investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--The End Of The OPEC Deal Could Be The Start Of A New Oil Price War

Few markets have been hit harder by coronavirus than United States shale .
While global oil prices as a whole have taken quite a beating from a fall in oil demand , a deficit of oil storage , and an oil-price war between the OPEC+ leading members of Saudi Arabia and Russia , the Brent international crude benchmark never went negative .
In the United States , it was a different story .
Not only did the West Texas Intermediate ( WTI ) crude benchmark dip below zero on April 20 , it plummeted to nearly $ 40 below zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While oil prices have since recovered , shale prices have not bounced back to the $ 40 a barrel that the U.S. shale industry needs just to break even .
In light of this , it ’ s no surprise that the Permian Basin has been swept by a wave of bankruptcies , shut-in wells , and tens of thousands of fired and furloughed employees .
This severe downturn has many wondering what will become of the U.S. shale industry once demand bounces back post-corona .
This week Bloomberg suggested one possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the sector .
“ Once the global oil market emerges from the coronavirus crisis , ” Bloomberg wrote on Sunday , “ it may be greeted by a surprising change : greater dependence on crude from OPEC.
” Right now , this outcome is pretty far from becoming a reality .
“ For the time being , the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies are relinquishing their share of the market in a bid to prop up crude prices , slashing millions of barrels of output as the pandemic crushes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week OPEC+ confirmed that they will retain output caps until 2022 .
But the current oil industry chaos could provide a unique opportunity for OPEC to once again rise to the top of the oil production totem pole .
Can U.S. shale pull off that kind of renaissance again ?
Some experts certainly think so .
This current test of the U.S. shale sector could trim the fat of the shale play and leave the Permian Basin with only the most resilient and resourceful companies , leaving the shale sector in better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Daniel Yergin , a Pulitzer Prize-winning oil historian and vice chairman of IHS Markit Ltd. Yergin is not alone in his optimism .
Some experts are anticipating that the current shutting-in of wells and decrease of production capacity create a supply gap , which will allow oil prices to soar once demand returns , with some experts even predicting $ 100 barrels in the not-so-distant future .
But as Bloomberg reports , “ it ’ s too early to tell whether the latest predictions of a supply gap will prove unfounded , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But initial indications do suggest that OPEC could re-emerge from the current round of cutbacks in a stronger position.
” For as many energy-industry pundits who are predicting a U.S. shale comeback , there are also just as many industry experts who are questioning whether or not we are seeing the inevitable demise of the shale industry .
With the world ( too ) slowly trending toward a green energy transition , big-picture thinkers like those brainiacs at the World Economic Forum have suggested that the upset caused by coronavirus is exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to redirect the country ’ s energies ( so to speak ) towards renewables and begin building a “ new energy order.
” Other think pieces have argued ( with statistics to back it ) that renewable energy may be the most economically viable option to employ the tens of thousands of shale workers that have now found themselves in the lurch .
As for OPEC , they may have another shot at leading the world in oil production , but when even Saudi Aramco admits that peak oil is right around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon have lost its luster .

By Haley Zaremba
Few markets have been hit harder by coronavirus than United States shale. While global oil prices as a whole have taken quite a beating from a fall in oil demand, a deficit of oil storage, and an oil-price war between the OPEC+ leading members of Saudi Arabia and Russia, the Brent international crude benchmark never went negative. In the United States, it was a different story. Not only did the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude benchmark dip below zero on April 20, it plummeted to nearly $40 below zero per barrel in a previously unthinkable upset.
While oil prices have since recovered, shale prices have not bounced back to the $40 a barrel that the U.S. shale industry needs just to break even. In light of this, it’s no surprise that the Permian Basin has been swept by a wave of bankruptcies, shut-in wells, and tens of thousands of fired and furloughed employees.
This severe downturn has many wondering what will become of the U.S. shale industry once demand bounces back post-corona. This week Bloomberg suggested one possible outcome that may come as a shock to the sector. “Once the global oil market emerges from the coronavirus crisis,” Bloomberg wrote on Sunday, “it may be greeted by a surprising change: greater dependence on crude from OPEC.”
Right now, this outcome is pretty far from becoming a reality. “For the time being, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies are relinquishing their share of the market in a bid to prop up crude prices, slashing millions of barrels of output as the pandemic crushes fuel demand.” In fact, just this week OPEC+ confirmed that they will retain output caps until 2022. But the current oil industry chaos could provide a unique opportunity for OPEC to once again rise to the top of the oil production totem pole.
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“From the point of view of oil-market share, OPEC will be a clear winner in the coming years,” Michele Della Vigna, head of energy industry research for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. told Bloomberg. “Under-investment in the rest of the industry ultimately plays to their favor.” These predictions should be taken with a large grain of salt, however, as it’s not the first time that this prophecy has been foretold for OPEC, and it has yet to be fulfilled. “Warnings abounded during the last decade that the plunge in investment which followed the 2014 oil-market crash would leave a supply gap for OPEC to fill. But the shortage never materialized as American shale proved surprisingly resilient,” writes Bloomberg.
Can U.S. shale pull off that kind of renaissance again? Some experts certainly think so. This current test of the U.S. shale sector could trim the fat of the shale play and leave the Permian Basin with only the most resilient and resourceful companies, leaving the shale sector in better shape than ever, at least according to Daniel Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning oil historian and vice chairman of IHS Markit Ltd.
Yergin is not alone in his optimism. Some experts are anticipating that the current shutting-in of wells and decrease of production capacity create a supply gap, which will allow oil prices to soar once demand returns, with some experts even predicting $100 barrels in the not-so-distant future. But as Bloomberg reports, “it’s too early to tell whether the latest predictions of a supply gap will prove unfounded, or whether this time really is different. But initial indications do suggest that OPEC could re-emerge from the current round of cutbacks in a stronger position.”
For as many energy-industry pundits who are predicting a U.S. shale comeback, there are also just as many industry experts who are questioning whether or not we are seeing the inevitable demise of the shale industry. With the world (too) slowly trending toward a green energy transition, big-picture thinkers like those brainiacs at the World Economic Forum have suggested that the upset caused by coronavirus is exactly the interruption to business-as-usual that we need to redirect the country’s energies (so to speak) towards renewables and begin building a “new energy order.” Other think pieces have argued (with statistics to back it) that renewable energy may be the most economically viable option to employ the tens of thousands of shale workers that have now found themselves in the lurch.
As for OPEC, they may have another shot at leading the world in oil production, but when even Saudi Aramco admits that peak oil is right around the corner, perhaps even that accolade will soon have lost its luster.
By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Big Recall On Ground Beef Sold at Walmart and Other Stores Over E. coli contamination

Nearly 43,000 pounds of ground beef , including packages sold at Walmart stores , are being recalled because of possible @ @ @ @ @ Department of Agriculture ’ s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced late Saturday that Lakeside @ @ @ @ @ New Jersey , is recalling select packages of ground beef produced June 1 .

Nearly 43,000 pounds of ground beef, including packages sold at Walmart stores, are being recalled because of possible E. coli contamination.
The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced late Saturday that Lakeside Refrigerated Services of Swedesboro, New Jersey, is recalling select packages of ground beef produced June 1.
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Learn More:
www.yahoo.com/news/ground-bee…


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--RUSH: Once again we have on full display the complete ignorance of the American media.

