68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice

68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice  

By Kevin Kelly

It’s my birthday. I’m 68. I feel like pulling up a rocking chair and dispensing advice to the young ‘uns. Here are 68 pithy bits of unsolicited advice which I offer as my birthday present to all of you.

• Learn how to learn from those you disagree with, or even offend you. See if you can find the truth in what they believe.

• Being enthusiastic is worth 25 IQ points.

• Always demand a deadline. A deadline weeds out the extraneous and the ordinary. It prevents you from trying to make it perfect, so you have to make it different. Different is better.

• Don’t be afraid to ask a question that may sound stupid because 99% of the time everyone else is thinking of the same question and is too embarrassed to ask it.

• Being able to listen well is a superpower. While listening to someone you love keep asking them “Is there more?”, until there is no more.

• A worthy goal for a year is to learn enough about a subject so that you can’t believe how ignorant you were a year earlier.

• Gratitude will unlock all other virtues and is something you can get better at.

• Treating a person to a meal never fails, and is so easy to do. It’s powerful with old friends and a great way to make new friends.

• Don’t trust all-purpose glue.

• Reading to your children regularly will bond you together and kickstart their imaginations.

• Never use a credit card for credit. The only kind of credit, or debt, that is acceptable is debt to acquire something whose exchange value is extremely likely to increase, like in a home. The exchange value of most things diminishes or vanishes the moment you purchase them. Don’t be in debt to losers.

• Pros are just amateurs who know how to gracefully recover from their mistakes.

• Extraordinary claims should require extraordinary evidence to be believed.

• Don’t be the smartest person in the room. Hangout with, and learn from, people smarter than yourself. Even better, find smart people who will disagree with you.

• Rule of 3 in conversation. To get to the real reason, ask a person to go deeper than what they just said. Then again, and once more. The third time’s answer is close to the truth.

• Don’t be the best. Be the only.

• Everyone is shy. Other people are waiting for you to introduce yourself to them, they are waiting for you to send them an email, they are waiting for you to ask them on a date. Go ahead.

• Don’t take it personally when someone turns you down. Assume they are like you: busy, occupied, distracted. Try again later. It’s amazing how often a second try works.

• The purpose of a habit is to remove that action from self-negotiation. You no longer expend energy deciding whether to do it. You just do it. Good habits can range from telling the truth, to flossing.

• Promptness is a sign of respect.

• When you are young spend at least 6 months to one year living as poor as you can, owning as little as you possibly can, eating beans and rice in a tiny room or tent, to experience what your “worst” lifestyle might be. That way any time you have to risk something in the future you won’t be afraid of the worst case scenario.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://kk.org/thetechnium/

The Old Guard Are Never Off Watch Keeping the Real Empire Afloat

The Old Guard Are Never Off Watch Keeping the Real Empire Afloat

MAY 6, 2020  Information Briefing #151   by whitehatsauxiliaries.

Note: The following article was first published in March, 2015 in another venue. The author has authorized a re-publishing and hopes you understand the implications for us all as the mission and goals outlined below continue to advance on many fronts. – WHA

It’s amusing to see so much unfounded rhetoric across the media and Blogs. Even more so the wild speculations of some comments. Currency projections, wealth disbeliefs, and political negativity. At best, most are naive. Quietly, out of Public view, so much is unfolding and forces of good ARE at work for all of you.

Real world moves are being achieved by highly placed Political accords and Private meetings between Empowered parties. The Publicly invisible Diplomatic and economic private meetings, so dependent upon the standards of culture which founded the truly great Empire epicenters, with the skill, and often speed of intellect, of those out of Public view on the front line. Empires thrive, survive, or fail because of them. People make it happen, or not.

So much is propounded by the Blogmeisters. Daily claims of Chinese Elders imminent moves. Yet, in London, quietly away from Public view, potentially the most important steps of all were not only progressing with articulate skill, but Elder’s extended stays a further week to encompass longer term aspirations in a whole new spirit of ethical Trust and mutual goodwill achieved.

Be in no doubt, had the wealth of the Elders been utilized ethically as intended by US Presidents and the Cabal, our world would have been a wealthier, more stable and peaceful civilization.

Co-existence is a state of mind. Elders in London were enthused at the charisma, dynamism and truly humble personal manner and depth of understandings of those so highly placed.

 It also gave them hope and understanding that remaining vast Elders funds, if used correctly this time with such Enlightened men of standing as they met, offers that candle of light in the dark night all seek. A Beacon of hope. We know the duties of office needed.

Although telling that to a disenfranchised American Public today, whose very survival as economic units is precarious, is a step beyond current mental reach. First the need to change their mind set.

For a nation who had it all, to now, where has it all gone?

The future for Americans, as it stands, left to the Cabal or Zionists, is now just that- Precarious. Truly. Yet the vacuous and mendacious Mongrels from the Political spectrum to the Military and Wall Street roll on taking from all at will.

