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Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed rail ... - 4/4/2010 2:09:09 PM   
pahunkboy


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From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/along-the-silk-road-at-220mph-chinas-highspeed-rail-revolution-1934738.html

Plan would let passengers board train in London and reach Beijing two days later/snip

Wow.   That is even a long flight from the US.
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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/4/2010 7:36:04 PM   
Brain


Posts: 3792
Joined: 2/14/2007
Status: offline 		Unless I'm going there for work or business I wouldn't go there even if the ticket was free. I don't like and I don't trust their government.

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/along-the-silk-road-at-220mph-chinas-highspeed-rail-revolution-1934738.html

Plan would let passengers board train in London and reach Beijing two days later/snip

Wow.   That is even a long flight from the US.


(in reply to pahunkboy)
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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/4/2010 7:50:14 PM   
auditguy


Posts: 182
Joined: 3/7/2009
Status: offline 		In Soviet Russia, the train boards you, at 220 MPH.

Seriously though, China is the biggest bubble around (well that and gold).  I mean if you thought the housing bubble was something, wait till you see China pop.  Then we will all be in a depression.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/4/2010 9:05:31 PM   
Silence8


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quote:

ORIGINAL: auditguy

In Soviet Russia, the train boards you, at 220 MPH.

Seriously though, China is the biggest bubble around (well that and gold).  I mean if you thought the housing bubble was something, wait till you see China pop.  Then we will all be in a depression.


There's this picture going around Chinese message boards, comparing their housing prices to those of the Japanese before the crash of '93.

Some people speculate it'll happen next year.

I don't really know one way or another, but I wouldn't be that surprised.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/5/2010 2:01:39 AM   
tazzygirl


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Status: offline 		My boss keeps telling me "if you think the economy here is bad, go overseas"

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/5/2010 5:00:58 AM   
pahunkboy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: auditguy
Seriously though, China is the biggest bubble around (well that and gold).


Explain gold.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/5/2010 6:16:02 AM   
LadyEllen


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Status: offline 		http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/gold.htm

There you go Pa; a full explanation of gold

E

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/5/2010 6:22:04 AM   
pahunkboy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyEllen

http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/gold.htm

There you go Pa; a full explanation of gold

E


Silly Lady.

I know what gold is.

I am curious in the context he uses the term  "bubble"

While gold could become the ultimate bubble- we are early in the run up.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/5/2010 8:40:23 AM   
LadyEllen


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Status: offline 		I know Hunky - you just left me with an open goal so I took the shot!

The problem you might find with gold is that which you pointed out (at least I think you did) with this difference between actual gold and promises of gold (ie paper gold). Markets abhor uncertainty and if the idea takes hold that there isnt enough gold to back the promises and this is thought to be a problem then the paper gold will take a dive, taking the real gold with it, because as things stand no one knows who really has the real gold and who the paper gold, let alone once a panic like that sets in.

It is however more complicated than that in real life of course - paper gold, representing a currency value, need not be damaged by the fact it isnt actually backed by real gold subject to the currency value tracking the value of actual gold and the currency value being worth something amongst other factors. It will be value of the real gold that has most sway I'd reckon - and thats where the flaw may be, if some of the purported real gold is actually paper gold or vice versa.

I'd watch it all very carefully if I were you. Equally if I were you, I'd be tempted at this stage to cash in on half the gold and invest it elsewhere - probably bank shares which can only go up, and reduce my exposure.

E



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In a test against the leading brand, 9 out of 10 participants couldnt tell the difference. Dumbasses.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/5/2010 9:50:22 AM   
Aneirin


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Status: offline 		If only physical holding of commodities is the only sure bet, I would stay well clear of anything a financial institution promises, as we do not live in a fair society, promises can all too easily become lies.

