A slider is an American term for a steam-grilled sandwich, typically around 2 inches (5 cm) across, made with a bun. The term primarily refers to small hamburgers, but is sometimes used to describe any small sandwich made with a slider roll.
For this purpose, I will include any sandwich that sells for $3.09 or less (without tax).
Carl's Jr. I ordered a jalapeno double cheeseburger at a cost of $3.23 (with tax). It was fantastic, possibly the best burger I have ever had in my life. I think this is already the winner, but I will see what the competition is. The nutritional profile is: 580 calories, 22g protein, 39g fat, and 36g carbs.
Chick-Fil-A. I ordered the chicken biscuit at a cost of $3.34 (with tax). It was very good, just like the original chicken sandwich, but smaller, and with a biscuit instead of a bun. The nutritional profile is: 460 calories, 23g fat, 19g protein, and 45g carbs. I added mayo and ate one of the biscuits with honey which upped the calories count even more. Overall, very tasty, but it was a small size. I think it took 5 bites to eat it. So the value proposition isn't there.
Subway. I bought an Italian Spice Slider for $2.04 (including tax). Nutritional profile: 230 calories, 14g fat, 8g protein, and 18g carbs. It is cute and small, about 1/6th the size of Subway's footlong. It is 2 large slices of pepperoni, 2 slices of salami, and I customized it with half a slice of provolone cheese, about 5 olives, parmesian cheese, oregano, and garlic aioli sauce. It comes on a "telera" roll, which is a word I haven't heard before. Very chewy, kind of like an English muffin, but different. It is very tasty, the price is right, and the calorie count is right. I've criticized Subway before saying you couldn't eat it on a diet, but if this was what you were eating, it is a perfect fit. Overall, I have an excellent impression.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Jerome Powell warns of unsustainable path
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned Wednesday that the federal budget is on “an unsustainable path” due to rising levels of federal debt. Powell told the Joint Economic Committee that the “high and rising federal debt,” which now tops $23 trillion, could make it difficult for the economy to recover from future market downturns. His testimony came the same day that the U.S. Treasury Department released data showing the federal government ran a deficit of $134 billion in October. https://dailycaller.com/2019/11/13/jerom-powell-budget-national-debt/
Is this guy for real? I don't think so; he is an insider and knows exactly what is going on unlike observers like me who have to guess. The truth is that the federal debt will double within 10 years, but it won't be unsustainable. It can go up to infinity. The Federal Reserve balance sheet will more than double within 10 years as it enables the situation. Yes, this will cause inflation, but the inflation can be fought with higher taxes and higher interest rates.
If he was serious, he would increase interest rates and refuse to buy any more federal debt until they put their affairs in order. But he is not serious. He pretends to care because it makes him look good. Meanwhile, his buddies the international bankers bleed us all dry.
Is this guy for real? I don't think so; he is an insider and knows exactly what is going on unlike observers like me who have to guess. The truth is that the federal debt will double within 10 years, but it won't be unsustainable. It can go up to infinity. The Federal Reserve balance sheet will more than double within 10 years as it enables the situation. Yes, this will cause inflation, but the inflation can be fought with higher taxes and higher interest rates.
If he was serious, he would increase interest rates and refuse to buy any more federal debt until they put their affairs in order. But he is not serious. He pretends to care because it makes him look good. Meanwhile, his buddies the international bankers bleed us all dry.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Christian coup in Bolivia
 |
| Luis Fernando Camacho |
With a Bible in one hand and a national flag in the other, Camacho bowed his head in prayer above the presidential seal, fulfilling his vow to purge his country’s Native heritage from government and “return God to the burned palace.”
“Pachamama will never return to the palace,” he said, referring to the Andean Mother Earth spirit. “Bolivia belongs to Christ.”
Virtually unknown outside his country, where he had never won a democratic election, Camacho stepped into the void. He is a powerful multi-millionaire named in the Panama Papers, and an ultra-conservative Christian fundamentalist groomed by a fascist paramilitary notorious for its racist violence, with a base in Bolivia’s wealthy separatist region of Santa Cruz.
https://thegrayzone.com/2019/11/11/bolivia-coup-fascist-foreign-support-fernando-camacho/
I have no idea what this means, if it is a good thing or a bad thing, or if it is legal according to Bolivian law, or how long he will be in power.
It is interesting that he is opposed to Pachamama, which seems to be a pagan Andean fertility goddess worshipped by Pope Francis, so I don't know what Camacho thinks about the Pope.
