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The Ugly Truth?
On
Sundays, I like to write and reflect on various topics. Take the time
to read this comment carefully as it covers everything from
relationships (personal to professional), to markets to politics. The
theme today is going to be the Ugly Truth.
1) Ugly truth on yours truly: I'm going to begin and end this post on a personal level. I've been going through a lot of introspection ever since turning 40. First, I'm glad I got off my ass and joined a gym. I don't know what is going on in my body but ever since I underwent the CCSVI procedure
in late March and then joined the gym to work out with a trainer, I've
seen a major transformation and feel stronger than I have in years. I'm
walking further, my upper back pain is almost gone, and my posture is
better as I stand up straight and push my shoulder blades back. I'm
honestly not scared of my MS and know I will beat this bloody disease
through diet, exercise and positive energy. And let me assure other MS sufferers, scientists will cure MS sooner than we think.
The only thing I've
been doing at the gym is legs and back, focusing on developing muscles
that have atrophied over the years. If you have MS, no matter how
severe, get cracking and head to the gym and do whatever you can! I'm
now completely and utterly obsessed about working out first thing in the
morning and simply love pumping iron as I listen to music. To pump
myself up, I listen to Tiesto's Elements of Life and a song by Lil Wayne and Eminem, Drop the World. Don't ask, it helps me channel my inner rage!
That's
the second thing you should know about me, I have anger issues. I'm not
angry that I have MS -- it's actually made me stronger in ways very few
people can possibly relate to -- but angry at the weasels I've
had to deal with in my life and how they used and abused me.
Unfortunately, I'm very naive when it comes to personal and professional
relationships. In finance, there are two types of people: those who are
primarily focused managing money and those who are primarily focused on
managing their careers. I would say the bulk lie in the latter camp
(over 95% of the CFAs in Montreal have never managed money!!), and these
people tend to be extremely dangerous narcissistic egomaniacs who only
care about their public image. Makes me sick to my stomach!
But I
need to explore some of my other anger issues that have been festering
inside me for years because it's affecting my ability to develop more
meaningful relationships, focus on more productive goals and just be my
old happy self again. My brother, a psychiatrist, recommended a
psychologist and I decided to go see her this week. I've seen someone in
the past but got bored after three sessions, never listened to him, and
didn't take it seriously. This time, I will put in a lot more effort
and be completely honest with her. I'm doing this mostly for me, but
also for the two people I love the most in this world, my mother and
father. I could be a stubborn, intense, obsessive ass but sometimes you
have to listen to the people who love you the most and trust their
judgment. Importantly, there is no shame in seeking professional help.
If you need it, just do it! Who cares what others think! And remember
Einstein's definition of insanity: "Doing the same thing over and over
again and expecting different results."
2) Ugly truth on Quebec's Absolute Return Fund: My inner rage was definitely expressed in my last comment on Quebec's absolute return flop.
I simply cannot understand how poorly managed this whole endeavor was.
If it was done properly, Mario Therrien's team at the Caisse would have
invested directly into these funds, doing the due diligence, informing
the FTQ and Fondaction CSN every step of the way, and they would have
used Innocap's managed account platform, one of the best managed account platforms in the world.
Everything would have been open, public, transparent, including the
investment management agreement which would stipulate how managers are
selected, what percentage is going into directional and market neutral
strategies, what percentage goes into established versus emerging
managers, what are the terms governing these investments, including the
fees being paid out to everyone. I don't blame Mario Therrien or his
team for the sloppiness of this whole project. In fact, I have a strong
feeling something else is going on in the background and it likely goes over Michael Sabia (ie. political nonsense!).
3) Ugly truth on Quebec's absolute return funds and my capital introduction services:
Having met a lot of hedge funds here in Montreal, I'm impressed with
the alpha talent we have in this city. And there are other talented
individuals I know of, getting screwed working at some bank which
extracts the blood from their veins. All these people deserve a fair
shot. There is exceptional talent in this city that is grossly
underutilized and I also know of other experienced money managers from
Quebec outside this province who would come back to manage money if the
terms were right. Not everyone is up to snuff, some managers are a lot
more experienced than others, but they all deserve a fair shot and a
helping hand.
I have done more than my fair share to promote these funds on my blog.
