A Brief History of How Nutcracker Dolls Became A Christmas Symbol for the Ages

A Brief History of How Nutcracker Dolls Became A Christmas Symbol for the Ages

12 | 14 | 2020   

Around the start of December, it’s not unusual to see decorative nutcrackers on store shelves, arranged on mantelpieces, hanging from Christmas trees, and even decorating holiday sweaters. For some, their colorful outfits, hand-painted faces, and tufts of white hair are the very definition of Christmas cheer. But have you ever wondered how these nutcrackers got to be so popular, and why people usually only bring them out at Christmastime? The answer involves German literature, a Russian ballet, and lots of generous American G.I.s.

From Basic to Beautiful

Humans have been using tools to crack nuts for thousands of years.

The earliest designs were merely two pieces of wood joined by leather or a metal hinge, but as the centuries progressed, artisans started to create figurative designs for nutcrackers, such as brass crocodiles in India and cast-iron squirrels in England.

Wood remained a popular material, and by the 18th century, carvers in Switzerland, Austria, and northern Italy were making fanciful wooden nutcrackers that looked like human and animal heads, sometimes with moving lower jaws.

The nutcrackers best known in America today come from Germany. In fact, they often come from a particular region in Germany, the Erzgebirge — a mountain range near the border with the Czech Republic. Erzgebirge is German for “ore mountains,” and for many years the region was home to rich deposits of silver, tin, uranium, and more. Starting around the early 1700s, as some of the deposits ran out, miners began crafting nutcrackers, toys, and glass ornaments as a way of supplementing dwindling mining income.

By around 1800, the earliest versions of the toy nutcracker dolls so familiar to us today started to appear in Erzgebirge workshops. It’s said that the woodcarvers chose figures of authority for these dolls — soldiers, policeman, politicians — because the common people enjoyed putting toy versions of their overseers  “to work” by having them crack the “hard nuts of life.”

Originally, these nutcrackers had no specific association with Christmas, and it’s not clear exactly when such a link began. But the seasonal significance makes some sense when you consider they were created in workshops alongside toys and games that were often given as gifts. Some have also suggested that a link arose because nuts are an important component of German holiday baking.

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

https://www.triviagenius.com/a-brief-history-of-nutcrackers/X9egyuv_UAAGBswc

Santa Claus Images History

Santa Claus Images History

Lorraine Boissoneault   December 19, 2018

A Civil War Cartoonist Created the Modern Image of Santa Claus as Union Propaganda

Thomas Nast is legendary for his political cartoons, but he’s also responsible for the jolly St. Nick we know today

You could call it the face that launched a thousand Christmas letters. Appearing on January 3, 1863, in the illustrated magazine Harper’s Weekly, two images cemented the nation’s obsession with a jolly old elf. The first drawing shows Santa distributing presents in a Union Army camp.

Lest any reader question Santa’s allegiance in the Civil War, he wears a jacket patterned with stars and pants colored in stripes. In his hands, he holds a puppet toy with a rope around its neck, its features like those of Confederate president Jefferson Davis.

A second illustration features Santa in his sleigh, then going down a chimney, all in the periphery. At the center, divided into separate circles, are a woman praying on her knees and a soldier leaning against a tree. “

In these two drawings, Christmas became a Union holiday and Santa a Union local deity,” writes Adam Gopnik in a 1997 issue of the New Yorker. “It gave Christmas to the North—gave to the Union cause an aura of domestic sentiment, and even sentimentality.”

The artist responsible for this coup? A Bavarian immigrant named Thomas Nast, political cartoonist extraordinaire and the person who “did as much as any one man to preserve the Union and bring the war to an end,” according to General Ulysses Grant. But like so many inventors, Nast benefitted from the work of his fellow visionaries in creating the rotund, resplendent figure of Santa Claus. He was a man with the right talents in the right place at the perfect time.

Prior to the early 1800s, Christmas was a religious holiday, plain and simple. Several forces in conjunction transformed it into the commercial fête that we celebrate today. The wealth generated by the Industrial Revolution created a middle class that could afford to buy presents, and factories meant mass-produced goods.

Examples of the holiday began to appear in popular literature, from Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (more commonly known by its first verse, “Twas the night before Christmas”) to Charles Dickens’ book A Christmas Carol, published in 1843. By the mid-1800s, Christmas began to look much more as it does today.  

