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[quote=”kwhite1″][quote=”DavidCMurray”]I’m afraid you have it right, Bill. It’s not just a matter of the iPhone having been “subscribed” (your term) to Verizon. The electronic components inside the iPhone which commit it to use on a GSM system or on a CDMA cellular system are incompatible. There’s nothing you can do to one of them to make it functional on the other system.
This isn’t an administrative issue of who sold the iPhone or what its internal software settings are. It’s a matter of the nature of the two cellular systems (GSM and CDMA), how they operate, and the frequencies they operate on.
[/quote]I have a Verizon IPhone 4S, because I am a long time subscriber they unlocked my phone and I have the international data plan. It worked in Haiti and Belize while on mission trips. I just checked with Verizon and they state it should work in Costa Rica as well. The key might be that it is unlocked, but we will see. Worst case I can buy a local mini SIM card and get it to work that way. We will see said the blind man.[/quote]
For those of you that are curious, upon arrival yesterday, my Verizon Wireless IPhone 4S with the unlimited international data plan works very well on the Claro CR network. I am getting emails, texting, and even phone calls on it.
At first, my signal was shwing no service, I turned my phone off and back on, once it rebooted the Claro signal showed in the corner, even have 3G.
David, why did you not warn me about the traffic in San Jose, I thought we were tighter than that? Note to self, avoid San Jose traffic.
[quote=”VictoriaLST”]Barbara Ann, thanks for the link. What we really need to know is how much money, total, leaves the US right now in various benefits and that info is hard to get.
As far as I know, Canada has restrictions on use of medical benefits if you are out of the country for X days but the US has no restrictions – yet.
[/quote]
If the Fed keeps printing like they are, it won’t much matter if your USD leaves the country or not, it will be so diluted that you’ll get 1:1 against the Colon.
Hopefully they take a break and replace the rollers at some and time, they will no doubt be worn out!
We’re not going to spill too much virtual ink on the president’s call for an increase in the minimum wage last night. But we would like to share two observations…
First, the increase the president proposes still doesn’t keep pace with the shrinking dollar, the deleterious effects of which the minimum wage is supposed to soften. The current minimum of $7.25 an hour took effect in July 2009. Using the real-world inflation calculator at ShadowStats.com, the minimum would have to jump to $9.78 just to keep pace with the rising cost of living since then.
The president is proposing $9.00. Piker.
Second, recall the Fed threatened in December that it will keep the zero interest rate policy in place until the unemployment rate falls below 6.5%.
The higher the minimum wage, the higher unemployment remains… the longer the punishment of savers will continue. And the higher the gold price is likely to go… at least in the long run.
“I’ll cut right to the chase: Gold is set to drop to $1,550,” interjects our technician Greg Guenthner.
[Ed Note. This is what happens the moment we beef up our commitment to technical analysis: We get constant reminders that our long-term investment theses are, well, long term. Ahem.]
“I’m not some lunatic who doesn’t understand the strong fundamental arguments backing gold,” Greg cautions in today’s Rude Awakening. But we pay him to watch the charts, and that’s what he’s doing: “The damage is done,” he asserts.
“After a weaker push last summer that failed to break $1,800, gold has consistently trended lower for more than four months. Yesterday’s brief breakdown below $1,640 is just advance notice that lower prices are in store for gold in the near future…“Gold’s decade-long bull market has attracted more than a few momentum buyers. And like it or not, these weak hands are adding to the selling pressure. Gold just can’t shake this slump. And as $1,650 falls this morning (gold sits at $1,647 now), $1,550 won’t be far behind.
“A bounce higher from the $1,550s is the perfect long-term entry point.”[quote=”waggoner41″]I’m sure that their purchases of highly prized art, wine, vintage cars, jewels, watches and other collectibles will put many of the unemployed back to work and all will be well in the world.
As for me I think I will pass on going back to the States and stick with the friends I have made among the Ticos.[/quote]
The one issue with the report….created paper wealth….it is just as valuable as the paper it is on. It can go just as fast as it was made.
[quote=”jmcbuilder”][quote=”DavidCMurray”]”. . . the government knowing the masses are armed gives them reason to think before acting.” makes absolutely ironclad perfect sense.
If the government knows that somebody is, in fact, armed, they’ll think very carefully before acting. And when they do, they’ll act with overwhelming force.
