January 2, 2016

Bits Bucket for January 2, 2016

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239 Comments »

Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 01:50:35

Are you concerned about the prospect of a near-term U.S. recession?

Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 01:52:13

The US economy is ‘becoming more vulnerable’
Matt Turner
Dec. 31, 2015, 10:41 AM
A pair of elderly couples view the ocean and waves along the beach in La Jolla, California March 8, 2012.
REUTERS/Mike Blake Thomson Reuters
BILLIONAIRE INVESTOR: ‘A high probability that we’re looking at a recession’
After the Fed’s historic decision to raise rates, Janet Yellen explains why a recession isn’t likely and why the future of interest rates will be unpredictable

The risk of a US recession over a two- to three-year horizon has “increased materially,” according to JPMorgan strategists led by Bruce Kasman.

In a note titled “Is it safe?” published Thursday, the strategists said that 2016 is likely to see “pockets of stress,” and that the US economic expansion is becoming “more vulnerable.”

The JPMorgan strategists are not the first to highlight the increasing risks of a recession.

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 06:51:43

“Here are the key findings of the report:

Seventy-two percent of the companies reviewed by AP had adjusted profits that were higher than net income in the first quarter of this year.
For a smaller group of the companies reviewed, 21 percent of the total, adjusted profits soared 50 percent or more over net income. This was true of just 13 percent of the group in the same period five years ago.
From 2010 through 2014, adjusted profits for the S&P 500 came in $583 billion higher than net income. It’s as if each company in the S&P 500 got a check in the mail for an extra eight months of earnings.
Fifteen companies with adjusted profits actually had bottom-line losses over the five years. Investors have poured money into their stocks just the same.
Stocks are getting more expensive. Three years ago, investors paid $13.50 for every dollar of adjusted profits for companies in the S&P 500 index, according to S&P Capital IQ. Now, they’re paying nearly $18.”

http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/2016-market-outlook-forecast-01-01-16/

 
 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 01:53:53

The biggest names on Wall Street are weighing in on the big recession question
Jonathan Marino
Dec. 19, 2015, 9:47 AM
See Also
GOLDMAN: The junk-bond meltdown is so bad it’s making history — here’s why the Fed won’t flinch
FUND MANAGER: At this point, only one thing could tip the US into recession

For a long time, Wall Street was focused on rates, and when the Federal Reserve would put an end to the zero-interest-rate-policy era.

Now the focus is switching to another R-word: recession.

The Fed finally hiked last week, but even as it did so there were some predicting that central banks would revert to easing and zero.

That is because many are now predicting a recession.

“If the next recession comes in the next couple of years it’s hard to imagine Fed Funds being high enough that the Fed will be able to avoid returning to zero again with risks that QE4 will be needed,” Deutsche Bank’s Jim Reid said last week.

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 06:56:00

“QE is like a roach motel, once in you cant get out.” PETER SCHIFF

Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 07:22:38

I’m sorry but I just don’t see it that way, at least not right at this minute. Stock market is jacked back up. House prices jacked back up also. Everything seems to be going great guns and oil has collapsed which is kinda like a mini stimulus check for people and businesses dependent on oil or gas. Lotsa talk about collapses and meltdowns but where is the real world effect?

Crater?

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Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 07:27:31

Demand my friend demand.

Remember….. I can ask $50k for my 10 year old Chevy pickup but where is the buyer at that price?

So it is with all depreciating assets like houses.

 
Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 07:27:52

u real have drank the kool aid haven’t u buddy?

 
Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 08:03:21

No koolade. But I just watched the entire financial structure of the country manipulated to drive housing and stocks back up with very little reckoning. I believe the fundamentals should cause a crash, but I also see everyone pretending like the crash in 08 never happened.

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 08:24:38

I also see everyone pretending like the crash in 08 never happened.

The fact the 95% of the population have become so culturally and genetically dumbed down that they are oblivious to what’s happpening around them is not an indicator of economic health.

 
Comment by Mr. Banker
2016-01-02 09:08:11

“The fact the 95% of the population have become so culturally and genetically dumbed down that they are oblivious to what’s happpening around them is not an indicator of economic health.”

My economic health is directly related to just how dumbed down 95% of the population is. What pisses me off is the remaining 5% - boat rockers all! - who try to inject reasoning into various financial transactions.

 
Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-02 11:59:02

But I just watched the entire financial structure of the country manipulated to drive housing and stocks back up with very little reckoning.

The “reckoning”—by its very definition—is something that comes along later… Patience, my friend.

 
Comment by MacBeth
2016-01-02 15:00:53

The stock market essentially has not budged since November of 2014.

It has been sideways since.

 
Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 15:27:48

Sideways is far from a 50 percent haircut. And it looks like it went up til earlier this year then dropped a little recently.

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:14:54

My economic health is directly related to just how dumbed down 95% of the population is. What pisses me off is the remaining 5% - boat rockers all! - who try to inject reasoning into various financial transactions.

Well, Mr. Banker, that intelligent, thinking 5% looks like an irreduceable hard core - the 95% who were born or rendered stupid have already been reduced to that state. So you’re going to just have to live with us boat rockers. We for our part are going to have to accept that that for 95% of our fellow ‘Muricans, stupidity is a lifelong, irreversible condition.

 
Comment by Mr. Banker
2016-01-03 00:00:48

Bastard! Reasoning should have no place in a financial transaction.

If reasoning were to prevail then most transactions would never occur. Shopping would fall off to nothing and the terrorists would win.

 
 
 
 
 
Comment by Goon
Comment by aNYCdj
2016-01-02 07:43:40

i guess Ive always been ahead of MY time……

cultural libertarians think of new ways to provoke and offend people.

Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 08:08:11

And perhaps get fired from your job for speaking the truth? This is the new McCarthyism. There are a number of topics that you may not speak freely and truthfully about without being fired. Do not say that you believe Caitlyn to be a psychologically sick deviant.

Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-02 08:18:04

“There are a number of topics that you may not speak freely and truthfully about without being fired.”

Such as global warming, climate change - whatever. If you are working in the field all that needs to happen to you is for you to be labeled a “denialist”, and once this happens you are screwed.

In most of science to question is to expand understanding.
When it comes to climate change to question is to deny.

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Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 08:29:26

It’s always been that way in the business world. There are things you can joke about, and things you can say that will get you fired. Those things might change in a way that you don’t like, but it’s not some new phenomenon.

Speaking “the truth” can often get you fired. That’s always been true.

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Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 08:49:26

So much for First Amendment protections.

 
Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-02 08:56:46

“So much for First Amendment protections.”

The First Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Note the first word, which is Congress. Chances are good your employer is not Congress thus chances are good that your exercise of your freedom of speech is not protected from your employer.

 
Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 08:58:13

So much for First Amendment protections.

Well, there’s a public sphere and a private sphere, and that’s an important thing to understand about how the Constitution works.

Has there ever been a time when you could call your boss an ass and not potentially get fired for it? By claiming your right to free speech?

 
Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-02 08:59:18

You may be granted the right to freedom of speech but this right does not necessarily mean you will remain employed afterward.

 
Comment by Anklepants
2016-01-02 09:10:13

This has not always been true. HR departments run amok and potential lawsuits have expanded exponentially. It ain’t more of the same.

