Re: [spiers] Re: Update on Book Markets
On Fri, 13 Oct 2006 21:23:14 -0000, "spiersegroups"
:
>
> Jason,
>
> Absolutely not... Amazon will buy from me, compete against me, (or I against
them)
> and I'll sell to anyone I like... and this morning Borders called with a PO
for my book,
> the first time they have ever bought it (I suspect my publisher being a
barnes and
> noble company, borders eschewed them before.)
>
> so today I have been scrambing to set up accounting for Seattle Teachers
College
> press, to procees the Borders order, and it has stopped me from taking my wee
> runabout out on lake washington today to enjoy the sun. (64 and sunny in
seattle).
>
> I'll be lucky if I have time to cover the boat today. Am I to be spared
nothing?!
>
> John
>
>
> --- In spiers@yahoogroups.com, "Jason Carrion"
> >
> > So I take it that Amazon will now have exlusive access to your book? If
> > that's the case then Amazon will be definately begin selling more copies of
> > the book since it's competition will have limited access to copies.
> >
> > More Amazon sales plus higher royalties per book. Nice!
> >
> > I love Amazon. Can't tell you how much money I have spent with them. :)
> >
> > Jason
> >
> >
> > On 12 Oct 2006 17:31:00 -0000, John Spiers
> > >
> > > Folks,
> > >
> > > I don't consider myself a teacher, although I do enjoy explaining how
> > > international trade
> > > works, and learning more about it. I do not consider myself a writer,
> > > although I have a book
> > > on Amazon that sells better than hundreds of thousands of other books
> > > there (Amazon
> > > updates sales rates daily (I check occassionally) , and I've seen mine as
> > > high as Amazon's
> > > 3,824th best seller for the day, which means it was a better seller than
> > > millions of books).
> > >
> > > I love lookng at how things work, especially when they are revolutionary.
> > > Clearly Jeff Bezo's at
> > > Amazon has spotted the unfairness in the publishing industry, because he
> > > goes straight at it
> > > and offers remarkably empowering means to writers.
> > >
> > > It is as if Amazon has taken the chief complaints of writers about
> > > publishers, and is working
> > > his way down the list, from top to bottom, solving the writers' problems.
> > > I am wondering if
> > > amazon is not so much a bookstore as a service company, dedicated to
> > > writers (and
> > > musicians, and filmmakers, etc).
> > >
> > > Recently amazon made it easy for writers to become a supplier to amazon,
> > > each writer selling
> > > his own books, with amazon acting as retailer. Publishers and wholesalers
> > > have had such
> > > wretched lock on distribution that writers would get little for their
> > > work. Copyright law
> > > benefits the publishers and the wholesalers, never the writer.
> > >
> > > Amazon has always welcomed people to compete with amazon ON amazon. What
> > > retailer
> > > would allow a competitor to come in and compete on the retailer's
> > > premises? Unheard of,
> > > until amazon. Amazon of course gets a cut of every sale, but what are your
> > > chances of
> > > walking into Saks and saying "let me sell Louis Vuitton luggage with your
> > > luggage, and I'll
> > > give you 10%..." ... ain't gonna happen.
> > >
> > > I see amazon selling my book for $25.95, and other bookstores selling it
> > > for less, on amazon.
> > > Both Amazon and these other bookstores get the book from the exact same
> > > wholesaler, at
> > > the same price, about $15.00. I know this because I get sales reports and
> > > can trace retail
> > > back to wholesale. Amazon charges $25.95, and usually free shipping, these
> > > others charge
> > > around $20, plus shipping. The wholesaler buys my book from the publisher,
> > > who prints it.
> > > These bookstores sell my book on amazon as new, for less than amazon, on
> > > amazon! They
> > > sell quite a few copies, and stock it for quick delivery. Amazon stocks it
> > > as well.
> > >
> > > (And to just make it weirder, Barnes and Noble owns my publisher, but
> > > B&N.com does not
> > > stock my book, they only order against orders!) (My book sells regular
> > > retail as well, with
> > > University Bookstore in Seattle having sold a few hundred copies at
> > > $25.95).
