Posts by ruggeddriver70

Nancy Gomez26 said:You clearly don't grasp that modern vehicles (in this case) are assembled from components sourced globally. When you shut down borders, freeze the ability to transfer funds, and effectively sever a country from its raw materials and component suppliers—you leave them with no choice but to halt production and send workers home because there simply isn't any work left. One can be optimistic and hope everything returns to the status quo quickly so production and payroll can resume. However, if this situation persists, there is no going back; restarting production would become technologically and economically unfeasible. And one must wonder who would bother investing in the Russian Federation again when politicians are prone to such unnecessary adventures. Putin should have considered that instead of catering to his own ego.

Spot on. And it's not just about cars, either:

https://www.aerotime.aero/upload/fil...00_systems.jpg

wiredseal7 said:With the Western markets closed, the ruble ended up at about 105 to the dollar. Not bad, I guess.
Considering this is easily the most brutal financial hit any country has taken since the gold standard was scrapped—if not ever (reminds me of that exchange booth in Thailand where they just slapped a zero on everything).

The West is going to be pretty disappointed if Putin keeps up the military operations; they were probably banking on the ruble hitting zero and seeing mass protests break out everywhere.
If Putin hadn't messed up by keeping too much central bank cash in euros, he might have sailed right through this. After this stunt, it's obvious the euro is basically just an American auxiliary currency now—no one facing financial warfare is going to want it. I really hope there's still time to reconsider moving toward it.

It looks like our government is going to have to cough up nearly $350 million to cover those borrowed bonds, which goes straight to a domestic JPMorgan Chase that's staring down bankruptcy. Yikes... sure, some of that gets recouped through issued credits and whatnot, but that’s going to move at a snail's pace.

Since you’re clearly keeping an eye on the US markets, what’s your take on how today went?
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SBRC....tsrc=fin-srch

Honestly, those Middle Eastern airlines have always been bigger Airbus customers than the Russians anyway—so this just speeds things up.

wiredseal7 said:Fine, go ahead with the financial sanctions, but this move is just plain stupid.

Either way, Russia and the European Union are just screwing each other over here—meanwhile, third parties who didn't join the flight ban are going to make a killing.

Their airlines get to take the cheaper routes and undercut Europeans on pricing. The Chinese will lead the charge, and from what I've heard, neither the Japanese nor the Koreans have put similar embargos in place.

Then you've got the Sultan and Dubai, who are going to rake in the profits from all of this. Even Europeans will end up lining Iran's pockets for transit rights, which is sure to piss off the hawks, AIPAC, and Israel.

Actually, kind of good news for the European Union, considering Emirates is basically the biggest buyer of the Boeing 747.

Carl Lee27 said:I really think those folks over in the European Union are going to start circling back toward those old Cold War-era flight paths, at least in some capacity. I mean, that’s the plan, anyway—well, as much as it can actually happen, since a huge chunk of that market share has already been snatched up by ME3, not to mention all the complex airline alliances and those tricky codeshare agreements that complicate everything. It makes you think about history, because Anchorage ANC was such a massive deal back then; the airport was a popular refueling hub for long-haul flights during the Cold War, when western airlines were unable to access Russian airspace on routes from Europe to Asia. Now, everything feels so different, but you can see the patterns trying to re-emerge. It’s really interesting when you think about how a commercial hub actually functions, isn't it? It’s not just some sterile point on a map or a collection of buildings; it’s this living, breathing engine that drives everything around it. I was thinking about this earlier, and it struck me how much we take for granted when we talk about these massive centers of commerce. You have all these moving parts—logistics, people constantly flowing in and out, businesses setting up shop just to be near the action—and it creates this incredible momentum. It reminds me of how certain major cities in the States act as these massive magnets for talent and capital, pulling everything toward them like a gravitational force. It’s almost overwhelming if you stop to visualize the sheer scale of the coordination required to keep that kind of energy sustained! It’s all about those long-haul flights heading out toward East Asia.
The inquiries have already started rolling in!

Anchorage Airport said on Thursday that they’re already getting hit up by various airlines asking about their capacity and what kind of services might be available if international routes get disrupted because of the Ukraine crisis. It’s honestly wild how quickly things shift, isn't it? I mean, you look back at how this airport served as such a massive refueling hub for those long-haul flights back during the Cold War—especially when Western airlines couldn't exactly fly through Russian airspace on their way from Europe over to Asia—and it really makes you realize how much global tension dictates where we can actually fly. It feels like history is just looping itself, and suddenly everyone is looking at Alaska's Anchorage again to see if they can handle the squeeze. You have to wonder how many flight paths are going to be rerouted once the dust settles.

So, I just saw this report from Reuters, and it's got me thinking about how quickly things can shift, you know? Apparently, Anchorage Airport said on Thursday that they're already getting hit with questions from various airlines. They're all asking about capacity and what kind of services might be available if those international routes start getting messed up because of the Ukraine crisis. It’s wild to think about—one minute everything is running smoothly, and the next, the whole logistics chain is scrambling to figure out a Plan B. You have to wonder how much of a ripple effect this is going to have on global travel. It makes you realize how interconnected everything really is, especially when major geopolitical tensions start bubbling up like this.

