04/2011 - Ex Pats That Fall

[Jimmydr]

Four Worlds
After World War II the world split into two large geopolitical blocs and spheres of influence with contrary views on government and the politically correct society:
1 - The bloc of democratic-industrial countries within the American influence sphere, the "First World".
2 - The Eastern bloc of the communist-socialist states, the "Second World".
3 - The remaining three-quarters of the world's population, states not aligned with either bloc were regarded as the "Third World."
4 - The term "Fourth World", coined in the early 1970s by Shuswap Chief George Manuel, refers to widely unknown nations (cultural entities) of indigenous peoples, "First Nations" living within or across national state boundaries.

[greydread]

Four Worlds
After World War II the world split into two large geopolitical blocs and spheres of influence with contrary views on government and the politically correct society:
1 - The bloc of democratic-industrial countries within the American influence sphere, the "First World".
2 - The Eastern bloc of the communist-socialist states, the "Second World".
3 - The remaining three-quarters of the world's population, states not aligned with either bloc were regarded as the "Third World."
4 - The term "Fourth World", coined in the early 1970s by Shuswap Chief George Manuel, refers to widely unknown nations (cultural entities) of indigenous peoples, "First Nations" living within or across national state boundaries.

It bears mention that this dynamic is constantly shifting and the definition of "1-2-3-4-5 worlds" is fluid with the exception of the "Old" and the "New", after all, we're looking at this from a uniquely Western perspective. Go to North Africa or China or India and tell People about how the "Old World" is Western Europe and they will roll on the floor with laughter. When you look at this Human race from a global perspective and see the movements of power and wealth on a timeline that stretches to cover the past 6,000 years of recorded history it is clear that there were concurrent developments of powerful civilizations long before Europe joined the party and it wasn't until WWII that the USA rose to the head of the class, mostly because U.S. financiers backed both sides in the WW's and made a ton of cash off of the ton of misery which resulted. That's the one thing that you can count on in this world, anywhere People are suffering there is loads of profit to be had. As an example, how many contractors and NGO's made a pile off the earthquake in Haiti in 2010? After all that money was spent how much better off is Haiti now than in 2010, 6 years earlier? How many Americans are aware that 75% of the weapons used by (captured from) ISIS are made in the USA? Death is one manufactured commodity that will never be "off-shored" as nobody makes the tools of death as well as we do. This is how most of the world sees us in our post WWII arrogance

Each corner of the world is filled with People who see the world from their own historical perspective and it's imperative that we acknowledge and understand those perspectives if we hope to live among them successfully.

[CentralNJDude]

It bears mention that this dynamic is constantly shifting and the definition of "1-2-3-4-5 worlds" is fluid with the exception of the "Old" and the "New", after all, we're looking at this from a uniquely Western perspective. Go to North Africa or China or India and tell People about how the "Old World" is Western Europe and they will roll on the floor with laughter. When you look at this Human race from a global perspective and see the movements of power and wealth on a timeline that stretches to cover the past 6,000 years of recorded history it is clear that there were concurrent developments of powerful civilizations long before Europe joined the party and it wasn't until WWII that the USA rose to the head of the class, mostly because U.S. financiers backed both sides in the WW's and made a ton of cash off of the ton of misery which resulted. That's the one thing that you can count on in this world, anywhere People are suffering there is loads of profit to be had. As an example, how many contractors and NGO's made a pile off the earthquake in Haiti in 2010? After all that money was spent how much better off is Haiti now than in 2010, 6 years earlier? How many Americans are aware that 75% of the weapons used by (captured from) ISIS are made in the USA? Death is one manufactured commodity that will never be "off-shored" as nobody makes the tools of death as well as we do. This is how most of the world sees us in our post WWII arrogance

Each corner of the world is filled with People who see the world from their own historical perspective and it's imperative that we acknowledge and understand those perspectives if we hope to live among them successfully.

The Taliban had both Russian and US weapons mostly; all made it to their hands via various routes from the various factions the countries supported. Same goes for ISIS and the other terrorist organizations. A lot of the aid that the western goverments pile in to rebuild economies ends up in the wrong hands; some locals get very rich and some makes its way to the wrong groups; the real folks needing the aid get screwed.

