‘Energy Descent’ – ‘Bleak Friday’ – SBF Ponzi Implosion – WEF at G20? – Fuel +23% in 2023? – Covid Aftermath – Happiness at 80 – Letter from Great Britain – [11-26-22]

“If I don’t know – I can’t act” – Knowledge of The Word is Spiritual Power

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKWant to fight back against our corrupt and incompetent institutions?  Building a parallel economy will give people alternatives to Big Tech, government schools, corporate food producers, corrupt government agencies, failing global supply chains, and much more.

If you start a parallel economy business, you can take market share (and power) from the bad guys, help people cut their reliance on evil and incompetent institutions, and make money in the process. Have a look at ‘Startups UK’: https://startups.co.uk/business-ideas/cheap-small-business-ideas/

As the economy declines, into what I believe is going to be a long economic depression, because economic growth ended as early as 2000, will you take courage to seek the opportunities that always exist in local economies?

I have lived by this mantra most of my life: “The secret of success in your chosen field, is knowing how to fail”.  And this is the how and why our present system is failing:

“Two key, and deeply intertwined, facts emerge in light of both the Heinberg Pulse and the Michaux Monkeywrench. These are:

Energy descent’ and therefore economic downsizing, measured in GDP/GWP is inevitable in the near term.

We’re living in the last days of what I call “the luxury economy”.

If you click on the words “energy descent” above, you’ll be brought to a Wikipedia article on that topic. ‘Energy descent’ is there defined as “a process whereby a society either voluntarily or involuntarily reduces its total energy consumption.” My contention is that we’re already, inevitably, entering energy descent on the basis of both voluntary and involuntary processes; even though global net energy consumption temporarily continues to increase. That is, the increase in global net energy consumption has reached a peak, and we’re just now discovering that this is so” https://www.resilience.org/stories/2022-10-31/energy-transition-the-luxury-economy/?mc_cid=a0b5eddf6a&mc_eid=acc509c0e9

BREAKING NEWS:  Yes, it’s that ‘Friday’ again – but it’s 2022 so we’ll call it: ‘Bleak Friday’ this year, as the cost of living crisis means consumers  resisted apparent ‘discounts’ on electronics, homeware, clothing and such like. Brits are more interested in heating, eating and keeping body & soul together this winter.

Making it worse, if that’s possible, there are proposed strikes by nurses, BT & Openreach, rail and postal workers, civil servants (but they don’t do much anyway) and even university lecturers (but they can stay WOKE at home and will not be missed) and are the  barristers  still on strike?   Did anyone notice? Nobody is quite sure.

At least the BBC can’t spin this one: ‘Black Friday’ was originally an American post-Thanksgiving scam but has morphed into almost a global event – thanks to the greed of international retailers looking to cash in on the festive rush.  But don’t be fooled – here are some tips: watch-out-for-these-black-friday-deals-they-could-be-duds

But these crappy deals can spread over weeks, right into the pre-Christmas offers, and then the January sales – so it all becomes meaningless – like most boondoggles from USA. The offers are generally fake and not as generous as they may look at first sight.

I recommend waiting until the New Year, when the shops are left with merchandise they can’t sell, and then bargain like mad.  Most people are wise to these retailer ploys, yet they carry on regardless, whistling in the wind of their Wokerism. – Viva La Internet!

The ‘Centre for Economics and Business Research’ predicts that discounts are unlikely to save struggling retailers as UK consumers cut back spending by an estimated £1.5bn in Q4/2022. They have said: “The cost of living crisis, combined with warnings that discounts are often more generous at other times of year and the threat of a Royal Mail strike, will mean that it is a weak year for Black Friday sales and we may see January sales start early in an attempt to shift stock.” The number of shoppers was still well below pre-pandemic levels – 15% on average below 2019 and just over 30% down in central London.