The government learned the hard way that the Branch Davidians at Waco were armed to the teeth, so when they undertook the final resolution, they came with insurmountable force, as they would do in your neighborhood or mine.
Sorry about stepping on your comments. I didn’t know how to fix the problem.
You are correct a small number against the government would not work well for you. I’m thinking in the terms of the founding fathers. Suppose the US economy tanked and riots broke out so the government moves to relocate huge numbers of its citizens to fema camps or just feels they wish to get rid of the useless eaters, now there is a force not so easily defeated and lets take it further what if the police and military were ordered to shoot thousands or millions of its citizens. There is a good chance the military would not follow an unlawful order, so now the government calls their pals the Chinese to help put down the rebellion. Think in terms of a world order (Globalism at its finest) Now wouldn’t you wish that the masses be armed. That’s way out there but you or I don’t know what the future will bring and because we don’t have the problem today, what about 100 years or more Why loose the rights the founding fathers put in place for our protection.[/quote]
JMC, the issue is that people like David (not specifically him), are fine with anything that happens as long as the government check still shows up. We have a morality problem in the US, no one cares about anything but themselves. When your neighbor is hauled away, they duck behind the blinds so as not to call attention to themselves. This all started about 30 years ago, I remember my neighbors, when growing up, would straighten me out when I did something wrong, then my Dad would whip my ass for acting up, nowadays, if your neighbor said something to your child for acting up, the neighbor would be in court with a lawsuit.
There is no accountability anymore, it’s not my fault, it’s my parents for not hugging me, it’s my employer, it’s everything but my actions. That is why we have these nut jobs shooting up people and kids. Every single one of these people were on a mind/mood altering drug. I don’t want to deal with my child, the kid gets ridalin, xanax, or whatever the cool drug of choice to be on now.
Society has degraded beyond repair. How many times have any of ya’ll gone over and checked on your neighbor? If they are doing ok, have them over for dinner, cook dinner and take it over to them. Helped them in a crisis, prayed for them, prayed with them? Now the President of the US wants to sidestep the Constitution, the media is all about guts and blood, one upping the next story. As long as it does not affect you personally, it’s just a news story. I blame OJ Simpson, it showed that $ can cure everything. Attorneys were the start of the decline. My coffee is too hot, I just won 10 million $, it is pathetic that no one take responsibility for their actions, ever, not our government (Benghazi), not companies, not people. It is just really sad.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]”. . .
If you want to go down in history as the soulmate of the young man who stood up to the tank in Tinnamin(sp?) Square, it’s your call. You can see what a difference that made.
[/quote]Standing on priciple is not always the easiest path, often it is the most difficult path. Having the moral compass to always do the right thing is what should resinate. Standing up for the kid that gets picked on, standing up for those that cannot defend themselves. I would rather die over doing the right thing than live as a coward and “submit” to the way that goes against my moral compass.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]”Better safe than sorry”, eh? I can live with that, but if you think you can hold off any number of bad guys (the unprepared masses, the BATF, the FBI, or the Chinese) for any length of time, I’m afraid you’re deluding yourself.
[/quote]So are you saying that there is a possibility that I may have to attempt to hold off masses, BATF, FBI or the Chinese?
Singularly, very difficult I agree, but as a community, possible. They still would win eventunally, starve you out, but possibly make difficult enough they move on to a less disruptive target.
Question, what lengths would you go to protect your family? Anything less than everything possible is not in my personal vocabulary. David, when the chips are down, you want me on your side, and I want to be surrounded by people like me. This country was founded by people just like that, history repeats itself, time and time again.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Kwhite, of course I’m comfortable with living in a regulated community, and in uncountable ways, so are you. Otherwise, how would you like to meet me face-to-face one day out on the Interstate? In a zillion ways, large and small, our lives are literally enabled by regulation.
I, too, am skeptical about the practical effect of banning ownership of assault-type weapons, as I am skeptical of the benefit. But if you think that you or I, or you and I and everyone we each know or have ever met, are capable of standing up to the power of the government, you are clearly deluding yourself. In a hostage or other standoff situation, you might hold out for a while, but in the end, the police or military force of the government would always prevail, to your detriment.
If you don’t believe that, please reflect on the record — Ruby Ridge, Waco, Dog Day Afternoon (based on a real event), and every other such event. When did any individual, including the Los Angeles bank robbers a dozen or so years ago, ever prevail against a police swat team? Sure, you might kill a cop, but they’ll get you before it’s over.
