Louisiana Bans Cash Transactions on Used Goods!

The Louisiana House Bill 195 updates the original bill passed in 2011. The updated version of this bill makes it illegal for any cash transactions for the payment of junk or used or secondhand property. In addition, the seller must also make a detailed description of all items purchased. Payment shall be made in the form of check, electronic transfers, or money order issued to the seller of the junk or used or secondhand property and made payable to the name and address of the seller.  All payments made by check, electronic transfers, or money order shall be reported 16 separately in the daily reports required by R.S. 37:1866. 

In other words, say hello to the “digital cash world.”  Folks, soon it will be totally illegal to have any cash on your person.  Louisiana is just the first state of many states to follow.  Isn’t “Big Brother” great?

Here is something else about Louisiana that many individuals do not know. First, Louisiana does not follow English common law but French law. Second, a jury trial in Louisiana does not require unanimous consent. Instead, it is simply a majority!

Anything Wrong with the Following Graph?

Oh, I know what you are saying, which is, "Things are different this time."  

Kerry and the Easter Bunny

Where Are the Young Workers in America?

"America continues to be a country where there are only jobs for those 55 and older, who saw a 329,000 increase in jobs in the past month. Every other age group saw job losses!  And the real kicker according to Zero Hedge: Since the start of the Second Great Depression (2007/08), only the 55 and older age group has seen job increases. Those 55 and younger are still 1.2 million jobs below the level they were are on December 2007."

Labor Participation Rate: Back to 1978 Levels

Why is the "Labor Participation Rate" important?  Because this ratio predicts the capacity of government to fund itself through taxation! 

Iran Accuses U.S. of Lying About New Nuke Agreement

That didn't take long.  Wow!  Iran didn't even wait for the ink to dry.  For the link, click here. President Obama and Kerry have a lot to explain after those comments coming out of Iran.

Iran's "Nuclear Deal" That is not Really a Deal!

Today's announcement about a deal is not really a deal.  More like a "white paper" on how to proceed to getting a deal. Read the parameters for a "potential" deal by clicking here. 

Are You Still Making That Mortgage Payment? Why?

It has been seven years since the subprime mortgage debacle.  In the ensuing years, thousands of homeowners have not made a "P&I Payment" and are still living in their homes.  Now, according to the New York Times, those homeowners may get to keep their homes without having to pay another penny.  What?  The reason being is that lenders, especially in Florida and New Jersey, have waited too long to foreclose, or due to the fact that statutes of limitations have been exceeded, usually five years, in the case of real estate.  See, squatters do have rights!

Isn't America great where one can now get a free "home!"  Welcome to the new normal.

The Way Politicians Think

Interesting Facts That You May Not Knw

The following facts are from "The Economic Collapse:"

1. Did you know that if you have no debt and have $10 in your wallet that you are wealthier than 25% of all Americans?
2. Did you know that Apple has more money than the U.S. Treasury?
3. Did you know that the amount of cement used by China from 2011 to 2013 was greater than the total amount of cement that the U.S. used during the entire 20th century?
4. Did you know that in more than half of all U.S. states that the highest paid public employee in the state is a football coach?
5. Did you know that it costs the U.S. government 1.8 cents to mint a penny and 9.4 cents to mint a nickel?
6. Did you know that 47% Americans do not put a single penny out of their paychecks into savings?
7. Did you know that in 1950, less than 5% of all babies in America were born to unmarried parents?  Today, that percentage is over 40%.
8. Did you know that the average supermarket in the U.S. wastes about 3,000 pounds of food each year?
9. Did you know that Montana has three times as many cows as people?
10. Did you know that the grizzly bear is the official state animal of California? However, no grizzly bears have been seen in California since 1922.
11. Did you know that there are more than 4 million adult websites on the internet that get more traffic than Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter combined?
12. Did you know that there are 60,000 miles of blood vessels in your body, and if they were stretched out in a single line, they could go around the world more than twice?

$SLV: Bearish Trend Continues

S&P 500: Exponential Moving Average (EMA) Strategy

US "Loses" $500 Million in Weapons Given to Yemen, Now in Al-Qaeda Hands

Who could have seen this coming?  What are earth is going on?  Is our Department of Defense that incompetent? 

Source: Washington Post

Compression of Corporate Profit Margins

What could possibility go wrong in an economic/financial environment where "corporate profit margins" are lowest since 2009?  Everything is great, right?  No need to worry, right?  Simply, "Be Happy!"

Move Over Barbecue Grills, EPA Now Wants to Monitor Your Time in the Shower!

