Markets: “Fly Me to the Moon”

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Screaming upside open seems to be in store based on the early futures readings.  Trade war cools and Bayer shares jump on report of U.S. antitrust deal on Monsanto.

Not that anything has changed, though. World’s still a screwy, broken, hyper complex bowl of spaghetti that could break at any moment.  Concepts like Anti-Fragile fail because one EMP burst blows it all, but I digress….

Trump and Mueller are still going at it – with the latest being Mueller raiding the office of Trump’s lawyer.  Which is about as direct an attack on jurisprudence (attorney-client privilege) as you can get, figures famed legal scholar Alan Dershowitz.

(Continues below)

 

Seems to us that Mueller may go after Trump’s attorney for the Stormy Daniels deal, which while not Russian, seems to be part of MMC *(Mueller Mission Creep) as desperation to play “Pin the Anything on Trump” game continues.

The markets, thankfully, are more concerned with the appeasement of the US in the Trade War rants with China today promising to open their market to US auto imports.  Lower tariffs are imported cars could be significant to what’s left of Michigan.

Mr. Zuke Goes to Washington

Assuming you know that an API is an application-program-interface, this from the Facebook Newsroom is of interest:

“Events API: Until today, people could grant an app permission to get information about events they host or attend, including private events. This made it easy to add Facebook Events to calendar, ticketing or other apps. But Facebook Events have information about other people’s attendance as well as posts on the event wall, so it’s important that we ensure apps use their access appropriately. Starting today, apps using the API will no longer be able to access the guest list or posts on the event wall. And in the future, only apps we approve that agree to strict requirements will be allowed to use the Events API.

Groups API: Currently apps need the permission of a group admin or member to access group content for closed groups, and the permission of an admin for secret groups. These apps help admins do things like easily post and respond to content in their groups. However, there is information about people and conversations in groups that we want to make sure is better protected. Going forward, all third-party apps using the Groups API will need approval from Facebook and an admin to ensure they benefit the group. Apps will no longer be able to access the member list of a group. And we’re also removing personal information, such as names and profile photos, attached to posts or comments that approved apps can access.

Pages API: Until today, any app could use the Pages API to read posts or comments from any Page. This let developers create tools for Page owners to help them do things like schedule posts and reply to comments or messages. But it also let apps access more data than necessary. We want to make sure Page information is only available to apps providing useful services to our community. So starting today, all future access to the Pages API will need to be approved by Facebook.”

There’s more at link above.

But the REAL News is Business Models

I’m too damn dumb (and honest) to think this one up, but did you catch where “The Biggest Black Lives Matter page on Facebook is a Fake“?

Since we collect business models, let me run down the essentials:

  • Spot a hot (soon going viral) idea.
  • Set up a Facebook page about it that goes viral
  • Sell ads to “support the cause,” then pocket the dough.

As I said, I’m too damn dumb to do it, but my, I hold these digital Ponzi types in awe.  Al Clickpone would be proud.

Popespeak

Sometimes, we wonder: Pope urges church unity, blames divisions on work of devil.  Not sure, but isn’t this like a 2,000-year old story?

Life as a Disaster

In fact, Swiss Re (re-insurance outfit in guess where) says claims for disasters were higher in 2017 than any time since 2011.  We found this useful:

  • Total global economic losses from natural disasters and man-made catastrophes were USD 337 billion in 2017
  • Global insured losses from disaster events in 2017 were USD 144 billion, the highest ever on sigma records
  • Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria (HIM) resulted in combined insured losses of USD 92 billion, equal to 0.5% of US GDP
  • Insured losses from all wildfires in the world totaled USD 14 billion in 2017, the highest ever in a single year
  • More than 11 000 people died or went missing in disaster events in 2017″

Our back of the envelope outlook says as the human population density and the purchasing power of paper money waters down, higher future losses seem inevitable.