 
 
Comment by The Central Scrutinizer
2016-01-02 10:09:49

Maybe you should shut up and do your job. The workplace isn’t a captive audience for your political whining.

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Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 10:25:53

+1

Religion and politics should not be discussed at work. That’s an old and reliable rule.

 
Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 11:15:35

When the first lawsuits start for people being discriminated against for supporting Trump then you will change your tune. Core 1st amendment political speech will trip up many knee jerk PC types. You no longer need to say you think Caitlyn is disgusting or deviant, just say I support Trump.

 
Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 11:54:30

just say I support Trump.

Then what happens?

 
Comment by The Central Scrutinizer
2016-01-02 12:39:03

“discriminated against for supporting Trump ”

Preemptive whining about getting brought up short about running your mouth instead of doing your job.

No work, no eat.

 
Comment by Anklepants
2016-01-02 12:56:27

Trump is very pro work.

 
 
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 08:26:35

“Provoking and offending people” isn’t what it’s about. Standing up for truth and justice (real justice, not the collectivist extortion of the SJWs) against the brain-dead, manipulated mob is what matters.

 
Comment by Muggy
2016-01-02 09:52:29

“cultural libertarians think of new ways to provoke and offend people”

Sounds like a stupid concept.

Comment by Red Pill
2016-01-02 09:59:51

“Sounds like a stupid concept.”

Not if we could all just lighten up a bit and chill the f..k out.

It’s like the eye rolls I get sometimes when I have a few beers and dare to light up a cig…the eye rollers are not around when I am eating properly to maintain my weight, doing interval training and practicing defensive tactics. In fact most of the eye rollers are out of shape cows…ooooo I may take in some particulates…go on a diet bi..h or STFU :)

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Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 11:21:54

You will be fired for questioning whether fat is fit. Discrimination.

 
Comment by MightyMike
2016-01-02 11:51:35

No, he won’t.

 
Comment by CalifoH20
2016-01-02 12:33:54

What other people think about you is none of your business.

Namaste.

 
 
Comment by Muggy
2016-01-02 10:01:43

Deliberately provoking and offending people seems contrary to the Libertarian belief of personal freedom. Shouldn’t Libertarian values include things like magoring in feminist studies and underwater basket weaving and Sanskrit?

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/a741e1a467/blow-me-where-the-pampers-is?_cc=__d___&_ccid=nvpqdv.o0c4lc

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Comment by MightyMike
2016-01-02 11:47:06

Yeah, there are many ways to look at that. If the guy is complaining about spelling errors, maybe he’s in favor of censorship, including burning books which contain spelling errors! When he demands “Shut down the American university system. Just shut it down.”, it’s probably because that “system” is disseminating ideas that he disagrees with. In other words, he’s asking for more censorship. We could go an and mention the fact that authoritarian dictators throughout history have engaged is that sort of censorship.

 
Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 11:50:18

20 years since the movie PCU. Exponentially worse.

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:20:34

If the guy is complaining about spelling errors, maybe he’s in favor of censorship, including burning books which contain spelling errors!

And if he’s against spelling errors, that’s an indictment of our American educational system…which is an indictment of our society…and do you think I’m going to sit here while you badmouth THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UomlFv9htPw

 
Comment by Muggy
2016-01-02 18:45:00

“20 years since the movie PCU. Exponentially worse.”

Can you imagine if that movie was made now?

 
 
 
 
 
Comment by Goon
2016-01-02 02:12:58

Huffington Post currently leads with a narrative titled “Trump in terror recruitment video”

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/56874dcbe4b0b958f65bd383

Did you know that the prophet’s favorite wife Aisha was six years old when he married her? But that he waited until she was nine to consummate the marriage?

Forward

Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 07:17:21

All religion is a positive thing from a property value perspective. Good solid church or mosque going people follow the rules and maintain their land and property. Hard working and charitable (one of the 5 pillars of Islam).

Is being pro-religion the ultimate in being anti State?

Comment by The Selfish Hoarder
2016-01-02 08:32:02

Nope. Religion is the substitution of one authority for another at best. The religious spokesman is the authority. Mot the nonexistent sky wizard.

Comment by dwkunkel
2016-01-02 12:13:40

“Religion is for people with weak minds.”
Jessie Ventura

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Comment by In Colorado
2016-01-02 12:51:30

Not all religions have a “sky wizard”. Buddhism, for instance, considers any deities to be irrelevant. And contrary to popular belief, the Buddha is not a deity.

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Comment by Anklepants
2016-01-02 12:58:15

Good church or mosque going people make good neighbors.

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Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 08:51:44

But that he waited until she was nine to consummate the marriage?

Today’s narrative scripted and underwritten by the Trump Campaign.

Comment by Goon
2016-01-02 09:15:52

Hillary is incontinent, has Alzheimers, and big fat cankles.

Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 09:22:37

So she’s the next Reagan?

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Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 12:44:17

Reagan was a fraud, in retrospect. He stole the rhetoric of minarchists and instead increased the size and power of government. He was one of the most successful con artist presidents.

Bernie is honestly going to increase the size and power of government if elected. That is why he won’t be elected.

 
Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 15:30:39

A utopia of one, but free riding off of the complexity of a cooperative society. Are you going to voluntarily forego high end medical care?

 
Comment by Bill, Just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 15:47:55

I paid into Medicare. Did you? I will seek to get back what I paid in. It was my earnings.

I paid into social security. Did you? I will seek to get back what I paid in. It was my earnings.

 
 
Comment by CalifoH20
2016-01-02 12:35:21

FDR was in a wheel chair!

Vote for Trump, he can walk!

A-Mericka-the-ignorant

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Comment by In Colorado
2016-01-02 12:52:29

Did you know that the prophet’s favorite wife Aisha was six years old when he married her? But that he waited until she was nine to consummate the marriage?

Was she hot?

 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 19:37:55

Is Trump too big to fail?

Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 20:01:49

26 November 2010
Donald Trump: The secret of his success
By Charles Miller Producer, Donald Trump: All-American Billionaire

Too big to fail

Trump turned fame into money by writing an early autobiography and self-help book, The Art of the Deal, a couple of years before his financial crisis. He plugged it relentlessly, even turning up on the Wogan show with his wife Ivana. The book was a huge best-seller, adding to the name-recognition he had already created.

In his late eighties crisis, when a slew of Trump businesses were struggling to keep up interest payments on massive loans, his creditors had to decide whether to pull the plug on his empire. That they decided not to, says his biographer Gwenda Blair, was thanks to his name recognition:

“He was one of the first to get, that getting his name on things, getting his name associated with luxury, and making himself the central character, would make him the irreplaceable piece.”

He was, in a phrase the recent global financial crisis has made familiar again, “too big to fail“.

 
 
 
Comment by Goon
2016-01-02 02:28:36

Weekly Standard provides a Trump narrative:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/the-party-of-trump/article/2000388

William Kristol = George Soros

Globalists gonna globe

Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 08:19:29

Is being for open borders fiscally conservative?

Where’s La Raza been since San Berdoo?