EPA wants hotels to monitor how much time its guests spend in the shower.  Yes, that is correct. We now have the "shower police."  Yesterday, it was the EPA with barbecue regulations.  Today, it is the shower.  The EPA is creating a wireless system that will track how much water a hotel quest uses to get them to modify their behavior.  Next, on its agenda, will undoubtedly be monitoring the time you spend in your shower at home. 

EPA May Soon License Barbecues and Impose Fines for Cooking on Them

So, you thought your summer-time barbecue was an innocent way to enjoy and spend quality time with family and friends.  But, wait, you may soon be arrested and fined for those fabulous barbecued ribs that you grill. What, say that again?  Yes, the EPA just announced that it is funding a project at the University of California to limit the emissions resulting in grease drippings, of all things, with a special tray to catch them and a catalytic filtration system.

So, when you fire-up that barbecue grill this summer, please remember, especially if you do not have a grease diverter system or a PM2.5 filter installed on your grill, that you may soon be in violation of EPA regulations on barbecuing.  

Only in Abu Dhabi, Of Course, Rolls Royce Police Cars

Bankruptcy: Chapters 7 and 13

First, I am not in favor of filing for bankruptcy.  Second, if you have not heeded by financial advise over the past several years about debt elimination, you may need the following information from NOLO about Bankruptcy, Chapters 7 and 13, over the next couple of years. That is, if you don't get your financial house in order!

"Under pre-2005 bankruptcy rules, most filers could choose the type of bankruptcy best for them -- and most chose Chapter 7 bankruptcy (liquidation) over Chapter 13 bankruptcy (repayment). The law passed in 2005 prohibits some filers with higher incomes from using Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  

Under the rules enacted in 2005, the first step in figuring out whether you can file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is to measure your "current monthly income" against the median income for a household of your size in your state. If your income is less than or equal to the median, you can file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. (For example in the state of Missouri for a family of size four, the median family income is $71,550.)  If it is more than the median, however, you must pass "the means test" -- another requirement of the new law -- in order to file for Chapter 7. [Find your state's median income here.]  

The purpose of the means test is to figure out whether you have enough disposable income to make payments on a Chapter 13 plan. To find out whether you pass the means test (Form 22A), you subtract certain allowed expenses and debt payments from your current monthly income. If the income that's left over after these calculations is below a certain amount, you can file for Chapter 7.

To get your current monthly income (CMI), add up the total income you received from all sources during the six-month look back period, and then divide by six to come up with your average monthly income.  Then, determine your eligible expenses, such as the following categories:

1. Taxes: Since you normally have to pay taxes on your income, you can deduct your tax obligations from your income on the means test as well.
2. Involuntary deductions: These include deductions required for employment such as mandatory retirement plans, union dues, or uniforms.
3.  Health, disability, or term life insurance: You are allowed to deduct the actual amounts you spend on health, disability, or term life insurance expenses.
4. Secured debt payments: These include payments on secured debts such as your mortgage or car loan. Even if your mortgage or car payment is above the national or local living standards, you can normally deduct it in full on the means test. However, the means test looks at the total amount you will have to pay in the 60 months following the bankruptcy and averages your monthly obligation based on that amount. So if your car or mortgage will be paid off in less than 60 months, you can only deduct the 60-month average and not your entire current monthly payment.
5. Court ordered payments: If you are required to pay domestic support obligations such as alimony or child support, you can deduct these expenses on the means test.
6. Child care: Expenses for child care such as babysitting, day care, or preschool may be deducted on the means test.
7. Health care: If you incur more out-of-pocket health care costs (other than insurance) for the health and welfare of you or your dependents than the allowed national standard, you may be able to deduct the actual amount you pay.
8. Education for employment or disabled child: You can deduct your education expenses if those expenses are required for your employment or for your mentally or physically disabled child.
9. Charitable contributions: If you regularly made charitable contributions prior to bankruptcy and expect to continue making those contributions, you can deduct them on the means test.
10. Care of elderly, chronically ill, or disabled: You can deduct the amount you contribute towards the care of an elderly, chronically ill, or disabled family member or person in your household.
11. Expenses for special circumstances: If you incur additional expenses for you or your family’s health and welfare because of special circumstances, you may be able to deduct them if you explain your situation to the satisfaction of the court."

Use the online Chapter 7 Means calculator here.

A question that usually comes up is how often may one declare bankruptcy once one has files for either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?  If one received one's first discharge under a Chapter 7, one cannot receive a second discharge in any Chapter 7 case that is filed within eight years from the date that the first case was filed.  On the other hand, if one received one's first discharge under Chapter 13, one cannot receive a second discharge in any Chapter 13 case that is filed within two years from the date that the first case was filed.