I will continue meeting new managers and updating my list. I have even
done some capital introduction without having signed any legal
agreement. All I'm asking for my capital introduction is 25 basis points
for the initial investment, and 12.5 basis points for all subsequent
investments. To my great disappointment, none of the Quebec hedge funds I
approached and met have signed the legal agreement I provided them and
none of them have contributed a dime to my blog (except for my former boss at PSP Investments, Pierre Malo, who is now
working at Jean Turmel's global macro fund, Perseus Capital and someone
else who shall remain anonymous).
Worse still, I
provided the legal agreement to the limited partners (LPs) so they can
see the terms and see that they are part of the prospective qualified
investors, and a couple of them came back to me to ask me to be removed
from the list even though they're open to meeting new managers. I
reminded these people that their job is to meet the best managers from
around the world, including those in Canada, and that they can't be open
to meeting managers and not accept that they be listed on my legal
agreement. Moreover, unlike the US, none of the LPs in Canada have open
policies governing capital introduction -- a major governance gap!
In this world, I trust two people unconditionally: my mother and my father. The rest can screw me over at any time and verbal agreements are absolutely worthless in a court of law.
So if you want me to help you, get to it and sign the legal agreement.
At a minimum, all of the hedge funds I've helped in my career should
have contributed to my blog by clicking on the PayPal account button
under the pig at the top of my blog.
Importantly, to all GPs and LPs, if you're going to talk the talk with
me, make sure you walk the walk. I mean it, no more double-speak or
blowing smoke in my face, when I talk, I deliver, and I expect the same
from all of you. You're all aware of my current situation and while
you don't owe me anything, I expect you to be honorable and fair with
me.
4) Ugly truth on Greece: A senior pension fund manager sent me an interesting blog comment on Greece, Democracy vs Mythology: The Battle in Syntagma Square.
I enjoyed reading it and passed it along to family and friends in
Greece and Canada. My uncle Takis in Athens read it, found it too
leftist for his taste and wrote back: "Our politicians are responsible
for the enormous debt they created by overborrowing (the debt never was
never enforced on us) and we are now paying the consequences of the
big mistakes they have done."
It's true. With the help of US,
French and German banks, Greece borrowed more than it was able to pay
off and global financial system will likely experience yet another crisis due to contagion risk.
What angers me and most hard working Greeks is that the common workers
are bearing the brunt of the austerity measures while the rich get off
scot free.
Let me share with you the ugly reality on Greece's
woeful tax collection system. Everyone in Greece knows this, but let me
give it to you straight. A close buddy of mine, a radiologist, is now
vacationing in Greece with his family. His aunt recently had to replace a
heart valve and she slipped an envelope of 12,000 euros to the
cardiovascular surgeon so he would do it. In Greece, this envelope is
called "fakelaki" and if you don't have the money, you're dead.
Specialist surgeons working at public hospitals are typically the worst
offenders, but there are others notorious for accepting huge sums and
they declare nothing. And most of them pay off Greek tax collectors who
are equally corrupt and greedy.
In Greece, if you want to strike
it rich, become a specialist dealing with critical life and death
decisions, tax collector or a high profile minister in the government.
The scandalous stories that are coming out now of doctors, tax
collectors, and ministers with millions of euros in their bank accounts
and villas in Santorini and Mykonos are no surprise to regular
hard-working Greeks. They know the system is corrupt at its core. It's
disgusting. I'd make a public display of all these criminals by throwing
them in jail for treason for the rest of their living years.
5) Ugly truth on US economy: This morning I listened to a roundtable discussion on ABC's This Week with Christianne Amanpour on the state of the economy. Click here to watch this discussion. I've already written on how the US and developed world jobs crisis is here to stay.
Given the current political environment, I doubt any new spending will
pass in Congress. There is an irrational fear that the US will default
on its debt, but this is all nonsense. Robert Reich is right: the issue
now is jobs, jobs, jobs! Not the stupid debt ceiling, the deficit or the
debt. The sooner American policymakers get to tackling this jobs
crisis, the sooner they will be able to increase their government
revenues and pay down the debt in the long-run.
