FALL YOUTH SPORTS SIGNUPS ARE ABOUT FINISHED

If you have a child who wants to plays sports this fall, the deadlines for the various sign-ups are next week.  If you miss them, you will probably miss out on the volley, softball and baseball fall seasons.  Youth football season will be starting in a few weeks and that sign-up date has come and gone.

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
Ardmore is hosting the fall league this year.  The place to sign up is Ardmore Park.
*July 30 @ 6-8 pm
 
VOLLEYBALL
August 2 will be the LAST date to sign up for this season.  It will be at the Elkmont sports park concession stand on the hilltop from 6-8 pm. 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT..... ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO READ DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

We have the left media, we have the right media but there are other points of views still ... what do you think?

Have you heard of the Shirky Principle? In 2010 Clay Shirky was giving a speech and while talking about his book Cognitive Surplus said, "Institutions will try to preserve the problem to which they are the solution."  This is why we cannot trust the government, its institutions, corporations, organized religion, or any group that seeks to maintain and extend its authority over us. To the extent that we trust authority is the extent to which we diminish our freedom.  By the same token, the more we are dumbed down, the more we trust authority. Is there a vested interest in dumbing down the people?

If you have observed the protocols of power as in the book The Prince by Machiavelli, you have probably concluded that dumbing down the population is an organized effort that eventually guarantees political power to the ruling elite. This is accomplished gradually, through stealth.  According to Webster's Third International Dictionary, "stealth" means, "something stolen, the act or action of proceeding secretly or imperceptibly." And according to Black's Law Dictionary, 6th Edition, stealth means, "secret or the act of stealing when the victim is unaware of the theft. Any secret, sly, or clandestine act to avoid discovery and to gain entrance into or to remain within residence of another without permission."

In my view, stealth needs further definition. Stealth should be categorized as being in existence where there is total unawareness by the victim(s). Also stealth should be characterized as being secretly operative over very long periods of time, so as to be sacrosanct and institutionalized. Examples are the Federal Reserve and its companion, the IRS. Time bestows legitimacy. This means that millions of people are born into the system who never question its legitimacy, legality or morality. The more generations that pass the more entrenched the stealth. So again, time bestows legitimacy and suffocates inquiry. Institutions deepen the hold of the system by lobbying to maintain the status quo, always to the detriment of the people. Lawyers, accountants and tax preparation companies lobbying to maintain a complex tax system is another example of stealth, operating below the threshold of knowledge for most people.

The few who understand stealth can understand government and predict the future. This my friends is a very, very small number of people. It is my prayer that all readers of these Alerts will understand stealth no later than reading this Alert. If so, you will be translated from the frivolous to reality. The gatekeepers do not want you to live in reality. They want you to believe that there is only "matter" on Earth, no spirit, no soul, no God.

These gatekeepers — the elites, the materialists, the corporatists and the globalists — have created an intentional obstruction to block off the realm of God and create a place of "science." Scientific "facts," the work-a-day world necessary for paying the taxman, the constant distractions — these consume the crowd. They have so much noise in their lives that they have no time nor imperative to understand this shift away from faith and liberty and toward a world where they are led to believe that only what is created and sanctioned by man will sustain them. That only the institutions of man are reliable and trustworthy. That only that which has been officially researched and concluded by "science" (this is the opposite of what true science does) is fact. They do not perceive that this is undermining every vestige of their lives and their future.

The stealth system has a cover of very sophisticated propaganda. Trust in the system guarantees the propaganda cover. People who trust the system never inquire past the propaganda and that is by far the majority, but not you. Most readers of this letter are probably willing to believe that our health and our finances really depend on our capacity to have contrary opinion. That is that we can survive in direct relationship to our believing just the opposite of the pronouncements of authority in matters of religion, politics, health and finance.

The power of propaganda has never been better illustrated than in medical orthodoxy and the tax system. Although we have written on this before, the power of this deception boggles the mind and is a constant source of amazement. The public is confused simply because they can't tell that the medical industrial complex is a sickness system instead of a health system. They can't tell the difference between real money and an IOU written on green paper in their wallets. The differences are life or death. The system operates on the certainty that the crowd will believe the propaganda cover. If the crowd stopped believing the propaganda, the stealth system would collapse and human liberty would return. Also when the stealth collapses, the vast army of parasites, like ex-government consultants, lawyers, doctors, accountants etc. would have to get honest work. Oh, they are not all bad, but many are.

How do we escape the system of stealth?