Petraeus cops a Plea for his sordid affair and dereliction of duty. Another over hyped, Pencil Pushing Wonder Brat who had presumptions of power. Now he wiggles in ignominy. A sordid little man consigned to history as a train wreck of vanity.

How sadly the presumptuous mighty fall. What a miserable Wimp he turned out to be. How dumb is a Spymaster too stupid to swerve a Honey Trap?  Well, at least he was born with the ears for the Dumbo role! John Wayne we miss you. Or his type.

The Bush / Clinton Crime Cabal goes on, with no standards of decency or morality. The Cabal beats its drum, as the American economy just ever more retreats. A hundred million, good, distressed and confused economically burdened Americans wait in blind hope of new Leadership, as yet another election will be rigged. Leadership? But, from where? Have you assessed those Skip Rats in Washington?

The Sleaze machine capital of the world. Pigs at the trough. Chaos rules. As Mad Benny Nutter Yahoo propounds his Kazakh States determination to invoke Nuclear hell on his neighbors, and with the support of his enriched Stateside Zionist Backers, seeks to Mug the US Political apparatus ever more. The Jewish lobby was hard at work. They flatter to deceive. When will those bribed to support Israel be removed from Office?

Who cares who we Shackle if it makes us a Shekel they whine?

Yet in London the real battles are being won. Hearts and Minds. Culture thrives. Concepts of good citizenship are expanded and agreements reached. Wealth is power. Wealth empowers.

But, as the Empire knows, real Wealth is the hands across the oceans. Meetings of minds. Relationships build Empires. Yet between the sites of WHR and WHA are so many green shoots of hope. New life.

The basic goodness of communities ever there. Hope is not lost. Both sites are enriched by their quality of supporters. Each a credit to their nations. Look at ever growing worldwide support. Nations are co-enjoining. Meetings of minds.

 In the greatest hall of power, serious dialogue is progressing. Economic debate covering this century is playing out. As regards the true wealth of the real Elders, respectfully, nations have no idea. Taiwan houses the majority of the vast ancestral wealth of the old Chinese Dynasties.

When the key families moved to escape oncoming Communism, their many centuries of wealth went with them. Gold, Cash, Bonds, Artifacts etc. Vast treasure troves remain to this day, hidden from Public or State view. Controlled in total by the key 40 Elder families.

The main power beneficiaries are fully aware of the encroaching risks of Chinese expansion across Asia and Eurasia. Is it coincidence that in London, in the most private meetings of all, consummate diplomacy was hard at work with intense negotiations, achieving clearly what has made London the most influential Financial base in the world, and the true corporate infrastructure base of capitalism.

As America ever founders, London ever grows. The City is awash with touring foreign schoolchildren, mainly now Chinese, all the key building blocks of the future. Shaping opinions, shaping the future economies, appreciating each others cultures.

We are ever at the forefront, winning hearts and minds. Evermore you are read across the planet. Your points are heard and comments read. The Elders reverberated from this new concept. One World of All Nations? Asking, why was this not envisaged 60 year ago when we wished to help nations co-exist?

Yet, when all hope was foundering, quietly, in the greatest Hall of Power on Earth, confidence grew as minds attuned and new deep relationships were forged.

There IS hope and a new found concept of true Global awareness is on its way back now – back to Asia. Awareness of a better way. Behind it ever greater wealth and power will transfer to London. As will the emigration of the great families. As their vast wealth moves, so will they.

You all have a voice and a point. Now, evermore a Global one. We are a growing Global force of each and all of you. It is YOU. The voice of nations, of values and truth. To help evolve humanities consciousness. No other such media reaches where you go.

From Transhumanism, to pseudo religious ideologies, and Political chicanery. We give no mercy, and push the boundaries of truth and hope. It is the voice of all of you, striving for a better world, a consensus of minds and standards of decency.

Nation rebuilding to leave our children a future worth having. Helping each Elder understand the very concept of our Book of Life, forged ideologies which may change nations. Reason is founded on Trust. Societies need a base of values.

So many of you make ever enlightening contributions. For all of us, you are our candles in the wind of change. Twelve men helped change a world. What can twelve thousand of you do? Post the GCR and RVs we will see. Behind it all, in the great hall of power, real progress is building.

Elders met English key Elders, and deals are forged. Empires are evolving but now based on Global progression, and removing those sleazy Runts between the Banking, Political and Cabal infrastructures who are the root cause of rot today. We tell it, as it is.

New relationships take time to evolve, but it’s happening, and progressive understanding is in play with a Global vision. There are no nations, just one people who need to learn to co-exist, establish communal values and share our planet in harmony and culture for all.

It starts with building and valuing Trust. It starts with believing in and striving together for better. Expanding consciousness. Evolving as a Soul Nation for all.