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

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/civil-war-cartoonist-created-modern-image-santa-claus-union-propaganda-180971074/

At a Gas Station on a Cold Christmas Eve............

A NEW CHRISTMAS STORY . . .This story is better than any greeting card.

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been
anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to
him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate.

He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last
hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless
man stepped through.

Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his
customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank
you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy,
I'll just go."

"Not without something hot in your belly." George said.

He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger.
"It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew ... Made it myself. When you're
done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me,
be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy.
Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you
help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with
child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block
looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead.

"You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.

"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George
as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old
truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the
garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was
waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever
looked at, but she runs real good."

George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into
the night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the
truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ." George
thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos
was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he
got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It
cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the
truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do.
Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the the block hadn't
cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can
fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on.

"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the
snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't
going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a
police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left
shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had
received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention.
"Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been
there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct
tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said,
trying to make the policeman feel at ease.

"Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for
his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the
policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."

The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there
talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone
into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the
officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the
area."

George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the
Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check
for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya.
Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your
gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.

"None for me," said the officer.

"Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no
donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun.
"Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was
shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this
before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon
away. Somebody else might get hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now
give me the cash!"

The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to
the cop, "we got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you
need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that
pea shooter away."

George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man,
reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released
his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good
at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he
went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last
week."

George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now
and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we
can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from
the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup
of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in
here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort
this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot
you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer."

"Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an
ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn.
"Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.

"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"

"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the
other cop asked as he approached the young man.

Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just
dropped his gun and ran."

George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.
"That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued.

"Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man
leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"

Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks
for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve
some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a
ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha
would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw.
"I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories.
That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared
next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's
something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old
man had handed him earlier.

"And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that
too," George said. "Now git home to your family."

The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in
the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you
come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say
you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother
was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin'
cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and
besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the
holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold
and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great
doctor.

The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by
terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and
not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it
as good as any man."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know
all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when
your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have
to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the
stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill
the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."

George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus"

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS!

4 Common Thanksgiving Myths And The Real Facts Behind Them

VERIFY: 4 Common Thanksgiving Myths And The Real Facts Behind Them

Author: VERIFY, Terry Spry Jr.

The VERIFY team separated fact from fiction on 4 popular Thanksgiving myths including who started the turkey pardoning tradition and how Black Friday got its name.

Thanksgiving is almost here and with the annual festivities also comes years upon years of myths that have developed around one of the biggest holidays of the year for Americans. The myths, misconceptions and legends around Thanksgiving predate the internet, yet have persisted in the digital world all the same. Here are four common Thanksgiving myths, all of which are false, and the truth behind the holiday weekend’s various stories.

MYTH: Thanksgiving has been celebrated every year since the nation’s founding

According to the National Archives, George Washington issued a proclamation that named Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a "Day of Publick Thanksgivin".

At that point, however, Thanksgiving wasn’t codified into law as an annual holiday. It was up to the sitting president to declare a day of “Thanksgiving and Prayer” and set the day and month for the holiday. And there were some years where no such day was declared.

For example, Thomas Jefferson opted against it while president. Monticello says Jefferson was against it because of his beliefs in separating religion from the government. Back then, Thanksgiving days were more religious-focused holidays.

Thanksgiving was established as one of the first four federal holidays in 1870, when Congress passed the Holiday Act. That law established Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and Independence Day as holidays, but Thanksgiving was the only one where the president had the discretion to set the date each year.

By that time, Thanksgiving already had an informal date. Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation set Thanksgiving as the last Thursday in November and subsequent presidents had followed that precedent.

However, Thanksgiving would have fallen on the last day of the month in 1939, so Franklin Roosevelt moved it to the month’s second-to-last Thursday because he worried a shortened Christmas season would dampen the nation’s recovery from the Great Depression. Some states defied the president’s move and made it state law that Thanksgiving was the last Thursday and so Congress sought to set a fixed date for the holiday to combat the confusion. A law was passed in 1941 that set Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday of November.

MYTH: Presidential turkey pardoning began with Abraham Lincoln or Harry Truman

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

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/verify-tackling-common-thanksgiving-myths/507-e580ed91-8abc-47e0-8ffa-2b93a357bbeb

35 Thanksgiving Quotes That Capture the True Meaning of the Day

35 Thanksgiving Quotes That Capture the True Meaning of the Day

By Annie O’sullivan And Kelsey Hurwitz 

When it comes to Thanksgiving, a lot of emphasis gets put on the food; and, rightfully so. Between the juicy turkey, savory sides, and sweet desserts, there are a lot of edible elements to focus on come Thanksgiving Day. But as you make your way through the day, it’s important to practice gratitude and give thanks for the good that’s come your way. (Yes, even in a year filled with a lot of bad.) One way to do that is to read a Thanksgiving quote — aloud or to yourself — that captures the true meaning of the holiday.