Start believing just the opposite of all religious, economic and geopolitical pronouncements. This alone will catapult you into reality. If the trauma is too severe, return to slavery. You will be welcomed to become a "Taxpayer" again. Key to understanding propaganda: Governments never allow individual or media attacks on their preferred methods of stealth i.e., the esoteric monetary system, "spirituality, orthodox medicine, corporatism and politics.

The stealth system knows the propaganda value of phony opposition. Feigned opposition as in political parties keeps the simple blinded and all debate is on spurious issues. Decoys are as important to the stealth system as they are to duck hunters. Spurious debate is a constant diversion. It is noise. The most "educated," professional, and sophisticated thinkers are conditioned and limited unless and until they escape the stealth parameters of thought. Until we believe that reality is outside the box, we can do no better than frivolity, diversion and self-deception.

We can never know "cause and effect." When you encounter an educated fool, escape as fast as possible lest you be tainted with nonsense. People who never question authority, custom and tradition, are unthinking fools. The morality of authority is that any means justify the end.

Yours for the truth,

Bob Livingston
Editor, The Bob Livingston Letter™

EVA RAY FREEMAN - OBITUARY

Eva Ray Freeman, age  92, died Friday, July 13, 2018. Services were at 2 p.m. Monday, July 16, 2018 in the chapel of Spry Funeral Home, Athens. Visitation was Monday from noon until service time. Burial was in Antioch Cemetery, Elkmont, Alabama.

JAMES THOMAS CLINARD - OBITUARY

 
James Thomas Clinard, age 80 of Athens, died Sunday, July 22, 2018, at Limestone Health Facility. Mr. Clinard was born April 22, 1938, in Giles County, Tennessee. He was a member of First Church Athens, an avid fisherman and a barber. Funeral was at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 at First Church, with Bruce Johnson, Dr. Rick Craft and Cleabron Pullum officiating. Visitation was from noon-2 p.m. Wednesday at the church with Spry Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery. 

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Clinard of Athens; daughters, Charlotte Carter and husband Grayson of Athens, Carla Daws of Athens, and Sherry Ruth and husband Darren of Athens; brothers, Don Clinard of Elkmont and Loren Clinard of Elkmont; sisters, Letha Mae Bailey of Anderson, Kathryn Stutts of Athens, Mickey Lovell of Elkmont and Glenda White of Lester; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren

JASON LEE WOOLDRIDGE - OBITUARY

Jason Lee Wooldridge, age 48, of Elkmont, died at home Monday, July 16, 2018.  Graveside service was 2 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at Todd Cemetery in Lester. Visitation was 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday at Spry Funeral Home.

WINNIE COFFMAN POTEETE - OBITUARY

Winnie Coffman Poteete was born April 9, 1939 in Elkmont, AL to Marvin and Martha Potts Coffman. She passed away at her residence. Winnie was a homemaker, actress, fashion consultant, party planner, artist, house designer, and an interior decorator. She graduated from Elkmont High School class of 1957; married John D. Poteete, an Air Force Officer and traveled around the country. 

A Memorial Service was held Sunday, July 29, 2018 at 2 P.M. at Elkmont United Methodist Church in Elkmont, AL with Rev. Thom Porter officiating. Winnie is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by one son, Kent H. Poteete and wife Doreen of Atlanta, GA; one daughter, Susan Delite Poteete Fedusenko and husband David of Elkmont, AL; two grandchildren, Harlow and Drew Poteete; one step grandchild, Bridgette Moubray; three great grandchildren, Sophia, Olivia, and Cayson.

PATRICIA FAYE ROBINSON USERY - OBITUARY

The Funeral Service for Patricia Faye Robinson Usery, age 74 of Elkmont, was Wednesday July 25, 2018, at 1 P.M. at McConnell Memorial Chapel with Brother Richard Garlen and Brother Brad Smith officiating. Visitation was Tuesday July 24, 2018 from 6-9 P.M. at McConnell Funeral Home. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Prospect, TN. She passed away on Sunday July 22, 2018 at Athens Limestone Hospital. 

Mrs. Usery was born December 20, 1943 in Limestone County, AL to Thomas and Sadie Robinson. Mrs. Usery was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Methodist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, and five brothers Harry, Herman, Johnny, Kenneth, Jerry Robinson, and five sisters Dot Black, Ruth McClusky, Estelle Atkinson, Catherine Weldon, and Roberta Smith. 

