Bankers will take $5 trillion from American economy over the coming decade – Boing Boing

Bankers will take $5 trillion from American economy over the coming decade via Boing Boing

How to succeed by failing: be a banker. From CNN World:

For the American economy – and for many other developed economies – the elephant in the room is the amount of money paid to bankers over the last five years. In the United States, the sum stands at an astounding $2.2 trillion. Extrapolating over the coming decade, the numbers would approach $5 trillion, an amount vastly larger than what both President Barack Obama’s administration and his Republican opponents seem willing to cut from further government deficits.

That $5 trillion dollars is not money invested in building roads, schools and other long-term projects, but is directly transferred from the American economy to the personal accounts of bank executives and employees. Such transfers represent as cunning a tax on everyone else as one can imagine. It feels quite iniquitous that bankers, having helped cause today’s financial and economic troubles, are the only class that is not suffering from them – and in many cases are actually benefiting.

Article by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Professor of Risk Engineering at New York University and author of The Black Swan. Mark Spitznagel is a hedge-fund manager.

timestranscript.com - How far can you go to protect your property? - Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada

‎45-year-old former military man and father of four charged of possessing a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace while trying to protect his home, property and family from scum bags. Does it make sense that the only legal course of action is to stand there passively and be a victim till police arrive? Canada is long overdue on some clear cut rule changes that give good people the upper hand for a change.....

timestranscript.com - How far can you go to protect your property? - Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada

"Most people wouldn't want to live in a land where guns are bandied about indiscriminately.

But as gun owners, there are darned few of us who haven't thought about what we would do if we were to end up in the position in which Lawrence (Laurie) Manzer found himself early last year.

Manzer, a 45-year-old former military man and father of four, got a call one night from a neighbour. There were prowlers in their backyards. No surprise there; the neighbourhood had been victimized for months by thugs stealing from and vandalizing people's property. Police could not or did not put a stop to it.

So the two men hoped to catch whoever it was skulking outside their bedrooms windows in the middle of the night. Manzer unlocked his legally stored, legally registered, legally owned 12-gauge shotgun, which he is fully trained and experienced to use safely, and stuffed a few shells in his pocket, then headed outside. He didn't load the gun. He didn't point the gun. He didn't hit anyone over the head with it. He just brought it with him on his own property.

It's an act that has changed his life and made him into an international symbol of Canadian laws that govern what you can and cannot do to protect your home, your property and your family, laws that have more grey in them than they do black and/or white.

His actions landed him before the Burton law court yesterday for the start of his trial on a charge of possessing a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace. At the time of this writing, there is no news yet on the outcome of yesterday's court proceedings, which are slated to continue this morning.

It is interesting that Manzer was charged with a crime in which he doesn't get a choice of whether to put his fate in the hands of a jury. A skeptic might argue that the Crown realized there is no possible way a jury of Manzer's peers would ever convict him of anything other than being a hero, and thus chose this charge over some others that would apply equally to the same alleged offence but would have given the accused the option of a jury trial.

One has only to recall the case a few years back of the Sussex area man who was found not guilty after he shot and killed one robber and indirectly badly hurt his accomplice as the thieves fled his property after stealing from his garage, which had been victimized multiple times, to conclude that a jury might give Manzer the benefit of a reasonable doubt.

In another case, a Fredericton shop owner who put a load of bird shot into the back doors of a fleeing van that had just robbed his store was found guilty of a gun crime some years ago, even though anyone familiar with shotguns knows that unloading a fistful of pheasant shot into the rear end of a van is unlikely to hurt anyone - indeed the accused argued at trial he was merely marking the van to make it easier for police to find the getaway vehicle. That case was tried by a judge without a jury, if memory serves, just like Manzer's trial will be.

In New Brunswick, as in the rest of Canada, the law on how far you can go to protect hearth and home - and your children - is so foggy that it seems no one knows where the line is.

If nothing else, Manzer told Brunswick News this week, his case might help clarify that and at the same time help other law-abiding citizens who happen to own guns to know how far they go with those guns when there's an imminent threat to their children, their spouses and their worldly goods, prowling around just outside their bedroom windows in the deep dark of night.

