Tuesday's Charlie Foxtrot

Thank God we're not European (h/t The Woodpile Report),,,

It seems that the European Commission has power over something called, "Plant Reproductive Material Law" -

It will be illegal to grow, reproduce, or trade any vegetable seed or tree that has not been been tested and approved by the government, more specifically the “EU Plant Variety Agency.”

Let THAT sink in:  If you can stick it in the ground and grow it, but some Eruo-crat hasn't blessed the seed, you'll got to jail.  Those crazy, crazy Euros.  It's like they think they have god-powers over nature.  At least we free Americans don't have to put up with crap like that.
---

I spoke too soon...

Oops.  Perhaps like some totalitarian flu bug, it appears as though this god-power has wafted "across the pond" and resides here as well.  In our Supreme Court, no less -

The second case being called to attention is Bowman v. Monsanto.  An Indiana farmer named Vernon Bowman was sued by agri-giant and seed-modifier Monsanto for purchasing seeds from a grain elevator and planting them in his fields.  Monsanto claimed that planting those seeds violated the corporation’s patent rights over them, since they were genetically-modified and considered Monsanto’s intellectual property.  Since Bowman “replicated” the company’s intellectual property [uh, no, he planted them - like you're supposed to do with seeds ...ed], he was sued for nearly $85,000.00 in damages.  Bowman contended that existing patent law did not cover life forms, and that he had broken no laws.  “If they don’t want me to go to the elevator and buy that grain, then Congress should pass a law saying you can’t do it,” said Bowman.

The Supreme Court took up the Bowman case, and disappointingly sided 9-0 with Monsanto.  Rather than accurately declaring that the 120-year-old patent law did not offer any legal coverage of self-replicating seeds as they reproduce in perpetuity, the court made a landmark decision and changed the mechanics of patent law forever without an act of Congress.  This was the very definition of legislating from the bench, and gives corporations the leverage they need to punish consumers for “breaking” laws that don’t really accurately cover modern technologies like genetically-modified lifeforms and computer software.

Suggestion:  Buy your heirloom seeds now (if you haven't already done so).  Kick that GMO crap to the curb.
---

I'm not tryin' to be a dick here (pun intended)...

This just rubs me the wrong way.

It's about a self-defense class.  THAT I love.  What chaps my ass is that it was, "created specifically for the female defender".  What the hell does that mean?  You've got to have breasts and ovaries for the techniques to work?

"Look into my cleavage... you're feeling weak...."

I'm guessing it's all about techniques for smaller, weaker defenders to deploy against larger, stronger attackers.  Hey, there's always some guy bigger than you, and I'm sure they work just as well on smaller, weaker attackers.

Why the need to self-segregate?  Men need not apply.

I think I'll develop a shooting class limited to anyone who can pee standing up without dropping their drawers.
---

Let's see... Prozac or Zoloft...

Hiding from it won't make it go away.  Here are, "11 Nasty Trends That Will Test America's Resilience."

Things in the economy are still crappy, regardless of what Barry and His Merry Band of DC Thieves tells you.  The best thing out there right now is the stock market, but it's a game of Musical Chairs.  Last one standing loses his lunch money.

Stocks have soared because there's nowhere else to put your money (that's not overtly manipulated, like precious metals).  Bonds interest rates have been purposely held down by the Federal Reserve since (it seems like) Truman was in office.  When bond yields increase, money will gush from stocks into bonds like a tsunami.

There's no there there with stocks.  Earnings are either being driven by international sales, or by domestic cuts.  As in people.  For Gods sake, last week's, "first time unemployment claims" was down - to ONLY 338,000 THAT WEEK, and the stock market reacted like it just got a hit of Viagra.

Folks, get that second stream of income up and running.  Now.  What's the worst that can happen?  You've got some extra cash in the bank?

---
Copyright 2014 Bison Risk Management Associates. All rights reserved. Please note that in addition to owning Bison Risk Management, Chief Instructor is also a partner in a precious metals business. You are encouraged to repost this information so long as it is credited to Bison Risk Management Associates. www.BisonRMA.com