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Herón Luciano Sixto López

Coatzacoalco, Veracruz, Mexico - On Wednesday, more than 40 human rights groups, immigrant rights organizations, undocument immigrant refuge shelters, and immigrant rights activists in a letter sent to Mexico's President Enrique Nieto demands for him to take action and to deal with what the groups are now calling a genocide of undocumented Central and South American immigrants travelling through Mexico on their way to the U.S. border. The coalition of Mexican groups, organizations and immigrant refuge shelters claim that President Neito has failed to commit military security forces and federal police along the Bestia (Beast/train of death) route to protect undocumented immigrants in Mexico. 

This Family Blood Feud Can't Be Ended
This Conflict Didn’t Begin In 1948 
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
*******************************

It is frustrating to see a US Secretary of State flitting back and forth between Arab countries and Israel in a non-stop quest for peace.  It is a fool's errand.  So long as the world remains,  that conflict will last until the last day of the last days of the end times.

We hardly ever hear it noted these days, but this is a family feud.  There is no conflict as vicious as a family conflict.  Family members know exactly which buttons to push to hurt their sibling the most.  And they push those buttons gleefully and with gusto.

Two half-brothers, sons of an old fellow from an ancient city of Sumer, called Ur, located on a former channel of the Euphrates River in a place we now call Iraq, began this mess many centuries before Christ. 

Contrary to what we are being and told -- and our young folks are being taught; the Arab/Israeli problem did not have its start in 1948.  Far from it.  The origin of this on-going battle between half-brothers  dates back thousands of years to Abraham, Sarah, (Isaac’s mother), and Hagar (Ishmael’s mother).

I have lifted out some scripture verses below to illustrate the story, as it appears in the story of the Children of Israel in the Bible.   To get the entire story on the origins of this conflict, even to the on-going battles between the half-brothers, Abraham’s children, we recommend you read the two chapters of Genesis… 16 and 17.  Once you have done that, you will have the background on the everlasting war between Abraham’s kids.  You will also see the hopelessness of any country, including the US, reaching a lasting peace agreement between the two.

Just as scripture stated, Ishmael’s children would have their hands raised against every man and every man's hand would be against them.

Don’t believe me?

Look at today’s newspapers.  There it is.  The story starts in the pages of Genesis and continues in the pages of the New York Times.

For the entire story read the 16th and 17th chapters of Genesis in the Old Testament (The Bible.)

Now… the story BEHIND the story:
*****************
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar, and Sarai said to Abram, "You see that the LORD has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl; it may be that I shall obtain children by her. "And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. . . . 
                                                                         -0-
Genesis 16:  11-12
And the angel of the LORD said unto her(Hagar), Behold, thou [art] with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.

And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
                                                                       -0-
Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.                                                                      -0-
And Abraham said to God, "O that Ishmael might live in your sight!" God said, "No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year."

The LORD dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him.
                                                                         -0-
The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac." The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring." So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
******************                                                 

Allow me to disabuse you of any thought that the conflict between Israel, and her Arab neighbors, will be ended anytime soon.  It isn’t going to happen.  It is a conflict, I am convinced, completely out of the hands of man.

Look.  I know that in our increasingly secular world making pronouncements like that above causes eyes to roll, and smirks to appear on the, faces of the, er, more sophisticated.  I get it. I do.  But, HEY! I know in what I believe and in WHOM I believe.  That, I am assured, is becoming extremely rare these days.

See. The thing is -- the "tiff" (as some see it) between Israel and her sibling is a three way affair.  It's between the Jews, the Arabs, and God.  There is no place for the US, the UN, or anybody else to intervene or interfere.  The sooner we recognize that -- the better understanding we will have of the "blood feud," the conflict, and the driving impetus with which it will continue until earth's last day.
        
© J. D. Longstreet

May 15, 2013
Forbes: America's New Manufacturing Boomtowns



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I doubt very much that we will make it to $1,700 per month (inflation adjusted) again. It's just a "conventional wisdom" opinion though.

