That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

[sadsack]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

Note that metal detectors don't just show presence, but also relative mass. Your house wires and other crap won't help against these more modern detectors

An effective countermeasure is "mu-metal," foils of which effectively block low frequency magnetic fields ( > 100 Hz) - sorry for the Wiki ref:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu-metal


Then again, if you're using UWB scanning equipment (see https://www.llnl.gov/str/September04/Azevedo.html), such a countermeasure will be ineffective . . .

[metalman]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

An effective countermeasure is "mu-metal," foils of which effectively block low frequency magnetic fields ( > 100 Hz) - sorry for the Wiki ref:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu-metal


Then again, if you're using UWB scanning equipment (see https://www.llnl.gov/str/September04/Azevedo.html), such a countermeasure will be ineffective . . .

you guys are coo coo. it is not about metal detectors fer christ sake. scenario #1: if bad guys come into your house when you're not there, leave enough $$$ so they go away happy. if they have info that more than that is in your home your problem is scenario #2: they break in while you're there. then it's blam, blam, blam, or run, run, run.

rule #1: don't live near the bad guys. they don't like to travel far to shop.

rule #2: shut up.

rule #3: pay attention. more graffiti in your area? it says 'i'm pissed and shitting in my own nest'. watch out. angry teenagers about? watch out.

rule #4: don't reveal to anyone that you have anything of value in your home.

rule #5: keep your big, fat mouth shut.

[sadsack]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

you guys are coo coo. it is not about metal detectors fer christ sake. scenario #1: if bad guys come into your house when you're not there, leave enough $$$ so they go away happy. if they have info that more than that is in your home your problem is scenario #2: they break in while you're there. then it's blam, blam, blam, or run, run, run.

rule #1: don't live near the bad guys. they don't like to travel far to shop.

rule #2: shut up.

rule #3: pay attention. more graffiti in your area? it says 'i'm pissed and shitting in my own nest'. watch out. angry teenagers about? watch out.

rule #4: don't reveal to anyone that you have anything of value in your home.

rule #5: keep your big, fat mouth shut.

Mea culpa - I should have included more "smilies" in my previous responses.

I 100% agree with your points.

Just like grazing animals, the roving bands of thugs scrabbling across the "Mad Max" suburiscape will always first seek the low hanging fruit. Only in the absence therof will they drag their starving carcasses aloft to shake the reluctant tree . . . ;):cool::eek:

[*T*]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

So do we prefer USD, EUR or GBP for cash? (I live in the UK).

[c1ue]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

rule #1: don't live near the bad guys. they don't like to travel far to shop.

I'm not thinking about Mad Max - after all, gold wasn't very useful there.

I'm thinking about 'Lucifer's Hammer', a novel by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle - one of the sci-fi apocalypse type things (and possibly an inspiration for "Armageddon")

The scene in that book is where the documentary reporter who actually documented the oncoming meteor, belatedly starts preparing once "the odds are now hundreds to one. Used to be billions. Then thousands. Now its only hundreds. That's scary."

He uses his war reporter/Scout master experience: buys lots of liquor, pills, guns, spices; makes jerky, fuels up the car, then has his wife and dog shot by a biker gang that had seen him making preparations who then steal his prep.

In Russia - there is now an elaborate etiquette going around regarding business buyouts. This is because of the 'black' cash economy.

Most of these are cash and carry, and after an initial rash of 'robberies' of various participants, the understanding now is if someone gets hit doing a cash movement at a specific time and place, that it is an inside job.

[nitroglycol]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

Why not just make counterfeit dollars to fool the robbers with?

I like that idea... as long as the thief or thieves don't remember where they got the money. Some thieves, strangely, take rather poorly to getting busted.

I heard a story (though it should probably stay in the urban legend category until I see confirmation) of someone whose car was stolen. Fortunately, his car had a built-in GPS, and the thieves were quickly apprehended. Unfortunately, the thieves got out on bail, and paid him a visit and beat the crap out of him.

