Oldtent Archives 2007 - 2008

Your response was well said.  What you say about allegiance rings very true, group think that makes them feel part of something bigger and better than themselves and self righteous. That being said I can see why the self righteous and those who feel more entitled because their allegiance’s can come to hate or resent you because they are not protected from all that is happening when they probably think it should be the other way around. Hopefully they will learn from it, that they were not part of anything..but a ploy for power, control and fiat. Unless you have something to offer these people they will either ignore you, or hate you like under these circumstances.

The most important thing that has happened recently was last week when the 10yr bond spiked lower. see ( $UST ) The 30 yr Bond ( $usb ) is ready to plummet. Is so - Katy bar the door! a wise old mentor told me once to watch the long Bond because that is where the really big money resides. Deadeye

A good Ron Paul interview by Lew Rockwell on 12/23/08

Part 1 —   www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY2_l8QL9h8

Part 1 —   www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSRC0wQhRJU

Towards the last of the interview Ron seems to be saying that he thinks that the controllers did not intend for the events to get this bad.   He should know better than I but I have my doubts that this is anything other than completely orchestrated.

Been following your amazing itinerary for the last few weeks and especially your lady’s vision hickups.  My best to Pat. Merry Christmas to you both.

That is the second spike low to 5 and change this week.  I dare ‘em to let me in at that price.

Check out the Kitco 24 hr. Silver chart.  Massive spike down 17:00 hrs.

Irish, was it you who asked about communications aboard? Here in Pohnpei the telecom has a powerful wireless transmitter. The same pre-paid card which allows telephone calls can also be used to add credit to a pre-paid internet account. Therefore so long as we are anchored near to Kolonia, the capital, we have internet access. That is a rare luxury for us, we usually have to look for Internet cafes with poor connections.

It is possible to get Internet aboard anywhere in the world with gyro stabilized dishes. Superyachts do it all the time at enormous cost. There are also lesser systems which are cheaper but are still way too much for our meagre budget. However there are ways to get simple emails aboard at modest cost in terms of equipment and ongoings. The ham system which is free once the gear is bought, is called Winlink. There is also a paid version of the same thing called Sailmail. They have big limitations. The data speed through HF radio is incredibly slow but at least it allows us to keep in touch with people we love.

I believe that people here are at last becoming very aware that these are not ordinary times.  More and more are losing their jobs.  House prices are falling and there is no end in sight to this. People are complaining about the price of food.

News from overseas is getting worse by the day.  We don’t feel insulated from it any more. I believe many are getting very nervous but just don’t know what to do about it.

But this is a season we can celebrate.  MerryChristmas all.

Hi Ferret

You are right, there is rarely any benefit to be had in offering advice unless asked. But I have been chewing on a related issue.

Many of us here have been preparing for years for the present crisis and will be unsurprised when it gets very much worse.  But it won’t help us to be the only family in the village with food or water, a drum of fuel or even a PM coin or three. You will quickly be called hoarders and be hated at best or attecked at worst. At some point Tenters may have to become leaders and show others how to prepare. We do not live in isolation from the world and our own survival will depend on the survival of those around us.

It occurs to me that now may the time to be more assertive with opinions. It may not be necessary to be deeply philosophical, to get into the meaning of money or the value of Austrian economics. All that may be needed is to suggest that times are getting harder and the wise should prepare. I’m thinking that once people start to prepare in any way they will become increasingly open to other ideas and new ways to become even better prepared.

As always, it will be a matter of balance. But whereas I once would have said you are 100% right now I think you are only half right.

Incidentally, G’day from the north Pacific. This is the first time the good ship Lifeboat has been in the north for 18 years. We miss you all down there though.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All the Tenters,from snowed in No.Nev. Rollo

I would re-parse that to:

To deserve this, most of them have not done anything:   in terms of looking after their investments, at any rate.  If they have any investments, that is.

In other respects, most of them have done many things to find themselves in this situation.  They have taken on debt, and more debt.  They’ve sacrificed their homes on the altar of MEW for holidays, weddings, swimming pools.  They’ve thrown away their financial future for nickel flipping condos that they never expected to live in - their only expectation was an infinite supply of bigger fools to take it off them at triple the price.  Their vehicle buying was based on a stable oil price.  Their retirement was based on an ever increasing home price, so that it could be sold to finance a retirement condo and capital to live off.  Most of them didn’t even attempt to find out what would happen, and as soon as any of us tried to warn them, their heads disappeared into the sand.  “What I don’t know won’t hurt me” was the prevailing attitude.  They were all sucked in to the greatest Ponzi scheme ever.  Borrow and borrow, increasing asset prices mean you’ll all be able to make huge profits, nobody will ever have to work again.  Greenspasm even said that the future of America was in being creative rather than making things.  The US will do the thinking, and the Asians will do all the work.  Well, greed and laziness are now starting to take their toll, and such is the culture of blame prevalent in western society that everyone will be looking for someone to carry the can.  Nobody likes to admit that they are responsible for the situation they now find themselves in. 

Silverspike sent me an e-mail explaining the difference between the 1930’s depression and now.  In the 1930’s Wall Streeters were jumping from windows because of their losses (and unfortunately we’ve already seen one suicide resulting from the Madoff case).  The e-mail ends with a picture of a protest on Wall Street with someone holding a poster saying “JUMP YOU $@#%@$$##s”.  This is what will make this time round like 1873 - civil unrest, riots etc.  There will be a lot of anger.  Even though it hasn’t really started in Oz (and certainly not Qld) yet, the anger is building from the losses in pension accounts.  Even the fixed rate super funds have had losses - not through interest rate falls, but because most of them had AAA rated sub-prime US debt.  When house prices start to fall, and the unemployment really starts to drop then we shall see how strong the attitude gets.

Until then, keeping a low profile seems like a good idea.  Only offer suggestions if asked.  Avoid getting sucked into any arguments (Irish, you may find that difficult!). 

Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Preposterous New Year

We know you are here…you only post when you have something to say…as opposed to me…haaaa

To all who frequent this place, thanks for letting me hang out, suffer or celebrate with you.  I am not too vocal, but I’m often here; if not in real time but  in catch-up mode. This time of the year reminds me that all the gold or silver in the world only has value to the extent that it blesses others. We will have opportunity soon to let that principle see daylight.  Best regards to all.

I think I got names mixed up, TQ and the hunter. Maybe if they are truly religious you can bring up Mat.29 the end of days and that faith without works is dead..that they even now must try to prepare themselves. But may be a little too much as it speaks of times where some will do better than others. Well really have to get going.

I knew you would come up with an unusual Christmas Card, yep could be the poster boy for 8 I guess. Im getting ready to hit the road for Christmas don’t have to cook this yr. Grandbaby age 4 totally oblivious as it should be to whats going on is missing his Grandma. As far as your church friends, what can you do. It is too late to bring up Noahs Arc and how they prepared for what was to come. As in those days only a few listened and were laughed at until the the rains came and didn’t go away. I found at this point there is nothing you can do less your rich enough to support them all and you are not. Trying to analyze why some are becomming cold that were never that way before is maybe out of fear of the unknown. Not to speak of any resources they may have left for one, not to want to bother others for two,and because everything they defined themselves as, like their jobs, are cumbling around them. They need to see that yes they are..what ever their job defines them..but they can use their resources in other ways to survive..as Ike and the hunter..that your job or working for another is not all who they are. I found the only thing people listen to now is maybe saving a little extra food and cash and to talk about crime that could arise and to protect yourself the best you can.Little by little. Guess doing other wise would be like or similar to say for instance If I were to come into your house to take care of your wife and just took over not talking to you about anything. To talk about protecting themselves, but asking what they think. I think the days of denial..I don’t think it will get that bad..are over as most are seeing the light now..that this problem is not a temporiary problem and not going to go away anytime soon. So I bring up the depression with works like..if..it gets that bad..what are the most important things they needs then..how we can prepare a little..some it’s hard to give up their routine life style..say can’t afford extra food or save while paying big car payments or going to starbucks every morning is a major part of the problem. But if you can get them to start saving even a little, as things unfold they may then develop habits to save more down the road. If they refuse to adjust..a key point in survival..to adjust to your situation..instead of die in shame..then there will be nothing you as a individual can do you them. Perhaps the Church can start asking for food donations, things like Christmas donations of food and for the kids, they may already, and start stock piling them now and as a group will help a little.There is no easy answer to this one, as we will be struggeling ourselves…cuz we don’t live in Belieze lol we will be here…living it. Anyways Merry Christmas all have to get going now.