Monthly Archives: May 2018

May 28 2018

Day One Brings Complaints in Europe Against Google & Facebook


Armstrong Economics Blog/Rule of Law

Re-Posted May 28, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

It took only one day for complaints to be filed against Google and Facebook under the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). When Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of members of the European Parliament, he insisted that Facebook was ready for Friday the 25th when the GDPR, which is the European Union’s new strict data privacy going into effect. The very first day, complaints against Facebook and Google with others alleging that the tech companies are in violation of the law.

The GDPR was passed in April 2016 and instituted stringent new rules on any company that held consumer data. The real purpose of this is to prevent mass mailing and targeting people for political purposes. You have people like Clapper now claiming he “personally” believes Russia tipped the election because millions of people saw its propaganda. Of course, Clapper did that to other elections outside the USA besides tapping phones of world leaders including Merkel. The old problem is those in government have always assumed the people are stupid sheep because they have lied to them for decades and gotten away with it. The GDPR is all about trying to prevent real freedom of speech in fear that the people might listen and rise up.

The complaints target the user agreements of Google and Facebook which are notorious for being long and complicated to ensure people do not read everything before they click agree. Companies like Facebook and Google are supposed to let you know precisely what kind of data they’re collecting and/or selling about you.

The Facebook owns WhatsApp and Instagram individually as well. The allegations against Facebook and Google claim they are violating the GDPR because they are adhering to the letter of the law and not the “spirit” of the law. That’s what lawyers are for. They alleged that the companies aren’t really offering consumers a choice. You must agree to let Facebook and Google collect enormous amounts of data on you, or you can delete their services. There is no middle ground. It is their way or the highway!

The GDPR expressly allows any data processing that is strictly necessary for the service. However, using the data additionally for advertisement or to sell it on to other companies requires the users’ free opt-in consent. There has been no change to their policy providing “informed consent” about what kind of data Facebook and Google are collecting. Clearly, they are profiling people gathering information that they do not actually “need” to provide their services. GDPR actually exempts collecting data that is really necessary for providing that service and that does not require consent. Go beyond that and anything else requires a free “yes” or “no” option.

The real pro at this tactic is of course government itself. The freedom to travel is limited not just by requiring a passport, but you cannot use a car unless you obtain a drivers license. There is no “choice” in this matter. You consent to get a license or you walk. Just about every other registration process involves the surrender of constitutional rights. For example, you have to register with the SEC or CFTC to get a license in the financial world. However, part of that process is you are “waiving” your rights to search warrants and self-incrimination. A regulator need not go to court to come into your office and audit you. So the license is their way or the highway the same policies being imposed and followed by Google and Facebook. We wonder where they got the idea from?

Both Google and Facebook have stated publicly that they have prepared to be compliant under GDPR. The question turns on their: “you agree or get lost policy”. Both Google and Facebook are in fact adhering to the letter of the law. The GDPR doe not PROHIBIT this policy of consent or get lost. So they are not really in violation. This will be interesting to watch.

May 28 2018

Bud Cummins Discusses Spygate…


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on May 27, 2018 by

Fox News Host Trish Reagan sits in for Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures and interviews former U.S. Attorney Bud Cummings on the current issues surrounding the Spygate scandal:

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It is important to note Democrats in general, and their media allies writ large, are having increasing difficulty obfuscating around direct questions about this scandal. The average American has a very adept BS monitor.

May 28 2018

Sunday Talks: Representative Mark Meadows Discusses #SpyGate…


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on May 27, 2018 by

Following on the FtN interview with James Clapper, Representative Mark Meadows discusses the ramifications of Spygate with Margaret Brennan. Additional conversation surrounds immigration.

May 28 2018

James Clapper on SpyGate: “Tactical Judgement”


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on May 27, 2018 by

Margaret Brennan starts off the interview asking former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper why presidential candidate Donald Trump would not have been informed of any potential issue if the intelligence community was truly concerned about Russia interfering in the election.

Watch his response; and more specifically listen to the language.  “Tactical judgement”?  Even the words he uses to explain the non-action involves admission of an operation:

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Note how Clapper states he is unaware of the “predicate” for the FBI origination of the Spygate operation. Also note the proactive briefing mentioned for both campaigns was specifically framed around “cyber-intrusion”.

May 28 2018

Sunday Talks: Rudy Giuliani Discusses SpyGate…


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on May 27, 2018 by

President Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani discusses current issues surrounding Special Counsel Robert Mueller, SpyGate and the vast interplanetary Russian conspiracy theory:

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Mr. Giuliani also appeared on CNN for an interview with Dana Bash.

