Get Ahead of the Pack and Unload Bonds Now

"Why oh why does this love affair continue? Some of it is inertia. People just don’t want to sell what worked for them in 2009, 2010, and early 2011 … even if it isn’t working any more. Some of it is fear. Investors were burned so badly by the 2008 stock market crash, when Treasury bonds were about the only asset class that went up in value, that they’re willing to buy bonds at almost any price. And some of it is the fault of central bankers worldwide. They’re essentially cornering the bond market, making the Hunt Brothers’ infamous cornering of the silver market in the late 1970s and early 1980s look like child’s play." Continue reading

Continue ReadingGet Ahead of the Pack and Unload Bonds Now

Japanese Stocks Plunge 1000 Points; Central Bank Injects 2 Trillion Yen

"Japan’s Topix index fell almost 7 percent, the most since the aftermath of the March 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster, as financial companies plunged amid rising bond yields. The rout triggered a halt in Nikkei 225 Stock Average futures trading in Osaka." Continue reading

Continue ReadingJapanese Stocks Plunge 1000 Points; Central Bank Injects 2 Trillion Yen

The Words That Sent the Stock Market Tumbling

"Stocks closed down nearly 1 percent in a volatile session after the minutes from the last Fed policy setting meeting suggested the Fed is divided on when it may start to pull back on its monetary stimulus. The market had moved higher earlier in the session when Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke reiterated that tapering bond purchases will depend on an improvement in the economic data. But then during the Q & A, Bernanke said that the Fed could decide to scale back the pace of bond purchases at one of the 'next few meetings' if the economic recovery looked set to maintain forward momentum." Continue reading

Continue ReadingThe Words That Sent the Stock Market Tumbling

Sealand to adopt bitcoin?

"We’ve seen bitcoin gaining traction among companies ranging from porn merchants through to car dealerships. But this may be the first time we’ve seen a country adopting it as a currency – well, a country of sorts. The Principality of Sealand has expressed an interest in adopting bitcoin. 'Prince Michael' Bates, of the quirky, self-proclaimed independent state, expressed interest in the virtual currency during an interview on the Reddit site. The son of Sealand founder Roy Bates was asked if the state could print its own money. 'Yes, we are looking at ways to do it securely. Also bitcoin sounds really interesting if they stabilise,' Bates said." Continue reading

Continue ReadingSealand to adopt bitcoin?

Bitcoin more powerful than fastest supercomputers

"The power of all the computers networked together to maintain the digital currency's system far exceeds the combined processing strength of the top 500 most powerful supercomputers. Easily. The matchup isn't even close. At any given moment, Bitcoin's peer-to-peer network contains thousands of computers linked together to generate more than 1,000 petaflops of raw computing power. To put that in perspective, the world's fastest supercomputer, Titan, runs at less than 18 petaflops. The Bitcoin network is sucking down nearly $200,000 a day in electricity costs. That's stunning for an 'economy' that sprang into being just four years ago." Continue reading

Continue ReadingBitcoin more powerful than fastest supercomputers

Cold fusion reactor independently verified, has 10,000 times the energy density of gas

"Against all probability, a device that purports to use cold fusion to generate vast amounts of power has been verified by a panel of independent scientists. The research paper, which hasn’t yet undergone peer review, seems to confirm both the existence of cold fusion, and its potency: The cold fusion device being tested has roughly 10,000 times the energy density and 1,000 times the power density of gasoline. Even allowing for a massively conservative margin of error, the scientists say that the cold fusion device they tested is 10 times more powerful than gasoline — which is currently the best fuel readily available to mankind." Continue reading

Continue ReadingCold fusion reactor independently verified, has 10,000 times the energy density of gas

New lithium-ion battery design: 2,000 times more powerful, recharges 1,000 times faster

"Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new lithium-ion battery technology that is 2,000 times more powerful than comparable batteries. According to the researchers, this is not simply an evolutionary step in battery tech, 'It’s a new enabling technology… it breaks the normal paradigms of energy sources. It’s allowing us to do different, new things.' In real-world use, this tech will probably be used to equip consumer devices with batteries that are much smaller and lighter — imagine a smartphone with a battery the thickness of a credit card, which can be recharged in a few seconds." Continue reading

Continue ReadingNew lithium-ion battery design: 2,000 times more powerful, recharges 1,000 times faster

California man posing as cop charged with sexual assault

"Stepp reportedly used a website to arrange for a meeting with a prostitute at a hotel in El Segundo, California. Police spokesperson Lt. Jaime Bermudez told CBS News that once inside the room with the woman, Stepp allegedly identified himself a police officer, flashed a fake badge and locked the woman into handcuffs, then sexually assaulted her. The woman reported that Stepp was joined by an accomplice who took her cash and credit cards. Stepp was apprehended on Monday when he tried to use one of the stolen credit cards." Continue reading

Continue ReadingCalifornia man posing as cop charged with sexual assault

West Point sergeant accused of filming naked female cadets without their consent

"A West Point sergeant in charge of teaching cadets has been accused of videotaping a dozen female officers without their consent, including times when they were in the shower, according to military officials. The Army confirmed reports Wednesday it had filed charges against Sgt. 1st Class Michael McClendon under four articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for cruelty and maltreatment, indecent acts, dereliction in the performance of duty and actions prejudicial to good order and discipline. The charges, filed May 14, come at a time when the U.S. military has come under intense scrutiny for the way it handles sexual harassment and abuse cases." Continue reading

Continue ReadingWest Point sergeant accused of filming naked female cadets without their consent

When Terrorism Comes Home

"Several observers have pointed out the similarities between today's savage attack in London, where a British soldier was reportedly beheaded by two men shouting 'Allahu Akbar,' and the gruesome recent attack by US/UK-supported Free Syrian Army Commander Abu Sakkar, who cut out and devoured his Syrian Army soldier victim's heart. That US overt and covert support of the insurgency in Syria, including its radical and al-Qaeda affiliated elements, is a known fact. But we know that eventually these US-supported Islamist radicals with Western passports will come home -- and now we have a better idea of what might be in store for us when they do." Continue reading

Continue ReadingWhen Terrorism Comes Home