Now, to be clear, the origins of the holiday have dark historical roots that have more to do with colonization than appreciation. But over the years, Thanksgiving has become synonymous with thanks (I mean, it’s right in the name.) So make sure to take a moment from your busy day to give thanks.

These Thanksgiving quotes emphasize the role gratitude can play in your life — and not just one day a year. Even in the darkest of times, there is so much to be thankful for, and in a year that has included global pandemic and continued racial injustices, Thanksgiving can be a day to remember all of the good things, big and small. And make sure those in your life are doing the same.

Consider writing on of these quotes in a Thanksgiving card or incorporating them into your Thanksgiving centerpieces to bring a little extra gratitude to your meal.

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” — Maya Angelou

“I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” — Voltaire

“When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.” — Tecumseh

“For my part, I am almost contented just now, and very thankful. Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever.” — Charlotte Bronte

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” — Epictetus

  “The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.” — Douglas Wood

“Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.” — Rumi

“We are all more blind to what we have than to what we have not.” — Audre Lorde

“‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” — Alice Walker

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." — Melody Beattie

"When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup." — Sam Lefkowitz

"Thanksgiving reminds us that no matter what befalls us in life, we can take the charred remnants and we can reconstruct a life unimaginably richer than that from which the shards and pieces fell." — Craig D. Lounsbrough

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses." — Alphonse Karr

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

https://www.womansday.com/life/g1973/thanksgiving-quotes/

12 Unrecognizable Signs of Wealth

12 Unrecognizable Signs of Wealth

October 20, 2023 By Jordan Rosenfeld

You may think you can spot the signs of wealth at a glance — surely just look for the designer clothing and purses, yachts, fancy cars, gigantic mansions and diamonds dripping from fingers, right? Not necessarily. 

In fact, there are many signs of wealth you wouldn’t notice or think to look for, and some that are actually quite hidden. Experts explain what some of these unrecognizable signs of wealth actually are.

Stress-Free Living

Real wealth isn’t just about having a fat bank account; it’s about feeling secure and stress-free about money, according to Jeff Rose, a CFP and founder of Good Financial Cents.

“Think about it: a whopping 72% of Americans, in a Charles Schwab survey, said that being wealthy means having peace of mind,” Rose said. “So, it’s less about how much you’ve got and more about feeling good about where you stand financially.”

Wealth can bring a certain kind of mental and emotional freedom that others just don’t have, and that’s not something you can see necessarily by looking at a person.

Generosity and Philanthropy

Many affluent individuals are deeply involved in philanthropy, Rose pointed out.

“The Giving USA report highlighted that in 2022, Americans gave over $499 billion to charity, with a significant chunk coming from the ultra-wealthy.”

This also might not be something wealthy people talk about-they may just do it quietly.

Valuing Experiences Over Things

The wealthy often prioritize experiences over material possessions because they have everything that money can buy.

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

https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/wealth/unrecognizable-signs-of-wealth/?hyperlink_type=manual&utm_term=related_link_3&utm_campaign=1251824&utm_source=yahoo.com&utm_content=5&utm_medium=rss

Minimizing the Opinions of Others

Minimizing the Opinions of Others

Written by Cheryl Smith

One of the many things I have observed as a longtime online writer is the ebb and flow of the opinions of others. Putting yourself out there, being real and transparent, and sharing from your heart opens the door for others to react and respond, and their feedback can either distract and discourage or affirm and encourage you.

Here are 10 lessons I’ve learned over the past nearly 12 years that are not only for online authors but can be applied to anyone who deals with the opinions of others. Don’t we all?

10 Lessons in Minimizing the Opinions of Others

1. People’s opinions are as varied as people themselves.

They hold the potential to elevate you to pedestal status one day, then to trample your name (and work) in the mud the next. People’s opinions vary immensely from one person to the next. A thousand people can read your written words and come away from them with a thousand interpretations. Those interpretations can be completely off-track or the reader can totally “get” what you are trying to say.