His political party is the Unión Juvenil Cruceñista (Santa Cruz Youth Union), which is labeled as a "fascist paramilitary group".
This seems like an important event, but it isn't front page news.
======================================
More to the backstory.
1. There was accusations of election fraud and protests, leading President Evo Morales to step down.
2. Morales' opponent in the October 20 elections was Carlos Mesa, so it isn't clear why he isn't the president, or the people in line after Morales like the Senate President (who also resigned) or the Senate Vice President.
3. Trump praised the Bolivian people for forcing Morales to step down, but Trump hasn't stated his support for Camacho yet.
4. The confusing issue of term limits:
A. Wikipedia claims that the Bolivian president doesn't have term limits, citing the CIA factbook, but neither Wikipedia or the CIA are credible sources.
B. There was a new 2009 Bolivian constitution which limited the president to 2 terms. However, Morales' first term started in 2006, so that was "grandfathered" in. There was a 2016 referendum to allow the president to have 3 terms, but it was voted down by a 51.3% majority. The Bolivian Constitutional Court in 2017 ruled that the limitation on the number of terms was unconstitutional because it violated the candidate's human rights. There was claims that the court's decision was a coup d'etat because it ignored the voters.
Will there be another election? This is still a very confusing situation.
==================================
Update 2: Now Wikipedia is saying that Jeanine Anez (who was the Second Vice President of the Senate) is the temporary president of Bolivia until new elections are held. But what about Luis?
 |
| Jeanine Añez |
Update 3: 1. Evo Morales is claiming political asylum in Mexico.
2. The parliamentary session to appoint Anez didn't have a quorum because the opponents boycotted the session. Apparently there was no vote and she hasn't taken an oath, instead she just declared herself president because she was next in line. She has called for elections within 90 days.
3. Morales was a socialist and the American socialists like Bernie Sanders and Ilhan Omar are claiming that it is a coup.
4. Apparently, Camacho has never claimed to be president, instead he was just the leader of the opposition, even more than Mesa.
Sirius
This is a 2 hour video documentary that claims that 1/4 of all government spending is diverted to a secret shadow government beyond the president's control. It is also about UFOs and free energy. It sounds interesting but I don't have time to watch it now.
The Groyper War
This is something I don't understand but am interested in, like watching the remains of a car wreck, with the ambulances, broken glass and such. This is a civil war on the right called the Groyper War.
On one side, the mainstream Trumpers, you have Charlie Kirk, the director of Turning Point USA and Ben Shapiro. Congressman Dan Crenshaw from Texas is among them. On the other, you have the Groypers, led by internet personality Nick Fuentes and joined by Timothy "Baked Alaska" Gionet.
And the Groypers are winning, or at least won one strategic battle at UCLA by embarrassing Donald Trump Jr.
I'm not sure what this is all about, but I have my eyes and ears open and will update if I figure it out. See also: Meet Groyper, the alt right's favorite cartoon frog.
On one side, the mainstream Trumpers, you have Charlie Kirk, the director of Turning Point USA and Ben Shapiro. Congressman Dan Crenshaw from Texas is among them. On the other, you have the Groypers, led by internet personality Nick Fuentes and joined by Timothy "Baked Alaska" Gionet.
And the Groypers are winning, or at least won one strategic battle at UCLA by embarrassing Donald Trump Jr.
I'm not sure what this is all about, but I have my eyes and ears open and will update if I figure it out. See also: Meet Groyper, the alt right's favorite cartoon frog.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Special K Diet
I'm going to try the Special K Diet. Actually Kellogg's doesn't endorse it anymore, but that's ok because I actually won't be eating any Special K. But I like the name.
The way this works is that you eat 3 meals a day. For breakfast and lunch, you eat only one bowl cereal. For me today that means Quaker Oats (dry) and Honey Nut Cheerios. For dinner, you can have whatever you want, as long as the portion size is reasonable. I also will be eating yogurt and fruit and shakes, but no bread is allowed (eat oats instead), and no cheese is allowed (eat yogurt instead). You could also do this at a McDonald's with their oatmeal and fruit and yogurt parfait. Snacks of fruit and nuts are allowed.
I'm not measuring this, but assuming standard serving sizes a meal of oatmeal and cheerios looks like this: Calories 260. Fat 5g, protein 7g, carbs 49g (of which 6g is from fiber, and 10g is from sugar). This seems like a standard restricted low-fat, low-calorie diet. Hey it's worth a try.
