swissie

2 minutes ago, Stiddle Mump said:

I don't agree.

 

There are less than 10 diseases.

What U-Tube channels are you following? Have you been to a hospital recently?

59 minutes ago, Quentin Zen said:

AI of course.  

 

Darwinism, or the theory of evolution by natural selection, provides a framework for understanding the evolution of both human and microbial populations, which can be applied to combat diseases. By understanding how pathogens and hosts co-evolve, researchers can develop strategies to counter disease, including antibiotic resistance, cancer, and infectious diseases.

 

So in a few million years, we will be better at fighting these.  Who knows what new diseases we will find, create, or maybe stop being immune to?  Only a zillion possibilities. 

THE PROBLEM IS: As all major Pharmaceutical Companies have stopped to look for new "anty bacterial agents" (research too expensive and the end product not profitable enough), it is forseeable that eventually the microscopic bugs will win the "arms race".

1 hour ago, connda said:

Don't tell the "I Need Vaccinations Or I'm Gonna Die For Sure" crowd.  They'll be lining up to get their next 1000 shots.

Well, congratulations on the new baby,  She/He/Its just taken its first breaths and we already have its first 20 shots administered.  30 more to go and you can hold it.  Oh don't worry the next 18 years will be fine.  It will only need about 25,000 shots and we guarantee it will never get sick or die* .  Ok, here's your little pin cushion. "WAAAAAAA WAAAAAA WAAAAAA"

*But if it does, sue the government.  

Are you OK connda? Your above post does not reflect your usual "down to earth" comments. Come tomorrow, start with a strong cup of coffee in combination with 2 Alka Selzer .

5 minutes ago, Quentin Zen said:

AI of course.  

 

Darwinism, or the theory of evolution by natural selection, provides a framework for understanding the evolution of both human and microbial populations, which can be applied to combat diseases. By understanding how pathogens and hosts co-evolve, researchers can develop strategies to counter disease, including antibiotic resistance, cancer, and infectious diseases.

Thanks. You are explaining that there is an "arms race" between microscopic Attackers versus Bodily Defenders. A war going on since 4 billion years. Nothing new. Thanks to Antibiotics, we have won a temoprary victory. Temporary, well understood.

33 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

It may interest you to know Swissie, and thanks for an interesting topic finally btw, it may interest you to know that there are animals that are immortal.

 

Turritopsis dohrnii, also known as the immortal jellyfish, is a species of small, biologically immortal jellyfish.

 

"This ability to reverse the biotic cycle (in response to adverse conditions) is unique in the animal kingdom. It allows the jellyfish to bypass death, rendering Turritopsis dohrnii potentially biologically immortal."

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turritopsis_dohrnii

Heard of it. Reproduction without having sex. Clone yourself.  No brain needed for this process. Evolution has gone astray by "inventing" something like a "brain", enabeling "the brain" to invent atomic bombs. I envy my Goldhamster with his underdeveopped brain.

4 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Wow, a nice bump this week

Yeah, but it needs to "pause" or correct in form of a "flag". Otherwise somebody is trying to "corner the market" once more. We had this before.

On 5/28/2025 at 4:12 PM, swissie said:

 Currently Silver is trying to "catch-up" with Gold. Trying, well understood.

The fact, that Silver is a store of value as well as a industrial metal is both a blessing and a curse. In a global recession, the "industrial metal part" will likely become a "curse".

 

Unless "the markets" realise that Silver is undervalued by any standarts. Only then, Silver can shine with a "stellar performance", as has happened before.

 

As I mentioned above, Silver is trying to catch up with Gold. It's happening. "All in" with Silver would have paid out so far. Next target 38, then 40 (in US $).

I also mentioned that investing in Silver is the equivalent of "riding on the back of a Tiger". Still the case.

The meaning of this post was: It's amazing that we have survived as a species so far. Thankfully our "immune system" is aware that zillions of big or little "villains" have decided that us humans are a perfect target for their reproductive environement, making us sick or killing us.

The "God's" or "the God" made sure that we never would get the idea that our Earth would be a carefree "paradise" for us. But that is another matter, best discussed in some strange U-Tube channels, but not here. 

Thai Cows are "low mainainance" they eat what ever grows on biological "low quality" land. Once you have the land for it, it's a low cost venture and can therefore be quite profitable. I was also told by Thais, that owning cows improves ones image. Why I wasn't told.

9 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

American idiots being able to vote gave the world Trump.

Twice

Never mind the zillions of Influencers, the only Influencer I will ever need is Donald. 🤣

2 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

I think this blunder by Einstein ranks as second worst after his creation of the cosmological constant to produce a stationary universe.

