Woman Who Attacked Mario Draghi Tweets: “And one more time: End the #ECB Dick-tatorship! Good night, M.#Draghi”

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We own our own lives –

and in the face of the overwhelmingly powerful external
environment of the ECB’s monetary police,
sometimes it’s hard to remember.

We own our own lives –
and they’re not the chips in the ECB’s gambling game,
not to be played with, not to be sold, not to be devastated.

We own our own lives!
-will be the outcry of those who face repression,
when we begin to see our poverty not as personal defeat or unchangeable destiny.

ECB,
master of the universe,
I come to remind you that there is no god,
but there are people, behind those lives,
and if you rule instead of serving,
you will hear our outcries louder, brighter, inside and outside your halls, everywhere, and you shall deserve no rest.

Read moreWoman Who Attacked Mario Draghi Tweets: “And one more time: End the #ECB Dick-tatorship! Good night, M.#Draghi”

Europe Will Be Very Angry When It Learns Greece Is About To Buy Russian Anti-Aircraft Missiles

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S-300

– Europe Will Be Very Angry When It Learns Greece Is About To Buy Russian Anti-Aircraft Missiles (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

Just days after Russia lifted sanctions on providing anti-aircraft missiles to Iran, Reuters reports that The Greeks are in talks with Russia to purchase missiles for the S-300 defense system. Greece, a NATO member, has been in possession of the advanced Russian-made systems since the late 1990s and in a defiant show of independence towards Troika, is now negotiating with Russia for the purchase of additional missiles and for their maintenance.

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The Collapse Of The Petrodollar: Oil Exporters Are Dumping US Assets At A Record Pace

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– The Collapse Of The Petrodollar: Oil Exporters Are Dumping US Assets At A Record Pace (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

Back in November we chronicled the (quiet) death of the Petrodollar, the system that has buttressed USD hegemony for decades by ensuring that oil producers recycled their dollar proceeds into still more USD assets creating a very convenient (if your printing press mints dollars) self-fulfilling prophecy that has effectively underwritten the dollar’s reserve status in the post WWII era. Now, with oil prices still in the doldrums, oil producers are selling off their USD assets in a frenzy threatening the viability of petrocurrency mercantilism and effectively extracting billions in liquidity from the system just as the Fed prepares to hike rates.

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The Ruble is now up almost 22% against the US Dollar year-to-date

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– Russian Ruble Extends Outperformance – Surges To Strongest Since November (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

Isolated Russia continues to see its currency dramatically outperform the US Dollar. Breaking below 50 today, this is the strongest the Ruble has been since Nov 2014… The Ruble is now up almost 22% against the US Dollar year-to-date.

Strongest since November…

20150415_RUB

and best performing currency of the year…

20150415_RUB1

Charts: Bloomberg

Ahead Of Varoufakis’ Meeting With Famous Sovereign Bankruptcy Lawyer S&P Downgrades Greece To CCC+

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– Ahead Of Varoufakis’ Meeting With Famous Sovereign Bankruptcy Lawyer S&P Downgrades Greece To CCC+ (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

To think it was just recently in September of last year when the S&P, seemingly unaware of the tragic reality facing Greece in just a few months (by reality we meen democratic elections which overthrew the previous regime which was merely a group of Troika picked technocrats), upgraded Greece to B and said “The upgrade reflects our view that risks to fiscal consolidation in Greece have abated.” Well, the risks have unabated, and two months after S&P flipflopped and downgraded Greece back to B- on February 6, moments ago it downgraded it again, this time to triple hooks, aka the dreaded CCC+. But, as City AM reports, the biggest news is that the Greek Finance Minister “will on Friday meet with infamous sovereign debt lawyer Lee Buchheit, who has helped numerous countries restructure their debt. Buchheit is a partner at top US law firm Cleary Gottlieb.”

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NY Fed’s “Plunge Protection Team” Starts Chicago Trading Floor “In Case Of Disaster Or Other Eventuality”

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– NY Fed’s “Plunge Protection Team” Starts Chicago Trading Floor “In Case Of Disaster Or Other Eventuality” (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

We have known for quite some time now that the NY Fed’s market group, aka the Plunge Protection Team, is opening a second office in HFT-capital Chicago. What was not known is what is the official reasoning behind the Fed’s move to be even closer to its Citadel executions arm. Overnight, courtesy of Reuters we found that the “The New York branch of the U.S. Federal Reserve, wary that a natural disaster or other eventuality could shut down its market operations as it approaches an interest rate hike, has added staff and bulked up its satellite office in Chicago.”

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“Staggering” Student Loan Defaults On Deck: 27% Of Students Are A Month Behind On Their Payments

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– “Staggering” Student Loan Defaults On Deck: 27% Of Students Are A Month Behind On Their Payments (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

A new St. Louis Fed study finds that the delinquency rate for student borrowers in repayment is 27.3%, meaning nearly one in three of the Americans laboring under a debt load that has now swelled to $1.3 trillion are more than a month behind on their payments. Ackman says there’s “no way they are going to pay it back.” We can hear the “cancel the debt” cries now. 

