Comments on: CDO Is Not An Operating System: The Next Financial Diasaster

By: chenier

chenier — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:41:43 +0000

Well, I suspect that the economic problems which are unfolding as a result of the crisis in the financial markets are going to reduce our capacity for drunken holidays abroad, if nothing else…

By: val

val — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:37:05 +0000

chenier

Morally we would be better off as well , the highest rate of single parents, the worst
reputation abroad for drunkeness, what is it goling to take to repair our Society.

By: chenier

chenier — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:31:19 +0000

Well, if we’d steered clear of debt instruments, as the Koran and the Bible suggest, we would be rather better off…

By: val

val — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:22:53 +0000

Spongebob

Since GB is borrowing from the Sovereign Fund which is Investment Money owned
by the Arab States, what price will we pay.!!!!

They are having a good laugh and saying it is Allah”s retribution for our Heathen
ways, not far wrong though are they.!!!!!

By: SpongeBob

SpongeBob — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:08:13 +0000

Shk Mohammed of the UAE
said all is fine and dandy

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/533763-economy-and-markets-sound—sheikh-mohammed?ln=en

No recession in the UAE then. Growth has been exponential, as have house prices since I left 4 years ago. 5x the price we paid. Ah I miss that house

By: The Real Stig

The Real Stig — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:13:58 +0000

I meant to add in my post a caveat that I did not think that anything as simplistic as crime statistics could impart an accurate picture of a country, but I was called away by a higher authority before I had time to do so.

I am sure Brazil is a lovely place on the whole and did not mean to dis the place - yo - It’s just you were laying on a bit thick there

By: John Blake

John Blake — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:56:32 +0000

Hi MI6 Pigeon/The Real Stig,
Thanks for your comments about Brazil. Much of what you said was covering old ground regarding Brazil. I have written numerous letters to the site about this South American country, and, have pointed out very clearly the negatives and the positives about life in Brazil.
Yes, just like many other countries around the world it has problems but I have NEVER seen a BBC or CNN program that ever came close to really educating the world about the REAL Brazil. TV channels nearly always focus on the negatives(crime, drugs, favela’s , poverty etc) but don’t show a modern Brazil where standards of apartments/homes can out-class many in the UK. Here you will find friendly people with smiles on their faces no matter what their economic conditions. Brazilians also dress very well and they have a great interest in progressing their lives through education.

Many Brazilians are learning to speak English(they love the language and know of its international importance) Ask the average person walking along Balham high road or waiting for a bus at Clapham Junction if they know what is a personal pronoun or phrasal verb and you’ll get many blank expressions. Many Brazilians could give you the correct answers!
Brazil also has unlike the UK ,a written constitution that states that its military cannot attack another country. They can only be used to defend Brazil if it was attacked. Land here is also cheap and it is a country with immense natural resouces. The world is forever importing expensive oil but Brazil is a world leader in alternative fuels and Alcool (made from sugar cane) is only 35 pence a litre.
Where I am located is about 250 miles from Sao Paulo but life here is very pleasant and people are non-aggresive and very polite when walking along the streets or when serving in shops. Beautiful women are everywhere!
I think that England and the UK has many postives.You can find culture, history and character, but there is plenty of anti-social behaviour and violent crime there too.Body language is so detached in Britain, and here super nice people hug each other continually.
I enjoyed reading your mail and your opinions . That’s what Anorak is all about. Everyone has an opinion around our world and this site gives us all a chance to say exactly what we think and know from experience.

This mail written very quickly as I have an appointment now…..and cold beers at the bar later!

Cheers,

By: The Real Stig

The Real Stig — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:35:11 +0000

MI6 Pigeon has left on a mission, but just asked me to say that as he has lived in a hot climate most of his life, he isn’t jealous.

By: val

val — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:57:21 +0000

M16 Pigeon

Your”e just jealous……admit it!!!!! I”ve finally learned how to post jokes on the Forum, I get loads from America and U.K. and built up quite a Group list to pass on.
Have a look, you will enjoy the humour.

John, I”m signing off now, enjoy your evening, if your”e buying, min e”s a Bailey”s
with Ice.

Nice talking to you, maybe meet on another thread some time.

