The G Manifesto

Flawless Blue Diamond Up For Auction at Sotheby’s

Click Here for Glitter & Greed: The Secret World of the Diamond Cartel

A flawless 7.03-carat blue diamond will be among the jewels up for sale at Sotheby’s upcoming auction in Geneva.

The diamond, an internally flawless, fancy-vivid-blue, cushion-cut stone, was cut from a 26.58-carat piece of rough discovered in 2008 at Petra Diamonds’ historic Cullinan Diamond Mine in South Africa.

Click Here for Glitter & Greed: The Secret World of the Diamond Cartel

The Cullinan mine has produced some of the world’s largest diamonds, including the 3,106-carat “Cullinan,” the largest rough gem ever unearthed.

The diamond is estimated to fetch between $5.8 million-$8.5 million, according to a press release from Sotheby’s, and, as always, the buyer will have the honor of naming the stone.

The sale, called “Magnificent Jewels,” is scheduled for May 12 at the Beau-Rivage Hotel in Geneva.

Commenting on the blue diamond, David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Department for Europe and the Middle East, said “Blue diamonds are among the rarest of all nature’s treasures and it is very exciting to have such a fine example as the centerpiece of our forthcoming Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale. This stone certainly ranks among the most important blue diamonds that I have had the privilege of offering for sale in my career at Sotheby’s, and what makes it particularly special for us is that we’ve been able to follow its production from the initial rough state through the various stages of its cutting and polishing.”

Click Here for Glitter & Greed: The Secret World of the Diamond Cartel

In the last three years, Sotheby’s has seen three blue diamonds garner more than $1 million per carat at auction, including a pear-shaped vivid-blue diamond set in a ring that brought $4.9 million at the Geneva auction in May 2008, setting a new world record price-per-carat for any gemstone at auction.

Polished diamond prices have dropped 15 percent in the past six months, according to an index from PolishedPrices.com.

Sotheby’s sold a vivid blue emerald diamond in October 2007 for a then-record $1.32 million per carat. The 6.04-carat stone fetched $7.9 million in Hong Kong, the company said. It has since sold two further pear-shaped blue diamonds for $4.9 million and $4.7 million.

Petra sold a 39.19-carat rough blue diamond from Cullinan for $8.8 million in October. The world’s most expensive blue diamond is the 17th century Blue Wittelsbach Diamond, which fetched $24.3 million at Christie’s in December, according to the International Colored Gemstone Association’s web site.

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Click Here for Glitter & Greed: The Secret World of the Diamond Cartel

The Rest is Up to You…

Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com

Papoose- Bloody War

Somali Pirates Get Wicked

Click Here For Somali Piracy Yearbook for 2008

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Click Here For Dangerous Waters: Modern Piracy and Terror on the High Seas

Somali pirates seized ships from France, Britain, Germany, Taiwan and Yemen, defying world naval powers by prowling further out in the Indian Ocean to target victims.

Ransom-hunting pirates equipped with skiffs, guns and grapnels took five ships in 48 hours, the two latest on Monday targeting a British cargo ship and a Taiwanese fishing vessel.

At least 17 ships and more than 250 hostages are now in pirate hands.

Ice Cube – Wicked

“There were two more hijackings today. There is one Italian-operated British-owned ship and a Taiwanese vessel near the Seychelles,” an official involved in regional piracy monitoring told AFP on condition of anonymity.

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The Seychelles government said it received a distress call saying that a Taiwanese fishing vessel, the MV Winfar 161, and its 29 crew was hijacked in its exclusive economic zone, north of Denis island.

Transport Minister Joel Morgan said military forces had been deployed to intercept the pirates, amid reports that three more Taiwanese ships were trying to escape capture.

The information centre of the European Union’s anti-piracy naval mission Atalanta confirmed the hijacking of the British Panama-flagged Malaspina Castle.

“A 32,000 tonne UK-owned and Italian-operated bulk carrier was hijacked early this morning in the Gulf of Aden … the mixed nationality crew are believed to be safe,” it said.

Click Here For Somali Piracy Yearbook for 2008

Click Here For Violence at Sea: Piracy in the Age of Global Terrorism

Click Here For Dangerous Waters: Modern Piracy and Terror on the High Seas

The maritime administration in Sofia said 16 crew members were Bulgarians.

