Secret Summit of Top Banking Elite

More behind-the-scenes dealings among TPTB, no doubt to discuss the next part of the agenda.
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Secret summit of top bankers | News.com.au: "THE world's top central bankers began arriving in Australia yesterday as renewed fears about the strength of the global economic recovery gripped world share markets.

Representatives from 24 central banks and monetary authorities including the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank landed in Sydney to meet tomorrow at a secret location, the Herald Sun reports.

Organised by the Bank for International Settlements last year, the two-day talks are shrouded in secrecy with high-level security believed to have been invoked by law enforcement agencies..."

The Devaluation and Fight for Survival of the American Middle Class

The Devaluation and Fight for Survival of the American Middle Class – How Three Decades has Shifted the Concentration of Financial Wealth to the top 1 Percent: "The American middle class ideal is lionized around the world. It is the core of what has made this country great. The land of opportunity and endless wealth so long as people worked hard enough. It was an implicit contract workers made with this country. Well that vision is now quickly coming under attack by the corporate structure with banks being the main culprits leading the American middle class to the edge of financial ruin. The average American is looking at their current economy and wondering what ever happened to the security that was once provided to the “greatest generation” era. The Wall Street crowd after devouring their bailouts is telling Americans that this is simply how the market corrects. Yet at the same time, they are offering record bonuses to their elite. The same banking crowd that led this country to the financial edge is now rewarding itself with massive bonuses (taxpayer funded) while jobs are being lost and no industry is emerging to provide work to the middle class. As tough as it may be for many to swallow we are in a class warfare struggle. That is why you are seeing populist rage growing in both of our entrenchment political parties...."

Deepening Debt Crisis: The Bernanke Reappointment: Be Afraid, Very Afraid

Deepening Debt Crisis: The Bernanke Reappointment: Be Afraid, Very Afraid: "If the economy deteriorates in the L-shaped “hockey-stick” rut that many economists forecast, what political price will President Obama and the Democrats pay for having returned the financial keys to the Bush Republican appointees who gave away the store in the first place? Reappointing Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke may end up injuring not only the economy but also the Democratic Party for years to come. Recognizing this, Republicans made populist points by opposing his reappointment during the Senate confirmation hearings last Thursday, January 27 – the day after Mr. Obama’s State of the Union address..."

Faber: First Comes Soaring Interest Payments, Then Inflation, Then Default, Then War

Faber: First Comes Soaring Interest Payments, Then Inflation, Then Default, Then War: "At a conference in Moscow, Marc Faber laid out the crisis that he sees coming in the next 10 years. First interest on the debt will accumulate to 35% of our spending. Then comes inflation. Then comes default.

And then war."

Evercore CEO Altman: Obama's Deficit Will Cause An International Currency Crisis In The Next Two Years

Evercore CEO Altman: Obama's Deficit Will Cause An International Currency Crisis In The Next Two years: "Roger Altman, the CEO of boutique investment bank Evercore and former Clinton Deputy Treasury Secretary, has some harsh words about Obama's new budget. He flat out calls the projected debts 'not viable' over the medium or long term.

One of two things will happen, he says: Either the government will address this pro-actively, or in the next two years, we'll have a financial market revolt leading to massive instability in forex..."

It Is Now Mathematically Impossible To Pay Off The U.S. National Debt

It Is Now Mathematically Impossible To Pay Off The U.S. National Debt: "A lot of people are very upset about the rapidly increasing U.S. national debt these days and they are demanding a solution. What they don't realize is that there simply is not a solution under the current U.S. financial system. It is now mathematically impossible for the U.S. government to pay off the U.S. national debt. You see, the truth is that the U.S. government now owes more dollars than actually exist. If the U.S. government went out today and took every single penny from every single American bank, business and taxpayer, they still would not be able to pay off the national debt. And if they did that, obviously American society would stop functioning because nobody would have any money to buy or sell anything.

And the U.S. government would still be massively in debt..."

Middle Class No More, Families Struggle to Fight off Homelessness

Middle Class No More, Families Struggle to Fight off Homelessness - Yahoo! News: "A unique feature of this recession is how damaging it has been to the nation's middle class, driving its members further and further away from the American Dream and, in some cases, directly into poverty..."
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Follow the link below to read the many real stories of families on the brink of poverty.

Monster Snowstorm Targets Mid-Atlantic

More regarding the *MEGA*storm that is currently burying us in freezing rain and wet, heavy snow.
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Monster snowstorm targets mid-Atlantic - Weather- msnbc.com: "Life in the nation's capital ground to a halt Friday as steady snow fell, the beginning of a storm that forecasters said could be the biggest in modern history.

A record 2 1/2 feet or more was predicted for Washington, where snow was falling heavily by evening, with big amounts expected elsewhere throughout the mid-Atlantic. Authorities already were blaming the storm for hundreds of accidents and the deaths of father-son Samaritans in Virginia.

The region's second snowstorm in less than two months could be 'extremely dangerous,' the National Weather Service said. Heavy, wet snow and strong winds threatened to knock out power, clog roads and paralyze the region's transportation and retail..."

Ponzi Scheme: The Federal Reserve Bought Approximately 80 Percent Of U.S. Treasury Securities Issued In 2009

This is very nearly a textbook example of exactly what one would need to do in order to bring the economy to its knees on purpose.

When a nation can only keep things afloat by selling its debt, things are bad; but, when that same nation can no longer find buyers on the open market and begins buying its own debt, that is when it is officially on its last legs.