The American Dream: All Time Low!

The American Dream for the middle-class has always been about home ownership. However, that dream is definitely lost on today's millennials.  (See Chart 1.)  Why?  Millennials with over $1 trillion in student debt can not afford the American Dream.  It simply becomes a financial decision.  That is, make those monthly student loan payments or make those P&I monthly payments.  In other words, these two events are increasingly becoming mutually exclusive.

Good Times are Here Again

The job report came out yesterday. And, the WOW factor was in place. (However, don't believe the headlines.) The unemployment rate went from 5.7% to 5.5%. The reason for decline in the unemployment rate is in the denominator. That is, the number of unemployed Americans "dropped" by 274,000 while those employed Americans rose by 96,000. (1 new person employed for every 2.9 individuals who dropped out.) And, the labor participation rate dropped to a 37-year low! But, the BLS states that everything is fine.

Renminbi: New World Currency

Move over DOLLAR. The new world currency will be the "Renminbi (ren-min-bee)." Multinational companies such as McDonald’s are now issuing bonds in renminbi, and even sovereign governments are issuing debt denominated in renminbi, including the UK.  We, as a nation, are so egotistical that we believe that the dollar will not only be the world's reserve currency but the world currency.

Our Government According to the "Late Milton Friedman"

Whom are the Terrorists?

The Coming Credit/Financial Debacle for Consumers

I firmly believe that all major economic/financial/spiritual cycles are pointing hard down from this coming September 13, 2015.  Little time is left to prepare for this coming financial debacle.  Procrastination is not your friend. Do whatever you can now to eliminate all your debts.  Also, work on getting your FICO score to at least 750, above 800 would be optimal.  Why?  No one will grant you credit if you do not have an excellent credit score.

Two Faces of Evil -- Enough Said!

The Delusional American Public!

Civil Asset Forfeiture: A New Twist

If you thought you had a disdain for the "Civil Asset Forfeiture" that is being imposed by cities and municipalities, which by the way is alive and doing well, you will really despise them for this one. Cops are now going after kids shoveling snow in Philadelphia (City of Brotherly Love) and in New Jersey for money and any loose change that these kids have.  That is, if these kids do not have a proper "Snow Permit," which cost between $50 and $450 and is only good for 180 days, Big Brother can impound all shovels involved for evidence.

Maybe It's Just a Woman's Preference for Panties

Implications of a Strong Dollar

A strong dollar has three, so-called, important implications for the U.S. economy, financial markets, and policy makers, mainly the FED:
    1.    Deflation just as the FED is trying to raise the core-inflation rate to 2%. (Core inflation excludes food and energy, which is great if you don't eat and drive. We all know that price inflation is all around us, especially if one has recently visited a grocery store. And, what is really wrong with deflation? Don't we all love a good bargain?
    2.    It hurts exports and thus GDP growth. Exports count for approximately 13% of GDP. Not a major negative impact on GDP growth, which could be offset by a reduction in falling dollar oil prices on the import side.
    3.    Demand for domestic financial assets, stock and bond prices, could exasperate the current bubbles in these assets. (EURO weakness causes investors to flee the EURO to the Dollar denominated assets.)  This impact on financial assets of a strong dollar is the one that I consider to be the most important going forward.

The "DECEIT" Continues

The U.S. budget deficit for fiscal year 2014 was the smallest of President Obama's tenure at $483 billion, which is down from the previous fiscal year of $683 billion.  So states the administration.  Now, what does the actual figures from the Treasury say?  Well, the total public debt outstanding as of September 30, 2013 was $16.738 trillion. For the current fiscal year, which ended September 30, 2014, the total public debt outstanding was $17,824 trillion.  If my math is correct, the true deficit is not $483 billion but $1.086 trillion.  But, why the discrepancy?  Deceit.  See, our government takes the excess (from what comes in and goes out) from the Social Security and Medicare tax receipts and claims that is a deficit reduction.  No deception in that logic, right?  Wake-up America, but, then again, America is already in "Sheol."

You Know the U.S. Economy is Bad When Lottery Sales are Collapsing

 
Lottery sales overall declined 19% in Fiscal Year 2014 vs Fiscal Year 2013!  Say, what?  Yes, and even more stunning is the fact that lottery sales in the first half of Fiscal Year 2015 are down 40% from the first half of Fiscal Year 2014. Oh my golly! I was really counting on winning several "multi-million jackpots" this year.  What about increasing the price of each lottery ticket to offset the decline in sales?  Oh, I guess the demand for lottery tickets is not inelastic, given how sales have plummeted. Well, I didn't need those extra millions. 

