American Survival Newsletter:
Combining the World of Finance, Health & Politics
1/16/15

American Gold

A weekly newsletter brought to you by
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Edited by Alfred Adask
Friday, January 16th, A.D. 2015


MARKETS
	Between Friday, January 9th A.D. 2015 and Friday, January 16th A.D. 2015, the bid prices for: Gold rose 4.9 % from $1,220.60 to $1,280.30 Silver rose 8.0 % from $16.46 to $17.78 Platinum rose 2.8 % from $1,229 to $1,263 Palladium fell 5.6 % from $800 to $755 DJIA fell 0.4 % from 17,756.89 to 17,511.57 NASDAQ fell 1.6 % from 4,710.85 to 4,634.38 NYSE fell 0.6 % from 10,725.80 to 10,660.30 US Dollar Index rose 0.7 % from 91.96 to 92.64 Crude Oil rose 0.6 % from $48.21 to $48.48

"Only buy something that you'd be perfectly happy to hold

if the market shut down for 10 years." --Warren Buffett

"If the markets shut down for 10 years, what investment would you dare to hold--

other than gold"? --Alfred Adask

Saudi & Kuwaiti Leaders Risk Retaliation?

by Alfred Adask

On January 13^th, Reuters reported in "Iran's President Rouhani says countries behind oil price drop will suffer", that:

"Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that countries behind the fall in global oil prices would regret their decision and warned that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait would suffer alongside Iran from the price drop. 'Those that have planned to decrease the prices against other countries will regret this decision,' Rouhani said in a speech broadcast on state television as oil plunged to near six year lows on international markets. 'If Iran suffers from the drop in oil prices, know that other oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will suffer more than Iran.'

Will the falling price of oil cause Iran to instigate some form of reprisal, vengeance or even violence against the Saudis or Kuwait? Assassinations? Bombings? Support for political dissidents within Saudi Arabia and/or Kuwait?

Will the current fall in oil prices be stopped by the economic forces of supply and demand or by military forces of bang-bang and ka-boom!?

Some oil-producing nations produce virtually nothing but crude oil. Their national revenues might already be down as much as 60%. That fall in revenues isn't merely painful for the people of those countries-it also exposes their governments to internal strife, chaos and possible overthrow.

The oil-producing nations being damaged by the fall in the price of crude oil must be furious at nations like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait that are deemed responsible for the price fall.

Can we expect one or more oil-producing countries to take some form of physical or economic vengeance against the Saudi's and Kuwaitis? Will members of OPEC launch some sort of attack?

What about Russia? Could Russia arrange to assassinate or more Saudi or Kuwaiti leaders? How many Saudi and/or Kuwaiti leaders would have to die before those countries limited their production of crude oil and cause the global price of crude to rise? I'll bet the answer is "not many".

How 'bout corporations that work the "oil patch" and whose survival is threatened by the falling oil prices? Is there a CEO who's desperate enough to whack a couple of Saudi or Kuwaiti leaders?

What about nations which aren't financially dependent on the price of crude oil, but have issued trillions of dollars of "derivatives" designed to protect investors against dramatic changes in the price of crude? If the falling price of crude triggers demands on those derivatives, and if the derivatives' liabilities are too great to be repaid, could a significant default in derivatives collapse the US or even global economies? Does any nation care enough about the financial stability of the US and/or global economies to subject Saudi Arabia or Kuwait to some surgically-placed violence?

The longer the price of oil stays down, the more likely it is that one or more oil-producing nations assault Saudi Arabia and/or Kuwait.

It therefore seems strange that the Saudi's and Kuwaitis would dare to continue to threaten corporations, governments, nations and even the global economy by helping to suppress the price of crude. Are Saudi Arabia and Kuwait ignorant of the risks they're taking and the possibility that they might suffer some sort of retaliation?

What happens to the global economy, if one oil-producing nation takes it upon itself to bomb the pipelines or refineries of Saudi Arabia or Kuwait? How hard would it be to attack a pipeline as a false flag event that might be blamed on some other country or ISIS, etc.?

How hard would it be to shoot, poison or bomb one, two-maybe four-key leaders of Saudi Arabia or Kuwait and thereby cause the price of crude oil to rise? A half a dozen bullets might be more than enough to "send a message" to cause the Saudis and Kuwaitis to slow production and raise the price of crude oil. Some oil-producing nations or even corporations might find the temptation to fire those bullets almost irresistible.

Unless some people who are far more powerful than the Saudis and Kuwaitis want the price of crude to fall further, it seems likely that "pressures" are already being exerted on Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to reduce oil production. These pressures-including threats of violence-are almost certainly being exerted by nations other than Iran.

I'm betting that Saudis and Kuwaitis will soon respond to these threats by cutting production of crude oil in order to increase its price. If I'm wrong, then some very powerful forces must want the price of crude to fall further and thereby encourage deflation and increase the probability of a global depression.

Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World -- or, at least, it's a Mad Economy

by Alfred Adask

Mohamed A. El-Erian is Chief Economic Adviser at Allianz, a multinational financial services company. He recently authored an article in Business Insider about the A.D. 2014 stock markets entitled "Traditional Factors Alone Don't Explain This Remarkalbe Year For US Stocks".

Mr. El-Erian observed that,

"2014 has been a remarkable year for US equities-not just in terms of the handsome return for investors (15% for the S&P) but also because of how this was delivered.

In 2014, the S&P,

* Registered 51 record highs (that's an average of one a week, the most since 1995);

* Never had more than three days of consecutive losses (a new record);

* Consistently decoupled from potentially damaging historical correlations with other markets, most notably government bonds and commodities; and, in the process,

* Always managed to recover quickly from sudden and scary air pockets.

You have to admit that, when viewed from Mr. El-Erian's perspective, last year's US equity markets were almost as surprising as flipping a coin that came up "heads" 50 times in a row. All this "good luck" makes you wonder. It makes you want to check the coin to see if it has two "heads".

Clearly, something strange and improbable was going on in last year's markets.

* Egon von Grayerz (founder and managing partner of Matterhorn Asset Management based in Zurich, Switzerland) seems to agree with Mr. El-Erian. During a recent radio interview, Mr. von Grayerz said,

"Just take the Dow Jones as an example of this madness: The Dow went down 900 points in seven trading days, and in two days it went up 700 points.

"Why?

"Because the Fed changed a couple of words in their outlook for the coming year. They now say they could be "patient" and stock market investors saw that as a sign of buying unlimited amounts of stocks without any regard to what's happening in the rest of the world."

Mr. von Grayerz is right. The US markets no longer reflect objective, economic reality. They're being manipulated and deceived to the point of madness.

Janet Yellen said the word "patience," and the Dow jumped 700 points to a new record high. That's crazy.

What if Ms. Yellen (who bears a remarkable resemblance to the Fairy Godmother in Disney's Cinderella) had said "BIbbidy-Bobbity-Boo!" or maybe, "Abra-cadabra!"--would the Dow have "magically" jumped another 1,000 or even 5,000 points?

Whatever's going on in US markets, it's not easily described as "rational".

* A lot of these word choices and taboos seem silly. This article, discussing the seeming significance of Fed word choices, may seem silly.

But the point is this: What's the value of a stock market index that can be dramatically moved up or down by a handful of words rather than fundamentals like Price to Earnings ratios? Isn't this dependence on words evidence that the markets are more "political" than "economic"?

Isn't this evidence that our stock markets aren't about the profitability of corporations so much as about the "expectations" of people who buy or sell stocks in the markets.

Today, it doesn't much matter if a particular corporation finds a brilliant new technology or invention. What matters is the public's "expectations" about the corporation, its invention and, most importantly, the market itself.

Increasingly, what's important is not the inherent value of the investment, but the mood of the investors. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 don't tell us about the value of the stocks they represent. They tell us about the sentiment of people and entities who invest in stocks.

The market indices don't measure investments. They measure investors.

A stock doesn't rise simply because the corporation is objectively profitable. It rises because of the investors' subjective belief that the corporation has been, and will continue to be, profitable.

Insofar as that's true, it becomes possible to manipulate stock market indices by simply focusing on investor sentiment. If investors can be made to believe that stocks are more valuable, then stocks are more valuable-regardless of any objective reality to the contrary.

It's hard to find new technologies or efficiencies that will increase a corporation's profitability and thereby justify an increase in the price of its stock. It's comparatively easy, however, for government to change the public's sentiment concerning a stock, an industry, a particular market, or even the US and global economies. They just say a few "magic" words, falsify some economic indicators, and-Presto-Changeo!-happy days are here again!

See? This economics stuff is simple. It's all about public confidence. Public belief. Public sentiment. It's all in your head, see? Who needs productive factories when we have economic propaganda?

All we have to do to restore economic prosperity is to make the idiots (a/k/a "voters") believe they're prosperous and, magically, they'll be prosperous! We don't have to work harder or smarter. We don't need to find new inventions, or even keep our industries and jobs in this country. No. All we gotta do is "consume" with greater enthusiasm and abandon.

Saving our economy is simple. Just pull out the ol' credit card, go to the mall and Shop 'Til You Drop! By shopping enthusiastically, we demonstrate our confidence in our economy and political system. By shopping with abandon, we vote for "happy days". The more we shop, the more confidence we inspire in others. The more other shop, the more confidence they inspire in us. Given enough confidence, we can magically go on shopping forever.

We don't even have to work. (Work is bad; it cuts into our shopping time.) All we have to do is shop and consume and leave the work to the idiots in China or Mexico or some other third world country. And how will the idiot foreign workers be paid? Well, Barack Obama and Janet Yellen will simply print more fiat dollars and treasuries, see? We'll give the idiot foreign workers some paper-promises-to-pay and they will love and respect us for our ability to produce promises-to-pay that can never be kept.

