Ingot54

Ahimsa I am an Australian, but I think the "DC" in "Washington DC" means "Dominion Capital" or the seat of the Government of the Country (not county). I could be corrected on this - my knowledge of how things are organised in a republic are limited, and I hope they stay limited. Australia is a part of the British Monarchy system, and we are governed by the Westminster Parliamentary system - one of the finest in the world. We are not as susceptible as other forms of government, to corruption, and therefore, under our system, it is not as easy for the wealthy to become wealthier ... at least not legally ... and corruption is usually picked up and noted a lot earlier in a small nation ... harder to remain an anonymous crook! In the USA you can have the head of a large corporation as the Vice President of the country. That corporation can be the manufacturer of munitions, and the manufacturer of infrastructure materials. Then that Vice President can influence the policies of the nation to go to war, use the munitions to destroy the infrastructure of another nation, and then get the contracts to rebuild the new infrastructure. That is another way the rich can get richer. Pretty neat, huh? And all out in the open and ... er ... legal. Only in America Only Dick Cheney Only Halliburton Only George W Bush Only abandoning the Constitution of the United States of America and the will of the people Only introducing Government by Executive Decree instead ... illegally Only bypassing Congress ... illegally Only ignoring the constitutional democracy that put them there ... illegally The biggest farce on the planet - get people to vote for your policies, then abandon those policies, and the people? ... fraud Republic? What's that? A circus, and the reason the USA is in its current dilemma. There is no one in the driver's seat - the passengers are steering the bus, and they don't have a licence. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Yep - while the fox is in charge of the hen-house, the chickens will be lunch! PS - I am the world's greatest cynic when it comes to government. I am a Libertarian more than any other brand - the less government intervention, the better the country will run ... supply and demand is still the best formula.

Now THAT is a really intelligent question, Siuya. Maybe it is the grumpiness that comes with declining testosterone levels! Maybe it really is the Apocalypse ... not yet Armageddon though. I guess only someone as old as the ages can answer that question ... looking on as an observer. Do you know anyone like that who could offer the answer? PS - notice this is a short post for me ... hard, I know!

I'd like to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with my "Super-Nit" buddy. Last time I played online it was a demo a/c ... and I picked up a computer virus! I was cured of such sites for life! :doh: In fact, not only is it illegal here in Australia to be playing casino games online, my suspicion is that the mug player can't win against the algorithms used by the house against the online player. This possibility, and the fact that the taxation people can't get a dime from it, and the fact that many people lose the rent, the groceries and the kids' piggy banks is a fair enough reason to control it. I don't know for sure, but this could attract quite a sophisticated element of criminal interest. If not ... why not? Are the crooks so slack these days that they don't recognise a mark any more? What security is there, for example, for someone living in Australia, against a house that has a "dummy" hand sitting at the table? The stooge hand only has to win the big pots once every 6 or 10 times to substantially boost the house take. I call this healthy paranoia. Where are the checks-and-balances people in the online world? There aren't any. Maybe I am missing something here? In any case, people like myself would get their guts handed back to them through the kitchen window for trying to mingle with algorithms, Rush Players, and those who consistently win first prizes. Kind of keeps me playing desk-top "Free Cell' a little longer when I feel the need for speed! :missy: It seems to me that what you are promoting here, is information. But if I were to A-C-T on that information, and I live in Australia and/or the USA, then I would be breaking the law. Fortunately, we have not crossed that line here - we are only talking about it ... right? I picked up a theme running through your posts, and I quote: Look, obviously this is an unregulated industry, and there are players who manage to find ways to turn a profit. But how many newbies are there who do their @r$e at this? There are a couple of good reasons the industry is clandestine ... money! Oh - the second reason ... that one is 'money' too. I feel bad enough running a blog, that hopes to help wannabe traders learn some ropes. I am trying to keep it real. I don't picture myself as an urger for the trading industry! Comes down to which is the worst of two gambling evils? For mine, I will stick to the regulated industry to do my investing. And so far I have never lost the rent by playing "Free Cell"! :rofl: Pat - hats-off to you for doing so well in your chosen field. A sign of a well-spent youth? Have you ever played on an illegal on-line poker site?