So you’ll need to make another argument for the ownership of all this firepower to convince any thinking person. Mere enjoyment might be such a rationale.[/quote]
Mere enjoyment is a wonderful reason in my opinion. But to further the argument, is it not in the realm of possibility that as the economic crisis worsens, and the crime rate rises that there will be a need for such defense of your family? I am not sure about you, but I would fight to the death for the protection of my wife and daughter against all attackers, whether they be roving gangs or the Chinese. When I joined the military, I took an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. That oath does not expire. In order to honor the oath I swore to uphold, I would need the utilities afforded by said enemies.
One does not bring a chili power and a kitchen knife (India) to a gang fight, no matter what the gang is.
It is obvious that we see the world differently, I see it as a dangerous place and evil lurks around every corner, you see it through rose colored glasses and everything is hunky dory. I would rather be prepared and not need it than need it and not be prepared.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”][quote=”kwhite1″]
David, not sure how to take on your statement, almost sounds like you are a defender and advocate of China? I am not the brightest bulb on the tree, but I do know this….the Chinese do not allow you to speak freely, own firearms, they regulate your child output (limit 1 I think), and regulate a large part of your life. You sure you would be ok with that life style? What would you do without beng “allowed” to voice your opinion on this wonderful discussion board?[/quote]I’m not defending China or its policies at all. What I said, and what I meant, was that we Americans have been led to view China through a prism that may not render a totally accurate image. During the Cold War, China, whose existence the U.S. denied for many years, was a primary “enemy”. The government’s propaganda machine spent years vilifying China in all our eyes. That image remains unchanged for many of us. It may, in fact, not be an entirely accurate image. That’s what I said and that’s what I meant.
Facts are, a very large part of my life is already regulated (mostly for the good, but not entirely). My “child output” was voluntarily restricted to zero (one fewer than the Chinese limit), so who cares?. I wouldn’t own a gun whether it was legal to or not. And while it’s an interesting passtime to participate in this forum, and while I do enjoy sharing some of what I’ve learned with others, I could live comfortably without it, as I did for many, many years until 2006.
Truth be told, China may be at the forefront of population control and for that your descendants may thank them profusely. If through firearms control they achieve a firearms death rate to match Great Britain’s, future generations of Chinese will be grateful. And if my thoughts and yours were stifled, who’d be the poorer?
[/quote]You mentioned the gun death rate of the UK, granted it is lower, but……is offset by the suicide rate, which is multiplied x’s higher than the US. Guess they are depressed they can’t own guns? It’s a great stress relief!
Are you ok with your life being regulated? I personally have an issue with people telling me what to do and when to do it. Guess that’s why I only did 4 years in the military. I guess for some folks that’s ok, but for others who can actually thing for themselves it’s not. I just know that when I screw up I am responsible, I don’t blame anyone else but me, don’t look for handouts, bailouts, assistance in anyway. And trust me, I have made millions and lost millions, didn’t get a bail out? It was all my doing, both good and bad. So the Chinese way is not for me.
[quote=”jmcbuilder”]I’m not sure anything would be different. The game is rigged and even if you were in the right how you could prevail is uncertain. I have never been an advocate of metals either. The government would just take your gold, like was done in the past. If the world came apart and gold had some value (something I don’t subscribe to)The governments of the world would just steal it under the guise of national security or something like that. My problem is that I believe the dollar has been intentionally undermined in an attempt to further the globalist agenda. Costa Rica will follow just like the rest of the world.[/quote]
Reflecting on the status of the world and where I think we are ultimatley headed. The only ones that have it figured out are the indigenous tribes in the Amazon. They move freely from place to place, following the food. They don’t worry about MSO’s, titles, taxes, or whether Costa Rica should dollarize. They live life as it was intended.
I wonder what their log in name would be on weloveCostaRica.com?
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Guys, guys! Isn’t a “Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin” just that — a statement by the manufacturer of where the boat (or whatever) originated and nothing more? Doesn’t it, in fact, say something to the effect that this boat was manufactured in “such and such a place and by such and such a company”. In what way does that statement of a fact confer ownership to anyone?
I draw a comparison with my own birth record. The doctor who delivered me completed paperwork that identified me, named the source of me, and set out the other circumstances of my birth. But none of that conferred ownership of me upon the doctor. And it had nothing to do with the currency in which the bill was paid. All it did was set out the facts of my birth just as a Manufacturer’s Statement of Ownership sets out the facts of the origin of the boat that Bill sold.