RUSH : Let ’ s go to the audio sound bites .
Dadelut , dadelut , dadelut , dadelut , dadelut , dadelut .
This is kind of funny .
We ’ ll start with number 1 .
This is Bloomberg Radio Network news , and this was Saturday or Sunday , some columnist for the Bloomberg Opinion website wanted to weigh in on me and conservative media and Trump .
MAN : Once he ’ s out of office , then which turns out to be a better marketing approach for Rush Limbaugh or for any of these conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many of these conservative radio shows .
Are they going to retain their audience by amplifying what Trump says ?
Trump ’ s gon na be out there tweeting , you know , whatever kind of crazy stuff he does .
Is that the best way for them to go ?
Or is it better for them to retain a larger audience if they focus more narrowly on what Biden is doing or , you know , new up-and-coming Republicans ?
RUSH : Once again we have on full display the complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this day and despite years of me telling them how I do what I do and why , refusing to get it .
Just as they refused to understand how Trump won and who voted for him and who they are , they still labor under these misconceptions that this program is a marketing program and that I choose an audience that I want depending on who wins elections .
Now , those of you who have been with me since the days of the 35 Undeniable Truths of Life know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wins elections .
How stupid would that be ?
I can ’ t control these idiot candidates .
I can ’ t control what they ’ re gon na say or do .
Why would I attach my success to any one of them ?
And I never have .
I ’ m not responsible for their policies .
I don ’ t have positions on their staff writing policy .
I don ’ t want it .
This program will succeed and dominate no matter who wins the presidency .
These people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1992 they literally thought that was the end of me .
“ Well , Rush is gon na have nothing to talk about now .
Bill Clinton won .
This is gon na be total repudiation of Limbaugh .
Limbaugh has got nothing to say now because the guy he didn ’ t want to win in fact won.
” Well , how silly and stupid was that ?
Then when George W. Bush ran in 2000 , they came along and said , “ Well , that ’ s the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Limbaugh .
What ’ s he gon na disagree with ?
He can ’ t disagree.
” They have just such a total misunderstanding of how this show is constituted , how it ’ s put together , what its purpose is .
They ’ re already thinking what ’ s it gon na be after Trump loses ?
What ’ s Limbaugh gon na do ?
Is Limbaugh gon na stay loyal to Trump and have a tiny audience , or is Limbaugh gon na decide that he needs to let Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Bigger audience ?
Folks , we ’ re already up to 44 and a half million , some days 50 , according to our model projections here , and it ’ s the same way that they continue to misunderstand Trump .
But I ’ m not even sitting here contemplating the outcome of the election yet .
But I firmly believe that the events that are gon na shape the election haven ’ t happened .
You know , the best evidence of that is these clowns wanting to defund police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would ever happen , and yet it did .
That was a gigantic gift to the Trump campaign , to Republicans .
Now Democrats are out there saying , “ Aw , there ’ s no way , there ’ s no way we ’ re gon na defund the police.
” If you go back and look at their original comments after the subject came up , they were all in favor of it .
And if they think , if they can pander for votes by continuing to suggest that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to say it .

via rushlimbaugh
RUSH: Let’s go to the audio sound bites. Dadelut, dadelut, dadelut, dadelut, dadelut, dadelut. This is kind of funny. We’ll start with number 1. This is Bloomberg Radio Network news, and this was Saturday or Sunday, some columnist for the Bloomberg Opinion website wanted to weigh in on me and conservative media and Trump.
MAN: Once he’s out of office, then which turns out to be a better marketing approach for Rush Limbaugh or for any of these conservative — you know, there’s so many of these conservative radio shows. Are they going to retain their audience by amplifying what Trump says? Trump’s gonna be out there tweeting, you know, whatever kind of crazy stuff he does. Is that the best way for them to go? Or is it better for them to retain a larger audience if they focus more narrowly on what Biden is doing or, you know, new up-and-coming Republicans?
RUSH: Once again we have on full display the complete ignorance of the American media who still to this day and despite years of me telling them how I do what I do and why, refusing to get it. Just as they refused to understand how Trump won and who voted for him and who they are, they still labor under these misconceptions that this program is a marketing program and that I choose an audience that I want depending on who wins elections.
Now, those of you who have been with me since the days of the 35 Undeniable Truths of Life know that my success is not dependent on who wins elections. How stupid would that be? I can’t control these idiot candidates. I can’t control what they’re gonna say or do. Why would I attach my success to any one of them? And I never have. I’m not responsible for their policies. I don’t have positions on their staff writing policy. I don’t want it.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
This program will succeed and dominate no matter who wins the presidency. These people thought that if Bill Clinton wins in 1992 they literally thought that was the end of me. “Well, Rush is gonna have nothing to talk about now. Bill Clinton won. This is gonna be total repudiation of Limbaugh. Limbaugh has got nothing to say now because the guy he didn’t want to win in fact won.”
Well, how silly and stupid was that? Then when George W. Bush ran in 2000, they came along and said, “Well, that’s the end of Limbaugh. That’s end of Limbaugh. What’s he gonna disagree with? He can’t disagree.” They have just such a total misunderstanding of how this show is constituted, how it’s put together, what its purpose is. They’re already thinking what’s it gonna be after Trump loses? What’s Limbaugh gonna do? Is Limbaugh gonna stay loyal to Trump and have a tiny audience, or is Limbaugh gonna decide that he needs to let Trump go and become a bigger audience guy?
Bigger audience? Folks, we’re already up to 44 and a half million, some days 50, according to our model projections here, and it’s the same way that they continue to misunderstand Trump. But I’m not even sitting here contemplating the outcome of the election yet. But I firmly believe that the events that are gonna shape the election haven’t happened. You know, the best evidence of that is these clowns wanting to defund police departments. Nobody thought something like that would ever happen, and yet it did. That was a gigantic gift to the Trump campaign, to Republicans.
Now Democrats are out there saying, “Aw, there’s no way, there’s no way we’re gonna defund the police.” If you go back and look at their original comments after the subject came up, they were all in favor of it. And if they think, if they can pander for votes by continuing to suggest that we should defund the cops, they will continue to say it.


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Seattle ANTIFA Rioters Change Name Of Occupied Area From CHAZ To CHOP After What Happened To People

Seattle ANTIFA Rioters Change Name Of Occupied Area From CHAZ To CHOP After What Happened To People During French Revolution

As the ANTIFA forces begin to settle into their Autonomous Zone , and get more comfortable with their anarchy , they have made a change or two to their branding .
Originally calling themselves CHOP , or Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone , they now call it CHOP , or Capitol Hill Occupied Protests .
One man with a bullhorn told the crowd that CHOP was also a nod to the French Revolution where all those who didn ’ t go along with the revolt were beheaded .
Chopped .
Now we begin to see the true spirit of ANTIFA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be financing all of this , but that is not the same as saying he is controlling it .
After the funds are laundered through his NGO system and dispersed to ANTIFA soldiers , the fascist rioters called into duty , he actually has very little control as to where things go next .
Over a dozen people have died nationwide during these riots at the hands of ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter , and there is no telling how many dozens more will be murdered under the banner of ‘ freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kitten ’ s whisker away from things blowing up very badly .
Those not on board with French Revolution were chopped , ANTIFA CHAZ protesters warn after renaming their camp CHOP FROM RT : A group of ANTIFA demonstrators who gathered outside Seattle ’ s West Precinct on Sunday night had a chilling message for anyone who hasn ’ t pledged fealty to their radical demands , which include the abolition of the city ’ s police department and a complete transformation of the criminal justice system .
One demonstrator with a megaphone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to rebrand their camp , the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone ( CHAZ ) , to ‘ CHOP ’ ( ‘ Capitol Hill Organized Protest ’ or ‘ Capitol Hill Occupied Protest ’ , depending on who you ask ) .

by Geoffrey Grider
As the ANTIFA forces begin to settle into their Autonomous Zone, and get more comfortable with their anarchy, they have made a change or two to their branding. Originally calling themselves CHOP, or Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, they now call it CHOP, or Capitol Hill Occupied Protests. One man with a bullhorn told the crowd that CHOP was also a nod to the French Revolution where all those who didn’t go along with the revolt were beheaded. Chopped. Now we begin to see the true spirit of ANTIFA, fascists to the core.
George Soros may be financing all of this, but that is not the same as saying he is controlling it. After the funds are laundered through his NGO system and dispersed to ANTIFA soldiers, the fascist rioters called into duty, he actually has very little control as to where things go next. Over a dozen people have died nationwide during these riots at the hands of ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter, and there is no telling how many dozens more will be murdered under the banner of ‘freedom’. I think we are a kitten’s whisker away from things blowing up very badly.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Those not on board with French Revolution were chopped, ANTIFA CHAZ protesters warn after renaming their camp CHOP
FROM RT: A group of ANTIFA demonstrators who gathered outside Seattle’s West Precinct on Sunday night had a chilling message for anyone who hasn’t pledged fealty to their radical demands, which include the abolition of the city’s police department and a complete transformation of the criminal justice system. One demonstrator with a megaphone explained a possible secondary meaning behind the decision to rebrand their camp, the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), to ‘CHOP’ (‘Capitol Hill Organized Protest’ or ‘Capitol Hill Occupied Protest’, depending on who you ask).