[greydread]

The Taliban had both Russian and US weapons mostly; all made it to their hands via various routes from the various factions the countries supported. Same goes for ISIS and the other terrorist organizations. A lot of the aid that the western goverments pile in to rebuild economies ends up in the wrong hands; some locals get very rich and some makes its way to the wrong groups; the real folks needing the aid get screwed.

That's funny. I have a hard time imaginin munitions and aid in the same sentence. Fact: we armed those crazy mothafuckas and they used our own munitions against us.

[Westy]

I am glad of the fact that good maps -- and especially the aeronautical charts that I used to teach other countries' mapping agencies to make, during my tenure in the International Office of Defense Mapping School -- aren't exactly something you can "weaponize."

[weyland]

What the fuck has all this got to do with ex-pats that fall (fail?)?

[Jimmydr]

What the fuck has all this got to do with ex-pats that fall (fail?)?

Post counts

[greydread]

What the fuck has all this got to do with ex-pats that fall (fail?)?

It's part of the larger perspective. Wherever you are, whatever you're experiencing, it's all part of a bigger picture. Did you not see the recent capitulation of the entire Dominican banking system to the IRS? Are you aware if the Chinese PM's visit to neighboring Cuba while the Chinese AF is conducting training flights between Japan's islands? How about the new Philippine President's decision to undo the decision to reinstate and rebuild U.S. military bases in his country? These and other seemingly independent occurrences around the globe are all connecting dots that spell change for U.S. ex patriots worldwide.

[Jimmydr]

It's part of the larger perspective. Wherever you are, whatever you're experiencing, it's all part of a bigger picture. Did you not see the recent capitulation of the entire Dominican banking system to the IRS? Are you aware if the Chinese PM's visit to neighboring Cuba while the Chinese AF is conducting training flights between Japan's islands? How about the new Philippine President's decision to undo the decision to reinstate and rebuild U.S. military bases in his country? These and other seemingly independent occurrences around the globe are all connecting dots that spell change for U.S. ex patriots worldwide.

They will build walls to keep us out.

[greydread]

They will build walls to keep us out.

More like our own government erecting financial and legal barriers to keep us in. They see us all over the world enjoying our lives and they hate us for our freedom.

Big Brother is no joke.

[Jimmydr]

More like our own government erecting financial and legal barriers to keep us in. They see us all over the world enjoying our lives and they hate us for our freedom.

Big Brother is no joke.

I don't get that feeling at all.

[greydread]

I don't get that feeling at all.

Then don't worry, be happy.....

[Jimmydr]

Then don't worry, be happy.....

We are old guys. We had our great times.


The younger guys are all fucked.

[Jimmydr]

We need a topic called Ex Pats with Pensions that succeed!

[Westy]

We need a topic called Ex Pats with Pensions that succeed!

I think those guys are too busy having fun to run a thread like that.

I may be closer to finding out for myself. (Which is kind of bittersweet news to me.)

[Hunter]

I think those guys are too busy having fun to run a thread like that.

I may be closer to finding out for myself. (Which is kind of bittersweet news to me.)

Auntie not doing well I assume.......

[greydread]

We need a topic called Ex Pats with Pensions that succeed!

Maybe I'll start one and call it "The Old Dude at Work".

[Westy]

Auntie not doing well I assume.......

Keee-rect. Went to see her Thursday, on the way out to the boat ... she was happy to see me, but this time she asked me who I was. Her verbal skills have deteriorated to disjointed words that don't make sense. I got there just as they were getting served their lunch, and the aimless way she fumbled with her soup was disheartening enough; and when she offered me her juice with a smile, she put it on the edge of the table so it almost tipped into my lap. The Memory Care Director said she spends most of her time asleep, and said "She's fading away." Which is obvious.

One of these nights, she's going to forget to breathe....

[Jimmydr]

I think those guys are too busy having fun to run a thread like that.

I may be closer to finding out for myself. (Which is kind of bittersweet news to me.)

90's are long enough to be around unless you know whats going on.

[Jimmydr]

Maybe I'll start one and call it "The Old Dude at Work".

But you are not an Ex Pat.