The way this works is that you eat 3 meals a day. For breakfast and lunch, you eat only one bowl cereal. For me today that means Quaker Oats (dry) and Honey Nut Cheerios. For dinner, you can have whatever you want, as long as the portion size is reasonable. I also will be eating yogurt and fruit and shakes, but no bread is allowed (eat oats instead), and no cheese is allowed (eat yogurt instead). You could also do this at a McDonald's with their oatmeal and fruit and yogurt parfait. Snacks of fruit and nuts are allowed.
I'm not measuring this, but assuming standard serving sizes a meal of oatmeal and cheerios looks like this: Calories 260. Fat 5g, protein 7g, carbs 49g (of which 6g is from fiber, and 10g is from sugar). This seems like a standard restricted low-fat, low-calorie diet. Hey it's worth a try.
Is Aspirin toxic?
I just read an article that said that Aspirin in poisonous in all but very low doses. It likely caused or contributed to the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. I don't know if this is true but it is something to think about.
Upon reading the accounts of the epidemic it seems that most of the deaths were caused by a virulent pneumonia that was especially devastating to those who depressed their system with analgesics, the most common being aspirin. Aspirin was the first of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, others not becoming available until 1955 when Tylenol was first marketed. They are the most commonly used drugs on the market, sold both with and without prescriptions. For Bayer and the entire pharmaceutical industry, they are the absolute foundation stones of their industry and yet they all routinely kill.
It has been discovered that that no particular dose of aspirin between 75 mg and 300 mg daily currently used in the treatment of heart ailments, is completely free of risk of causing intestinal bleeding. Even very low doses of aspirin reportedly caused gastric bleeding in volunteers. Some 10,000 episodes of bleeding occur in people aged 60 and over each year in England and Wales alone and it is estimated that around 90% of the 10,000 episodes could be associated with and directly ascribed to aspirin usage. Unfortunately the risk of hospitalisation and death is not the only problem caused by taking these types of drugs. Other studies have also indicated that the risk of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) while using NSAIDs is also quite substantial. One author suggested that the number of deaths could be similar to those that are evident with gastro-intestinal bleeding. If so, the numbers of deaths attributed to NSAIDs would increase dramatically from the already large figure of 16,500.
The 20 to 50 million deaths during 1918 have long been attributed to a virulent new virus but the NIAID has now clearly stated that common upper respiratory bacteria was responsible, not a new virus. There was no new deadly virus but there was something new in 1918 and that was toxic aspirin, being used in totally inappropriate, dangerous dosages. “… just before the 1918 death spike, aspirin was recommended in regimens now known to be potentially toxic and to cause pulmonary oedema and may therefore have contributed to overall pandemic mortality and several of its mysteries. Young adult mortality may be explained by willingness to use the new, recommended therapy and the presence of youth in regimented treatment settings (military).” Dr. Karen Starko
http://falsificationofhistory.co.uk/health/the-1918-so-called-spanish-flu-pandemic/
Upon reading the accounts of the epidemic it seems that most of the deaths were caused by a virulent pneumonia that was especially devastating to those who depressed their system with analgesics, the most common being aspirin. Aspirin was the first of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, others not becoming available until 1955 when Tylenol was first marketed. They are the most commonly used drugs on the market, sold both with and without prescriptions. For Bayer and the entire pharmaceutical industry, they are the absolute foundation stones of their industry and yet they all routinely kill.
It has been discovered that that no particular dose of aspirin between 75 mg and 300 mg daily currently used in the treatment of heart ailments, is completely free of risk of causing intestinal bleeding. Even very low doses of aspirin reportedly caused gastric bleeding in volunteers. Some 10,000 episodes of bleeding occur in people aged 60 and over each year in England and Wales alone and it is estimated that around 90% of the 10,000 episodes could be associated with and directly ascribed to aspirin usage. Unfortunately the risk of hospitalisation and death is not the only problem caused by taking these types of drugs. Other studies have also indicated that the risk of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) while using NSAIDs is also quite substantial. One author suggested that the number of deaths could be similar to those that are evident with gastro-intestinal bleeding. If so, the numbers of deaths attributed to NSAIDs would increase dramatically from the already large figure of 16,500.
The 20 to 50 million deaths during 1918 have long been attributed to a virulent new virus but the NIAID has now clearly stated that common upper respiratory bacteria was responsible, not a new virus. There was no new deadly virus but there was something new in 1918 and that was toxic aspirin, being used in totally inappropriate, dangerous dosages. “… just before the 1918 death spike, aspirin was recommended in regimens now known to be potentially toxic and to cause pulmonary oedema and may therefore have contributed to overall pandemic mortality and several of its mysteries. Young adult mortality may be explained by willingness to use the new, recommended therapy and the presence of youth in regimented treatment settings (military).” Dr. Karen Starko
http://falsificationofhistory.co.uk/health/the-1918-so-called-spanish-flu-pandemic/
Friday, November 8, 2019
Christian Bale and body transformation
Christian Bale's normal weight is about 185.