While we wait for the foreigners to finally get smart (they, too, can't distinguish between paper-promises-to-pay and payments), we can be a nation of consumers who can "shop till we drop".

But drop, we will.

In fact, after a couple of generations of intense "shopping," we are now, inevitably, "dropping".

* We're already on the front edge of a recession and/or depression that may last for years into the future. Most people don't believe our circumstances are so dire. But why don't they believe? Because they believe the government's words. What difference does it make that our national debt (paper-promises-to-pay) is so great it can never be repaid so long as Janet Yellen can say words like "patience" and thereby make fresh promises?!)

And Janet, the Fed and the government didn't stop with oral promises. They've changed the formulae they use to calculate economic indicators in order to create the illusion of economic strength. They've outright falsified economic numbers. They've artificially suppressed some prices and artificially inflated others. Since A.D. 2008, they've issued $4 trillion in phony currency and recently guaranteed at least $300 trillion in "derivatives" (which promise we couldn't pay/keep in less than a century).

So far, our central planers' schemes have generally worked to create a false confidence in the public. But it's all nothing but words. It's not objective measurements. It's not economics. It's propaganda of the same sort the former Soviet Union published until it collapsed.

All that Soviet propaganda seemed so funny to Americans back in the 1990s. All the lies and bluster seemed hilarious. But, today, the same propaganda, coming from our own government seems plausible, objective and trustworthy.

Nothing funny going on in our economy, right?

Or maybe not.

In fact, the public's confidence, based substantially on government's lies, makes me laugh.

Reminds me of William Shakespeare's most profound and timeless line: "Lord, what fools these mortals be!"

After all, we can't just blame the Fed and government for lying. We've also got to blame the people-ourselves-for accepting lies with such relish.

As a people, we plead to our leaders to "tell us lies, tell us lies, tell us sweet, sweet lies". And they do. And we love it. We thank 'em for it by repeatedly reelecting our best liars to public office.

* So long as the Dow continues to rise-no matter how irrationally-we can have confidence in our government-right? If the Dow is rising, the President et al must be doing something right. Right?

And so, by hook or by crook, the Dow is made to rise with little regard for objective reality. Our government has become as political as the former Soviet Union-lots of speeches from the central planners but little or no production.

Given the market's increasingly political objectives, the markets have become irrational. A mere word can make them jump up or down dramatically. Insofar as the markets are less about economics and more about politics, the markets have "decoupled" from reality.

Increasingly, when we go to the Dow or S&P 500, we aren't really investing in General Motors or Apple. We're investing in Barack Obama, Congress and even one-world government.

I have no doubt that something similar took place in the former Soviet Union before it collapsed. Although Communism claimed to be some sort of brilliant economic theory, Soviet investments were politically controlled and politically motivated by the central planners for reasons that suited the political interests of the central planners rather than the public or the general economy.

No one invested in Russian steel mills. They ultimately invested in the Politburo, Mikhail Gorbachev, and the system. That's what "central planning" is all about: maintaining confidence in the "central planners" system rather than in the economy's objective capacity to produce.

Investing in that non-productive "system" (rather than investing in productive businesses and corporations), eventually destroyed the Soviet Union, its national economy, and the "system" itself.

Insofar as today's Americans invest based on a mere word or two uttered by Janet Yellen, Barack Obama or John Boehner, aren't we investing in our non-productive political system more than in our productive corporations and economy? Can we continue to invest "politically" and still avoid a fate like that of the former Soviet Union?

* My point is that markets that move based on someone saying a particular word aren't responding to market fundamentals. Such markets are political rather than economic. Markets that move in response to a mere word are motivated by magic or madness.

Q: Which market motivation do you think is more likely-magic or madness?

Q: Which market motivation do you think is more sustainable?

Q: Which markets do you think are more likely to crash-ones based on "magic" or ones based on "madness"?

A: Both.

Despite all the fun and frolic we feel when Janet Yellen says "patience," and the Dow jumps 700 points, it's hard to imagine a better reason for getting out of the equity markets. The markets aren't magic.

They must be mad.

Really.

What's the source of the madness?

Fiat currency. A debt-based monetary system that treats debt as wealth and paper-promises-to-pay as if they were payments.

If you think that debt is wealth, you're crazy. You might not know it. Your friends might not suspect. You might be just like (almost) everyone else. But you be crazy.

At its foundation, all fiat currencies-even the US dollar-are crazy. They're designed to defy reality. They're intended to not only rob but even destroy the productive elements of society and simultaneously enrich and empower the indolent and non-productive. Fiat currencies may seem sane for quite a while, but sooner or later, their inherent madness can no longer be concealed and their financial world collapses into chaos.