If one group can do that, why not all? Our whole world is now changing so rapidly. Politicians are so dreadfully out of touch with the emerging Global reality.

Unfortunately, in the MSM rigged media circus of America, so are the people. How do we help our Brother men bar with truth? The Information highway.

Exported back now to China is a whole new word of expression for the Cabal and US Political deviants. Ah – Souls! They loved it.

From such camaraderie new Empires are built. Laughter is priceless. As is the love of our children, so, lets give them a world fit to grow in safety. You are all the candles in this dark world of confusion created by such Political mediocrities. Our shining stars, and YOU are the future. Already you are conscious and evolving. As will all you embrace.

In just 3 weeks we have built a whole new concept of Nation’s needs.  Yes – We – Did!

GCR RV DINAR DONG

https://whitehatauxiliaries.com/2020/05/06/information-briefing-151/

Mapped: The Wealthiest Person in Every U.S. State in 2020

Mapped: The Wealthiest Person in Every U.S. State in 2020

Published on March 31, 2020   By Jeff Desjardins

The Wealthiest Person in Every U.S. State in 2020

There are different degrees of wealth that exist, even among the richest in America.

For example, a heavy-hitting millionaire might have the most impressive fortune in his or her home state — but venture a few miles across the state border, and suddenly they become a small fish in a much bigger pond.

Today’s map comes to us from HowMuch.net, and it shows the incredible variance in the biggest fortunes on a state-by-state basis.

The Rich List, by State

Below is the full list containing the wealthiest person in every U.S. state, based on calculations by Forbes in early March 2020.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos tops the list with a net worth of $117.1 billion in the state of Washington — meanwhile, the smallest fortune on the list is located in Alaska at just $0.3 billion. 

Rank      Person                                      State                 Net Worth ($B)

#1           Jeff Bezos                                Washington          $117.1

#2           Warren Buffett                        Nebraska               $89.6

#3           Mark Zuckerberg                   California                 $81.9

#4           Michael Bloomberg              New York                  $58.4

#5           Jim Walton                             Arkansas                  $51.9

#6           Alice Walton                           Texas                        $51.7

#7           Charles Koch             Kansas                    $42.8

#8           Sheldon Adelson                    Nevada                    $41.4

#9           Phil Knight and family           Oregon                     $40.0

#10        Jacqueline Mars                     Virginia                    $30.2

#11        John Mars                             Wyoming                  $30.2

#12        Ray Dalio                               Connecticut             $18.7

#13        Thomas Peterffy                     Florida                     $17.6

#14        Abigail Johnson                      Massachusetts       $16.0

#15        Pierre Omidyar                       Hawaii                     $13.2

#16        Ken Griffin                             Illinois                   $13.1

#17        Thomas Frist Jr & family        Tennessee              $13.0

#18        John Menard Jr                     Wisconsin              $11.7

#19        Philip Anschutz                      Colorado                 $11.5

#20        Carl Cook                              Indiana                     $10.4 

Showing 1 to 20 of 50 entries            Next     

While all of the names above are considered extraordinarily wealthy in their home states, there is still a magnitude of difference involved. The low end of the list ($0.3 billion) would need to multiply their fortune by 390 times to get up to the $117.1 billion Bezos level.

To put this another way, the same degree of difference exists between the median household wealth in the U.S. (~$100,000) and a multi-millionaire with $39 million to their name.

Rising and Falling Fortunes

The above figures were obtained prior to the COVID-19 market crash,, which will surely impact the size of some of the fortunes listed here.

Who will be most and least impacted by the recent stock market turmoil?

Even though Jeff Bezos has most of his wealth tied up in Amazon stock, so far it has been relatively unaffected by the volatility. With more people staying home because of social distancing, orders on online platforms such as Amazon have exploded.

Similarly to Amazon, the heirs of the Walmart fortune in the Walton family — including Jim Walton, Alice Walton, and Rob Walton — are also seeing Walmart’s stock price hold relatively steady in the face of volatility. In fact, some analysts consider Walmart to be the ultimate “recession-proof” stock, as consumers flock to discount goods in poor economic times.

Warren Buffett is also an interesting case. Though the stock market has certainly disrupted the real-time value of his fortune, that’s not the game that Warren Buffett plays. In fact, he is known for waiting for times of crisis to deploy his cash, and has a significant stockpile of money ready for just this kind of situation.

Billionaires like Sheldon Adelson in Nevada or Philip Anschutz of Colorado might be singing a different tune than some of the other above magnates. Adelson, for example, owns a good chunk of the Las Vegas Strip, as well as casinos and hotels in Singapore and Macao. Unfortunately, tourism-related businesses are some of the hardest hit in the COVID-19 crash.