As a side note, what could possibly go wrong from here? It's not like we're at the very upper edge of a long-term declining trend channel. It's also not like we are stuck there as if unable to punch through. Oh, wait. Never mind.

Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart

Milw., WI - Miguel Garza, owner of MG Oficinas is seen enjoying a family day at the annual Principe de Paz festival at the 2500 block of W. Scott St. MG Oficinas is a co-sponsor of the festival. The two day festival ends on Sunday. 

Velocity of money



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The line in black shows the historical velocity of money stock going back to 1869. The line in red shows the velocity of the M2 money stock going back to 1959.

Note the downward trend since the late 1990s. What does this mean? The "poning" of hyperinflation theories will continue until morale improves!

Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart

Click to enlarge.

It's just another panic pun day.



See Also:
Half-life (physics)
Half-life (video game)
Duplex (building)
Half Duplex (communications)

Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart

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I'd be last person to argue that 2nd order polynomials can accurately predict our long-term employment future. On the other hand, I'd be the last person to think Ben Bernanke can either.

July 19, 2013
The Market Ticker ®: The Problem With Ivory-Tower "Economists"


That's all right Ben. We may very well solve your conundrum in the decades ahead. Sigh.

See Also:
Trend Line Disclaimer

Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: Employed, Usually Work Part Time

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List of premature obituaries


Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: 1-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate
U.S. Treasury: Daily Treasury Yield Curve Rates

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

I listened to the full Presidential news conference this afternoon. Obama said some things that made sense. Then he made the following remarks that IMNHO told the nation in full agenda with respect to said issue. Having a in depth discussion of race relations might very well be appropriate and a general discussion is something that MOST American's would welcome. Using the Zimmerman verdict ks simply the WRONG event at possibly the right time.

However, don't expect the President, the Department of Justice, or the liberal media or ultra liberal populace to understand what this means. If I can find a video of the full and complete news conference it will be posted later.




Via: Memeorandum 


 Update: via You Tube. 

 

Your views and thoughts are most welcome. Left and or Right leaning...

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs-Tyranny

LA Times - At least six people were arrested Thursday night in San Bernardino after rocks and bottles were thrown and officers and pedestrians were attacked in a protest against the George Zimmerman trial verdict.

The incident began about 8 p.m. as marchers moved south along Highland Avenue and were joined by others not initially involved with what was a peaceful protest at that point, according to police.

Protesters ended up at a Jack in the Box restaurant near Waterman Avenue and Baseline Street and began hurling rocks and bottles at passing vehicles and officers who arrived at the scene, said Lt. Mike Madden of the San Bernardino Police Department.

"They just saw the opportunity for civil unrest," Madden told the Los Angeles Times.

Officers gave orders to disperse. At that point, groups of people took off running and began attacking and robbing pedestrians, according to police.

Two of the six people arrested were taken into custody on suspicion of strong-arm robbery, Madden said.

Police late Thursday were still monitoring roving groups of people in the streets. {}

Not doubt the left is proud?

Via: Memeorandum

So going through my living room and dining room Pinterest boards made me realize that there is no way I could choose just one single style for either room. They are just too full of possibilities.


For the dining room we've got to have a big round table and super killer chairs. Duh.



I like the idea of books in the dining room. More of a library where they allow food, sort of.





OK, this one isn't a round table, but its good.


The living room, like the rest of the house will have tall ceilings, lots of beautiful moldings and big huge windows.







And many french doors out to the huge porch.

I don't think I even scratched the surface really. There is no way I could narrow it down. That's it, I'm just going to have to have several living rooms and dining rooms.

What about you? Do you have a style you dream about but don't have in your own home? Any feature you would add to a space if the sky was the limit? Want CoCo to make you a G&T for the afternoon?

Man remains in coma after being electrocuted while charging an iPhone 4.

