are we really in trouble$?$?

[AnthonyDeAngelo]

I'm awake tonight because of something I never like to do... watch the late news before bed.

There was a disturbing report on tonight about our friends in Amsterdam no longer accepting US dollars - not that I've ever been much on the idea of using dollars when I travel - (I think its rather pushy and gauche... ) - but, I do remember that the Dutch have always been very friendly, especially to Tony&Cam.

My point is this, if the Dutch are no longer accepting $$$, then it stands to reason that they don't want the little fucking worthless greenbacks in their hands... so the report would have you believe. Is this true? Is our cash that horribly worthless to the EU? to the world? should we be concerned yet?

I know that this "imbalance" and soft dollar has been a reason behind the significant increase in sales since August or so... but are we heading into something REALLY BIG here?

I must admit that sales have been up lately - I suppose its because people are staying in, driving less, and spending time with their high speed (expensive) connection speeds...

Makes sense... now where did I put those puka shells - I hope they keep up with the price of gold and platinum - sure easier to trade with!

[Gaystoryman]

I am no economist, but it sure doesn't sound good.

[MrJD]

i blame jesus.

[MrJD]

but on a serious note... yeah I think we're in for some rather rough times in the next few years... the current administration really screwed the pooch and it's going to take time and some tough decisions to "fix" things

[dzinerbear]

Most Canadian establishments are taking US dollars at par even though the dollar fluctuates back and forth. A few cents either way and they just don't care -- in Canada a dollar is a dollar when it's a green bill or a golden coin.

I think your dollar and your economy will bounce back once you get the redneck out of the White House. Every time he comes on the screen up here, everyone just starts to giggle. He can't string more than five words together in a coherent sentence. He doesn't know much about anything – I doubt he could find The Netherlands or Holland on a world map. And he wraps himself up in all that God Bless America stuff that just drives the rest of the world nuts.

I think if your country ends up with a Black or female president, it will be one of the best things to happen to you from the world's point of view. If you end up with John McCain, I have no idea, I don't really know the man. If your president is Clinton or Obama, I think the rest of the world will start having confidence in your country and economy again, particularly if you start pulling out of Iraq.

Michael

[gaydemon]

To be honest that seems to have been happening now for a while in Europe, I think you might find that a lot of countries and retailers wont accept dollars anymore.

Euro really has gotten much bigger here, even in the UK you can use Euro in bigger shops in London even if we dont use the Euro currency here.

[dzinerbear]

Ah yes, I forgot about the European Union.

I think the Americans may have to get used to sitting in the passenger seat. They did say that the European Union would begin eclipsing the US.

Michael

[gumdrop]

History repeats itself...eg. "Fall of the Roman Empire" I can't wait until the US becomes the next province of Canada. ;)

[HunkMoneyLuke]

its not a surprise that NL does not accept USD, after all its not their currency!!! it would be like expecting a shop in Ohio to accept Euros.

[terrytowel]

There was a story on CNN today about the Japanese Yen and how all of their product is going to be affected now that the Yen is higher than the US dollar.

I think every country is feeling the effect of the low US dollar

[pocoloco]

When the euro was introduced in 12 EU-countries on 01.01.2002, one EUR was worth USD 1.02. Today one EUR is worth USD 1.56. It gives you an idea of how the dollar becomes worthless for Europeans by the day.

It's true that most shops in Amsterdam do not longer accept dollars (some since a few months already). On the other hand, I have heared stories about shops in NYC accepting euros.

Since last week, the average income of the EU citizens is bigger than the average income of the US citizens (for the first time). This is probably caused by the fast growing economies in the eastern Europe countries.

The weak dollar is bad for European exports of course, but there are changes in the international trades as well. For example, the common currency used for trades between Europe and Australia always was the dollar, but lately more and more transactions are done in euros, which shows that also on the international field the euro is getting stronger and stronger.

But in the end... being an European affiliate sucks! Although my income is growing each month, at the end of the line I get the same amount in euros.