 
 
Comment by Goon
2016-01-02 02:44:17

FoxNewsHate rallies the base, bemoans lack of support for new trillion dollar neocon wars, ignores fact that Iran is a sovereign nation and that Israel is not the 51st state:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/01/02/lawmakers-blast-white-house-delay-on-iran-sanctions.html

The base then rallied, elects Marco Rubio, a Sheldon Adelson sponsored and William Kristol endorsed production. But worry not, there will be just as many dead goyim under neocon Empress Hillary. Poor blacks and poor browns and poor white trash are just cannon fodder when it comes to “securing the realm” for these globalists. Slap a yellow ribbon on it and rub some Gold Bond powder on those itchy stumps where your legs used to be, because neocons gonna neocon

Forward

 
Comment by Goon
2016-01-02 02:49:43

Repost from a few months ago for all the cultural relativists:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/09/21/world/asia/us-soldiers-told-to-ignore-afghan-allies-abuse-of-boys.html

What do sharia muslims, Christian Zionists (Josh Duggar), and Social Justice Warriors (Lena Dunham) all have in common? That age of consent laws are racist!

See also Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein, LOLZ

 
 
Comment by Senior Housing Analyst
2016-01-02 06:28:03

Sacramento, CA Housing Market Craters; Prices Dive 5% YoY

http://www.zillow.com/west-sacramento-ca/home-values/

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 07:46:52

from the article:

The median home value in West Sacramento is $299,400. West Sacramento home values have gone up 10.9% over the past year and Zillow predicts they will rise 6.0% within the next year.

I guess there are a bunch of folks speculating in west sacramento cause they thing the new kings arena will boost home values.

Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 07:58:50

“Value” doesn’t mean much when prices are falling.

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 10:26:59

can u show me where in that link it says prices are falling? They are predicting a 6% rise.

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Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 11:09:28

Data my friend….. study the data.

Sherman Oaks CA Housing Prices Plunge 12% As Price Declines Ramp Up Statewide

http://www.zillow.com/sherman-oaks-los-angeles-ca/home-values/

 
Comment by CalifoH20
2016-01-02 15:29:30

WHAT DOES “UP” MEAN?

The median home value in Sherman Oaks is $821,500. Sherman Oaks home values have gone up 8.0% over the past year and Zillow predicts they will rise 1.8% within the next year.

 
Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 17:50:45

Value doesn’t mean much when prices are falling.

Los Angeles, CA Housing Prices Crater 7% YoY As Housing Correction Resumes

http://www.zillow.com/los-angeles-ca-90046/home-values/

 
Comment by redmondjp
2016-01-02 22:16:03

Housing Analyst will never answer a direct question - why not, HA? When you post yet another meaningless link for a town hundreds of miles away in answer to a direction question, it begs the question ‘why?’

 
Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 22:28:41

Values don’t mean much when prices are falling my friend.

 
 
 
 
 
Comment by taxpayers
2016-01-02 06:37:15

Predict fed will sell off 4 trillion sludge pool
Baheeehhhh

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 07:48:21

there are no buyers at those yields. If there were buyers they would have already sold them.

 
 
Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 06:42:11

Millions of mortgages founded on phony inflated ‘appraisals’, millions more houses hung up in foreclosure moratoriums in all 50 states, millions more newly delinquent mortgages racking up.

“Serious Sovereign Debt Defaults Are Looming”

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-01-01/carmen-reinhart-warns-serious-sovereign-debt-defaults-are-looming

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 06:54:01

“But Lynn Turner, chief accountant at the Securities and Exchange Commission at the time, says companies are still touting “made-up, phony numbers” as much as they did 15 years ago, perhaps more, and few experts are calling them out on it.”

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/experts-worry-phony-numbers-misleading-070222254.html

Comment by Ben Jones
2016-01-02 07:14:27

‘fund manager Michael Lewitt of the Credit Strategist Group says analyst reports don’t help, and finds himself spending too much time sifting through the same “nonsense” figures he confronted back in the dot-com days.’

‘Michelle Leder, founder of Footnoted.com, which produces detailed analyses of financial statements, says most investors don’t even bother to sift, preferring instead to seize upon a single number, often the wrong one.’

How efficient!

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 07:31:20

It amazing that some bloggers can sit back and see the bs fraud going on with earnings numbers but other people refuse to take action and look into it. Then when sh@t hits the fan they start blaming everyone else.

The people making money on stocks are the corporate insiders enriching themselves. Retail will be the bagholder again.

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Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 08:33:27

It amazing that some bloggers can sit back and see the bs fraud going on with earnings numbers but other people refuse to take action and look into it.

When 95% of the voters are stupid, they will mindlessly vote for the Oligopoly-approved status quo, thus perpetuating the fraud and crony capitalism. “Taking action and looking into it” requires actual intelligence and a sense of public and private morality and civic awareness - something the amoral, stupid, inert 95% of the US electorate (and 100% of Obama, McCain, and Romney voters) utterly lack.

We the People are so screwed.

 
Comment by In Colorado
2016-01-02 12:57:11

It amazing that some bloggers can sit back and see the bs fraud going on with earnings numbers but other people refuse to take action and look into it.

It’s pretty obvious that the PTB are choosing to not enforce SarbOx.

 
 
Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 07:38:01

This very much reminds me of the tail end of the Clinton administration. Asleep at the wheel, no longer caring, just trying to get setup before they got the boot. Heck maybe it’s the last couple of years of any 8 yr administration. The workers know that a change is coming even if only from one crony to a different crony in the same party.

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Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-02 08:08:36

Love the SEC. The numbers are there because the SEC will have your corporate asses if they are not.

All you have to do as an investor is to care enough to look, to look at the numbers. But a lot of investors do not care to look at the numbers, all they care about is looking at the prices.

Prices are numbers too but price numbers do not result from measurements as corporate numbers do; No, price numbers result from voting, voting from strangers - buyers and sellers - who just may be a bit deluded.

Same goes with real estate, except there is no SEC when it comes to real estate.

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Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 08:35:35

“The Big Short” should be mandatory viewing for HBB regulators. The connivance and incompetence of the SEC is on full review in the movie.

 
Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 09:16:58

. The numbers are there because the SEC will have your corporate asses if they are not.

Then what’s the problem? People too lazy to look at the right numbers?

Serves them right if they lose money, right?

 
Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-02 09:30:06

An example of what I mean …

A blast from the past, from last February: Grilled Cheese Truck Inc (GRLD) came out with an IPO at six-dollars-a-share or so and yesterday’s price was eighty-five-and-a-half cents a share.

Here’s what the cash flow statement looks like:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/cf?s=GRLD+Cash+Flow&annual

Note the lack of earnings; This fact was not hidden from prospective investors because to hide the lack of earnings would bring down the SCC on your ass. But no matter, the IPO came out, it was successful, and some people made a lot of money out of the deal and others … not so much.

 
Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 10:25:24

looks like the losses keep getting steeper. 7 million in 2014.

That is a classic example of the fraud I have been talking about.

Have an IPO that raises a bunch of money for the company to piss away on executives. When they run out of money they try to sell more stock.

Then they will file for bankruptcy and wipe out whats left of shareholders.

Did you notice in 2014 they sold more stock?

What a joke this bs is.

 
Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 10:30:25

Grilled Cheese Truck Inc (GRLD) came out with an IPO at six-dollars-a-share or so and yesterday’s price was eighty-five-and-a-half cents a share.

So much for my Peanut Butter and Jelly Truck idea.

 
Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-02 11:11:24

“looks like the losses keep getting steeper. 7 million in 2014.”