BUT as long as you have ‘real’ money (like cash) in your pocket, at least you have a chance of a bargain, unlike the literally, poor bankrupt sap SBF, sunk by his Ponzi which came home to roost last week, with a vengeance – read on:

THE SAGA OF FTX CRYPTO COLLAPSE:  Sam Bankman-Fried, (SBF) the founder of FTX, which was, until last week, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, is this week facing prison time for allegedly defrauding his customers of billions of dollars. SBF, 30, donated to many progressive causes allied with the “effective altruism movement,” including pandemic prevention and response.

He spoke at, and presumably donated to, the World Economic Forum’s Davos conference last May and the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Global Initiative in September. Bankman-Fried is similar to Bernie Madoff in that both men used philanthropic giving, and the veneer of humility, to create a positive reputation while running pyramid schemes that should have set off red flags among investors, regulators, and journalists.  But the Left swallowed it whole!

Why, then, do frauds like Madoff and Bankman-Fried get away with it? And why do we continue to trust people like the Clintons and Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum?  Because many people, particularly liberal-minded investors, but also journalists and members of the voting public, want to trust them. Wishful thinking is powerful.

We saw a similar dynamic with the fraud carried out by Theranos’ founder Elizabeth Holmes. Rich and powerful people wanted to believe in her for the same reason people wanted to believe in Bankman-Fried and liberals especially wanted to believe Bankman-Fried. That’s because they tend to feel guiltier than conservatives & libertarians about their greed.

Thus they need ‘Wokerism’, an alternative religion, to justify it. Wokerism is the new ‘Greed Is Good’ as was said by the hostile takeover investor played by Michael Douglas in the 1987 classic, ‘Wall Street.’   Douglas proceeded to give the standard justification of capitalism provided by Adam Smith in 1776. “Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge — has marked the upward surge of mankind,” said the Douglas character.

Such a justification doesn’t work for liberals. They need to feel that their greed is good because their greed is altruistic. What Ponzi fraudsters like Bankman-Fried, the Clintons, and Klaus Schwab provide is a ‘Woke’ justification for their greed.  Read the whole sad saga thus far:  https://michaelshellenberger.substack.com/p/crypto-fraud-exposes-woke-capitalism?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web

This excellent analysis of the ‘Crypto Universe’ by Dexter K. White is priceless: A lot of people think crypto is worth something:

  • A lot of people think bitcoin is worth something.
  • Most people in crypto think fiat currency has major problems.
  • And they all believe in the cross fungibility of cryptocurrency and fiat.
  • So this is why they are missing a huge point about FTX.

The broad crypto community can’t even imagine the perspective of someone who thinks all of crypto (and BTC) is a bunch of BS. And it is from this perspective where our story is told; first some background:

https://tomluongo.me/2022/11/17/cryptofanfic-thoughts-on-ftx However what is at stake here is the fraud that is altruism. After FTX ran aground, the leaders of Scottish philosopher William MacAskill, one of the world’s foremost advocates of ‘Effective Altruism’ (EA), went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to spread the word.  But then the movement started to melt away from their star donor, SBF. Earlier this month MacAskill himself tweeted that the precept of earning to give “in no way justifies fraud”.

Philanthropic works and institutions, including the Ford and Rockefeller foundations, as well as the 1,800 Carnegie libraries across the US, have long been the “products of their creators’ desire to wipe their slates clean for posterity,” said Hiltzik. EA and long-termism are no different.

Derek Thompson in The Atlantic (the enemy) said that “effective altruists helping to distribute SBF’s wealth built a big, powerful system whose central actor didn’t do what they wanted and didn’t seem to ultimately care what they wanted.”  And unfortunately for them, Thompson added, “good intentions are worthless in the face of bad outcomes”. QED.

And now a reflection on ‘GREED’ as the futile pursuit of ‘happiness’ from the Master of earthly wisdom:  Nations can succumb to pride and a wrong view of wealth​—and so can individuals. Jesus gave a parable that showed how subtle this snare can be. He spoke of a rich man whose fields produced very well. Delighted, the man planned to build larger storehouses for his produce and happily looked forward to a long life of comfort. But this did not happen. God said to him: “Unreasonable one, this night they are demanding your soul from you. Who, then, is to have the things you stored up?” Yes, the man died, and his wealth availed him nothing. – (Luke 12:16-20) – you can’t take it with you!