She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years Gerald Wayne Usery of Elkmont, AL; three daughters Tracy Hicks (Danny), Becky Skinner (Dennis), and Kerry Morris; one brother Aaron Robinson (Mavis) and one sister Elizabeth Reneger (Billy), six grandchildren Chris Hicks, Amanda Hicks, Caitlin Sims, Tyler Skinner, Erika Morris, Colby Morris, four great grandchildren Braxton, Brodie and Brett Sims and Hezekiah. Pallbearers will be Danny Hicks, Jonathan Sims, Chris Hicks, Dennis Skinner, Colby Morris, and Tyler Skinner. In Lieu of Flowers, donations can be made to Pleasant Hill Methodist Church 3025 Pleasant Hill Rd Prospect, TN 38477.

JOHN WILKIE JINRIGHT - OBITUARY

John Wilkie Jinright, age 81 of Athens, passed away Sunday, July 22, 2018 at Athens Rehab and Sr. Care. Mr. Jinright was born May 1, 1937 in Troy, AL. Preceded in death by his parents; wife, Judy Jinright; brother, Byron Jinright.
 
Services was Tuesday, July 24, 2018 1:00 p.m., at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Jimmy Clark officiating. Visitation was Tuesday, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. prior to the service.

Survived by two daughters, Yvonne Webster and husband, Vince of Elkmont and Teresa Foster and husband, Toby of Athens; two sons, John K. Jinright and wife, Kem and Keith Jinright and wife, Donna both of Athens; eleven grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Patricia Hall and husband, David and Sandra Biamonte and husband, Bob both of FL.

Pallbearers will be Chris Webster, Vin Webster, Allen Foster, Brandon Jinright, Ken Stovall and Klint Kali.

PEGGY ANN FIZER - OBITUARY

Peggy Ann Fizer, age 80 of Elkmont, passed away Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at her residence. Mrs. Fizer was born February 15, 1938 in Limestone County, AL to Emmett Putman and Laura Hollingsworth Putman.

Services was Saturday, July 14, 2018 11:00 a.m., at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. George Miller officiating. Visitation was Friday, July 13, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial was in Athens City Cemetery.

Preceded in death by her parents; husband, William E. Fizer; daughter, Ellen Louise Fizer.
 
Survived by two daughters, Lori Sanders and husband, Tim of Athens and Linda Fizer of Five Points, TN; one son, Wes Fizer and wife, Karen of Huntington, WV; three grandchildren, Chris Fizer, Beth Ann Rigney and Billy Rigney; seven great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Pallbearers will be Billy Rigney, Randy Sanders, John Sanders, Will Hammock, Chris Dimarco and Vince Hammock.

BARBARA B. CHRISTOPHER - OBITUARY

Barbara B. Christopher, age 84 of Elkmont, passed away Monday, July 9, 2018 at River City Health and Rehab. Mrs. Christopher was born July 29, 1933 in Limestone County, AL to Redus Phenus Barker and Ruby Ball Barker. Mrs. Christopher enjoyed cooking and she loved her family. She was a Red Cross Volunteer for 40 years.
 
Services were July 11, 2018 3:00 p.m., at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Larry Hicks officiating. Visitation was from 1:00 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. prior to the service. Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery.

Preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Linda Jane Barker and Pauline Baker.

Survived by her husband of 66 years, Norris Christopher of Elkmont; one son, Eli Christopher and wife, Emily of Athens; one daughter, Linda Atkinson and husband, Thomas of Madison; five grandchildren, Anna Lea Atkinson, Laura Atkinson, Lana Atkinson, Colin Christopher and Samuel Christopher; two great-grandchildren, Lindlee Brook Atkinson and Addison Lea Nelson; one brother, Phillip Barker; four sisters, Joann Carter and husband, Tommy, Betty Bolton, Peggy Mitchell and husband, Larry and Judy Witt and husband, John.

Pallbearers will be David Christopher, Bill Kennamer, Larry Mitchell, Tom Carter, Colin Christopher, Samuel Christopher, Keith Baker and Perry Baker.

STANLEY "ROSS" MORRIS, JR - OBITUARY

Stanley "Ross" Morris, Jr., age 34 of Athens, passed away Thursday, July 26, 2018. The funeral service will be Monday, July 30, 2018 at 10 a.m. at McConnell Memorial Chapel with Jerry Smith officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, July 29, 2018 from 6-9 p.m. at McConnell Funeral Home. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery. 

Ross was born March 13, 1984 in Madison County to Stanley Morris, Sr. and Sheila Elrod Morris. 