Sarah McLachlan is one of the "must keep" singers for all time ... definitely high on my list: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCIw4gc6G8Q]YouTube - Sarah McLachlan - Do What You Have To Do (Mirroball Live)[/ame]

You live in a great world MM ... imagine having to worry about managing a $1.5 million asset, and that still not being enough to retire on. I will never be able to retire. I have few assets, and few prospects of ever amassing anything worth a mugger's time. But I got over that years ago - as soon as the situation became plain to me, I began learning how to understand and manage the financial markets. That has largely been unsuccessful, and I am beginning to wonder whether break-even is all there is to this game. I don't want to just "break-even" - I would rather just leave it alone, and go spend time with my grand-kids. However, with the material stuff behind, there is still much in life to be happy and pleased about. I would love to have an income of about half my current salary, but that isn't going to happen either. So I turn to less stressful thoughts - of music, poetry, achievement in non-material areas, and writing. And I wonder a lot more about the truth and meaning of life, spirituality, and what it is all about. I'll bet you a sneeze to a cream-puff that I will be happier in my retirement than you might be in yours ... except that I will still be doing something ... ... anything except enjoying the fruit of my life's labour. And you know what - I don't mind at all - I'd rather be active and busy, than redundant and affluent, strangely enough. Someone once said: "A speculator who dies wealthy, dies before his time." Don't get me wrong - I am not making any distinction about the situation by any means - the truth is I would like to be in your situation. But that dog ain't gonna hunt! To borrow a quote: "I have never worked so hard for easy money." To which I have to add - "Obviously I am still not working hard enough." It keeps me humble, and identifying with the bulk of the world's people. And I have absolutely no stress about taxes and the government taking anything from me ... they already have it all! And I have no fear of anyone stealing any of my assets, or of any bank failing and taking me out in the process! If you want to see how you are doing, look no further than here ... Global Rich List Be well Be happy [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TjXy2pJXJI]YouTube - Jim Rohn: How to Avoid Being Broke and Stupid[/ame]

And this ... I had to play it twice - it kind of grows on you, the more you listen to it. I am sure there may be nicer Italian songs - no one exceeds Italian Opera for example - but this is lovely! 'AHIMSA' - meaning to abstain from harm or violence to all earth's creatures. Followers of the Hindu faith believe embracing this ideal will lead to a better way of life. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et4ucvU1dkI]YouTube - THE BEST ITALIAN SONG. Io vivo per Lei[/ame]

Ahimsa - I found an Italian classic that you may know well - but of which I understand not one word ... lol! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlBnqttOkFU]YouTube - Luciano Pavarotti & Aqua - Funiculi Funicula[/ame]

Just an update ... I received a weekly newsletter just now with one of those annoying videos, which are based on the narrator "reading" from the screen as the words appear. Unfortunately they do not tell you for how long the video runs - I can tell you ... about 45 minutes. Don't try to watch it all - you won't thank me for the boring bits after the 30-minute mark. Despite all the lemonade these guys are trying to sell from their tent beside the road to Armageddon, they do actually agree with the message I was attempting to convey: namely, the USA is on the brink of a surprise and very sudden collapse. The individual States and Cities are already in crisis, and there are MORE Americans depending on, and receiving Food Stamps now, than at any other time ... 44 million Americans!!! That doesn't sound like a recovery ... it is sad really - these are innocent families here. Food Stamp Graph… gulp | Clarion Advisory You Call This An Economic Recovery? 44 Million Americans On Food Stamps and 10 Other Reasons Why The, page 1 Remember Bear Stearns and Lehman Bros? The announcements of their demise were made in the dead of night - Sunday afternoon Aussie time - and it is in this stealthy way the Bond Market crisis will also come like a thief in the night! While markets are closed, brokers are inaccessible to receive and act on orders, and by the time the markets open on Monday morning (or in Australia, in Sydney at GMT +10) there will be panic and chaos once again. Only this time it will be an absolute frenzy, because financiers and investors are already living on the edge, due to the still-livid fear and memory of the 2008 collapses. One thing for sure - our mates at Goldman Sachs I'm doing 'God's work'. Meet Mr Goldman Sachs - Times Online will already be short Bonds and anything else that is vulnerable. You wouldn't expect them to be long anything, would you? What I suggest is that you take a peek at this video presentation - American APOCALYPSE | p446-4351324 You don't need to go right through it to get the gist of it. You might find it a bit interesting around the 15 to 25 minute mark, but after that it runs with the company spiel of how to protect yourself during a collapse. One thing for certain - they believe in life after financial death. If they don't, then why would they bother suggesting to "protect your wealth" - protect it for what? Why ... the recovery, of course. But if we listen to them, there'll be no point! Only doom and the financial abyss awaits us! But it all does make my point very well, that the Bond Market is the key to all of this, and it is the canary-in-the-coal-mine for investors. I doubt there will be much sympathy when the Bond markets take their haircuts. On the contrary - the USA has been run as a Kleptocracy: Kleptocracy and Corporate Taxes | FINANCIAL SENSE for many years now - think of a date and halve it - and yet, the citizens have continued to tolerate this. Unbelievable. Are they dumb ... asleep ... uneducated ... preoccupied ... naive ... contented ... bribed ... complacent ... helpless ... resigned ... gullible ... or stupid? If so, then they are no different to the rest of the Western world ... but not the Middle Eastern side of it ... apparently! Iraq, Iran and the Next Move | STRATFOR

And now for something completely different ... * Don't give up too soon here - the first act is not the one to watch for - the second performer is amazing. Enjoy! Amazing Singing Parrot - Video

These guys might not need the same nerves, but they do need to keep cool and think about how they are going to negotiate. This one was good - I actually thought the move was going to be the opposite to what they finally did. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVVsVvsGAu0]YouTube - Great Truck Driver ( great skills)[/ame]

I have to admit, I could not watch this one, without a near panic attack myself. These guys would make good traders - nerves of steel, and I would say they would have amazing powers of concentration, and dissociation from distraction. I don't usually have problems with heights - the highest ladders don't faze me. But this is not your back-yard neighbourhood ladder! Please have a medical checkup before watching this video! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPvCuc1_mgM]YouTube - The most dangerous job in the world - needs strong heart to Watch[/ame]

This is probably a better one: Would you do this? [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfnYuANLh5k&feature=related]YouTube - Repairing/Servicing High Voltage Cables[/ame]

In this thread, please post what you consider to be amazing occupations. Trading does not count, since it is a non-profit occupation ... heh heh! And no ... Trading Naked does not classify as an "Amazing occupation." This one has been around for awhile, but I came across it doing other research: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tzga6qAaBA&feature=related]YouTube - High Voltage Cable Inspection[/ame]

And that's how the fight started! One year, a husband decided to buy his mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift.. The next year, he didn't buy her a gift. When she asked him why, he replied, "Well, you still haven't used the gift I bought you last year!" And that's how the fight started..... ================ My wife and I are watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire while we were in bed. I turned to her and said, 'Do you want to have sex?' 'No,' she answered. I then said, 'Is that your final answer?' She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying 'Yes.' So I said, 'Then I'd like to phone a friend.' And that's when the fight started.... ================ I tried to talk my wife into buying a case of Miller Light for $14.95. Instead, she bought a jar of cold cream for $7.95. I told her the beer would make her look better at night than the cold cream. And that's when the fight started...... ================ I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first. 'I'll have the strip steak, medium rare, please.' He said, 'Aren't you worried about the mad cow?' 'Nah, she can order for herself..' And that's when the fight started..... ================ My wife sat down on the couch next to me as I was flipping the channels. She asked, 'What's on TV?' I said, 'Dust.' And then the fight started... ===================== My wife and I were sitting at a table at her high school reunion, and she kept staring at a drunken man swigging his drink as he sat alone at a nearby table. I asked her, 'Do you know him?' 'Yes,' she sighed, ' He's my old boyfriend...I understand he took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear he hasn't been sober since.' 'My God!' I said, 'who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?' And then the fight started... ================ I rear-ended a car this morning.. So, there we were alongside the road and slowly the other driver got out of his car. You know how sometimes you just get soooo stressed and little things just seem funny? Yeah, well I couldn't believe it... he was a DWARF!!! He stormed over to my car, looked up at me, and shouted, 'I AM NOT HAPPY!' So, I looked down at him and said, 'Well, then which one are you?' And then the fight started... ================ When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first, the truck, the car, playing golf, Always something more important to me.. Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush. I said, 'When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway.' The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp. ================ After I recovered, I asked my wife what she wanted for her birthday. She said she wanted something that goes from zero to 100 in a flash. I bought her a set of scales. The doctors say they will take the full body plaster cast off me in three months but they don't know if I will ever walk again.

A scottish labourer gets a bonus in his pay packet on Friday so he goes home and says to his wife : "I got money. What yer wantin' fer your supper ?" The wife says" "Fish and chips" The man the turns to his older son and ask him : "I got money. What yer wantin' fer your supper ?" The lad replies: " I want fecken' fish too" Hearing the answer the man punches the lad, takes of his belt and proceeds to belt the lad till he is black and blue and covered in welts. He then turns to his younger son and asks him: "I got money. What yer wantin' fer your supper ?" The lad replies; "Not fecken' fish, tha's fer sure !"

