Should the Republic of Ireland join the BRICS block?

 Should the Republic of Ireland join the BRICS block?  That is a good question. I think that it is a good idea.

Ireland is not a NATO treaty country, nor is it a member of the Schengen Area. It would seem that joining the BRICS block would be a worthwhile concept to explore. I suspect that the BRICS block would welcome Ireland and the Irish.

The European Union's influence on Irish rights must be undone ASAP. And yes, I am an Irishman. It is time for Ireland to shed the yoke of the EU and claim it's full independence from the new cabal of tyrants. The EU is almost finished. 

The Irish have shed the yoke of tyranny before, it is time to do it again.

A Word to the Wise - GO DOWN THE TECHOLOGY LADDER, NOT UP IT!

In these crazy times when networked devices are being hacked or hijacked on a regular basis, I have one piece of advice:

Whenever you have to make a choice on an item, make the choice the takes you down the technology ladder, not up it.

An example:

• A $50 non networked thermostat versus a $100+ networked one.
• An old school doorbell or better yet, a door knocker, over a networked doorbell.
• A family dog is probably a better choice than a wireless home alarm and sensors. Ask any burglar.
• the list goes on and on. .........

GO DOWN THE TECHOLOGY LADDER, NOT UP IT!

Non Government Issued Crypto Currencies are doomed!

That is what I said: Non Government Issued Crypto Currencies are doomed!

That includes all of the usual darlings:

1. Bitcoin (BTC)

2. Ethereum (Ether)

3. Ripple (XRP)

4. Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

5. EOS

6. Cardano (ADA)

7. Litecoin (LTC)

8. Stellar (XLM)

9. IOTA

10. NEO

11. Dogecoin

.... there are over 1000 of these black holes sucking in stupid investors.

Does anyone honestly believe that governments won't outlaw all of these un-minted government coins?

They will outlaw them but first they'll tax them. Then confiscate or eliminate them. They will create their own government minted cryptos and track and tax every transaction.

Fiat currencies are doomed too but governments will kill cryptos ASAP. Does no one understand Counterparty Risk any more?

The Pioneer Pipeline malware / ransomware attack was the final straw. I am sure that politicians around the world are having their lawyers liquidate their ill gotten crypto currencies into offshore havens as I type this. Once the politicians and big players are safely out of cryptos, the remaining suckers will be reeled in and gutted.

Counterparty risk is the likelihood or probability that one of those involved in a transaction or supply chain might default on their contractual obligations.

For those in the know, counterparty risk is minimized by having your asset directly in your sole control. No strings attached. That being said, the governments of the world will always try to take some or all of the asset from the owner. The best asset in dangerous times is the asset that no one else knows a person owns. Precious metals come to mind.

Roosevelt showed the governments reach for private assets in the 1930s:

Executive Order 6102 is an executive order signed on April 5, 1933, by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt "forbidding the hoarding of gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates within the continental United States." The executive order was made under the authority of the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, as amended by the Emergency Banking Act in March 1933.

Good luck with your crypto currencies. You are going to need it.

Seneca was Right!

The Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca, known as Seneca, was right about many things:

• Prepare for the worst case scenario.
• Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
• Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
• There are more things, Lucilius, that frighten us than injure us, and we suffer more in imagination than in reality.
• Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.
• Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.
• All cruelty springs from weakness.
• Time heals what reason cannot.
• One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.
• As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
• Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.

Technology is like Alcohol, Too Much is Debilitating!

Internet Technology, especially social media platforms, are like alcohol. Too much is debilitating and socially disruptive. A little bit goes a long way.

Have a walk and a talk with family and friends. Sit down and play cards or a game with people, real people, not robots which I call "robs" for obvious reasons.

Live your life on your terms, not as an addict.

Remember when a phone meant Freedom?

Do you remember when a phone meant Freedom?

When phones were connected by wire, people were free.

Maintain your personal Agency and your Privacy

In social science, Agency is defined as the capacity of individuals to act independently and to make their own free choices.

Many modern technologies are designed to take away your various freedoms or agency. Cell phone tracking, arbitrary facial recognition, digital cash, payment services of all kinds, loyalty cards etc. These are all forms of Techno Slavery.

Every one of these owns or controls something that was only yours in the past. A true loss of freedom is happening continually to all of us.

Slow TechnoSlavery down whenever you can. As an example: purchase with cash when you can, turn your cell phone off when not in use, clear your location history, don't post anything personal on social media, lie to all pollsters. In short: PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY or what you have left of it. It isn't too late to start.