Meanwhile, pouring some peppermint schnapps in the cocoa, we wonder how soon the political correctness police will be along:  There are HIM Hurricanes in the data.  Shouldn’t we be teaching kids in grade school that there might some day also be HER Himmicanes?  (boom-dash & rimshots as the assembled multitude squirms uneasily…).

The PC Anarchists are attacking Egalitarian now, if you hadn’t noticed. Frigging snowflakes.  To quote a source “You’re the same decaying organic matter as everything else.”  Deal with it.

Wasted Energy

I have yet to find any comprehensible “use” for the “work” done by coin miners.  My ignorance not withstanding, Cryptocurrency miners seek cheap energy in Norway and Sweden.

What AMAZES ME is that if there’s a global climate problem, why are we pissing away resource making up made-up digi-dough?  I mean, someone should be asking, right?

Maybe processed food and BSTV have impaired ours ability to think clearly on such balances.

Remind me to put an updated BrainAmp run on Bitcoins outlook on Peoplenomics tomorrow…

Commie-fornia Crazies

Senator Richard Pan (D, Sacramento) has launched the stupidest, anti-Constitution, Californicating bill we’ve seen yet from the liberal wannabe-break-away sanctuary mini-country.

This would require human fact-checking of all internet social media post, free speech-protected site (like Urbansurvival.com), etc. if they are stupid enough to have a physical presence in the state of nitwits stooges.  Oh, and yes, the Brown Clowns are that stupid.

Titled “An act to add Title 14.5 (commencing with Section 3085) to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, relating to the Internet“ here’s the lefty Gestapo’s freedom-grabbing lingo:

“This bill would require any person who operates a social media, as defined, Internet Web site with a physical presence in California to develop a strategic plan to verify news stories shared on its Web site. The bill would require the plan to include, among other things, a plan to mitigate the spread of false information through news stories, the utilization of fact-checkers to verify news stories, providing outreach to social media users, and placing a warning on a news story containing false information.”

False?  No…that’s lib-code for “stuff we don’t like.” Straights, border supporters, climate skeptics, Christians…whatever they’re after out there this week.

Had Pan taken the time to think technology through, he would be able to avoid the whole mess by simply outlawing bots for any posting activity.  Make that a felony.  Most than 10 Facebook posts per hour…something like that.  But to squash freedom and have a government “fact-checking”?  Hell no!

You can’t trust liberals.  Go look up how Babel ended.

OK, Serious Data

National optimism still climbing:

“Washington, D.C. (April 10, 2018) – The small business optimism index reached its 16th consecutive month in the top five percent of 45 years of survey readings, according to the NFIB Small Business Economic Trends survey, released today. The 104.7 March reading, down from 107.6 in February, remains among the highest in survey history and for the first time since 1982, taxes received the fewest number of votes as the number one problem. Taxes as the number one problem has declined since November 2017, the month before the tax bill passed, from 22 percent to 13.”

Then we have the Economic Orchestra strike up Producer Prices, Final Demand to dance our way higher in the markets:

“The Producer Price Index for final demand advanced 0.3 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices rose 0.2 percent in February and 0.4 percent in January. (See table A.) On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index increased 3.0 percent for the 12 months ended in March.

In March, 70 percent of the rise in the final demand index is attributable to a 0.3-percent advance in prices for final demand services. The index for final demand goods also climbed 0.3 percent.

The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services rose 0.4 percent in March, the
same as in both February and January. For the 12 months ended in March, prices for final
demand less foods, energy, and trade services increased 2.9 percent, the largest advance since
12-month percent change data were available in August 2014.

All of which is like frosting, given the Dow futures are up almost 300 points when last checked.

Peoplenomics.com tomorrow for all the charts of our Aggregate Indices view of the planet.  Plus the BTC forecast update.

Now that I’ve been seen, time to re-bean… Moron Thursday!

author avatar
George Ure
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/George-Ure/e/B0098M3VY8%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share UrbanSurvival Bio: https://urbansurvival.com/about-george-ure/
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28 thoughts on “Markets: “Fly Me to the Moon””

  1. As I mentioned in the past few days on your blog, its starting to look like this big correction we thought should happen in the next few weeks, could be cancelled, especially if this trade war thing is resolved . This current market environment seems to be 1 of the most speculative in history. It is a true gambling casino, where weekly trading days of up 500 points then down 500 points are the norm .