What a surprise!

“That is a classic example of the fraud I have been talking about.”

How is this fraud? The are fully disclosing what they are doing, are they not?

“Have an IPO that raises a bunch of money for the company to piss away on executives. When they run out of money they try to sell more stock.”

There they are, the numbers, fully disclosed in the IPO, presented to you for you to take a look, presented to everyone to take a look if they care to do so.

“Then they will file for bankruptcy and wipe out whats left of shareholders.”

Probably so.

“Did you notice in 2014 they sold more stock?”

To whom? To people who care to understand what they are buying or to people who don’t?

 
Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 11:41:13

Look at the income statement and cash flow of this company.

Funds from operations in 2014 = 3.1 million loss

In 2014 they had 2.28 million in proceeds from sale of common and preferred stock.

In 2014 they also had proceeds from stock options of 2.28 million. I’m assuming these proceeds were from the sale of stock to employees who then resold them on the open market for a higher price than what they paid under their option contract?

net income was actually 7.71 million loss in 2014 on revenue of 3.65 million so basically for every dollar they brought in they lost two.

Trainwreck

http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/grld/financials

 
Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-02 11:47:29

Some years ago an artist created a “work of art” by canning some of his excrement (aka sh1t) and selling this art to buyers for some big bucks after fully disclosing to the buyers just exactly what it was that they were buying.

So, is there fraud involved here somehow?

 
Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 12:18:24

15.52 million shares outstanding * .86 cents / share = 13.34 market cap on a company that has a negative 2.2 million shareholder equity.

Seems like a great buy. who buys this sh@t?

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 13:22:52

Some years ago an artist created a “work of art” by canning some of his excrement (aka sh1t) and selling this art to buyers for some big bucks after fully disclosing to the buyers just exactly what it was that they were buying.

Obama and Soros used the same principle to sell “hope ‘n change” to the dupes. Tens of millions of stupid, gullible people bought the excrement not once but twice.

 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 14:44:45

Some years ago an artist created a “work of art” by canning some of his excrement (aka sh1t) and selling this art to buyers for some big bucks after fully disclosing to the buyers just exactly what it was that they were buying.

I’m guessing government subsidies were involved.

 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 14:49:06

Piss Christ

Piss Christ is a 1987 photograph by the American artist and photographer Andres Serrano. It depicts a small plastic crucifix submerged in a glass of the artist’s urine. The piece was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art’s “Awards in the Visual Arts” competition, which was sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a United States Government agency that offers support and funding for artistic projects, without controlling content.

 
Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 14:49:35

by canning some of his excrement (aka sh1t) and selling this art to buyers

He made a sh!tload of money.

 
Comment by redmondjp
2016-01-02 22:18:44

It still stinks, regardless of how much people paid for it.

 
 
Comment by Hllnwlz
2016-01-03 12:16:25

I laughed. Thanks, Ben. Yours is a voice of reason in an insane world.

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Comment by Senior Housing Analyst
2016-01-02 06:52:30

“The Uncomfortable Truth About The Great Boom And This “Recovery””

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-12-31/uncomfortable-truth-about-great-boom-and-recovery

“To put it simply, we won’t need more real estate for decades to come,”

 
Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 07:02:56

Read. Study. Learn.

“Strategic Bets”

http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/who-will-be-president-and-other-hunches-for-2016/

“To begin, extreme monetary intervention will continue. You can count on that. Central banks around the world will do whatever it takes – or die trying – to expand the money supply and increase credit growth. Naturally, these policies promote extreme market pricing absurdities followed by massive price declines.

At this point we’re still in the extreme market pricing absurdities part of the cycle. There’s no negating that we are heading for another massive 50 percent stock market shakeout like 2000 and 2008.”

Have you prepared?

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 07:37:34

I sure have my friend.

Why should I overpay for a stock to fund overpriced stock option cashouts? Its like I’m funding grossly high pay for insiders. They are basically taking money from investors to fund their hampton lifestyles.

Back in the day ceo’s got most of their pay from wages. But now its from stock performance. So the earnings reports go to sh@t so they can get paid, how nice. Ex items, stock buyback nonsense, and cooking the books.

 
Comment by Blue Skye
2016-01-02 08:10:29

Have you prepared?

Excellent question for the start of a new year!

I think I might be over-prepared.

As an aside, this season’s applejack production is spectacular. That should keep me well fortified in the year to come and protect me from any “extreme market pricing absurdities” that might raise their ugly heads.

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 08:15:01

I love this one:

‘markets can remain irrational a lot longer than u can remain solvent.”

 
Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 09:26:30

applejack production

Freeze distilling?

 
Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-02 14:09:51

an aside, this season’s applejack production is spectacular.

How much do you put up for the year, Blue?

Comment by Blue Skye
2016-01-02 14:59:56

Prime, I actually never know. Attempts at taking an inventory always end in abject failure. Enough to share is about as close as I can guestimate.

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Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-02 17:55:24

Ha! Great answer! Are you tasting through during that inventory by any chance? Ya gotta do quality control after all… ;-)

 
 
 
 
 
Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 07:09:36

“Why The Fannie And Freddie Scam Lives On Forever” …. until the whole seething pot of radioactive toxicity soon implodes

http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/why-the-fannie-and-freddie-scam-lives-on-forever/

 
Comment by Red Pill
2016-01-02 07:20:07

The Chicago guy may enjoy this site.

HeyJackass!

Illustrating Chicago Values

http://heyjackass.com/

Comment by Red Pill
2016-01-02 07:24:07

This part of the site is interesting…

http://heyjackass.com/2015-shot-in-the-ass-o-meter/

 
Comment by Red Pill
 
 
Comment by phony scandals
2016-01-02 08:20:34

Man cut off Koko funding? But man stupid… stupid! Koko need bananas! Koko sorry, Koko cry. Time hurry. More government grants for Koko! Help Koko! Hurry!Protect Koko’s bananas! Nature watches you. Thank you.’

Man stupid, protect Earth… New Year message from Koko the talking gorilla, who urges humanity to stop destroying the planet

Staff Writer

15 hours 58 minutes ago

Given by a gorilla in sign language, it is among the more unusual messages for the New Year.

Koko was filmed delivering a 38-word bulletin about how ‘stupid’ mankind is harming the Earth.

In the 60-second video, the 44-year-old great ape, which has been learning sign language since she was one, said: ‘I am gorilla, I am flowers, animals. I am Nature. Koko love man. Earth Koko love.

But man stupid… stupid! Koko sorry, Koko cry. Time hurry. Fix Earth! Help Earth! Hurry! Protect Earth. Nature watches you. Thank you.’

The message was scripted by NOE Conservation, based in France, whose main focus is preserving biodiversity, and The Gorilla Foundation in Woodside, California, where Koko has lived since 1979, immersed in human company.

She is said to be able to understand 1,000 words of US sign language and 2,000 words of spoken English, but there has been controversy about whether her own use of signs is simple, reward-related mimicry or something more meaningful.

The video was made to help get NOE Conservation’s message across for the recent UN Climate Conference in Paris.

- See more at: http://www.coloradonewsday.com/trending/5525-man-stupid-protect-earth-new-year-message-from-koko-the-talking-gorilla-who-urges-humanity-to-stop-destroying-the-planet.html#sthash.Rg9LRo7B.dpuf

Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 09:30:21

scripted by NOE Conservation, based in France, whose main focus is preserving biodiversity

“Preserving biodiversity”?