[camcruise]

Well there is no surprise that the US is still the biggest consumer nation in the world. So If we cant a ford to spend like we usually do, then the world feels the pinch too.
I agree that once we get that child out of the white house and put a real person that cares about all of us. Then things will get better...I hope.

[RottenRay]

My point is this, if the Dutch are no longer accepting $$$, then it stands to reason that they don't want the little fucking worthless greenbacks in their hands... so the report would have you believe. Is this true? Is our cash that horribly worthless to the EU? to the world? should we be concerned yet?

Concerned, yes, but not in a full panic.

A good part of what we're seeing right now is offshore venture capital that has gone down the tubes due to the collapse of the US new home market - this is rippling back through EVERYONE's economies at the moment. It will level out eventually (mark my words) probably around the middle of 2008.

Don't blame the Dutch one bit - I wouldn't take US dollars right now, either.




History repeats itself...eg. "Fall of the Roman Empire" I can't wait until the US becomes the next province of Canada.

Gumdrop, as [one of the very few] non-arrogant Americans, I sort of resent this. I don't think Canada's economy is much to talk about at the moment - and I wouldn't go making US consumers too mad at you, since a lot of what you sell is bought by us. You're a neighbor, so write like one!





I think the Americans may have to get used to sitting in the passenger seat. They did say that the European Union would begin eclipsing the US.

Not necessarily sitting in the passenger's seat, but we do need to get used to this "global economy" - and I mean ALL of us. The US still has a lot of valuable experience to draw on, and not all of us are lazy - although it certainly seems that way sometimes. The US is in the tank at the moment, but it might be YOUR country's turn next year. We ALL have a lot to learn about managing this much trade.

It's a pure-D shame that so many of our companies have outsourced so much to China. There aren't as many entry-level jobs available as there used to be, and this is what's killing us at the moment.

A construction worker who loses his/her job at the moment doesn't have the local tire factory or car factory to apply to. Farm jobs are tied up. That leaves "McJobs," service industry stuff, and those mostly go to high school kids who are actually willing to work.




I think if your country ends up with a Black or female president, it will be one of the best things to happen to you from the world's point of view. If you end up with John McCain, I have no idea, I don't really know the man. If your president is Clinton or Obama, I think the rest of the world will start having confidence in your country and economy again, particularly if you start pulling out of Iraq.


Michael - I agree totally. McCain is a scary person (met him years ago when I lived in Arizona) and I don't have much faith in him.

What the US needs is a "do nothing" president - we need time to let the system recover from all the [poor] decisions Bush has made. There are a bazillion qualfied government office workers who will do their jobs well once the constant flow of paradigm changes slows down a bit.

I like Hillary for this. I think she'll be kept in line, hampered if you will, because of the "old boys' club" still working in our government - she won't have much chance to pursue personal agendas.




the current administration really screwed the pooch and it's going to take time and some tough decisions to "fix" things

Yeah, Bush & Co. blew it. Sad thing is, I thing GW actually wanted to be a good president.

This is what happens when you're not qualified for the job, promise favors to get it, and then have to pay them back.

Another issue is Cheney - he's an empire builder of the first water, and lucked out with a n'er do well as prez...

Time it will take. As far as "tough decisions," what we really need is for the boat to stop rocking!



In general, here are a couple things to think about...

-- Adjusting the prime rate is NOT the way to fix our economy. It's an archaic, 1960s approach.

-- Adjusting the cost of ENERGY is the way to fix our economy. Fuel and electicity costs are the only 2 things you can "wiggle" in our current economy that will make a difference, because they're the only 2 things that affect EVERYTHING.



.....

[Gaystoryman]

-- Adjusting the prime rate is NOT the way to fix our economy. It's an archaic, 1960s approach.

-- Adjusting the cost of ENERGY is the way to fix our economy. Fuel and electicity costs are the only 2 things you can "wiggle" in our current economy that will make a difference, because they're the only 2 things that affect EVERYTHING.

