“Repel the American Invader (to save us from misery and pain)” North Korean Propaganda Poster
Ventures
Since Then…
Two of the largest human mass migration movements present two wildly varying world realities. As Rohingya Muslims are forced out of Myanmar to find a new home, then is also a set of Solar Eclipse chasers travelling the United States for a glimpse of this celestial event.
Hurricanes cripple Southern US and destroy the Caribbean, Floods drown parts of South Asia, and the worst Earthquake in 30 years hits Mexico.
Kurds votes for an Independent state in Iraq to piss off Russia and Turkey, while Catalans prepare for the some vote to enrage Spain. Iran is emboldened by Saudi & U.S. weakness in enforcing action against Qatar. In the U.S. ‘White Supremacy’ is condemned by some, ‘Takin a Knee’ condemned by others, Bannon leaves the White House.
Mayweather beats McGregor, Disney/ESPN enter the streaming market (circa 2019), Goldie confirms ‘Banksy’ is Robert Del Naja from ‘Massive Attack’, oh, and yah, the Northwest Passage is now open!
Business
Ø Tesla Automotive history was made on July 28th 2017, when Elon Musk released the first base Model 3 – starting at 35K USD, with remaining orders to be filled throughout till late 2018.
Ø Uber – CEO Travis Kalanick resigned due to months of crisis, and growing competition from Lyft.
Ø Amazon – pretends to look for new HQ, and with similar zeal regulates Whole Food prices.
Ø Gold – peak $1,335/oz. due to tight supply, analysts are split on near-future of commodity.
Ø Oil – demands is up 2.4%, OPEC and Russia have dropped production and Kurdish Independence will likely push Oil to $60/barrel in near future.
Ø Retail – North Americans spending surpassed expectation in sales, including mall spending (July 1.2%). Yet Electronics, Appliances and Clothing stores all saw dips with online competition.
Ø ‘Green’ Market – Ontarians can sign up for a free Smart Thermostat and receive Toronto-based Ecobee from the Government, with the taxes recently from Cap and Trade programs.
Forecast
***Real Estate Part Deux ***
First, chose a home, then pay you down payment to close the home.
‘Closing’ administration runs through the Banks, Lawyers and Government.
You will need trusted professionals to support you. Beyond your Realtor, you’ll need a Mortgage Broker, Insurance Agent and Lawyer, all will need to be engaged, at least 3 weeks, prior to possession.
Sealing the Deal (through Lawyer)
> Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) – the Buyer releases funds to the government on Closing Date.
o Provincial generally 1.5%
o Municipal varies (e.g. Toronto 1.5%)
> Title Transfer – Legal exchange on Closing Date
> Property Tax – transfer requires a true-up of any outstanding due from property.
> Deposit – Payment will need to be issued with Certified Check.
> Real Estate Agent(s) will be issued their funds on closing date, and through the Seller’s lawyer.
Mortgage (through Brokers and Lawyer)
> Deposit and True-Up on Day of Purchase (original payment to secure buy)
> Finalization with the Mortgage Broker
o Confirming Employment Records and history
o Reviewing 3 months of bank accounts
o Reviewing open lines of credit and credit cards (these are consider liabilities at maximum amounts – regardless of balance)
> After Purchase and First Mortgage Payment, an Interest Adjustment (Daily Calculation of Interest to First Payment) – one time occurrence (roughly ½ of Mortgage payment)
External Vendors
> Appraisal – validate purchase price for Bank (under $500).
> Insurance – Secure Home Insurance for Fire, Smoke, Flood and Theft.
o Flood Damage – needs Overland and Sewer Back-Up
§ Confirm with Builder or Appraiser, that Back-Valve extends to main sewage line and not simply to one home output/input. Otherwise Toilets are vulnerable open lines, with municipal sewage port connection and overflow.
· Installation is needed expect cost at $1,500-$2,500
> Utilities – requires a take over of previous accounts and administration transfer fees
o Electric (Hydro)
o Water (Municipal)
o Gas / Oil (Heating)
o Hot Water Tank
o Septic (if off municipal support)
> Services
o Cable / Internet
o Security Systems
> Rodentia, Blattodea (Termites & Cockroaches), & Caniformia (Raccoons, Skunks and Bear-Dogs).
o Schedule and onsite visit.
Politics and Religion
Russian ‘Zapad’ Maneuvers
September 14th – 20th, Russia renewed its old cold war military exercises called ‘Zapad’ (meaning ‘West’) on the Baltic Sea, through Belarus, of which similar actions have been held in 1999, 2009, and 2013. Concerns from NATO Committee Head General Petr Peval this year could have resulted in 100,000 inclusive of civilian agencies; representing the largest concentration of Russian military force since 1989. However, Russia states they only sent 5,500 troops, engaging with 7,200 Belarus troops.