6) Ugly truth on the Canadian economy: This one is easy. Just go back to read my comment on the Canada bubble and Canada's mortgage monster. In case you haven't been paying attention, Canada's benchmark index, the S&P/ TSX has been taking a beating over the last three months. The Canadian dollar remains strong, but it too is losing its luster and it can head much, much lower from here. The problem is so can the US dollar, especially if the Fed moves ahead with QE3.
7) Ugly truth on the 'solarcoaster':
I'll tell you what else has lost its luster in the last three months,
solar stocks. Along with other risk assets, they've been slaughtered. According to Bloomberg, short sellers are flocking to solar power, dumping record levels of stock in First Solar Inc. (FSLR)
and competing equipment makers in a bet that profit will be hurt by a
glut of Chinese panels and shrinking demand in Europe. The shorts have
hammered solars but they're creating opportunities for long-term
investors.
I recommend investors keep an eye on solars and start scooping them up
at these levels. The companies I'm watching carefully are: Amtech
Systems (ASYS), Daqo New Energy Corp. (DQ), Emcore Corp (EMKR), First Solar (FSLR), JASO Solar (JASO), LDK Solar (LDK), Power-One (PWER), Satcon Technology Corp. (SATC), Suntech (STP), Trina Solar (TSL), MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR), Yingli Green (YGE) and speculative plays in Canada are Timminco (TIM.TO) and Opel Solar International (OPL.V).
8) Ugly truth on unrequited love:
It's agonizing. Trust me, I know because I just lived through it and
it's not her fault. Like any relationship, if you're not getting what
you expect or putting into it, have the courage to walk away. Just like a
good traders know when to cut their losses, you got to know when to
stop doubling, tripling or quadrupling down, hoping things will change.
They don't and you have to accept that reality and start expending your
emotional capital on people who will reciprocate your love. Always be
true to yourself.
And on that highly personal note, I'm going to
wrap this comment up with some humor. I got the idea on the title of
this post from a movie I saw in the middle of the night on Friday when I
woke up and couldn't fall back to sleep. The movie is called The Ugly Truth,
starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler, and it left me in stitches.
Below is one of the scenes that made me laugh out loud (Only found one
with subtitles. Try not to be offended and watch the movie, it's
hilarious!).
***Feedback***
A senior pension fund manager was kind enough to share this advice with me:
A piece of advice.
Be careful how much you tell about yourself in public.
Most people who know you will not pose a problem.
But I have learned that a small minority will turn the kind of personal information you just wrote about against you and to their advantage when they see an opportunity.
Homo homini lupus
And that may be unkind to wolves.
Indeed, he's right. I thank him and remind these wolves that I can see them coming from a mile away. I may be naive but not stupid and realize in this industry, I've got very few friends and lots of enemies who would love to see me crumble. Won't give them that satisfaction.
»
Go Leo Go!
The Ugly Truth
Looks like the brains in the Congress, The Senate and the Admin is the shit in the diapers.
What did that screening involve?
There was a Drudge on that incident.
There are some states such as Texas making another run at the TSA to eliminate them as a problem once and for all. I think the resulting clash involving Federal vs the States including no fly zones etc... will have to wait until we get to that bridge.
No flying for me. If I do it, it's going to be out of a General Aviation airfield from one to another if possible. 172 should get you 600+ miles on several dozen gallons of fuel plus rental by hour.
The Texas bill was gutted by amendments. Texas won't stand up to the TSA, DFW is American Airlines hub and Love Field is home to Southwest. By the ballz.
Leo:I don't agree with all of your views but I was delighted to see that you are taking the MS thing head-on. Keep it up--and best of luck.
There is an irrational fear that the US will default on its debt, but this is all nonsense. Robert Reich is right
Let me correct this with my editing scalpel...
There is an irrational fear that Robert Reich is right.
The problem is the debt. The notion that we should be able to grow sufficiently to regain control of the debt is ludicrous and, moreover, misguideed in terms of what the gov't should do. Until spending is reigned in, we are spinning tires in quicksand.
Leo, being a woman I was always told it's not ladylike to be angry. Hated hearing that junk. Now that I'm older I accept it as part of who I am. If people don't like it that's their problem, not mine.
I've never really cared much about what others thought of me. And one of the gifts of getting older, is that you don't give a flying f*** anymore. It's very liberating.