In 2004, Christian Bale lost 63 lbs in 4 months (from 173 to 110) to play Trevor Reznik in "The Machinist". Then he gained 120 lbs, all the way to 230 to play Batman Begins in 2005. This was too much weight gain, so he lost 30 to get down to 200. (Another source says 190). (I wrote about this before).
In 2007, he lost 55 lbs to play the part of Dieter Dengler in Rescue Dawn. I can't find anything that says exactly how much he weighed, but I'm guessing about 135. Not as much as for the Machinist but still quite a transformation. Then he had to bulk up again to play the Dark Knight in 2008. I couldn't find anything that says how much, but I'm guessing 190.
Then in 2010, he lost 30 lbs to play (to 155?) Dicky Eklund in the Fighter. Then he had to get back up to a normal weight to play Batman again in the 2012 film The Dark Knight rises.
To make the movie American Hustle in 2013, he gained 43 lbs (up to 228). This wasn't a healthy weight for him and he got really fat. But he had to get in shape (to 180?) quickly after that to play Moses the 2014 file Exodus: Gods and Kings.
He gained 40 lbs to play Dick Cheney in 2018 (to 220?).
Finally, in 2019 he had to lose 70 lbs to play Ken Miles (to 150?) in Ford v Ferrari.
See also https://www.cbsnews.com/news/preview-ford-v-ferrari-star-christian-bale-is-done-with-dramatic-weight-fluctuations-for-movie-roles/
The point is that dramatic weight loss isn't bad.
In 2004, Christian Bale lost 63 lbs in 4 months (from 173 to 110) to play Trevor Reznik in "The Machinist". Then he gained 120 lbs, all the way to 230 to play Batman Begins in 2005. This was too much weight gain, so he lost 30 to get down to 200. (Another source says 190). (I wrote about this before).
In 2007, he lost 55 lbs to play the part of Dieter Dengler in Rescue Dawn. I can't find anything that says exactly how much he weighed, but I'm guessing about 135. Not as much as for the Machinist but still quite a transformation. Then he had to bulk up again to play the Dark Knight in 2008. I couldn't find anything that says how much, but I'm guessing 190.
Then in 2010, he lost 30 lbs to play (to 155?) Dicky Eklund in the Fighter. Then he had to get back up to a normal weight to play Batman again in the 2012 film The Dark Knight rises.
To make the movie American Hustle in 2013, he gained 43 lbs (up to 228). This wasn't a healthy weight for him and he got really fat. But he had to get in shape (to 180?) quickly after that to play Moses the 2014 file Exodus: Gods and Kings.
He gained 40 lbs to play Dick Cheney in 2018 (to 220?).
Finally, in 2019 he had to lose 70 lbs to play Ken Miles (to 150?) in Ford v Ferrari.
See also https://www.cbsnews.com/news/preview-ford-v-ferrari-star-christian-bale-is-done-with-dramatic-weight-fluctuations-for-movie-roles/
The point is that dramatic weight loss isn't bad.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
October Treasury Bills
The Treasury has 2,456,075 million T-bills outstanding as of 10/31/2019.
It had 2,376,958 million outstanding as of 9/30/2019.
This is an increase of 79 billion in one month, or about 3.3%.
It had 2,376,958 million outstanding as of 9/30/2019.
This is an increase of 79 billion in one month, or about 3.3%.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Amy Robach video about Epstein
Amy Robach had the information 3 years ago but the powers that be wouldn't let her run it.
Remember Remember the Fifth of November
On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament with gunpowder. We remember this because of voluminous verbiage. First, the traditional poem.
Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Second, the tongue-twister from V for Vendetta.
Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.
Monday, November 4, 2019
Dow reaches another all-time high
The Dow Jones Industrial Average today (Nov 4) closed at 27,462.11, an all-time high. The previous high was on July 15, 2019, when it closed at 27,359.16.
The SP 500 today closed at 3,078.27, also an all-time high. NASDAQ also reached an all-time high of 8,433.
Maybe they will keep going up forever, so long as the Fed keeps pumping money in.
The SP 500 today closed at 3,078.27, also an all-time high. NASDAQ also reached an all-time high of 8,433.
Maybe they will keep going up forever, so long as the Fed keeps pumping money in.