Those who invest in the paper-promises-to-pay that we call stocks, bonds, pension funds, bank accounts and fiat dollars are crazy. Ohh, they'll get away with it for a while. For decades. They'll enter the paper markets and emerge with apparent profits. But, even so, they're treating paper promises-to-pay as if they were payments. That's as crazy as doing crack. They treat paper as if it were wealth. They don't know the difference between an actual "payment" and a mere "promise to pay".

But they'll learn.

And when they do, they will howl (or sob) like madmen at the moon.

Swiss central bank unexpectedly scraps limit on franc's strength, causing gyrations in market

Thursday's decision by the Swiss National Bank, or SNB, to end its efforts to keep the euro from trading below 1.20 francs came amid mounting speculation that the European Central Bank will next week back a big stimulus program that will put more euros in circulation, which would further dilute their value.

Within minutes of the Swiss National Bank's announcement it was ditching a policy to limit the rise of the currency, the franc had rocketed by about a third against the euro and the dollar.

SWISS SIDE-EFFECTS..... The stock market said it all. Shares on the Zurich exchange have fallen another 6 percent Friday following the previous day's 9 percent slump. That's a clear indication investors have taken fright at the worsening outlook for Switzerland's exporters and economy.

The higher franc makes Swiss products, like chocolate, pharmaceuticals, and watches more expensive in the international marketplace.

According to Morgan Stanley, 85 percent of Swiss company sales come from outside Switzerland. Corporate giants like food maker Nestle and drug maker Novartis make almost all their money in foreign markets.

Already two brokerage firms, London-based Alpari and New Zealand's Global Brokers NZ, have announced they have suffered catastrophic losses and will have to close down.

FXCM, a New York-based currency broker, has also warned that it "may be in breach of some regulatory capital requirements" after its clients experienced significant losses.

Meaning they didn't have the enough money on their balance sheets to cover the losses.

The event happened so quickly the force of it all blew right through all the stops that were posted. All the stops to prevent these types of loses just didn't matter.

The peg, which was introduced in Sept. 2011, was an attempt to halt the rise of the franc - a traditional haven currency for investors - against the euro at a time when the eurozone debt crisis was at its height

Fed survey finds moderate economic growth

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. economy was growing at a moderate pace in December and early January, helped by gains in sales of autos and other consumer products, but a big drop in oil prices was starting to have an impact in Texas and other energy regions, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.

The Fed said business contacts in its 12 regional banking districts were seeing "modest" or "moderate" growth. General merchandise retailers in the New York area reported largely sluggish holiday sales while high-end merchandise in Philadelphia and San Francisco did well.

Payrolls grew in a variety of sectors but significant wage gains were seen only by workers with specialized technical skills.___

As eurozone eyes new stimulus plan, some question its merits

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - With the eurozone facing the possibility of years-long economic stagnation, its central bank is expected to soon announce its biggest stimulus measure yet.

That sounds like it should be cause for optimism. Yet some policymakers and economists in the 19-country currency union are grumbling.

They question the merits - and even see dangers - in the new stimulus program, which would involve the large-scale buying of government bonds. Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank, is facing unusually outspoken opposition from a minority on his 25-member board ahead of what's expected to be a showdown policy meeting Jan. 22.

US retail sales tumbled 0.9 percent in December as consumers spent cautiously during holidays

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER

(AP:WASHINGTON) WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. retail sales slumped last month in a sign consumers remained frugal even as gas prices declined and hiring picked up.

The Commerce Department says retail sales fell 0.9 percent in December, the largest decline since January. Gas station sales retreated sharply due to lower prices, but sales in most other categories also fell.

Excluding the volatile categories of gas, autos, building materials and restaurants, sales dropped 0.4 percent after rising 0.6 percent in November.

Online and mail-order sales fell 0.3 percent, the most since April.The figures suggest that stagnant wages are still weighing on many Americans. Average hourly pay slipped in December, the government said last week, and rose just 1.7 percent last year. That's only slightly ahead of the 1.3 percent inflation rate.

EU countries urged to quickly contribute to investment fund as mid-2015 launch date targeted

BRUSSELS (AP) - The top official behind a proposed 315 billion euro ($371 billion) European Union investment plan said Tuesday he wants member states to contribute more money to get the continent's flagging economy back on the upswing. The fund is meant to reduce the risks of investment for private investors and encourage them to spend on strategic projects like broadband Internet, energy networks or small companies. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told EU legislators he would like individual countries "to participate in great numbers by giving impetus to the investment plan, by financing it." The Commission is urging a fast-track legal approval of the fund so it can launch in June to help kick-start growth and create jobs. To encourage countries to take part in the plan, Juncker's Commission, which supervises EU members' budget plans, said it would take a "favourable position" on any contributions when it assessed the public finances of participating nations.

Banks win in government spending bill

Congress passed a bill last month that will let banks continue to engage in the trading of risky assets known as derivatives in-house. That move undoes one of the big parts of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law that was set into place in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

And the Fed also agreed last month to delay another part of the law, a component of the so-called Volcker Rule that requires banks to sell their hedge funds and private equity stakes. They now have until 2017 to do so.

