August 21, 2015

Cat for President, Greelections, Korean Drama, Jimmy Carter, New York Nudity and Deez Nuts

PNUT GALLERY

“Limberbutt McCubbins is a candidate we can all get behind. Meow is the time.” The words of a Kentucky cat, Limberbutt McCubbins who is seeking the Democrat Presidential nomination. Happy weekend Pnutters!

IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ

Greece Announces Snap Elections, Because Why Not?

Facing down a leftist mutiny in his party, Greek PM Alexis Tsipras has called snap elections in Greece. The elections, scheduled for September 20, are meant to strengthen his hand as he purges the far left fringe of his party, Syriza, and begins implementing the Greek bailout. Tsipras, who assumed office in January of this year, has presided over an acrimonious and destructive negotiation with Greece’s creditors over the past eight months. Why is this important? Because if Tsipras loses this election, he won’t be able to pass the measures needed for the Greek bailout. This risks plunging the already crippled economy into further chaos. Syriza’s leftist fringe is headed by Panagiotis Lafazanis, a man who routinely calls St. Petersburg Leningrad and refers to his friends as “comrade.” The Greek economy, which has been crippled by austerity and capital controls, desperately needs some form of stability.

Pnut’s Dispatch from Athens

North Korea: The Abusive Brother That Won’t Go Away

Shots were exchanged yesterday between the two Koreas (North and South) over their heavily militarized border (where nearly thirty thousand US troops are stationed). The latest incident came as the North had threatened the South to stop broadcasting propaganda messages over the border. Wait, why are the Koreas fighting now? The two countries are still technically at war but tensions have been high recently after two South Korean soldiers were wounded on August 4 by landmines. The South Koreans are used to North Korean abuse by now after North Korea once sent them a fax (who still sends a fax?) saying that it would ‘strike mercilesslly’…..it would be funny if North Korea didn’t have nuclear weapons and an unstable dictator with a bad haircut…

GOOD BOOK: The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

Former President Jimmy Carter Diagnosed With Brain Cancer

Former US president Jimmy Carter revealed that he has brain cancer yesterday and that he will undergo radiation therapy straight away. Carter had previously removed a cancerous mass from his liver. The former President turned democracy activist is still very active at age 90, even taking a recent trip to Guyana to monitor elections. We wish you a speedy recovery!

IMF Tells China To Wait Yuan More Year

The IMF snubbed China today when it refused to include the Yuan in its SDR basket this year (a pool of currencies used by the IMF to supplement members’ reserves). The SDR is the ultimate sign that a currency has matured and become globally accepted. Investors were speculating that China’s devaluation last week would be a move towards joining the SDR, but it seems that the IMF wasn’t convinced. Separately, China’s stock market tanked again today after weak manufacturing data was reported.

Pnut’s Nutshell on China’a Economic Confusion

Yemen’s War Turns To Famine

The UN World Food Program (WFP) has sounded the warning on Yemen, saying that the country is on the brink of a famine. Yemen has been the victim of a civil-turned-regional war. as Houthi rebels have overrun most of the country and Saudi Arabia has “graciously” intervened. Saudi bombings have left over 2,000 people dead and 13 million in dire need of food and water aid. Unfortunately, there seems to be no end in sight to this conflict with this being one of many Middle Eastern tragedies.

Pnut’s Nutshell on Yemen

#pnut4prez: Clinton Tries To Wipe Email Controversy ‘With A Cloth’

No matter how hard she tries Hilary Clinton just can’t seem to get rid of her email controversy. Yesterday a federal judge said that she violated government policy by storing emails on her private server. The email controversy has grown from a minor nuisance to something that could seriously risk her campaign. She even still looks shocked when she’s asked about it. Doesn’t help that she has been losing ground to Bernie Sanders…

GOOD READ: 10 Questions About The E-mail Saga

Keeping Our Eye On…

Kazakh Currency: Kazakhstan’s potassium might be the greatest in the world but its currency certainly isn’t. The Tenge lost 25 percent of its value today as Chinese turmoil and low oil prices took their toll..
Thai Bombings: Thai police have released a sketch of the bombing suspect, and two tour guides seen in security footage have been cleared. There are no real leads, but police believe it was a premeditated plan by at least 10 people.
2016 Nuts: “Deez Nuts” is polling at nine percent in North Carolina as a new presidential hopeful. While simply an elaborate joke by a 15-year-old Iowan boy, based on a viral video, the prank exposes the current state of the American electorate for 2016.

LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

Times Square Nudity Unites Politicians

New York’s Times Square has always been a magnet for the weird and wonderful. Whether it’s the self-titled ‘naked cowboy’ (a street performer who only wears cowboy boots, a hat and underwear who once ran for President) or the incredible M&M store. However, Mayor De Blasio has decided that enough is enough and is cracking down on the growing number of topless female performers. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo called their actions “illegal” with current Mayor De Blasio saying it is “wrong“. It seems that only thing that can unify New York politics is nudity…You would think they didn’t have much more important things to worry about.

Weekend Reads

A chilling NYTimes report on how ISIS lured three British schoolgirls to Syria.
Bloomberg asks what would actually happen to the economy if The Donald implemented his immigration policies?
Can the Pope clean up the Vatican’s dirty money?
The heartening story of Mali’s most dedicated postman.
The Explorer Gene – a great book about what it takes to raise three generations of explorers.

What to do after Donald Trump offers your personal cell number to the world…

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