> > >
> > > So, this week I fired my publisher (a B&N subsidiary), became a vendor to
> > > Amazon (they buy
> > > from me for their warehouses instead of from the book wholesalers) I guess
> > > I am now a book
> > > wholesaler too, and I am running this under Seattle Teachers College, Inc,
> > > a corporation I
> > > own.
> > >
> > > Yesterday I received express 20 copies of my book printed in Hong Kong,
> > > pulled out of a
> > > shipment of 1000 books that will eta 6 Nov. These will land warehouse
> > > value at about $3.00
> > > per copy. They are superior in quality of production, paper and ink to
> > > what was made in USA.
> > >
> > > There are reasons for this: one way the government controls the press in
> > > USA is to dictate
> > > paper content and ink composition. the rules are as silly as the EPA
> > > declaring "sand" as a
> > > hazardous material (it's true), but the effect is the price of paper and
> > > ink is far higher in usa
> > > than anywhere else. USA pays the most.
> > >
> > > Labor is not cheaper in hong kong for printing books, because the labor
> > > factor is moot.
> > > Printing is computer and mechanized intensive work. I visited the Hong
> > > Kong plant last April,
> > > and was sorry for America. The expensive part of all this is management,
> > > and Hong Kong has
> > > excess capacity in world class management, therefore management is cheaper
> > > there. (World
> > > class management is in very short supply in USA, so it is too expensive).
> > >
> > > But back to the economics: Amazon will list my book for $25.95, sell it
> > > for something like
> > > $18.00 per copy, and pay me about $12 a copy for my book. As I said, I pay
> > > about $3.00 a
> > > copy. So last week I got about a buck royalty for each copy that sold on
> > > amazon for $25.95,
> > > and next week I'll get about $9 a copy for each book that sells on amazon
> > > for about $18.00.
> > > At the lower price on amazon I suspect I'll be getting more $9.00s than I
> > > was ever getting
> > > $1.00s.
> > >
> > > This is no big deal, it is just an example of how one person, Bezos, acted
> > > on what everyone
> > > knew to be a scam (USA publishing and bookselling) and came up with a
> > > better way. I too
> > > decided it was wrong, and drove a truck thru the opening amazon created.
> > >
> > > Also this week, after topping off the oil in my car at Jiffy-Lube, I
> > > walked into a high end home
> > > furnishings store and blew passed the receptionist alarmed at the carpets
> > > under my arm. I
> > > wandered around until a nicely dressed fellow said "may I help you?" I
> > > dropped the carpets at
> > > his feet and said "an artist has designed these carpets, and had these
> > > samples made in China.
> > > She says stores like your will sell these carpets. Is she dreaming?"
> > >
> > > He replied, "I am not the buyer, just a designer. Here is the buyers name
> > > and number. But if
> > > he will not buy them, I have clients always looking for new and
> > > interesting. Can I take
> > > pictures for them to see." "Sure, and just contact the designer direct if
> > > you want any made..."
> > >
> > > As soon as I can find time, I'll meet the buyer, and let you know what he
> > > says.
> > >
> > > Folks, this stuff is easy... must get going!
> > >
> > > John
Friday, October 13, 2006
Update on Book Markets
Air America Bankrupt
Re: Air America Bankrupt
--- In spiers@yahoogroups.com, "John Spiers"
I'll have to say I disagree with the line of thinking that the
liberal talk radio bankruptcy was a result of not being on the right
side of the present political situation. Many of the conservative
shows have been through numerous changes of political parties and are
surviving. Some very nicely. This fact alone disproves that
hypothesis. The major key to radio success is still advertising money
no matter what the format. Advertising money follows listenership.
Unfortunately, the listenership numbers must not have been there for
the advertising money. Gov't money alone couldn't entirely support a
liberal format with the hugh numbers necessary for the needed impact.
Perhaps shows proclaiming the liberal message as their main topic are
not worth hearing. As an aside, Imus and Stern both seem to proclaim
liberal leanings, and are very successful. Their main thrust though
is more of a bawdy /sexual nature. Not much in the way of left
leaning politics. Again liberal/socialistic/ communistic drivel must
not have as much following as a very vocal minority would have us
believing.