Lesson: realising my mortality – (my much-loved youngest son survived a heart attack at age 45 last week – thank God) – it focused my attention on the realities of this world – which is to be in service to your fellow man & woman, asking nothing in return, and perhaps following the guidelines of the Desiderata: https://www.desiderata.com/desiderata.html – I pray that ‘Sam-the Scam’ has time to reflect.

SO HOW IS THIS PLAYING OUT ON THE WORLD STAGE? Here is Herr Klaus Schwab giving his instructions to world leaders at the recent G20 meeting in Bali – a short one minute video uncompromisingly clarifying the future of their toxic CBDCs:

BUT – why are Schwab and Gates attending the G20?  Good question: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/11/world-will-look-differently-gone-transition-wefs-klaus-schwab-great-reset-world-leaders-g20-summit-video/

However here is the reality with Herr Klaus singing the praises of the Chinese model of social construction and organisation: Herr Schwab praises China’s economic model  – as we warn at sea: “Look out below”.

INFLATION WATCH:  London, UK: There are calls for the Chancellor to commit to a further freeze of fuel duty after a forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said 12p/Ltr would be added to pump prices if the government did not act.

Fuel duty has been frozen at 52.95p a litre since 2011 and it was cut by 5p a litre in the spring statement this year.  HMG Treasury said: “The 23% figure came from the OBR, not the Treasury. It is based on forecasts that are subject to change. We have not announced anything on fuel duty today – the existing 5p cut will remain in place until March 2023 (a tax cut which is worth £2.4bn), and final decisions on fuel duty rates will be made at the spring budget.”

So what do the OBR know?  They are really terrible economic forecasters.  Much of my criticism of their budgeting is their reliance placed on wildly optimistic economic forecasts. It is worth looking at the track record of the OBR as a forecaster.  They did it themselves in 2017 – just look at the first chart – it tells all: https://obr.uk/overview-of-the-november-2022-economic-and-fiscal-outlook/  But this is bad enough but only if you believe the veracity of GDP figures as a measure of prosperity – which I don’t.

The simple fact is that the OBR is not what it claims. It is not independent. It is not even an office; it is a unit in the Treasury. And it is not objective; it supplies the forecasts a Chancellor wants.  Last week the Chancellor wanted growth to make his claims work. That is what the OBR delivered.  But their spreadsheet is not reality – only Sunak & Hunt think it is – when are they going to realise that GROWTH HAS ENDED: https://austrianpeter.substack.com/p/the-financial-jigsaw-part-2-the-end?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web

All Chancellors do is make it up as they go along until the next election that reminds  them how unwise they were to believe the promises made by the geeks with a supposed forecasting tool that actually delivers the numbers required on demand.  But then, we all make mistakes:

SURVIVAL MONITOR:  I promised not to focus on the Covid scam, but I must draw your attention to the ongoing aftermath.  There are many tentacles entangled in this nest of interconnected vipers tracing a path to the very top of our ruling elites.  Gradually the truth is being exposed and the perpetrators are beginning to fear for their lives as mass anger begins to rise, not least with the hopelessly corrupt EU governed as it is by unelected and insider-appointed leaders whose only qualification is to be a member of a legacy family’s ill-gotten gains not entirely unconnected with the period 1933-1945 in Germany.

The EU Parliament is a sop to the Europeans so they can believe that ‘democracy’ rules in the Union.  These people must be so hypnotised by the hubris of their elites that they can’t see the wood for the trees. But at least some MEPs (albeit a small group) have come to their senses and are pressuring von Leyen et al to account for the purchase of 4.5bn doses of genetically engineered Covid jabs at an estimated $20/shot.  Humm – that is $90bn spread amongst the insiders – so you EU saps don’t need to ask why you are suffering a collapse in your living standards.  Here’s a 2 min video of an MEP addressing appropriate questions to the head of the EU Commission:

The first step to survival is to avoid, not only the Covid jabs, but ALL jabs as every last one now appears to be contaminated with the mRNA death shot – but you will never know – they tell lies.