Imaginary world of safety - Don't need guns - Cry, Blow and Throw

BY ADMIN, ON JANUARY 15TH, 2015

Apparently women and kids are meant to stand around with their emotional pants down, crying, blowing whistles and screaming when a rapist or killer walks by. Joe Biden has long said that guns are not needed for self-defense. However, if the intruder is in our face perhaps we could use only a shotgun...that is all. Be practical and go to a call box for help instead.

Rep. Joe Salazar also has offered up his brilliant wisdom regarding self-defense as he continues to push hard to disarm all college students. After all, only 1 in 4 College girls are raped sometime before they graduate...they don't need to be armed, just be a good little victim and take it. Throw something, cry big tears and race to the call box that isn't there....now I feel safe. Hit the bad guy with your history book I tell you.

Now, the brilliance has exploded into self defense genius as an Alabama middle school principle has asked parents to have their kiddies all bring cans of food to stockpile in classrooms. As a last resort if shooters managed their way through the school hallways and into the classroom they could throw cans at them. The principle also thought this would 'empower' the children, knowing they could do this to the attacker. Think of the self esteem boost!

The tragedy in all this is that if only the hundreds of tortured and murdered children in Beslan Russia had been able at 'last resort' to throw cans of peas at the Muslim Jihadists, they might have been saved. No doubt Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold at Columbine would have paused while mowing down kids in the library and halls if kidney beans had hit their hip or head.

Has the anti gun left, democrat politicians and school principles lost their entire minds? I frankly don't think there are enough 'idiot' call boxes for them to run to. Perhaps they should all take their can of pork and beans and stay in the closet under the sheets until the Jihadist or rapist comes down the hall. They had better learn to pray really fast.

How can I forget years ago when living in Northeast Portland Oregon in the days when I was in the music business? I had 3 female roommates helping to pay the rent in a huge home. On the news I was unnerved to learn that a rapist was going around a 10-mile radius of where I lived and walked my dogs. He was stopping women and saying he had a flat tire, distracting them, asking for $5.00 then raping them. He had done this several times and gotten away with it. Just like in a movie scene while walking down the stairs I heard my roommate Nancy and someone at the door. This guy said he had a flat tire and needed $5.00 etc...I stopped dead in my tracks and my skin crawled. It was exactly what I had been hearing on the news that week. I quickly ran back up the stairs to my room and got my 45 out of my nightstand and slammed in the clip. Nancy had left him at the door and run to her room to get him some money. I started back down the stairs and this stranger had already, come through the back door, through the kitchen, down a long hallway and was nearly half way of the stairs as I was coming down with my gun. We saw each other, locked eyes and froze. I raised my gun toward him. Thankfully, he didn't take another step or I would have shot him. He quickly bolted out of the house. He never came back and a few days later they caught him and the rapes stopped.

Did I throw a can, scream, cry or rush to a non existent call box??? No, I pointed a 45 at him with a very bad attitude and a rape did not happen.

What we have needed for decades is for the wackoid anti gun people to understand that facts are facts. Evil exists everywhere and we are all at risk, especially our children if we don't have a real way to defend ourselves. I strongly believe that ALL public schools should have armed guards on the premises and key teachers who have passed a background check should be armed. Teachers and students weren't armed at Columbine and at the Beslan massacre. What if just a few teachers had a gun? History would be written quite differently and countless lives would have been saved.

It is time for mental illness boxes to be placed all over D.C. and certainly throughout Alabama if the 'last resort' for students dealing with shooters is to throw canned peas at shooter's heads.

Our children are our treasures and there is zero excuse in my book that our schools are not completely guarded by armed guards to stop the killer before they even enter.

Join me with my national radio show www.therothshow.com which is going live on Feb 2^nd 10-1:pm PST each day. You can listen live at www.ksbn.net and call in at: 1 877-999-7684. What is on your mind?

HEALTH

Body Maps

by Herbalist Wendy Wilson

We live in an age where scientific medicine wants to map every square inch of the human body. We're told that this latest technology being used can spy deep into tissues, read blood vessels as if they were road maps and chart the unknown territory of our body's secrets. Some experts think this is just the beginning in what appears to be a Star Trek experience in scanning the body for health problems. Instant diagnosis is one of the goals this new technology wants to promote and is driven by multiple scans of the body and computer software models. This new era in medical science seems to be on the eventual road of automation involving very little human assistance. This is called biometrics and the seed of biometrics is said to have been planted in 1879 by a French police clerk by the name of Alphonse Berthillon. He conceived the idea that people should be identified by their specific body measurements. Fingerprinting is one of the first crude steps to the biometric age. Will this technology will be a benefit or burden? Let's check it out.