Also, to rub our hands in glee when the $ starts flowing to a group
of people (the libs/socialist/communists)that the general public does
not want to hear/ give listenership support is ridiculous and
downright scary.
Folks,
>
> Conservative Talkradio is crowing that liberal talkradio is
literally bankrupt
>
> http://tinyurl.com/ylbblv
>
> but not so fast...
>
> with the government in control of the media, massive funds flow
here they want it to flow...
> one of the largest advertisers out there is he military, obviously
not buying time at Air
> America.
>
> Let's see what happens when the dems take control and Air America
starts gettiing ad
> contracts from Housing and Urban Development, the Ag dept and the
TSA. Radio stations
> will clammer to carry Air America for the money, and the drivel
will flow left rather than right.
>
> John
>
Update on Book Markets
Re: Update on Book Markets
Jason,
Absolutely not... Amazon will buy from me, compete against me, (or I against
them)
and I'll sell to anyone I like... and this morning Borders called with a PO for
my book,
the first time they have ever bought it (I suspect my publisher being a barnes
and
noble company, borders eschewed them before.)
so today I have been scrambing to set up accounting for Seattle Teachers College
press, to procees the Borders order, and it has stopped me from taking my wee
runabout out on lake washington today to enjoy the sun. (64 and sunny in
seattle).
I'll be lucky if I have time to cover the boat today. Am I to be spared
nothing?!
John
--- In spiers@yahoogroups.com, "Jason Carrion"
>
> So I take it that Amazon will now have exlusive access to your book? If
> that's the case then Amazon will be definately begin selling more copies of
> the book since it's competition will have limited access to copies.
>
> More Amazon sales plus higher royalties per book. Nice!
>
> I love Amazon. Can't tell you how much money I have spent with them. :)
>
> Jason
>
>
> On 12 Oct 2006 17:31:00 -0000, John Spiers
> >
> > Folks,
> >
> > I don't consider myself a teacher, although I do enjoy explaining how
> > international trade
> > works, and learning more about it. I do not consider myself a writer,
> > although I have a book
> > on Amazon that sells better than hundreds of thousands of other books
> > there (Amazon
> > updates sales rates daily (I check occassionally) , and I've seen mine as
> > high as Amazon's
> > 3,824th best seller for the day, which means it was a better seller than
> > millions of books).
> >
> > I love lookng at how things work, especially when they are revolutionary.
> > Clearly Jeff Bezo's at
> > Amazon has spotted the unfairness in the publishing industry, because he
> > goes straight at it
> > and offers remarkably empowering means to writers.
> >
> > It is as if Amazon has taken the chief complaints of writers about
> > publishers, and is working
> > his way down the list, from top to bottom, solving the writers' problems.
> > I am wondering if
> > amazon is not so much a bookstore as a service company, dedicated to
> > writers (and
> > musicians, and filmmakers, etc).
> >
> > Recently amazon made it easy for writers to become a supplier to amazon,
> > each writer selling
> > his own books, with amazon acting as retailer. Publishers and wholesalers
> > have had such
> > wretched lock on distribution that writers would get little for their
> > work. Copyright law
> > benefits the publishers and the wholesalers, never the writer.
> >
> > Amazon has always welcomed people to compete with amazon ON amazon. What
> > retailer
> > would allow a competitor to come in and compete on the retailer's
> > premises? Unheard of,
> > until amazon. Amazon of course gets a cut of every sale, but what are your
> > chances of
> > walking into Saks and saying "let me sell Louis Vuitton luggage with your
> > luggage, and I'll
> > give you 10%..." ... ain't gonna happen.
> >
> > I see amazon selling my book for $25.95, and other bookstores selling it
> > for less, on amazon.
> > Both Amazon and these other bookstores get the book from the exact same
> > wholesaler, at
> > the same price, about $15.00. I know this because I get sales reports and
> > can trace retail
> > back to wholesale. Amazon charges $25.95, and usually free shipping, these
> > others charge
> > around $20, plus shipping. The wholesaler buys my book from the publisher,
> > who prints it.
> > These bookstores sell my book on amazon as new, for less than amazon, on
> > amazon! They
> > sell quite a few copies, and stock it for quick delivery. Amazon stocks it
> > as well.
> >
> > (And to just make it weirder, Barnes and Noble owns my publisher, but
> > B&N.com does not
> > stock my book, they only order against orders!) (My book sells regular
> > retail as well, with
> > University Bookstore in Seattle having sold a few hundred copies at
> > $25.95).
> >
> > So, this week I fired my publisher (a B&N subsidiary), became a vendor to
> > Amazon (they buy
> > from me for their warehouses instead of from the book wholesalers) I guess
> > I am now a book
> > wholesaler too, and I am running this under Seattle Teachers College, Inc,
> > a corporation I
> > own.
> >
> > Yesterday I received express 20 copies of my book printed in Hong Kong,
> > pulled out of a
> > shipment of 1000 books that will eta 6 Nov. These will land warehouse
> > value at about $3.00
> > per copy. They are superior in quality of production, paper and ink to
> > what was made in USA.
> >
> > There are reasons for this: one way the government controls the press in
> > USA is to dictate
> > paper content and ink composition. the rules are as silly as the EPA
> > declaring "sand" as a
> > hazardous material (it's true), but the effect is the price of paper and
> > ink is far higher in usa
> > than anywhere else. USA pays the most.
> >
> > Labor is not cheaper in hong kong for printing books, because the labor
> > factor is moot.
> > Printing is computer and mechanized intensive work. I visited the Hong
> > Kong plant last April,
> > and was sorry for America. The expensive part of all this is management,
> > and Hong Kong has
> > excess capacity in world class management, therefore management is cheaper
> > there. (World
> > class management is in very short supply in USA, so it is too expensive).
> >
> > But back to the economics: Amazon will list my book for $25.95, sell it
> > for something like
> > $18.00 per copy, and pay me about $12 a copy for my book. As I said, I pay
> > about $3.00 a
> > copy. So last week I got about a buck royalty for each copy that sold on
> > amazon for $25.95,
> > and next week I'll get about $9 a copy for each book that sells on amazon
> > for about $18.00.
> > At the lower price on amazon I suspect I'll be getting more $9.00s than I
> > was ever getting
> > $1.00s.
> >
> > This is no big deal, it is just an example of how one person, Bezos, acted
> > on what everyone
> > knew to be a scam (USA publishing and bookselling) and came up with a
> > better way. I too
> > decided it was wrong, and drove a truck thru the opening amazon created.
> >
> > Also this week, after topping off the oil in my car at Jiffy-Lube, I
> > walked into a high end home
> > furnishings store and blew passed the receptionist alarmed at the carpets
> > under my arm. I
> > wandered around until a nicely dressed fellow said "may I help you?" I
> > dropped the carpets at
> > his feet and said "an artist has designed these carpets, and had these
> > samples made in China.
> > She says stores like your will sell these carpets. Is she dreaming?"
> >
> > He replied, "I am not the buyer, just a designer. Here is the buyers name
> > and number. But if
> > he will not buy them, I have clients always looking for new and
> > interesting. Can I take
> > pictures for them to see." "Sure, and just contact the designer direct if
> > you want any made..."
> >
> > As soon as I can find time, I'll meet the buyer, and let you know what he
> > says.
> >
> > Folks, this stuff is easy... must get going!
> >
> > John
Air America Bankrupt
RE: [spiers] Air America Bankrupt
Melanie,
Absolutely... With government spending in the trillions, the party in power very
much distorts the marketplace by rewarding friends and punishing enemies...
Next, the party in power starts re-writing the rules which add another
distortion, causing malinvestment...
Always the Fed gets into the act, printing money or settting interest rates,
both a tremendous cause of malinvestment.
I am sure one can study the past and anticipate the future (certainly the arms
manufacturers stock went up with republicans in power) but to my mind, you
decide what you love, offer a product, and see where the government is
distorting markets, to find ways of ever better serving your customers.
John
John,
Stupid question, but I'll ask it anyway....
What type of i/e trade shifts do you see when one party has the power and then
the other? Is there like a pattern to "what's hot" that can be seen or
anticipated? Would glasswares be affected for example? produce? bla bla bla....