    The 1929 /depression market scenario could still be put on hold for many years in the future.

    On my end of the spectrum, if this market doesn’t correct , then I will miss the bull run. I made up my mind to not invest my 401k money in this market, unless we see a correction down around the 20,000 DOW ranges. Besides , im not fond of having my retirement money in a trading casino where such huge point gains/losses happen week after week. I dont want my money on such a roller coaster ride of thrills and speculation.

      • Maybe let jon ,i mean mark expose the meanings of the two words in relation to how his thoughts work

      • George, that previous post is another Mark…the real Mark from NorCal is one of your biggest fans and does want to comment on your mention on the Michael Cohen raid.

        That is a curious raid in that Trump judge appointees are the ones that approved that raid. So much for loyalty pledges.

        • Thanks Mark – I know this Mark (thee) to be a very bright star of NorCal RE and though liberal, not so much that you’ve given up thinking…

  3. Not to be a conspiracy rant….
    Seams your ” 153 agenda ” might have kept us in Seria. Maybe the U.S. dropped the posion?

    • George and friends will have to fly the rest of the way from part 3 to 8 by themselves I’m getting off at the next exit I think I hear some buzzing sounds oh yeah that’s right I contracted Lumber service 2 remove the lumber on my 80 some Acres it’s 50 some with 30 way up in the hill so anyway we’ll see what happens.

      May all beings be lovingly fulfilled even us Liars with pants on fires looking for a pond to sit in. Lol and lots of love

      • Cut your timber early as possible. when saps running you get 10% more weight at the mill. We took 43 logging trucks off our place in 2004

      • Those are some interesting photos & video. What do you know about that site? I’m pretty aware of what’s going on in the field but first I’ve heard of these guys.

  5. George, your ideas about outlawing bots or limiting the number of posts are quite interesting. Along with your take on taxing (instead of deducting) machines. All deserve much, much more consideration. BTW, on the spectrum, these ideas would likely be ranked ‘liberal.’ See, that’s the danger of labeling, and seeing the world through an us-them prism. It handcuffs one’s thinking into successful solutions. Thankfully you’re strong enough to rise above petty labels. Best, Mike.

  6. Shucks George as Greenspan said under Reagan “WE WILL NOT PERMIT THIS MARKET TO FAIL”and they have been juicing it ever since, and any old excuse will justify its ups and downs, but the ups always wins for they have the Fed behind them…

  9. Heres a interesting question, that most humans never think to ask or are to afraid to ask.

    ” Is it acceptable to live in a scenario, where you are constantly fed lies by TPTB { by whomever thru whatever venues} and to believe in those lies, because those lies directly result in you having a much better lifestyle OR is it better to always be told the truth BUT, your lifestyle will suffer greatly by those truths ?

    Ill put it more bluntly. What percentage of American society, that claims they want the truth on all subjects, including foreign policies , would still want all those truths, if they were also told, that by being given those truths, you no longer would have a American society living in a 1st world format, and those truths that were once hidden , would sink American society into a 3rd world nation.

    The LIES, we have endlessly been told { from kennedy, to 9-11 to Syria ,etc} and will continue to be told in the future, may be necessary to not only keep America at the top from a military standpoint but also keep American society from sinking into a 3rd world lifestyle.

    So , are the endless lies we are told, and we embrace or accept as truths, worth it to keep the spoiled standard of living we have all come to accept as the norm ? Would most Americans accept a nation where we were offered to be told all truths from media/govt, but in exchange for those truths, our standards of living and conveniences would be decimated or lowered substantially ?

    How important is the truth, when it comes to standard of living ? Is a much lower standard of living, worth being given more truth ?

