Silo Banking Reform

Banks give free checking now by investing the money that customers are not using. Banking reform idea:

Set up a special system of “checking banks” to issue all checking accounts. Checking banks hold the money until the customer writes a check or uses a debit card. Checking banks are not allowed to invest that money because they might lose that money. Instead they charge a fee for services — a swipe fee for debit cards, an ATM fee, a check fee for each check written and processed, a paper fee for issuing statements or online fee for access to online system if desired.

FDIC insurance applies only to checking banks. Risk is low because they will not gambling with depositor’s money. There will be dozens of such banks competing on the basis of low fees. If any bank fails only a few depositors will be affected and cleanup costs will be low. Most banks will be online because that is the cheapest. Federal law may require states to charter such banks and that state may require all employees to live in that state.

All checking bank managers must be honorably discharged from the military, never worked for any other kind of bank or financial institution, and post online their current GMAT test scores, college transcripts, credit reports, and other information. They should have a CPA, CFA, FRM or other professional certification. They should not consult or be on the board of any other company to avoid all conflicts of interest.

Then make other silos for investment banks, mortgage banks, commercial banks, consumer banks, land banks, common stock banks, bond banks, commodity banks, … Personnel would be specially trained for their industry. Investors would keep their money in their checking account bank for most purposes but when making an investment they would locate an appropriate bank and write a check to that bank. These investments would not be insured by the government. Consumers would have to pass an exam to invest in any of these risky banks to certify that they understand the risk of that investment. Consumers can diversify by putting part of their money in the different types of banks out there.

I get angry at JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and such banks trying to get me to invest in risky investments when all I want from them is a checking account or CD. Then later they want bailouts for them and their cronies. If they are so smart then why do they need bailouts? Why should I invest with them? Why don’t they work in an area in which they are competent? Bank of America and Chase both have very good online systems.

Walk on Beach: Phages for Health

Do people need an excuse to walk on the beach every day? In addition to getting exercise and sunshine Vitamin D cholesterol sulfate. Another reason: seawater is filled with phages that kill germs. Guts and humans are filled with phages and bacteria that are needed for immune system and health. Phages can kill both good and bad bacteria. I wonder how the good bacteria defend themselves? Is this affected by diet? Phages can also kill good yeasts in wine barrels, cheese, buttermilk or yogurt. Control of phages can help control of good and bad bacteria and thus human health and the economics of numerous industries — produce more and better for less money. Interesting article and pictures of the phage gizmo linked below.

A bacterio-phage is a virus that infect bacteria. Phages are estimated to be the most widely distributed and diverse entities in the biosphere. Phages are ubiquitous and can be found in all reservoirs populated by bacterial hosts, such as soil or the intestines of animals. One of the densest natural sources for phages and other viruses is sea water, where up to 9×108 virions per milliliter have been found in microbial mats at the surface, and up to 70% of marine bacteria may be infected by phages. They have been used for over 90 years as an alternative to antibiotics in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe as well in France. Since ancient times, there have been documented reports of river waters having the ability to cure infectious diseases, such as leprosy. In 1896, Ernest Hankin reported that something in the waters of the Ganges river in India had marked antibacterial action against cholera and could pass through a very fine porcelain filter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriophage#Role_in_food_fermentation

Generation Gap Biochemical Analysis

I believe much of the generational gap is biochemical. The generations are to some extent different races down to the DNA level due to different diets, lifestyles, environmental exposures and epigenetic evolution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics#Epigenetic_effects_in_humans

Since WWII there have been dramatic changes in biochemical factors so the older generations are less afflicted. I am just starting to study neuroscience and biochemistry of social phenomena. Quite a lot has been discovered but I don’t know of any good compendium. Labeling the generations X, Y, Z, etc. are often sociologists who do not understand the basic science. There may be no such easy categories but various trends and cycles. I think my label would be “modern” whereas the newer generations would be “postmodern” but labels are nebulous
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernism#Contested_definitions

Some of the factors affecting the new generations include:

Bombardment by electrics and magnetics that affect health and thinking ability. Then the flood of liberal influences by TV, radio, iPod, games,…

Dramatic drop in physical activity. Sitting on and damaging testicles (they are located outside the body to cool off and function correctly). People used to do difficult and dangerous physical activity 12 hours per day to survive.

Huge numbers of chemicals added to the food supply. Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers,… Many are proven dangerous by themselves. In combination the hazards multiply.

Huge amounts of drugs, legal and illegal. Hazardous waste left by drugs. Drugs get into the water supply. Each drug is dangerous. In combination the hazards multiply.

Food composition has changed dramatically in terms of fat / carbo / protein ratios and within those categories the types of fat carbo protein vitamins and minerals have changed dramatically. For example people now avoid cholesterol yet cholesterol is concentrated in the brain and is required for building new learning grey matter so deficiency will cause low test scores, Alzheimers, Autism, and schizophrenia — epidemics in what were previously rare disorders.

Lack of sunshine required to produce Vitamin D sulfate and Cholesterol sulfate required for many physical and mental processes. The best forms cannot be found in pills. 90% of Americans are deficient. Why people like Galveston, Florida, Hawaii, Palm Springs, Santa Fe, West Texas, sunbelt … Darker people need more sun so negroes are especially damaged by living in cold dark northern cities. I can do ok in Seattle, Boston,…

Numerous such changes are causing the new generations to be much more dysfunctional than the previous generations. The new generations are often more alien than many of the illegal aliens from Mexico.