“We are in the middle of the risk zone for piracy, however nothing to report,” it said.

An earlier post said: “The danger exists, and it has undoubtedly grown in recent months, but the ocean is vast. The pirates must not ruin our dream.”

Hundreds of ransom-hunting Somali pirates have hijacked dozens of ships over the past year, mostly merchant vessels plying one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.

They operate from skiffs towed by pirate “mother ships”, which are often hijacked fishing vessels. Last year, their haul included a Ukrainian cargo loaded with combat tanks and a Saudi supertanker.

More than 130 attacks, including close to 50 successful hijackings, were reported in 2008, threatening the vital shipping lane and spurring the international community into joint naval action.

The number of attacks had dipped since the start of the year, owing to an increased international naval presence and unfavourable seas.

But some pirate groups have ventured far into the Indian Ocean, southeast of Somalia, to target ships further out at sea.

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Somaili Pirates. Making it happen.

“Lookin for the one that did it
but like En Vogue, no you’re never gonna get it”

I am really contemplating investing in the Somali Pirates. For like a 10,000% return.

– Ice Cube

Click Here For Somali Piracy Yearbook for 2008

Click Here For Violence at Sea: Piracy in the Age of Global Terrorism

Click Here For Dangerous Waters: Modern Piracy and Terror on the High Seas

The Rest is Up to You…

Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com

Papoose – Russian Roulette

Which of Course Samples:

“DIRTY DIANA” by MICHAEL JACKSON

Commodity Trading: “Half empty or Half full?”

For April 6th– April 10th 2009
By: Matthew Bradbard
http://www.mbwealth.com

Click Here for Pit Bull: Lessons from Wall Street’s Champion Day Trader

As G-20 leaders met last week to deal with the global crises there seems to be a growing sense that the worst of the financial crisis may have past. We couldn’t disagree more and think there are still rough times ahead. The FASB approved a change in accounting standards that gives banks more flexibility in how they value distressed assets. Some say the new rule will increase bank profits by as much as 20% and will apply to most companies in Q1, but it may just be another cute way to cook the books. It is naïve to think that because these toxic assets aren’t on the books that they just vanish into thin air. Until we flush the system and world leaders recognize that this problem, which took years to develop may take years to work out, we will continue to live in fantasy land. I’m not a pessimist or an optimist, I’m a realist. That being said there will be plenty of opportunities to profit and we will seek to identify them for our clients.

Energies

The US Department of Energy said crude oil supplies were up 2.8 million barrels last week, supplies of gasoline were up 2.2 million barrels while heating oil supplies were up 300,000 barrels. May crude oil closed up 26 cents on the week, but that alone doesn’t say a great deal being prices had a $6.64 trading range. Crude oil has now moved higher for 7 consecutive weeks and I still find myself trying to convince investors that an interim bottom was made. Support is seen at the 20 day moving average at 50.20 with resistance at the high from 3/26 at 54.66. May heating oil was lower last week by just over 1 penny. Support comes in at the 20 day moving average at 1.3475 with resistance between 1.5125 and 1.5175. Heating oil should continue to follow the direction of crude, we have no trading suggestions currently. Some clients have expressed interest in getting long RBOB and short heating oil but we have yet to commit funds. May RBOB was higher by 65 ticks last week, after an early week slump prices surged 15 cents/gallon. Support comes in between 1.3550 and 1.3600 with resistance at 1.5500. Continue to use dips such as we saw last week to become a buyer of 20 cent call spreads for July and August.

The US Department of Energy said underground supplies of natural gas were unchanged last week at 1.654 trillion cubic feet. Supplies are now up 32% from a year ago. May natural gas closed up 4 cents but prices still remain under $4.00. For the week prices consolidated in a 30 cent range and if I didn’t know better formed a base for a move higher. If the lows hold at 3.60 we should see a trade back up, resistance at the 20 day moving average this week at 3.98. On a move through that level we anticipate a move to 4.50 and potentially 5.00 in coming weeks.

