Flummoxed

My Ol' man used to say that if I picked my nose too much, the top of my head would cave in.

Is this true or have I been misinformed for the last 45 years?

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No, it's quite true.

Intersesting thoughts Trip.

I must admit to considering buying a few thousand quids worth of Chinese money. It's that, or Singapore Dollars.

What's the state of the peg between the HKD and USD these days... lost track of things.

Just like I heard that if you ejaculate when diving below 20 metres, your head will explode due to pressure differentials.

Not really relevant but another example of the U.S. wanting to dominate the World... A European consortium recently announced plans to create it's own network of satellites to be used for all manner of useful application, including global positioning. The U.S. tried to block it, saying it would interfere with there own GPS system. Their application to have the European one stopped was denied. They can't have it all their own way anymore. The World is sick of them.

I need to open a bank account in Singapore but I cannot go there anytime soon. I am currently based in London. Which, if any, Singapore banks will open an account for me (account actually in Singapore) from here.

I can't imagine why anyone would risk carrying/holding this kind of currency.

And anyway, where are you going to trade it?

Why even hold it, Forex traders tend not to actually hold the currency but move it within currency accounts, of course Walter Mitty might do otherwise.

I find the whole basis of this post - Odd.

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On the contrary, there is something to be said for physically holding banknotes... do you think the Bank of England were thinking with their wallets when they sold huge quantities of gold in exchange for foreign banknotes, now sitting in their vaults?

Of course it adds risk and you may well need a large safe but you are at just as much risk from finance houses collapsing etc etc etc.

Myself, I keep a mix of GBP (I'm very lucky in being paid in GBP with it's huge buying power) HKD, PHP (risky but I think I got it right) Now looking at Singapore Dollars eagerly. Note I keep a small percentage in cash and most in my various accounts around the world.

Some great insight into the future of the USD in another thread. Shall we have one on the Asian economy/currencies now.

I recently predicted 2.50 dollars to the pound by the second or third quarter next year. I got flamed to &lt;deleted&gt; for that but you mark my words... and that won't be the bottom either.

personally I can't wait to see it happen. There are those that think it'll bugger the World economy. I disagree. I think most of the World can't wait to see the end of the Dollar as a reserve currency. It's just a matter of time before your paying for your visa stamp at the borders with Euro's rather than Dollars.

My laptop is knocking on a bit.

I want a new one. I will keep it for at least 3 years.

I only use laptops because I'm always on the move but I crave power so I can live with a bit of bulk.

I want the fastest, sleekest, most rootin' tootin' laptop money can buy. I want one of those fangled gloss deep black screens with wide aspect ratio. It will be my television, DVD player, duke box, lover most super dooper window on the World. I want to play heavy duty games... I want it all.

Any recommendatons?

What's your favourite search engine. Why?

Start a new thread.  Your moving from a particular finance question into world affairs.  Be fair to Yanqpuss. 

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It's relevant. We're discussing best options for moving money around the globe/currencies, which was the OP's request for advice.

Ravisher, you said you keep 50/50 in US $/Euro; I wouldn't!

I would sell any US $ I have (and I don't) NOW.

What the US $ is concerned....'read my lips'....it will go down further and further against Euro and other currencies, absolutely and no doubt about it.

LaoPo

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I do not think that anybody in the world right now could make that statement in any form of believability.

I will keep my USD. Unless you envisage the USA going completely down the toilet, so should you.

Do you really imagine that G.W. Bush is in the driving seat of the US enconomy? No, it is the money moguls. As I said, there is an economy war going on right now that is Global and as firece as it has ever been. I do not see America ending up like Russia, although it is possible. I cannot see the USA allowing that to happen... no matter what it takes!

The US dollar may fall lower... but it will gain in strength, when and as the money moguls see fit.

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The money moguls died of a heart attack when bush was re-elected... $ going down. U.S. will not be the biggest fish in the pond in 15 - 20 years. Stand aside for the European Union. China will burn out.

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I don't know how you can say, "China will burn out." They have natural resources

far exceeding what the 'experts' know of. The Chinese are masters of the 'money game,' playing much longer than the British or Americans. They have connections all over the world that are intricately connected beyond belief.