By: MI6 Pigeon

MI6 Pigeon — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:24:08 +0000

“CRIME: Crime throughout Brazil has reached very high levels. The Brazilian police and the Brazilian press report that the rate of crime continues to rise, especially in the major urban centers – though it is also spreading in rural areas. Brazil’s murder rate is more than four times higher than that of the U.S. Rates for other crimes are similarly high. The majority of crimes are not solved. There were several reported rapes against American citizens in 2006.

Street crime remains a problem for visitors and local residents alike, especially in the evenings and late at night. Foreign tourists are often targets of crime and Americans are not exempt. This targeting occurs in all tourist areas but is especially problematic in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Recife.

Caution is advised with regard to nighttime travel through more rural areas and satellite cities due to reported incidents of roadside robberies that randomly target passing vehicles. Robbery and “quicknapping” outside of banks and ATM machines are common. In a “quicknapping,” criminals abduct victims for a short time in order to receive a quick payoff from the family, business or the victim’s ATM card. Some victims have been beaten and/or raped. ”

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1072.html

By: chenier

chenier — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:58:09 +0000

JB,

I can see you are determined to rub our noses in it, and the Real is heading back up; enjoy that drink!

By: John Blake

John Blake — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:46:12 +0000

Hi Val,
Wales, eh? I’m a big fan of Tom Jones and frequently listen to his music. My lunch went down a treat…mmmmmmmmmm.Another thing that’s speacial about Brazil is the fantastic variety of tropical fruits. They are everywhere, and unlike UK supermarket prices are usually very cheap.

Just one more thing Val. Later tonight, I will be at a nice bar sitting near palm trees and drinking cold beers or maybe a good bottle of wine. JB in Brazil, he’s recession proof! (hahaha)

By: val

val — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:06:21 +0000

John, don”t make me jealous…. all that sunshine!!!!!!!

Iv”e come back to my roots in Wales, spent a few years in London, several in would you believe, Off Shore Finance in Jersey CI. I was always too moral for the job , looking after a portfolio of Clients. I used to think, pay your b****y taxes!!!!!!!

Enjoy your lunch, I”ll check in later to see if there is a reply.

By: John Blake

John Blake — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:48:32 +0000

Hi Val,
Cicero, 55 BC ,eh? …….but still making bloody good sense today. There is not much new under the sun Val. Any house needs organisation and order because for every action there will always be a reaction eventually.
Certainly we live in a world where those with power need to be controlled and face serious accountability.Leaders and officialdom are the servants of the people but as we all know, power often corrupts.

Val in what country are you located? It is hot and sunny again today here in Brazil, with a cloudless blue sky. I’m going for lunch very soon….very delicious and not expensive!

By: val

val — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:11:16 +0000

The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.
– Cicero , 55 BC

John, this is rather apt, from an American Friend, don”t know if you have seen it.

By: val

val — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:02:46 +0000

Hi John,

Brazil is emerging as a Force to be reckoned with in the future, let”s hope it doesn”t go
the way of most other Countries. Seriously, I was an active campaigner many moons
ago when I lived in London for the CND. A lot of good it did us!!!!!! I fear any protest
will fall on deaf ears again, one reason being that people n ow live in a throw-away Society, can obtain Credit easily and more or less live for today. Would they care more
about themselves than try to create a better World?

By: John Blake

John Blake — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:54:01 +0000

Hi Val,
Good morning from Brazil. How do we stop them? Good question. Well, the citizens have to wake-up and realize they are being taken for a ride and being manipulated by the banking system and many working within it, who are either incompetent/morally bankrupt or both.
The people so very often don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors, and there needs to be FAR greater accountability at all levels of banking and government. At the moment the “few” are screwing the “many” and getting away with it. I think its the group Dire Straits who sing the words “money for nothing” in their song……there are certainly many billions/trillions of dollars and pounds of taxpayers money being used to prop-up banks, and amazingly, give bonuses to staff when the system has broken down like a badly kepted motor.

By: val

val — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:40:00 +0000

Trouble is John, how do we stop them?

By: John Blake

John Blake — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:35:54 +0000

There are more sharks on the land than there are in the sea…..and certainly loads in the world of banking.

By: coolandcalm

coolandcalm — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:45:34 +0000

I like the underwear drawer and blinkers.
I’ll just screw my eyes up tight and wait for it all to go away. La la la la I’m not listening. I CAN’T DO MONEY. Though of course I can spend it……….