Those are the two things that make the most sense. Yet not a single government leader, anywhere, seems to understand that. They think its about giving tax cuts to big business, to let jobs go abroad without keeping an equal flow coming in. :bang:

[AnthonyDeAngelo]

OK - so now our gas has settled in at over the $4/gal mark edging up toward $4.15 - and as a tribute to our prehistoric friends the dinosaurs - we're leaving them to rest for the time being while we keep our cars parked in the garage a couple of days a week - we're walking a lot more - good for the heart (and great for the legs) and we're riding bikes too

So in talking to our friends and customers and the general gay populace, we have found that most of them are doing or trying to do the same - and yes, people are staying in and cooking at home more - and enjoying those expensive kitchen remodels they've done and enjoying their home systems more...

There is no question that there is an enormous amount of unrest and sleepless nights over housing, melting planet syndrome, MRSA and other fun stuff, so I think the tendency will be to hide under the covers as much as possible and watch internet porn when coming out from under

The fact remains that our planet is really in trouble and we're not doing real good at modifying our behavior to meet the challenges - so I think we're gonna be seeing a lot more total escapism through pornography no matter what currency the credit card charges are paid in... dollars, euros, yen or puka shells

and don't forget, the Amero looms - God only knows what that will bring...

[abostonboy]

I don't find it shocking that you can't use another currency in another country. When you say "not accepting US dollar", do you mean the Current Exchange places? For example, in Maine (since it's near the Canadian border you can easily use a canadian dollar. Bit goto Boston and you need to goto a bank first to get converted.

However, with the US dollar unstable, it's risky. Not sure how the Billing companies settle currenty in the EU. But if its weekly and they settle in pounds or euros then that can be a killer if the dollar drops.

[Mickey]

I don't find it shocking that you can't use another currency in another country. When you say "not accepting US dollar", do you mean the Current Exchange places? For example, in Maine (since it's near the Canadian border you can easily use a canadian dollar. Bit goto Boston and you need to goto a bank first to get converted.

However, with the US dollar unstable, it's risky. Not sure how the Billing companies settle currenty in the EU. But if its weekly and they settle in pounds or euros then that can be a killer if the dollar drops.

in some european countries it is not unheard of that you can use US dollars to pay for things..

Remember before the Euro every country had they own currency and some of the bigger ones, british pounds, german mark etc where also accepted by some shops in countries other than germany and the UK - not used by everyday people but sometimes by the tourists..

Right now i truely think the low value of the USD is hurting the european affiliates, as was said, you gain nothing from the extra dollars you bring in as the exchange rate is too poor.. Only good thing is that if you have a USD in / USD out based business you dont really feel it as much - and in the offchance that you have a euro in / USD out business - now is the time to grow as its cheaper to buy the things, content etc, that you need to expand..

[AnthonyDeAngelo]

meanwhile, back here at home yesterday...

I grabbed this photo as we were "walking" (remember that?) around town - it got me to thinking that our gas prices here are among the highest in the nation - a lot of that has to do with the special "clean air" requirements imposed on the oil companies here in CA -

we're dealing with these huge cost increases in fuel - the fuel powers the agribusiness industry that surrounds us - and since we're in the "salad bowl" of the nation, our vegetables and produce prices are going through the roof - couple that with transporting the produce to market and you've got a big hit on the economy

and all the higher prices go (in the case of the photo) to the Netherlands where Shell Oil is based...

and they don't want the Dollars anymore - go figure?

something's got to give somewhere

[Adam Mason]

$4 a gallon? In the UK it works out to be over $10!!!

Things aren't great with the UK economy either, and while I understand the impact of fuel prices we should also consider the environment. One day oil and gas will run out... from now until then the cost is only going to get higher as demand grows in the emerging economies... imagine if everyone in China got a car!

[InsaneSimon]

imagine if everyone in China got a car!

It actually speeds up peak oil.

[phil450studio]

for all I know US $ is like an international currency so why is that they will never accept it?

[InsaneSimon]

for all I know US $ is like an international currency so why is that they will never accept it?

Because it's like toilet paper atm :bang:

[pocoloco]

for all I know US $ is like an international currency so why is that they will never accept it?

