with a high death rate would be picked”
Start playing video from the 2:48 mark…
h/t CJ


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--FOOD SHORTAGE: It’s All By Design

FOOD SHORTAGE: It’s All By Design

I ’ m sure by now everyone has noticed that TPTB are pushing the narrative that there will be a food shortage .
For those of us that are certain the “ COVID-19 Crisis ” is by design , we should already understand that there is an agenda behind every headline that serves a greater purpose .
So when I see headlines like : Covid-19 crisis could trigger global food shortage , UN warns , ‘ The Food Supply Chain Is Breaking.
’ Tyson Foods Warns of Meat Shortage as Plants Close Due to COVID-19 and Coronavirus : All countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of hunger ’ s way ) I ’ ve learned to ask the question of who profits it ?
None other than the COVID profiteering king himself , Bill Gates !
In an article published in 2013 Gates informs his readers that meat will be in high demand and the world consumption will double between 2000 and 2050 .
He claims that is a good thing but then goes on to tell all of us serfs how the production of meat just takes way too many resources .
Lucky for us wannabe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
Future of Food Learn how food scientists are reinventing meat – and how it can benefit everyone .
By Bill Gates | March 18 , 2013 By 2050 , the world ’ s population will grow to more than 9 billion and our appetite for meat will grow along with it .
The demand for meat will have doubled between 2000 and 2050 .
But raising meat takes a great deal of land and water and has a substantial environmental impact .
Put simply , there ’ s no way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yet we can ’ t ask everyone to become vegetarians .
( As much as I like vegetables , I know I wouldn ’ t want to give up hamburgers – one of my favorite foods ) .
That ’ s why we need more options for producing meat without depleting our resources .
Future of Food Learn how food scientists are reinventing meat – and how it can benefit everyone .
But how does this relate to the current crisis ?
Because Gates , along with China , once again has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Impossible Foods , Beyond Meat eye bigger cut of Covid-19 driven growth in Asia ’ s plant-based foods segment Beyond Meat , Impossible Food ’ s biggest competitor , has aggressively expanded in mainland China .
On April 21 , Starbucks China announced that it will offer plant-based alternatives on its menu from Beyond Meat , which is represented in Asia by Green Common , founded by Hong Kong entrepreneur David Yeung , who also owns Omnipork , a pork replacement product aimed at the Chinese market .
Beyond Meat ’ s share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same day .
The company , which is listed on the Nasdaq , saw its share price suffer during the market collapse in March , but it has been a steady gainer since then , rising from US $ 54 on March 18 to US $ 88.46 on April 22 .
It has received investment from Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCaprio .
Impossible Foods , Beyond Meat eye bigger cut of Covid-19 driven growth in Asia ’ s plant-based foods segment

I’m sure by now everyone has noticed that TPTB are pushing the narrative that there will be a food shortage. For those of us that are certain the “COVID-19 Crisis” is by design, we should already understand that there is an agenda behind every headline that serves a greater purpose. So when I see headlines like: Covid-19 crisis could trigger global food shortage, UN warns , ‘The Food Supply Chain Is Breaking.’ Tyson Foods Warns of Meat Shortage as Plants Close Due to COVID-19 and Coronavirus: All countries must help aid agencies to keep millions out of hunger’s way ) I’ve learned to ask the question of who profits it?
None other than the COVID profiteering king himself, Bill Gates!
In an article published in 2013 Gates informs his readers that meat will be in high demand and the world consumption will double between 2000 and 2050. He claims that is a good thing but then goes on to tell all of us serfs how the production of meat just takes way too many resources.
Lucky for us wannabe world king Gates has a solution for this.
Future of Food
Learn how food scientists are reinventing meat – and how it can benefit everyone.
By Bill Gates | March 18, 2013
By 2050, the world’s population will grow to more than 9 billion and our appetite for meat will grow along with it. The demand for meat will have doubled between 2000 and 2050.
But raising meat takes a great deal of land and water and has a substantial environmental impact. Put simply, there’s no way to produce enough meat for 9 billion people. Yet we can’t ask everyone to become vegetarians. (As much as I like vegetables, I know I wouldn’t want to give up hamburgers – one of my favorite foods).
That’s why we need more options for producing meat without depleting our resources.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Future of Food
Learn how food scientists are reinventing meat – and how it can benefit everyone.
But how does this relate to the current crisis?
Because Gates, along with China, once again has the plan to save the world!
Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat eye bigger cut of Covid-19 driven growth in Asia’s plant-based foods segment
Beyond Meat, Impossible Food’s biggest competitor, has aggressively expanded in mainland China. On April 21, Starbucks China announced that it will offer plant-based alternatives on its menu from Beyond Meat, which is represented in Asia by Green Common, founded by Hong Kong entrepreneur David Yeung, who also owns Omnipork, a pork replacement product aimed at the Chinese market.
Beyond Meat’s share price jumped 16 per cent on the same day. The company, which is listed on the Nasdaq, saw its share price suffer during the market collapse in March, but it has been a steady gainer since then, rising from US$54 on March 18 to US$88.46 on April 22 . It has received investment from Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat eye bigger cut of Covid-19 driven growth in Asia’s plant-based foods segment
h/t CrsCrpr


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Drove 314 miles today in central Missouri….here is my observation

It ’ s over , folks .
For better , or for worse , it ’ s over .
May @ @ @ @ @ in the ass , but the gate is open .
Rural bars , people hanging @ @ @ @ @ being served .
Private campgrounds absolutely packed , people towing boats , ATVs , horse @ @ @ @ @ Social distancing practiced halfheartedly .
In general , people looked like caterpillars coming out of @ @ @ @ @ went in a convertible with the top down .
The people are speaking .

It’s over, folks. For better, or for worse, it’s over.
May come back to bite us in the ass, but the gate is open.
Rural bars, people hanging out in front, food being served. Private campgrounds absolutely packed, people towing boats, ATVs, horse trailers, and campers. Social distancing practiced halfheartedly. In general, people looked like caterpillars coming out of a cocoon.
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We even went in a convertible with the top down. The people are speaking.
h/t last one


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-03--Sis intel – Illinois is the new NYC as hotzone explodes with new cases

Sis has been working at whole foods extra hours since lockdown three of her five team members got the virus @ @ @ @ @ been steadily increasing for the last month That is all i got not much but @ @

Sis has been working at whole foods extra hours since lockdown
three of her five team members got the virus
looking at the
illinois has been steadily increasing for the last month
www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
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USA………….Case…………New
State………..Total………..Cases
______________________________________
New York……..319,213………+3,991
New Jersey……123,717………+2,527
Massachusetts…66,263……….+1,952
Illinois……..58,505……….+2,450
That is all i got not much but real info
AC