Leo, I like you, and there's probably a lot of others who do. Ignore the scumbags who don't. Just think of them as dog turds lying on asphalt. They usually stink at first, harden up, but they always disappear.
G'Day Seymour,
You say :”I accept it [anger] as part of who I am.”
This is part of the human condition… that “I am my personality”.
The deeper Truth is that your anger is exactly who you are NOT. For without your anger, we would see the REAL you. I for one hope we get to see her...
Bless.
Yo Leo, the bankers intend to make losers of us all.
This understanding is beyond rationalization.
Moral law is an invention of mankind for the
disenfrachisement of the powerful in favor of the weak.
anger. what is it? how relates to fear and ...
love. as has been said .. the more you love the
more you fear. and anger ...?
G'Day Leo (yeah, Aussie).
I've been a long-time visitor to ZH, and now this article of yours has prompted me to make my first post EVER to ZH.
I concur with those who have their doubts about "shrinks". My opinion, for what it's worth, is to skip the diagnoses and the talk-fests, and instead go straight to somebody who knows how to take you into the very core of your anger and hold you there.
The Freedom and Peace that you seek is to be found in the core of your anger. The body knows how to clear it... you just need to take yourself there and be willing to let this anger have its way with you. I'm not talking yelling and screaming and hitting pillows. No. I'm talking sitting in a chair, eyes closed, and letting (inviting/encouraging) this anger rattle you, shake you and burn you up until IT implodes and burns itself out.
I strongly suggest you find the best Journey Practitioner in your area, and go for it.
G00gle "The Journey Brandon Bays"
Best wishes...
Thanks mate and thanks to all of you who commented.
You can thank us, "mate", by departing this earth --- speedily.
akak, the harder you and other fools come at me, the stronger I get. Keep it up, I am off to the gym. Tiesto and Lil Wayne are calling...
Leo:
I think you wrote a good post. It may not fit well for most of the Zero Hedge folks but I think you revealed that you have made some major life decisions. Congratulations! I will look forward to your analyses of various financial matters. I agree that regular exercise (of body and brain) does matter.
I've already joined the Silver Viral Project...its time we take down these banksters!
Fight Back.
Silver Viral Project is an evolving community of collaborative resistance to the PTB Cartel. We are growing in numbers, strategies, and cleverness. We are the beginning of a huge wave of coming resistance. We are at the forefront of a global revolution.
The SVP is committed to getting wealth back into the masses hands. Turning the Fiat tables, opting out of the rat-raced game, and spreading financial sanity. We must resist, we must retaliate. Our message will not go unignored. The Masses will not be uninformed.
Our target today: You.
Join @ SilverDoctors.com, and have a revolutionary 2011.
Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads, "Everyone has the right (: something that one
may properly claim as due) to life, liberty, and security of person." This statement has been used throughout
History with some alterations but Life and Liberty has almost always been the cornerstone. If we are indeed
due these things then Society must provide our BASIC human needs of clean air, water, food and shelter. Basic
medical care and medicine must be provided as well. I challenge anyone to argue that these things are not a
necessity for most of us to have "Life"
I firmly believe that most people in the World would be ecstatic if just those basic needs were met. IMO
everything else falls under the heading of "the pursuit of happiness". If you want something more than WORK
for it. If we could just put our GREED aside to provide Life's basic necessities of security, shelter,
nourishment, and healthcare we can still have a World where You can have much, much more than I if you want.
Leo I appreciate your comments as they are done in good faith. I do disagree on several points. The Greek people are similar to the US citizens in the way they consistently behaved in voting for the same or similar bunch to head their governments. When you vote for these parasites you are giving them your authority to act for you. That is what is meant by representative government. The failure of Greece is the same failure of US citizens to regard any one not aligned with a major political party as incapable or on the lunatic fringe. The Greeks and the Americans did not protest or reject all the free or under priced services or advantages they availed themselves of as government handouts. They never truly felt that all the advantages they received were gotten on ever increasing debt they would be responsible for personally.
You want retirement when you still have the ability to work and be productive? It's not a problem your government will take care of that one. You just need to pay a little bit more in taxes. You don't have money for medical treatment, don't worry the government will pay the cost, just get to the emergency room quickly because you have no doctor. The government will take care of the hospital cost through slightly higher taxes on people with extra money. All along the citizens are reminded of the growing debt (represented as far less than what is really owed) but continue electing the same panderers to office.