[Chris Coles]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

Think about it, metalman, what would it take to get the Congress and all lawmakers to become serious about what is going on in this country as it impacts the "average person"? As long as the lawmakers (foxes) are determining who's responsible for guarding the henhouse, they ain't going to change the system. I hate to be negative beyond reasonableness, but nothing will EVER change unless some external force is brought to bear that forces a revised or new system--examples: a decapitator is turned loose in a locked up Congress, bird flu is released on the entire group, anthrax is scattered on them all, a neurtron bomb explodes in Washington, DC, and Nashville, Austin, Santa Fe, Montgomery, Des Moines, etc. x 45 more.

One thing that will not change the system is a voting public.

Perhaps this will change your mind.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...ffset=0&page=1

[Jim Nickerson]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

Perhaps this will change your mind.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...ffset=0&page=1

It escapes me as to exactly which dissident we currently have locked away in the American gulag, or just who is the most popular American dissident who is running free. Perhaps it is Kucinich or Paul, but look how much interest either of them stirred up.

Perhaps over the next several generations someone like Solzhenitsyn will emege, but right now whoever that is is probably listening to his/her iTunes or playing a video game.

The last dissident of any meaning was ML King, and maybe Ross Perot, and I don't discount that another such as King will emerge, I just think it's a long ways off.

[Chris Coles]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

It escapes me as to exactly which dissident we currently have locked away in the American gulag, or just who is the most popular American dissident who is running free. Perhaps it is Kucinich or Paul, but look how much interest either of them stirred up.

Perhaps over the next several generations someone like Solzhenitsyn will emege, but right now whoever that is is probably listening to his/her iTunes or playing a video game.

The last dissident of any meaning was ML King, and maybe Ross Perot, and I don't discount that another such as King will emerge, I just think it's a long ways off.

You are correct to point out the lack of American Gulags, but what you do not take account of is the Ocean of indifference to the poor inventor that is all around you today. Today's Gulag is that Ocean of indifference.

[LargoWinch]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

So do we prefer USD, EUR or GBP for cash? (I live in the UK).

I prefer Gold for LT hands down.

Short-term, I would advice the Yen or SF.

[phirang]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

I prefer Gold for LT hands down.

Short-term, I would advice the Yen or SF.

Short-term: Agree: any low-yield currency will do well as high-yield carry unwinds.

long-term: I think I figured out Soros' gold buy: he called the oil bubble, and knew that the Fed would cut rates again once oil corrected meaningfully, especially given the atrocious economic results forthcoming.

[metalman]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

another itulip timing winner!

[lakedaemonian]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

Paulson says Americans can remain confident in the soundness, resilience of financial system

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the American people can remain confident in the "soundness and resilience in the American financial system."

Briefing reporters at the White House, Paulson said he "never once" considered it would be appropriate to put taxpayer money at risk to resolve the problems at Lehman Brothers. The nation's fourth largest investment bank filed for bankruptcy protection earlier Monday.

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Starting Friday, Paulson participated in three tense days of negotiations at the New York Federal Reserve Bank in which he held firm to the position that the federal government would not step in and supply any money to resolve the crisis at Lehman.

Faced with the prospect of no government help in dealing with Lehman's huge losses on its mortgage holdings, other financial firms lost interest in trying to buy the venerable firm. That forced New York-based Lehman to file for bankruptcy protection, making it the largest bankruptcy in history in terms of assets, surpassing the failures at Worldcom and Enron earlier in the decade.

Paulson explained his decision by telling White House reporters he did not "take lightly" any decision to put taxpayer money at risk to prop up a private company.

"Moral hazard is something I don't take lightly," Paulson said, referring to the belief that when the government steps in to rescue a private company it encourages other companies to engage in risky behavior.

"I never once considered that it was appropriate to put taxpayer money on the line in resolving Lehman Brothers," Paulson said.

the American people can remain confident in the "soundness and resilience in the American financial system." :eek:

[LargoWinch]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

the American people can remain confident in the "soundness and resilience in the American financial system." :eek:

He is doing its best to humor us...

[raja]

Re: That dreaded phrase: ''The system is fundamentally sound''

Tonight on ABC News: McCain was shown saying that "our economy is fundamentally sound." Then, later in the day, he changed his story to something like "our economy is in a serious crisis."
I guess he decided that with all that happened today, even the generally-uninformed public was catching on, so he better tell the truth . . . . :eek: