Portfolio(s)/Market update August I. Dry number 2. Stirred, not shaken.

What's happening now is a turning of the world spirit.

Perhaps a darkness necessary for a collapse into the test of the spirit by the fire of real conditions that can shock people into the realization that deep citizenship and deep community is necessary for e plurabus unum, out of many one. - Josh Studebaker

…I have no discourse, really, today - because it’s been too frikkin’ hot for too many consecutive days in a place not made for such mind-melting air (highs consistently in the upper 90’s Fahrenheit or upper mid 30’s centigrade. Today about 100/37-plus.) I lived for a too short while in a village in the central part of Italy which was designed for such a climate. The white painted stone houses face inward lining narrow alley-footways which, in turn, funnel wind - so inside even without air conditioning the shaded streets provide some relief and cooling while the ventilation keeps humidity, mostly, at bay. Here… cool, often lovely houses and cooling trees have been too often removed in favor of ugly, geometric…. I dunno, they look like outhouses, often while trees and rose bushes and slightly overgrown parks are often ripped down and wound into mulch or chips with lamps everywhere and,of course, always a big bar-restaurant newly licensed to sell stuff until two in the morning - on public land. Imagine that.

I’m pretty sure the outhouse-buildings here all will be given higher energy efficiency ratings than those in that hilltop village. But it’d be nice to measure which is in reality more efficient. Air conditioning and even heating are rare in many of those houses - though often they will have a fireplace used maybe… 20? evenings and 8? days at most during the year. Still, because of their low rating… relative taxation in different forms is already coming. Cruel, unfair and stupid. Which we have to stop.


By 2033, the energy rating of a property should be at least class "D". (link to overview of but one EU directive meant to screw the less wealthy - all of us including you eventually - and suck money to the wealthy.)

Why the diatribe? Because the same thing is going on everywhere, all over the West, where more intuitive, elegant solutions and places filled with humanity are razed in favor of… wanted, ineffective ugliness. In that transition there are always losers and winners. It’s not difficult to figure who’s which. And the reason for this accelerated diffusion of ugliness for most, nearly all, of us while the wealthiest only retain access and possession of ‘beauty’ is: the removal of reality from fiat, soon to be digital, currency. Basically. Financial markets. More: rules, laws, are being created that have no sense save to make government more indebted for useless expenses (public-private contracts and tax cuts going to the wealthy - think war and prisons or obligatory ‘green’ stuff,) in turn to cause: smaller, true government offering fewer services; stealing personal savings in various ways; in turn forcing individuals to sell or close their factories-farms-shops-studios to massive funds and wealth (ie Blackrock.) Free markets have nothing to do with it. It’s much more fundamental.

More, much, on that in August II. But in line with that: those who’ve been able to place financial capital in rising markets are still feeling very happy, as it were, very elite. Be careful. You - are not one of ‘them’. At some point they’ll be inventing ways to steal your-so-certain assets. Because: removed, fear-filled, self-referring systems (they) do not afford alternatives (your pursuit of happiness.) What’s nice of late? Their presumed ‘victory’- is no longer at all certain. Indeed - they are losing. The Da-da is becoming predictable, as it were. But. All of us need to set aside our little divisive stories - and participate. Do what’s necessary. Or you and yours will fall completely into slavery while they - take pretty much everything. It’s that direct. That simple.

So. What’s next?

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For the portfolio/market stuff: first -

  disclaim and all: (Note to anyone perusing: for now, I've none of these things - those who know me know the primary cause. Just suggestions these and no conflicts of interest or certified advice. Investing, or betting, is always problematic and filled with risk. Then again, so can be eating a pizza.)

The first practice ‘dancing with dada’ portfolio has served its purpose for the most part and has now been set away, orders placed, to be looked at 3 times or so this year before likely being closed. Meanwhile I’ve opened a 2nd, a bit more long-lasting and even realistic, begun on the 24th of July to be used as a reference for friends or other to look toward for suggestions. It takes quite a bit from the first but will use options on different rules. Dry rules. And adding gin to the same tonic. Stirred, not shaken. This week: VXX (etf imitating volatility index VIX): accumulate below 45, sell above.

And: all preceding suggestions over the past 18 months remain valid by scenario and-or theme. In order they were and have been, pretty much in order: Gold, VXX, Copper, Nuclear Power, Emerging (BRICS) Markets, sell into rallies, Bitcoin (transiently,) Silver, Mining and construction equipment (Asia,) Miners (metals), energy - and of course specific companies along the way, in different fields. Below are the holdings. As of today, the 16th of August, it's up just over 1 percent over these first 3 and a half weeks.

....music, maestro: