KIM

For most of us, our priorities are going to have to change as we all adjust to a standard of living that is less than that of the prior generation. Still, there is reason for hope if we approach the coming decade with the proper mindset.

On Friday Russia’s parliament voted to write off roughly 90 percent of North Korea’s debt as Moscow seeks to build a gas pipeline through the Hermit Kingdom. Moscow has been pushing for the Korean gas pipeline and railway for years as part of its strategy to diversify its energy markets away from Europe and toward Asia. This general goal has gained new urgency in the wake of Russia’s clash with the West over the Ukraine and Crimea.

An explanation of how fractional reserve banking infringes on everyone’s freedom.

The real truth the bankers wish to conceal from the public is that they use HFT programs to suppress gold and silver prices.

The blog posts and defenses of high frequency trading in the past week have come with dizzying high frequency. Flash Boys has struck many a nerve; the truth can be a bitter pill at times. And of course, the pro-HFT defenses are all made by many who are very, very staked in the status quo of our market structure. Now, bloggers using twitter is one thing; conflicted insiders using television to make their HFT defenses are another. 

With all eyes focused on Eastern Europe, tensions appear to be quickly mounting between the erstwhile allies North Korea and China.

Let the fun begin.

When you ponder the implications of allowing a small group of powerful wealthy unaccountable men to control the currency of a nation over the last one hundred years, you understand why our public education system sucks. The average American has experienced a fourteen year recession caused by the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve. Our leaders could have learned the lesson of two Fed induced collapses in the space of eight years and voluntarily abandoned the policies of reckless credit expansion, instead embracing policies encouraging saving, capital investment and balanced budgets. They have chosen the same cure as the disease, which will lead to crisis, catastrophe and collapse. 

In the hopes of maintainijng his status quo amidst a plethora of corruption probes and allegations, Turkey's Erdogan has blocked Twitter after pledging to "destroy" the social media platform after troubling leaks occurred appearing to confirm his corruption. As one can imagine, the Turkish people (among others) are not happy...

• China worries chill markets, copper slumps (Reuters)
• Peak dot com dot two idiocy: Candy Crush Saga maker King seeks $7.56 bln valuation from IPO (BBG)
• Obama Meeting With Yatsenyuk Raises Stakes in Ukraine (BBG)
• Federal prosecutors open criminal probe of GM recall (Reuters)
• Pimco Cuts Government Debt on Outlook for Fed Buying (BBG)
• Missing Malaysian Jetliner Confuses World That’s Online 24/7 (BBG)
• Mortgage Giants Face Endgame (WSJ)
• Russia Calls U.S. Aid to Ukraine Illegal Amid Standoff (BBG)
• U.S. judge freezes assets of Mt. Gox bitcoin exchange boss (Reuters)
• Ousted Libyan PM flees country after tanker escapes rebel-held port (Reuters)
• Senate-CIA Dispute Erupts Into a Public Brawl (WSJ)

The Libyan defense minister took over duties as prime minister this morning as the Libyan parliament voted "no confidence" in the current prime minister after a North-Korea-flagged tanker broke the "blockade" from a rebel-held port. The ouster of the PM appears to have bolstered confidence in the anti-rebel oil-stealing that we discussed yesterday, and resulted in

*LIBYA NAVY FIRE HIT TANKER AS IT FLED TO INTL WATERS: SKYNEWS

The oil tanker - The Morning Glory - had at least 234,000 barrels of oil aboard but is now "under complete control" of Libyan government authorities. However, as Bloomberg reports, the North Korean tanker is said to be on fire after being hit by a missile.

Two months ago we noted the clashes between the Libyan government and the rebels over selling oil. It appears the rising threats are reaching a crescendo as AABAA reports the Libyan Navy has impounded a North Korean oil tanker trying to export oil from a rebel-held port of Es-Sider, and is on its way to Western Libya. Interestingly this comes just a day after the US issued a statement strongly condemning "illicitly obtained oil from Libya." We suspect Kim will not be a happy tyrant this evening and also note that the rebels deny the vessel is under government control.

Today, far too many people put all their faith in deceitful politicians and bankers to tell them the truth and consequently are dreadfully misinformed.

• Putin rebuffs Obama as Ukraine crisis escalates (Reuters)
• Behind the $100 Billion Commodity Empire That Few Know (BBG)
• Initial Public Offerings Hit Pace Not Seen in Years (WSJ)
• Russian Parliament Will Back Crimea Split From Ukraine (WSJ)
• Nakamoto Named as Bitcoin Father Denies Involvement, Flees Press (BBG)
• Chaori Can’t Make Payment in China’s First Onshore Default (BBG)
• Zombies Spreading Shows Chaori Default Just Start (BBG)
• Pimco's Gross declares El-Erian is 'trying to undermine me' (Reuters)
• U.S. Fighters Circle Baltics as Putin Fans Fear of Russia (BBG)

We all know about the important military consequences of controlling Ukraine to the US and Russia, but an equally important and overlooked topic is why bankers want control of Ukraine’s monetary supply.