The horror. “Diversity” always means trouble.

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 10:47:18

Koko is a mindless, manipulated prop, just like the blow-on-their-nails barbies who read the scripted Narrative on cable news networks.

Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 10:58:31

Koko no like your politics. Koko say, “rock the vote!”

 
Comment by phony scandals
2016-01-02 16:12:43

I am Oddfellow, I am flowers, animals. I am Nature. Oddfellow love man in dress in Ladies room.

But man not in dress stupid… stupid! Oddfellow sorry, Oddfellow cry. Time hurry. Fix Earth! Help Earth! Hurry! Protect Earth. Nature watches you. Thank you.’

Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 16:48:09

Oddfellow good. Koko like Oddfellow. He like earth. He like rock the vote motor-voter bill.

Phony bad. He no like earth. Like money better. Koko no understand phony.

Maybe phony crazy?

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Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-02 18:13:32

LOLZ!!! Ok, phony: that was one of the funniest posts I’ve read here in a while… :-)

BTW, I did LOL, and my wife asked me from the other room what I was laughing at. :-)

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Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 08:25:11

Trump is a hard worker. Working hard is a positive thing. Hard work frees you from the chains of those who want to maintain power over you through their control of your bread. Pro-Hard-Work.

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 08:32:57

Didn’t trump inherit 200 million from his dad?

Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 12:26:37

Stop injecting facts into the Trump bootstrapper narrative!

 
Comment by Anklepants
2016-01-02 13:04:56

He was worth 1.6 billion when he inherited that. Facts.

Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 13:10:34

Economy
Exposing How Donald Trump Really Made His Fortune: Inheritance from Dad and the Government’s Protection Mostly Did the Trick
This excerpt from “The Self-Made Myth: The Truth About How Government Helps Individuals and Businesses Succeed” tells the real story about how Trump got so obscenely rich.
By Brian Miller, Mike Lapham / Berrett-Koehler Publishers
July 9, 2012
​Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from Brian Miller and Mike Lapham’s book, The Self-Made Myth: The Truth About How Government Helps Individuals and Businesses Succeed. (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2012). ​You can read AlterNet’s Vision editor Sara Robinson’s review of the book here.

In March 2011 Forbes estimated Donald Trump’s net worth to be $2.7 billion, with a $60 million salary. Many praise and analyze his “success” as if it were self-made, and they fail to attribute the proper credit to others in society where it is deserved. Despite what Trump may espouse, his success would have been in no way possible without his father, the general public, and the US government. Unfortunately, Trump decided to forget or selectively ignore these truths while forming his political philosophy, a sentiment made particularly clear during his brief bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

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Comment by Blue Skye
2016-01-02 14:14:03

I myself am in much the same situation. I myself would have had a much more difficult start in life without the help, encouragement, economic support and endorsement of my father. As I proceeded in life, nothing that I accomplished could have been possible without there being others around doing business with me. Truth is, probably my biggest profits in my working career were the result of some program sponsored and encouraged by the US government!

 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 14:50:35

Fair enough; same could probably said of most successful people in the U.S. government-sponsored economic utopia.

 
Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 14:54:32

Well, there’s your dad helping you out paying for college or finding your first job, and there’s your dad loaning you a million to start your first business.

I think there’s an order of magnitude difference between the two.

 
Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 15:40:06

Trump took over his father’s business in 1974. He was loaned 10 million from his dad. But his dad Fred died in 1999. He left Trump an unknown amount between 40 and 200 million. By 1999 Trump was worth 1.6 billion. Do you read what you post or just knee jerk because Trump’s immigration pause is something you are against due to personal ties?

 
Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-02 18:18:47

I suspect I could have gotten a lot further financially with a $10M loan as a starter package…

 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 20:03:25

“I suspect I could have gotten a lot further financially with a $10M loan as a starter package…”

I’m guessing the terms were quite a bit more friendly than the average bank loan.

 
Comment by redmondjp
2016-01-02 22:21:06

Regardless of how much money it was, you still have to know what to do with it. Many kids of wealthy, successful parents only know how to do one thing with money: spend it.

 
Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 22:21:08

Turning 10 million into 1.6 billion is good business. A 160x return. Did the stock market return 160x during that period?

 
 
 
 
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 08:38:31

What will Shia unrest in Saudi’s Eastern Province (where most of the oil is pumped) do to the price of oil, not to mention Saudi stability? The 1400-old Shia-Sunni vendetta is reigniting all across the “Shia Crescent” also called the “Arc of Instability.”

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-01-02/saudi-arabia-carries-out-largest-mass-execution-25-years-after-beheadings-soar-2015

Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 09:05:19

Iranian leader predicts upheaval in Saudi Arabia following execution of influential Shia cleric. I suspect he’s right.

http://news.yahoo.com/latest-iran-condemns-saudi-execution-shiite-cleric-110118373.html

 
 
Comment by phony scandals
2016-01-02 08:46:30

Hillary’s State Dept. Staff Kept Tabs On The Daily Caller, Drudge Report

“Wanted to be sure you were aware of this story…”

Daily Caller | Steve Guest - January 2, 2016 10 Comments

The latest batch of Hillary Clinton’s emails show that then-Chief of Staff to Hillary Clinton Cheryl Mills briefed Clinton on how the State Department was responding to a story “reported by the Daily Caller and running on Drudge.”

Then-Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Michael Hammer had emailed Mills with a plan to respond to a Daily Caller story revealing that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was spending money in the Philippines to train workers to speak English for employment opportunities at call centers.

Mills then forwarded that message to Clinton on April 21, 2012.

In the email that was ultimately forwarded to Clinton, Hammer told Mills, “wanted to be sure you were aware of this story… Story is now being reported by the Daily Caller and running on Drudge but has not gotten mainstream press pickup. USAID is developing press guidance and has draft [sic] statement announcing it will suspend its participation in the English language training project in Mindanao pending further review of the facts. This is in response to Congressional concerns raised by House reps Bishop + Jones that USG is funding the outsourcing of jobs. USAID is also responding to them in a letter.

Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 15:41:12

This is what our impartial observers here support.

 
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 08:47:02

Jeb Bush has two very different groups of supporters: the venal and corrupt oligarchs who want to install a pliant puppet in the White House, and the profoundly stupid, slack-jawed, mostly Boomer or elderly voters who blindly vote for Establishment GOP candidates. Either way, it’s telling that the overwhelming majority of the GOP base is rejecting the crony capitalist status quo, while the majority of Democrats are embracing it with their votes for Hillary.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/02/us/politics/jeb-bush-presidential-campaign.html?_r=0

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 08:54:09

The open-carry experiment in Texas should be interesting. What will happen to The Narrative if crime drops significantly?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/12078212/Texas-marks-New-Year-with-law-allowing-one-million-people-to-openly-carry-handguns.html

Comment by X-GSfixr
2016-01-02 09:11:27

We’ll soon see what happens when cops get a “shots fired” call, and everyone is standing around with guns when they show up.
Sorta like being at “Twin Peaks” in Waco.

(My nominee for the “Mass Shooting Capital of America”)

C’mon open-carry guy, assert your rights! Put your money where your mouth is! Tell them cops that want you to surrender your piece to go eff themselves.