As it turned out, Manzer's and his neighbour's particular threat ended up being three booze-swilling teenagers who the two men held until the police arrived (Manzer's wife had called 911,) one of whom got a ticket for open liquor.

It's Manzer, who some would argue is the victim in this crime, who ended up a few days later with the more serious charge - not to mention the seizure of his lawfully held property, his duck-hunting gun. (A charge of pointing a firearm was withdrawn and the "possession for a dangerous purpose" charge was laid in its stead later on; a charge against Manzer's neighbour of assaulting one of the young punks was withdrawn.)

It would be easy at this point to crack wise about justice being really, really blind, that the law is an ass, about cops being evil and how the Crown might better expend its scarce resources on real crimes. And I guess I just did.

The real issue, though, is that not a single gun owner I've ever met has a clue what he or she can and cannot legally do in the face of a threat either to their person, their loved ones or their property, other than a few who know the broad generalities of using minimal force to counter the threat and that you must truly feel threatened before moving to defend yourself, blah blah. You can Google sections 34 to 37 of the Criminal Code of Canada for the exact wording and educate yourself, if you're interested.

I don't necessarily pooh-pooh the argument that tragedy could be one step away if just anyone can run out of the house with a gun any time they perceive a threat. But can you imagine how you'd feel if you had the means, the training and the tools available to stop a threat to your family, yet didn't act, ending with personally tragic results?

Myself, I'd rather go to jail for defending my child than to her funeral because I failed to do so.

Given my choice of neighbours, the Manzers can move into my neighbourhood any time. I'll even help 'em pack.

Many New Brunswickers are helping Laurie with what could be a fairly substantial legal bill. If you'd like to do the same, send your donation in care of his lawyer at: Lawrence Manzer, In Trust of Brian McKay, 291 Restigouche Rd., Oromocto, NB, E2V 2H2."

China beats out America for Canadian oil — RT

China beats out America for Canadian oil — RT

"Massive resources of oil lay under the surface of Alberta, Canada. With the Great White North already the largest foreign supplier of oil to the US, it would make sense for America to ink a deal that would pipe that product right over the border.

Concerns among environmentalists, however, have caused a commotion that has kept a contract between Canada and the States from being signed.

China, meanwhile, has stepped up to the plate and has offered to foot the bill that will allow for Canadian oil to make it all the way to the Far East. Is it the right thing for Canada to send this “Dirty Oil” overseas to a country with little concern for the environment?

Freedomain Radio host Stefan Molyneux says that America will always outsource such a large amount of its oil resources that it will rarely be “clean.” With the Middle East offering up the next largest amount of oil for US consumption, however, anywhere we get our oil will cause concerns, whether environmental ones or those regarding human rights.

“We have to make intelligent decisions about how these resources are going to be gotten,” Molyneux tells RT.

Despite urging in the past that they wouldn’t do business with countries with bad human rights records, Canada is now considering China as its newest client in the oil market. Currently Canada’s biggest buyer is the United States, but all that could change if they ink a deal with officials in Beijing. Is it okay for Canada to flip-flop on their stance and support a nation lacking environmental concern if it’ll boost both countries’ economies?

“I think that in the long run, the economy drives human rights,” says Molyneux. “From a purely economic standpoint,”says Molyneux, China has grown exponentially. “China’s growth has been seven, eight, nine, ten percent for almost 20 years.” With that wealth, he says, they will be able to someday afford the ability to treat both its people and land fairly, so notwithstanding allegations of human rights violations and unjust environmental practices, a contract with Canada could help change China for the better.

Molyneux says that governments around the world are by far the worst polluters in the planet, but with environmental standards being implemented on a nation-by-nation basis, it comes down to what controls a country can afford itself to allow. “If we drive economic growth, we gain things like luxuries of human rights,” says the radio host.

In the meantime, Molyneux says nagging countries over violations at the expense of their economy will only keep nations from bettering themselves. Once countries expand economically to a point where it is possible to implement environmental protection, he says, they’ll do so. Then, he says, luxuries like smokestack scrubbers can become a reality, even in countries that seemingly lack environmental concern today, like China."