Survivors include his parents of Athens, one daughter, Mackenzie Morris of Athens; two sisters Michelle Roberts of Elkmont; Valerie Savage and husband Shaun of Athens; three nephews, Garlon Slaton, Junior Savage, Josh Usery, two nieces, Catherine Morris and Kayla Savage. Pallbearers will be Derek Standridge, Michael Evans, Brad Nave, Shaun Savage, Garlon Slaton, Blake Vincent and James Kellum.

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

I can "feel" a practice before it even starts. Most coaches know what I mean. The mood of the athletes and the way they approach the workout is a tangible thing before practice begins. 

Life is like that. The day can start the way we choose. How many times have we been brought down by others ...how many times have I brought others down. I tell my athletes constantly that positive thoughts, positive attitudes, and positive communication are essential for productive practices and races. Easy....maybe not. 

Like most things it takes a little work on my part. Stop complaining. Two words that carry a lot of weight. What does it change? Action instead of reaction. No place for negativity in sports from athletes, parents and fans. Encouragement over discouragement every time. Life needs to be the same way. Blessed instead of stressed! Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Leigh loves " Christmas in July" She has listened for years to me talking about a ceramic Christmas tree my Grandmother had. She would keep the tree up in the attic and when she would have me climb the old weathered steep stairs to get it. I can't explain the excitement, that tree held Christmas for me before I started to school. She would get it out and plug it in and it would sit in the middle of the dining room table that was actually in a bedroom they had converted into a den. I knew when that tree came out that it would not be long until we were all crammed in that 5 room house eating, laughing, and loving. She never had a big house. My Grandaddy built it himself. She always loved pretty things though. She had bowls, candy dishes, nut crackers and all the kind of things that kept young minds intrigued and wanting to touch. Ben Franklin was a treasure trove for her. She loved to set out knick knacks. 


I came home from camp and the tree was sitting on our dining room table. Not THE tree, but one like it. Memories came flooding back! Good memories....Heard today that the most we can hope to be remembered is two generations. She deserves more than that in my mind , but I know the truth is the truth. But now I have a tree...a tree that will continue keeping her close and hopefully making new memories for mine one day! Time moves on way too fast! Have a good one!

ARE YOUR PREPARED FOR LIFE?

Another great podcast  from Jack Spirko to help you be better able to deal with life when it goes sideways. This is a podcast especially for our younger Elkmont folk (under 40).


From Jack:
It is a question I think many young people would have to honestly answer with no.  But middle agers, you folks ain’t off the hook here either.  Let us ponder that question today and ask what it would mean to actually be prepared for life and discover if we are even close to teaching our young people that today.
What does prepared for life mean, I think it would differ based on who you ask but here is what it basically means to me.  If you are prepared for life you can not just function but thrive no matter the conditions around you.  You can adapt, think on your feet and learn what ever you need to learn.  You can take risks and be okay with failure because you know how to mitigate risks.  That is a short summary, but it indeed is prepared for life.
Based on that definition we are not preparing our youth for life and have not been doing so for a long time.  This includes my own generation and prior.

 

Join Jack Today to Discuss…
LINK: ARE YOUR PREPARED FOR LIFE?

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

It's 5:30. I wake up and think "do I really want to get up and run?" Then the rationalizations start..."my feet hurt"....."my legs are sore"...."do I have any clean socks"...."I wonder if all that pounding makes me shorter?"...I can lay here and take inventory of all the reasons not to or just get up and do it! I know the answer...so do most of us. 

Getting up is 1/2 the battle in most things in life. We can choose to let our "aches and pains" hold us back or get up and live. Life can be tough. A lot of people I know are going through some rough times right now. It will get better. 

If you have to lay there and skip a "run" or two do it but get back at it! Life can be too great to lay and push snooze! Choices...as long as we are breathing we have them! Have a good one!

MORE STAFF CHANGES AT ELKMONT SCHOOLS

Throughout the summer the staff in schools all over the country shifts and changes.  Elkmont Schools are no different.  The Elkmont personnel actions made during the the July 10 Limestone County Board meeting are:

RESIGNATIONS:
Sean Holt
*went to East Lawrence

TRANSFERS:
Elaine McCord  
*technical specialist from Tanner to Elkmont elementary/high school

Regina Clem
*physical education Elkmont to Piney Chapel

NEW HIRES:
Anthony Oliver
*history at Elkmont High, replacing Jacob Ryan 

Donnie Story
*history at Elkmont High, replacing Sean Holt

Look for more changes before the school year starts.