Meanwhile, Anschutz owns the Coachella Music Festival and stakes in many professional sports teams (LA Lakers, LA Kings, and multiple MLS teams), which have all been impacted by the cancellation of big events and gatherings throughout the country. Like many others, Anschutz is probably itching for things to get back to normal.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wealthiest-person-in-every-u-s-state-2020/ 

The Anatomy of the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Bill

The Anatomy of the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Bill

Published March 30, 2020   By Nick Routley

Anatomy of CARES Act covid-19 Stimulus Package

The Anatomy of the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Bill

The unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic has prioritized keeping people apart to slow the spread of the virus. While measures such as business closures and travel restrictions are effective at fighting a pandemic, they also have a dramatic impact on the economy.

To help right the ship, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act — also known as the CARES Act — was passed by U.S. lawmakers last week with little fanfare. The act became the largest economic stimulus bill in modern history, more than doubling the stimulus act passed in 2009 during the Financial Crisis.

Today’s Sankey diagram is a visual representation of where the $2 trillion will be spent. Broadly speaking, there are five components to the COVID-19 stimulus bill:

 Category                                         Total Amount          Share of the Package

Individuals / Families                     $603.7 billion              30%

Big Business                                    $500.0 billion               25%

Small Business                                 $377.0 billion              19%

State and Local Government        $340.0 billion             17%

Public Services                                $179.5 billion                 9%

 Although the COVID-19 stimulus bill is incredibly complex, here are some of the most important parts to be aware of.

Funds for Individuals   Amount: $603.7 billion – 30% of total CARES Act

In order to stimulate the sputtering economy quickly, the U.S. government will deploy “helicopter money” — direct cash payments to individuals and families.

The centerpiece of this plan is a $1,200 direct payment for those earning up to $75,000 per year. For higher earners, payment amounts will phase out, ending altogether at the $99,000 income level. Families will also receive $500 per child.

There are three other key things to know about this portion of the stimulus funds:

There will be a temporary suspension for any student loan held by the federal government. This means no payments required and no interest accrued until the end of September, 2020.

Borrowers with federally backed loans can request forbearance on mortgage payments for up to six months.

There will be an expansion of unemployment benefits, including a four-month enhancement of benefits. This plan includes freelancers, workers in the gig economy, and furloughed employees.

Big Business    Amount: $500.0 billion – 25% of total CARES Act

This component of the package is aimed at stabilizing big businesses in hard-hit sectors.

The most obvious industry to receive support will be the airlines. About $58 billion has been earmarked for commercial and cargo airlines, as well as airline contractors. Perhaps in response to recent criticism of the industry, companies receiving stimulus money will be barred from engaging in stock buybacks for the term of the loan plus one year.

One interesting pathway highlighted by today’s Sankey diagram is the $17 billion allocated to “maintaining national security”. While this provision doesn’t mention any specific company by name, the primary recipient is believed to be Boeing.

The bill also indicates that an inspector general will oversee the recovery process, along with a special committee.

Small Business    Amount: $377.0 billion – 19% of total CARES Act

To ease the strain on businesses around the country, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will be given $350 billion to provide loans of up to $10 million to qualifying organizations. These funds can be used for mission critical activities, such as paying rent or keeping employees on the payroll during COVID-19 closures.

As well, the bill sets aside $10 billion in grants for small businesses that need help covering short-term operating costs.

State and Local Governments    Amount: $340.0 billion – 17% of total CARES Act

The biggest portion of funds going to local and state governments is the $274 billion allocated towards direct COVID-19 response. The rest of the funds in this component will go to schools and child care services.

Public and Health Services    Amount: $179.5 billion – 9% of total CARES Act

The biggest slice of this pie goes to healthcare providers, who will receive $100 billion in grants to help fight COVID-19. This was a major ask from groups representing the healthcare industry, as they look to make up the lost revenue caused by focusing on the outbreak — as opposed to performing elective surgeries and other procedures. There will also be a 20% increase in Medicare payments for treating patients with the virus.

Money is also set aside for initiatives such as increasing the availability of ventilators and masks for the Strategic National Stockpile, as well as providing additional funding for the Center for Disease Control and expanding  the reach of virtual doctors.

Finally, beyond the healthcare-related funding, the CARES Act also addresses food security programs and a long list of educational and arts initiatives. 

Hat tip to Reddit user SevenandForty for inspiring this graphic. 

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-anatomy-of-the-2-trillion-covid-19-stimulus-bill/

25 Quotes That Are Guaranteed to Put a Smile on Your Face ​

25 Quotes That Are Guaranteed to Put a Smile on Your Face ​

Country Living   April 8, 2020

Just keep smiling  From Country Living

A smile with love behind it has so many positive effects on us: It stimulates the brain, makes you come across as friendly, and brings joy to the people around you.