    • Finally. Considering the very intelligent who seem to frequent this site and its prodigious author Mr. Ure, I have always wondered how or why everyone seemed to have their heads buried in the sand. The truth is America has been maintaining its hold by being the school bully. It’s just my way and hey, there ain’t no highway has been how its kept itself going. There’s nothing of value that’s come out of there. Actually with its so called web related innovations, it has taken standards down everywhere. Unless erudite Americans like the ones here accept that this is no way to stay on stop and start acting upon it, we would start crowding that cliff top before long. If it already isn’t.

    • Anonomous and Shankar, honeys. Who are you two talking to? I’m giving you both a homework assignment. Go back one year from today and read every column and every comment and then come back on here and answer your own questions and musings. Many of us are so far down the reality road of truth and facing the consequences that we aren’t scared and are busy preparing. Come what may, we were find a way. Now where has Ecuador Expat been!!!???? If you need an escape valve, he’ll help you out!

  11. George, since you mentioned fake facebook & also human fact-checking in California, i read this a couple days ago. VERY interesting & on point, & may be the next “hot button” issue you were lookin for recently. Bonus discussion of Timothy Leary, Steve Jobs, Abraham Zapruder, & Elon Musk.
    Choice quotes:

    “manipulated video will ultimately destroy faith in our strongest remaining tether to the idea of common reality.”

    “These developers wanted to create machines that could transform consciousness in much the same way that drugs did. Computers would also rip a hole in reality”

    “The internet has always contained the seeds of postmodern hell. Mass manipulation, from clickbait to Russian bots to the addictive trickery that governs Facebook’s News Feed, is the currency of the medium. It has always been a place where identity is terrifyingly slippery, where anonymity breeds coarseness and confusion, where crooks can filch the very contours of selfhood. In this respect, the rise of deepfakes is the culmination of the internet’s history to date—and probably only a low-grade version of what’s to come.
    Vladimir Nabokov once wrote that reality is one of the few words that means nothing without quotation marks”

    https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/05/realitys-end/556877/

  12. Markets did not crash & burn in the afternoon as has been the market tendency lately. YUMC is still strong so I am looking for a positive end to the trade war.

    After the FBI raid on Trump’s personal attorney, I was ready to sell everything in the morning if the futures were negative. This raid shows me that the President is second in charge of this country. I am not a conspiracy theory nut, but I may become one.

  13. I was totally impressed by Zuckerberg at the hearings today. I listened to most of it and he answered each question with respect and total diplomacy..Wall Street was also impressed. Their stock was up 2%…which I bought before the hearings today…based on a local news report about how prepared he was for Congress. As you say George…buy the news.

  14. I was so upset about the FBI raid last night, I listened to Laura Ingraham on the radio last night & noticed there were no comercials. Another example of a conservative radio host being accused of being “mean spirited” if you are conservative & against gun control & having their sponsors bale so they can look good to the Liberal nuts & not get their bottom line hurt from a boycott.

    She had as guests Diamond & Silk, 2 black women who are pro Trump. Facebook is stopping people that have liked and followed the Diamond and Silk page from seeing their content even though they are following FB instructions? FB says their ideas are dangerous, but FB won’t say how. This is what we call bias tactics or “CENSORSHIP” of anything Trump or conservative.

    • LOL LOL LOL I quit listening to her the night a woman called in and told her just how wonderful she thought she was and agreed with all of her opinions completely..
      the Host then started a rant tearing down the caller telling her basically what a piece of crap she was. LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL basically the same thing with Rush to..I quit listening the day he flip flopped so much.. I only wished I had been recording it I would have rather he just said all the members of our political system should be changed instead of making excuses about one side while criticizing the other side for the same thing.. like a dirty diaper..I take the dirty diaper approach.. if it is dirty then the good lord knows it needs to be changed badly before the babies skin starts to break down.. we are at the skin is broken down and starting to bleed part right now..

  15. On a different page I was watching the clown Circus in DC over the Face book farce,, two thirds of the ones questioning him have received large reelection checks from him. a Cheap insurance policy for zunkenberg.

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