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Smart Money Is Betting On These 5 Exciting Energy Technologies

The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the energy sector well beyond the fossil fuel collapse .
The renewable energy industry was in full swing before the health crisis struck with 184 gigawatts ( GW ) of new clean energy capacity added in 2019 , good for 12 % Y/Y growth .
Unfortunately , a short-run contraction is now expected with Morgan Stanley projecting declines of 48 % , 28 % , and 17 % in U.S. solar photovoltaic installations during the second , third , and fourth quarters of the current year .
Luckily , the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with cleantech and renewable energy projects continuing to attract significant amounts of funding .
Although most high-profile energy investments have been in batteries and energy storage , recent funding rounds have favored novel technologies from fusion and graphene to solid-state circuit breakers , direct-air capture of CO2 , and geothermal drilling .
Here are five innovative cleantech projects that have been winning VC funding .
# 1 Fusion Scientists and energy experts consider nuclear fusion the Holy Grail for clean , abundant , and sustainable power .
Unfortunately , a host of technical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from becoming a reality , though France ’ s International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor ( ITER ) is working hard to change that , as we explained here .
And now another fusion startup is trying to succeed where others have failed .
Bloomberg has reported that Commonwealth Fusion Systems has raised $ 84 million from Singapore ’ s Temasek Holding , Norway ’ s Equinor , and other investors in its latest round .
Founded by MIT researchers in 2018 , Commonwealth Fusion Systems has now raised more than $ 200 million .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ into private fusion startups such as Commonwealth Fusion Systems , Canada ’ s General Fusion Inc. , U.S. ’ TAE Technologies Inc. , and U.K. ’ s Tokamak Energy Ltd .
The $ 22 billion ITER is a collaborative effort by 35 countries and expects to begin testing in five years .
Solid-state circuit breakers are beginning to replace traditional electromechanical and magnetic circuit breakers due to advantages such as faster switching times , being free from arcing and switch bounce , higher reliability , and longer lifetimes .
A typical solid-state circuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter of microseconds compared to milliseconds or even several seconds for a mechanical version .
Atom Power is a Charlotte , North Carolina-based startup that is developing solid-state circuit breakers for commercial and industrial buildings .
Atom ’ s digital circuit breakers are 3,000x faster than a typical electromechanical switch and also sport software-enabled features , including remote control and on/off scheduling , that allow it to act as a motor controller .
The device allows the user to seamlessly switch energy sources ( e.g.
, from grid to V2G to solar power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charging .
According to Venture Beat , the startup has raised $ 17.8 million in a Series B round of funding from its VC partners including Rockwell Automation , Valor Equity Partners , ABB Technology Ventures and Atreides Management.
, bringing its total funding to ~ $ 35 million from investors including Valor Equity Partners , Rockwell Automation .
ABB Technology Ventures and Atreides Management .
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon that comes in super-thin sheets , one-atom-thick .
Graphene is considered the thinnest , strongest , and most conductive material .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ infancy , with plenty of promising applications including faster and efficient electronics , efficient solar panels , anti-corrosion coatings and paints , efficient and precise sensors , flexible displays , faster DNA sequencing , and drug delivery among others .
Being the world ’ s thinnest material , graphene has the highest surface-area to volume ratio , making it an ideal for batteries and supercapacitors that can store more energy–and charge faster , too .
Battery and graphene startup Nanotech Energy has reported that it has closed a $ 27.5 million funding round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 227.5 million .
This brings its total funding to more than $ 30 million since its founding in 2014 .
The investors , though , were not disclosed .
According to Nanotech Energy CEO Jack Kavanaugh , the company plans to use the funding to develop a non-flammable , environmentally friendly lithium battery that can charge “ 18x faster than anything currently available on the market.
” The company hopes to release the prototype sometime within the next year .
# 4 Direct-air capture of CO2 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 ?
C or face the consequences of irreversible damage to entire ecosystems .
The harsh truth , however , is that this is virtually impossible to achieve without removing CO2 directly from the atmosphere .
Direct-air capture and carbon capture and sequestration are processes that capture CO2 from the air , treat it and then store it permanently in underground earth formations or put it into various industrial uses .
For instance , captured CO2 is injected into depleted oil fields to enhance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that CO2-based products could be worth up to $ 1 trillion by 2030 with carbon capture reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a billion metric tons annually .
Climeworks , a Swiss startup and ETH-spinoff , has raised $ 75 million in funding for “ direct-air capture ” of carbon dioxide in what it has termed the largest private investment in this pollution-mitigating technology .
Climeworks has now raised a total of $ 124 million since its founding 11 years ago .
The startup has more than 100 employees in Switzerland , the Netherlands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been continuously perfected over the decades .
However , drilling through very deep , hard , and hot rocks for geothermal , oil and gas and nuclear waste entombment using these methods can be a real pain .
Drilling using only high energy beams , aka Direct Energy Drilling has been developed to drill through these tough rock formations .
Millimeter waves ( MMW ) at 30-300 gigahertz ( GHz ) frequency are used to accomplish these feats .
Quaise is a startup that ’ s developing millimeter wave drilling capabilities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently raised $ 6 million in seed funding led by MIT spinoff , The Engine , along with Vinod Khosla and Collaborative Fund .
Quaise plans to develop and commercialize a deep drilling method invented at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center , whereby a gyrotron is used to generate millimetric electromagnetic waves for drilling at depths of 10-20 kilometers that would be impossible with conventional drilling .

By Alex Kimani
The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the energy sector well beyond the fossil fuel collapse. The renewable energy industry was in full swing before the health crisis struck with 184 gigawatts (GW) of new clean energy capacity added in 2019, good for 12% Y/Y growth. Unfortunately, a short-run contraction is now expected with Morgan Stanley projecting declines of 48%, 28%, and 17% in U.S. solar photovoltaic installations during the second, third, and fourth quarters of the current year.
Luckily, the crisis has not completely stalled the sector, with cleantech and renewable energy projects continuing to attract significant amounts of funding.
Although most high-profile energy investments have been in batteries and energy storage, recent funding rounds have favored novel technologies from fusion and graphene to solid-state circuit breakers, direct-air capture of CO2, and geothermal drilling.
Here are five innovative cleantech projects that have been winning VC funding.
#1 Fusion Scientists and energy experts consider nuclear fusion the Holy Grail for clean, abundant, and sustainable power. Unfortunately, a host of technical issues have so far prevented the technology from becoming a reality, though France’s International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is working hard to change that, as we explained here.
And now another fusion startup is trying to succeed where others have failed.
Bloomberg has reported that Commonwealth Fusion Systems has raised $84 million from Singapore’s Temasek Holding, Norway’s Equinor, and other investors in its latest round. Founded by MIT researchers in 2018, Commonwealth Fusion Systems has now raised more than $200 million.
More than $1.2 billion has poured into private fusion startups such as Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Canada’s General Fusion Inc., U.S.’ TAE Technologies Inc., and U.K.’s Tokamak Energy Ltd. The $22 billion ITER is a collaborative effort by 35 countries and expects to begin testing in five years.
#2 Solid-state circuit breakers
Source: Venture Beat
Solid-state circuit breakers are beginning to replace traditional electromechanical and magnetic circuit breakers due to advantages such as faster switching times, being free from arcing and switch bounce, higher reliability, and longer lifetimes. A typical solid-state circuit breaker is capable of switching in a matter of microseconds compared to milliseconds or even several seconds for a mechanical version.
Atom Power is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based startup that is developing solid-state circuit breakers for commercial and industrial buildings. Atom’s digital circuit breakers are 3,000x faster than a typical electromechanical switch and also sport software-enabled features, including remote control and on/off scheduling, that allow it to act as a motor controller. The device allows the user to seamlessly switch energy sources (e.g., from grid to V2G to solar power) and also manage consumption and EV charging.
According to Venture Beat, the startup has raised $17.8 million in a Series B round of funding from its VC partners including Rockwell Automation, Valor Equity Partners, ABB Technology Ventures and Atreides Management., bringing its total funding to ~$35 million from investors including Valor Equity Partners, Rockwell Automation. ABB Technology Ventures and Atreides Management.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
#3 Graphene “super battery”
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon that comes in super-thin sheets, one-atom-thick. Graphene is considered the thinnest, strongest, and most conductive material. The graphene industry is still at its infancy, with plenty of promising applications including faster and efficient electronics, efficient solar panels, anti-corrosion coatings and paints, efficient and precise sensors, flexible displays, faster DNA sequencing, and drug delivery among others.
Being the world’s thinnest material, graphene has the highest surface-area to volume ratio, making it an ideal for batteries and supercapacitors that can store more energy–and charge faster, too.
Battery and graphene startup Nanotech Energy has reported that it has closed a $27.5 million funding round, giving it a post-funding valuation of $227.5 million. This brings its total funding to more than $30 million since its founding in 2014. The investors, though, were not disclosed.
According to Nanotech Energy CEO Jack Kavanaugh, the company plans to use the funding to develop a non-flammable, environmentally friendly lithium battery that can charge “18x faster than anything currently available on the market.” The company hopes to release the prototype sometime within the next year.
#4 Direct-air capture of CO2 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that we need to limit global warming to no more than 1.5?C or face the consequences of irreversible damage to entire ecosystems. The harsh truth, however, is that this is virtually impossible to achieve without removing CO2 directly from the atmosphere. Direct-air capture and carbon capture and sequestration are processes that capture CO2 from the air, treat it and then store it permanently in underground earth formations or put it into various industrial uses. For instance, captured CO2 is injected into depleted oil fields to enhance oil recovery.
McKinsey & Company estimates that CO2-based products could be worth up to $1 trillion by 2030 with carbon capture reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a billion metric tons annually.
Climeworks, a Swiss startup and ETH-spinoff, has raised $75 million in funding for “direct-air capture” of carbon dioxide in what it has termed the largest private investment in this pollution-mitigating technology.
Climeworks has now raised a total of $124 million since its founding 11 years ago. The startup has more than 100 employees in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany.
#5 Drilling tech for deep geothermal
Conventional drilling methods have been continuously perfected over the decades. However, drilling through very deep, hard, and hot rocks for geothermal, oil and gas and nuclear waste entombment using these methods can be a real pain.
Drilling using only high energy beams, aka Direct Energy Drilling has been developed to drill through these tough rock formations. Millimeter waves (MMW) at 30-300 gigahertz (GHz) frequency are used to accomplish these feats.
Quaise is a startup that’s developing millimeter wave drilling capabilities to access deep geothermal energy. The company recently raised $6 million in seed funding led by MIT spinoff, The Engine, along with Vinod Khosla and Collaborative Fund.
Quaise plans to develop and commercialize a deep drilling method invented at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, whereby a gyrotron is used to generate millimetric electromagnetic waves for drilling at depths of 10-20 kilometers that would be impossible with conventional drilling.
By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--THAT ZUCKS: Facebook censors, threatens Disrn for sharing W.H.O. official’s exact words.

Facebook censored a news post from Disrn on Monday and threatened us with having our “ overall distribution reduced , ” our “ ability to monetize and advertise removed , ” and our “ ability to register as a news Page removed.
” The post flagged by Facebook linked to this Disrn story reporting the words of a World Health Organization official , who said on June 8 that asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus was “ very rare.
” Almost all mainstream news outlets reported this story on June 8 , and so did Disrn .
The next day , W.H.O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disrn reported the retraction on that very same day .
Disrn received a warning from Facebook on Monday , accusing the original story of containing “ partly false information.
” The warning also threatened to reduce our visibility on Facebook , demonetize us , and remove our status as a news page : To fight false news , Facebook reduces the distribution of misleading content while also showing additional reporting on the same topic .
Pages and websites that repeatedly publish or share misleading content will see their overall distribution reduced , their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their ability to register as a news Page removed .
People will also be able to see if a Page has a history of sharing false news .
Apparently Facebook ’ s new commitment to open debate didn ’ t last as long as was hoped .

via disrn
Facebook censored a news post from Disrn on Monday and threatened us with having our “overall distribution reduced,” our “ability to monetize and advertise removed,” and our “ability to register as a news Page removed.”
The post flagged by Facebook linked to this Disrn story reporting the words of a World Health Organization official, who said on June 8 that asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus was “very rare.” Almost all mainstream news outlets reported this story on June 8, and so did Disrn.
The next day, W.H.O. walked back the comments, and Disrn reported the retraction on that very same day.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Disrn received a warning from Facebook on Monday, accusing the original story of containing “partly false information.” The warning also threatened to reduce our visibility on Facebook, demonetize us, and remove our status as a news page:
To fight false news, Facebook reduces the distribution of misleading content while also showing additional reporting on the same topic. Pages and websites that repeatedly publish or share misleading content will see their overall distribution reduced, their ability to monetize and advertise removed, and their ability to register as a news Page removed. People will also be able to see if a Page has a history of sharing false news. Deleting the misleading content won’t affect these outcomes.
Apparently Facebook’s new commitment to open debate didn’t last as long as was hoped.
h/t SG


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--The COLLAPSE Of The LOCKDOWN Economy! – Why Bailing Out EVERYTHING Doesn’t Work!

Josh Sigurdson reports on the bailout of everything and how the collapse of the global economy is based almost entirely on a lie which appears to be perpetuating alongside the continued collapse .
We go into an article by Daniel Lacalle regarding how bailing out everything doesn ’ t work .
With that , we talk about the very real potential of a second lockdown as we continue to be lied to by people who benefit from our subservience and apathy .
Most small businesses are going under and are likely to be hit a second time .
On top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at not only loaning the small businesses money , but taking equity in the companies they ’ re bailing out due to the fact that they can not afford to pay back the debts they would owe .
This will continue to get worse before it gets better and why did it even happen in the first place ?
Either the establishment is incredibly stupid or genius , using our fears to enforce the most crazy laws and pop the biggest economic bubble in history .
But we ’ re told not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trillions at the stock market .
We ’ ll see about that…

Josh Sigurdson reports on the bailout of everything and how the collapse of the global economy is based almost entirely on a lie which appears to be perpetuating alongside the continued collapse. We go into an article by Daniel Lacalle regarding how bailing out everything doesn’t work. With that, we talk about the very real potential of a second lockdown as we continue to be lied to by people who benefit from our subservience and apathy. Most small businesses are going under and are likely to be hit a second time. On top of that, many governments are looking at not only loaning the small businesses money, but taking equity in the companies they’re bailing out due to the fact that they cannot afford to pay back the debts they would owe. This will continue to get worse before it gets better and why did it even happen in the first place? Either the establishment is incredibly stupid or genius, using our fears to enforce the most crazy laws and pop the biggest economic bubble in history. But we’re told not to worry because the Federal Reserve with throw trillions at the stock market. We’ll see about that…
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investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--This is worse than January/February

This is worse than January/February

Despite massive government and central bank stimuli , the global economy is seeing a concerning rise in defaults and delinquencies @ @ @ @ @ “ Bailout Of Everything ” Watch this video to find out moret.co/8QYZhj8PAE

Despite massive government and central bank stimuli, the global economy is seeing a concerning rise in defaults and delinquencies.
The Risk of the “Bailout Of Everything”
Watch this video to find out moret.co/8QYZhj8PAE
— Daniel Lacalle (@dlacalle_IA) June 15, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Last week: “We want investors to price in risk like markets should” – Powell… Today: “Fed will begin

Last week: “We want investors to price in risk like markets should” – Powell… Today: “Fed will begin buying broad portfolio of corporate bonds” – Bloomberg

The Federal Reserve is expanding its foray into corporate credit to now buy individual corporate bonds , on top of @ @ @ @ @ is buying , the central bank announced Monday .

Last week: "We want investors to price in risk like markets should"
– Powell Today: “Fed will begin buying broad portfolio of corporate bonds” – Bloomberg None of us own enough gold. pic.twitter.com/oJbW19pyYj — Otavio (Tavi) Costa (@TaviCosta) June 15, 2020
The Federal Reserve is expanding its foray into corporate credit to now buy individual corporate bonds, on top of the exchange-traded funds it already is buying, the central bank announced Monday.
www.cnbc.com/2020/06/15/the-fed-says-it-is-going-to-start-buying-individual-corporate-bonds.html
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You will never see this again for the rest of your life There are hundreds of people in the US Government
that spend all day everyday
trying to pump the stock market higher All day
Everyday And It’s going to end badly 😉@DiMartinoBooth @GaryKaltbaum @frugalprofblog #qe — Reminiscences of an American Capitalist (@4Awesometweet) June 15, 2020
Fed Buying Individual Corp Bonds Adds Liquidity to Market – Corp bond defaults increase significantly, the Fed comes to the rescue of high quality bonds keeping a floor under the high quality bond market. @LanceRoberts @michaellebowitz @DiMartinoBooth @nomiprins #recession2020 pic.twitter.com/asmTO2zoUq — Patrick Hill (@PatrickHill1677) June 15, 2020
When you copy Japan and Europe you get Japanese and European stagnation *FED WILL BEGIN BUYING BROAD PORTFOLIO OF U.S. CORPORATE BONDS t.co/VhRylZSFJS — Daniel Lacalle (@dlacalle_IA) June 15, 2020
Once again, the Federal Reserve cavalry rides to rescue the stock market with commitments to buy individual corporate bonds, over-paying and ignoring credit risk in the process. Soon investors will discover the savior brings destruction not salvation, for everything we cherish. — Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) June 15, 2020
Financial communism
Everyone's trying to make ends meet. For example, $3.010 trillion in @federalreserve balance sheet expansion will only get you a few months of inflation expectations. At least, according to the latest @UMich #ConsumerSurvey. Money just doesn't go as far as it used to. pic.twitter.com/09x8LmJvpr — Emil (@EmilKalinowski) June 15, 2020
Doesn't this blatant corruption bother anyone in the press or in Congress? Follow the money. #FedHistory pic.twitter.com/3NOQDM9Zjg — Rudy Havenstein, Exceedingly Chill Autonomous Zone (@RudyHavenstein) June 15, 2020
Central banks have found themselves trapped by their own creation. Having gone too far warming up the party, no-one wants the pain associated with the extended hangover. Secret behind booming stock market in the face of #coronavirus t.co/dWliEb4q53 @abcnews @IanVerrender — Nassim Khadem (@NassimKhadem) June 14, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--PSA: Positive Thinking Is Our Greatest Weapon Against The Enemy