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Flashback: Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton Supports Monsanto

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Hillary:

“I stand in favor of using seeds and products that have a proven track record …There is a big gap between what the facts are, and what the perceptions are.”

Fact is that (NON-GMO) wheat & barley seeds have a ‘proven track record’ that is thousands of years old and have been found in the great pyramids …

.. aaaand those seeds were still sprouting (!!!) …

… unlike GMO seeds.

Speaking of track records …

Hillary-corrupt

– Flashback: Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton Supports Monsanto (Infowars, April 13, 2015)

As Hillary Clinton gears up to enter the 2016 presidential race as announced today by her beyond viral Twitter post, we are reminded of her 2014 public appearance – in which she announced public support of Monsanto’s GMO seeds and chemicals. Chemicals that have recently been confirmed by the WHO to be causing cancer.

In the 65-minute keynote appearance at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) convention in San Diego, Clinton conversed with Jim Greenwood, BIO president, on a wide range of topics including GMOs. She said:

“I stand in favor of using seeds and products that have a proven track record …There is a big gap between what the facts are, and what the perceptions are.”

Clinton also remarked that the “benefits” of GMOs should be better explained in order to counteract the massive grassroots tide against the lab-created crops, saying that “Frankensteinish” depictions should be met with a stronger, more positive spin from GMO companies.

US Industrial Production Plunges By Most Since Aug 2012, Utility Output Drops Most In 9 Years

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– US Industrial Production Plunges By Most Since Aug 2012, Utility Output Drops Most In 9 Years (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

Mortgage Apps tumble, Empire Fed slumps, and now Industrial Production plunges… Against expectations of a 0.3% drop MoM, US Factory Output was twice as bad at -0.6% – the worst since August 2012 (and lamost worst since June 2009). This is the 4th miss in a row. What is even more stunning is that despite the coldest of cold winters that crashed the US economy, Utilities saw their output crash 5.9% – the most in 9 years (explained as follows – largely reversing a similarly-sized increase in February, which was related to unseasonably cold temperatures). Motor Vehicles saved the data from being a catastrophe with a 3.2% rise (following a 3.6% drop In Feb).

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Weakest Chinese Economy In 6 Years Sends WTI Crude Surging To Highest Since Dec 2014

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– Weakest Chinese Economy In 6 Years Sends WTI Crude Surging To Highest Since Dec 2014 (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

So the Chinese economy is weakest in 6 years, there is a record inventory, near-record production, and record drop in rig count… and now WTI Crude has surged to its highest since Dec 2014 (running stops above last week’s highs).

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German FinMin Schaeuble Sees ‘No Contagion’ From Grexit, … Don’t Show Him THIS CHART

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schauble stare

– German FinMin Schaeuble Sees “No Contagion” From Grexit, Don’t Show Him This Chart (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

Because all that matters is what some elite says, we are sure the following propaganda from German FinMin Schaeuble will be regurgitated by the mainstream media:

  • *SCHAEUBLE SAYS “YOU CAN’T SEE ANY CONTAGION”

However, if one actually looks at the data – European peripheral bond risk premia have soared in the last week as Grexit fears resurge.

20150415_cont

Charts: Bloomberg

 

German 10Y Bond Yield Plunges To 10bps, Negative To 8 Years

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– German 10Y Bond Yield Plunges To 10bps, Negative To 8 Years (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

German yields cratered-er today (as DAX flash-crashed into the close). 10Y yields are now at 10.5bps – record lows – and the entire German yield curve is now at negative rates to 8 year maturity. Must all be a signal of the economic success of Q€ right?

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Mario Draghi Attacked By Protester Screaming ‘End ECB Dick-tatorship’ (Photos & Video)

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Moments ago the ECB issued the following statement:

Statement on incident at ECB press conference

The European Central Bank’s press conference was briefly disrupted by a protester today, who jumped on to the stage and threw confetti. Staff from the ECB are investigating the incident.

Security staff took immediate and effective action.

Initial findings suggest that the activist registered as journalist for a news organisation she does not represent. Like all visitors to the ECB, she went through an identity check, metal detector and x-ray of her bag, before entering the building.

ECB President Mario Draghi remained unharmed and calmly proceeded with the press conference.

– Draghi Attacked By Protester Screaming “End ECB Dick-tatorship” (ZeroHedge, April 15, 2015):

It was bound to happen sooner or later: moments ago Mario Draghi was attacked by what appears to be a female (non-Greek) protester screaming “End ECB Dick-tatorship” while delivering his prepared remarks.

draghi attacked woman_0

Read moreMario Draghi Attacked By Protester Screaming ‘End ECB Dick-tatorship’ (Photos & Video)

Questions Swirl Over Bizarre Walmart Closures (Videos)

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– Questions Swirl Over Bizarre Walmart Closures (Infowars, April 15, 2015):

Customers, employees skeptical of claim that “plumbing” is reason for shutting down five stores for six months

Employees and customers are not buying Walmart’s explanation that it is closing five nationwide stores for six months due to “plumbing” issues, with questions swirling about the sudden closures that left hundreds of workers unemployed.