Canadian News Media takes on the role of distracting rather than informing.

Does anyone wonder why Canadian news media does not discuss the effect the inevitable downfall of America will have on the Canadian economy, security or life as we know it in general? Most Canadians have no idea how joined at the hip we are with the US.

We are not informed by the Canadian news media about how the value of Canadian dollar is backed primarily by US Dollars....when most other international currencies are backed by.... GOLD RESERVES....actual , physical gold bullion.

The Canadian Dollar is No Haven from a US Dollar Collapse. If the Canadian dollar value is so deeply connected  with the US dollar , what happens when the US dollar colapses in value? The US dollar is only backed by primarily "GOLD CERTIFICATES".....where is the gold? Do you see where this is going? Its a game of musical chairs. The US dollar is on its way to becoming worthless as they keep printing more & more money....dragging ours down with it.

More proof that the Canadian news media has a hand in hiding the truth.  There was also invitation only "Secret Meeting" of sorts in Switzerland. 150 of the worlds most influential & most powerful people, a gathering of what is called ...."The Bilderberg Group". Premier of BC, Gordon Campbell & CBC Chief News Correspondent, Peter Mansbridge were invited & did attend in 2010.... absolutely no news coverage on the event at all. Now if thats is not blatantly obvious that they not only assist in hiding the group but also a participate in it....what more proof do you need??? 

I have come to the conclusion that the CBC, CTV, Global & less relevant networks ....do nothing more than distract Canadians from the reality check we are facing as a nation. If these news organisations have no interest in maintaining journalistic integrity, what is their purpose? Why are they collaborating in secret behind closed doors with the financial elites, world bankers, corporate monsters & yet have nothing to say about it? If they aren't then this is certainly an embarasing oversight since these annual meetings have taken place for over 50 years. They even to go as far as calling it conspiracy theory in some cases. 
It's not wrong to be suspicious. Having the ability to connect the dots, pay attention to details that others have not noticed & reveal secrets the media will not disclose or discuss is not paranoia.......Keep a close eye on those with power & influence. Question everything the media says... its a powerful machine for those who control it.





I have found many independent news sources that offer you a chance to be truly informed. Here is a few suggestions...

• http://www.ampedstatus.com/
• http://www.drudgereport.com/
• http://maxkeiser.com/
• http://www.infowars.com/
• http://rt.com/

CBC.ca | The Current | June 8, 2010

CBC.ca | The Current | June 8, 2010

Makes you wonder why the CBC wont do their job along with other news media outlets regarding informing the public about Bilderberg....

"Before we go, we got an e-mail from one of our listeners that we'd like to share. Thomas Belley of Montreal wrote to us about a secretive meeting that took place this past weekend in Spain. He wrote:

"I e-mailed you bunch some days ago wondering about the role played by the meeting that took place in Sitges, Spain, called Bilderberg. Some popular media covered the "event." It turns out Peter Mansbridge was attending. Why won't the CBC say a single word about it all?!? It's somewhat insulting."

Now a bit of background. The Bilderberg Group is a society of powerful political and financial leaders. They meet once a year. And they are often the subject of conspiracy theories that suggest the members are the people who really control the world.

And yes, we can confirm that Peter Mansbridge did attend this year. According to the web site Thomas Belley pointed us to, so did BC Premier Gordon Campbell, former New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna, as well as Edmund Clark, the President and CEO of the TD Bank Financial Group, Robert Prichard, the President and CEO of Metrolynx, andHeather Reisman, the CEO of Indigo Books and Music.

Of course, no one is really sure what goes on at the meetings. Because if you're not a member, you're not privy to what its members talk about.

British comedian and writer Charlie Skelton is trying to change that. Last year, he went to Greece to cover the Bilderberg Conference for The Guardian newspaper. But he didn't get very far. In fact, he spent most of his time running from the Greek police. But that didn't stop him from trying again. We left you this morning with his round-up of what happened this year."

YouTube - When Money Dies... The Dollar Vigilante Interviewed on Freedomain Radio

YouTube - When Money Dies... The Dollar Vigilante Interviewed on Freedomain Radio

If Canadians think they are isolated from the economic destruction of the America.....I suggest listening to these intelligent men explain how bad it will get.