Those are only 2 blunders.

For a very very long time Einstein claimed that there can be no such thing as "Quantum Physics". That was his 3rd blunder.

Depending on statistics (medical findings), between 10 to 30 thousand different deseases can befall a human body. It's a miracle that we have survived as a species. Wear and tear is a factor, but mostly Bacteria and Viruses prefer to "attack" us.

So, every day we wake up healthy, we should be thankful that none of those thousands of "attackers" have selected you/me as a target.

It must give food for thaught, that the "crown of evolution" is still mainly threathened by microscopip "villans", that have staunchly refused to turn into something "higher", not parttaking on evolution, perfectly satisfied with attacking "the crown of the evolution" relentlessly and successfully, by refusing to turn into a worm or a mouse eventually.

Never mind the pistol toting humans, we are likely to be killed by microscopic little villans.

Once one has reached a certain age, one is in a "waiting room" no matter where you are. A waiting room under palm trees is preferrable over a drafty bedsit.

Before we were born we were dead for a very long time. After we are dead we will be dead for a very long time again. So, most of the universal time WE ARE DEAD ANYWAY. To be mostly dead is normal.

Judging from the OP's past posts, he is well versed with Thai females. He sees Farang/Thai relationships from a "relaxed" perspective. With a grain of salt, so to speak. His post has a humoristic undertone that has escaped most posters here.

Come on guys, let's drop this tariff mumbo jumbo for a change. There is a "corrective element" taking place. The value of the US $ needs to be "dropped" by 30%.

The current administration wants it. The financial markets want it. The only way for the US to re-establish international competiveness, outside the service sector. Period.

The process of the Dollar devaluation has already started. An acceleraition of this process is expected. With good reason, major players are starting to look for a new "reserve currency". A "currency basket" is being considered. As not feasable today, for simplicy sake, central banks are buying Gold. 

At any rate, if the US $ should eventually lose it's "reserve currency status", it would affect every US citizen greatly.

46 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Good question. There are many different pawn shops. There's the IOUs the government issues, the buyers of those bonds are very unlikely to win any legal process to claim assets of the US in any proceedings that could be enforced. The US government is not like a private individual.

 

The United Nations General Assembly condemned debt collection on sovereign debt. When Argentina lost its famous case against the hedge funds in the US it simply refused to comply with the judgement. Ultimately it reached a settlement with bondholders, which is how these disputes tend to be resolved, by restructuring and negotiation.

 

There's the IOUs companies issues in the form of bonds and notes. These are usually drafted in the offering documents in an iron clad way to minimise exposure of company assets, ofting using offshore vehicles in the Cayman Islands.

 

Obviously loans by US banks to US companies are enforceable in the usual way. As are consumer loans in the US to US citizens.

 

As to who owns the assets of the US, the largest companies obviously have diverse shareholders from all over the world, the real estate of the US is often owned by investment funds, some owned by Middle Eastern countries, some by Donald Trump, others by different companies and individuals. Every American owns his share of reward for the part of the GDP which he, or she, created.

 

 

Thanks, as usual, I appreciate your comment.

 Although I haven't learned anything new concerning the inner workings of "credit" and the ultimative "pawn shop". I worked for banks for 32 years. I have known about the "Cayman Islands" long before it made the headlines.

But your last sentence "Every American owns his share of reward for the part of the GDP which he, or she, created", strikes me.

How would you sell this ideology to a American person, if both parents have to work 2 to 3 jobs, just to survive. At the same time, convincing their offspring that "the American dream is alive"???

3 hours ago, Cameroni said:

It's impossible to bankrupt the US.

 

The US is richer than God.

 

Add up the value of all companies in the US, add intellectual property, then add all the shares in circulation, then add all the real estate in the US, then add in the trillions of GDP that pour in every year. 

 

In short, the US will never go bankrupt.

Absolutely correct. The US is rich. How much of this wealth is alredy deposited at the "pawn-shop"? Industrial loans/mortgages? Consumer credits? Who is in control of those assets? OR: Who owns the overwhelming wealth of America? OR: Who exactly owns the "pawn shops"?

32 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Are you rich? Because if you are not, Trump will screw you over irrespective of your political allegiances. Inflation, SS and Medicare cuts all heading your way.

 

Perhaps you lack the intelligence to understand that, which comes as no surprise.

"Social Security" programs are the main drivers of "government dept". That's where the ax will fall first.

The 1929 tune of "Brother can you spare a dime" comes to mind. 

Where is the political opposition in the US? Traditionally it should be the Democrats. But they are paralised and "shell-shocked" still.