 
 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT..... ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO READ DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

We have the left media, we have the right media but there are other points of views still ... what do you think? 

 

There has been a lot of confusion lately in the mainstream economic media as well as in independent media circles as to the behavior of stock markets in the wake of the recently initiated global trade war. In particular, stocks suffered one of the longest runs of negative days in their history in June, only to then spike just after Donald Trump “officially” began trade war tariffs in July. The expectation by many was that the headlines would cause an immediate and continued downturn in equities markets, but this was not the case. Many analysts have been left bewildered.
This is an issue I have touched on multiple times since the beginning of this year, and it is something I predicted long before Trump's election in 2016. But it is obvious that the schizophrenic nature of stocks needs to be addressed in a very concise, no-holds-barred fashion, because there are still far too many people who are looking at all the wrong causes and correlations. First, let's be clear: stock markets are not tracking the news headlines. The past month should have proved this if there was any previous doubt.

It is hard for investors and some analysts to grasp this fact, primarily because for at least the past few years it appeared as though stock markets were utterly dictated by headlines out of Bloomberg, Reuters and other mainstream media outlets. Once investors and analysts became used to this narrative it was difficult for them to adapt when the dynamic changed. They are still living in the past based on an assumption that was never quite correct to begin with. In reality, headlines never actually dictated stock prices; it was always the Federal Reserve among other central banks.
As I and others have noted consistently, stock market valuations for the past several years have tracked almost perfectly with the Fed's balance sheet. That is to say, every time the Fed purchased more assets and increased the balance sheet, stocks went up.

After years of the notorious “Fed Put,” we now have an entire generation of investors and market writers that have never experienced a stock environment in which equities actually fall according to the health of their corresponding companies or the economy at large. The past year has been a bit of a shock for them, and it's only going to get worse. The Fed's interventions in stocks are now essentially over, which is exactly why stocks are no longer hitting new historic highs every month as they used to. The massive bull market rally of the post credit crash world of 2008 has stalled, and here are the reasons why.

Central Banks tapering QE

The Federal Reserve was only the first to begin tapering its purchases of treasury bonds. Japan is now in the midst of what many are referring to as a “stealth taper” of its own bond purchases. The European Central Bank has announced it will likely end its QE program by the end of this year. Bond purchases helped first to support the ever growing debt burden of the governments and nations in question, but along with artificially low interest rates, it made bond investment less desirable in terms of profits. This pushed the majority of investors into stocks, where profits were essentially guaranteed by the central banks. Now that QE is ending around the world and rates are rising along with yields, bonds are becoming a competing asset, luring investors away from stocks once more.

Central Banks raising interest rates

The Federal Reserve has been raising rates consistently since the end of 2016, exactly as I predicted they would before the U.S. election.  Interest rates are a direct influencing factor in stocks — low interest rates and cheap overnight loans to corporations by the Fed allowed these companies to continually buy back their own stocks, thereby decreasing the number of stock offerings available on the market and artificially boosting the value of the stocks that were left circulating.

Corporations have taken on a historic level of debt not seen since 2007 in order to keep their stocks prices high. Now that interest rates are rising, the party is almost over. The only source of capital left to fuel the stock buyback bonanza has been the Trump corporate tax cut.  Instead of using this cut as a means to increase employment, innovation and to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., companies have instead squandered it on boosting the stock market yet again. However, as we have seen this year so far, without the aid of cheap money from the central bank the effects of stock buybacks are diminishing. How long will it take for corporations to completely exhaust this last revenue stream? I predict stock buybacks will die off by the end of this year. And with rising interest rates, all that debt they took on in order to keep stocks elevated will now become rather expensive to hold onto. Once stock buybacks diminish, markets will crash. It's important to note that the Fed is not the only central bank that is raising interest rates. The Bank of Canada and the Bank of England among others are beginning to push higher rates as well.

Federal Reserve cutting balance sheet

The Fed has been the single most important trigger for stock markets. Period. As noted above, it was the Fed that created the historic bull market rally after the derivatives collapse. Jerome Powell, the current chairman of the Fed, noted back in 2012 that this was the case, and also made statements on what would happen is the Fed ever raised interest rates and cut asset purchases, ending the central bank's “short position.” What did Powell predict in 2012? Essentially, a stock market crash. And, yet, as the new Fed chair, he is implementing the exact measures he warned about back in 2012.