Whether you say hello to a stranger you pass in the grocery store or wave to your neighbor while you’re on a run, adding a smile to these simple acts of kindness can make someone’s day go from drab to fab.

We’ve rounded up some cute, famous sayings to remind you that a smile goes a long way. Also, keep the good vibes going with these quotes about sunshine, best Disney quotes, and blessed quotes that will warm your heart! 

Marilyn Monroe

 “Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.”

Rashida Jones 

 “Smiling is definitely one of the best beauty remedies. If you have a good sense of humor and a good approach to life, that’s beautiful.”

Maya Angelou 

 “If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.”

Unknown 

 “Smile while you still have teeth.”

Tom Wilson

 “A smile is a facelift that’s in everyone’s price range!”

Yoko Ono

 “Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning, and you’ll start to see a big difference in your life.”

"Smile," John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons

“When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by if you smile through your fear and sorrow.”

Evan Esar

  “You are not fully dressed until you wear a smile.”

Dalai Lama  

"A simple smile. That's the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others

William Shakespeare 

 "When I saw you I fell in love and you smiled because you knew."

Nelson Mandela 

 "Remember to smile."

George Eliot 

  "Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles."

Anthony J. D'Angelo

  "Smile, it is the key that fits the lock of everybody’s heart."

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/25-quotes-guaranteed-put-smile-223900581.html

Anna Von Reitz and David Icke - Fiddling The Figures

Fiddling The Figures - The Magic Trick - David Icke 'Virus' Update

The Actual Value   By Anna Von Reitz

I am old enough so that “I have been here before.”  And it’s not just some thinly underlined deja vu.

I have survived all sorts of horrific crime scenes and panics — and if you are older than a high school student, so have you.

I’ve seen Eisenhower and JFK and LBJ and Tricky Dick, used Silver Certificates and silver coins, saw the military script “Federal Reserve Notes” being forced down our throats, lived through the Petrodollar, too.

I’ve seen Korea, Vietnam, Shock and Awe and Desert Storm and everything ever since.  I’ve seen “Federal Revenue Sharing”, Y2K and 9/11.  AIDS and HIV and all sorts of other loathsome diseases come and go.  Wars against poverty and wars against drugs and wars against cancer and wars against hate and wars against drunk driving and wars against free speech.

I am still waiting for a war against war.

Right now, we are engaged in a “war” against the Common Cold.

It’s all bogus.  Like the zombies at the Fun House at the State Fair when I was 7. 

What this does demonstrate, however, is: (1) Americans in general and especially members of the Press Corps, are math illiterates; and, (2) we continue overall to be both naive and gullible; and— (3) despite all the things that have been done to us to make us hate ourselves and hate life—- we still love life.

We still supremely value life.  We are willing to do all sorts to bitter things to protect and save and preserve life. 

Too bad we don’t always remember that primal truth and core value and share it more consciously day to day.  Too bad that we take life and love for granted until there is a Big Scare, some looming threat— real or perceived, and then, all of a sudden- as if it is some Big News, we remember how important life is. 

And we start taking better care of ourselves and we start taking better care of each other.

And that’s a good thing.

If Yeshuah came back today he would find us minding our own business and all those of us who accept serving others are here, finding that we are needed just as much or more than ever.

Lift that weight. Tote that bale. Tell the truth.

Go the extra mile.  Show that little extra love and self-respect. Take that hot bath.  Scrub that counter.  Rest.   Reflect on just how precious life is and the mystery of how we ever lose sight of that “ultimate value”.      http://www.paulstramer.net/

 Fiddling The Figures - The Magic Trick - David Icke 'Virus' Update

Found Here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzhZFD19Udc&feature=youtu.be

German journalist - https://www.davidicke.com/article/566 ...

The Greatest Investment Quotes of All Time

The Greatest Investment Quotes of All Time

Posted March 26, 2020 by Nick Maggiulli

Financial Wisdom Throughout the Ages 

With all the craziness going on in markets right now, sometimes the best thing to do is not to give an opinion, but to consider the wisdom of those that came before us.

To this end, I have compiled a list of the greatest investment quotes of all time, sourced (where possible) and organized by category.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. 

Controlling Emotions/Psychology 

“Men, it has been well said, think in herds.  It will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.”  -Charles Mackay, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds 

“Fear incites human action far more urgently than does the impressive weight of historical evidence.” -Jeremy Siegel, Stocks for the Long Run (3rd Edition) 

“If you’re not willing to react with equanimity to a market price decline of 50% two or three times a century, you’re not fit to be a common shareholder and you deserve the mediocre result you’re going to get.”   -Charlie Munger, Interview with BBC 

“The four most dangerous words in investing are: ‘This time it’s different.'”  -Sir John Templeton, The Devil’s Financial Dictionary

“The game of professional investment is intolerably boring and overreacting to anyone who is entirely exempt from the gambling instinct; whilst he who has it must pay to this propensity the appropriate toll.”  -John Maynard Keynes, The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money 