Dirty Jobs creator on the need for skilled tradespeople in America - Boing Boing

Dirty Jobs creator on the need for skilled tradespeople in America - Boing Boing

"A few months ago in Atlanta I ran into Tom Vilsack, our Secretary of Agriculture. Tom told me about a governor who was unable to move forward on the construction of a power plant. The reason was telling. It wasn't a lack of funds. It wasn't a lack of support. It was a lack of qualified welders.

In high schools, the vocational arts have all but vanished. We've elevated the importance of "higher education" to such a lofty perch that all other forms of knowledge are now labeled "alternative." Millions of parents and kids see apprenticeships and on-the-job-training opportunities as "vocational consolation prizes," best suited for those not cut out for a four-year degree. And still, we talk about millions of "shovel ready" jobs for a society that doesn't encourage people to pick up a shovel.

In a hundred different ways, we have slowly marginalized an entire category of critical professions, reshaping our expectations of a "good job" into something that no longer looks like work. A few years from now, an hour with a good plumber -- if you can find one -- is going to cost more than an hour with a good psychiatrist. At which point we'll all be in need of both.

I came here today because guys like my grandfather are no less important to civilized life than they were 50 years ago. Maybe they're in short supply because we don't acknowledge them they way we used to. We leave our check on the kitchen counter, and hope the work gets done. That needs to change."

This could easily be said about Canada's situation as well.

Too many cushy jobs being rewarded with over paid salaries while people with real skills are undervalued.

Harper government is rewarding big industry with tax breaks so they can divvy out slave labor minimum wage jobs while not allowing the little guy to get ahead....their remedy for boosting the economy?

Russian corruption: crooked officials steal multi-billion-dollar company, $230M tax refund, then murder campaigning lawyer

In Canada we worry about appeasing & big corporations with tax incentives. In Russia, they just steal your company & kill you. Does Canada really need to give away tax dollars as incentive to do business in Canada with options like this? 

Russian corruption: crooked officials steal multi-billion-dollar company, $230M tax refund, then murder campaigning lawyer - Boing Boing

Europe prays for Easter rain in worst drought for a century - Yahoo! News UK

Europe prays for Easter rain in worst drought for a century - Yahoo! News UK

Europe prays for Easter rain in worst drought for a century - Yahoo! News UK

"....March was already extremely volatile for grains, largely due to growing economic uncertainties and the turmoil in North Africa and parts of the Near East -- as well as the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the Food and Agriculture Organization said after logging a first, slight drop in raw food prices for eight months.

Prices hit record highs at the beginning of the year, and while the main focus for specialist traders is in the United States, a deteriorating drought in Europe could yet spark deep concern.

While European Commission agriculture spokesman Roger Waite acknowledges a "slight" rise in the prices of maize and wheat, he maintained that winter crops remain "generally in good condition."

A spokeswoman for European farmers federation Copa-Cogeca said it was too soon to draw conclusions, but Belgian farmer Guy Franck, who heads a dairy collective in French-speaking Wallonia, says gut instinct tells him worse is yet to come.

"I've been in this game for 30 years, I've never seen a month of April like this one," he said.

"Everything with short roots is seriously dehydrated," he warned."

Europe prays for Easter rain in worst drought for a century - Yahoo! News UK

Gerald Celente GOES OFF !!! Video

Gerald Celente GOES OFF !!! Video

Disclose.tv - Gerald Celente GOES OFF !!! Video


Gerald Celente has not been wrong in just about every prediction and assessment I have witnessed. I have never seen him blow off the handle like this. This is dire warning for sure that if the American Sheep do not wake up and stand up for themselves we are going to be in trouble.

Take a second to put the pieces together. Look at the ridiculous media attention on the government shutdown. If they know something this gives them the perfect reason to take temporary shelter in the bunkers while we take the heat for their undoings. America you better wake up and realize the mainstream news is LYING to you!!!

Is it time for Canada implement export tariffs on our oil & gas?

With inflation about to skyrocket along with rising fuel prices, isn't it time our government looked out for our own interests 1st?