With every new balance sheet cut and rate hike, the Dow Jones in particular tends to lose 1,000 points or more. The damages have been mitigated by continued stock buybacks from corporations, but as already mentioned, this stop gap will be ending shortly. In May, we saw an exaggerated market spike, but the Fed slowed cuts that month and also added a small amount of purchases, which only supports my assertion that the balance sheet is the primary indicator of where stocks are headed. I should also note that the St. Louis Fed recently ended its reporting of data on cuts from week-to-week. There are other sources for this data, but they mainly show how much was cut per month, not when in the month those cuts were made. The St. Louis data was originally reported on a weekly basis. I believe the Fed is not attempting to hide the size of its asset dumps, but it is attempting to hide the exact timing of when the cuts occurred.  In this way, they hope to distance themselves from any blame as it becomes more difficult to connect Fed cuts to specific plunges in stock markets.

Trade war distraction

The trade war continues as the most effective possible distraction from central bank activities. In every instance of a stock market decline, which takes place after every instance of a Federal Reserve cut in the balance sheet or an interest rate hike, Donald Trump also seems to make yet another trade war announcement. The only outlier has been the “official launch” of the trade war with China, which saw stock markets suddenly rise.  I have witnessed numerous analysts and commentators frantic over the fact that stocks did not fall on the headlines. Some have even suggested that the investment world “loves the trade war.” What these commentators do not understand is that the headlines are meaningless and the trade war has little to do with the behavior in equities. It is the Federal Reserve and to some extent other central banks that are controlling stock market prices, along with corporate stock buybacks which are facilitated by the Federal Reserve.

I've said it before and I'll say it again — what we are witnessing is a controlled demolition of the U.S. economy, and stock markets are merely an extension of this process. They are a lagging indicator, not a leading indicator. Stocks fall when the Fed dumps more assets, and these cuts are growing larger and larger as 2018 drags on. Stocks rise when the Fed slows asset cuts in a particular week, or when companies initiate more stock buybacks. That's it. That is all there is. There is nothing else to look at when predicting what stocks will do at any given time. The facade will end when balance sheet cuts expand to a point at which buybacks cannot keep up and the slack in markets grows too fast.  Or when stock buyback cash runs out (probably by the end of this year). The trade war can and will cause various problems within the global economy, but the greater cause of fiscal distress will always be central banks. They are to blame for any future crisis.

To truth and knowledge,

Brandon Smith

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Was laying on a float in the pool after getting the yard mowed and watching the clouds build back in the west. Beautiful to watch them grow and the sun shining off of them. 

I started thinking about people who are caught out in storms and trying to find somewhere to get to shelter. I am sure at some point in our lives we have all had to "run and hunker down." Lots of panic in those moments. 
 

I think a lot of kids that come to us in the mornings at school are seeking that shelter. Shelter from storms at home and shelter from feelings and struggles. The panic they feel causes them to act up and act out and dread going back out in the "storm." 

The sad part is what we provide is temporary. We need parents to step up and be the foundation, the walls, and most importantly the roof that keeps these kids protected, comfortable and safe. Parents need to provide the needed boundaries. No child can be sheltered in chaos and selfishness. Again, just my take. Have a good one!

BARRY'S CORNER - LIVING IN ELKMONT

Running yesterday afternoon, I was thinking about life changes. Thinking about how fast our reality from yesterday can be totally different the next. It’s true. In one second, life can become something totally different than what we have expected. Reaction to those life changes becomes the compass that gives us direction. It can lead us down a path of despair. It can lead us to a place of self awareness and cause change. The struggle to understand things can sometimes cause less fulfilling days and sleepless nights. 

Being prepared to be unprepared is a fruitless endeavor....worrying! Whether it be life changes, changes at work, emotional, physical...our ability to adapt or not becomes of utmost importance. Some are harder than others but basic principles still apply. Changing is hard. Changing lifestyle is hard. I see so many people on the trail daily who have decided to change. People out moving, People who got up and made the decision to start... and isn’t that the hardest one of all. In the end, change is a lonely experience, lol. Great support, the best plan, and intentions off the chart cannot help unless “we” make the changes and do the work. Life’s does change; so can we. Have a good one!

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ELKMONT THIS WEEK?

  

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Mo Brooks Elkmont Satellite Office Open @ 9 am

SENIOR CENTER   
*Dominoes, TV, billiards, joker and other games; 8 am 


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We are watching the weather for the weekend closely BUT in case it does rain us out, Our rain date for the CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PARTY will be July 21st! I will keep everyone updated.please share!!!

