Shifting the Balance

Today is the equinox, the balance of light and dark. At 11:33 a.m. EDT the sun will shine directly at the equator marking the start of spring in the North and autumn in the South. The light will grow slowly as the sun marches higher in the sky...and the wheel of the year rolls ever faster...ever faster...as we age. Treasure the time you have. Find joy in friends and nature.

For more on the equinox

The moon was full on Friday, the full worm moon.
And in the world of power and politics the worm turned too.

The saying represents an evolution of the old proverb, 'Tread on a worm and it will turn.' The meaning was that even the most humble creature tries to counteract rough treatment. Shakespeare picked up the thought in Henry VI, Part 3, where Lord Clifford urges the king against 'lenity and harmful pity, saying:
To whom do lions cast their gentle looks?
Not to the beast that would usurp their den.
The smallest worm will turn being trodden on,
And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.'"

I think we just experienced a shift in the world's balance of power. Ben Norton does a pretty good job explaining. I do think he mischaracterizes the Freedom Convoy in Canada, but I spent lots of time listening to them being interviewed. However, he does describe the shifting balance well.

I heard it suggested that China's rise and the US fall has been evident since the meeting in Alaska when Blinky used his 'diplomacy through insults' strategy, and China stood up and called out US sins. No matter where the historians place the tipping point, the shift has/is happening, and nothing makes the case stronger than Saudi selling oil in Yuan to China.

The US dollar owes its strength and spread to the fact that it is considered an important reserve currency for commodities such as oil, which is usually traded against dollars. Saudi Arabia now seems to want to break out of this system. This would be a very hard blow for the US economy.

Saudi Arabia seems to want to become more independent from the US. According to the Wall Street Journal, they are apparently considering no longer trading oil exclusively against US dollars. Efforts have been underway for some time with China, for example, to transact oil business in yuan. Talks in this direction have allegedly been going on since 2016, probably because of growing dissatisfaction in the oil-producing country with the US.

In addition, a solution to the US dollar and trade with China using its currency, the yuan, would also have advantages for Saudi Arabia. The yuan thus acquired could be used to pay Chinese companies involved in mega-projects in the desert state. And this would be more independent of currency fluctuations on the capital markets.
...
However, it could be an attempt by Saudi Arabia to open up new opportunities. After all, the example of Russia currently shows how quickly it is possible to be excluded from international currency systems. So it might be attractive to be prepared for any eventuality and to have alternatives at hand.

Welcome to a new world economy...

We all know that the Fed has been creating more currency...something like 3 Trillion in the last year. 80% of All US Dollars in Existence Have Been Printed in Just the Last Two Years

The result is the inflation we're all experiencing. Now the standard line is it is supply chain problems or Russia did it, but it has been a ponzi policy of the Fed. Matthew at Trader U suggest it is purposeful ...creating endless currency to cover our debts.
Stealing countries reserves like Venezuela's and now Russia's has eroded any confidence in the US bonds. (22 min)

Matthew suggests the Fed is conducting a soft default

The United States is in a war right now and unfortunately, "we've weaponized the dollar-based financial system," says Steve Hanke, Applied Economics professor at Johns Hopkins University and former Senior Economist on President Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers. "This is not a free lunch," when you impose sanctions on other nations, he says to our Daniela Cambone. Hanke asserts that Chairman Powell has failed to recognize that at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, "money supply measured by the Fed has gone up over 41%." Hanke describes the current crisis the Fed is dealing with as a, "monetary bathtub overflowing," seeping out into the economy as a main contributor of inflation. He concludes that the Fed's actions are, "too little and too late," and are also flying blind because, "they are not looking at the money supply." (22 interesting min)

The Fed Is Flying Blindly and Can’t Fix This One Major Mistake | Stansberry Research

Forget the rhetoric, it is our own fiscal policy which is driving this inflation.

...and though the entire basket of fiat currencies are equally at risk, the US dollar is the cleanest dirty shirt in the basket.

Meanwhile let's distract everyone with a war to defend nazis. Hasn't worked out well for people volunteering in Ukraine. The Azov soldiers are trying to send the volunteers on suicide missions and threatening them with murder if they don't go. Hear it from the horse's mouth. (7 min)

These are the same soldiers that prevent citizens from leaving Mariupol.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/ukrainian-azov-shoots-civil...

In 2014 they burnt a union hall killing 39 people.

Many of those who attacked and burned the building wore swastikas and other fascist insignias, according to observers. Eye witnesses said that the fascists were armed with bats, shields, and metal chains and that the people inside the union hall had run there for protection from them. After the attack by the rightists streets around the trade union headquarters were reportedly stained with the blood of those who had jumped from windows to escape the flames.

So these are the people brain dead propagandized Americans want to support?

I've been learning from this Ukrainian who describes his experience in the middle of this conflict. He is pro-Russian and is scared of the Ukrainian officials and military.

Max Blumenthal joined Scott on Antiwar Radio to discuss the Neo-Nazi groups in Ukraine that have been enjoying the support of Western governments for years. He also talks about Zelinsky, who was elected on a pro-peace platform which went out the window as soon as he was in power. Instead, he rolled over for the Neo-Nazi group leaders and even floated the idea of bringing nuclear weapons back to Ukraine.

George had some good interviews this week too. Here's a 15 min conversation with Elijah Magnier

Found an RT news piece on Rumble (30 min)

And even better I found Oliver Stones sequel to Ukraine on Fire, Ukraine revealed which like most of Oliver's work was great.

The Russian sanctions will come back to bite us, and especially Europe, in the ass. The only winner of this war is the MIC.

...billions more are being spent to send weapons to Ukraine (where they are likely blown up, only to be replaced with more shipments). War is big business for the Beltway. Also today: CIA has been training Ukrainian army for eight years in eastern Ukraine. Training to fight Russians.

Meanwhile no honest discussion allowed!!! Take down that channel! Disappear that person for their evil thoughts! A couple of good interviews on censorship this week. One with Matt Taibbi and another with Abby Martin. Matt's understanding of media is great. I was surprised to hear his analysis of Putin's plan in Ukraine, because to my mind he's made his goals very clear...no NATO membership, arms nor training. Autonomy for the Donbass' regions, and acceptance of Crimea as part of Russia.

Since duck duck went and sold out what are we to do?

In the first of a series of explorations of Alt Tech, James Corbett talks to Colin Pape of Presearch, a decentralized search engine that is seeking to offer an alternative to the Big Tech monopolization of search.
https://www.corbettreport.com/solutionswatch-presearch/

Another alternative might be...

Well that was a long rambling column today. Let me close with a bit of spring...

Spring is a time of new beginnings and new life. The world is bursting with joie de vivre, and the sheer force of nature is never more tangible than during this season. Birds chirp at the top of their lungs, insects buzz through the air and blossoms magically touch the landscape with colour. Creatures of all kinds – starlings, squirrels and frogs – begin to have their young.
In forests, fields, meadows and gardens, nature awakens from her winter sleep: buds swell, fresh green leaves begin to sprout, tender plants spring up out of the ground. The world takes on colour again. The still, barren wintertime is past, and spring is a gaily-hued fanfare – high-spirited and full of zest.

The magic of spring in all its glory is the focus of this film. Unusual animal stories – some humorous, some dramatic – create a very special springtime feel. Upbeat, amusing and exciting, the film illustrates vividly that spring in Germany is the loveliest season of all.

As always I'll look forward to you thoughts and comments below. Have a lovely Spring (or if you are South of the equator, a lovely Autumn)!