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May 27 2018

Does Religion Also Decline with the Confidence in Government?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Religion

Re-Posted May 27, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

 

As we head into the end of this Economic Confidence Model Wave in 2032.95, there are many trends in motions. One of those trends is the decline in religious beliefs and the preparation for a change that historically comes with such monumental economic shifts. A signal of this is how the Irish voters overwhelmingly backed repealing a decades-old constitutional ban on abortion. This is shocking in a country that was historically religious, but also how the monasteries of Ireland survived the barbarian invasions and they effectively helped to save the world of knowledge and rekindled the Age of Enlightenment from the Dark Ages. In other words, the monasteries preserved books that were destroyed by the barbarians and thus saved civilization.

This is a sweeping cultural change and a move away from the nation’s conservative Catholic roots. We are seeing this trend worldwide in the Christain World. Attendance at churches of various denominations has been steadily declining for decades. Other studies disagree with polls taken asking people if they attend church. When asked, 40% of Americans say of course they attend church. But other studies put the real attendance at only 20%.

Even looking at the evangelical church, attendance from 1972 had grown from 18% of the population to its all-time high at 30% in 1993. The Evangelicals have declined less and are hovering around the 25% are generally. Even in Poland, which is also a traditionally religious country, Church attendance has declined slightly. Church attendance, according to Roman Catholic Church Statistics Institute, stands around 37% in Poland regularly go to Sunday Mass, but even here this has dropped from 40% just in 2015.

Catholics account for 17.7% of the world population and it has been increasing, but only in the third world namely Africa, South America, and ins Asia. There is a difference between the developed world where religion is declining and the third world where it has been rising. Some say that the third world prays for a better life and the developed world forgets religion when they attain it.

It seems as though there is a correlation between the decline in confidence in government as well as religion. Historically, you may have to hit rock-bottom for the cycle to turn back upward again. Of course, the real Christian persecutions took place during the 3rd century when Rome was collapsing. People were praying to their gods and nothing was happening. They blamed the Christians for disrespecting their gods which made them angry. Eventually, as people lost faith in government, they also sought a new religion. I have no idea if there is something to actually replace the current religious mix of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, or Islamic. Perhaps it is a shift between these belief systems. Further study will be necessary to answer that question.

May 27 2018

The BMW Self-Balancing Motorcycle NEXT 100


Armstrong Economics Blog/Technology

RE-Posted May 27, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

 

May 27 2018

The New Madrid Fault – What is It Due?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Climate

Re-Posted May 26, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

 

QUESTION: This is the start of more volcanic and earthquake activity. Everyone thinks about the west coast when they think about quakes, but what about the center of the country and the New Madrid fault. What is the timeline for it

GB

ANSWER: The last big one was 1811-1812. There were actually four earthquakes during this period between December to February with the last one sending the Mississippi River reversing its course and flowing North for a brief period. The first struck on December 16th, 1811 at 2:15 am with an epicenter in northeast Arkansas. The second struck the same day December 16th, 18,11 which the sun was rising at 7:15 am still with the epicenter in northeast Arkansas. The third struck on January 23rd, 1812 at 9:15 am with an epicenter around New Madrid, Missouri. The third earthquake to strike was February 7th, 1812 at 3:45 am with an epicenter near New Madrid, Missouri.

This one appears to be due in 2035. However, we have some additional data that was recently given to us with the more minor events post-1811. There was a flurry of small quakes in 2017. We are running this through our models to see what it comes up with. We will report on the results of that correlation when complete to see if that changes the due date

May 27 2018

Little Rocketman Kim Jong-un: “I feel closer to Moon again”…


RE-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on May 26, 2018 by

After the sandwich-maker summit the two Korean boys held hands and began skipping in circles around the park while the band played Ode To Joy. So goes the end of the latest chapter in the ongoing komance between Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in.

If you don’t believe it, just look at this quote directly from Reuters:

…”Kim said he feels closer to Moon after talking again.”

SEOUL (Reuters) – After a surprise meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said he hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump keeps his planned meeting with Kim in June, Seoul-based news agency Yonhap reported Sunday. (link)

Additionally, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed “his fixed will” on a possible June 12 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in a meeting on Saturday with the president of South Korea, North Korea’s state news agency said. During what it called in-depth discussions, Kim and South Korea’s Moon Jae-in agreed to hold high-level talks between their two nations on June 1, news agency KCNA said.  (more)

“Maybe”…

May 27 2018

President Trump Welcomes Joshua Holt Back To the U.S…


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on May 26, 2018 by

This evening President Trump welcomed home Joshua Holt, a young man who had been imprisoned in Venezuela for nearly two years.  Mr. Holt and his family are from Utah.  The family, the State Department team and a group of U.S. politicians who participated in the negotiations for his release, held a short Oval Office press availability.

Senator Orrin Hatch (Utah), Senator Bob Corker (Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee), Senator Mike Lee (Utah), Representative Mia Love (Utah) and a number of key State Department officials were present. Toward the end of the remarks President Trump spoke briefly about the latest discussions surrounding a possible summit with North Korea.