“If you don’t know who you are, this is an expensive place to find out.”  -Adam Smith (pseudonym for George Goodman), The Money Game 

“Investors should remember that excitement and expenses are their enemies.  And if they insist on trying to time their participation in equities, they should try to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful.”  -Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway 2004 Letter to Shareholders 

“Wall Street sells stocks and bonds, but what it really peddles is hope.” -Jason Zweig, The Devil’s Financial Dictionary 

“Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas.”  -Paul Samuelson

 “I can calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.”  -Isaac Newton, The Royal Society

 “The investor’s chief problem — and even his worst enemy — is likely to be himself.”  -Benjamin Graham, The Intelligent Investor 

“Wealth isn’t primarily determined by investment performance, but by investor behavior.”  -Nick Murray, Simple Wealth Inevitable Wealth 

Humor

“A bull market is like sex.  It feels best just before it ends.”  -Barton Biggs, Berkshire Hathaway 2013 Letter to Shareholders 

“It’s difficult to make predictions, especially with regards to the future.”  -Old Proverb, The Most Important Thing

“We are fond of saying that if these strategies are truly horribly overcrowded then someone has apparently forgotten to tell the prices.”   -Clifford Asness, We’re Not Dead Yet 

“The first rule of investment is: Don’t Lose.  And the second rule of investment is: Don’t forget the first rule.”   -Warren Buffett, How to Pick Stocks & Get Rich, PBS (1985) 

“I put two children through Harvard by trading options.  Unfortunately, they were my broker’s children.”  -Jason Zweig, The Devil’s Financial Dictionary 

“If you want to be a millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline.”  -Richard Branson, Harvard Business Review 

“If it flies, floats, or fornicates, always rent it—it’s cheaper in the long run.”  -Felix Dennis, How to Get Rich

“There seems to be an unwritten rule on Wall Street:  If you don’t understand it, then put your life savings into it.”   -Peter Lynch, One Up on Wall Street

“If you owe the bank $100, that’s your problem.  If you owe the bank $100 million, that’s the bank’s problem.”    -Old Proverb, Quote Investigator

Risk

“I tell my father’s story of the gambler who lost regularly.  One day he hears about a race with only one horse in it, so he bet the rent money.  Halfway around the track, the horse jumped over the fence and ran away.”   -Howard Marks, The Most Important Thing 

“Risk and time are opposite sides of the same coin, for if there were no tomorrow there would be no risk.  Time transforms risk, and the nature of risk is shaped by the time horizon: the future is the playing field.”  -Peter L. Bernstein, Against the Gods

 “Large price changes tend to be followed by more large changes, positive or negative.  Small changes tend to be followed by more small changes.  Volatility clusters.”  -Benoit B. Mandlebrot, The Misbehavior of Markets 

 “Markets look a lot less efficient from the banks of the Hudson than from the banks of the Charles.”  -Fischer Black, Against the Gods 

“Liquidity is only there when you don’t need it.”  -Old Proverb, The Devil’s Financial Dictionary 

“Risk cannot be eliminated; it just gets transferred and spread.”  -Howard Marks, The Most Important Thing 

“There is no such thing as no risk.  There’s only this choice of what to risk, and when to risk it.”  -Nick Murray, Simple Wealth Inevitable Wealth 

“Survival is the only road to riches.  You should try to maximize return only if losses would not threaten your survival and if you have a compelling future need for the extra gains you might earn.”  -Peter L. Bernstein, Interview with Jason Zweig (2004) 

Trading/Market Timing

“The market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent.”  -A. Gary Shilling/Unknown, Quote Investigator  

“Remember that stocks are never too high for you to begin buying or too low to begin selling.”  -Jesse Livermore, Reminiscences of a Stock Market Operator

  “The most dangerous people in the world are very smart traders who have never gotten their teeth kicked in.”  -F. Helmut Weymar, More Money Than God 

“We are all at a wonderful ball where the champagne sparkles in every glass and soft laughter falls upon the summer air.  We know, by the rules, that at some moment, the Black Horseman will come shattering through the great terrace doors, wreaking vengeance and scattering the survivors. 

Those who leave early are saved, but the ball is so splendid no one wants to leave while there is still time, so that everyone keeps asking, ‘What time is it?  What time is it?’  But none of the clocks have any hands.”  -Adam Smith (pseudonym for George Goodman), Supermoney 

“The trend has vanished, killed by its very discovery.”  -Benoit B. Mandlebrot, The Misbehavior of Markets

“More people lost money waiting for corrections and anticipating corrections than the actual corrections.”  -Peter Lynch, Interview with Fidelity (2019) 

“When the Rothschilds got the word about the battle of Waterloo—in the movie it was by carrier pigeon—they didn’t rush down and buy British consols, the government bonds.  They rushed in and sold, and then, in the panic, they bought.”  -Adam Smith (pseudonym for George Goodman), The Money Game 

“The time to buy is when there’s blood in the streets.”   -Baron Rothschild 

 “It is my conclusion that the successful investor must [have] … patience to wait for the right moment—courage to buy or sell when the time arrives—and liquid capital.”  -Benjamin Roth, The Great Depression: A Diary

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

 https://ofdollarsanddata.com/investment-quotes/

How Will The Coronavirus Affect Your Personal Finances?