Your Money is No Longer Yours!

American banks are now required to report any wire transfer of $3,000 or more and any cash withdraw as well.  If you want to withdraw $5,000 in cash, you have to now fill out a form.  And, you thought your money was yours!  Think again, my friend.  It really belongs to the government; and it is coming for it, especially if it is in a bank.

Majority of Americans are Flat Broke

According to the latest "Bankrate" consumer saving survey that was done in December 2014, most Americans (62%) don't have enough savings to pay unexpected bills, such as a $500 repair bill or $1,000 emergency room visit. (See the following pie chart.)  But, then again, we are suppose to believe the media and government (Bureau of Labor Statistics) when they tell us that Americans are doing just fine in regard to their finances.  Now, tell me who is telling the truth, consumer or the government?

ObamaCare 2015 Employer Mandate

Over coming days, we will be hearing about the "Employer Mandate" for 2015, which started today, January 1.  However, since this 2015 mandate is for employers that have at least 100 employees, I don't believe that will have a negative impact on employees that work for these large corporations. The reason is that most of these companies already have "qualified health plans" for their employees. 

The real problem starts in January 1, 2016 when companies that employ at least 50 but less than 100 employees must comply with the employer mandate. These so-called small employers, typically, do not have qualified health plans in place.  Therefore, it will be the employees of these small firms that will be at risk to find their own health insurance and pay the premiums.  Why?  Because for these small firms, it will be cheaper for them to pay the "$2,000 penalty" than to pay the health premiums for their employees.  Or, these small firms will make every effort to keep their work forces at less than 50 employees.

Houston, We Have a Serious Problem!

Price Inflation! What Price Inflation?

(CNSNews.com): "The average price of a pound of ground beef climbed to another record high -- $4.201 per pound -- in the United States in November, according to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In August 2014, the average price for a pound of all types of ground beef topped $4 for the first time, hitting $4.013, according to the BLS.  In September, the average price jumped to $4.096 per pound, and in October, the average price climbed to $4.154 per pound. In November, the average price hit the highest price ever recorded -- $4.201 per pound.  A year ago, in November 2013, the average price for a pound of ground beef was $3.477 per pound. Since then, the average price has increased 20.8 percent in one year. Five years ago, in November 2009, the average price of a pound of ground beef was $2.062, according to the BLS. The price has since climbed by $2.139 per pound, or 103.7 percent."

ABC's of Chanukah (Hanukkah)

   

Today at sunset (December 16) starts the eight-day festival known as Chanukah (Hanukkah).

The Hebrew word Chanukah (Hanukkah) means "dedication." In the 2nd century BCE (approximately 164 BCE), during the time of the Second Holy Temple, the Syrian-Greek regime of Antiochus Epiphanes sought to pull the nation of Yisrael away from the Torah to the Hellenization of the Greek culture.  Antiochus outlawed the following observances: circumcision, Shabbat, and Torah study under penalty of death.

When the Greeks challenged the nation of Yisrael to sacrifice a pig to a Greek god, a few courageous Yahudim took to the hills of Judea in open revolt against this threat to Jewish life. Led by Matitiyahu, and later his son Judah the Maccabee, this small band led guerrilla warfare against the Syrian-Greek army.

Antiochus sent thousands of well-armed troops to crush the rebellion, but after three years the Maccabees beat incredible odds and miraculously succeeded in driving the foreigners from their land. The victory was on the scale of today's Israel defeating the combined super-powers of today.

The Yahudim fighters entered Jerusalem and found the Holy Temple in shambles and desecrated with idols. The Maccabees cleansed the Temple and re-dedicated it on the 25th of Kislev (third month of the Jewish calendar). When it came time to re-light the Menorah, they searched the entire Temple, but found only one jar of pure oil bearing the seal of the High Priest. The group of Yahudim lit the Menorah anyway and were rewarded with a miracle. That small jar of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply of oil could be brought.

Chanukah (Hanukkah) is observed as a holiday for eight days, in honor of this historic victory and the miracle of the oil. This festival is mentioned in John 10:22, which our Messiah (Yahusha) observed.

Where is the Public Outrage?

"Judicial Watch announced that on September 9, 2014, it received documents from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealing that the Obama administration paid Baptist Children and Family Services (BCFS) $182,129,786 to provide “basic shelter care” to 2,400 “unaccompanied alien children” (UAC) for four months in 2014."

