Mall Cop

[petertribo]

Re: Mall Cop

Hey maybe go back to a more simpler time and lifestyle. How about living in a Yurt, get off the grid and contemplate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iSHqUmzfKM

The fewer transactions you can have with Guvmint and the rapacious corporations they protect the better off you will be.

Thoreau did this and wrote all about it in WALDEN which also has excellent observations on debt and the American bizness mentality. Maybe if we had listened more to Thoreau..................

[strittmatter]

Re: Mall Cop

I've been reading him for a couple of years, and I have the impression that he has changed and is constantly learning, mainly due to the interent and it's alternative news sources.

http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts01122009.html

Now THAT one made me grit my friggin teeth. Especially the Bill Gates part.

[*T*]

Re: Mall Cop

The trillions of dollars in credit default swaps (CDS) should be declared null and void.

Nah.

Institute an exchange backed by the govt. Novate all CDS contracts by decree to a standardised form. Then they would be fungible, so the exchange can net them. Institute price transparency. Require collateral (incidentally, CDS are now often traded with collateral in the 'points up front' system).

We did it with equities, futures, options, and it works.

CDS would be a good contribution if we did this.

Oh sorry, I forgot it's so profitable for JPM, it will not happen until they blow up.

[rabot10]

Re: Mall Cop

Good article!

What about people like me that are in college with no job that depend upon grants/loans to attend? :mad:

Your screwed sorry.

[BadJuju]

Re: Mall Cop

Grants and subsidized loans mostly come from federal money, right? It sounds like that will be included in Obama's stimulus package, so perhaps you will still be able to attend through the downturn. I'd be concerned about non-subsidized loans at variable interest, and getting a job after graduation. I strongly concur with jtabeb regarding federal service as being a good place to look for a job in this environment.

Yeah, I mostly attend college through grants, although I do have a small subsidized loan. I shouldn't need loans after this semester, though. All and all, I receive about $8k in grants/loans.

With that in mind, I could conceivably continue college if they continue giving out inflation-adjusted grants and such.

[bobola]

Re: Mall Cop

Peter,

I like your yurt idea as a way to simplify, but why not take it one step further and live on a sailboat?

No property tax.
Don’t like your neighbor – move.
Don’t like your host country – move.
Use wind generators and solar panels to keep the batteries happy.
Use a canopy as a sun shade and when it rains, lower the middle and raise the sides to catch rain water for the water tank(s).
Fresh fish can be readily available.
Use a bicycle for transport and say goodbye to the car.

I mentioned this idea here some months ago and nobody responded to it.
As a former sailboat owner and ex-marine engineer I would be happy to give advice on how to achieve this.

There is something to be said for the feeling of freedom that can be experienced by living on a sailboat, with few if any land-bound ties...

[flintlock]

Re: Mall Cop

Heh, indeed! I am mainly concerned about my social life, which has been non-existent for the past few years. This was supposed to be my breakout year. I guess I'll just have to make the most of the time I'll have over the next year to enjoy as much as I can while I live by myself. :p I have about $6,500 to finance my life over the next year. Do you think it would be worthwhile to convert part of it to gold/silver to hedge against inflation and to extend my bachelorhood for a while longer?

I have a feeling that in a year or so, just having a roof over your head and food to eat will be considered a "breakout year".

[GRG55]

Re: Mall Cop

Peter,

I like your yurt idea as a way to simplify, but why not take it one step further and live on a sailboat?

No property tax.
Don’t like your neighbor – move.
Don’t like your host country – move.
Use wind generators and solar panels to keep the batteries happy.
Use a canopy as a sun shade and when it rains, lower the middle and raise the sides to catch rain water for the water tank(s).
Fresh fish can be readily available.
Use a bicycle for transport and say goodbye to the car.

I mentioned this idea here some months ago and nobody responded to it.
As a former sailboat owner and ex-marine engineer I would be happy to give advice on how to achieve this.

There is something to be said for the feeling of freedom that can be experienced by living on a sailboat, with few if any land-bound ties...

I think this is a great idea. Even if you just go cruising for a year or two while the world as we know it comes to an end, it's probably a lot healthier than watching Bubblevision and diminishing net worth.

My advice to anyone seriously contemplating this is stay the hell away from the Caribbean. Compared to the Med/Aegean/Adriatic/Ionian the security issues sailing in the Caribbean are a nightmare.

[bill]

Re: Mall Cop

Peter,

I like your yurt idea as a way to simplify, but why not take it one step further and live on a sailboat?

No property tax.
Don’t like your neighbor – move.
Don’t like your host country – move.
Use wind generators and solar panels to keep the batteries happy.
Use a canopy as a sun shade and when it rains, lower the middle and raise the sides to catch rain water for the water tank(s).
Fresh fish can be readily available.
Use a bicycle for transport and say goodbye to the car.

I mentioned this idea here some months ago and nobody responded to it.
As a former sailboat owner and ex-marine engineer I would be happy to give advice on how to achieve this.

There is something to be said for the feeling of freedom that can be experienced by living on a sailboat, with few if any land-bound ties...

Plenty of inventory to choose from.
http://www.yachtauctions.com/inventory.asp

[BadJuju]

Re: Mall Cop

I have a feeling that in a year or so, just having a roof over your head and food to eat will be considered a "breakout year".

Even if you just go cruising for a year or two while the world as we know it comes to an end,

You guys really think it will be that bad? =\

[bobola]

Re: Mall Cop

Bill,

So true.
Folks are dumping their luxury stuff and great deals are out there.

The same is probably true for airplanes, motor homes, and vacation homes..??

G55, it might surprise you to hear that Cartagena, Columbia is a very safe place to visit by boat - have heard that over and over from folks who have been there. Venezuela is another story.

[metalman]

Re: Mall Cop

You guys really think it will be that bad? =\

[BadJuju]

Re: Mall Cop

If you guys are so sanguine about the whole thing, what's the point in preserving your wealth? I would just spend it on whores.

[labasta]

Re: Mall Cop

Listening to the Wall Street Examiner podcast this morning they casually mentioned grown children moving back home and grandparents moving in with their grown children. You may find yourself in that mix.

When the crisis hit in September and every poster and his dog (me included) was having a hernia, the first thing I thought of was the "Nuclear" way of living. I can't remember if I posted this on theproperty pin or itulip at the time.

Generations gravitate to the most financially stable in the family. Time to patch up any old greviances one may have. Time to swallow that pride (if needed of course). Could be a time of great healing (blessing in disguise).

I don't need to go nuclear yet. It'll have to get to a "guns and ammo" scenario for that to happen... but never say never.

I've already done the nuclear thing once for a year and I'd like to say it was a very positive and relationship re-building experience.

[labasta]

Re: Mall Cop

When you say Govt Service do you mean the armed forces? I was looking at civil jobs recently because I don't think the university I am at is stable, but then again it seems as things get worse depending on how well establishments were run during the good years will determine their ability to weather the storm or the degree to which they can i should say.

My Grandad (who was a Marine in ww2) said that I shold join the armed forces in the purchasing/logistics department. If I can be the buyer for supplies I could cream a take off the top and have a sweet retirement. Yes, my grandad turned slightly crooked :p when he got older and more jaded.

He said if I were to buy say potatoes for the army from local farmers, the market quote would have a range between a low and a high price. Buy the potatoes from the farmers at the lower price and put the higher price in the paper work, creaming the difference. He said they all do (did) it, and the army didn't mind, but just don't take the piss.

lol.

mmmm.