To the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me in Downtown Savannah night before last. Date: 2011-01-27, 1 :43 a.m. E.S.T. I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend, threatening our lives. You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings. I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message. First, I'd like to apologize for your embarrassment; I didn't expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket.. The evening was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason.. My girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber Model 1911 .45 ACP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. Obviously you agree that it is a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head ... isn't it?! I know it probably wasn't fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with that brown sludge in your pants. I'm sure it was even worse walking bare-footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. [That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again]. After I called your mother or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you'd done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as those of four other people in the gas station, -- on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 150 gallons and was extremely grateful! I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all the cash in your wallet. [That made his day!] I then threw your wallet into the big pink "pimp mobile" that was parked at the curb ... after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver's side of the car. Later, I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell phone. Ma Bell just now shut down the line, although I only used the phone for a little over a day now, so what 's going on with that? Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA's office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target. The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.). In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you .... but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider, the career path you've chosen to pursue in life. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky. Have a good day! Thoughtfully yours ...

A cop was patrolling late at night in a well-known necking spot. He sees a couple in a car, with the interior light brightly glowing. The cop carefully approaches the car to get a closer look. Then he sees a young man behind the wheel, reading a computer magazine.. He immediately notices a young woman in the rear seat, knitting. Puzzled by this surprising situation, the cop walks to the car and gently raps on the driver's window. The young man lowers his window. "Uh, yes, officer?" The cop says: "What are you doing?" The young man says: "Well Officer, I'm reading a magazine." Pointing towards the young woman in the back seat the cop says: "And her, what is she doing?" The young man shrugs: "Sir, I believe she's knitting a pullover sweater." Now, the cop is totally confused.. A young couple, alone, in a car, at night in a Lover's Lane... and nothing obscene is happening! The cop asks: "What's your age, young man?" The young man says "I'm 22, sir." The cop asks: "And her...what's her age?" The young man looks at his watch and replies: "She'll be 18 in 11 minutes." .

This is an 8-Part Series of Videos that explain in simple terms, the profound consequences of not understanding what a given percentage increase over time, can and will do to money, population, resources and problems. I think these are worth your time ... I enjoyed them and so I share them with you all. PART 8 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoiiVnQadwE&feature=relmfu]YouTube - The Most IMPORTANT Video You'll Ever See (part 8 of 8)[/ame]

This is an 8-Part Series of Videos that explain in simple terms, the profound consequences of not understanding what a given percentage increase over time, can and will do to money, population, resources and problems. I think these are worth your time ... I enjoyed them and so I share them with you all. PART 7 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyseLQVpJEI&NR=1]YouTube - The Most IMPORTANT Video You'll Ever See (part 7 of 8)[/ame]

This is an 8-Part Series of Videos that explain in simple terms, the profound consequences of not understanding what a given percentage increase over time, can and will do to money, population, resources and problems. I think these are worth your time ... I enjoyed them and so I share them with you all. PART 6 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OTJhjqEPnI&feature=related]YouTube - The Most IMPORTANT Video You'll Ever See part 6 of 8[/ame]

This is an 8-Part Series of Videos that explain in simple terms, the profound consequences of not understanding what a given percentage increase over time, can and will do to money, population, resources and problems. I think these are worth your time ... I enjoyed them and so I share them with you all. PART 5 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ny6n20ZbGE&feature=related]YouTube - The Most IMPORTANT Video You'll Ever See part 5 of 8[/ame]

This is an 8-Part Series of Videos that explain in simple terms, the profound consequences of not understanding what a given percentage increase over time, can and will do to money, population, resources and problems. I think these are worth your time ... I enjoyed them and so I share them with you all. PART 4 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBgnAcR_B8g&feature=related]YouTube - The Most IMPORTANT Video You'll Ever See part 4 of 8[/ame]

This is an 8-Part Series of Videos that explain in simple terms, the profound consequences of not understanding what a given percentage increase over time, can and will do to money, population, resources and problems. I think these are worth your time ... I enjoyed them and so I share them with you all. PART 3 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFyOw9IgtjY&feature=relmfu]YouTube - The Most IMPORTANT Video You'll Ever See (part 3 of 8)[/ame]

This is an 8-Part Series of Videos that explain in simple terms, the profound consequences of not understanding what a given percentage increase over time, can and will do to money, population, resources and problems. I think these are worth your time ... I enjoyed them and so I share them with you all. PART 2 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCmvfR8mihU&feature=related]YouTube - The Most IMPORTANT Video You'll Ever See part 2 of 8[/ame]

This is an 8-Part Series of Videos that explain in simple terms, the profound consequences of not understanding what a given percentage increase over time, can and will do to money, population, resources and problems. I think these are worth your time ... I enjoyed them and so I share them with you all. PART 1 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-QA2rkpBSY]YouTube - The Most IMPORTANT Video You'll Ever See (part 1 of 8)[/ame]