“In fact, mRNA vaccines have been studied before for flu, Zika, rabies, and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Beyond vaccines, cancer research has also used mRNA to trigger the immune system to target specific cancer cells. The mRNA technology has been in development since the 1960s, but it was proven responsive when SARS-CoV-2 hit the world.  Here’s what THEY say: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220420/Revolutionary-mRNA-vaccine-technology-History-facts-and-the-future.aspx

HAPPY INTERLUDE:  Words of Wisdom from a reader:  “I credit this to my Mom’s ‘Rules for Ageing’ which have been ingrained in my head ever since I can remember:”

  • Your 20s are mostly practice — they almost don’t count.
  • Your 30s are when you figure out who you’re going to be.
  • You don’t pick up speed until your 40s.
  • You don’t gain real momentum until your 50s.
  • You likely won’t have made most significant progress until your 60s.
  • In your 70s, you’re reinventing yourself.

“You cannot possibly be old until you’re well into your 80s. And even then, it’s iffy. Internalising these guidelines can help you feel a lot better about getting older. This can make you healthier and help you lead a more successful life.”  But the question remains – ‘what is success in life‘? answers on a postcard.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK:  For more, read: “The Financial Jigsaw”: Scroll:   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358117070_THE_FINANCIAL_JIGSAW_-_PART_1_-_4th_Edition_2020   including regular updates.  For a  free PDF copy e-Books, Parts 1 & 2,  email; [email protected]

AUSTRIAN’S NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE: https://www.theburningplatform.com/author/austrian-peter/

COVID & FINANCE LINKS: [I will not be commenting specifically on Covid in future because my colleague covers daily updates at his websites]:  YOUR DAILY COVID NEWS (cmnnews.org) and BOOM Finance & Economics (boomfinanceandeconomics.com) plus BOOM Finance and Economics | Designed for Critical Thinkers — UPDATED WEEKLY (wordpress.com)

MAKE A DONATION: It will spread knowledge and understanding far and wide and empower humanity to keep the peace: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fnahvp-free-book

Click to visit the TBP Store for Great TBP Merchandise

Author: Austrian Peter

Peter J. Underwood is a retired international accountant and qualified humanistic counsellor living in Bruton, UK, with his wife, Yvonne. He pursued a career as an entrepreneur and business consultant, having founded several successful businesses in the UK and South Africa His latest Substack blog describes the African concept of Ubuntu - a system of localised community support using a gift economy model.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
22 Comments
B_MC
B_MC
November 26, 2022 10:29 am

Under Britain’s socialized medicine, a cancer diagnosis meets a 3-year waitlist

For decades, American leftists have been insisting that the way to beat America’s soaring health costs is through socialized medicine. England, Europe, and even Cuba, they assure us, are the models we should look to when it comes to bringing affordable healthcare to everything. However, healthcare in these countries isn’t looking so healthy lately. In England, for example, a 61-year-old man with a cancer diagnosis was just told that he must wait three years (not a typo) to be seen at a hospital…

If you’re old and sick (i.e., no longer funding the system), you are out of luck. That’s what happened to 61-year-old Andrew Jones:

A cancer-battling granddad has been left flabbergasted after being told he must wait three years for a hospital appointment. Andrew Jones, 61, won’t be allowed to attend the medical facility until it’s almost time for the next World Cup in North America.

Mr Jones thought there was a mistake on the letter he received on Saturday but was horrified to discover his appointment is correct, leaving him with nearly 1,000 days to wait.

His confirmation arrived days after a 16-year-old boy was told he wouldn’t been seen for 950-days for his “urgent” NHS appointment for a urology-related problem.

Our insurance system, especially thanks to Obamacare, perverts the market, drastically increasing prices, while socialized medicine, as Mr. Jones discovered, simply lets people die.

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2022/11/under_britains_socialized_medicine_a_cancer_diagnosis_meets_a_3year_waitlist.html

Captain_Obviuos
Captain_Obviuos
  Austrian Peter
November 26, 2022 2:36 pm

I am sorry to hear about your son, though happy he pulled through. He is a rather young man to be having heart problems; I hope it is not because he got the shot. Nonetheless, he is alive, and God bless. May he make a full recovery.