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I agree... again, French premier very shrewd in making ties with China early on.

I just think they're gonna have to slow down for a while... re-grease their cam shaft, so to speak.

The money moguls died of a heart attack when bush was re-elected... $ going down. U.S. will not be the biggest fish in the pond in 15 - 20 years. Stand aside for the European Union. China will burn out.

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The problem with Bush Bashing is that it makes one loose sight of the reality. Bush after all is only a 'figurehead'.

Also do not underestimate the "evil" in mankind... The USA is not going to go under without an atomic war. It is not the American nature to loose, at any cost.

I do not think the European Union will be anything akin to the United States of America... too many different cultures, ideas, interests, diversities of opinions... A nice idea but I don't see it getting its act together for a long, long time. The UK is still sitting on the fence, although inside.

We'll see

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Don't get me wrong, I don't see the EU as a super power. I'm trying to be optimistic when I think of a new World order in 20 years. The U.S. having learnt a lesson (no more Global bullying (Economic or otherwise)), the EU a stronger and balancing influence in the World (I like some of the French presidents idea's very much), China will also be a big player but keeping themselves to themselves.

I'm just dreaming, I know... but there has to be a re-ordering of things. I'm going to stick my neck out here and say the US Dollar will lose it's privelidge of printing the Worlds reserve currency. It'll still be in demand but competing with Euro's and a far Eastern currency (not sure which). You probably all think I'm mad... We'll see.

They important thing is to stop panicing. You'll make a foolish decision in haste and fear.

I admit to a degree of relish in the Dollar falling but that's nothing against you. I also beleive it will fall much further than people here think (I think they'll try to prop it up with interest rates, sending out the wrong message to investors, amongst other things too lengthy to talk about now).

I agree with most of the sentiment here... look to the long term but if I were in your position, I'd get 50 percent of my money out of Dollars immediately but I'd steer clear of Pounds and Euro's because you've missed the boat.

As a hint (and that's all it is... DYOR) I'm watching Hong Kong Dollars and Singapore Dollars with great interest at this time

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Flummoxed, You may have hit on a few things here I had not thought of... (I think they'll try to prop it up with interest rates, sending out the wrong message to investors, amongst other things too lengthy to talk about now) This would make good sense for the US at this time... they want to 'show' the dollar as 'weak', much weaker than it really is. I think I mentioned that in an earlier post here. How much further they will 'allow' it to fall will only be known by the US government or the part that matters. I think when the dollar rises and it must, the pound will not be affected half as much as the Euro. As soon as the dollar does rise, I will switch the Euro to USD.

But like I said, it's anybody's guess. Not so sure about Hong Kong Dollars or Singapore... I have a strong feeling that China will do a lot of economic damage in Asia before too long...

It will be interesting to watch the world economy over the next 5-10 years....

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Agreed.

Ravisher, you said you keep 50/50 in US $/Euro; I wouldn't!

I would sell any US $ I have (and I don't) NOW.

What the US $ is concerned....'read my lips'....it will go down further and further against Euro and other currencies, absolutely and no doubt about it.

LaoPo

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I do not think that anybody in the world right now could make that statement in any form of believability.

I will keep my USD. Unless you envisage the USA going completely down the toilet, so should you.

Do you really imagine that G.W. Bush is in the driving seat of the US enconomy? No, it is the money moguls. As I said, there is an economy war going on right now that is Global and as firece as it has ever been. I do not see America ending up like Russia, although it is possible. I cannot see the USA allowing that to happen... no matter what it takes!

The US dollar may fall lower... but it will gain in strength, when and as the money moguls see fit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The money moguls died of a heart attack when bush was re-elected... $ going down. U.S. will not be the biggest fish in the pond in 15 - 20 years. Stand aside for the European Union. China will burn out.

They important thing is to stop panicing. You'll make a foolish decision in haste and fear.

I admit to a degree of relish in the Dollar falling but that's nothing against you. I also beleive it will fall much further than people here think (I think they'll try to prop it up with interest rates, sending out the wrong message to investors, amongst other things too lengthy to talk about now).

I agree with most of the sentiment here... look to the long term but if I were in your position, I'd get 50 percent of my money out of Dollars immediately but I'd steer clear of Pounds and Euro's because you've missed the boat.