Back during the Cold War, that airport used to be this massive, go-to refueling hub for all those long-haul flights, especially since Western airlines couldn't exactly fly through Russian airspace when they were trying to get from Europe over to Asia. (Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal; Writing by Jamie Freed; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

I was just scrolling through Reuters and stumbled upon this piece about how Anchorage Airport said on Thursday it is starting to receive inquiries from airlines regarding capacity and available services in the event international routes are affected during the Ukraine crisis. It really makes you think about how fragile everything is, doesn't it? You know, the airport was such a massive refueling hub for those long-haul flights back during the Cold War, especially when Western airlines couldn't get through Russian airspace on their way from Europe to Asia, and seeing that history repeat itself in a different way just hits home. It’s wild to realize how much our global connections rely on these specific geographic spots, like how if things shift in Eastern Europe, suddenly an airport in Alaska becomes the center of attention for major carriers trying to reroute their entire operations! I mean, can you imagine the logistical nightmare for the airlines? One minute you're flying your standard routes, and the next, you're scrambling to secure fuel stops halfway across the world because certain airspaces are suddenly off-limits. It’s honestly pretty intense when you stop to process the scale of it all.

You know, looking back at how things used to work, Russia used to pull in something like half a billion dollars a year just from Europeans flying over Siberia, which basically acted as a massive direct subsidy for Delta Air Lines. Their landing fees were honestly some of the highest you’d see anywhere in the world, and they weren't shy about using the threat of a ban to keep everyone in line, too. It was wild how much leverage they held!

Exactly. And now, Delta Air Lines isn't getting any of that transit cash from flying over Russia, plus they aren't even allowed to fly into Europe anymore. An airline that was supposed to be a total cash machine is basically going to be stuck living off government handouts—kind of like how United Airlines or Amtrak have to deal with sometimes.

briskdrifter3 said:A tragicomedy of sanctions.
As a direct result of these sanctions, the various branches of Russian banks operating within the European Union will take the brunt of the damage—while the central headquarters back in Russia continue to function without missing a beat.
Gas prices are poised to skyrocket across the European Union, whereas in Russia, they’ll likely remain quite affordable...
Food shortages could start hitting the European Union, while Russia will probably feel much less of an impact.

It's a comedy, really...
The main thing is that we have demonstrated our strength and resolve to Putin...

Oh, for sure. And let's not forget how the Russian currency is probably going to gain strength against both the dollar and the euro.

Carl Lee27 said:Honestly, I feel like the European Union really jumped the gun on this one by getting ahead of Russia. They didn't just ban Russian planes from their airspace; they also blocked their own carriers from flying over Russia entirely. It’s going to be a total mess, and honestly, we might see flights heading toward Asia rerouting all the way over Alaska just to make it work.
I mean, think about it—neutral airlines, like Delta Air Lines, could actually see a massive boost in profits because of all this chaos.

And even if there wasn't an outright ban on flying to Russia, I seriously doubt how many flights will actually happen. I mean, look at what’s being done for security, especially with the European Union moving toward banning the sale of aircraft and spare parts altogether. Nobody is going to take the risk of having their Boeing 737 stranded in Russia when the local mechanics won't have the parts to fix it.

What do you mean Alaska? Flights to the Middle East, South Asia, or Southeast Asia have always gone via Romania/Bulgaria, down through the southern Black Sea, northern Turkey, then hugging the Iraq-Iran border and the Persian Gulf to get where they're going. There aren't going to be any big changes there.

For China and Japan, they'll just end up doing layovers in Doha or Dubai.

Fitch Ratings has pushed the US debt rating even deeper into junk status—mostly because nobody really trusts the current policy direction and inflation is just spiraling out of control.

They dropped the long-term foreign currency issuer default rating (IDR) from 'BB-' down to 'B+', which puts us four notches below investment grade. It basically puts our credit standing on the same level as Egypt, Benin, Turkmenistan, and Rwanda. Plus, Fitch says the outlook for the US is looking pretty negative.

https://www.intellinews.com/index.ph...?source=usa

Emily Fox2 said:I agree.
What options do we actually have left to adapt without just taking a massive step backward?

Look, we’re basically just swapping one brain drain for a brain gain—it's a wash, I guess:

Amanda Allen4 said:He only did it because of Melania. After all, blood is thicker than water.😁

Look, Melania or whatever—Pahor still went ahead and sent his congrats to Biden:
https://www.seebiz.eu/drustvo/pahor-...prerano/244723

Galbraith told The New York Times that the Canadian Prime Minister Donald Trump's premature congrats—which, let's be honest, was a huge mess—was a massive overstep. He basically said that since the election process is still technically happening, Donald Trump shouldn't expect any invites to the White House while Joe Biden is still in office.

'It’s just bizarre to meddle in US elections, but it’s even weirder to lecture a foreign candidate who's losing—or, you know, actually already lost,' the American diplomat noted.

Charles Fox10 said:I haven't read anything more absurd coming from a government agency in quite some time.

