3 Months in
& 2019 looks different already
China has landed Chang’e-4 probe on the dark side of the moon and planted cotton seeds, 3 remission cases of long-term HIV occurred through stem cell transplants, and Facebook’s 10 year challenge is suspected for assisting data collection for facial recognition programs.
Canada’s Butts resigns in response to claims of pressuring ex-Attorney General (AG) Wilson-Raybould in SNC Lavalin’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement case. Canada/China relations stressed detention of Huawai CFO Meng Wanzhou for U.S. extradition, impacting Canola Oil exports. 100M has been donated to U of T by Schwartz/Reisman family for AI and Biotech development.
Brexit decision pushed till April 12th, where Theresa May plans to resign afterwards. Mueller report released to AG Barr, who confirms no Russia collusion from Trump campaign in 2016, America faced the longest government shutdown over border security and International UN Funding, Congressional investigations focus on Trump’s business practices. The Democrat Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal was shutout 57-0 in Senate, Rep. Omar accused of anti-Semitism in questioning unilateral U.S. support of Israel, President Netanyahu declares Israel is ‘not a state of all its citizens’ but a Democratic-Jewish State. Trump and Kim stall on Denuclearization of North Korea. U.S. National Debt peaks at 22T.
U.S. airstrikes in Somalia at highest level in order to attack Al-Shabaab, Malaysia’s Yang di-Pertuan Agong abdicates and is replaced with Abdullah of Pahang, Jim Yong Kim abruptly resigns from World Bank prior to term, Iran’s Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi died from cancer impacting the future leadership of Islamic Republic. Juan Guaido attempts to usurp Nicolas Maduro as leader of Venezuela despite the country being closed off during its struggle. Pakistan and India clash over Kashmir border as tension mound in airfights and capture of citizens – while India’s general elections are being held April 2019.
Business and Commodities
Ø Pacific Gas & Electricity – files for bankruptcy after California wildfires linked to their power lines.
Ø Uber – IPO is destined for this year, and Uber Eats is a ray of sunshine on their product offering.
Ø Lyft – IPO proposal to try and raise 2.4B, while founder’s look to control 49% voting power.
Ø Kraft Heinz – wipes 15B in Assets due to Brazil’s 3G Cost Cutting and Merger and Acquisition model.
Ø Blackberry – are officially making money as a Cyber Security firm after acquisition of Cylance.
Ø Disney – Fox merger is complete, providing new source of content for future online streaming platform
Ø Gold – Futures look bearish, as US Dollar looks strong.
Ø Oil– High demand and low production, due to Venezuela and Iran sanction limits, increase the price.
For Canadians trying to determine whether a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), or a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is better – one simply needs to look at their own future plans and planned income needs.
Regardless of your age, to best prepare for Retirement, you likely wish you have started saving more 5 years ago.
So where to start? Weigh out whether the savings are for short term asset development or long term retirement plans, your willingness to participate in your portfolio, if you have a work pension plan and how much will you need each year in retirement. From here, you can figure out what you will need to properly save.
TFSA - allows one to place after-taxed funds into an investment vehicle, and all corresponding capital gains and dividends are tax-free. There is a set allotment of funds, $6,000/year, that can be entered into an account each year. A savvy investor could invest $6,000 and if it grew to $1M, the balance of $994,000 would be tax-free income. Short term stock trades can be managed in a trading account, and only count as a withdrawal when moved to a Checking or Savings account.
The origin of TFSA’s date back to 2009, and one can retro-access all previous year limits up to $63,500 (2019). However, once funds enter the TFSA the value is accounted for in that year. If the funds are withdrawn for a short term, and later re-entered that year this will count as new funds against your limit could result in an over-contribution and be taxed further. One needs to wait till then next January for the contribution limits to be reset and account for the withdrawal.
In short, this is an investment fund that can be utilized for zero capital gains tax.
