Global economic situation for liveaboard cruising yachties

[Zed]

This was too well setup for our police and they didn't shoot anyone! Most of all the Russian bit was hard to miss.

[Frosty]

I can only tell it like I see. when the alarm goes of in Tescos its always a Russian, maybe they don't understand the technology. Lets hope they adapt before Thai immigration get stroppy.

Oh by the way if you ever get behind a Russian family in a buffet queue give up--your waisting your time. Ide ratter be behind a kiwi.

[nyalex]

My previous post was about USSR. Modern Russia is a toilet due to US style capitalism, although Russians are to blame also. Lots of misconceptions, let's c if I can clear some of them up. There are normal high class russians, but not many. There are many low class russians, but most are good folks, they will share their last piece of bread with you. Nowdays, there are too many opportunists with no moral values. Street punks in Russia are very dangerous, but they are not mafia. People like my uncle will kill you for real, but with good reason, which usually seems to be protection of family/self and respect. Then you have animals that kill for business reasons. It's logical to them. 10 night clubs open, 3 succeed, 1 is the most profitable one. So, these business mafia types who only care about money and have no real loyalties show up and get the top club, usually by threats/murder of current owner/his family members. They are brutal animals and nobody have respect for them and they know better than mess with real russians. Any real man like my uncle will come to one those clubs and take out the whole crew if need b. Then you have the elite. They are highly educated, many are in the gov't or connected with russian gov't. You will never see them shoot anyone. In NY, guys like that launder money in millions using banks, and FBI still finds nothing even though they know about it. Very clean. They also use former KGB/Spetsnaz types (professionals) to do dirty work, many times looks like accidents or people just disappear. Brighton Beach in NY is fully controlled by mafia. Nobody talks to police or FBI unless they want severe pain and death on loved ones. So, few if any convictions. Of course, the biggest mafia is Russian gov't. They own nukes, oil, and everything in Russia. True power lies with them. Most people never meet real russians. NY is full of ukranians, georgians, moldavians (former soviet republics), but very few native russians. Many modern russians are scum. No, Frosty, Thailand is not trying to fight corruption. We've discussed plenty of evidence here that shows that even US is not trying to fight corruption. Corruption is a way of life for most countries. That will change when human nature changes.

[masalai]

Zed, to put it simply - I cannot be bothered issuing "demerits", never have and see no point in doing so yet... If it cannot be said in open forum then by PM, that is how I have operated so far, if someone gave you neg rep, that is their business, not me...

The few Russians I have known were the nicest of folk - maybe some recent escapees have not acquired certain "social graces"...

[nyalex]

Here is Thailand story about UK guy. I was gonna call him Frosty II, but I promised some people to be nice to Frosty. He is right half the time, the other half he just vents his anger. So, this UK guy ... very nice guy, friendly, not too bright ... finds himself paradise. Opens a very nice bar around Karon circle in Phuket, much more like a private club, big screen TV, hotel rooms for rent in upper floors of townhouse, perfect pool table. I love billiards and he had the best table. Lots of UK pals come over, watch football (soccer), it's as good as it gets for him. Heaven. So, I return to that place about a year later and I don't c any UK guys. I have a few drinks, play a few games of pool, find out who's the owner. A former bargirl. Hmmmm .... I remember her, she was Uk guy's true love. So I ask her "fan khun u tee nai"? (where is your boyfriend, the UK guy) He's gone. Apparently he put everything in her name, cause it's easier. Less paperwork for Thai to open a business. He invested his cash to renovate and set up the place. Gave her plenty of money for security and the future (if u love me, u will secure my future financially). Then she gave him the boot. All legal rights are hers. Nothing he can do. According to her, instead of living like king in his hotel, he was now renting a cheap room somewhere in Karon. Russians may b buying condos in Thailand, but at least they don't put title into a name of some bar girl.

[Zed]

The last Russian had a long chat too had $40K, wanted to buy a Swanson 36 and sail it around the world solo. He never bought a boat from me but years later I saw him on the news, I think he was in a Swanson and from memory he'd just finished the trip. Funny guy from memory but I guess he gave it a red hot go.

[Zed]

Originally Posted by masalai

Zed, to put it simply 'go **** yourself' - I cannot be bothered issuing "demerits", never have and see no point in doing so yet... If it cannot be said in open forum then by PM, that is how I have operated so far, if someone gave you neg rep, that is their business, not me...

The few Russians I have known were the nicest of folk - maybe some recent escapees have not acquired certain "social graces"...

You are a real game player and a bit of a snake with it as it turns out. The things you assume are stunning!

And to think I didn't believe all I was told about you... now I'm seeing what they meant.

[Frosty]

Nyalex--You only know 1 guy like that, there must be thousands of dumb fkers get cought every year and yes it mainly Brits.

My house and my car and a motorbike is all in my wifes name --its hers I don't care . She needs some security if I snuff it, I can not guarantee the banks to let her have money so it hers and more. She needs something for washing my socks for 21 years don't she? Some guys don't get it.

If you live in bars this stuff is all you hear about, gals talk tits and bras guys talk gals ripping them off. If you live near a pool table it gets worse.

I love sitting on my own watching all the ****** living there on a shoe string, bald headed tatoed ******.

1 month Thailand 1 month Malaysia --nice balance.