Then let us know how that works out for you.

Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 15:43:40

Open carry seems fine in Arizona. Lots of people walking around openly strapped on buses, downtown in cities, lots of other places. Don’t be cowed by the scaredy cats.

Comment by redmondjp
2016-01-02 22:26:13

Most people who lives in cities are scared to death of guns from what I have observed.

In the place and age I grew up in, they were just part of the background (rifle behind the door out on the farm, for potential use or emphasis when a stranger came to the door; gun in office desk drawer of lawyer who was former prosecuting attorney and had made a few enemies, etc.). A tool which has its use, just like every other item in the house - not something to be afraid of.

Stupid people staring at their smart phones while driving or walking right into traffic are a much bigger threat IMO.

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Comment by Red Pill
2016-01-02 09:52:44

Gotta say as a pro gun guy that I am not a big fan of open carry in urban areas, especially if the State allows concealed carry.

Concealed carry is the way to go, what happens under your shirt stays under your shirt…people should carry for the purpose of saving their lives or the lives of others in an absolute life or death situation.

I carry pepper spray, a push dagger and a firearm sometimes, nobody is the wiser and that is the way it should be. I think open carry for the sake of open carry is some kind of ego thing….just me perhaps.

A concealed firearm gives you the piece of mind to know that if you happen to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, you have an option other than begging for your life.

Just like the left over plays their hand, I think the right is over playing their hand in this case.

Comment by The Central Scrutinizer
2016-01-02 10:18:34

Very much so. I think people that open carry get off on intimidating people, and that kind of thing is catastrophic for gun rights.

Comment by X-GSfixr
2016-01-02 11:01:48

You will soon be hearing stories out of Texas, about open carriers getting whacked because someone thought they had a cool gun, and decided to get it.

The reality is, if some stranger out in the general public decides they want to whack you, you are going to be hard pressed to avoid it, whether you are carrying or not.

Unless of course, you start treating the general public the way the US Army and USMC treated civilians in Iraq, aka the old “assume they are all trying to kill you” plan.

That should go over real well.

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Comment by The Central Scrutinizer
2016-01-02 13:36:02

If you’re toting an ar15, it’s pretty easy for me to claim self defense for shooting you.

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:24:12

Not if I’m on the jury. You’ll fry like the Sunday sausage for shooting a peaceful, law-abiding gun owner.

 
Comment by The Central Scrutinizer
2016-01-02 16:45:13

You’d never be on a jury… They screen out the obvious nuthatches.

 
Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-02 17:40:11

If you’re toting an ar15, it’s pretty easy for me to claim self defense for shooting you.

Um, nope—there is a guy on the Olympic Peninsula (IIRC) who open-carries one. The local cops are familiar with him, and apparently treat him as they would any other open-carry—basically leave him alone.

 
 
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 10:42:20

I’m not a fan of open carry either, except in locations like hiking trails or remote camping locations. Some joker showed up at a kid’s soccer game at the park near my house with a Glock strapped to his hip, and the soccer moms got pretty agitated about it. Maybe it’s his right to open carry under state law, but some basic judgement and common-sense discretion is called for.

Comment by MightyMike
2016-01-02 11:50:07

No, the right comes from the Constitution, which those soccer moms need to read.

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Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 13:24:57

Agree with the right, but maybe that wasn’t the ideal venue to exercise it.

 
Comment by redmondjp
2016-01-02 22:27:46

See my comment above.

What is the correct venue then?

 
 
Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 15:45:13

Happens in Az all the time and no one bats an eye.

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Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 16:04:07

How do you tell the nuts from the normals? Who’s coming to shoot the place up and who just likes to carry an AK-47 when they’re grabbing some frozen yogurt?

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:25:46

Well, you Arizonians keep re-electing John McCain, so your view of “normalcy” isn’t necessarily the norm.

 
Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-02 18:22:09

How do you tell the nuts from the normals?

Uh, the same way that you do without open carry—when they start shooting at innocent people?

 
Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 18:39:40

when they start shooting at innocent people?

It helps if carrying the assault rifle into the mall is already an out-of-the-ordinary sort of thing, rather than a let’s-see-if-he’s normal-once he-gets-here sort of thing.

 
Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-02 19:38:57

Anyone carrying it into a mall who isn’t an idiot is probably going to carry it inside of a duffel bag—right? So your time-to-notice is probably about 1-2sec anyway, from the time when it is pulled out to when rounds are flying.

 
Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 19:58:25

Anyone carrying it into a mall who isn’t an idiot is probably going to carry it inside of a duffel bag—

Not sure I follow your reasoning. If it’s not uncommon to carry an AK strapped across your back into a mall, most loonies planning to shoot the place up would do just that.

You are familiar with the actions of the open carry crowd, right? They openly carry assault/battle rifles into public places to “establish the right to do so”.

 
Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-03 16:40:40

I think you did miss my point.

If “carrying the assault rifle into the mall is already an out-of-the-ordinary sort of thing” then someone of ill intent is likely to conceal it while entering the mall today—in which case there is no practical difference in terms of your time-to-react.

If in the future, it becomes a less “out-of-the-ordinary sort of thing”, then someone of ill intent may become less likely to conceal it, sure—but your time-to-react is identical to the case where they conceal it today.

 
 
 
 
Comment by In Colorado
2016-01-02 13:12:23

I was reading an article about the recent Rugby World Cup, where Team USA got creamed. A Rugby fan told an American reporter not to feel bad, that Team USA would improve with time and that “you aren’t laughing stock world because of that, you’re the laughing stock because of your guns”

They really do think we’re insane.

Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:27:47

Sure. And while after they get “fundamentally transformed” thanks to Soros’ refugee hordes, we’ll see who has the last laugh.

 
Comment by redmondjp
2016-01-02 22:29:43

I feel the same way about those rugby fans - how many people have been stampeded to death at soccer and rugby games worldwide? They are the insane ones if you ask me.

 
 
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 08:57:28

Paging ABQ Dan…when will exploited Chinese workers and peasants turn on their corrupt, repressive CCP overlords?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/recession/china-economic-slowdown/12077208/Chinese-manufacturing-shrinks-for-fifth-consecutive-month.html

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 09:01:05

The usual SJWs and High Priestesses of Political Correctness (almost exclusively female or manginas) demand gender neutrality on official travel documents. Forward!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/tory-mp-maria-miller-calls-to-remove-gender-from-uk-passports-and-driving-licences-a6793806.html

Comment by Goon
2016-01-02 10:38:57

Documents are racist.

In fact, thinking that something isn’t racist is probably racist too.

Sigh, forward.

 
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 10:30:41

Can you explain to me what you mean by losing control? It seems with an unlimited ability to create digital money and buy bonds that we could have a lot more QE’s in the pike. Look at japan, 20 years of it.

Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 12:27:59

One possibility: Asset prices are fully adjusted to reflect expectations for future bailouts, which means they are overpriced relative to normalized interest rates which the Fed would like to restore.

Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-02 18:28:34

normalized interest rates which the Fed SAYS THEY would like to restore.

FTFY. I honestly think they care not a whit about normalization—but they care about the masses not realizing that.