2. Stay true to yourself.

Don’t be swayed. Don’t second-guess yourself. Stay true to who you are and what you have been called to do. My husband always tells me to do what brings me peace, and following his advice is extremely liberating. Continue to do what gives you peace and allows you to lie down at night with a clear, clean conscience. Don’t conform to what others think you should do, say, or be.

3. Praise isn’t always what it seems.

There are those who have mastered the art of being able to ruin a perfectly good compliment by adding a subtle, passive-aggressive insult to the mix.

4. Jealousy is cruel.

Your success can and will bring out the worst in others. Song of Solomon 8:6 says, “Jealousy is as cruel as the grave.” People who are driven by jealousy are much more likely to lash out online than insult you to your face. If someone is jealous of you and/or your work, remember it is their problem, not yours. Press on unfazed by the issue(s) of those who criticize you.

5. Stay grounded.

There will be highs. There will be lows. The important thing is that you are affected by neither. Whether someone left a one-star rating or a five-star review changes nothing.

6. Toughen up.

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

https://nosidebar.com/minimizing-the-opinions-of-others/

The No. 1 Personality Trait Linked To A Long Life

The No. 1 Personality Trait Linked To A Long Life:

 ‘The effects of just being positive are overstated,’ psychology expert says

Published Sun, Sep 17 2023   Aditi Shrikant

The number of people who are living to at least 100 years old in the U.S. has doubled over the past decade.   Many centenarians credit their longevity, at least in part, to their positive attitude.

Roslyn Menaker, 103, told The Guardian that “happiness, joy, appreciation … a positive outlook,” are why she has lived so long. Ruth Sweedler, 103, told CNBC Make It that she was always praised for her good attitude growing up. “When I walked into a classroom, my teacher would say, ‘Good morning, sunshine!’ Because I was so cheerful,” she said.

While seniors might feel being positive has played a role in their longevity, the relationship between personality and aging is more nuanced, says David Watson, a former professor of personality psychology at the University of Notre Dame.

“I think the effects of just being positive are overstated,” he says. But there are other traits he believes are closely linked to longevity.

‘Conscientious people don’t do stupid things’

When breaking down personality, it’s helpful to look at the Five Factor Model, a personality theory that suggests most people’s traits can be grouped into five categories: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism.

Conscientiousness, or how organized and disciplined you are, is the most related to longevity, Watson says.

This is likely because people with high degrees of conscientiousness are better at taking care of themselves. Conscientious people, for example, tend to drink alcohol in moderation and eat more balanced meals, he says.

“Conscientious people don’t do stupid things so they have lower rates of accidents and better health behaviors,” he says.

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

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/17/this-is-the-nopoint1-personality-trait-linked-to-living-longer.html

China’s Qing Dynasty Collapsed For Reasons That Feel Eerily Familiar

China’s Qing Dynasty Collapsed For Reasons That Feel Eerily Familiar

BRIEFING #195  whitehatauxiliaries   September 13, 2023

Guest Feature  Qing dynasty ruler  Qing ruler Dorgon.

Salve Citizens,

As we close the 3rd quarter or 2023, most would agree that the general state of society is decaying and is in need of a serious change. Central to this for our purpose, is, of course, the natural curiosity about the Global Settlements. As much as we would love to have unrestricted news on the matter, such a thing is just not possible. What you see released here, to greater or lesser degree, is as good as it can be. And it’s far more accurate and reliable than what is claimed elsewhere.

Case in point. Here is a brief comment and description of a backchannel communication between the key London GS trustee and an eager bureaucrat who felt entitled to demand a timetable on his terms:

In a world where silent hands steer the fate of nations, the Elders of Asia who live in China and Taiwan have spoken. Backed by their Trusted Brit, even Xi has to answer, and is under their watchful eyes.

 “Because you don’t see it doesn’t mean its not happening”, as I responded to a pushy Lord today, when I asked who XXXXX are YOU? It’s done when we say its done. We say, we pay. Until then you XXXXX well go away!  Hardball, or we take them!

So, please remember, the highly sensitive nature of this process is requiring very guarded news concerning its progress and status. But, but no means are you to think that such tacitness is due to inactivity or failure.

China is not immune to the vagaries of world economics. They have a similar history of turmoil akin to that experienced by most other empires of the past. Today, however, the stakes are much higher and the penalties for failure are severe and swift. To maneuver such a hugely populated world from beneath a general collapse, while achieving and maintaining sensitive political consensus is going to take careful timing and skill. Such responsibilities are not placed in the hands of unproven, unaccomplished parvenus.