I could go on ad nauseum about all sorts of "give aways" that in fact caused higher debt but got you more stuff sooner than you earned it and or saved for it. The population got more and more used to using credit while labor along with business prospered. While all of this debt creep was happening some of the citizens thought it was unwise to do this. A large % was pleased as punch to get a house with no money down. They could go on that luxury vacation they had allways dreamed of and now could borrow to do it before they died. What did it matter if they were paying 15% or 22% or more to get what they wanted now. They could fudge and make the minimum payments. They were living hand to mouth and had no reserves but that was OK because they were able to pay their debts with their reliable pay checks always there. Who wants to think about the possibility of a sudden emergency need or being laid off. That couldn't happen to me.
What I'm getting at with all this is that many people resisted the temptation to burden themselves with debt they were going to have to pay off or having to surrender your car or house to a lender that you couldn't pay. They carefully bought a used car. They didn't shop at expensive retailers, they took advantage of a bargain they could afford if it came along. Those modest consumers and careful budget managers wished they had all that neat stuff but decided it was too risky and didn't want the possibility of the down side.
Those savers and self denying people on now on the hook for the debt their nation took on even though they were horrified at the gluttony. So the whole thing caved in and the careful ones along with the foolish ones are left with debt they can no longer service and their governments are still borrowing. The corrupt government is using every one's money to keep gluttonous banks going that made foolish loans instead of bailing out the taxpayers with money which they don't have so they just invent more money.
The government is in denial as are the investment banks and most of the population that continues to spin and lie and cheat in the attempt to prevent the inevitable. The politicians got to live well, the citizens for the most part got to live way better than their labor was worth and the banks and brokerage houses grew and raked in the booty. Now the house of cards is starting to collapse and every one wants to blame someone else for the hole they all dug for themselves. I empathize with the innocent victims but I shed not a tear for the foolish, wasteful, extravagant pretenders that insist all is fine.
Those who forget history are bound to repeat it is a classic quip that was swept under the plush carpet. Those that ignored what was obvious to many are now reaping the seeds they have sewn. Unfortunately nearly all will suffer for the pleasure seekers excesses.
lincolnsteffens,
You really believe "our votes" keep these asshats in power? Get a clue.
Excellent post!
Will it be jubilee or revolution?...I think everyone knows my preference.
Penalizing the prudent (savers) at the expense of the profligate is not the recipe for harmony.
I will say again, they will shrink government, cut taxes and allow the people to prosper, one way or the other.
+2 Excellent post.
I used debt as a weapon to achieve my aims. I bought a widget at a store that retailed at ... 2500 dollars. But hey wait! Sign here for credit card and get 25% off. So I did.
The following morning I handed the manager the pay off in cash for the retail widget I bought. He was absolutely... unable to understand what was happening. I still got the 25% off.
But Debt has a way of coming round like a tiger to bite your ass. And then claw you to eviscrate your internal organs to boot. It is fortunate for many to plead bankrupcy and be spared the pain of repaying every stinking cent. I have not done that.
Why? because it is theft. You have to be absolutely broken due to a Trauma Medical bill running in the amounts so high you can never hope to work all your remaining life to pay. Then we can see what we can do to reset your new world.
One way or another we are gonna get out of this mess. If you can see it coming, you can prepare for battle more easily than the sheep who baas and graze in the field oblivious to the wolf pack seeking to get past the sheepdog for them.
I like to think i am a sheep dog.
Good point, I like to think I'm a sheep dog too.
However, we should always remember who the real sheep are, the taxpayer unconnected to government employ, for without them (leaving aside currency destroying money printing) there could be no government employees.
Sometimes wolves wear sheeps clothing ;-)
I detect a disturbance in the force ;-)
Actually, I enjoyed the article Leo...you're coming around (aside from the subsidized solar thingy...LOL).
In the end your family is all you have (really) that will always be there for you. I understand your emotional attachment to people probing around inside your head but its not for everyone (at least me)...I truly hope it helps alleviate some of your anxiety. I'm glad your physical health has improved dramatically, really I am...stay at it.
On the Greeks...I was raised in proximity to Tarpon Springs so I know they are industrious, family people...though I have taken my shots at the homeland, it was all in good fun. I don't blame them now for not supporting the government, with what must be confiscatory taxation for producers for years, a continuance of the status quo is unaccceptable...so we disagree on that point.
Take care of yourself Leo.
Ditto the nmewnmeisters comments from me Leo!
The CCVSI procedure can be life changing when it works. The Canadian MS Society should be ashamed for waiting to so long to climb on board.
Seems as if they are not interested in finding any treatment of cure that excludes their friends in Big Pharma
***Feedback***
A senior pension fund manager was kind enough to share this advice with me:
Indeed, he's right. I thank him and remind these wolves that I can see them coming from a mile away. I may be naive but not stupid and realize in this industry, I've got very few friends and lots of enemies who would love to see me crumble.
You really should hold your cards closer to your chest. Not trying to offend. There are people on this site that take great pleasure in hurting others for no reason at all.
Leo, the reason a person "crumbles" is because the person refuses to solve problems. Has your shrink ever told you that?
If we're worried about something we should make strides (even baby steps) to solve it, rather than chew and grind our teeth for weeks and months on end. As soon as we begin problem solving our worries and stress lighten considerably and we become more positive
from your wirtings above i get the feeling you're aiming too high. Ratchet down your dreams a little which will relieve your stress and anger levels. You do not have to be the perfect fund manager or enjoy the perfect marital bliss (hard when women change their minds on everything every 3 weeks!).
Deal with your day not the far off dream. A dog is truly happy to know he's going for walkies in 10 minutes, would you be truly happy to know you're going shopping this afternoon or would the perfect pension investment still be rattling round your brain annoying you and spoiling your day?
If you have a worry, begin dealing with it and 'surprise surprise' it's no coincidence that's exactly the time it starts going away. If you're stressed de-stress yourself by dealing with a part of it toward the road to resolving the whole of it. Don't stew about negative things, spend more time cooking up good things in your life. Make positives outweight the negatives, put yourself in the Sun more than in the shade
"Deal with your day not the far off dream."
Very wise advice! Thanks!
Do I need to sort out everything for you Leo?
"To pump myself up, I listen to Tiesto's Elements of Life and a song by Lil Wayne and Eminem, Drop the World."
Working out to Tiesto?!!
Go here: http://www.zippyclub.net/
Downloand (type in) this: All Night (original Mix) Belocca and Soneec (7min 50sec version)
Best workout track ever, no contest
Working out to Tiesto Elements of Life suggests you need to get a life, way too long, you need to shorten it considerably
Go here: http://www.mikechangfitness.com/blog/?p=41
This is Mike Chang of 'ShortCutSixPacks' whose workouts take only 3 to 9mins a day and engage your whole body for 48 hours. His YouTube workouts have (just) been suspended because they are so effective and popular (the usual YouTube complainees: fat loss, fitness programmes and supplement suppliers scared to hell of his simpicity and effectiveness)
I can also see why you're so angry Leo: listening to Eminem, no wonder you need shrinks! The greatest therapy is listening to positive (up) music, try downloading these 'Funky Chill' tracks from Zippy to get you started thinking 'up'
Put 'em High (Claes Rosen Lounge Mix)
Rapture (Biologik Mix)
TOCA ME (Inpetto Mix)
I Know Feat. Tiff Lacey (Beat Service Proglifting Remix)
Music Matters (Axwell)
bleeding heart (2008 house mix) david Vendetta
That's enough for now to get you thinking positive (up) and ditch those expensive (and useless) shrinks... they're like lawyers, the Judiciary, accountants, politicians, State education and healthcare and pensions.. they promise 'resolution' you could/can sort out much better yourself and bleed you dry for being stupid enough to let them
Tiesto!? He may as well be working out to Burl Ives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llzMuQKLH_Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn-KZPXsB7Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNAdtkSjSps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIyL8ti3SME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tTaHAPFGwo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvdypMLA-Yc
These commenters are so mean and cynical....I will keep you in my prayers. If you are looking for love, redemption, acceptance as you are, meaning, and eternal life, you know where to find it. And there are a ton of real folks who live in realville and want to find it with you as well. No Christ No peace...Know Christ, Know Peace. You deserve love, cause God don't make no junk.