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Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 18:48:32

They’d like to get it off zero just so they have somewhere to go if we have another recession, and so people can ‘t point out that we’re having a recession with zirp.

 
 
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:28:47

True price discovery asserting itself will show the Fed is losing control.

 
 
 
Comment by X-GSfixr
2016-01-02 09:25:23

Another example of why the people trying to close the immigration door are about 45 years too late.

http://tinyurl.com/nq7avt7

It would be curious to see what the locals in Ft. Morgan (who aren’t employed by Cargill) think of their Somali neighbors, and what they think of Diversity = automatically good.

Not that their opinion matters……..

Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 10:44:59

95% of the locals in Ft. Morgan probably voted for Obama, McCain, and Romney, all of whom were and are open borders advocates and are all in favor of their corporate bankrollers importing foreign slave labor. So if they have a problem with the new arrivals, they need to look in the mirror to see the real problem.

Comment by X-GSfixr
2016-01-02 11:07:15

Out here in Flyover, the displacement of the US-born locals with illegals/just off the boat immigrants started as a pay-cutting/union-busting measure by the meatpackers back in the 70s.

Makes you start to wonder about all of these e-coli outbreaks…..

In the meantime, I’m sure Cargill will be able to pass off the bill for any downside to Joe Q Taxpayer.

 
Comment by In Colorado
2016-01-02 13:03:17

Given that Fort Morgan is located on the plains and is surrounded by farms, I suspect that those in the farming biz WANT a steady stream of cheap, south of the border labor. They also want to keep those USDA subsidies flowing, while at the same time they complain about “wasteful government spending”.

Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:32:05

Cargill knows which crony capitalist palms to grease.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Cargill

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Comment by Raymond K Hessel
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 10:39:15

How many billions will it cost US taxpayers to bail out Ukraine’s oligarch-looted economy?

http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-sues-against-ukraine-over-debt-2016-1

 
Comment by X-GSfixr
2016-01-02 11:30:12

Riddle me this, HBBers……..

A company (let’s say, an airplane building company) sinks 1.4 -2.6 billion into a new product. Less than two week into the testing of the first prototype, they confirmed (suspicions) that the thing was going to literally have to go back to Square 1 on a redesign, meaning that the 1 to 2 billion spent at that point had essentially gone “poof”.

They decided to cancel the project, but pretended to the general public that the program was still active, mainly by continuing to fly the prototype around intermittently. Stock dropped from $4.17 to around $3.50 at the time of the final announcement, is currently 1.34.

Seems to me like 18 months would give the execs plenty of time to dump their shares and options before the bad news hit the general public.

How is this legal? Other than the “Golden Rule”?

Comment by azdude
2016-01-02 11:43:30

sounds like business as usual. the house always wins! shareholders pay the tab for them.

 
 
Comment by Red Pill
2016-01-02 11:33:53

Hillary Says She Lied to Benghazi Families Due to “Fog of War”… DONALD TRUMP Responds

On New Year’s Day Donald Trump let Hillary have it

http://www.infowars.com/hillary-says-she-lied-to-benghazi-families-due-to-fog-of-war-donald-trump-responds/

How long do you thing the Hildabeast lie fest can continue?

Comment by CalifoH20
2016-01-02 12:26:01

Hillary lives rent free in your head. Free your mind, go fishing.

 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 13:12:00

“On New Year’s Day Donald Trump let Hillary have it”

He seems hell-bent on increasing Hillary’s sympathy vote right up until election day…

Comment by Goon
2016-01-02 13:36:54

Hillary’s sympathy vote

A base so rallied, its Depends runneth over…

 
Comment by Blue Skye
2016-01-02 14:05:42

Trump is supposed to be a pretty savvy business guy, but the Clintons may know better how to make money off of political gigs.

http://nypost.com/2016/01/01/hillary-clintons-13m-fail-as-secretary-of-state/

Sympathy indeed.

 
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:36:06

Hildabeast can lie with impunity because 95% of ‘Muricans are morons, and 100% of Democrats are just as amoral as she is.

 
 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 12:32:16

Stunning Drone Footage of Missouri Flooding
1/1/2016 6:25PM
Massive flooding struck the Midwest at the end of December, stopping just shy of breaking 30-year records.
Photo: Camp Jessop Studios

Comment by Prime_Is_Contained
2016-01-02 19:37:17

And _that’s_ why you don’t build below the 30-yr flood-line. Except FEMA encourages people to do it over, and over, and over again…

 
 
Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 12:37:13

If you HBBers were really against central banks, especially the legalized plunder called fractional reserve, you would have long ago vacated banks and credit unions and be into silver and Bitcoin.

https://www.shiftpayments.com

Comment by Blue Skye
2016-01-02 13:53:09

You might be onto something with that Bitcoin. It sure has taken a run in the past six months, 90% of the trades being Chinese. What a great way to smuggle money out of the country.

I wonder if the CCP can stop this flood if it tires of the capital outflow. If you end up in a Chinese jail, can your loved ones in Vancouver claim your bitcoin stash, or does it just go poof?

Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 14:05:59

Some apps allow you to have a vault and give other people access to that Bitcoin vault. Also a low tech way is to simply transfer Bitcoin to a public address in Vancouver from the comfort of ones own mansion in Beijng. It is done electronically.

There is no way the CCP can stop these transactions.

 
Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 14:11:22

Regarding the runup, it was a 50% gain last year for Bitcoin relative to the USD.

Disclaimer that past performance is no indicator of the future. Dash went up 20% over the weekend because of many ATMs announcing they are going to Dash.

In these cases, once again dollar cost average is the approach to minimize potential losses.

But I stress vacating the banks as highest priority to help the anti war cause.

 
 
 
Comment by CalifoH20
2016-01-02 13:54:50

Rental - Half the price of owning???

http://slo.craigslist.org/apa/5376781612.html

Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 15:06:40

In the case of CA? Less than half Lib.

San Diego, CA Housing Prices Fall 4% As Housing Demand Collapses To 30 Year Low

http://www.zillow.com/san-diego-ca-92129/home-values/

Comment by CalifoH20
2016-01-02 15:27:16

The median home value in 92129 is $680,600. 92129 home values have gone up 4.5% over the past year and Zillow predicts they will rise 2.1% within the next year.

Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 15:42:38

“Values” don’t mean much when prices are falling.

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Comment by Blue Skye
2016-01-02 16:55:01

Just to be fair…California is the poorest state in the union, owing mostly to the residents paying really stoopid prices for housing. This level of financial stoopidity cannot possibly be limited to home debtors. Please consider that Californians can absolutely overpay by tremendously stoopid amounts for rent, as they can for buying. They don’t have to, but if they want to they can.

The property C/4 posted is a case in point. It sold this week for $860K. He wants to rent it for $5K. The C/list doesn’t say the rent is $5K, only that the deposit is $5K. Renting a property that is sold is just plain stoopid, which pretty much proves my point.

 
 
 
Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 17:59:20

My rent is one third of the PITI of the houses occupied by the Sad Pandas all around me.

With all the extra money I save by renting I buy Treasury notes precious metals and crypto currency.

Rock on renters!

Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-02 20:12:55

My rent is imputed to the max and prop 13 rocks.

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Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-02 20:16:06

A job that allows a worker to stay put in one place for forty-nine years also rocks.