We can learn from this past example in China that great empires can falter if they do not act swiftly to events which require intelligent planning and execution. Take this as a reason that the present ongoing GS matters must be guided and implemented with great care, or we risk a collapse of unimaginable magnitude, in a world where thermonuclear thunderclaps may be the last sounds heard by man before our history disappears forever. – WHA

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

https://whitehatauxiliaries.com/2023/09/13/briefing-195/

Goldilocks' Comments and Global Economic News for Friday, September 1, 2023

Good morning Dinar Recaps,

Goldilocks posted comments and news links on the global financial system

SEBA Hong Kong has received the AIP for its licence application to operate regulated activities in Hong Kong to deal in securities, including virtual assets-related products, such as OTC derivatives and structured products; advise on securities and virtual assets; and conduct asset management for discretionary accounts in both traditional securities and virtual assets.

This license, when issued, will pave the way for SEBA Hong Kong to be part of the first group of licensed corporations in Hong Kong to conduct investment services with crypto capabilities in the market, making the Switzerland-headquartered bank a significant frontrunner in Hong Kong’s burgeoning crypto economy.

https://www.seba.swiss/media-and-investors/seba-hong-kong-awarded-approval-in-principle/

~~~~~~~~~~

Delinquencies on car loans, credit cards and consumer loans have hit their highest levels in a decade.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/08/30/delinquencies-credit-auto-loans/

~~~~~~~~~~

The purpose of money is in our use of it as a means of exchange to buy goods and services at values predetermined by the worth of it placed upon the agreed-upon transaction itself.

Today, we are living in a time where those values are being challenged and forced to change around the world.

Currencies in the East are now being utilized as a means of value and in process of being determined for their values based upon the rate of their exchange through demand and the supply they hold of it.

Creating new values are determined by the people who use this money and those who govern it. (Money velocity) Because of these changes taking place, there is no doubt that a global Currency Reset is needed.

The question for many people out there is not if, but when will this take place. The simple answer is we already in the process of it.

There will come a time when new values will begin to form on chart calculations inside the market as the use of money in different areas of the country begin to put price pressures on these changes being created.

Bilateral agreements are happening hand over fist at this point. Many of these trades are no longer in the World Reserve Currency. Local economies in the East are utilizing their own paper money to fulfill trades. So, we watch and we wait. Changes are happening and prices are changed by price correlations formed through money velocity and digital transformations.

Around 90% of traded goods are carried over the waves. Here is the place where exports and imports shift the prices on goods and services by the demands placed on them.

Our shipping ports are becoming more and more digitized over time. The movement of money is increasing demand in order for supply to reach their destination at faster rates because of these digital integrations.

Watch the water.

© Goldilocks

https://www.stlouisfed.org/education/economic-lowdown-podcast-series/episode-9-functions-of-money

https://www.baltimorechronicle.com/maritime-digitization-market-report-overview-size-trends-growth-and-forecast-2029/

OECD Link

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US & Europe To Pay in Local Currencies For Oil After BRICS Expansion?

https://watcher.guru/news/us-europe-to-pay-local-currencies-for-oil-after-brics-expansion

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By the way, the changes we are now seeing in the monetary system came into play because of the new mechanism placed on the market. (SOFR) July1, 2023

© Goldilocks

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THE VISION FOR XLM STELLAR & CBDC'S ECOSYSTEM INSIGHT XLM RAILS BEING BUILT IN SILENCE

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

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People are beginning to pull their money off of digital exchanges right now in the crypto space.

Trillions of Shiba Inu tokens are just one of many cryptos leaving these exchangers.

Monetary policies on digital clarity are about to be unleashed from the Financial Stability Board at the G20 meeting.

Currently, this is causing the price of cryptocurrency to move into lower values. As clarity comes from the G20 meeting, look for new price action flows to enter into the market formulating authentic price patterns.

Just know, this is part of the transition into our new economy. On the other side of this transition, there will be new tokenized assets interfaced in the form of introductory coin/stock offerings placed into the system creating real values.

The process I am referring to does not happen all in one day, it will be phased in the rest of this year. Some assets will be mobilized quicker than others. Just stay watchful.