How Will The Coronavirus Affect Your Personal Finances?

 By J.D. Roth —12 March 2020 (updated 19 March 2020)

How quickly things change.

Last week, the coronavirus (or Covid-19, if you prefer) was a distant problem. It was something other people in other places had to wrestle with. Sure, there was a looming sense that maybe this runaway train was steaming our way, but it still seemed distant enough that maybe it'd stop before it reached us.

Not anymore. Now it's clear that the coronavirus isn't just headed to the U.S., it's already here in our communities.

I'm fascinated by the financial implications of the coronavirus. They're going to be huge — they're already huge — but I don't know who is going to bear the burden or how we, as a society, are going to make sense of this in the long run.

The stock market is tanking, obviously, and will likely continue to tank for some time. But I expect (hope?) that when the dust has settled, things there will largely return to normal.

Yes, I know it's impossible to make predictions about the market's direction. But I believe the current movement is largely due to the coronavirus and its immediate implications.

When this event has receded into the past — in a few months, say — I expect stocks to regain most of what they lost. Not all, but most. (And again: I could be full of shit. Don't make any market moves based on what I personally believe will happen. I'm just a random guy behind a keyboard.)

But outside the stock market, there are a whole host of financial implications. We're entering uncharted territory. I don't know what to expect, and I don't think anyone else does either.

Here are some of my questions.

What Happens When Events Are Cancelled?

Many places — including here in Oregon — are banning large gatherings.

What happens to gatherings that have already been scheduled? I expect some events (such as the Portland Timbers match on March 28th) will be postponed. This should have a minimal financial impact on all parties. It simply shifts all of the money-related stuff to a later date.

This has been one of the toughest articles I've ever written. As I'm sitting at my desk composing it, new updates to the situation are occurring. Just now, for instance, Major League Soccer announced that it's suspending the season for thirty days. Rather than re-write as news hits, I'm going to leave the article as it was in the moment I wrote it.

Other events, though, will have to be cancelled. What happens then?

For instance, Kim and I have tickets to see an April performance of The Illusionists at Portland's Keller Auditorium. This event falls inside the 28-day ban on large gatherings in this state. I highly doubt this event well be re-scheduled. I expect it to be cancelled.

So, what happens when this event is cancelled?

Under normal circumstances — if the event were cancelled for any other reason — I'd expect to receive a refund for the ticket price. But what about now? Will ticket holders still receive refunds? Or will the production company say, “Sorry. This is beyond our control. You're out of luck.” I can see that happening. And I'm not sure I'd complain.

What about St. Patrick's Day? I consider this kind of a silly holiday, but it's a Big Deal to a lot of people.

Perhaps because it occurs in early spring, St. Patrick's Day fosters events with large crowds. Here in Portland, that means the Shamrock Run, in which 30,000+ people gather in the cold and the rain to run through downtown. That's been postponed. And Savannah, Georgia, home to the second-largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the country, just cancelled the event.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.getrichslowly.org/coronavirus/

What’s the Best Way to Give a Financial Gift?

 What’s the Best Way to Give a Financial Gift?

By Anum Yoon

When it comes to gifts, we all know it's the thought that counts -- which is why there are certain self-described gift-giving mentors who don't encourage financial gifts. Of course, those same folks have probably been on the receiving end of monetary ... ifts and were ecstatic.

As with all things in life, there’s a right way to give a financial gift, and a lot of that has to do with the recipient and their age. Here are some things to consider for the next time you reach into your wallet for a gift:

Gift a 529 Account

Parents of newborns have a lot on their minds. They might not be thinking about that kid’s college education just yet at least, until they master the art of the diaper change!

 As a supportive friend or family member, you can help get them started on that looming tuition bill by providing them with information about a 529 college savings plan. Once they’ve set up that account, you can then be the first contributor.

All you need is the account number to make a transfer. This is actually one of those financial gifts you can keep coming back to every year. By the time the little one is ready for college, they could have a very decent nest egg.