What They Want You To Think : You are alone You are crazy You will never have a social life @ @ @ @ @ job You are not safe in your own home You will have your life turned @ @ @ @ @ The reality is : You are not alone You are not crazy You will have @ @ @ @ @ will not lose your job You will be safe in your own home Your life @ @ @ @ @ We are seeing the satanistic left be systematically deconstructed right before our eyes .
They @ @ @ @ @ pulling out every stop they can think of but the world has united around Trump @ @ @ @ @ stronger than ever .
We are winning , they are just too stupid and too @ @ @ @ @ stop and admit defeat and that will be their downfall .

by CrsCrpr
What They Want You To Think:
You are alone
You are crazy
You will never have a social life again
You will lose your job
You are not safe in your own home
You will have your life turned upside down if you disagree
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The reality is:
You are not alone
You are not crazy
You will have a social life again
You will not lose your job
You will be safe in your own home
Your life will return to normal shortly
We are seeing the satanistic left be systematically deconstructed right before our eyes. They are kicking and screaming and pulling out every stop they can think of but the world has united around Trump and the MAGA movement is stronger than ever. We are winning, they are just too stupid and too afraid to know when to stop and admit defeat and that will be their downfall.


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Business As Usual? Pentagon To Bail Out Covid-Affected Military Contractors!

by Daniel McAdams and Ron Paul of Ron Paul Liberty Report While tens of millions of Americans have seen their @ @ @ @ @ “ stay-at-home ” coronavirus shutdown , the military contractor industry is moving to grab tens @ @ @ @ @ put on leave during the crisis .
The actual private sector may never recover , @ @ @ @ @ eager to get back to the “ old normal ” of massive spending on an @ @ @ @ @ .

by Daniel McAdams and Ron Paul of Ron Paul Liberty Report
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
While tens of millions of Americans have seen their jobs disappear due to the “stay-at-home” coronavirus shutdown, the military contractor industry is moving to grab tens of billions to reimburse workers put on leave during the crisis. The actual private sector may never recover, but the military-industrial complex is eager to get back to the “old normal” of massive spending on an unsustainable US global military empire.


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Ron Paul: Is The ‘Second Wave’ Another Coronavirus Hoax?

Ron Paul , Institute for Peace and Prosperity , Released on 6/15/20 Just a week or so ago the mainstream media and thousands representing the “ medical community ” told us we must throw out the “ stay-at-home ” orders and go to the streets to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police .
The Covid-19 virus will not bother people who are protesting this injustice , they said .
The virus only attacks people leaving their homes to protest the stay-at-home orders .
Now , after thousands of businesses – many of them black-owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innocent people in the inner cities no longer have anywhere to shop for the basic necessities of life , the mainstream media has backed off of its non-stop coverage of the protests .
Suddenly last week they all simultaneously embraced a new fear story to terrify the masses : a “ second wave ” of coronavirus was among us .
It was targeting those states that dared to “ open up ” their economies and begin a return to relatively normal lives .
Texas , Florida , and California were singled out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking that if you dare leave your homes you will catch coronavirus and die .
There was a “ spike ” in coronavirus “ cases ” they claimed .
Funny , just a month or so ago they were demanding that we massively increase testing , which would produce just that “ spike ” in coronavirus cases they are now using to scare authorities into reinstating the incredibly destructive stay-at-home orders .
In the county here in Texas that includes Houston , the young judge who somehow seized the power to shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States warns us that she may again shut down Fort Bend County to fight this “ second wave ” of cases .
She even threatened to again pour millions of dollars into a “ field hospital ” at a Houston football stadium that did not see a single patient in the “ first wave ” of coronavirus .
It ’ s hard not to wonder which politically-connected companies are reaping millions in contracts for an obviously un-needed hospital .
Thousands of hospital beds in Houston are vacant , while cancer patients have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As former Congressman David Stockman points out , the actual coronavirus numbers do not in any way support the media assertion that a “ second wave ” of infection is cresting over Texas .
Stockman informs us that in Texas the “ reported infected case rate of 256 per 100,000 is just 10 percent of the real ‘ hot spot ’ rate of 2,477 per 100,000 in the five boroughs of New York City ; and its mortality rate of 6.2 per 100,000 population is just 3 percent of New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are no “ hot spots ” in Texas .
It ’ s just more media hype .
It ’ s funny that they don ’ t dare mention Georgia , which has also opened its economy and has seen no “ spike ” at all .
The same people who were demanding more testing are now screaming that we must shut the economy down again because these tests – which are notoriously unreliable – are showing more coronavirus cases .
This is a disease that 99.9 percent of the people who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people out of work and the thousands of lives that will end due to the shutdown are never mentioned .
There is something else going on here and it is in no way related to public health .

Ron Paul, Institute for Peace and Prosperity, Released on 6/15/20
Just a week or so ago the mainstream media and thousands representing the “medical community” told us we must throw out the “stay-at-home” orders and go to the streets to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police. The Covid-19 virus will not bother people who are protesting this injustice, they said. The virus only attacks people leaving their homes to protest the stay-at-home orders.
Now, after thousands of businesses – many of them black-owned – have been reduced to rubble and innocent people in the inner cities no longer have anywhere to shop for the basic necessities of life, the mainstream media has backed off of its non-stop coverage of the protests. Suddenly last week they all simultaneously embraced a new fear story to terrify the masses: a “second wave” of coronavirus was among us. It was targeting those states that dared to “open up” their economies and begin a return to relatively normal lives.
Texas, Florida, and California were singled out to scare the rest of the country into thinking that if you dare leave your homes you will catch coronavirus and die. There was a “spike” in coronavirus “cases” they claimed. Funny, just a month or so ago they were demanding that we massively increase testing, which would produce just that “spike” in coronavirus cases they are now using to scare authorities into reinstating the incredibly destructive stay-at-home orders.
In the county here in Texas that includes Houston, the young judge who somehow seized the power to shut down the third largest city in the United States warns us that she may again shut down Fort Bend County to fight this “second wave” of cases. She even threatened to again pour millions of dollars into a “field hospital” at a Houston football stadium that did not see a single patient in the “first wave” of coronavirus. It’s hard not to wonder which politically-connected companies are reaping millions in contracts for an obviously un-needed hospital. Thousands of hospital beds in Houston are vacant, while cancer patients have been refused their screenings and desperately needed treatments.
As former Congressman David Stockman points out, the actual coronavirus numbers do not in any way support the media assertion that a “second wave” of infection is cresting over Texas. Stockman informs us that in Texas the “reported infected case rate of 256 per 100,000 is just 10 percent of the real ‘hot spot’ rate of 2,477 per 100,000 in the five boroughs of New York City; and its mortality rate of 6.2 per 100,000 population is just 3 percent of New York City’s 196 per 100,000 rate.”
There are no “hot spots” in Texas. It’s just more media hype.
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It’s funny that they don’t dare mention Georgia, which has also opened its economy and has seen no “spike” at all.
The same people who were demanding more testing are now screaming that we must shut the economy down again because these tests – which are notoriously unreliable – are showing more coronavirus cases. This is a disease that 99.9 percent of the people who are infected with survive! But 40 million people out of work and the thousands of lives that will end due to the shutdown are never mentioned.
There is something else going on here and it is in no way related to public health.


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Disgraceful, CNN: Guess what’s missing from this story?