Obama And The Manure Spreader

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
****************
"For decades, a so-called anti-propaganda law prevented the U.S. government's mammoth broadcasting arm from delivering programming to American audiences. But on July 2, that came silently to an end with the implementation of a new reform passed in January. The result: an unleashing of thousands of hours per week of government-funded radio and TV programs for domestic U.S. consumption in a reform initially criticized as a green light for U.S. domestic propaganda efforts. So what just happened?"   SOURCE:  http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/07/12/us_backs_off_propaganda_ban_spreads_government_made_news_to_americans
 If you have ever wondered what would happen if you threw a truck load of cow manure into a fertilizer spreader,  you're about to find out!

It would seem that, finally, the Obama Administration has concluded that Americans are sufficiently stupid enough that they can now be plied with taxpayer funded lies gussied-up to appear as truthful messages from a "caring government" sometimes referred to as ... Aunt Nanna. 

The Obama Regime has decided we are dumb enough that we won't even notice that we are being manipulated by the machinations of dark forces within a government gone rogue.

As if that were not scary enough, after a bit of soul searching, I have concluded Obama is right.   I think we HAVE become just that stupid.

Once again, we warn that the US is beginning to favor the old USSR more and more, every day, under the Obama Regime.  Until NOW the people of the US have not had to bear-up under the strain of government sponsored propaganda broadcasts. In the Old USSR it was common practice.  In nearly all Marxist countries it is standard practice. Now that the US has adopted Marxism, under Obama's guidance and tutorship,  it will now be a part of every American's daily brain training by the government.

Until now, it was flat-out illegal to broadcast government propaganda in the US.  No longer.

    "Until this month, a vast ocean of U.S. programming produced by the Broadcasting Board of Governors such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks could only be viewed or listened to at broadcast quality in foreign countries. The programming varies in tone and quality, but its breadth is vast: It's viewed in more than 100 countries in 61 languages. The topics covered include human rights abuses in Iran; self-immolation in Tibet; human trafficking across Asia; and on-the-ground reporting in Egypt and Iraq."  SOURCE:  http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/07/12/us_backs_off_propaganda_ban_spreads_government_made_news_to_americans

For most Americans, I suspect the "BBG" is a completely unheard of organization.  Heck, I spent thirty years in the broadcasting industry and I rarely, if ever, heard their name brought up. 

Back in the day --you know -- back before America became stupid and people actually paid attention to things outside their thirty inches of personal space, folks had heard of entities such as: Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Middle East Broadcasting networks (including Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting better known, at least among the domestic broadcasting community, as "Radio Marti."  

The BBG became an independent, autonomous entity on October 1, 1999, as a result of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (Pub.L. 105–277). BBG had 3,200 employees and a budget of US$535 million in 2002.  SOURCE:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcasting_Board_of_Governors 

The 2012 budget request from BBG was $767 million.

"According to a series of reports beginning in 2004 and generated by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the BBG has struggled to live up to its mission. For instance, GAO highlighted a structural issue of the BBG in a 2004 report claiming that "organizationally, the existence of five separate broadcast entities has led to overlapping language services, duplication of program content, redundant news gathering and support services, and difficulties coordinating broadcast efforts."[10] The report also added that "marketing challenges include outmoded program formats, poor signal delivery, and low audience awareness in many markets." [10]

In April 2010, Senator Tom Coburn held up the appointments of the Obama administration, with the aim of drawing attention to the organization's perceived ineffectiveness, stating in an interview: "The BBG is the most worthless organization in the federal government. It's full of people who know nothing about media or foreign policy."[2] Senator Jim DeMint also attempted to use the nominations to force a hearing on the BBG, after frustrations with a perceived lack of congressional oversight over the organization.[2] Coburn had written an open letter to then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in August 2010 citing "longstanding concerns regarding transparency and effectiveness of our taxpayer funded international broadcasting agencies under the purview of the Broadcasting Board of Governors." SOURCE:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcasting_Board_of_Governors

Understand:  We are talking about the US government feeding propaganda to the American people.  Understand, too, that propaganda is information (or misinformation) that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause, some action (or even some inaction) the government favors.  It is pure manipulation of the masses often described as "brain washing."  In the months and years ahead look for it anywhere as political propaganda (especially Marxist propaganda) can be, and often is, communicated via art, literature, and the movies.  

