Daily Ramble
Trigger warning: I’m not taking the COVID vaccine. At least not for a couple of years — (recall how I love to add a time component to my decisions?)
Why not? Uncommon, common sense. “The media bubble says we should, and for the love of God, we want society to get back to normal, how can you possibly be unwilling to help in that effort?” Because I don’t believe it’s going to work and it’s not worth the risk.
What what?! This is where the uncommon, common sense comes in: COVID comes from the virus family that carries the common cold. That sucker has played spy verse spy with the human species since we picked nits off one another. In the year since COVID sprang to light, we suddenly think we’ve created a magical injection that will not only protect us from COVID but all its variants as it does what it has always done — mutate to stay relevant? To say I’m dubious is an understatement. The media is already hedging its bets throwing up caution flags that the vaccine may not protect against the many mutations springing to light.
“But if I get the vaccine, I’m protecting everyone else. Why wouldn’t I want to protect everyone else?” Because you may be immune to getting the COVID symptoms, but it’s not going to stop you from spreading it asymptomatically. Knowing how deeply the average vaccine consumer is looking into this, I’d wager a good sum of money that 90%+ of the people who get the vaccine think they’re no longer capable of spreading the virus, stop taking precautions, and then become responsible for the largest outbreaks.
“You said it’s not worth the risks…I just don’t see any.” Let’s back up to the uncommon, common sense again. Do you know of any first-of-its-kind technology that has zero risks or side effects? Neither do I. This vaccine is the first of its kind. You’re injecting yourself with mRNA, a molecule genetically designed to tell your body’s cells to create a protein that will provide immunity to COVID. Nevermind that this hasn’t been shown to work against the various mutations out there. This is the first time humans en masse are injecting themselves with something to genetically build a protein in their bodies. I try to avoid GMOs because I’m not convinced our bodies have evolved to digest them, and I’m going to inject genetic material into my blood? No thanks.
Even more telling, I looked at the sequencing, and surprise, surprise, it’s not building the exact protein that is generated by your immune response to COVID. There’s a whole bunch of “filler” molecules designed to generate more immunity proteins. Let me get this right: science currently has no clue what approximately 80% of DNA does, but it’s totally acceptable to just throw some “inert” stuff into the protein generation process and it’s all going to be good? Because, you know, mother nature always leaves useless stuff lying around….
This is my reasoning, not an advocacy to anyone else. If you choose to get the vaccine, my hats off to you for being so bold. If I had a family member who’d had a rough COVID reaction, I would probably take the bloody thing because it would mean I’d be likely to have a rough reaction — which is still the exception for healthy individuals. I don’t think I’m smarter or more protected than anyone else, just that I recognize the guinea pig nature of this thing and will gladly pull myself out of line for a couple of years. Amazingly, a couple of years is what history says it takes to play out a pandemic anyway…
Favorite Thing on the Interwebs Today
The baby boomer versus millennial gap in full display. What he says isn’t wrong it just misses the dramatic increase in difficulty millennials have in purchasing the same hard assets protecting boomers from the main street meltdown.
Bitcoin Price Prediction
Yesterday: $32.3k - $38k
Today: $33.5k - $38k
Tomorrow: $32k - $40k
The bulls continue to carry the ball down the field, the end zone being $42k where Bitcoin last found its all-time high. Unfortunately, the funding has turned heavily bullish already. The funding rate shows if the market is long or short and by being heavily skewed towards the bulls, it gives a scenario for a big bear to come into the market and liquidate positions. It’s something that gives me pause, but doesn’t suggest the rally is out of the $29k lows from last week is over. In fact, in highly bullish markets, funding can stay skewed for the bulls for a long period of time. All that is to say, I see the price continuing on towards $42k over the coming week(s), but it’s not going to be a straight line.
Bitcoin Ed Bite
Q: Can I use my Bitcoin as collateral for a loan?
A: Absolutely.
There are several service providers who will gladly accept Bitcoin deposits then lend out up to 60% of the value of the Bitcoin as cash. What’s beautiful about this arrangement is that because the lender has full custody of the Bitcoin, there is no need to worry about credit risks, i.e. credit score becomes completely unnecessary. Borrowers either have the Bitcoin to post as collateral or they do not.
Three services that I recommend are BlockFi, Nexo, and Celsius. Though each has its own nuance, they each are quality providers for Bitcoin backed loans. It’s worth noting that a Bitcoin loan, like any loan, is not a taxable event.
Thanks for reading,
Kent
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The capital loss mentioned in this video has been developing for about 30-40 years in my neck of the woods, brought on by the loss of decent employment. Loss of quality family values, social mores, among other things. The slide has escalated with the onset of handheld computers and the escape therein provided. His tirade is justified but in my mind, is a johnny-come-lately message brought on by a minor (to me, anyway) stock market crisis. Someone who has a voice finally was affected.