On Sunday , CNN tweeted the following : “ An investigation is underway after a Hispanic man is shot and @ @ @ @ @ with the San Bernardino Police Department Saturday evening , the SBPD announces.
” “ An @ @ @ @ @ Hispanic man was shot and killed by a patrol officer with the San Bernardino Police @ @ @ @ @ SBPD announced in a post on Twitter .
Shortly before 8:30 p.m. , the San @ @ @ @ @ call about an adult white man waving a gun .
When officers arrived they found @ @ @ @ @ description ” who was holding what appeared to be a black handgun in his hand @ @ @ @ @ post.
” Read the whole story here .
What ’ s NOT included in their @ @ @ @ @ purposely leaving out photographs which clearly show a perp pointing a gun at cops ?
@ @ @ @ @ that : CNN is nothing but activists for the demorats ’ # defundpolice movement .
@ @ @

by DCG
On Sunday, CNN tweeted the following: “An investigation is underway after a Hispanic man is shot and killed by a patrol officer with the San Bernardino Police Department Saturday evening, the SBPD announces.”
From their story:
“An investigation is underway after a Hispanic man was shot and killed by a patrol officer with the San Bernardino Police Department Saturday evening, the SBPD announced in a post on Twitter.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m., the San Bernadino Police dispatch received a call about an adult white man waving a gun.
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When officers arrived they found a “suspect matching the description” who was holding what appeared to be a black handgun in his hand, according to the SBPD post.”
Read the whole story here.
What’s NOT included in their story?
Why is CNN purposely leaving out photographs which clearly show a perp pointing a gun at cops? We know the answer to that: CNN is nothing but activists for the demorats’ #defundpolice movement. Such hacks.
DCG


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Truth & Reality v Bollocks & Bullshit: a non-negotiable way forward

It represents an update of the Philosophy page at The Slog…..with especial reference to the “ events ” of the last four years .
Intolerant belief systems are the enemy of compassion My philosophy is that all decent human beings should reject all intolerant doctrines – be they religious , ideological , or a combination of both .
Not censor , ban or otherwise oppress them .
Simply reject them as models of thinking .
If you want to be a commentator people respect , then this is my abiding rule : ‘ Commitment to an ideology means putting power-objectives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be an ideologue and tell Truth unto Power ’ The reasoning behind this is based on the clear evidence available suggesting that intolerant doctrines oppress citizens , glorify rigid thinking , justify lawless power , encourage violence and hinder both artistic and scientific development .
To take examples from recent modern history : During the 1920s and 1930s , the USSR regularly doctored all photography and documentation that included disgraced leaders , purged military officials and records of planning failures .
After 1934 , the Nazi State orchestrated the mass burning of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sciences and philosophy that questioned the régime ’ s Weltanschauung .
In the book 1984 , Winston Smith ’ s job is to destroy all old news that the dictator Big Brother thinks might contradict his State narrative .
George Orwell wrote the novel in 1948 .
Almost everything in it is now being adopted by ideologues : Antifa in particular and the American Left in general would like to move , hide , deface or destroy every statue recording the almost universal nature of alternatives to its ideology .
This is true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Islamics , Socialists , neoliberals , radical feminists , globalists , monetarists and neoconservative geopoliticians.The one feature they all have in common is putting belief systems before citizen fulfilment.They are the real enemies of individual development , open-minded philosophy , and the study of social anthropology as a means of improving the human condition .
Intolerant religious , sovereign , bloc , corporate and economic cultures close minds , close ranks , and open hostilities .
Their first concern is to gain and retain power .
Their last concern is the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to hide this , by the misappropriation of words like liberal , progressive , reformed , correct and settled .
We live in a time of acute human crisis : the fearmongering around Brexit , Skripal , Covid 19 megahype , BLM , Let ’ s Get China & now ‘ the Second Wave ’ has reached a stage where most people would put up with anything rather than go through more turmoil .
That has Germany in 1933 written all over the wall in large letters .
But this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reverse the quadrophonic attack on empiricism , and reinstate people ’ s shit-from-sugar synapses .
And how to do it without using techniques that would represent a threat to the individual liberty one ’ s trying to preserve .
It ’ s pure Catch22 at times .
I want to thank all of you – from the latest followers to the Praetorian Guard that date back to 2008 and beyond – for sticking with me through thick fog and thin gruel .
We can still win this War between honest human endeavour and @ @ @

by John Ward
For those of you who are new to this site, the following is an update of The Slog’s infinite commitment to Getting Real as opposed to Going Mad.
It represents an update of the Philosophy page at The Slog…..with especial reference to the “events” of the last four years.
Intolerant belief systems are the enemy of compassion
My philosophy is that all decent human beings should reject all intolerant doctrines – be they religious, ideological, or a combination of both.
Not censor, ban or otherwise oppress them. Simply reject them as models of thinking.
If you want to be a commentator people respect, then this is my abiding rule :
‘Commitment to an ideology means putting power-objectives before Truth: you can’t be an ideologue and tell Truth unto Power’
This is non-negotiable.
The reasoning behind this is based on the clear evidence available suggesting that intolerant doctrines oppress citizens, glorify rigid thinking, justify lawless power, encourage violence and hinder both artistic and scientific development.
Instead of opening minds, catechisms close ranks.
To take examples from recent modern history:During the 1920s and 1930s, the USSR regularly doctored all photography and documentation that included disgraced leaders, purged military officials and records of planning failures.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
After 1934, the Nazi State orchestrated the mass burning of all books on political, ethnic and social sciences and philosophy that questioned the régime’s Weltanschauung.
In the book 1984, Winston Smith’s job is to destroy all old news that the dictator Big Brother thinks might contradict his State narrative. George Orwell wrote the novel in 1948. Almost everything in it is now being adopted by ideologues:Antifa in particular and the American Left in general would like to move, hide, deface or destroy every statue recording the almost universal nature of alternatives to its ideology.
This is true of Soviets, Nazis, self-styled liberals, Islamics, Socialists, neoliberals, radical feminists, globalists, monetarists and neoconservative geopoliticians.The one feature they all have in common is putting belief systems before citizen fulfilment.They are the real enemies of individual development, open-minded philosophy, and the study of social anthropology as a means of improving the human condition.
Intolerant religious, sovereign, bloc, corporate and economic cultures close minds, close ranks, and open hostilities. Their first concern is to gain and retain power. Their last concern is the potential of the individual.
They pervert language in order to hide this, by the misappropriation of words like liberal, progressive, reformed, correct and settled.
We live in a time of acute human crisis: the fearmongering around Brexit, Skripal, Covid 19 megahype, BLM, Let’s Get China & now ‘the Second Wave’ has reached a stage where most people would put up with anything rather than go through more turmoil. That has Germany in 1933 written all over the wall in large letters.
But this is the challenge for every honest observer…..How to reverse the quadrophonic attack on empiricism, and reinstate people’s shit-from-sugar synapses. And how to do it without using techniques that would represent a threat to the individual liberty one’s trying to preserve. It’s pure Catch22 at times.
I want to thank all of you – from the latest followers to the Praetorian Guard that date back to 2008 and beyond – for sticking with me through thick fog and thin gruel.
We can still win this War between honest human endeavour and mendacious megalomaniacs.
Stick with it.


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Another “mob justice” #fail

Another “mob justice” #fail

You probably know the story already : on Friday night , an intoxicated man in Atlanta got behind the wheel of a vehicle and drove to a local Wendy ’ s fast food restaurant .
When he arrived , he passed out while still in the driver ’ s seat of his vehicle… which also happened to be smack dab in the middle of the Wendy ’ s drive-thru lane , so he was blocking the other customers .
Wendy ’ s staff called the police… which seemed sensible enough .
And when the police arrived , the situation remained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voluntarily agreed to take a breathalyzer test , and when his blood-alcohol content was found to be above the legal limit , the police attempted to arrest him .
You know the rest of the story– the man resisted arrest , a fight broke out , he took one of the police officer ’ s stun guns and fired it at the officers while running away , and then he was shot .
He died shortly after .
So what does the mob do ?
They torched the Wendy ’ s .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Wendy ’ s guilty of ?
Were they supposed let a drunk driver obstruct their drive-thru and NOT call the police ?
There ’ s no common sense with this mob .
They do whatever they want , commit any crime , destroy any property , in the name of ‘ social justice ’ .
And just like any mindless fanatic , they even feel righteous about it… as if burning down a Wendy ’ s is somehow a moral victory against the forces of evil .
Yes , technically only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But plenty of others were there , watching , cheering… and even preventing fire fighters from extinguishing the blaze .
It took 45 minutes before the fire department could make its way through the crowd , protected by police , to control the fire .
And by the way , the Wendy ’ s was right next to a gas station… so if the fire had spread , everyone there could have died in a massive explosion .
But this is how the mob works .
It ’ s just a giant emotional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even for their own safety .
It ’ s all about destruction and chaos .
You might have also seen footage of protesters in Virginia who took down a Confederate monument .
This has been all the rage lately– destroying statues and monuments of people they find offensive .
I ’ ll agree , there are definitely a number of monuments in the world to people who have a legacy of evil and hate .
But in a civilized society , there are ways to deal with these things .
Citizens can petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and push to have a monument safely removed .
What we ’ re seeing now is a bunch of idiots who don ’ t know what they ’ re doing trying to dismantle a multi-ton piece of rock .
And– what a surprise– people are getting horribly injured in the process .
In the Virginia example , the statue was toppled right on top of the mob , and one person has major life-threatening injuries when it hit his head .
Again , there ’ s no thinking .
Just violence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wendy ’ s in Atlanta– what did the mob accomplish ?
A bunch of people who have been cooped up and out of work for several months because of Covid were finally able to return to their jobs a few weeks ago .
And , poof , now they ’ re out of work again .
These low-income workers , some of whom may very well be minorities , won ’ t be able to work because the mob torched their place of business .
Yep .
Way to stick it to the @ @