RRSP – will offset annual tax payments by lowering one’s overall reportable income, as the invested funds do not count as earned income for the year. Non-taxed funds can be directly added through your employer, or accounted during annual income tax submission and may result in a refund in all taxes paid on the income. When the funds are withdrawn, typically in Retirement, ones annual income is expected to be lower and in a marginally lower tax bracket. The deferred taxes are then paid at a later date, and ideally low rate, when drawn out as income.
The annual contribution is at 18% of the previous year’s earnings, up to a set limit by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA). It is important to project what your retire income will look like, to ensure the funds pulled from your RRSP do not adversely affect your marginal tax rate or amount of your Government Pension. At age 71, the government requires a user to convert an RRSP to a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RIF), which has annual minimum withdrawal requirement. Upon death, an account will transfer to the spouse and remain intact. If no spouse then the account closes and funds are distributed to the beneficiary and not run through the estate, despite the estate being responsible for the taxes on the funds.
In short, this is a key account for well-aged Retirement years to pull from as a basic annuity (which will be taxed).
Despite the morbid nature, if you simply reflect on the expectation of your retirement and level of expected annual income and aspired life expectation, then by working backwards one can prepare how much they need to save each year.
Politics & Religion /
a lot larger then it appears on the Map
Due to Arab migration in 7th century, Colonialism 15th century and choosing sides in the 20th century Cold War – Africa faces regional conflicts and external influence over resources. However, the 21st Century provides an opportunity for African’s to set up long-term global relationships and strengthen their democratic infrastructure. The focus on Africa’s minerals are still a key component to trade deals, but the citizens are also recognized as a valuable reason for partnership. Africa’s 1.4B population and prospective growth reflects a strong place for market interest in the coming years.
China has prioritized relations with Africa for the last 20 years, in attempts to cultivate new markets for Chinese goods and create trade relations. China has already established 45 military partnerships with the 54 countries. Chinese authoritarian rule fits well with African leadership, but African’s should be weary to avoid this part of the courtship and promote democratic rule for the people and transparency in these deals. In Kenya, the Chinese developed a new rail-line but the population demanded opacity to ensure legitimacy of the deal.
Others have followed China’s lead, as 320 new embassies have been built since 2010 by Turkey, Russia, India and Brazil all leading the way. Despite the structure of the African Union and its assemblies, each country negotiates directly to set up trade and partnership deals. If the African countries could work together as a community or set up regional groups, they will benefit from strong negotiation deals and development of infrastructure.
Otherwise, individual countries and African’s will need to be wary of getting into a debt trap, like Djibouti’s $1.3B (USD) to China, or establishing old colonial relationship’s, like Russia has established with Central Africa Region (C.A.R.) in propping up President Fausti-Archange Touadera and politically brokering the Khartoum Peace Treaty to gain private access to resources.
In the West, France has generate the most interest where Macron has made 17 visits to Africa since being in office. However, the rest of the West appears to focus on domestic fears of immigration and terrorism which have led to defensive migration bans and offensive attacks on the countries more than anything else.
Despite optimistic market growth, 65% of Africa’s population is at risks tied to climate changes resulting in drought, wildfires and flooding. The World Bank plans to donate 22.5B in sustainable development in 2021-2025, which the African Union needs to be wary that they are not pulled into a New World Order debt trap.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Low Sport, High Attendance
Monster Truck Rallies are big events in North America, and profitable. Starting in 1970’s, pick-up trucks were modified for mud bogging and truck pulling competitions to show-off the ‘biggest truck’. The early trucks used stock chassis reinforced by leaf spring suspension, and heavy military axles to support the 48 inch tires. Beasts like Bob Chandler’s ‘Bigfoot’ were leaders of the pack, and in 1981 filmed the truck crushing cars as a promotion for his shop. From there Bob George of United State Hot Rod Association (USHRA) referred to ‘Bigfoot’ as a monster truck and this name stuck for the industry.