As for Sam Bank-Fraud, you know as well as me this was an operation designed to destroy consumer investment confidence in unregulated cryptos, and to increase support for CBDCs. The fact that all these talking heads who are interviewed, giving their “expert” opinions, are trying to soften the public image for SBF for what he — okay, let’s just stop; he did not do this, he is a patsy; those who did do it we will never see — did, saying, “take it easy on him, he meant well.”

Tell that to the people who lost millions. I am sure they will just let bygones be bygones. Meanwhile, Sam Bank-Fraud sits on the beach in another country, sipping a cold one and letting the sand run through his fingers like FTX.

AKJOHN
AKJOHN
  Austrian Peter
November 26, 2022 2:43 pm

Beautiful. Four of us brothers, of a family of 11, do not take any pharmaceuticals. My twin brother and I are the youngest at 64. All of us non drug takers are in excellent health and seldom get sick. The others, not so much. My house is full of natural remedies, mostly essential oils, vitamins, and minerals. Sometimes I am disappointed I can’t try them as I feel great all the time. It’s the same up here in AK. You need to take your d and vitamins. One excellent thing is, we do have good fish that are plentiful if you can catch or trade for them.

rhs jr
rhs jr
  Austrian Peter
November 26, 2022 3:18 pm

and when you get sick, try some verboten medicines like ivemeck and hydroquine (spellings?). Peter, there will probably be a rebellion of some kind here sooner than later (before Nov2024); the Usurper POTUS FJB Inc is already Sheiksa (rotten stinking meat) . Conservatives are TPTB’s proverbial dogs being constantly abused; cowering in a corner with no let up; TPTB (NWO Fascist) Genocide Agenda is clear; now food, fuel and maybe even shelter are being sabotaged. Their Covid Shot is Medical Murder Inc. Deplorables are not like stupid liberal Useless Idiots who will get in line for their Mark of the Beast, for the CBDC in order to Buy, and to Sell (their Soul). Everybody but Useless Idiot Maggots are fed up with this illegal communist coup. We were slapped in the face in 2020 and had to turn the other cheek; we were punched in the face 2022. Want to bend over for 2024?

B_MC
B_MC
November 26, 2022 2:42 pm

We’re living in the last days of what I call “the luxury economy”.

And the World Economic Forum is here to help….

What are warm banks, and why are so many opening in the UK?

Warm banks are spaces where people can go to heat up for free if they can’t afford to turn on the heating in their home this winter.

They have been organized by charities, councils and community groups across the UK to help people struggling with the surging cost of energy. Over 50% of councils in England and Wales are involved in setting up warm banks or supporting groups who are doing so.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/11/warm-banks-uk-cost-of-living-crisis/

BL
BL
November 26, 2022 2:55 pm

Peter- My New Years resolution this year is to become very rigid in guarding my health. Avoid crowded places at all cost, eat freshest unprocessed foods, drink clean water/mineral water and get plenty of sleep. Jeremy Hunt won’t be able to add you to the list of exterminated 65+ if you join me. We must resolve to beat them at their own game AP.

Stucky
Stucky
  BL
November 26, 2022 3:13 pm

”My New Years resolution this year is to become very rigid in guarding my health.”

You’re just starting now??? You should have started YEARS ago. It’s too late for you, amigo. You’ll be dead before the next blue moon. Surprised the ‘rona hasn’t offed you.

I’m gonna miss you.

BL
BL
  Stucky
November 26, 2022 3:20 pm

No you won’t. I still have the RONA BTW, I’m too f’n mean to let some bioweapon flu kill me dead.

I am serious about doubling down on my health and you should do the same. Who would we have to fight with around here if we croak?

BL
BL
  Austrian Peter
November 26, 2022 4:18 pm

I admire your ability to sail off into the sunset, I’m not sure you can get into the USA!USA!USA! without proof of the clot shot.

ursel doran
ursel doran
November 26, 2022 5:18 pm

Twelve really worthwhile articles from the fertile mind of Paul Craig Roberts for weekend reading.