HUDDLE TIME

I see this massive, or "big data", technology as a football team in a huddle. While in a huddle the team gets strategy orders to launch against the opponent. Will these body scans be compiled in cloud software to profile a persons' health and determine their level of worth or worthlessness? Will the scans give false readings and how would patients go about correcting incorrect data? Will the data be used for health and life insurance and employment? Will patients be forced to comply with treatments in order to qualify for benefits or employment?

THE EYES HAVE IT

Let's look at technology in the vision field that is aggressively being marketed at eye clinics in the US and UK for eye exams. People don't always get an annual eye exam and most insurance plans have dropped the free annual exam. Even when insurance did cover it, we're told that 4 in 10 people do not have their eyes checked on a regular basis. If you've been to your ophthalmologist or optometrist's office lately you may have been introduced to some odd looking and large pieces of equipment designed to scan your eyes. You may recognize the term Optomap as this technology scans and makes a map of the eye. According to a reporter for the UK Daily Mail, Angela Epstein, the new technology is marketed as having superior early-warning detection when something is wrong with the health of the eyes. She reported that some believe this technology is not necessary. Patients are convinced by staff that the old exams could miss something important and that they should opt for the new scans. Angela agreed to experience the Optomap eye exam and her experience should be a warning to us all. She was told the Optomap scan can see 80% to 85% of the retina and can read early warnings of eye disease better than conventional exams. Diseases such as glaucoma, diabetes, cancer and macular degeneration were discussed. These scans map the cells of the eye as well as the tiny blood vessels that feed the eye. Patients are told that if the cells look like fish scales or a honey comb that is a normal or healthy appearance for eye cells. The cost of the eye scans have been coming down. Five years ago it added an extra $100 to the eye exam. Today, the scans can be included in the normal exam fee of $99 to $170. The Optomap scan is done by laser and produces a digital image of the eye in just a few seconds. It can be similar to looking into a camera flash. In Angela's case the scan of her left eye appeared normal but the scan of her right eye produced anomalies; tiny black specks. The scan can pick up pigmentation, which could indicate a serious health issue such as retinal tears. In Angela's case after returning for further examination of her eye it turned out to be unthreatening adhesion or a false flag that something was wrong. She had 24 hours of anxiety that her vision health was at risk and in the end the physician resorted to conventional exams to determine if there was a problem. According to some health experts, these laser eye scans are not for everyone even though they are marketed to everyone and should not replace the conventional eye exam that people should have every two years. Obviously we do not need to ask if these Optomap scans are storing iris scan data. Under the ACA all health data is to be on one system. We're told it is much harder to fake an iris scan as the odds of two people having the same pattern are 1 in 7 billion. Iris biometrics are said to be safer and more secure than fingerprint biometrics. Criminals will dilate their pupils with eye drops to mask the over 250 distinct characteristics of their iris.

"Screening such as Optomap might be helpful for those with conditions such as diabetes. The majority of people have little anomalies in the backs of our eyes that are benign. If you could spot early-warning signs in these cases more could be done to prevent sight loss. Someone who has no family history of eye problems, disease, or symptoms should think twice about having a laser scan." Dr. Larry Benjamin, Ophthalmologist for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists

"A routine eye examination, competently carried out by an optometrist, using the standard conventional equipment in today's office practices, can often be more effective at detecting eye disease." Dr. Robert Glass, optician Manchester, UK

"If you choose to have a laser retina scan, make sure it's a complement to - not a substitute for- a traditional eye exam." Dennis Robertson, MD

FACE IT

Face recognition software is secretly used at every DMV in the US. When you sit for your driver's license photo you may be asked not to smile to improve the accuracy especially with poor light exposure. Therefore, it is much harder for facial recognition software to identify someone in a crowd who is smiling.

STICK OUT YOUR TONGUE AND SAY AHHH

One of the newest scans invented is the tongue scan. The software to identify a person by their tongue is being developed in Hong Kong at the Polytechnic University Biometrics Research Center. Apparently the shape of the tongue is unique for each individual. Lasers scan the tongue and in just three seconds can create a 3-D picture. Researchers at the VIT University in India have taken the digital image of the tongue and combined it with their analysis software to identify illness. The color, size, shape and texture of the tongue can indicate a vitamin deficiency, if someone has pharmaceutical toxicity or a fungal infection.

BODY LANGUAGE SCANS

Law enforcement uses body scans to log how a person walks (gait or stride), how they talk and behave. Add handwriting dynamics or even keystroke dynamics to add additional layers of identification. All this software has undergone extreme makeovers producing massive algorithms to improve personal identifications.

PERSONAL COMPUTERS

Computer companies are also tapping into the biometrics to manufacture their technology and offer more security. Fujitsu sells peripherals like the PalmSecure PC Login Kit which is a mouse that can authenticate the user by analyzing the users' veins in the palm.