-----Original Message-----
From: spiers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:spiers@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of
John Spiers
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 1:42 PM
To: spiers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [spiers] Air America Bankrupt
Folks,
Conservative Talkradio is crowing that liberal talkradio is literally bankrupt
http://tinyurl.com/ylbblv
but not so fast...
with the government in control of the media, massive funds flow here they want
it to flow...
one of the largest advertisers out there is he military, obviously not buying
time at Air
America.
Let's see what happens when the dems take control and Air America starts
gettiing ad
contracts from Housing and Urban Development, the Ag dept and the TSA. Radio
stations
will clammer to carry Air America for the money, and the drivel will flow left
rather than right.
John
Compete on Design!
www.johnspiers.com
Made in "some country" question
Re: [spiers] Made in "some country" question
On Fri, 13 Oct 2006 17:18:20 -0000, "mgranich"
>
> I noticed recently while visiting Germany, very few items have the
> country of manufacture stamped on them or printed on the packaging.
> Items that I thought were clearly made in China were not stamped "Made
> in China".
>
> Is indicating the country of origin only a US custom? Is it a law?
***Yes, following the mercantilistic hope that people would eschew foreign
goods; also, a
legal fiction developed in common law that the importer was the manufacturer,
which I
heartily agree with as a policy...***
>
> And is it possible to have an item made in China, sent to ... lets say
> Peru for final assembly and packaging, and then have the item say "Made
> in Peru"? Lets say the Chinese are more efficient at making Alpaca
> wool sweaters. But people who wear Alpaca wool sweaters expect them to
> be made in Peru. Could you have them "partially" made in Peru and
> still call them "Made in Peru"?
***that gets covered into the valuation rules of the Code of Federal
Regulations, #19.
Generally, the chief value of something determines where "it is from." It is a
crime to falsify
any of the facts, and everything has been tried. If one was to try mischief, it
is likely it would
fall outside the bell curve of normal transactions and invite law enforcement
scrutiny.
John
The benefit of not being an expert
Today the Nobel Peace Prize was given to Dr. Mohammed Yunus - founder
of the Grameen Bank.
I do a lot of work w/ the World Affairs Council in Seattle and we had
the honor of bringing Dr. Yunus out here for a public speaking event a
year ago. At this lecture he mentioned how if he had been a banker he
never would have been able to come up w/ the solutions he did w/ the
Grameen Bank - lending to poor people w/ no collateral? That's the
dumbest business idea ever. - alas this turned out to be completely
not true when he essentialy asked John's question of "Why don't they
just...."
A business and social success worth checking out:
http://www.grameen-info.org/agrameen/profile.php3?profile=1
Best to you all,
Paul
Air America Bankrupt
Folks,
Conservative Talkradio is crowing that liberal talkradio is literally bankrupt
http://tinyurl.com/ylbblv
but not so fast...
with the government in control of the media, massive funds flow here they want
it to flow...
one of the largest advertisers out there is he military, obviously not buying
time at Air
America.
Let's see what happens when the dems take control and Air America starts
gettiing ad
contracts from Housing and Urban Development, the Ag dept and the TSA. Radio
stations
will clammer to carry Air America for the money, and the drivel will flow left
rather than right.
John
Made in "some country" question
I noticed recently while visiting Germany, very few items have the
country of manufacture stamped on them or printed on the packaging.
Items that I thought were clearly made in China were not stamped "Made
in China".
Is indicating the country of origin only a US custom? Is it a law?
And is it possible to have an item made in China, sent to ... lets say
Peru for final assembly and packaging, and then have the item say "Made
in Peru"? Lets say the Chinese are more efficient at making Alpaca
wool sweaters. But people who wear Alpaca wool sweaters expect them to
be made in Peru. Could you have them "partially" made in Peru and
still call them "Made in Peru"?
Anthony
Update on Book Markets
Re: [spiers] Update on Book Markets
So I take it that Amazon will now have exlusive access to your book? If
that's the case then Amazon will be definately begin selling more copies of
the book since it's competition will have limited access to copies.
More Amazon sales plus higher royalties per book. Nice!