15 
CHURCH DAY 

ELKMONT KICKIN' LADY DEVILS RECOGNIZED

The Elkmont Soccer program is still very young but has been consistently improving each year. This year a number of Lady Devils received post season honors recognizing their outstanding individual seasons.

The 2018 All-County Girls Soccer team which is selected by Limestone County coaches was released by the Athens News Courier this week.  The Defensive Player of the Year was awarded to our Bailey Webb. She also received an honorable mention on the Decatur Daily All-Area Team.

East Limestone's Stefani Fleagle tries to keep the ball away from Elkmont defender Bailey Webb during the championship game of the Limestone County Tournament. Bailey is in black. Photo by Athens News Courier

Adding to her honorable mention on the Decatur Daily All-Area team,  Claudia Allen made the First Team All County team for her outstanding efforts this year.

Other Elkmont players who received All-County Team recognition for the 2018 Spring season are:

FIRST TEAM
Guadalupe Salgado
Stephanie Marcial

SECOND TEAM
Katherine Perez

THIRD TEAM;
Gracie McMahan

HONORABLE MENTION:
Getsemani Segura

WHAT TO DO WHEN ITS HOT?

One of the best ways to beat the heat is to kayak down the Elk River.  One of our businesses in Elkmont is Fort Hampton Outfitters.  Your one stop place for everything to do with paddling down the river. 

More info from Fort Hampton Outfitters:
 We offer kayak rentals on the Elk River in Elkmont, AL.  All trips on the Elk River must be scheduled in advance.  Our main trip is a 6.1 mile trip on the beautiful Limestone County Canoe and Kayak Trail.  The trip takes 2-3 hours.  We meet at the Red Caboose in Elkmont.  We will take you to Veto and put you in the water and pick you up at the bridge on 127.  All your gear is provided, pfd, paddle, and kayak.  The Limestone County Canoe and Kayak Trail is 21 miles long and we will be glad to accommodate you for a longer trip.  Check with us for rates on extending your trip and we will do everything we can to help you have an enjoyable day paddling.  We also rent kayaks at Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, AL.  We will have a concession area at the beach area where people can rent by the hour.  

Website:  Fort Hampton Outfitters
Facebook Page Link

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT..... ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO READ DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

We have the left media, we have the right media but there are other points of views still ... what do you think? 

The crash of 2008 brought with it a host of strange economic paradigms rarely if ever seen in history; paradigms which have turned normal fiscal analysis on its head. While some core fundamentals remain the same no matter what occurs, the reporting of this data have been deliberately skewed to hide the truth. But what is the truth? Well, at bottom, the truth is that most economies around the world are far weaker than the picture governments and central banks have painted. This is especially true for the United States.

One country has been pursuing an opposite strategy for many years now — meaning, it has been hiding its economic preparedness more than its weaknesses. I am of course speaking of China.
In the world of alternative analysis, when we mention China several issues always arise: China's expanding debt burden, government spending on useless infrastructure programs like “ghost cities,” China's central bank and its corporate subset misreporting financial figures regularly, etc. All of these things fuel the notion that when a global fiscal disaster inevitable takes place, it will emanate first from China. They also give the American public the false impression that a trade war against China will be easily won and that China will immediately falter under the weight of its own veiled instabilities.

However, if one actually studies China's behavior and activities the past decade, they would see a method to the apparent madness. In fact, some of China's actions seem to suggest that the nation has been preparing for years for the exact geopolitical conditions we see today. It's as if someone warned them ahead of time.
In terms of prepping for a trade war with the U.S., China has implemented several important steps. For example, for at least the past 10 years, the country has been shifting away from a pure export economy and reducing its reliance on sales of goods to the U.S. In 2018, Chinese consumer purchases of goods is expected to surpass that of American consumers. For the past five years, domestic consumption in China accounted for between 55 percent to 65 percent of economic growth, and private consumption was the primary driver of the Chinese economy — not exports.

The argument that China is somehow dependent on U.S. markets and consumers in order to keep its economy alive is simply a lie. China is now just as enticing a retail market as the U.S., and its domestic market can pick up some of the slack in the event that U.S. markets are suddenly closed to Chinese exports. This problem of swiftly growing Chinese debt is presented often as the key argument against the nation surviving a global economic shift or trade war, with its “shadow banking” system threatening to unleash a long hidden credit crisis and stock market plunge. But this is not the complete story.
 