Give Cash to Young Ones

Cash in an envelope is such a wonderful surprise. That’s true at any age, but it works especially well for younger recipients. It’s a great way to start teaching kids the value of money. They’ll be faced with an immediate choice: spend or save. If they have their eye on a special gizmo, then saving will be the only way to go. That cash also helps with math skills, as it assigns numeric values they can see.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://lenpenzo.com/blog/id40674-whats-the-best-way-to-give-a-financial-gift-2.html

The 13 Most Important Items To Keep in a Fireproof Safe

The 13 Most Important Items Everyone Should Keep in a Fireproof Safe

By Len Penzo

For some people, it’s tough letting go. Of anything.

Take my wife, for instance; she saves everything.

The other day the Honeybee showed me her baseball ticket from our very first date way back on September 24, 1995.

And if I ever feel oddly compelled to scrutinize the birthday card I received from my mother-in-law in 1998, I can rest easy knowing that the Honeybee has it dutifully stored upstairs in our bedroom closet.

What’s that? You say you’re looking for the operating instructions to a vintage Easy Bake oven, circa 1986? If I’m not mistaken, they’re in our closet too, not far from the rest of those 643 old birthday, Christmas, Easter, and Mother’s Day cards she’s been saving that nobody will ever look at again.

Protecting the Important Stuff

I’m a bit more judicious than the Honeybee when it comes to saving things — and I use a fireproof safe for the most important stuff.

Of course, no strongbox can hold everything — and so that demands a bit of discretion when deciding what to put in them. Here are some of the more important things you should consider protecting:

Birth certificates. Your birth certificate is proof that you are a citizen of the country you live in. Lose it, and you’ll have a difficult time getting a passport, or landing a job that requires proof of citizenship.

Property titles. Yes, home deeds and car titles are replaceable, but why go through the hassle if you don’t have to?

Insurance policies. Home, life and auto insurance policies are a key part of any financial back-up plan. If your house burns down or has been burgled, the first thing you’ll want to get your hands on is a copy of your home insurance policy and your agent’s phone number.

House photos. Speaking of insurance, photos of the interior and exterior of your home are invaluable for reporting losses due to fire or theft to your insurance company. If possible, keep them on electronic storage media like a thumb drive or CD.

Safe deposit box keys. Not having access to your safety deposit box during an emergency is not only inconvenient, it can be costly, as the boxes will have to be forced open and replaced at your expense.

Social security cards. Your social security number is required to get a job, collect social security benefits and receive certain other government services. That’s why the US Social Security Administration strongly advises people to not carry the cards on their person.

Passports. Getting a new passport on short notice, while not impossible, is still a tough order. Even expedited passports can take as long three weeks to process.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://lenpenzo.com/blog/id6051-what-to-keep-in-your-fireproof-safe-2.html

The Great Dollar Shortage

The Great Dollar Shortage

By Tyler Durden  Thu, 03/26/2020 - 12:25

Authored by James Rickards via The Daily Reckoning,

 The coronavirus pandemic is a human tragedy. It’s also an economic tragedy, as the global economy is collapsing around us.

Second-quarter U.S. GDP may drop as much as 30%, which is a staggering figure. Many economists predict a third-quarter recovery, but there are still so many unknowns that it’s impossible to say.

It’s still too soon to say when America will reopen for business. And you can’t just flip a switch and return things to normal. That’s not how economies function.

Many industries may never recover and millions may be out of work for extended periods.

At the very least, we’re heading into a severe recession. And we could well be heading for a full-scale depression.

That’s not being alarmist.

The crisis will also accelerate the collapse of the dollar as the world’s leading reserve currency. So you need to prepare now. What do I mean?

The U.S. dollar is at the center of global trade.

The dollar represents about 60% of global reserve assets, 80% of global payments and almost 100% of global oil sales. About 40% of the world’s debt is issued in dollars.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) estimates that foreign banks hold over $13 trillion in dollar-denominated assets.

All this, despite the fact that the U.S. economy only accounts for about 15% of global GDP.

The reason the dollar is the world’s leading reserve currency is because there’s a very large liquid dollar-denominated bond market. Investors can go buy 30-day 10-year, 30-year Treasury notes, etc. The point is there’s a deep, liquid dollar-denominated bond market.

But the coronavirus crisis is creating a massive problem for foreign nations dependent on the dollar.

That’s because the world is facing a critical dollar shortage. Many observers are surprised to hear about a dollar shortage. After all, didn’t the Fed print almost $4 trillion to bail out the system after 2008?

Yes, but while the Fed was printing $4 trillion, the world was creating $100 trillion in new debt.

This huge debt pyramid was fine as long as global growth was solid and dollars were flowing out of the U.S. and into emerging markets.

But that’s no longer the case, and that’s an understatement. Global growth was anemic before the crisis hit. Now it’s contracting rapidly.

If dollars are in short supply, China can’t control its currency and emerging markets can’t roll over their debts.

But again, you might say, isn’t the Fed engaged in its most massive liquidity injections ever and extending swap lines to foreign central banks to ensure they can access dollars?

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/great-dollar-shortage