The Genie...

Prime Minister Mark Rutte and lawmaker Geert Wilders cast Wednesday's Dutch parliamentary elections as a litmus test for populism in Europe, ahead of crucial votes in France and Germany.

Coming after last's year British vote to leave the European Union and the election of U.S. President Donald Trump  two stunning successes for populists.

"This is a chance for a big democracy like the Netherlands to make a point to stop this toppling over of the domino stones. Rutte said after his vote.

Wilders insisted that whatever the result of Wednesday's election, the kind of populist politics he and others in Europe represent will be here to stay.  "The genie will not go back into the bottle. People feel misrepresented," he said, predicting this would show in elections later this year in France and Germany too.

Wilders' one-page election manifesto includes pledges to close borders to immigrants, safety and security of the citizens, as well as taking the Netherlands out of the European Union.

No Intention...

After...

The state of Nevada is the only jurisdiction in the United States where prostitution is permitted. Strictly regulated brothels operate legally in isolated rural areas, away from the majority of Nevada's population

License fees for brothels range from an annual $100,000 in Storey County to an annual $200,000 in Lander County. Licensed prostitutes must be at least 21 years old, except in Storey County and Lyon County (where the minimum age is 18).

Nevada law requires that registered brothel prostitutes be tested weekly for gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis, and monthly for HIV and syphilis;^[23] furthermore, condoms are mandatory for all oral sex and sexual intercourse. Brothel owners may be held liable if customers become infected with HIV after a prostitute has tested positive for the virus.^[24] Women work a legally mandated minimum of nine days for each work period.^[25]

Despite there being a legal option, the vast majority of prostitution in Nevada takes place illegally in Reno and Las Vegas. About 66 times more money is spent by customers on illegal prostitution in Nevada than in the regulated brothels. Coming soon right after Marijuana.

Bungalow...

You don't need to be flush to be happy. Author Dina Gachman knows that from personal experience. She has faced student loans, made ends meet on unpaid internships, and, along the way, figured out how to live the dream on a dime.

"It's not about feeling mopey because you can't afford a private jet with solid gold fuselage," her book "Brokenomics."

"We'd all love free-flowing Dom Pérignon … but it's not about that. It's about surviving and thriving, no matter what your situation may be."  

There are definitely perks when it comes to renting, and if you're in a funk about your 300 square-foot living quarters, it's time to stop pining for a Spanish colonial mansion and start loving your little casita,".

One of Gachman's favorite psychological tricks is to think of her tiny, oven-less apartment as a "beach bungalow." "If you live near the mountains, call it your 'cabin,'" . "If you're in the plains, call it your 'homestead.'

And remember, "you don't have to pay property taxes, deal with maintenance issues, or stress about whether the value of your house is rising or sinking … someday, when you're writing a check for your property taxes, you might just think back on your thimble-sized cabin/homestead and miss the good old days."

Gimmicks...?

Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX) continues to be pushed down. If you thought it couldn't get any worse, it just did. 

The stock fell by nearly 10%  below $11. Since August 1st, 2015 shares of VRX are down nearly 95%, from around $260 per share.

Unfortunately, one lives by leverage and dies by leverage. In this case, VRX is drowning in leverage. VRX's most famous shareholder just told the world there are better places to put your money. 

Valeant grew quickly with a series of mergers and acquisitions and for a short period of time in 2015 was the most valuable company in Canada. Valeant was described as a platform company that grows by systematically acquiring other companies.

In 2015–2016 the company was involved in a controversy drug price hikes and the use of a specialty pharmacy for the distribution of its specialty drugs, dancing around US Laws.

What about other specialty pharmacies... Gimmicks?  Just a thought.

Free Riders...

After months of relative price stability the floodgates of selling opened wide. Crude oil production in the United States rebounding to nearly 9.1 million barrels per day. 

The Saudi oil minister explicitly said that the accord adherents would not abide "free-riders," referenced the shale producers.

In response, Saudi Arabia announced that it would, once again, supply full contract volumes of crude oil to its Asian customers, and it has aggressively discounted its pricing. 

With U.S. refiners undergoing seasonal maintenance right now, U.S. oil inventory levels will only grow further, until the units return to service, in the coming weeks.

Prices for WTI will likely fall steadily. While it is painful to undertake a price war, you can bet the lowest cost producers will be the last ones standing but damaged greatly. A new reality is happening.  Just a thought.

Walkaway...*

An Indian bride has walked out of her wedding ceremony after her groom-to-be failed to solve a simple math problem. The bride tested the groom on his math skills and when he got the sum wrong, she walked out.  The question she asked: How much is 15 plus six. His reply: 17.

The groom's family tried persuading the bride to return, but she refused. She said the groom had misled them about his education. Local police mediated between the families and both sides returned all the gifts that had been exchanged before the wedding.

Most marriages in India are arranged by the families of the bride and groom. Except for brief meetings, the couple rarely get to know each other before the nuptials.

India is not the only country that has arranged marriages.   Look around you. They are closer than you think.

Just a thought.

Delusion...

Off My Body...

Complaints...

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said he was “caught off guard” after Bharara, known for crusading against public corruption, was forced out of office.  “I was extremely surprised and disappointed,” Schumer said.

“The president’s decision to change his mind and fire Preet says far more about the president than it does about Preet,” Schumer said.  Schumer would not speculate on why Bharara, who previously served as Schumer’s general counsel, was fired.
“He did an amazing job in so many different areas,” Schumer said. “He will be sorely missed.”

As was the case in prior transitions, many of the United States Attorneys nominated by the previous administration already have left the Department of Justice.

So what was the issue here?  Caught off Guard?