The exact amount of fiat printing that China's central bank undertook after the 2008 crash is not known. Some estimates suggest China's debt to now sit at around 250 percent of its gross domestic product. By normal standards this would suggest a credit crisis is imminent. But was China's sudden interest in debt expansion a reactionary matter, or was it part of a bigger plan?
Just after 2008, a common argument against China's resilience was the notion that China was dependent on holding U.S. dollar reserve in order to keep its own currency weak. Meaning, Chinese companies had to sell goods to the U.S. in exchange for dollars, which they then exchanged to the central bank for Yuan. China's central bank then held those trillions of dollars in reserve as a means to keep the dollar stronger on the global market, and the Yuan weaker, thus supporting and perpetuating the old export model.

Obviously this argument is no longer applicable, or outright absurd.
China's debt expansion and Treasury bond issuance actually started way back in 2005 under the “Panda Bond” program. At the time it was treated like a novelty or a joke by the mainstream economic community. Today, it is a powerhouse as Yuan denominated assets are spreading around the world. China no longer needs to hold dollars or dollar denominated assets in order to keep its currency weaker for export markets. It can simply inflate and monetize its own debt, just like the U.S. does. But why would China bother to do this at all? Why jump into the same debt game that has caused so much trouble for western nations?
 
Perhaps because they know something we don't. During the initial phase of the derivatives crisis, the possibility of China joining the International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Rights basket leaped to the forefront. With the Yuan as an SDR basket member, its potential to become an financial center for global trade rather than just and export and import hub would be assured. But the IMF set certain requirements before China could join.  One of these requirements was far greater currency liquidity and a more “freely usable” Yuan market. In other words, for China to join the SDR basket they would first need to go into considerable debt. This is exactly what they did; not to prop up their banking system (though this made for a valid excuse) or to necessarily prop up their stock markets. Rather, China wanted a seat at the table of the “new world order,” and they bought that seat through massive debt expansion. China was officially included in the SDR basket in 2016.
 
China has been a very vocal proponent of the SDR basket system, and it becomes clear why if you understand what the globalists intend for the future of the world's monetary framework. This plan was first outlined in the globalist controlled Economist magazine in 1988 in an article calling for the beginnings of a global currency in 2018. The article states that the U.S. economy and the role of the dollar as world reserve would have to be diminished, and that the IMF's Special Drawing Rights basket could be used as a bridge to set up a single currency for all the world's economies.
This currency would of course be administered and controlled by the banking elites at the IMF.

Since 2009, China's central bank has called for the SDR to become a “super-sovereign reserve currency,” in other words, a global currency system. In 2017, the vice governor of China's central bank stated that central banks should increase their use of the SDR as a unit of account and that greater SDR liquidity should be encouraged. In 2015, China's central bank suggested that the SDR system should “go digital,” creating a digital version of the reserve system so that it could spread quickly. It should come as no surprise that the IMF is in full agreement with this plan and has even suggested in recent articles on its website that cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology are the future evolution of the monetary system.
 
Notorious globalist George Soros revealed a few darker details of what the IMF calls the “global economic reset” in an interview in 2009; these details included a diminished American economy, a diminished dollar and for China to become a new economic engine for the world. Finally, China has clearly been prepping for a considerable crisis in the dollar or in the world's economic stability as shown in its sudden and aggressive stockpiling of gold reserves the past decade. Only recently surpassed by Russia in purchases, China is one of the most aggressive national buyers of gold. An expanding gold stockpile would be an effective hedge against a collapsing dollar market. If the dollar loses its world reserve status, nations like China and Russia and placed well to mitigate the damages. Considering the fact that the IMF officially holds around 3,000 tons of gold as well, the globalists are also well placed for a dollar crash.
 
It would appear that China has been included at many levels in the plan for the global reset. All of the previously mentioned actions suggest foreknowledge of a dramatic shift in the dollar model. The trade war itself provides perfect cover for the economic reset, as I have been warning in my latest articles. China would play an important role in the reset, as they have the ability to dump U.S. Treasuries and the dollar as world reserve, causing a chain reaction through global markets as their trading partners follow suit.
They will likely do this quietly (as Russia recently did), in order to pawn off their T-bond holdings before news of a Treasury dump hits the mainstream. The primary beneficiaries of this act will be the globalists, while China has placed itself to survive (not necessarily to thrive) during the chaos. The same cannot necessarily be said for the U.S., which suffers from the Achilles Heel of total dependency on the dollar's primacy.

To truth and knowledge,

Brandon Smith