I love Amazon. Can't tell you how much money I have spent with them. :)
Jason
On 12 Oct 2006 17:31:00 -0000, John Spiers
>
> Folks,
>
> I don't consider myself a teacher, although I do enjoy explaining how
> international trade
> works, and learning more about it. I do not consider myself a writer,
> although I have a book
> on Amazon that sells better than hundreds of thousands of other books
> there (Amazon
> updates sales rates daily (I check occassionally) , and I've seen mine as
> high as Amazon's
> 3,824th best seller for the day, which means it was a better seller than
> millions of books).
>
> I love lookng at how things work, especially when they are revolutionary.
> Clearly Jeff Bezo's at
> Amazon has spotted the unfairness in the publishing industry, because he
> goes straight at it
> and offers remarkably empowering means to writers.
>
> It is as if Amazon has taken the chief complaints of writers about
> publishers, and is working
> his way down the list, from top to bottom, solving the writers' problems.
> I am wondering if
> amazon is not so much a bookstore as a service company, dedicated to
> writers (and
> musicians, and filmmakers, etc).
>
> Recently amazon made it easy for writers to become a supplier to amazon,
> each writer selling
> his own books, with amazon acting as retailer. Publishers and wholesalers
> have had such
> wretched lock on distribution that writers would get little for their
> work. Copyright law
> benefits the publishers and the wholesalers, never the writer.
>
> Amazon has always welcomed people to compete with amazon ON amazon. What
> retailer
> would allow a competitor to come in and compete on the retailer's
> premises? Unheard of,
> until amazon. Amazon of course gets a cut of every sale, but what are your
> chances of
> walking into Saks and saying "let me sell Louis Vuitton luggage with your
> luggage, and I'll
> give you 10%..." ... ain't gonna happen.
>
> I see amazon selling my book for $25.95, and other bookstores selling it
> for less, on amazon.
> Both Amazon and these other bookstores get the book from the exact same
> wholesaler, at
> the same price, about $15.00. I know this because I get sales reports and
> can trace retail
> back to wholesale. Amazon charges $25.95, and usually free shipping, these
> others charge
> around $20, plus shipping. The wholesaler buys my book from the publisher,
> who prints it.
> These bookstores sell my book on amazon as new, for less than amazon, on
> amazon! They
> sell quite a few copies, and stock it for quick delivery. Amazon stocks it
> as well.
>
> (And to just make it weirder, Barnes and Noble owns my publisher, but
> B&N.com does not
> stock my book, they only order against orders!) (My book sells regular
> retail as well, with
> University Bookstore in Seattle having sold a few hundred copies at
> $25.95).
>
> So, this week I fired my publisher (a B&N subsidiary), became a vendor to
> Amazon (they buy
> from me for their warehouses instead of from the book wholesalers) I guess
> I am now a book
> wholesaler too, and I am running this under Seattle Teachers College, Inc,
> a corporation I
> own.
>
> Yesterday I received express 20 copies of my book printed in Hong Kong,
> pulled out of a
> shipment of 1000 books that will eta 6 Nov. These will land warehouse
> value at about $3.00
> per copy. They are superior in quality of production, paper and ink to
> what was made in USA.
>
> There are reasons for this: one way the government controls the press in
> USA is to dictate
> paper content and ink composition. the rules are as silly as the EPA
> declaring "sand" as a
> hazardous material (it's true), but the effect is the price of paper and
> ink is far higher in usa
> than anywhere else. USA pays the most.
>
> Labor is not cheaper in hong kong for printing books, because the labor
> factor is moot.
> Printing is computer and mechanized intensive work. I visited the Hong
> Kong plant last April,
> and was sorry for America. The expensive part of all this is management,
> and Hong Kong has
> excess capacity in world class management, therefore management is cheaper
> there. (World
> class management is in very short supply in USA, so it is too expensive).
>
> But back to the economics: Amazon will list my book for $25.95, sell it
> for something like
> $18.00 per copy, and pay me about $12 a copy for my book. As I said, I pay
> about $3.00 a
> copy. So last week I got about a buck royalty for each copy that sold on
> amazon for $25.95,
> and next week I'll get about $9 a copy for each book that sells on amazon
> for about $18.00.