© Goldilocks

https://zycrypto.com/trillions-in-shiba-inu-tokens-leave-crypto-exchanges-shib-price-reacts/

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More court victories for the cryptocurrency market and a clearer view of the regulatory environment for decentralized applications
https://www.investorideas.com/news/2023/cryptocurrency/08311Court-Victories.asp

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The 10-year Treasury bond is on track for a third year of losses in 2023, something that hasn't happened in roughly 250 years of U.S. history.

In short, it has never happened, say strategists at Bank of America.

© GM

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Buckle up for a Wild Ride over the month of September 2023. 
 
Behind the scenes, EVERY bank on the planet is 100% insolvent and it's time to lay their cards on the table! 
 
Keep assets in your own possession ONLY!!
 
ALERT! COMEX Silver Beyond Broken! "September to Remember" Has Begun...WATCH THE BANKS! (Bix Weir)
https://youtu.be/843Q2YQbAz8

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Notice of DinarAlert Closing

Note from Dinar Recaps: We are in no way affiliated with the website Dinar Alert We are only making this post as an information and courtesy to our readers - and the Dinar community - Thank You

Notice of DinarAlert Closing

DinarAlert is officially closing August 31, 2023.  The reason is the host is going out of business and will not be supporting the website any further.  That means, all information on the site will be lost at that time.  A decision to not rebuild with a new host was decided since the information, contacts, research and URL would not be salvageable.  Any such new site would be in essence 'brand new' and that is not what we want at DinarAlert.  DinarAlert was about truth, facts. 

Over the past 12+ years, we took the responsibility of providing accurate information seriously.  We wanted our members to be informed with the most accurate information possible.  Please download and save any information you wish to retain for reference.

 I want to personally thank all the moderators, administrators and members over the years for supporting the website.  Without you, there would have been no DinarAlert.  We hope each of you continue to find honest, truthful information to support your investment.

DinarAlert SMS text and Voice Call notification service is not ending.  If there ever is a significant change in value (in any form) a notice will be sent (providing your contact information is up to date).

 On behalf of everyone at DinarAlert, Admin Tgirl, Brandon, moderators Kaperoni, Tammy 44, Enorrste, Revbo, and many others over the years,  Thank you  Brandon

@NORV is @Kaperoni  28 Aug 2023, 12:45 PMNORV  I got a couple things in the fire I might do I might start my own blog or I might do like a monthly podcast. But I don't know.

Special DinarAlert Last Conference Call - Monday August 28th, 2023. Replay information 27 minutes. (in mp3 format for all devices) Download and then play may work better. *Some Apple devices may not play correctly.    2023-8-28.mp3   https://dinaralert.webs.com/DinarAlert8282023.mp3

Special DinarAlert Conference Call - Saturday June 24th 2023. Replay information 1 hour 40 minutes. (in mp3 format for all devices) Download and then play may work better. *Some Apple devices may not play correctly.  YouTube link also provided.  https://dinaralert.webs.com/2023-6-24.mp3

Jun 25, 2023  DinarAlert  June Conference Call -Saturday June 24, 2023. Follow along as Enorrste & Kaperoni host a DinarAlert conference call recorded Saturday June 24th, 2023. A must listen as they provide a factual realistic perspective on Iraq's accomplishments during 2023 and what to look forward to in 2024. DinarAlert is the leader in factual information on the pending appreciation of the Iraqi Dinar. Accurate currency information without the false rumors or hype. Complete forums and a live chat room. Revaluation SMS cellular phone text or voice call notification service. DinarAlert.web.com

Play  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE2dCBZZdp8

DinarAlert Year-End Conference Call - Saturday December 10th 2022. Replay information 1 hour 46 minutes. (in mp3 format for all devices) Download and then play may work better. *Some Apple devices may not play correctly. YouTube link also provided.

Special DinarAlert Year-end Conference call-Saturday December 10th, 2022. Follow along as Enorrste and Kaperoni host a DinarAlert year-end conference call (recorded Saturday December 10th, 2022). A must listen as they provide a factual realistic perspective on Iraq's accomplishments during 2022 and what to look forward to in 2023.

DinarAlert is the leader in factual information on the pending appreciation of the Iraqi Dinar. Accurate currency information without the false rumors or hype. Complete forums and a live chat room. Revaluation SMS Cellular Phone Text or Voice Call notification service. DinarAlert.webs.com   

2022-12-10.mp3     https://dinaralert.webs.com/2022-10-12.mp3

https://youtu.be/JIryKn_wWWk