Read moreQuestions Swirl Over Bizarre Walmart Closures (Videos)

Martin Armstrong: Big Losses Coming In The Bond Market – Fall 2015 Turning Point – European Banks Will Collapse – Civil Unrest And Riots Globally – Gold To ‘Max Out At $5000 Per Ounce’ (Video)

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Apr 12, 2015

Description:

Renowned financial analyst Martin Armstrong says you can forget about the U.S. dollar crashing in value. Armstrong contends, “No, that’s absurd. The euro is in terrible shape. The yen is in terrible shape, and honestly, you can’t park money in yuan or Russian rubles, yet. I mean, let’s be realistic here, but eventually–yes.”

Armstrong says the bond market is a different story as the Fed is going to be forced to raise rates. He contends just a few percentage points in rising rates are going to cause big losses and big changes. Armstrong predicts, “People will be losing huge money. We are looking at a few percentage points, and you are going to blow the national debts of all these countries way out of whack, and that’s what’s going to force political change.”

Join Greg Hunter as he goes One-on-One with Martin Armstrong of ArmstrongEconomics.com.

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keep-calm-buy-goldGold-101

Arizona Police Cruiser Runs Over Suspect At 50 Mph (Video)

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– Caught On Tape: Arizona Police Cruiser Runs Over Suspect At 50 mph (ZeroHedge, April 14, 2015):

It has not been a good month for police “infractions” caught on tape: whether it is a cop shooting an unarmed suspect just because, or a cop shooting an unarmed suspect because “a taser was confused with a gun”, the latest grotesque act caught on dashcam is the following video taken on February 19 showing a police cruiser slamming into an alleged crime suspect, Mario Valencia, holding a gun (however not aiming it at anyone and certainly not the police) at a speed of about 50 mph from behind, in what was clearly a move intended to kill the suspect.

Miraculously, the suspect survived. Ironically, the Police in Marana, Arizona, where the dashcam video was taken, claim that they saved the suspect’s life. His lawyer, understandably, strongly disagrees.

“Everything in the video seems to point towards an obvious excessive use of force. It is miraculous that my client isn’t dead,” said attorney Michelle Cohen-Metzger.

That said, the video of the incident has stirred debate about what type of force police should have used to detain a man with a gun.

Read moreArizona Police Cruiser Runs Over Suspect At 50 Mph (Video)

The One Chart That Proves Obamacare Really Is Working … For The Fascists

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Obamacare-screws-middle-class

– The one chart that proves Obamacare really is working (for the fascists) (ZeroHedge, April 14, 2015):

With the election cycle starting up again, we are going to be bombarded more and more with propaganda like this:  7 Charts That Prove Obamacare Is Working

I submit to you that, below, is the one chart that proves Obamacare really is working (for the fascists).

Since the Obama administration began pushing the healthcare reform bill in early 2009, the stock prices of the Big Five health insurers have done remarkably well, even vs. the S&P 500, and even without taking into account their phenomenal dividend yields.

Obamacare is working

Google Chart

Question: How many patients did Cigna, BCBS (Anthem), Aetna, United Healthcare, or Cigna diagnose or treat last month?  Last year?

Answer: Zero.

Read moreThe One Chart That Proves Obamacare Really Is Working … For The Fascists

HM Treasury: Bail-In Powers Implementation (PDF)

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‘Possibly’ related info:

– UK Housing Bubble Bursts: Sales Of Luxury Homes Crash By 80%; “Waves Of Wealthy People Are Leaving”:

As the FT reports, “sales of homes worth more than £2m have dropped by 80 per cent in the past year.”… “It is like the 1970s again, when waves of wealthy people left Britain and it was a disaster.”

George Soros As The Fighting Uruk-hai With Jacob Rothschild As Saruman

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H/t reader squodgy:

“Here are the official Tory/LibDem Government reports on legalising using our personal savings & pensions & Building Society Accounts to pay back the Rothschild masters.

PDF: HM Treasury – Bail-In Powers Implementation

PDF: The Building Societies (Bail-in) Order Consultation Draft

Just in case you didn’t believe me…..VOTE …NONE of the above.”

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They Are Coming


Gandalf (reading):

“They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes, drums… drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow lurks in the dark. We can not get out… they are coming.”

Read moreHM Treasury: Bail-In Powers Implementation (PDF)

US Air Force completes operational testing on Raytheon’s MALD-J

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– US Air Force completes operational testing on Raytheon’s MALD-J (Global Military Communications, April 14, 2015):

Raytheon Company and the U.S. Air Force successfully completed operational tests of Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer (MALD-J), satisfying all requirements to attain Initial Operational Capability.

“MALD-J’s unique capabilities have been proven in 42 successful flight tests during the last two years and brought us closer to full rate production,” said Mike Jarrett, vice president of Raytheon’s Air Warfare Systems. “MALD helps protect warfighters in the battlespace so they can complete their missions and return home safely.”

Read moreUS Air Force completes operational testing on Raytheon’s MALD-J