Currencies

The ECB reduced interest rates last week from 1.50% to a record low 1.25% but not the 1.0% that the market had priced in so the market rallied with June gaining 258 ticks. Support comes in at 1.3270 with resistance at 1.3725. We could see some follow thru higher this week, but we would still be looking to sell rallies anticipating a move back below 1.30. We would however caution to wait for a sell signal as opposed to just jumping in.

The BOJ’s Tankan survey of business sentiment fell from -24 to a new record low of -58 in the Q1of 09’ the sixth consecutive quarter of decline. The June yen was lower by 233 ticks last week to its lowest levels since 10/21. Prices have given back 700 points in the last 2 weeks with a close back below par. Support is seen at .9925 with resistance at par followed by 1.0200. We advise the sidelines. The BOJ is expected to leave rates at 0.10% this week.

The Aussie was higher by 267 ticks last week but after a 9 cent advance in the last 4 weeks this market may be ready to take a breath. Support is seen at .6925 with resistance between .7200 and .7225. Look for the RBA to cut rates 50 basis points to 2.75%.

Continue Reading about Currencies and Grains

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Contact us today at 1-888-920-9997. Don’t forget to tell them The G Manifesto sent you.

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_____________________________________________________________________________________Risk Disclosure: The risk of loss in trading commodity futures and options can be substantial. Before trading MB Wealth recommends that you should carefully consider your financial position to determine if commodity trading is appropriate for you. All funds committed should be purely risk capital. Past performance is no guarantee of future trading results. There are no guarantees of market outcome stated, everything stated above are our opinions. Calculations of profit and loss have not factored in commissions and fees.

John McCain seeks pardon for Jack Johnson (And I don’t mean that crappy singer either)

Click Here for The DVD” Unforgivable Blackness – The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson A must have.

Click Here for The Book: Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson. A must Read.

Sen. John McCain said Wednesday he’s sure that President Barack Obama “will be more than eager” to pardon the late black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, who was sent to prison nearly a century ago because of his romantic ties with a white woman.

In this corner – Jack Johnson

Appearing with three of Johnson’s family members and Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., McCain unveiled a resolution urging a presidential pardon for Johnson, who was convicted in 1913 of violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for immoral purposes. The law has since been heavily amended, but has not been repealed.

McCain, R-Ariz., said he planned to speak to Obama about it, but added, “I think the last person I have to convince probably is President Obama.”

Miles Davis- A Tribute to Jack Johnson

“We need to erase this act of racism which sent an American citizen to prison on a trumped-up charge,” McCain said, adding, “I have great confidence this president will be more than eager to sign this legislation and pardon Jack Johnson.”

The White House declined to comment Wednesday. Obama was in London on Wednesday attending a summit on the global economic crisis.

Click Here for The DVD” Unforgivable Blackness – The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson A must have.

Click Here for The Book: Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson. A must Read.

McCain and King — both of whom have done their share of boxing — are advocating the pardon along with filmmaker Ken Burns, whose 2005 documentary, “Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson,” explored the case against Johnson and the sentencing judge’s admitted desire to “send a message” to black men about relationships with white women.

Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion on Dec. 26, 1908, 100 years before Obama became the first black president.

“It certainly would be a moment in history,” King said, “to have the first African-American president granting a pardon to the first African-American heavyweight champion.”

The resolution announced Wednesday seeks a pardon that acknowledges Johnson’s career and reputation were wronged “by a racially motivated conviction prompted by his success in the boxing ring and his relationship with white women.” Similar resolutions offered in 2004 and last year failed to pass both chambers of Congress.

Burns helped form the Committee to Pardon Jack Johnson, which filed a petition with the Justice Department in 2004 that was never acted on. He called Johnson “the greatest boxer of all time,” and said when Johnson proved unbeatable in the ring, “the white power establishment decided to beat him in the courts.”

He called a pardon for Johnson “just a question of justice, which is not only blind, but color-blind,” adding, “I think it absolutely does not have anything to do with the symbolism of an African-American president pardoning an African-American unjustly accused.”

Johnson won the 1908 world heavyweight title after police in Australia stopped his 14-round match against the severely battered Canadian world champion, Tommy Burns. That led to a search for a “Great White Hope” who could beat Johnson. Two years later, Jim Jeffries, the American world titleholder Johnson had tried for years to fight, came out of retirement but lost in a match called “The Battle of the Century,” resulting in deadly riots.