PUBLIC SCANS

The body scans at airports could one day be a staple item in just about every public place. Think of a door frame as a body scanner like the ones you see in court houses. Currently, everyone knows when they are being scanned however, with technology becoming micro small and sophisticated scanners could be part of entrances to public places just like tracking chips in products. Devices such as this will be promoted as a necessity to protect public health. These scanners can alert store managers if someone entering the store has a contagious disease. The same situation could be used at airports to prevent the spread of dangerous pathogens. This will be the age of biometrics; turning the individual characteristic we are born with into a human barcode and determining just about everything a person can or can't do.

THE VULNERABILITY

The problem the biometrics field faces is the increasing risk of staying secure. The data is extremely vulnerable to counterfeiting and stronger and stronger encryption has to be implemented. Many security firms are using dual biometric systems simultaneously to confirm identity. At some point the 3-D high resolution software to help with security will be outdated and then what? Heat sensors to make sure you're human? I suppose a drop of blood to confirm who you are is out of the question as vaccines, antibiotics and GMO foods are corrupting the DNA. Are we digging an ever expansive biometric hole for ourselves?

AUTOMATIC SOCIETY

As the days go by we are a step closer to automating the diagnostic process. The technology may assess things quickly but will it accurately diagnosis conditions? Disease detection by sensors, lasers and computers will be as good as their creators and as good as their encryption protection. What will we be sacrificing in this biometric world?

MANAGING OR CURING?

Regardless of the technology and early detection, the medical area shows no signs wanting to cure major disease but prefer to manage them. As it is now, a healthy person over 50-years who is not taking any prescribed medicines is looked at with awe. The medical cartel expects and wants us to be ill and healthy people are not the norm anymore. People also have a different view of what healthy is. If your life is sustained on prescribed medications it is an indication of chronic disease. The body becomes a casualty to the drugs through metabolic addiction. There are a few good souls in research and medicine that do speak out and warn people but the majority is protecting a system that is providing an illusion of health.

HERBS TO THE RESCUE

I know it sounds over optimistic to rely on herbs for disease correction but they do work and provide lasting restoration. For the eyes there is a lot you can do except pop krill oil capsules. Sugar is probably one of the most harmful products to consume if you have eye problems, especially if you have inflamed or dry eyes - sugar will make the condition worse. I would substitute with honey or stevia as a sweetener. Herbs will also help provide nutrients the eyes need such as vitamin A, B, C, manganese, magnesium, flavonoids, selenium and zinc. I like to use a combo of herbs in the Herbal Eyewash product for my eyes. You can rinse the eyes and also take a dose internally. People are amazed what they can do using herbs and they feel empowered and healthier. If you would like to learn how you can boost your immune system, cleanse away toxins to help organs regenerate, strengthen the body and get off prescription drugs or how to use Herbal Eyewash then call Apothecary Herbs 866-229-3663, International 704-885-0277 http://www.thepowerherbs.com, where your healthcare options just became endless. If you're looking for a nip-it-in-the-bud cold & flu pack with more vitamins and minerals see their My 3 Amigos combo and receive free ground ship in the continental US with coupon 3AMIGOS. Hurry! Coupon expires 1/17/15 and cannot be used with other discounts or Redemption Points.

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2126582/The-eye-scanner-saw-How-problem-spotted-supermaket-tester-caused-unnecessary-panic.html

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/expert-answers/eye-exam/faq-20058064

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/12/12/digitalbiz.biometrics/index.html?iref=24hours

COMING UP ON HERB TALK LIVE

Herbalist Wendy Wilson on Herb Talk Live

Saturday morning show:

7 am EST on GCN

1/10/15 Dr. Rebecca Carley

Weekday show:

7 pm EST on AVR

1/20/15 Dr. Rebecca Carley

Shortwave show 8 pm EST WWCR 4840

Go to http://www.thepowerherbs.com Herb Talk Live & Radio Archive area for network link access and past shows to download and share. For Android users you can download a FREE app for Herb Talk Live on GCN. See the download link under radio archives at top of page at http://www.thepowerherbs.com.

NEW HMO COUPONS at Apothecary Herbs 866-229-3663 www.thepowerherbs.com

Click on the green HMO button on top left on web site. Cut and paste coupons in your cart and save. These coupons expire the end of January 2015.

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"NEW" from Apothecary Herbs POWER GREENS FOR PETS - Keeps you away from the vet. Natural herbs for dogs and cats. Because we want organic pets

Power Greens is a blend of organic plants and natural herbs containing vitamins, minerals and 22 amino acids found naturally in these whole-food plants. Easy to digest with healthy digestion enzymes. You will notice the vibrant color of the greens and other ingredients in Power Greens for Pets because it is made with certified organic herbs grown to Tilth Standards (the highest organic standards in the industry). Compared to Dinovite�, Power Greens for Pets is made with superior grade ingredients and will produce much faster and better results in the health of your pet. No need for large scoops of our Power Greens for Pets to get results. Depending on the size of your pet 1/2 teaspoon to one tablespoon is all you'll need. Your pet will be healthier and you'll save money. For more info call 866-229-3663 http://www.thepowerherbs.com/herb/Natural-Pet-Food.html

MORE HERB SECRETS IN THE POWER HERBS e-BOOK. By popular demand The Power Herbs e-book is available with symptom/herb reference guide, information on organ cleansing and how to make your own herbal tinctures plus a whole lot more. Go to http://www.thepowerherbs.com/Books-And-Newsletters/The-Power-Herbs-e-Book-cleansing-immune-boosting.html and click on Books. You must have email to order and receive the e-book a PDF version of The Power Herb book for just $14.99. At this time, we do not offer this title in hard copy.

NEW DANDELION ROOT LIQUID

Try Dandelion Root Tincture for inflammation, blood purification, respiratory infections, digestion and cancer protection at http://www.thepowerherbs.com/herb/Dandelion-Inflammation-Blood-Purifier.html.

HERB KITS EXTEND YOUR FIRST AID KITS

Do you have your Pandemic Kit yet? Here is what folks are saying about the 100% organic Pandemic Kit made by Apothecary Herbs. "I have this kit and recommend everyone have at least one on hand (or more depending on family size) for a pandemic." Rebecca Carley, MD, Hickory, NC and "I have one and glad I do; just in case. I like the long shelf life." Melody Cedarstrom, Port Matilda, PA (more customer feedback at http://www.thepowerherbs.com) or call 866-229-3663 to order your kit today.

PURE ZINC ENERGY

Pure energy is organic and instantly absorbed - transporting nutrition to every cell in your body. It is a super food for the body to repair, build and fortify itself. Where do you get it? It's called Body Foundation Food Mix and is at Apothecary Herbs 866-229-3663, International 704-885-0277 http://www.thepowerherbs.com. This pure energy food source is so efficient; you won't feel hungry between meals and can safely lose weight.

DETOX PRODUCTS

Apothecary Herbs has released a new product called Liver Detox Tea. You can layer this tea with Milk Thistle Tincture for a gentle yet effective liver cleanse. This is a nice option if you can't do the Liver/Gall Bladder Flush using olive oil. You will find this new product under Herbal Teas at http://www.thepowerherbs.com. Also new is the Liver & Gall Bladder Tincture with dandelion root for more anticancer protection. This formula is available in 1 oz, 2 oz and 4 oz sizes. You will find this item under Organ Body Cleanses at http://www.thepowerherbs.com. You can layer this tincture with the Liver Detox Tea and be well!

BE PREPARED

Being prepared is never a waste of time. Get your own organic garden growing and stock as much healthy foodstuffs as you can. You'll also need backup medicine but the over-the-counter and prescription medicines have a limited shelf life of two years or less. However, your organic medicines have a ten year shelf life without side effects. Call the folks at Apothecary Herbs for their Natural Medicine Starter Stock-up Package or make sure you get one of their many herb kits for boosting immune system and protecting you from viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. Call Apothecary Herbs 866-229-3663, International 704-885-0277 online http://www.thepowerherbs.com, where your healthcare options just became endless.

ALLERGY RELIEF

If you suffer from allergies (sneezing, itchy watery eyes, stuffy or runny nose, and sinus pressure or sinus infections) try the Echinacea Deluxe formula and Herbal Eyewash both around $20.00 from Apothecary Herbs. Call now toll free 866-229-3663 http://www.thepowerherbs.com.

APOTHECARY HERBS VITAMIN VAULT - STOCK UP AND SAVE!

You already know that you can save on the half and full case discounts in the Vitamin Vault area at http://www.thepowerherbs.com. Apothecary Herbs has added a new item called the Natural Medicine Starter Stock-up Package. This package is designed for those preparing for their medical future and contains immune boosting, pain & inflammation, organ cleanses, vitamin, mineral, amino acid and protein products plus a Pandemic Kit and it comes with a savings. Visit http://www.thepowerherbs.com or call toll free to order your Starter Stock-up Package 866-229-3663, International 704-885-0277.

MALE & FEMALE ORGAN CLEANSES KITS - Don't give disease a foothold. You will have the power to cleanse the bowel, urinary, liver, gall bladder and blood system with this cleanse package. For added cleansing, ask about how you can upgrade your order to include the prostate cleanse for men or the Kidney/Bladder cleanse for females. Go to http://www.thepowerherbs.com or call their 24-hour live customer service line 866-229-3663, International 704-885-0277.

STARTER KIT & ONE-YEAR SUPPLY OF HERBAL MEDICNE (shelf life 10 to 15 years)

See Apothecary Herbs One Year Supply of Herbal Medicine at http://www.thepowerherbs.com or call 866-229-3663, 704-885-0277. Call for a customized year supply or to set up installment payment for this package.

The information contained herein is not designed to diagnosis, treat, prevent or cure disease. Seek medical advice from a lincensed medical physician (if you dare) before using any product or therapy.

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