The current administration delivers plenty of reasons for a strong opposition to emerge. (A ship in a storm with a "loose cannon" on board should give plenty of reasons for the emergence of a strong political opposition one would think).

The Democrats will have to regroup. Send the "left wingers" to the Mohave Desert, find new charismatic faces and

most of all: Explain to the American voter that any country is best governed by "common sense" instead of following the visions of a loose cannon on board the ship that is called the United States of America.

If the potential opposition finds no way to regroup soon, we will be attending the coronation of Donald the 1st not too far in the future.

Why the question in the first place? Today one can insult anyone over the internet without having to fear a broken nose or a broken rib. As opposed to former barroom brawls.

The "meek" can inherit the world at last. Not having to wear a gun or a well developped upper body. Insulting everybody without ramifications. I miss the barroom brawls.

We urgently need to re-evaluate "paradise" by going back in time a bit. In the early 1980ties, Farangs discovered Thailand as the Paradise. Not because of high temperatures and 95% humidity, nor the djungles, nor the temples. IT WAS THE WOMEN.

Daily, the Boeing 747's took off for Bangkok. Fully booked. Soon to be called "sex-bombers". Unexpetetly, a paradise found on earth.

Some thaught, it would last forever. Well, it diden't. Women have become expensive. Farangs now stuck with high temperatures/95% humidity and the djungles and the temples.

Reason enough to get "grumpy". Paradise lost, with no alternatives left.

2 hours ago, bannork said:

As inflation, integration, and influence dominate headlines across the EU, Bulgaria is preparing to take one of its biggest steps since joining the bloc: adopting the euro. If all goes to plan, the leva will be replaced by the euro on January 1, 2026, moving the country into the core of EU monetary policymaking.

The country would become the 21st member of the eurozone, and the governor of Bulgaria’s central bank would gain a seat on the ECB’s Governing Council.

Bulgaria Breaks from Russia’s Orbit with Eurozone Move by 2026

Like all former Soviet-Satellite States. They have smelled the sweet taste of the European monetary "flesh pots". Otherwise they have nothing in common with Western European Values. Their hearts beat for the western "flesh pots" as well as the new Tsar.

Western Europe needs none of such "new members".

9 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I think: 

 

$100K worth of silver @ $33.10 per Troy ounce. 

That's about 90.63kg and ~8.64 liters

 

Elon's worth ~$421B, so assuming 40 metric tons per load, that's 9,540 truck loads, or about 36,375 m^3 of silver

 

 

Thanks for calculating this for me. I expected something like that. If Elon should have to leave the country in a hurry, he would not leave the country with 9000 trucks in his wake, heading for Eastern Timbukto.😉

Like I said, Siler is too heavy and costs too little. Rats!

On 5/25/2025 at 4:10 PM, ericbj said:

Never put all your eggs in one basket.  In "normal times" the recommendation was usually about 5% of asset value in gold.  Many in current abnormal times say 30 to 40%.  Gold is not just another commodity.  It is money.  It is one of only two tier-one assets, the other being the US dollar, which is not money, it is a fiat currency.  The dollar is falling in value, which explains some part of the rise of the dollar price of gold.  The other being gold demand, so far mostly from central banks and financial institutions.  Gold will slip back a bit from time to time but is on an upward trend.  Do not buy 'paper-gold', do not invest in gold ETFs, do not invest in gold exploration companies, buy gold mining shares or royalty or streaming shares for leverage in a gold bull market (works the other way when the gold price falls).  Store your bullion, allocated and ideally segregated with a vaulting company in a trusted jurisdiction other than your country of origin or of domicile.  All markets are cyclic.  So look at the cycles.  In theory we should be in a commodities bull market, but it is being hit by economic turmoil.  Gold can survive a recession, where most commodities will fail.  Remember gold bullion pays no dividends; it costs to store and insure it.  Look upon it as a form of insurance, rather than profits (although the current circumstances are exceptional).

Yes indeed, Gold did "slip back a little" during 1980 and 2000.

Storage: Private Gold Dealers spring up like mushrooms, offering to store the purchased Gold in their "vaults" in your name for an amazingly small annual fee. Hands off! Take your Gold to a place not associated with the shop you bought the Gold from. Especially if the Gold shop is located somewhere in S/E Asia.

1 minute ago, jas007 said:

I still remember back when the Hunt brothers tried to corner the market.  Was it gold or silver?  Whichever it was, it worked, until it didn't.  It was fun while it lasted, though. 

 

 

It was the Hunt Brothers. Silver. With the help of "Bache" as their broker. (Later called Bache Prudential). Don't know what happened to Bache Prudential nor the Hunt Brothers. But as I remember, it wasn't a happy ending for the Hunt Brothers.