Merkel's head nod precipitates the Macron Swerve

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Saturday May 27, 2017 · 5:02 AM PDT

2017/05/27 · 05:02

Largely unnoticed at the 1 second mark of the following video is Angela Merkel’s head nod to Macron. It appears to me that she is giving Macron a “get on over here” jerk of the head. Macon realizes quickly who is the de facto leader of the group and greets her warmly. Interesting dynamic. Puts the entire scene in a new light for me. Was it coordinated? Or was it the classic “friends first” introduction you would witness at a cocktail party?

YouTube Video

Chinese Stripping US Top-Soil for Export

mwchicago04

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Friday March 31, 2017 · 8:40 PM PDT

2017/03/31 · 20:40

As most of us who follow these things closely know, Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, will arrive in the United States (Mar A Lago if you call that the US) early next week for a first meeting with the Dumpster. Although I am sure there will be gold plated spoons and caviar for the visit, I think it is supremely important for us to know about what China is doing behind the scenes. Specifically, how China is STEALING from the the American farmer their most precious asset: American Top Soil.

Just after midnight GMT, Asian markets hit near panic levels as Chinese speculators snapped up July delivery futures for Iowa Sweet Loam (a particulary nutrient-rich topsoil found only in the Midwest). Analysts from major trading firms such as Goldman Sachs are perplexed as to why the Chinese are essentially trying to corner the market in Loess-based derivatives.

Initial reaction from analysts is that dry winds off the Gobi Desert kicked up toward the end of March and have begun to deplete the soil moisture content in the western regions of China. With China becoming a net importer of agricultural commodities just this year, the political ramifications of not feeding their people would be severe - think North Korea. As we all know, the Chinese will not let that happen.

At the end of trading yesterday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), a July futures contract could be bought for about $4.01 per cubic foot (about the amount of debris-free topsoil that can fit in a standard metal trash can). This morning (at about 2am gmt), the same contract hit $11.04. This near tripling of contract prices could have a crippling effect on the competitiveness of the American farmer.

Last year, U.S. farmers imported 27,400,000 metric tons of a lesser grade of topsoil from Canada and Central America (mostly Guatemala). If for some reason, the Chinese bid these contracts even higher, it could become economically viable for both of these trading partners to begin shipping their excess topsoil to China directly. Analysts believe that if the price hits $16-17 per contract, US farmers would find it more profitable to dig up their farms and export the top layer of soil.

With increased Midwest grain plantings turning to ethanol production (needs a lesser, siltier grade of topsoil), there is a very real possibility that there will not be enough high-grade Sweet Iowa Loam to cover American food production/consumption. Although no analyst is predicting this today, it is possible that we might become a net importer of food. More than likely, imported from China. Knowing the Chinese record of safety, I find this scenario chilling.

If Washington doesn't intervene (and when was the last time they did that for the average American), we can expect to find much higher prices on our grocery aisle. A $6 gallon of milk or $4 loaf of bread is not out of the question - not to mention the dramatic rise in fossil fuel consumption to ship this Chinese bread to your local grocer.

Long-term this could very well be the last nail in the coffin of the American farmer. Those rows of corn you see as you drive around today, may not be there on this day next year.

[UPDATE: TREAS SEC MNUCHIN TO ADDRESS PANIC AT 8AM EASTERN. WILL TRUMP FOLLOW?]

Soldiers die for bad Americans every day.

mwchicago04

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Thursday June 05, 2014 · 10:12 PM PDT

2014/06/05 · 22:12

Do you really think you are worth the life of an American soldier? Damn straight you are. You can be a felon, a pervert, a fraud, a jerk, an ingrate or an ass; regardless, there is an American soldier who has or will put his/her life on the line for you. Maybe, you are a tax cheat, a card sharp, a grifter or a scamp - that same soldier will fight to the death for you. When an American soldier pledges their allegiance to the Republic "for which it stands", they vow to protect all Americans. Even deserters. Even murderers. Even rapists. Soldiers DO NOT discriminate. They protect us all.

Putin says he would give only one glass of water to Ryan.

mwchicago04

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Thursday October 11, 2012 · 8:44 PM PDT

2012/10/11 · 20:44

Just in out of Moscow, v Putin said he would withhold water from Ryan. Breaking: Chavez suggests he would give one glass less than is necessary. R Castro just indicated he might give Ryan a garden hose but nothing more. Monti from Italy suggests he would give Ryan aqua naturale but no ice. Merkel was seen screaming Wasser Wasser Wasser! The ghost of Kim il Jung was seen wandering the streets of Pyongyang taking glasses of water from children.

Does Paul Ryan have diabetes? Some people are asking.

0% taxation on capital gains. Job creators stop working!

mwchicago04

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Sunday August 12, 2012 · 10:20 AM PDT

2012/08/12 · 10:20

With zero percent taxation on capital gains, interest, and dividends (proposed in the Ryan plan), does it make sense for job creators to continue working?

Imagine a McDonald's franchise owner with 10 locations and an enterprise value of $10,000,000. If this franchise owner sold all ten locations and cleared this long-term capital gain, the job creator would have $10mm to invest and build additional wealth.

Managing this portfolio full-time should ensure a 6-7% growth in assets each year. Taxed at 0% percent means that this franchise owner will take home $600-700k every year for the rest of his/her life.

Sure, the franchise owner could continue to work. He/she could pay themselves $1million a year and come out ahead with Ryan's 25% top income tax rate. However, all of the asset value would still be locked up in the franchises and there would be a whole lot of hassle, late nights, meetings and issues in running 10 franchises.