by Simon Black
You probably know the story already: on Friday night, an intoxicated man in Atlanta got behind the wheel of a vehicle and drove to a local Wendy’s fast food restaurant.
When he arrived, he passed out while still in the driver’s seat of his vehicle… which also happened to be smack dab in the middle of the Wendy’s drive-thru lane, so he was blocking the other customers.
Wendy’s staff called the police… which seemed sensible enough. And when the police arrived, the situation remained polite and calm.
The man failed voluntarily agreed to take a breathalyzer test, and when his blood-alcohol content was found to be above the legal limit, the police attempted to arrest him.
You know the rest of the story– the man resisted arrest, a fight broke out, he took one of the police officer’s stun guns and fired it at the officers while running away, and then he was shot. He died shortly after.
So what does the mob do? They torched the Wendy’s.
This is total madness. What possible wrongdoing is Wendy’s guilty of? Were they supposed let a drunk driver obstruct their drive-thru and NOT call the police?
There’s no common sense with this mob. They do whatever they want, commit any crime, destroy any property, in the name of ‘social justice’.
And just like any mindless fanatic, they even feel righteous about it… as if burning down a Wendy’s is somehow a moral victory against the forces of evil.
Yes, technically only one person set the building on fire. But plenty of others were there, watching, cheering… and even preventing fire fighters from extinguishing the blaze. It took 45 minutes before the fire department could make its way through the crowd, protected by police, to control the fire.
And by the way, the Wendy’s was right next to a gas station… so if the fire had spread, everyone there could have died in a massive explosion.
But this is how the mob works. It’s just a giant emotional gland. There’s no thinking… even for their own safety. It’s all about destruction and chaos.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
You might have also seen footage of protesters in Virginia who took down a Confederate monument. This has been all the rage lately– destroying statues and monuments of people they find offensive.
I’ll agree, there are definitely a number of monuments in the world to people who have a legacy of evil and hate.
But in a civilized society, there are ways to deal with these things. Citizens can petition the local government, have a hearing, and push to have a monument safely removed.
What we’re seeing now is a bunch of idiots who don’t know what they’re doing trying to dismantle a multi-ton piece of rock. And– what a surprise– people are getting horribly injured in the process.
In the Virginia example, the statue was toppled right on top of the mob, and one person has major life-threatening injuries when it hit his head.
Again, there’s no thinking. Just violence and destruction.
If you look at the Wendy’s in Atlanta– what did the mob accomplish? A bunch of people who have been cooped up and out of work for several months because of Covid were finally able to return to their jobs a few weeks ago.
And, poof, now they’re out of work again. These low-income workers, some of whom may very well be minorities, won’t be able to work because the mob torched their place of business.
Yep. Way to stick it to the man.


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Savings Are Critical to a Prosperous Economy

It is held by most mainstream economists that spending is the heart of economic activity .
Economic activity is depicted as a circular flow of money .
Spending by one individual becomes part of the earnings of another individual , and vice versa .
In contrast saving is viewed negatively as it weakens the potential demand for goods and services .
If , however , people have become less confident about the future , it is held that they will cut back on their outlays and hoard more money .
Therefore , once an individual spends less , this worsens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who in turn also cuts his spending .
A vicious cycle is set in motion .
The decline in people ’ s confidence causes them to spend less and to hoard more money .
This lowers economic activity further , thereby causing people to hoard more , etc .
The cure for this , it is argued , is for the central bank to pump money .
By putting more cash in people ’ s hands , consumer confidence will increase , people will then spend more , and the circular flow of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sounds very appealing .
Indeed various surveys show that during a recession , businesses emphasize the lack of consumer demand as the major factor behind their poor performances .
Note that this approach ignores the production of goods and services .
Are we to take such production for granted ?
Is it always there , with just the demand for that output being lacking ?
In the real world , one has to become a producer first before one can demand goods and services .
It is necessary to produce some useful goods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For instance , when a baker produces bread , not everything he produces is for his own consumption .
In fact , most of the bread he produces is exchanged for the goods and services of other producers , implying that through the production of bread , the baker generates an effective demand for other goods .
In this sense , his demand is fully backed by the bread that he has produced .
What limits the production of goods and services is the introduction of better tools and machinery ( i.e.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers productivity .
Tools and machinery however are not readily available – they must be produced .
In order to make them , people must allocate consumer goods that will sustain those individuals engaged in the production of tools and machinery .
This allocation of consumer goods is what savings is all about .
Since saving enables the production of capital goods , saving is obviously at the heart of the economic growth that raises people ’ s living standards .
Observe that the saved consumer goods support all the stages of production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the producers of raw materials , the producers of tools and machinery , and all the other intermediate stages of production and services .
Also , note that individuals do not want various tools and machinery as such but rather consumer goods .
In order to maintain their life and wellbeing people require access to consumer goods .
The introduction of money does not alter the essence of saving .
Money fulfills the role of the medium of exchange .
It enables the output of one producer to be exchanged for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while money serves as the medium of exchange , it does not produce goods and services .
Note also that , in the money economy , ultimate payment is made by exchanging real goods and services for other real goods and services , with this exchange simply being facilitated by money .
Thus , a baker exchanges his bread for money and then employs that money to buy other goods and services , implying that he pays for other goods and services with his bread .
Money only facilitates this payment .
Contrary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow that one can lift economic growth via the printing presses .
When money is printed—that is , created “ out of thin air ” by the central bank or through fractional reserve banking—it sets in motion an exchange of nothing for money and then money for something .
This results in an exchange of nothing for something .
An exchange of nothing for something amounts to consumption that is not supported by production .
When money “ out of thin air ” gives rise to consumption that is not supported by preceding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real savings that supports the production of goods of a wealth producer .
This , in turn , undermines his production of goods , thereby weakening his effective demand for the goods of other wealth producers .
The other wealth producers are then forced to curtail their production of goods , thereby weakening their effective demand for the goods of yet other wealth producers .
In this way , money “ out of thin air ” that destroys savings sets up the dynamics of the consequent shrinkage of the production flow .
Observe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goods is not the sudden and capricious behavior of consumers , but the increase in money out of “ thin air.
” Every dollar that was created this way amounts to a corresponding dissaving by that amount .
As long as the pool of real savings is expanding , the central bank and government officials can give the impression that loose monetary and fiscal policies drive the economy .
This illusion is shattered once the pool becomes stagnant or starts declining .
What enables the expansion of the flow of production of goods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through savings , which give rise to production , that demand for goods can be exercised .
There can be no effective demand without prior production .
If it were otherwise , poverty in the world would have been eradicated a long time ago .
People do not save money .
Rather they exchange it for goods and services .
Once savings are exchanged for money , the holder of the money can employ it immediately in an exchange for other goods or can hold it temporarily .
Whether he uses it immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puts it under the mattress , or keeps it in his pocket will not alter the existing pool of savings .
How individuals decide to employ their money will only alter their demand for money .
This , however , has nothing to do with savings , which are the production of consumer goods in excess of the consumption of these goods .
By lending money , individuals also in fact lower their demand for money .
The act of lending does not alter the existing pool of savings , either .
Likewise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to acquire a financial asset such as a bond or a stock , he simply transfers his money to the seller of that financial asset—no present savings are affected because of these transactions .
Contrary to popular thinking , monetary expansion can not generate economic growth , but rather economic destruction .
The heart of economic growth is the expanding pool of real savings .
Monetary pumping destroys the flow of real savings and in turn undermines the prospects for economic growth .
Any attempt to replace savings with money will end in @ @ @ @