Dear Readers, there are many important items posted today. I debated with myself whether to wait until after the holiday weekend in order to attract a larger readership or whether to provide the material when you would be free of work and daily workweek demands. I decided that you would be more likely to watch the one-hour documentary, “Died Suddenly,” over the holiday weekend. This is the most important documentary ever made. Whether intentionally or not, the Covid “vaccines” are bioweapons that are culling the population, giving evidence that the long-advocated population reduction by Bill Gates and ruling elites was the “vaccine’s” purpose. Among the information presented in the documentary are long strings of fibrous material pulled, while you watch, by embalmers from the cadaver’s arteries and veins. Embalmers and undertakers attest that never before the “vaccine” had they seen such things and such blockage that prevents blood flow and results in sudden death. This is not made up. It is not misinformation. It is real. Yet medical authorities continue to push vaccination with mRNA substances, especially for children despite the mounting evidence of young kids dropping dead from heart attacks. Apparently, there is now proof of the fetuses of Covid vaccinated women dying of heart attacks in the womb. Fauci, Biden, the media, and many others in whom a gullible public placed trust has consistently lied about the safety and efficacy of the “vaccines.” Is the public too imbecilic, too brainwashed, to comprehend what has been done to them? If there is no accountability, our rulers will go on to worst crimes against humanity.

My article, “The Irony of Ironies,” shows the defenselessness of the white majority population in America to demonization that is reducing them to second-class citizenship and eventual criminal status.

My article on the Kremlin’s realization that Russia is actually at war will allow you to free yourself from any influence of the media lies about the conflict.

A number of guest contributions show you the mounting evidence of the deadly and growing effects of the mNRA “vaccines.”

At some point soon Americans have to become informed and aroused, or they are finished! The Irony of All Ironies

The Irony of All Ironies

It Seems Russia Won’t Require a Winter Offensive to Win the War

It Seems Russia Won’t Require a Winter Offensive to Win the War

Russians Pay More Attention to America’s Demise than do Americans

Russians Pay More Attention to America’s Demise than do Americans

You Need to Watch the Documentary “Died Suddenly”

You Need to Watch this Documentary “Died Suddenly”

The vaccinated now account for a majority of COVID deaths

The vaccinated now account for a majority of COVID deaths

Australia sees a 63% drop in births after the introduction of covid “vaccines” – what will the government’s excuse be?

Australia sees 63% drop in births after introduction of covid “vaccines” – what will the government’s excuse be?

Lies and Secrecy: What the CDC and FDA Aren’t Telling You About COVID and the Vaccines

Lies and Secrecy: What the CDC and FDA Aren’t Telling You About COVID and the Vaccines

RSV Vaccines: ‘We have to Stop These Shots’

RSV Vaccines: ‘We have to Stop These Shots’

Fauci Grilled Under Oath in Social Media Censorship Case

Fauci Grilled Under Oath in Social Media Censorship Case

Bye, bye Kyiv, hello Cote D’Azur: As Westerners send aid, here’s how Ukraine’s corrupt elites are profiting from the conflict

Bye, bye Kiev, hello Cote D’Azur: As Westerners send aid, here’s how Ukraine’s corrupt elites are profiting from the conflict

Musk: Disclosure on Twitter’s Censoring of Hunter Biden Laptop Saga Needed to ‘Restore Public Trust

https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2022/11/25/musk-disclosure-on-twitters-censoring-of-hunter-biden-laptop-saga-needed-to-restore-public-trust/

We need more Americans like this. Where are they?

https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2022/11/25/we-need-more-americans-like-this-where-are-they/

BL
BL
  ursel doran
November 26, 2022 5:38 pm

Dang Ursel, does PCR have you on the payroll?

rhs jr
rhs jr
  Austrian Peter
November 28, 2022 7:24 pm

50% of Americans are liberals and have cancelled (ie, censored and locked out) Conservatives and Truth, Justice and the American Way ; they are in a State of Incorrigible Stupid.