Anyone who chooses to increase personal money by investing is already worse than a murderer, who at least must approach his victim.
Bourgeois Christianity is the refuge of self-serving covertly vicious, hypocrites. Piety increased in proportion with profits.
You sit in judgement of man, be prepared to stand in judgement of the one who created you and holds you in the palm of his hand. Enternal hell or life is but a moment to God.
That's three junks for you.
These commenters are so mean and cynical....I will keep you in my prayers. If you are looking for love, redemption, acceptance as you are, meaning, and eternal life, you know where to find it. And there are a ton of real folks who live in realville and want to find it with you as well. No Christ No peace...Know Christ, Know Peace. You deserve love, cause God don't make no junk.
Christianne Amanpour? When I want Goerge Soros' ass in my face then we can call her.
And Robert Reich's last contribution failed to include the number of "policy" people making six figures at every level of government. The Office of Personnel Management can help you digest this vile racket. What exactly have these 'brilliant' highly paid government assholes done to improve our society and economy with the $4 trillion since OPM published the following?
Jobs jobs jobs? Leo. Very happy about your improved health indeed. What kind of gullibility is required in thinking we can just say "jobs jobs jobs" with more Control+P economics? What kind of gullibility is required in believing POTUS 44 cares about "jobs jobs jobs" other than the ones published by the OPM?
Yes. More Ivy League policy dickheads. Hasta La Vista USA.
“Federal employees making salaries of $100,000 or more jumped from 14% to 19% of civil servants during the recession’s first 18 months — and that’s before overtime pay and bonuses are counted.
“The growth in six-figure salaries has pushed the average federal worker’s pay to $71,206, compared with $40,331 in the private sector.
“The federal government is adding jobs this year of nearly 10,000 a month – the fastest pace since the 1960s when Medicare and Medicaid were created.”
And that was in Dec 2009.
Cite your source. Otherwise, it's horseshit lies.
The combined parasitism of the global MIC and the global banksters are what is ruining this nation and the world.
60% of federal civil servants work for the military, homeland security, or the CIA.
Dare I express disgust at a whining diseased Hedge Fund wannabe?
Too bad the finance boys don't cry over your purple foot and hand over the dough.
Exercise is for former humans who need to trick their body-mind into feeling like they benefit life. Mighta smelled the soul rot with the MS diagnosis -- virtue might earn you a better body next time, buddy.
WorkOutWellForAll
-- virtue might earn you a better body next time, buddy.
I don't often agree with Leo's neo-Keynesian world viewpoint, but when some new slime-bucket like you attributes MS to diminished virtue, I have to say Go Fuck yourself.
Only a worm-ridden shrunken head Pygmy brain could connect virtue with MS.
Go troll on another site.
Ack! What purifying storm clouds brew.
The principle of the connection is that life choices overcome all other natural innocence -- this fellow decides to devote his life to begging hedge fund managers for money; I claim that choice has negated any sympathy he, the chooser, deserves from humanity.
Suffer from multiple-sclerosis and eek out a living for your family pursuing some noble dead-end -- but sell-out to the big money bullies, and then beg us for sympathy dollars with your whining + financial forecasting? No.
Your physical disease is but a poor reflection of the decay your life choices inflict on the world.
How else anybody gonna wake from this sclerotic nightmare -- except starkly describing the harmful effects of corruption? I'll grant, even I went squeamish with the connection between MR and hedge funds -- but that's the real deal fellas.
Go cry to your checking account or your crucified Jew symbol.
Even you too shall pass away. All the mountains of riches and money rots and corrode and cannot save you on your day of death which must come to all living things beneath, on and above the earth as well as in the sea.
As far as the Author's choice to engage in repairs and strength to keep on trucking no matter how hard the road goes... some of us will do well to do the same.
I know I should not feed the troll, but this time two junks for you and adios.
I wish Leo nothing but a prolonged and agonizing death --- mirroring the similar death being experienced by the corrupt, sociopathic and statist status-quo which he so dearly loves, and which he has defended here in this forum more times and in more ways than I can count.
They say suffering is good for the soul, Leo. Given your obvious deficiencies in the latter, you are going to need to suffer a LOT if karma truly exists.