Verily, A New Hope
Ian Doescher, a fiction writer who lives in Portland, is a genius. He rewrote the Star Wars Trilogy in the style of William Shakespeare. Here is the prologue to the original Star Wars screeplay compared to the original opening crawl.
Star Wars Original Opening Crawl (Source)
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....
Episode IV
A NEW HOPE.
It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire.
During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.
Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy….
Verily, A New Hope (Source)
PROLOGUE
Outer Space
Enter CHORUS
CHORUS. It is a period of civil war.
The spaceships of the rebels, striking swift
From base unseen, have gain'd a vict'ry o'er
The cruel Galactic Empire, now adrift.
Amidst the battle, rebel spies prevail'd
And stole the plans to a space station vast,
Whose powerful beams will later be unveil'd
And crush a planet: the DEATH STAR blast.
Pursu'd by agents sinister and cold,
Now Princess Leia to her home doth flee,
Deliv'ring plans and a new hope they hold:
Of bringing freedom to the galaxy.
In time so long ago begins our play,
In star-crossed galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars Original Opening Crawl (Source)
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....
Episode IV
A NEW HOPE.
It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire.
During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.
Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy….
Verily, A New Hope (Source)
PROLOGUE
Outer Space
Enter CHORUS
CHORUS. It is a period of civil war.
The spaceships of the rebels, striking swift
From base unseen, have gain'd a vict'ry o'er
The cruel Galactic Empire, now adrift.
Amidst the battle, rebel spies prevail'd
And stole the plans to a space station vast,
Whose powerful beams will later be unveil'd
And crush a planet: the DEATH STAR blast.
Pursu'd by agents sinister and cold,
Now Princess Leia to her home doth flee,
Deliv'ring plans and a new hope they hold:
Of bringing freedom to the galaxy.
In time so long ago begins our play,
In star-crossed galaxy far, far away.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
How the elite parasites who run our economy spent $1 trillion in only 3 months
On 7/31/2019, the national debt was at $22.022 trillion.
On 10/31/19, the national debt was at $23.008 trillion.
Ok, that is only $986 billion, but we should hit the $23.022 trillion within a few days.
The real question is, where did this money come from?
1. Intragovernmental liabilities increased from $5.811 trillion to $6.027 trillion, an increase of $216 billion.
2. The Federal Reserve balance sheet increased from $3.779T to $4.067T (as of 10/30/19), an increase of $288 billion.
3. The balance came from selling bonds to the private sector and foreigners. It was $482 billion.
When was the national debt at $11.5 trillion, half of the current number? On 7/6/2009, it was at $11.520 trillion. So it took slightly more than 10 years to double it. So if current trends continue, it should be at $46 trillion in 10 years, call it 12/31/2029.
We should hit $24 trillion in about 8 months, or by June 30, 2020.
======================
Update (11/18/19): This didn't actually exceed the $23.022 until 11/15/19, when the total was $23.043 trillion. But now the Intragovernmental Holdings has dipped slightly below $6 trillion. So I will wait until it is back above $6 trillion to celebrate and announce a new milestone.
======================
Update 2: Just to be clear, the Debt Held By the Public exceeded $17 trillion on 11/7/19. On the same day, the Total Public Debt Outstanding first exceeded $23 trillion.
On 10/31/19, the national debt was at $23.008 trillion.
Ok, that is only $986 billion, but we should hit the $23.022 trillion within a few days.
The real question is, where did this money come from?
1. Intragovernmental liabilities increased from $5.811 trillion to $6.027 trillion, an increase of $216 billion.
2. The Federal Reserve balance sheet increased from $3.779T to $4.067T (as of 10/30/19), an increase of $288 billion.
3. The balance came from selling bonds to the private sector and foreigners. It was $482 billion.
When was the national debt at $11.5 trillion, half of the current number? On 7/6/2009, it was at $11.520 trillion. So it took slightly more than 10 years to double it. So if current trends continue, it should be at $46 trillion in 10 years, call it 12/31/2029.
We should hit $24 trillion in about 8 months, or by June 30, 2020.
======================
Update (11/18/19): This didn't actually exceed the $23.022 until 11/15/19, when the total was $23.043 trillion. But now the Intragovernmental Holdings has dipped slightly below $6 trillion. So I will wait until it is back above $6 trillion to celebrate and announce a new milestone.
======================
Update 2: Just to be clear, the Debt Held By the Public exceeded $17 trillion on 11/7/19. On the same day, the Total Public Debt Outstanding first exceeded $23 trillion.
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