The bank note, is a promissory note, the bank of england promises to pay the bearer the amount stated, what in, I wonder, goods which seem to be becoming worth less and less all the time, our currency is not based on gold anymore, in fact I believe very few are, if that is not so, why not test it, go and demand your money's worth in physical gold, dig a hole and bury it where only you know where, x marks the spot.


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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/5/2010 9:51:11 AM   
pahunkboy


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Status: offline 		Lady E.

I appreciate your post.

I tho am staying put. I tend to think the market will drift into paper vs physical- thereby creating 2 markets or valuations.

88% silver, 12% gold, 0% paper here.

If anything I am too heavy in that ratio to silver (vs gold)

But I am no day trader.

Thanks for the shout.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/5/2010 9:00:09 PM   
auditguy


Posts: 182
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Status: offline 		The problem with gold is that it has never functioned as its greatest proponents would have you believe, and by that I mean a great store of wealth (real-estate has more historic backing for carrying out that function then gold does).  The inevitable problem with gold is that once the you know what hits the fan, then selling gold becomes very difficult, since everyone is trying to sell it but no one wants to buy it (supply/demand becomes skewed on the supply side).

On the macroeconomic level gold is rising because of the massive greenback carry trade that is currently going on.  Once that is unwound, watch out below, unless you are holding dollars.  The other risk is once the China bubble bursts then the great depression will really start.  This will be greatly deflationary, which will lead to a drop in the price of gold to levels not seen since the late 80s.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/5/2010 9:06:20 PM   
Silence8


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quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

My boss keeps telling me "if you think the economy here is bad, go overseas"


Though China was hardly hit by the recession, and I think they have huge capital reserves, maybe that's what PA is talking about with gold?

I think the banks are more controlled by the government, can't leverage as much, but there's still speculation gone mad.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/6/2010 5:05:22 AM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
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quote:

ORIGINAL: auditguy

The problem with gold is that it has never functioned as its greatest proponents would have you believe, and by that I mean a great store of wealth (real-estate has more historic backing for carrying out that function then gold does).  The inevitable problem with gold is that once the you know what hits the fan, then selling gold becomes very difficult, since everyone is trying to sell it but no one wants to buy it (supply/demand becomes skewed on the supply side).

On the macroeconomic level gold is rising because of the massive greenback carry trade that is currently going on.  Once that is unwound, watch out below, unless you are holding dollars.  The other risk is once the China bubble bursts then the great depression will really start.  This will be greatly deflationary, which will lead to a drop in the price of gold to levels not seen since the late 80s.


Real Estate.   Ok- note this.  4 years in  a row the taxes double- each time.  the people loose the houses. others buy them up- just then the taxes return to the original price.

China is in a bubble - yes.

I had not heard gold in a carry trade.

One thing.   Compared to the 80s- the USA has war debt.  Which traditionally can only be paid in GOLD, or silver.  So your premise of a crash- well- anything is possible- but always consider counter party risk.  ie paper.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/6/2010 7:02:29 AM   
DedicatedDom40


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Capitalists betting 10 times the GDP of the world and 12 times the capital base of the world?  The funny thing is, we have shot and hung people for lower levels of treason than this (relatively minor behavior of passing military secrets and such) All I want to know is where are the guillotines to be used on these guys? Bring back the guillotines.

If all those bets go bad, gold will be the only thing that will buy seeds and farm tools for you to grow the food yourself that you will be living on.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/6/2010 1:37:02 PM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		interesting - my local paper is pushing home gardens.

I had not noticed it before.

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RE: Along the Silk Road at 220mph: China's high-speed r... - 4/6/2010 2:05:21 PM   
Thadius


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Brain

Unless I'm going there for work or business I wouldn't go there even if the ticket was free. I don't like and I don't trust their government.

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/along-the-silk-road-at-220mph-chinas-highspeed-rail-revolution-1934738.html

Plan would let passengers board train in London and reach Beijing two days later/snip

Wow.   That is even a long flight from the US.



I know, those Brits are a bit on the tricky side.



Wait, were you talking about the Chinese?

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