 
Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 22:45:41

This is the California Dream. I love Mafia’s posts but this is a side he does not see, rent is cheap in the “Tony” parts of California while salaries are high and quality of life is high.

 
 
 
 
 
Comment by Donald Trump
2016-01-02 15:09:20

I like thinking big. If you’re going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.

Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 15:46:25

Dictator?

Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 18:12:33

Trump and Hitler quote, his fans did not notice as were even more riled about him

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/12/31/someone-put-a-hitler-quote-on-trumps-picture-his-fans-didnt-even-notice-screenshots/

 
 
Comment by CountUrBlessings
2016-01-02 15:48:09

Maybe we can buy Mexico? Institute the rule of law and triple the value. Then a much smaller fence on Mexico’s southern border.

Comment by CalifoH20
2016-01-02 15:49:49

Trump - and Mexico will pay us to take it over. I believe!! brother!!

Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 16:07:04

We just need to bomb the sh!t out of them. It’s easy if you’re a doer.

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Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-02 16:18:47

Mexico …

Mexico mayor assassinated one day after taking office

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mexico-mayor-assassinated-one-day-taking-office-202904917.html

Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:38:32

Criminals can kill with impunity because of the pervasive corruption of Mexico’s institutions, which is a byproduct of a corrupt electorate voting for whoever promises them the most freebies and patronage. We are headed down the same road. Every Hillary voter, without exception, is sanctioning and enabling corruption.

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Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 21:21:56

Sigh, just when I was thinking of going to Alcapukco.

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Comment by phony scandals
2016-01-02 17:05:03

I am gorilla, I am flowers, animals. I am Nature. Koko love Hillary. Hillary Koko love.

But Trump stupid… stupid! Koko sorry, Koko cry. Time hurry. Elect Hillary! Help Earth! Hurry! Protect Earth. NSA watches you. Thank you.’

Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 17:21:42

Koko say phony like gorilla poacher dressed like gorilla.

 
 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 20:05:39

“Big,” as in “too big to fail”?

Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 20:08:34

Or is he “too brash to succeed”?

Opinion
Editorials
Trump is just too brash
By S.G. von Schweinitz Evans
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015

Would one-third of Republican voters really want Donald Trump in the White House leading the free world? I can see him as a feisty Rambo-type like Arnold Schwarzenegger, as a forceful governor of a state, getting rid of some corrupt politicians, but I cannot see him as a diplomat dealing with a complicated variety of foreign leadership, hostile or friendly-minded. No foreign leader will tolerate being pushed or insulted by a bragging American president.

 
 
 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:41:01

Things going from bad to worse between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Enjoy your cheap oil while it lasts.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-01-02/protesters-storm-set-fire-saudi-embassy-iran

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:42:34

The sheeple are being conditioned to accept a cashless society, and the Orwellian total monitoring and control that goes with it.

http://wolfstreet.com/2016/01/02/the-risks-of-the-war-on-cash/

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:46:23

Shia crazies vs. Sunni crazies reigniting their 1400-year-old sectarian hatreds. Maybe, just this once, we could sit this one out.

http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/01/02/holy-war-shiites-riot-saudi-execution-prominent-cleric/

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:50:47

Cargill’s Somali wage slaves aren’t being quite the compliant, docile cogs the firm’s oligarch overlords envisioned when they hired them. Now the local community gets to absorb 150 unemployed Somali workers and their (large) families. Ah, the blessings of neo-fuedalism and multiculturalism!

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/02/us/colorado-muslim-workers-fired-prayer-dispute/index.html?sr=twCNN010216colorado-muslim-workers-fired-prayer-dispute0853PMVODtopLink&linkId=20045154

 
Comment by Raymond K Hessel
2016-01-02 16:52:04

I wish our MSM had real journalists unafraid to speak truth to power, and readers that demanded nothing less.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/saudi-arabias-executions-were-worthy-of-isis-so-will-david-cameron-and-the-west-now-stop-their-a6794046.html

 
Comment by CalifoH20
2016-01-02 17:06:38

The Saudis sukkkk ! 9/11 is on them and all these beheading. Bush loved them, made $$ with them in Houston, but we dont have to!! Close Saudi owned FOx News!

Obama will do what is right!

Comment by Blue Skye
2016-01-02 17:45:58

Get better meds.

 
 
Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-01-02 17:55:35

“Dr. Copper Takes A Bath——Prices Down 25% in 2015 And Heading Lower”

http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/dr-copper-takes-a-bath-prices-down-25-in-2015-and-heading-lower/

Remember….. nothing accelerates the economy and raises all boats like falling commodity and housing prices to dramatically lower and more affordable levels. Nothing.

 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 19:35:38

Does Trump’s angry rhetoric leave you trembling in fear?

Comment by Oddfellow
2016-01-02 20:01:07

It certainly separates the libertarians from the fascists-pretending-to-be-libertarians.

A very, very important distinction.

Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 20:10:19

It also separates the “Trump trolls for Hillary” HBB posters from the rest of us!

 
Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 21:13:07

Odd fellow, +1

 
 
Comment by Blue Skye
2016-01-02 21:26:58

The current corrupt system must be torn down and reformed before there can be any recovery.

Here is the old fashioned way, a Viking ladder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw4qstD9t_o

 
 
Comment by Rand Paul
2016-01-02 21:17:21

I don’t want to live in a nanny state where people are telling me where I can go and what I can do.

Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 22:04:23

But statists such as Trump and Sanders supporters want to order you around.

 
 
Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 21:58:25

“TRUMP IS DISGUSTING”

Seen on a banner flown over the Rose Bowl…

Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 22:05:22

Marketwatch dot com
The man behind that anti-Trump Rose Bowl message? A Rubio backer
By Silvia Ascarelli
Published: Jan 2, 2016 2:52 p.m. ET
Alabama developer Stan Pate says Donald Trump is ‘embarrassing’
In the sky above Pasadena, Calif.

Those aerial messages at the Rose Bowl Parade that called GOP presidential contender Donald Trump “disgusting”?

Paid for by a real-estate developer who has donated to rival Marco Rubio, according to several news reports.

“Donald Trump is embarrassing to the country, and he’s embarrassing to me,” Stan Pate, an Alabama developer, said, according to CBS News. Pate donated $5,200 to Rubio’s presidential campaign committee in early 2015 but says he’s officially undecided, CBS said.

CNN, meanwhile, quoted Pate as saying: “The idea that you can hate your way to the presidency is disgusting to me.”

If the skywriting message sounds somewhat familiar — “America is great! Trump is disgusting!” — it might be because it plays off some of the favorite phrases of Trump, the GOP frontrunner in national polls.

 
Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 22:05:45

Nice!

Comment by Professor Bear
2016-01-02 22:14:06

Guess who flew it? (LOLZ!)

Comment by Bill, just South of Irvine
2016-01-02 22:42:40

I cheated. I would otherwise have never guessed. He is correct though. Trump is disgusting.

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Comment by Little Al
2016-01-03 00:07:16

I’d like to know who had the money to pay for that.
I watched that happen during the Rose Parade.

 
 
Comment by Little Al
2016-01-03 00:05:49

Here comes el nino. California is about to get drenched.

Comment by Combotechie
2016-01-03 00:07:50

Bring it on!

 
 
Comment by Mafia Blocks
2016-02-02 05:44:33

crater

 
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