by Frank Shostak via Mises
It is held by most mainstream economists that spending is the heart of economic activity. Economic activity is depicted as a circular flow of money. Spending by one individual becomes part of the earnings of another individual, and vice versa. In contrast saving is viewed negatively as it weakens the potential demand for goods and services.
If, however, people have become less confident about the future, it is held that they will cut back on their outlays and hoard more money. Therefore, once an individual spends less, this worsens the situation of some other individual, who in turn also cuts his spending.
A vicious cycle is set in motion. The decline in people’s confidence causes them to spend less and to hoard more money. This lowers economic activity further, thereby causing people to hoard more, etc.
The cure for this, it is argued, is for the central bank to pump money. By putting more cash in people’s hands, consumer confidence will increase, people will then spend more, and the circular flow of money will reassert itself.
All this sounds very appealing. Indeed various surveys show that during a recession, businesses emphasize the lack of consumer demand as the major factor behind their poor performances.
Note that this approach ignores the production of goods and services. Are we to take such production for granted? Is it always there, with just the demand for that output being lacking?
In the real world, one has to become a producer first before one can demand goods and services. It is necessary to produce some useful goods that can be exchanged for other goods.
For instance, when a baker produces bread, not everything he produces is for his own consumption. In fact, most of the bread he produces is exchanged for the goods and services of other producers, implying that through the production of bread, the baker generates an effective demand for other goods. In this sense, his demand is fully backed by the bread that he has produced.
What limits the production of goods and services is the introduction of better tools and machinery (i.e., capital goods), which raises workers productivity. Tools and machinery however are not readily available – they must be produced. In order to make them, people must allocate consumer goods that will sustain those individuals engaged in the production of tools and machinery.
This allocation of consumer goods is what savings is all about. Since saving enables the production of capital goods, saving is obviously at the heart of the economic growth that raises people’s living standards.
Observe that the saved consumer goods support all the stages of production, from the producers of consumer goods to the producers of raw materials, the producers of tools and machinery, and all the other intermediate stages of production and services. Also, note that individuals do not want various tools and machinery as such but rather consumer goods. In order to maintain their life and wellbeing people require access to consumer goods.
Introducing Money
The introduction of money does not alter the essence of saving. Money fulfills the role of the medium of exchange. It enables the output of one producer to be exchanged for the output of another producer. Note that while money serves as the medium of exchange, it does not produce goods and services.
According to Rothbard,
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Money, per se, cannot be consumed and cannot be used directly as a producers’ good in the productive process. Money per se is therefore unproductive; it is dead stock and produces nothing.
Note also that, in the money economy, ultimate payment is made by exchanging real goods and services for other real goods and services, with this exchange simply being facilitated by money. Thus, a baker exchanges his bread for money and then employs that money to buy other goods and services, implying that he pays for other goods and services with his bread. Money only facilitates this payment.
Contrary to popular thinking, it does not follow that one can lift economic growth via the printing presses. When money is printed—that is, created “out of thin air” by the central bank or through fractional reserve banking—it sets in motion an exchange of nothing for money and then money for something. This results in an exchange of nothing for something.
An exchange of nothing for something amounts to consumption that is not supported by production.
When money “out of thin air” gives rise to consumption that is not supported by preceding production, it lowers the amount of real savings that supports the production of goods of a wealth producer. This, in turn, undermines his production of goods, thereby weakening his effective demand for the goods of other wealth producers.
The other wealth producers are then forced to curtail their production of goods, thereby weakening their effective demand for the goods of yet other wealth producers. In this way, money “out of thin air” that destroys savings sets up the dynamics of the consequent shrinkage of the production flow.
Observe that what has weakened the demand for goods is not the sudden and capricious behavior of consumers, but the increase in money out of “thin air.” Every dollar that was created this way amounts to a corresponding dissaving by that amount.
As long as the pool of real savings is expanding, the central bank and government officials can give the impression that loose monetary and fiscal policies drive the economy. This illusion is shattered once the pool becomes stagnant or starts declining.
What enables the expansion of the flow of production of goods and services is savings. It is through savings, which give rise to production, that demand for goods can be exercised. There can be no effective demand without prior production. If it were otherwise, poverty in the world would have been eradicated a long time ago.
Do People Save Money?
People do not save money. Rather they exchange it for goods and services. Once savings are exchanged for money, the holder of the money can employ it immediately in an exchange for other goods or can hold it temporarily.
Whether he uses it immediately in an exchange for other goods, puts it under the mattress, or keeps it in his pocket will not alter the existing pool of savings. How individuals decide to employ their money will only alter their demand for money. This, however, has nothing to do with savings, which are the production of consumer goods in excess of the consumption of these goods.
By lending money, individuals also in fact lower their demand for money. The act of lending does not alter the existing pool of savings, either. Likewise, if the owner of money decides to acquire a financial asset such as a bond or a stock, he simply transfers his money to the seller of that financial asset—no present savings are affected because of these transactions.
Conclusions
Contrary to popular thinking, monetary expansion cannot generate economic growth, but rather economic destruction. The heart of economic growth is the expanding pool of real savings. Monetary pumping destroys the flow of real savings and in turn undermines the prospects for economic growth. Any attempt to replace savings with money will end in an economic disaster.
Murray N. Rothbard, Man, Economy, and State (Los Angeles: Nash Publishing, 1970), p. 670./


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--FDA is out of control and actively working to sabotage America. Trump needs to get a grip on the sit

FDA is out of control and actively working to sabotage America. Trump needs to get a grip on the situation immediately.

Right after that fake Surgisphere study that claimed HCQ doesn ’ t work got retracted for being of extremely low-quality @ @ @ @ @ HCQ for coronavirus ahead of a 2nd wave .
The agenda is clear .
The @ @ @ @ @ to prevent Americans from receiving the critical medicine they need to stop another coronavirus wave @ @ @ @ @ toll will be as high as possible , forcing another lockdown and causing an economy @ @ @ @ @ nuked .
The FDA has now become the enemy of the people .
# DefundTheFDA @ @ @ @

by Shreddit
“FDA revokes emergency use of hydroxychloroquine”.
Right after that fake Surgisphere study that claimed HCQ doesn’t work got retracted for being of extremely low-quality, the FDA mysteriously bans HCQ for coronavirus ahead of a 2nd wave.
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The agenda is clear. The FDA is abusing regulatory power to prevent Americans from receiving the critical medicine they need to stop another coronavirus wave. This guarantees the death toll will be as high as possible, forcing another lockdown and causing an economy depression on par with getting nuked. The FDA has now become the enemy of the people. #DefundTheFDA #AmericanLivesMatter #StopKillingOurPeople
www.cnbc.com/2020/06/15/fda-revokes-emergency-use-of-hydroxychloroquine.html


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--Alabama’s Coronavirus Cases Are Skyrocketing, Breaking Records For 4 Straight Days

Coronavirus cases reported in Alabama are increasing at a rapid rate , setting records for new single-day cases each of @ @ @ @ @ over 1,000 cases were reported on Sunday alone—the first time that ’ s happened since @ @ @ @ @ state is one of several that have experienced a massive increase in new cases over @ @ @ @

Alabama’s Coronavirus Cases Are Skyrocketing, Breaking Records For 4 Straight Days
Coronavirus cases reported in Alabama are increasing at a rapid rate, setting records for new single-day cases each of the past four days; over 1,000 cases were reported on Sunday alone—the first time that’s happened since the pandemic started as the state is one of several that have experienced a massive increase in new cases over the past week.
www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2020/06/14/alabamas-coronavirus-cases-are-skyrocketing-breaking-records-for-4-straight-days/amp/
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Not only Alabama..
h/t Goneviral


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-15--N.Y. Gov. Cuomo Could ‘Reverse’ Reopening In Regions Breaking Social Distancing Rules, Restaurants A

N.Y. Gov .
Cuomo Could ‘ Reverse ’ Reopening In Regions Breaking Social Distancing Rules , Restaurants And Bars Could @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 Andrew Cuomo , Coronavirus , COVID-19 , Local TV , Manhattan , Reopening @ @ @ @ @ Hamptons ALBANY , — New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo sent a stern warning to @ @ @ @ @ after reports came in from across the state of large gatherings where people were ignoring @ @ @ @ @ masks .
Crowds Packed Streets Outside Manhattan Bars , Restaurants Over Weekend ; Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ t Make Me Come Down There ’ “ We have gotten 25,000 complaints , @ @ @ @ @ businesses that are in violation of the reopening plan , ” said Cuomo .
“ @ @ @ @ @ complaints in a shorter period of time .
”

N.Y. Gov. Cuomo Could ‘Reverse’ Reopening In Regions Breaking Social Distancing Rules, Restaurants And Bars Could Lose Liquor Licenses
June 14, 2020
Andrew Cuomo, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Local TV, Manhattan, Reopening, Social Distancing, The Hamptons
ALBANY,— New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sent a stern warning to restaurant and bar owners Sunday after reports came in from across the state of large gatherings where people were ignoring social distancing and not wearing masks.
Crowds Packed Streets Outside Manhattan Bars, Restaurants Over Weekend; Gov. Cuomo Threatens, ‘Don’t Make Me Come Down There’
“We have gotten 25,000 complaints, to the state, of businesses that are in violation of the reopening plan,” said Cuomo. “We have never received more complaints in a shorter period of time.”
www.newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/06/14/n-y-gov-cuomo-could-reverse-reopening-in-regions-breaking-social-distancing-rules-restaurants-and-bars-could-lose-liquor-licenses