Let's put the $182,129,786 into proper perspective with regard to the 2,400 unaccompanied alien children.  That works out to $75,887.41 per alien child for four months, or $227,662.22 on an annualized basis.  And, what did these alien children receive for this $182 million package?  Well, free laptops, big screen TV's, $75/child per day for food, pregnancy tests, and, best of all, multicultural crayons! 

Now, I am not heartless.  I am just extremely concerned because we are spending $182 million for 2,400 unaccompanied alien children, not citizens, when in fact we have a record 2,500,000 American homeless children in the U.S. who are indeed citizens!  Where is our government's compassion for our own "homeless children?"  Where is the public outrage?   

Why is the Bureau of Labor and Statistics Distorting the Employment Numbers?

The BLS reported yesterday that the U.S. economy added 321,000 in November.  What?  How does that align itself with the "Household Survey Data?"  According to my math, we lost 270,000 jobs!  (See the following table.) 

Joseph Goebbels would be proud on how the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) distorted the truth about November's employment numbers.  (Joseph Goebbels, if you forgot, was the Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. His infamous quote is so true today, which is as follows: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic, and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.")

November's Job Picture: Great If You Want Part-time Work and Are Over 55!

America's Profile

This is What is Important to Americans!

You Might Want to Consider Buying "DOG" for a Trade at These Levels!

Executive Order (Action) Offers Firms $3,000 Incentive to Hire Newly Legalized Illegals Over Americans

 Do you fully comprehend the economic ramifications to the President's Executive Order on illegals in American?  The Washington Times states it as follows:

"Under the President’s new amnesty, businesses will have a $3,000-per-employee incentive to hire illegal immigrants over native-born workers because of a quirk of Obamacare.

President Obama’s temporary amnesty, which lasts three years, declares up to 5 million illegal immigrants to be lawfully in the country and eligible for work permits, but it still deems them ineligible for public benefits such as buying insurance on Obamacare’s health exchanges."

Under the Affordable Care Act, businesses with 50 or more employees are supposed to provide insurance coverage to their full-time workers, which goes into effect in 2015.  If they refuse, they are assessed a penalty.  But, because the newly legalized illegal immigrants covered by President Obama’s Executive Order can not sign up for the exchanges or receive subsidies, employers aren’t penalized for hiring them.

Did you get that?  If not, let me restate it this way: American jobs are now going to go to the 5 million legalized illegal immigrants, because they are $3,000 a year cheaper to hire than you!  Why?  Because they're exempt from the requirements of the Affordable Health Care while you, of course, Mr. and Mrs. American are not.

Federal Budget Expenditures

The following video provides a great "learning insight" to the budget categories by percentage of total federal expenditures.  You just might be surprised at what you learn!

Do You Know the Legal Ramifications of Your Bank Deposits?

I didn't think so!  Let me explain about the legal ramifications of those so-called deposits.  For nearly 200 hours, the courts have sanctioned an interpretation of the term "deposits" to mean "NOT" funds that you deliver for safekeeping but a "loan" to your bank.  Let me repeat that statement this way.  You bank balance is an "IOU" from the bank to you, even though there is no "loan contract and no required interest payment."  Yes, legally speaking, you have a claim on your money deposited in the bank, but practically speaking, you have a claim only on the "loans" that the bank makes with your money.  In other words, your money is only as "safe" as the bank's loan portfolio.

Keep an eye on your bank, just like you monitor your credit reports and scores.  How does one do that?  Well, check-out Veribanc, which, for a small fee, rates the overall financial health of financial institutions, and the FDIC.

Commonality Between Wall Street and Homeless Children?

The answer is easy.  Both are at an "all-time high," which is a very sad commentary about our society.  "1 in every 30 children" are homeless in the wealthiness country in the world. Our society has become totally absorbed with the underlying concept of "selfies." Where is the moral outrage for the less privilege ones in our society?  Very shameful, indeed.

Follow on Twitter

You can, also, follow me on Twitter @ Twitter.com/debauche.

Gap Fill on $SLV?

For those of you that might be looking for a "silver trade," you may want to look at the following chart on $SLV.  If so inclined, the instrument to consider is AGQ, which is leveraged at 2x the price of silver.  Currently, AGQ is at $39.80.

Update on $SLV's EMA Strategy

You May Want to Reconsider Purchasing that "Smart TV" for Christmas

Are We Really This Stupid?

$GLD (Gold): When Will the Decline End?

Parabolic Rise in the $INDU