Today, trucks modelled after the 1989 Bigfoot VIII are 12 ft. tall and wide, with a full tubular chassis, four-link suspension and topped with fiberglass Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) bodies and 66”x 43”-25” off road tires. The trucks have hydraulic 4x4 steering, custom automatic transmission with trans-brakes, manual valve bodies and heavy duty gear sets. These beasts perform stunts, races and demolition battles in large arenas for crowds of up to 80,000. With safety first, and low audience accident rates, drivers are required to wear firesuits, safety helmets and restraints and each truck is complete with three kill switches for the driver and administrators watching the performance.
The promotors from the 1980’s USHRA and TNT Motorsports found audience interest and began regular events of drag races and obstacles courses. In 1988, the Monster Truck Racing Association (MTRA) was established to ensure safety rules and governing rules.
Today, the Freestyle event trucks will jump off obstacles while doing a backflip, landing and pulling off wheelies and doughnuts. The stunts are judge by a panel who declare a winner by point of difficulty and style. The race section is traditionally a single elimination tournament where two trucks battle on a dirt track requiring hairpin turns and large jumps.
In 2019, the promotion company Monster Jam (1992, owned by Feld Entertainment) changed the game by staging the annual World Finals in rotating locations across the U.S, oppose to the traditional setting of Las Vegas, Nevada. NBC Sports has taken broadcasting rights from Fox Sports and toy licensing is set to switch from Mattel to Spin Master. With these changes the private corporate interest of Feld Entertainment is prepared for a backlash, also tied to a new stance to remove gun imagery from the vehicles to side with an undercurrent of public disapproval.
Mixtape XII /
The Dark Knight Returns, again & again
Bruce Wayne turns 80 and in celebration of Issue 1000 of Batman Detective Comics, DC has released a 96 page book honouring the legacy and coming future for the iconic superhero.
Playlists
· Starting the Bang! – Charged Punk and then some
· Fuck the Awards Show – Pop even if the establishment doesn’t think so.
· STUMM433 - In May, Mute will release a Box Set in honour of John Cage’s 4’33” composition. The set will include the first Mute artist ‘From the Normal’ to KARYN the latest signee on the label, and everyone in-between like Depeche Mode, New Order and Yann Tiersen.
Top Five
1. Curls – Bibio (Warp)
2. Middle Child – J.Cole (Interscope)
3. Purity – Jadu Heart (Anchor Point)
4. a lot – 21 Savage ft. J. Cole (Slaughter Gang)
5. Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored – Ariana Grande (Republic Records)
Bookscape
Business Venturists select their Top 5
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The World Economic Reform created a list for people to read as must-haves if they are in business, like ‘How to Win Friends & Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie or ’7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey, and they have also identified the 20 most influential books of modern history.
However, the list from Harry Stebbings ’20 minute VC’ podcast with Venture Capitalist entrepreneurs intrigued me the most. The list includes Fiction and Non-Fiction and a great set of content for any one looking to stack their night table.
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Non-Fiction
1. The Hardest Things about Hard Things – Ben Horowitz (2014 / HarperCollins Publishers)
2. Zero to One – Peter Thiel (2014 / Crown Business)
3. The Lean Start Up – Eric Ries (2011 / Crown Publishing Group)
4. Fooled by Randomness – Nassim Taleb (2004 / Random House)
5. Anti-Fragile – Nassim Taleb (2012 / Random House)
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Fiction
1. O Alquimista (The Alchemist) – Paola Coelho (1988 / Paralela)
2. Ready Player One – Ernest Cline (2011 / Random House)
3. Мастер и Маргарита (The Master & The Margarita) – Mikhail Bulgakov (1967 /YMCA Press)
4. Cien años de soledad (100 years of Solitude) – Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1967 / Editorial Sudamericana)
5. The Old Man and The Sea – Ernest Hemingway (1952 / Charles Scribner’s Sons)