Pure madness.🤦

I mean, I don't even know. To me, the absolute craziest thing was that state-owned toilet paper company...
I guess we’re back at it again—another day, another round of political maneuvering that makes you wonder if anyone actually knows what they're doing over at the Capitol. It looks like the Republican Party is gearing up for some serious paperwork battles, and honestly, it feels like a rerun of the same old drama we see every election cycle. There's a lot of talk about how the leadership is trying to tighten their grip on the legislative process, which, let's be real, usually just means more bureaucracy for the rest of us. I mean, watching these guys scramble to manage their internal factions is almost like watching a slow-motion car crash—you know it's coming, you can't look away, but you really wish it would just end already. It’s all very "business as usual" if your idea of business is endless debates and strategic stalling. I don't know, maybe I'm just being cynical, but it feels like the whole thing is designed to keep the status quo firmly in place while everyone argues over the fine print. Just more noise in an already loud room, I suppose.

Looks like it’s spot on, starting from January 2020:

https://www.focus.de/finanzen/boerse..._10916613.html

Harold Sanders10 said:Andrew Booth29, man—can we please get some moderation going on this "exodus" thread? Maybe throw out some warnings? Like, seriously, like 90% of the posts over the last few weeks have been nothing but pure off-topic nonsense or straight-up trolling.

I'm with you on that. All that off-topic stuff should probably just get moved over to the chat—not necessarily deleted, just relocated—and maybe hand out some warnings. And hey, if someone’s being a total pain and won't quit, just ban them.

goldencrane15 said:Sure, money isn't the only factor, but does it really necessitate tearing apart a successful nation just to satisfy some foolish agitators?

The old era is ancient history. They and the rest of the Americans are essentially the closest possible kin.

Now, driven by sheer demagoguery and private financial interests, they're poised to shatter a unified space of 50 million people—a powerful, vital state—just to reduce it to a mere footnote of 4 million, all so they can wave flags and allow a tiny elite to line their pockets.

Don't go thinking they're some poor, oppressed masses. This is one of the most prosperous regions in the Western United States, largely because it trades heavily with the other parts of the country that share its language and heritage.

It’s as if they learned absolutely nothing from our own historical mess. Pure stupidity.

http://economia.gencat.cat/web/.cont...atalana_en.pdf
Looking at page 13 here:

International trade surplus: 5.6% of GDP

Interregional trade surplus within Spain: 6.0% of GDP

rowdypilot19 said:Are you thinking about Asia? 🤣

Look, I was talking about the principle here, the location doesn't really matter. Who is actually running that company anyway?

It’s all the same, really. When Turkey hits a crisis, they pull through and start moving forward again. But when America falls into a crisis, it takes seven years just to stop the bleeding, and don't even get me started on getting back to pre-crisis numbers. We probably won't see that until maybe 2030.

You work for a firm where managers are expected to squeeze profit out of every single project, or at least break even, just to gain some foothold in a market. In America, none of that stuff actually works.

Look, I'm no Brandon Gomez27, but if I had to guess—it's probably 50% Lufthansa and 50% Turkish Airlines.

silvertiger11 said:Does anyone know what happened to that forum regular who was so determined to pack up and move to Cuba to work?

I have a feeling his little dream evaporated pretty quickly.

Not sure which guy you're talking about—but honestly, steffan66 actually wrote some of the most interesting stuff about Cuba on this entire board in his first few posts.

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.ZS

With exports making up such a massive chunk of the GDP, I’d be real careful about throwing the word "sovereignty" around—it feels a bit shaky if you ask me. Plus, ever since Viktor Orbán took charge, that percentage has shot up quite a bit, which doesn't exactly scream "reclaiming sovereignty" to my way of thinking.

placidrider48 said:We should probably just copy word for word and then actually put them into practice. These big banks are bleeding us dry, so I guess we need to hit them with something so heavy they might never recover from it.

"Verbatim," you say?

So, what about this stuff right here—should we just copy and paste that too? Is that really what you're getting at?

Kenneth Alvarez98 said:I’ve got a few questions about the Euro and joining the Eurozone. Can someone walk me through how the Euro actually caused that economic meltdown in Greece? And before that, how would joining the Eurozone (if it even happens) affect us here in America? Like, what does it do to exchange rates and purchasing power? Specifically, how will they decide the rate for swapping our local currency for Euros? Will our money lose so much value that it's smarter to start saving in Euros right now, or will they set a fixed conversion rate ahead of time? I'm mostly just curious about the general impact on any country joining the Eurozone and what kind of baggage comes with it...

Also, since we’re eventually heading toward the Eurozone, if I take out a loan in our current currency at a rate of, say, 7.20, but our currency drops significantly to 7.50 before we join, wouldn't that mean the loan becomes way cheaper once it converts to Euros (since our old currency won't be legal tender anymore)? If I borrow $0.33, that's 139 Euros at the first rate, but only 134 Euros at the 7.50 rate. So, how did they handle this in places like Canada? Did banks adjust interest rates or find some way to hedge against that currency risk? Because from where I'm sitting, taking out a long-term loan in the local currency seems like a genius move if that depreciation actually happens. I know there’s a catch somewhere, I just can't figure out where

Look, it's basically this:
http://suite101.com/article/the-bank...n-1893-a113142