Click Here for The DVD” Unforgivable Blackness – The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson A must have.

Click Here for The Book: Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson. A must Read.

Authorities first targeted Johnson’s relationship with Lucille Cameron, who later became his wife, but she refused to cooperate. They then found another white witness, Belle Schreiber, to testify against him. Johnson fled the country after his conviction, but agreed years later to return and serve a 10-month jail sentence. He tried to renew his boxing career after leaving prison, but failed to regain his title. He died in a car crash in 1946 at age 68.

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Big ups to John McCain for this.

Jack Johnson is one of the Original G’s: Brash, Cocky, Charismatic, Sharp Dresser, Didn’t give a Fuck and Swooped Mad Girls.

True Revolutionary.

If it wasn’t for G’s like Jack Johnson, there would be no Michael Mason.

Click Here for The DVD” Unforgivable Blackness – The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson A must have.

Click Here for The Book: Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson. A must Read.

The Rest is Up to You…

Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com

Jack Johnson Highlights

The Best Guerrilla Artists

Click Here to Buy Banksy’s Wall and Piece

Click Here to Buy Style Wars

Click Here to Buy Dondi White Style Master General: The Life of Graffiti Artist Dondi White

BANKSY

The most famous guerrilla artist of them all (if he can be famous when no one really knows who he is or what he looks like, despite tabloid newspaper attempts to unmask him), Banksy is either the anti-capitalist artistic conscience of the streets or the sell-out who panders to the establishment he once provoked. He is now revered enough that city councils keep his stencils on public buildings, and in 2007, a single work sold for £288,000, around 20 times the estimate of Bonham’s. Banksy produced spoof £10 notes from the ‘Banksy of England’, defaced Paris Hilton CDs, and painted the Queen as a chimpanzee during her Golden Jubilee. In August 2005, he painted nine images on the concrete wall dividing Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank, including a girl floating over the wall holding balloons.

1 Hour in the life of a Banksy

POSTER BOY

Poster Boy has been slinking around New York’s subways for the past year taking a razor to advertising posters. The results are simple, satirical and brilliant. He slashes a poster of The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, making a ghoulish Frankenstein of two of the most beautiful faces on screen, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. He turns an Indiana Jones poster into a comment on colonialism.

Sometimes – he has to work quickly before the police catch him – he does very little at all, as in the poster of blockbuster Iron Man, which he meddled with to create new words: Iran > Nam. He has been called the “Matisse of subway-ad mash-ups” and has said he has no intention of taking his work into galleries. The real deal.

Spending Time With Poster Boy

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KEITH HARING

The original street artist, it was Haring’s chalk drawings on the subway walls of New York that first got him noticed.

In New York, he found the art community at its most experimental outside the gallery, in the city’s streets and clubs.

His outline figures did not have faces and yet expressed a range of powerful emotions. Taking a stand against capitalism and attitudes to HIV, he hung out with Jean-Michel Basquiat, who in the late Seventies began spray painting his iconic SAMO graffiti around the city, a pithy satirical series that foreshadowed the tone of much guerrilla art.

SHEPARD FAIREY

Remember the Barack Obama Hope posters during the US presidential election campaign of last year? They were not the brainchild of some corporate marketing team, but created by one of the most influential guerrilla artists around, Shepard Fairey, who has been operating since the Eighties, with his designs adorning skate parks across America. He was responsible for anti-Bush sticker campaigns such as ‘Be the Revolution’ and ‘Obey’. The iconic Obama design, pictured, was initially distributed independently, but soon with official approval. He followed it up with a companion portrait inviting people to ‘adopt’ shelter dogs, brilliantly lampooning the historical significance of the original.

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Some of the best Guerilla Artist are the unsung ones.

Click Here to Buy Banksy’s Wall and Piece

Click Here to Buy Style Wars

Click Here to Buy Dondi White Style Master General: The Life of Graffiti Artist Dondi White

The Rest is Up to You…

Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com

Friends We Love ft. Poster Boy :: Artist + Vigilante

BANKSY