I'll be damned if I am going to feign sympathy or pity for a truly contemptible human being with no soul and with possibly the most venal, vile, amoral, reprehensible outlook on life of anyone with whom I have ever interacted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jm0iOoyED8
minute 54.00
john trudell
club dna, san francisco, columbus day 1992
.
"columbus, i guess i'll just start with columbus.
see , i have a real problem about all of this.
i mean, see to me, he was like a virus, a disease.
but when i think about it, because i spent a lot of time
protesting, trying to figure out how to deal with this disease...
but i think that we really need to put serious thought
into understanding that we're dealing with a disease.
.
it is like there is this predator energy on this planet
and this predator energy feeds upon the essence of the spirit.
feeds upon the essence of the human being. the spirit
now this predator energy can take fossil fuel and other
resources out of the earth, turn it into fuel,
to run a machine system.
but in order for there to be a need for that system and
in order for that system to work ...
they have to mine our minds , to get at the essence of our spirit.
.
and the same way the external mining takes place.
( it pollutes, we see now, people understand what poisons the
environment, the water, the air; pollution )
the mining of the essence, the mining of the spirit, mining
our minds ; the pollution from that is all the neurotic, disorders,
insecure behavior patterns that we develop. that's the pollution.
.
because for in order for this predator system, this disease, to
work, we must not be able to use our minds in a clear coherent manner.
because if we use our minds in a clear coherent manner we will not
accept the unacceptable.
.
but it's a disease; lives and travels through the mind , through
the generations."
.
John Trudell " Religious vs Spiritual" Perception of Reality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbjzujo1Qx8&playnext=1&list=PL5FB43986FDF...
Interesting your take on Greek corruption is quite the opposite of that in the leftist blog you critically cited; that blog seemed to suggest that Greek hospital staff ask for bribes only because they aren't being paid to care for people and that otherwise they can't make a basic living.
So many nice Greek people here in Brussels and elsewhere - and people here have such a good impression of Greece from travelling there - it's quite striking to hear you picture Greece as being in aspects like the USA, the 'have money or die' kind of system.
Living in Québec, you are blessed with being in the best place to live in all of North America. May God keep Québec and all of Canada safe from the US regime ... would be nice if Canada stood up more to the US bully, and brought back some of the independent frame of mind that was there in Canada in the Trudeau era.
The issue of refugees from the US looking for safe haven in Canada, already going on beneath the media radar, is going to be much, much bigger in the very near future.
Leo, it's good and courageous of you to keep plugging away on Zero Hedge with contrarian views, despite some rude critics. A radical-alternative site like ZH always needs voices different from its own 'anti-mainstream'.
Good luck in all aspects of life, Leo. Re psychologists and such, from what I hear it is very hit-or-miss, and people feel hurt when they put their trust in the wrong one, though some people feel great when they find a good one ... but it's understandable to go look for help and a friendly ear wherever one thinks best.
With your health and well-being, I hope you take much comfort in the presence of animals and nature around you; there is no country in the world with the richness of intact nature as good as Canada.
Regarding trust of others, aside from a few people as you indicate, companion animals do not disappoint, cats and dogs provide love and loyalty that puts humans to shame ... a great gift from God to comfort us and show us that we should be that loyal, too.
bank guy in Brussels,
Thanks, this reminds me of some memorable quotes from Gordon Gekko in the movie Wall Street:
"Ever wonder why fund managers can't beat the S&P 500? 'Cause they're sheep, and sheep get slaughtered."
"If you need a friend, get a dog."
"That's the one thing you have to remember about WASPs: they love animals and hate people."
Why does zerohedge still post the ramblings of this fool?
Leo: it's what's for (bulemia-inducing) dinner.
http://www.jimstonefreelance.com/fukushima.htm
I take issue with #5 in your list that government creates jobs.
No, they don't.
Unless you're talking about government jobs that require taxation from me to pay that wage,benefits, and pension plan.
Job growth in the U.S. requires an enviroment that is friendly to those with the brains and resources to start a viable business.
Not regulations, excessive fees,that end up that my corp. is actually nothing more than a social program to distribute my earnings back to the government to give to those who they deem "deserve" my money.
I'm speaking from 33 years running a business.
No longer will i do this.
I am in the process of dissolving a subchapter "S' corp.
My new name is John Galt.