Hello from Acapulco Bay,
I have to set off again tomorrow to one of the least free places on Earth: The City of New York… so I am trying to enjoy my final hours here smoking at the beach bar Mangos before I go and get told where I can do something (apparently, now, no smoking closer than 30 feet to any building… we wouldn't want the building to be subject to second hand smoke, after all!) and what I can and can't do and between what hours.
I was just in freezing cold New York a few weeks ago and am not looking forward to having everyone tell me what to do again. It was about 20F with constant freezing blasts of wind, and I was trying to enjoy a cigarette huddled outside of the Associated Press building in the nook in front of the doors shielded from the wind when a security guard came out.
"You can't smoke here!" he prompted.
I knew it was coming. It had already happened a dozen times in the days prior. I just gave him the glare I always do, which says, "Why don't you mind your own business?"
On this occassion the security guard seemed to feel somewhat sympathetic to my situation, knowing that if I took two steps away from the building not only would my cigarette be blown out, but I'd likely find myself fast walking backwards down the street in gale force winds. So he gave me a sad look and said, "I have to… the sign…" He pointed to a small 2 inch by 2 inch plaque on the wall that said I cannot smoke within 30 feet of the building.
Is that all it takes? A little sign? How about if I made up my own sign and pasted it to the wall saying you can do whatever you want as long as you don't hurt anyone? That wouldn't work as well. I don't have millions of guns backing up my suggestions.
Such is the creep of oppression. One hundred years ago not smoking inside a New York bar or building would have been looked at with suspicion… why aren't you smoking? Then a few decades ago it was mandated by violent armed men that all restaurants need to segregate smoking from non-smoking areas. Then, in the last decade it has become completely prevalent in the Western world that you should never be allowed to smoke inside a building that is not owned by yourself. Now you can't smoke within 30 feet of those buildings… which makes it awkward on narrow streets where the same rules apply on the other side of the street. On more than one occasion I've found myself smoking in the middle of the street, building edifaces 31 feet on either side of me.
Now, in Kalifornia, they are considering making it illegal to smoke tobacco inside your own home! The funny and sad thing is that smoking rates were already on their way down when the guns of the state swooped. That's how it always goes. Some positive trend is already in place — like reduction in poverty, increase in literacy, increase in lifespans — and then the government comes in to help with the violence of The Law (theft-funded welfare programs, theft-funded compulsory schooling, medical care regulation) and wrecks everything.
The funny part for me is that I was never a smoker. I am 42 and just started smoking in the last few months. My instincts always tell me to do whatever the government says you can't do… since government is pure evil.
TRYING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO TRY FREEDOM
But, I'll go to New York tomorrow nonetheless and subject myself to one of the least free places on Earth. I think the list goes something like North Korea, #1… New York, #2.
I'm promoting something that should make total sense to any rational, thinking individual. Usage of a new, free market created currency. Bitcoin. With only a small amount of care taken it can be untrackable, untraceable, anonymous, has little or no transaction fees and a Bitcoin account can be opened in about three seconds without some insipid mouth breather asking you where you got the money and to show your government papers and proof of domicile that you exist and live somewhere.
It's glorious. If you have never used Bitcoin, do it just to see how good it feels. Just open a Bitcoin wallet/account. The most secure and best way is just to download the original Bitcoin QT wallet. Got it downloaded? Okay, your account is now open sir. No free toaster needed… your reward is freedom.
Now, getting Bitcoins is the harder part. But if you own any product or service of any type, ask or offer to be paid in Bitcoin. Or you can buy some… there are online exchanges to do so (Mt. Gox… but we will soon open our own that will be far securer and better) or go to a Bitcoin ATM near you — coming soon to over 30 countries and numerous more cities around the world — and deposit some fiat cash.
And voila, you now have the world's first free market virtual currency. Now, if you want to buy something, ask if the provider accepts Bitcoin. If not, ask them why not? Just ask this New York City bar owner why not. He is incredibly pleased with accepting Bitcoin. The bar owner, Charlie Shrem says Bitcoin transactions are cheaper than standard credit card ones. He uses a POS provider called BitPay (we'll also soon be starting our own Bitcoin POS system). BitPay charges 1%, while credit cards can charge 3% to 5%.
It is also faster for him. BitPay transactions are processed on the same day, while credit card companies can take two weeks, since many customers dispute their bar tabs.
Or go to one of thousands of websites that accept Bitcoin as payment and buy something. It takes one second. Just type in your password and you are done.
For anyone who has used traditional banking and merchant accounts the difference is night and day. It is a revolution in money and payments. And, best of all, it is a way to not only survive The End Of The Monetary System As We Know It (TEOTMSAWKI) but a way to easily prosper and move on to a much better way of transacting.
The mainstream media continues to try to make Bitcoin look "shady". What if people use it to buy drugs (plants), they ask. What if people use it to buy guns, they ask. Well, the last I heard you can buy plants and self-defense devices with dollars. And, not to mention, the biggest gun running organization on Earth, by far, is the US government. And the biggest plant runner is the CIA.
The internet and technology are fast changing everything… and all for the better. Here at TDV we are on the cutting edge. Some people (ahem, John Mauldin), call themselves "Outside the Box". Anyone who calls themselves that is so far inside the box it is embarrassing. For us here at TDV, there is no box. We've heard of it and think it ridiculous.
If you aren't a subscriber to TDV, and enjoy our daily public content, subscribe for as low as $12.50 per month, annualized, to hear our best insights, picks and strategies. Last week alone I brought forward another business idea to subscribers that could be worth billions in a few years.
SPEAKING OF THE COLD IN NEW YORK
I don't want to talk too long today. I've only got a few hours left in the freer-est country in North America and want to enjoy it. But, I saw this re-hashing of ridiculous global warming myths on Yahoo today and had to say something.
First, I can't believe this global warming hoax is still lingering on. Everywhere I go it is freezing cold. Even most Global Warming conferences or events get snowed or frozen out. It's so common it now has a name, the Gore Effect. It is defined as the phenomenon that leads to unseasonably cold temperatures, driving rain, hail, or snow whenever Al Gore visits an area to discuss global warming.
Global warming congressional hearings have been cancelled due to cold or snow in 2007, 2010 and recently in 2013 leading to this one global warming proponent to ask that all global warming hearings are held in the summer so they don't get embarrassed by the extreme cold.
Of course, they've now mostly changed it to "climate change" as the whole warming thing didn't work out… so now if the weather changes, they are right! And they can tax you on the air you breathe out (CO2). Or, why not, tax people when it rains? Just tax! Tax, tax, tax! Steal, steal, steal! Fear, fear, fear! Hate, hate hate!
But when I saw one of the last gasps of global warming propaganda today on Yahoo I had to laugh. It's called Waterworld and an "artist" has shown what things will look like hundreds of years from now when, theoretically, sea levels will rise by, gasp, 25 feet! Even if that were correct, how could technology and humanity possibly deal with a 25 foot change in the sea level over 100 years! One hundred years ago most people lived in huts and either had no or massively limited access to cars, airplanes, radio, TV, internet, air conditioning or thousands of other things. Things changed quite a bit! But, if we listen to the plans of the world improvers in government, all the government taxes, regulations, IP and patent laws should ensure that we can't possibly change the world in 100 years. Maybe that's why they are so scared.
Getting back to the article, however, the very first image they show is the apocalyptic version of what the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, District of Criminals, would look like with sea levels 25 feet higher.
Forgetting for the moment that Venice is a massive tourist attraction and really quaint for the same reasons… the article writes, "The Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. is shown in its current state (top) and with a 25-foot sea-level rise (bottom). "I want people to look at these images and understand that the places they value most may very well be lost to future generations if climate change isn't a bigger priority on our minds," Lamm said in an interview.
Here is where I snorted my vodka redbull right out my nose! Is the Jefferson Memorial a place that people "value most"?? Is it just the memorial they value? Because it is quite apparent that the ideas of the man for whom the memorial was built have been totally forgotten. Just ask TDV friend, Adam Kokesh, who was wrassled to the ground and kidnapped for dancing in the memorial by statist thugs in a place named for a man who was for personal liberty and leery of the state in all its forms, not least of all democracy!
So, is this the main reason we should tax everyone on the air they breathe out of their mouths today? So we can protect the Jefferson Memorial from flooding a hundred years from now? If that isn't twisted logic, I dont' know what is. That'd be like holding a charity walk-a-thon for Helen Keller in favor of stopping research and development into hearing and sight restoration.
I'M ON THE ROAD
This is why I am everywhere at any time doing everything I can to promote logic, rationality, peace, prosperity and freedom. This is an epochal moment in human history where we as humanity can take the next step to greatness or fall back into murderous, thieving, progress-destroying statism.
For this I am willing to devote my life. I see no greater cause. I will leave tomorrow and take my chances with the TSA and US customs people and spend a week in New York City trying not to get kidnapped or beaten for things like drinking a soda larger than 16 ounces. I am doing that, though, because I've been given the opportunity to use the media apparatus to speak to those who have still not awoken. I'll be on Fox Business around 10am on Monday, then Bloomberg TV at 3:30pm on the same day. I'm then back on Fox Business with Melissa Francis at 5pm on Wednesday and probably many others in between.
I'll then be on to speak at "Anarchy in the NYC" on Saturday, April 20th. If things go to plan, after that I'll be going to Los Angeles around April 22nd for what hopefully will be our press conference and launch of the world's first BitcoinATM. I'll then return to Acapulco, hopefully, for a few days or weeks including my wife's invite-only gala toga party birthday.
Then I'll be off to Vancouver for the World Resource Investment Conference on May 26-27. Then, the Porcupine Freedom Festival in New Hampshire from June 17-23.
And then, on something I'm very happy and proud to announce, I'll be one of the top speakers at the just announced "Liberty Masterminds Symposium" in Dallas, Texas on June 28th and 29th. If you live anywhere near that area, please consider stopping in, it should be fantastic.
Not to stop there, I'll then be on to Freedomfest in Las Vegas which, in my opinion, is a very worthwhile event for anyone who believes in liberty. Anyone and everyone to do with liberty and freedom is there. That's from July 10th to 13th.
And just this week I was invited to Joel Nagal's "Global Access and Continuity Conference" in Zurich, Switzerland. It looks like a glorious affair on the lake in Zurich for the summer.
And many more… if you won't come see me in Acapulco or at Galt's Gulch Chile, I'll come see you. This is too important.
I am fighting for freedom… are you?
Until next week, try to stay free, my friends.