Rampant, unchecked inflation can only follow.
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Ponzi Scheme: The Federal Reserve Bought Approximately 80 Percent Of U.S. Treasury Securities Issued In 2009: "No, the headline is not a misprint. According to CNBC, the Federal Reserve bought approximately 80 percent of the U.S. Treasury securities issued in 2009. In other words, the Federal Reserve has been gobbling up the massive tsunami of U.S. government debt that has been created over the past year. This is absolutely unprecedented, and it is yet another clear indication that the U.S. financial system is on the verge of a major economic collapse..."

Nuclear Missile Threats to U.S. Mount

In congruence with the piece linked-to below, please take a moment to review the articles, "Rethinking My Stance On Bomb Shelters" and "DIY Basement Shelter Plans" that I wrote last year.
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Nuclear missile threats to U.S. mount - Washington Times: "North Korea is expected to deploy a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching parts of the United States in the next decade, despite two long-range missile flight-test failures, according to the Pentagon's ballistic-missile defense review.

The review report, made public this week, concluded that missile threats from several states, including Iran, Syria, China and Russia, are growing 'quantitatively and qualitatively,' and it outlined Pentagon plans for silo-based and mobile anti-missile systems to counter them.

On North Korea, the report disclosed for the first time the U.S. intelligence estimate of when Pyongyang will be able to reach the technically challenging threshold of producing a nuclear device small enough to be carried on a missile.

'We must assume that sooner or later, North Korea will have a successful test of its Taepodong-2 and, if there are no major changes in its national security strategy in the next decade, it will be able to mate a nuclear warhead to a proven delivery system,' the report said..."

Welcome to Another New Sponsor!

CampingSurvival.com: "Welcome to CampingSurvival.com! My name is Tom Sciacca, owner of this site. In addition, I am the president of JHL Supply, a tool supply company, established in 1956 by my grandfather. In 1996, I jumped into the internet world and started HVACtool.com, which carries the entire product line of JHL Supply. As a camper, hunter, and former Marine, I have a great love of the outdoors. Many of the products that you will find here are ones that I have researched, sought out and purchased from various sources for my own personal use BEFORE starting up this site...

... I love the outdoors, am a former Marine, and enjoy hunting, camping, playing outdoors with our kids and practicing urban survival while enhancing my wilderness survival skills. I therefore started this new army / navy, survival type store on the internet.

JHL Supply, HVACtool.com and CampingSurvival.com are continuously updating and adding new products to the web sites while maintaining the ease of use that customers appreciate. Please visit often to keep up with all the latest products, services and information.

- Thomas J. Sciacca, President"

As Swine Flu Fades, Experts Ponder Next Season

As Swine Flu Fades Experts Ponder Next Season - MSN Health & Fitness - Health Topics: "After nearly a year of headlines, worry and confusion, the H1N1 swine flu virus is now out of the news. Is it out of circulation as well?

The latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds no states reporting widespread influenza activity and only five reporting regional activity.

'H1N1 flu activity seems to have leveled off, but the virus does continue to circulate causing illness, hospitalizations and deaths,' Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during a noon teleconference Friday.

CDC spokesman Tom Skinner agreed that it's too early to dismiss H1N1 altogether...

... But experts believe the threat from H1N1 has ebbed for now...

... Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said his office still sees the occasional swine flu patient, but fewer than it did last spring, summer and fall...

... Topham agreed that the United States hasn't seen the last of this flu strain. 'I'm pretty confident that this virus is here to stay with us. It will become one of the seasonal influenzas we'll have to contend with,' he said.

But just what form that might take remains a mystery...

... If the swine flu does return, Topham predicted that it would reappear next winter, not in April as happened last year.

And Schuchat warned against any false sense of security. 'We are remaining vigilant here and we do not think people should become complacent,' she said..."

Major Nor'easter to Slam Mid-Atlantic

This storm, by the way, has me and mine *DIRECTLY* in its sights as we have been advised to expect essentially anywhere from 6" to a foot of snow, high winds, freezing rain... the worst, basically. Needless to say, today was a busy day here at the old homestead, laying in supplies, making sure we have a plentiful stock of firewood, et cetera.
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Major Nor'easter to Slam Mid-Atlantic - weather.com: "Let's get right to it.

What? A major nor'easter will strike the Mid-Atlantic states producing major snow accumulations and strong winds.

When? Storm begins around midday Friday and lasts through the majority of Saturday.

Where? High-populated areas of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania will likely all experience big snow totals. Washington, DC and Baltimore could experience foot plus snow totals.

How much snow? I'll let the map do the talking. This map takes us out to 48 hours. This map will update automatically with new forecast totals as the event approaches in time and as forecasts are tweaked..."

Jim Rogers – "Federal Reserve is worsening the depression..."

Source: CNBC

"What would be the first two things you would do if you were in Mr Ben Bernanke’s seat?"

Jim Rogers: "I would Abolish the Federal Reserve and Resign."
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5.9 Magnitude Quake Strikes off Northern California Coast

5.9 Magnitude Quake Strikes off Norcal Coast - KTLA: "An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 rattled the coast of Northern California.

The USGS says the quake was located 35-miles west-northwest of the small unincorporated community of Petrolia, California in the Ocean.

Ferndale Police Department Chief Bret Smith told KTLA the earthquake's movement was "gentler" than the magnitude-6.5 quake that struck the same area January 9, 2010.

The quake that hit a month ago left more than $40 million of damage in the area and caused one major injury, according to officials..."