Georgia

I got invited to a wedding in Georgia. Long story as to why and how, but am going, and I realised I know next to nothing about the country. So I went about looking for information, and it is fascinating. The culture, the food, the sights. I did the google street view thing (staggsy) and … Read more

Interest Rates

Let’s try to get this site back to basics. The real reason we all first came here was to guess what lies ahead in hope to make some money off property, right? Right? Some, of course, also try to trade stocks or bitcoin, but that’s mugs’ game as these assets are volatile and not guaranteed … Read more

More space needed

Far out, step away for a day and the place goes nuts! A big welcome back to Poochy (Peachy?) and NoMansLand! I can’t say I read the whole last thread, but it seems like mix of interesting and useful contributions and a flame war. I’m especially impressed with Stewie’s ability to recall and locate old … Read more

The future is not the past

Interesting Russian fertility data. After collapse in 1990s, bottoming in 2000, Russian fertility has been rising ever since, but may be stalling. Obviously a degree of prosperity and comfort is necessary for people to want to breed given they have choice in a contraceptive culture. The time of elites relying on taxing the excess profits … Read more

A few trade stats and some other stuff

50% of Australia’s exports are from mining and another 18% from “energy”. https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook47p/AustralianTradeFigures Volumes are forecast to go up to 2029, but prices and net export earnings are expected to fall https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/resources-and-energy-quarterly-march-2024 Remittances currently took about USD 5 billion from our current account in 2022. That’s more than this year’s entire current account deficit. Also, … Read more