Why would they? Every country outside the US has it's own currency. Some touristic spots have been accepting US dollars as some kind of service to US tourists for a while, but now that it's worth half of what it used to be, they will no longer accept US dollars. Also, there are way less US tourists in Europe (for example), because trips to Europe are more expensive due to the expensive euro.

[Mickey]

$4 a gallon? In the UK it works out to be over $10!!!

Things aren't great with the UK economy either, and while I understand the impact of fuel prices we should also consider the environment. One day oil and gas will run out... from now until then the cost is only going to get higher as demand grows in the emerging economies... imagine if everyone in China got a car!

hehe yea, gotta love how the guys in the US cry about their gas prices...

gas here is €1,10 a liter, so that would be aprox €4,40 a gallon...

[RottenRay]

hehe yea, gotta love how the guys in the US cry about their gas prices...

gas here is €1,10 a liter, so that would be aprox €4,40 a gallon...


Us guys in the US are crying about gas prices because our lifestyle is mostly based on our cars, traveling in them for pleasure and business.

I'm not saying this is a correct approach - but you have to admit YOU would feel the same pain if the cost of your fuel doubled in a decade.

We're a rather large country geographically speaking, and we tend to spread ourselves out. The cost of fuel is an integral part of how much spendable income we have.


...

[Mickey]

Us guys in the US are crying about gas prices because our lifestyle is mostly based on our cars, traveling in them for pleasure and business.

I'm not saying this is a correct approach - but you have to admit YOU would feel the same pain if the cost of your fuel doubled in a decade.

We're a rather large country geographically speaking, and we tend to spread ourselves out. The cost of fuel is an integral part of how much spendable income we have.


...

well yes, the US is rather large but then again so is germany, france and spain etc and the gass prices i quoted are from there - so even if the US is bigger gas here is still way way more expensive - now if people didnt need to drive HUGE 4x4 with no reason besides compensating for a tiny pecker, then perhaps the gas prices wouldnt be as hard on the guys in the US..

but its the way of life and its hard to change , i totally get that..

[AnthonyDeAngelo]

hehe yea, gotta love how the guys in the US cry about their gas prices...

gas here is €1,10 a liter, so that would be aprox €4,40 a gallon...

yeah well - the price of gas here IS over $4 and is about $4.35 for us - (see Cam standing next to sign above...)

the local economy is going in the toilet - tourists are coming in fewer numbers and spending less - the farmers are paying huge dollars to grow their crops and milk is now through the roof - everything takes gas to get it there

and its costing the Chinese more to get their dairy shipments from our local farms and its going to hit everyone in the price of california wine and vegies and beef too

coupled with the ever crumbling housing disaster... but, its not all doom and gloom...

we've been able to slash our costs and overhead by moving out of the megalopolis called los angeles - in turn, we can reinvest the savings into new projects, etc...

this is a good time to clean house and be creative

[Adam Mason]

"hello, I love your site but I\'m looking to save some money. How do I unsubscribe? "

I've had more of these in the last month than I wanted to count.

[gaydemon]

Really? You had more of these lately.

Thats really interesting. i was disucssing that with someone else the other day. I was thinking that a bad economy doesnt neccessarily have to mean less sales on porn.

But maybe it does hit paysites harder than affiliates. I havent seen any down turn at all in sales, but maybe people are instead watching out and cancelling accounts quicker than before?



"hello, I love your site but I\'m looking to save some money. How do I unsubscribe? "

I've had more of these in the last month than I wanted to count.

[AnthonyDeAngelo]

we're just beginning to see the metaphorical "tip of the iceberg" and if its melting as fast as the planet... fasten your seat belts and grab a raft! oh, and buy a cow and some chickens and some land... should be a very interesting summer

all kidding aside, we have seen an increase in EU visitors (specially Germans) who think the coast is a cheap destination - and people from all over are beginning to snatch up condos and property and LAND... while the prices are "dirt" cheap - bargains everywhere for those with some $$$ - we've noticed an increase in international sales - both in member sales AND in hard DVD sales...