[masalai]

nyalex, your sound advice preceded that which I like from GATA, well done sir, on your perception http://www.gata.org/node/8257 "Strike a blow at the market-rigging banks by moving your money" - - did I get that right or is dementia playing tricks with my mind again???

http://www.fgmr.com/two-important-me...ear-index.html "Two Important Messages from the Fear Index"

[Zed]

GATA are a touch loony, they are right in some respects but they constantly load both barrels and point them at their feet.... rabid is the term for them. Their obsession with manipulation clouds every issue surrounding gold. I urge anyone reading them to employ all of their critical faculties lest the uber bulls lead you into a brick wall at high speed. Not that they make a habit of it

[nyalex]

Originally Posted by masalai

nyalex, your sound advice preceded that which I like from GATA, well done sir, on your perception http://www.gata.org/node/8257 "Strike a blow at the market-rigging banks by moving your money" - - did I get that right or is dementia playing tricks with my mind again???

http://www.fgmr.com/two-important-me...ear-index.html "Two Important Messages from the Fear Index"

Each person has their own choice. That's what's great about US. So, banks and pals have to brainwash you first, then make you believe you need to do what they want you to do. So, do what Rene Descartes did (famous philospher), go meditate all their BS out of your head until your mind is clear. I think therefore I exist, some may know this. Start thinking. First thought ... why do banks want your money? I think we all answered that. Next, what is your benefit by depositing your cash in the bank? Maybe security and free checking? That's about it. Many think they need to deposit in banks so they can borrow money when they need it. Questionable. Most of the time people borrow too much for wrong things and buy things at the wrong prices (too high). This is what I do. I never keep more than I need in bank to pay some bills. I usually deposit just enough to pay something off and virtually no extras. I think my current bank account balance is $15 or so. That's about how much banks can lend using my money. Instead, there is a much safer and better place to keep your money - brokerage account. I use Ameritrade for years. You account is insured like ... up to $25 million, not $100,000 like banks, although banks raised FDIC insurance to $250,000. You can use brokerage debit card for purchases like a bank card, so it's very convenient. The best part is that you can use your money to trade stocks, bonds, options, funds, whatever ... it can make YOU money instead of letting only banks make money from you. And all that money sitting in Ameritrade ... they can provide with plenty of margin when you want to load up on some stock about to take off. Be sure it will take off first. Put some stop limit orders just in case it goes down or buy some options to cover your a.. Anyway, that seems much more beneficial to me than keeping cash in the banks. Just as safe, even safer. There are no bank fees for using brokerage. You get checks also. It just makes more sense to me. You can put your money to work for you if you know what you are doing. If you don't ... there are other investment options for you. I always do something with cash, I never let it just sit there. You get good service at Ameritrade, too. Banks are arrogant. If you must use a bank, I suggest a small community type of bank. They have better service and they are not large enough to screw people over like big banks do every day. Your account is still insured to same amount as in a big bank.

[nyalex]

Here is another (good) story out of Thailand. This native Thai guy with US citizenship opens hotel, 2 townhouses, 1 minute walking in Karon from where UK guy in my previous story lost his hotel to his true love. So, this Thai guy made his cash in US and came to Thailand. His Thai wife was a regular south Thai lady, not lady bar, but I think just as greedy. She would complain to me how nothing is in her name. This Thai guy is smart .... He's almost never there, his wife does all the work ... almost for free? He opened a bar, but no bargirls. Just a place to relax on a first floor of townhouse, the other first floor of townhouse was tour/taxi business owned by him. All normal and profitable businesses. If Thai guy dies, his will and everything he owns which includes cash from US as well is left .... to his daughter. Not Thai mom. I am not even sure if he properly married his Thai wife with signing papers. I think she has no rights. Only maybe as a guardian? So, if she takes off, she gets nothing. And he can get new wife in one second. Plus he gets all the power and status as owner in charge. No issues at all. That's how you supposed to do business in Thailand. I did not c him too much, because I think he was busy with his mistresses ....

[Bamby]

Is The U.S. Economy Being Tanked By Mistake or By Intent?

The government wants Americans to believe the greatest economic collapse in history was the result of ineptness and mistakes yet still have confidence in their financial institutions.

Should American bankers be let off the hook because they self-declare, before an investigational panel, that the failure of their newly invented risk swaps and other highly leveraged investment schemes was simply due to "mistakes"? Not malfeasance – just every-day mistakes? Bankers just fell asleep at the helm at a critical juncture in American history. Is that what we are being led to believe?

Oh well, it’s just 18 million American homes that now lay empty in the wake of unprecedented foreclosures, and the bankers have collected obscene bonuses for reckless lending of their depositors’ money. It’s like the captain and crew of a ship saying, not to worry, twenty-percent of the passengers were lost overboard, but this was due to unavoidable mistakes, and then being rewarded with bonuses when they reach port.

Continued Here

Gold And Silver: Why They Are Important, And Why They Are Often Manipulated

For decades, gold and silver investors have been warning the masses about the catastrophic weaknesses inherent in fiat currencies; currencies backed by nothing but empty promises and printed out of thin air ad nauseam by Central Banks. Precious metals, they said, were the only safe form of currency because they were finite, and could not be duplicated, meaning they could not be inflated to worthlessness. Until recently, these warnings have gone almost completely ignored by the general public.

Continued Here

[masalai]

Thanks ZED, an interesting read, which leaves me more aware, but less comfortable...

Maybe I spent too much time in the remote regions of Melanesia, for this 'ancient piece of ****', a far simpler existence, as I yearn to slow down and enjoy... watching coconuts fall to the ground...

[Zed]

Armstrong's story is interesting and kinda scary if taken at face value. He has a fascination for history and cycles, IMO it is intriguing stuff. Been watching him for quite a while now, he has a few claims to fame and is becoming somewhat of a cult figure in the goldbug world. FWIW.