As a hint (and that's all it is... DYOR) I'm watching Hong Kong Dollars and Singapore Dollars with great interest at this time

If you're in it for the adrenaline rush, look at Phillipine Peso's (medium term and risky)

Something like 70 percent of internet traffic is porn........

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Where?

All the naughty news groups have gone.

If it is on a web site you need a credit card for access.

Not much for the kids, thank God.

I reckon the web is a lot cleaner these days than it used to be.

Comments like this one make good newpaper headlines, but I am not sure

they are borne out in reality.

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I hate to sound like a porn expert but I suppose i am, being the sleazy guy that I am.

I'm afraid you're wrong on this one Astral. There is a shed load of porn availible free of charge and no credit card or any king of age verification required. Bit for byte, the vast majority of internet traffic is P2P file shares downloading large porn movie files etc etc, free to view porn sites... so on and so forth. That's aside from the vast quantity of pay sites (this sort of porn is legal in most countries, Thaksin's only using internet porn as an easy prey, to add vitriol to his crusade) that are out there in the ether.

Lets look at his record for a couple of years... Children curfued, internet cafe's ordered to close, resulting in no one being able to surf at night, even if you're a 60 yr old tourist wanting to check his email... alchohol and bar restrictions similar to that of the UK (crappy no fun can't go out when you want, even if on holiday) ....

oh I'm not even going to bother typing, you know all this anyways. Not my country anyway, I can't teel 'em what to do. I'm just waiting for him to ban sex, or something, saying it's evil.

The original episode of Star Trek Voyager springs to mind...

in which a powerful lifeform was protecting a weaker lifeform from the evil lifeform on the next planet. This protection went on for hundreds of years until the all powerful protector lifeform one day died. The people it took care of had become so used to their protector being there all the time, they were hopelessly unprepared for the realities of life and were subsequently attacked, now that they were completely defensless.

Something like 70 percent of internet traffic is porn. Nothing can possibly change that. I agree and it saddens me that this takes away innocense at a younger age as the kids surf the net but that's todays reality I'm afraid. Best that can be done is educate parents into setting up adequate PC security and control.

Thailand is the only place in the world I ever lost a cellphone.

Checking out of a Pattaya hotel, I realised I left my phone on a chair in there. I went back but it was gone, obviously the chamber maid thought it was Christmas and took it... no one owned up to it though. Apparently it just dematerialised, must be the pollution.

I believe an avatar is something that depicts ones personification. Maybe how people see themselves inwardly?

Oh no!!!

http://www.Google.com.info have added a Hong Kong forum. They don't launch until next week but I'm sure they won't mind you posting. They seem to be accepting members and answering questions. I just tried joining and it seemed to work OK. I spent years in Hong Kong, perhaps I can answer any questions you post there.

I've run out of toilet paper. Perhaps you could give the money to me so I can wipe my @rse.

Mo Chit serves surin. (Northern terminal)

It's an arduous journey, usually full, with people sittin on plastic stools in the aisle. I recmmend you take the VIP bus... or the train.

Guesthouse, try this little experiment with your tunnel vision...

Imagine you are doing OK financially. For whatever reason, you have a couple of credit cards, perhaps for making online purchases. One day, you are made redundant, or perhaps, you are placed on a 3 day week while you company goes through a slow patch. The circumstances are irrelevant, just assume for whatever reason you have found yourself with a surplus income of only 200 Dollars a month to buy foodstuffs.

Lets throw in a young family to the mix.

You find yourself with a credit card repayment of 180 Dollars... but you have to buy food for your kids. I'm assuming you are Human so you will prioritise your family over a credit card company. You therefore default.

So, by your definition Mr Guesthouse, you are a loser, a criminal thief... and you will ###### up in Thailand.

When you've grown up and have a more adult perspective on life and the real world, then I will take you seriously. For now, you are just a bore.

Everone knows that soon, the USD will no longer be the Worlds reserve currency. After doing my sums, I think the Dollar will sink to at least $2.50 to the pound by the second or third quarter next year.

No matter, I have decided I will not invest in the dollar, no matter how low it goes. It's a toilet currency now.