Why not just sell it all and walk away tax-free? Snark of course. This is what I would do though. I would sit on my butt and enjoy a very nice life forever.

$500 to Obama - Will You Do $20? (Now $2270 total)

mwchicago04

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Thursday June 07, 2012 · 7:42 PM PDT

2012/06/07 · 19:42

Ok, I made a number of donations during 2008. However, I haven't made the same financial commitment to the re-election of OUR President until just a few minutes ago. I guess the whole Citizens United thing has turned me off from donating. I can't compete with a Las Vegas/Macau billionaire who decides to dump my life time earnings to make certain The Newt or The Mitt stay competitive. However, I see how money makes a difference in this post-Wisconsin world. Walker did not deserve to win and in normal environs he wouldn't have. However, 26 million in direct contributions from America's oligarchs sure did make a difference. Will you donate $20?

Here is the link I used to donate.

http://www.barackobama.com/

Sidewalks and Stoops

mwchicago04

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Thursday June 09, 2011 · 7:02 PM PDT

2011/06/09 · 19:02

Milwaukee, Cleveland, Chicago, Charleston and St. Louis all have sidewalks. Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Washington DC, and Pittsburgh all have stoops. This is Democrat country. We believe in sidewalks and stoops. We will pay for sidewalks and stoops. We cherish them. Why? It is how we define our community.

mwchicago04

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Thursday March 31, 2011 · 5:46 PM PDT

2011/03/31 · 17:46

Today, American billionaire Donald Trump offered temporary refuge to Libyan ex-foreign minister Moussa Koussa at Trump International Golf course in the Barbados.

Within hours, a US State Department official indicated that the United States could not support such a move and indicated that the United States would seek to extract information about the 1988 Lockerbie bombing from the Libyan foreign minister who defected and fled to Britain on March 31st.

mwchicago04

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Monday November 01, 2010 · 9:40 AM PDT

2010/11/01 · 09:40

I am so pissed at myself right now. I forgot to vote. How? I don't know. It just escaped me. I fully intended to vote for [insert Democratic candidate] for Senate and now I have [insert Republican candidate] as my Senator for the next six years for the state of [insert State]. Even worse, I now have to worry about [pressing issue] and the possibility of rolling back [next pressing issue].

What really upsets me is that from now until [insert next election year], my opinion will really not matter. I can't say to people, "well, I didn't vote for [insert Republican candidate] I voted for [insert Democratic candidate].

Yes, I know. It's my fault. I just wish someone [insert Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Howard Dean] or some organization like [insert Moveon, DNC, DCCC, DSCC] would have reminded me to vote one more time. I never would have forgotten then.

How could I be so stupid!. I even knew where to vote [insert polling location] and what time it opened [insert polling station hours].
There is no excuse, except maybe I [insert drank, slept, worked] too much and it just escaped me.

mwchicago04

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Wednesday September 08, 2010 · 7:03 AM PDT

2010/09/08 · 07:03

Nixon panicked and had his minions break into the Watergate Hotel.

Reagan panicked and spent hundreds of billions against a near bankrupt Soviet Union.

Reagan panicked again after a few Cuban advisers were found in Grenada.

Reagan panicked and thought we were all going to die of the bug and refused to recognize the AIDS crisis

Bush Sr. panicked when he thought Noriega had the goods on him and his Iran contra crew. He invaded to capture a low-level thug

mwchicago04

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Saturday March 27, 2010 · 6:35 PM PDT

2010/03/27 · 18:35

It is unconstitutional! I want to send a first class piece of mail and the only option I have is a Forever Stamp from the US Postal Service. It is another government takeover of what used to be a 100% private enterprise. So just the other day, I wrote a brief note to my dear gram-ma-ma. Deciding against the use of carrier pigeons, I thought to myself .... how oh how do I take this brief little note and get it some 900 miles from my humble little abode in about 2 to 3 days. Oh snap! I need to use the post. No way, no how. Not that communistic, socialistic fascist(ic) service in service for well over 200 years. The post office just doesn't work. It never has! It never will. To think that I need to give Obama my hard earned money so that he can employ thousands of supporters to deliver mail close to 6 sometimes 5 days per week! No way! It's wrong and it's un-American.

Sorry for the shortness of my diary, but this whole takeover by the government is getting out of control Sooner or later they (the guvmint) might just mandate me to buy health insurance.

HR2998714: Five Month Defense of Marriage Act

mwchicago04

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Wednesday June 24, 2009 · 12:07 PM PDT

2009/06/24 · 12:07

In a quick and decisive move to counter both John Ensign's and Mark Sanford's public's admission of infidelity, House GOP Leader John Boehner has introduced legislation dubbed 5(DOMA).

On the House of Representatives floor this afternoon, Rep. Eric Cantor from Virginia remarked, "As both a Christian and a conservative, I understand that both of these family values have their limits. Therefore, I come out in full support of a five month limit to any one's defense of marriage. If you can't get your heart right in five (5) months, then just maybe... the marriage isn't worth the effort."

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Merkel's head nod precipitates the Macron Swerve

Chinese Stripping US Top-Soil for Export

Soldiers die for bad Americans every day.

Putin says he would give only one glass of water to Ryan.

0% taxation on capital gains. Job creators stop working!

$500 to Obama - Will You Do $20? (Now $2270 total)

Sidewalks and Stoops

Breaking: Trump Offers Libyan Foreign Minister Refuge in Barbados

I forgot to vote today...aargh!

Republicans Panic

Obama Is Forcing Me To Buy Stamps

HR2998714: Five Month Defense of Marriage Act