And if holding a title in one’s own name does not constitute legal ownership of the property, just what does? If the title I hold to my car doesn’t confer ownership upon me, what legal document confers ownership on some other entity?
[/quote]
David……..I hate to admit this, but that actually makes sense.
Did they have doctors back then David? Thank you I’ll be here all week, don’t forget to tip your waiters and waitresses. Just ribbing you friend!
[quote=”jmcbuilder”]Title is not ownership. It only entitles you to certain rights of use. The legal system is full of messy transfers, perhaps by you surrendering the mso you have in some form given up your ownership rights. The signing of tax returns has some of the same effects or not responding to a claim that you owe a creditor and the debt becoming fact.
Sure, the state holds the ownership papers so they can tax but they also can confiscate.[/quote]
Confiscation is subject to anything, whether or not you bought it with gold or fiat. The fact remains that any government, as long as you are inside of it’s borders, could confiscate anything in your possesion. The US does it often with land, imminant domain. The US even confiscates $ from people not inside of it’s borders.
So do you really own anything?
[quote=”jmcbuilder”]The result is still the same. The end user does not hold the mso or true ownership papers. They receive a title from the state. I have never been a dealer and the order of transfer might not be spot on. Have you ever heard of someone having the mso returned to them from the state as the end user. Also I said that buying with gold would provide true ownership. I also said I thought it would be difficult to retain mso papers and buying with gold is uncommon, how you would petition for your rights would be difficult if not impossible.[/quote]
2 points, if one paid with gold or fiat currency (cash), would not the result be the same, you would get a title? I don;t think that the title discriminates against a gold or cash purchase. The only discrimination would be if it was financed and there is a lien holder.
Second, I suspect that the states hold the MSO and copy of title for taxing purposes and/or to verify the correct owner via serial number. I suspect that it is more for taxing purposes, annual registration for “owning” the vessel is BIG dollars, esp here in Fla where there are more boats than any other state.
[quote=”jmcbuilder”]David, I was referring to US assets I don’t know about Costa Rica. If you purchase a car with greenbacks you don’t own that car. The car is used as collateral for the fed. You would own that car if you purchased it with gold, but you would need to get the origin of manufacture certificate from the dealer. I’m not talking about a title. I think that would be very difficult to do. Until the Fed is fully paid off all assets bought with dollars are indeed collateral.[/quote]
JMC, that would work if you purchased that car with currency backed with gold, I am not sure of any currency that is backed with gold at this moment? If you know of any let me know, thats the one to be in!!
[quote=”jmcbuilder”]I’ll go out on a limb and say, There are trillions of dollars of oil reserves in the US. Peak oil turns out to be false. I read an article about the oil reserves in Northern California, on par with Saudi Arabia. Even if my facts are off the dollar still has some support. The problem with the dollar is how it is used to control the people. Many of us have worked hard and in reality don’t even own our own cars, even if paid off. This also includes our homes. Shocking but true. The federal reserve is the true owner. I don’t buy into metals either. Other than self reliance and owning a mango tree what else is there?[/quote]
Valid comment JMC, what do you truly own? Any government can take away your land, take your finances, take everything you “own”. The one thing they cannot take away….faith. Kudos to you for breaking it down to a simple equation. Food for thought my friend.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”][quote=”orcas0606″]David, why not ask the Tibetans about the good guys!! You are right there is no free lunch but what is the cost?[/quote]
You are absolutely correct that the Chinese record [i]vis a vis[/i] the Tibetans is awful on a level matched only, perhaps, by the Europeans’ record [i]vis a vis[/i] the native populations of the Western Hemisphere. It’s our attitudes toward such behavior that have evolved but not the behavior itself. But if we are to consider the two countries’ records, we should use the same yardstick.
I’m not arguing that the American record is all bad and that the Chinese record is all good. All I’m saying is that we Americans have been brought up to see the Chinese through an attitudinal filter that may not render an entirely objective view.
[/quote]David, not sure how to take on your statement, almost sounds like you are a defender and advocate of China? I am not the brightest bulb on the tree, but I do know this….the Chinese do not allow you to speak freely, own firearms, they regulate your child output (limit 1 I think), and regulate a large part of your life. You sure you would be ok with that life style? What would you do without beng “allowed” to voice your opinion on this wonderful discussion board?