As Belarus borders on Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, a concern would be that the troops simply remain, creating an onset of paranoia from Europe. Ukraine’s Chief of General Staff Viktor Muzhenk state Russia had not yet left after the end of September 2017.
Military exercises of these types are common in the region, and by many countries. However, one such difference to the United States ‘Saber Guardian’ exercises is that they allow the Global community like China, North Korea and Russia to monitor their activities while they were in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.
South Korea isn’t worried, should the rest of the world?
With Trump’s ‘Rocket Man’ tweets, and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) flying over the Sea of Japan, tensions have heightened in the region. However, with the world watching with concern, spirts in Republic of Korea (ROK/South) are strong as ever. The country moves along, despite the rhetoric and military display, for the South this threat has always been present.
Every March, war games are staged by the ROK and the U.S., always prompting similar rhetoric and reaction from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK/North). When sanctions are reinforced by the UN Security Council, the DPRK provocations are predictably increased, as exampled recently with Resolutions 2371 (Aug. 2017) and 2375 (Sept. 2017).
Despite civilian attitudes, ROK government prepares for further hostility in the immediate future. October 10th 2017 is the 72nd anniversary fo the Worker’s Party of Korea, and there is a heightened expectation of an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) blast with financial and energy facilities being the target. The Winter Olympics in February 2018 has the ROK military on notice with consideration that the DPRK will need to top the 1988 bombing of jetliner (Korean Air KA-858) from Iraq.
The question remains; will the rhetoric simply rise, or will true threats materialize against Japan, ROK, Guam and others?
Sport & Combat
eSports are a pro-gaming form for competitive video games, and demanding the designation reserved for physical sports. Games can be first person shooter (FPS), Multi-Online Battle Arena (MoBA), Real-Time strategy and Fighting Games.
Popularity for Call of Duty, Rainbow Six, Overwatch, Smite and Starcraft all find themselves well represented on Twitch circa 2011. (since acquired by Amazon), Major League Gaming and YouTube. These platforms define the rankings of players, and retain an annual audience of roughly 200M, and 500M in traceable business traffic. The size of the markets have companies trying to figure out how to best advertise and formalize structured events, with leading sponsors being EnergyDrinks (RedBull) and Hardware tech companies (LogicTech and Razer).
Sports purists may be rolling their eyes at the idea of eSports accepted as a ‘true sport’, but it is hard to deny it is not a competition. This sentiment was recently shared by John Skipper, head of ESPN in 2014.
To boost demographics and rating, Electronic Events are under review for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will start a program in 2019 to review Medal events for eSports and finalize their decision post-2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Although there is the International e-Sport Assocation (IeSF), Korea e-Sport Association (KeSpa) and the World E-Sports Association (WESA), there is no dominant regulating body for eSports. Part of the success in the gaming community is that it is unregulated and user-driven (85% male), but the outcome can result in undertones that are misogynistic, racist and violent.
Tournaments continue to grow year over year, and the competitive format continues to formalize. The biggest are the International League of Legends (LOL) and Champion Series (LCS), Evolution Championship Series and the Intel Extreme Masters. The events are traditional single or double elimination format, and a few group stage events, complete with officials to monitor any cheating.
Mixtapes
Top Five
1. Mi Gente – J. Balvin ft. Willy Willliams (Scorpio Music)
2. The Story of O.J. – Jay-Z (Roc Nation)
3. I’m a Kid – Jadu Heart (Anchor Point)
4. Mayor – Wiki (XL Recordings)
5. Do You Love Me – Chelsea Stewart (Anchor Studios)
Of Interest - Dancing Queen – ABBA (Polar)*
*NME reported this was Queen Elizabeth II favourite tune.
Playlists
For headphone walks, late nights and howling at the moon.
> Twin Peaks 2017 – The Return – (Original Soundtrack) for good for Hallowe’en freakiness.
> Desi Sway – South Asian Nightlife (with support from Amir Amin)
> Sundown Rises – Easy Rock, Tech-Hop and Autumn Fair
Artscape
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‘Cleon Peterson is an LA Based artist whose chaotic and violent paintings show clashing figures symbolizing a struggle between power and submission in the fluctuating architecture of contemporary society. The imagery of Cleon Peterson is not only strong because of its striking visual quality and its relevance to our world today. Although all too easily associated with the barbaric sectarian violence in the Middle East and escalating excrescence that is the current geopolitical turmoil, it’s also deeply rooted in Western cultural history, from the classic Greco-Roman vases depicting warriors and battles, to the marvelous decapitation paintings of Caravaggio and violent masterpieces of Goya’.
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28 x 28 hand pulled black and gold screen print
Printed on 290gsm Coventry Rag paper with deckled edges
Each print is signed and numbered by the artist limited edition of 150 – selling at $150.00 USD (sold out)