Just a few years ago, I would not be so troubled by this announcement.  Now, however,
with the American public having been dumbed-down by decades of government indoctrination in the so-called public education system, It is certainly conceivable that propaganda could (and I am now convinced -- WILL) be a very effective tool for the government to use to continue to shred the constitution and the rights guaranteed to the American people by it.

The inability to discern the difference between government propaganda and the truth will have dire consequences for freedom in America. In rather short order Americans will no longer know WHOM to believe and the more discerning among us will choose to believe no one!

If you have not done so already, then we advise you to dust off your "BS Meter", calibrate it, and prepare for the tsunami of Bovine Scatology coming your way from those wonderful people who brought you Obamacare.

© J. D. Longstreet

Click to enlarge.

We always hear about the bond vigilantes and how they are destined to arrive at any moment. However, as seen in the chart above, the certificate of deposit vigilantes are nowhere to be seen. Why do you suppose that is?

The following chart shows how much more the typical certificate of deposit "vigilante" could earn if they'd simply buy 5-year treasuries directly from the government instead of buying the typical 5-year CD from their local bank. As an added bonus, they wouldn't even need to worry about FDIC insurance.


Click to enlarge.

I participated in February 2011's treasury giveaway, much to the dismay of Jeremy Siegel. No complaints on that one so far. I also participated in June 2013's treasury giveaway (using interest from my purchase in 2011). No complaints on that one either.

I bought intending to hold to maturity. That is still the plan. Meanwhile, investors panic out of bond funds and into cash the instant interest rates go up? I can't really explain it. I guess many don't enjoy earning more interest. Need proof? Can we not see the willingness of savers to accept a mere 0.5% rate on 5-year CDs?

That said, I'm not at all advocating the purchase of a 5-year treasury. For what it is worth, I went out a heck of a lot further on that steep yield curve. Unlike many, I do not believe that this economy can support high real yields either now or well into the distant future. It has there for been my plan to lock real yields in whenever I could and I have been doing so since 2000 (the year I bought my first I-Bond).

This is not investment advice. It's just the opinion of a random anonymous blogger on the Internet. Take it for what it is worth.

Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart

Sinkhole is deepening, according to a resident that noticed a small hole earlier in the day.

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

The Attorney General telegraphing what the ultimate decision by the Justice Department is to be?



Thinly veiled code words for racism throughout the "esteemed" Attorney General's remarks.

The Text - The death of 17-year-old African-American Trayvon Martin, and the subsequent trial of the man who shot him, George Zimmerman, brought back some sore memories for the U.S. attorney general.

"They brought me back to a number of experiences I had as a young man," Attorney General Eric Holder told the NAACP at their annual convention in Orlando Tuesday. "When I was pulled over twice and my car searched on the New Jersey Turnpike when I'm sure I wasn't speeding, or when I was stopped by a police officer while simply running to a catch a movie, at night in Georgetown, in Washington, D.C."

The shooting, meanwhile, inspired personal comments from President Obama as well. "You know, if I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," the president said last year. {Read More}

UPDATE: via WESH

SANFORD, Fla. —A hold was placed Thursday on all evidence related to the death of Trayvon Martin.

It's another indication that federal investigators are not done with the George Zimmerman case, despite a jury's not guilty verdict.

Department of Justice investigators are looking into whether Zimmerman violated Martin's civil right.

Martin was shot to death in the Sanford townhouse complex where his father lived. Zimmerman, a volunteer neighborhood watchman, said the shooting was self defense. A jury found Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder.

Among the evidence is Zimmerman's handgun. Defense attorney Mark O'Mara said he thinks it would be best for the gun to be destroyed.

All of the evidence is now being held by the Sanford Police Department.

O'Mara said the investigation has been ongoing and that no evidence Zimmerman of racial bias has been found.

Meanwhile, O'Mara said he is mulling his own federal case against prosecutors. He said they withheld information that was important to the trial.

Video can be found here.

Via: Memeorandum

Isaiah Theis