> At the lower price on amazon I suspect I'll be getting more $9.00s than I
> was ever getting
> $1.00s.
>
> This is no big deal, it is just an example of how one person, Bezos, acted
> on what everyone
> knew to be a scam (USA publishing and bookselling) and came up with a
> better way. I too
> decided it was wrong, and drove a truck thru the opening amazon created.
>
> Also this week, after topping off the oil in my car at Jiffy-Lube, I
> walked into a high end home
> furnishings store and blew passed the receptionist alarmed at the carpets
> under my arm. I
> wandered around until a nicely dressed fellow said "may I help you?" I
> dropped the carpets at
> his feet and said "an artist has designed these carpets, and had these
> samples made in China.
> She says stores like your will sell these carpets. Is she dreaming?"
>
> He replied, "I am not the buyer, just a designer. Here is the buyers name
> and number. But if
> he will not buy them, I have clients always looking for new and
> interesting. Can I take
> pictures for them to see." "Sure, and just contact the designer direct if
> you want any made..."
>
> As soon as I can find time, I'll meet the buyer, and let you know what he
> says.
>
> Folks, this stuff is easy... must get going!
>
> John
Well This Explains a Lot
Folks,
Dilbert is quite successful, and Scott Adams talks about "Product Development"
and when to
quit...
http://tinyurl.com/yhamzs
I urge you to read this....
John
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Update on Book Markets
Folks,
I don't consider myself a teacher, although I do enjoy explaining how
international trade
works, and learning more about it. I do not consider myself a writer, although
I have a book
on Amazon that sells better than hundreds of thousands of other books there
(Amazon
updates sales rates daily (I check occassionally) , and I've seen mine as high
as Amazon's
3,824th best seller for the day, which means it was a better seller than
millions of books).
I love lookng at how things work, especially when they are revolutionary.
Clearly Jeff Bezo's at
Amazon has spotted the unfairness in the publishing industry, because he goes
straight at it
and offers remarkably empowering means to writers.
It is as if Amazon has taken the chief complaints of writers about publishers,
and is working
his way down the list, from top to bottom, solving the writers' problems. I am
wondering if
amazon is not so much a bookstore as a service company, dedicated to writers
(and
musicians, and filmmakers, etc).
Recently amazon made it easy for writers to become a supplier to amazon, each
writer selling
his own books, with amazon acting as retailer. Publishers and wholesalers have
had such
wretched lock on distribution that writers would get little for their work.
Copyright law
benefits the publishers and the wholesalers, never the writer.
Amazon has always welcomed people to compete with amazon ON amazon. What
retailer
would allow a competitor to come in and compete on the retailer's premises?
Unheard of,
until amazon. Amazon of course gets a cut of every sale, but what are your
chances of
walking into Saks and saying "let me sell Louis Vuitton luggage with your
luggage, and I'll
give you 10%..." ... ain't gonna happen.
I see amazon selling my book for $25.95, and other bookstores selling it for
less, on amazon.
Both Amazon and these other bookstores get the book from the exact same
wholesaler, at
the same price, about $15.00. I know this because I get sales reports and can
trace retail
back to wholesale. Amazon charges $25.95, and usually free shipping, these
others charge
around $20, plus shipping. The wholesaler buys my book from the publisher, who
prints it.
These bookstores sell my book on amazon as new, for less than amazon, on amazon!
They
sell quite a few copies, and stock it for quick delivery. Amazon stocks it as
well.
(And to just make it weirder, Barnes and Noble owns my publisher, but B&N.com
does not
stock my book, they only order against orders!) (My book sells regular retail as
well, with
University Bookstore in Seattle having sold a few hundred copies at $25.95).
So, this week I fired my publisher (a B&N subsidiary), became a vendor to Amazon
(they buy
from me for their warehouses instead of from the book wholesalers) I guess I am
now a book
wholesaler too, and I am running this under Seattle Teachers College, Inc, a
corporation I
own.
Yesterday I received express 20 copies of my book printed in Hong Kong, pulled
out of a
shipment of 1000 books that will eta 6 Nov. These will land warehouse value at
about $3.00
per copy. They are superior in quality of production, paper and ink to what was
made in USA.
There are reasons for this: one way the government controls the press in USA is
to dictate
paper content and ink composition. the rules are as silly as the EPA declaring
"sand" as a
hazardous material (it's true), but the effect is the price of paper and ink is
far higher in usa
than anywhere else. USA pays the most.
Labor is not cheaper in hong kong for printing books, because the labor factor
is moot.
Printing is computer and mechanized intensive work. I visited the Hong Kong
plant last April,
and was sorry for America. The expensive part of all this is management, and
Hong Kong has
excess capacity in world class management, therefore management is cheaper
there. (World
class management is in very short supply in USA, so it is too expensive).
But back to the economics: Amazon will list my book for $25.95, sell it for
something like
$18.00 per copy, and pay me about $12 a copy for my book. As I said, I pay
about $3.00 a
copy. So last week I got about a buck royalty for each copy that sold on amazon
for $25.95,
and next week I'll get about $9 a copy for each book that sells on amazon for
about $18.00.
At the lower price on amazon I suspect I'll be getting more $9.00s than I was
ever getting
$1.00s.
This is no big deal, it is just an example of how one person, Bezos, acted on
what everyone
knew to be a scam (USA publishing and bookselling) and came up with a better
way. I too
decided it was wrong, and drove a truck thru the opening amazon created.
Also this week, after topping off the oil in my car at Jiffy-Lube, I walked into
a high end home
furnishings store and blew passed the receptionist alarmed at the carpets under
my arm. I
wandered around until a nicely dressed fellow said "may I help you?" I dropped
the carpets at
his feet and said "an artist has designed these carpets, and had these samples
made in China.
She says stores like your will sell these carpets. Is she dreaming?"
He replied, "I am not the buyer, just a designer. Here is the buyers name and
number. But if
he will not buy them, I have clients always looking for new and interesting.
Can I take
pictures for them to see." "Sure, and just contact the designer direct if you
want any made..."
As soon as I can find time, I'll meet the buyer, and let you know what he says.
Folks, this stuff is easy... must get going!
John
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
North Korea and China
Re: [spiers] North Korea and China
Lily,
As you know 1/4 of China's land mass is traditional Moslem territory, China
shares a common
border with Afghanistan, and China is home to millions of Moslems. Truly China
has a far more
serious "moslem concern" than the USA. But what country is in open combat with
militant Islam,
what country is going broke and tied down in a lost war? Not China, which is
the basis of my
argument that China is fielding the better team of leaders right now.
Certainly in economic terms China presents itself as a better trading partner
than the USA, all
over the world. It may be troubling to hear it stated bluntly that China is
offering to be a better
military partner, but I think that is the case, and certainly what some
countries, like Iran, want to
hear.
John
On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:17:27 -0700 (PDT), Lily Yuan
>
> I personally feel that the message of "we can protct you (the Middle East)
from
> USA" is debatable. China has its own concerns over its Muslim poplulation. In
> fact, I grew up in a region where there is a large Muslim population that has
> its own so-called fundamenlist Islam group who wants to break away from China.
>
> The history textbooks that I used when I was in school never really quite
> played up the fact that Zhenghe (the greatest seafarer in China) is a muslim.
>
> Sure, China wants oil from the Middle East. But "we (Chinese) can protct you
> (the Middle East) from USA" seems to be reading too much in between
> lines,although it's an appealing hypothesis.
>
> Lily
>
>
>
>
> China wants the> middle> > east to love China. What message is China sending
> to iran? "We can protect you from USA."
> > > (At the Canton trade fair the direction signs to restaurants, services,
etc
> > > include directions to the Mosques the chinese maintain in the facilities,
> > and
> > > this is the year of celebration of China's greatest seafarer, a Mongol
> > Moslem
> > > castrata, with the Moslem part emphasised).
>
>
> --- Jay Schuyler
>
> > http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/10/MNG54LLP4G1.DTL
> >
> >
> > On 10/9/06 8:31 PM, "John Spiers"
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Anthony,
> > >
> > > N Korea does not make a move that China does not approve of. If N Korea
> > has
> > > the bomb, it is compliments of China, since N Korea has no outside
contacts
> > to
> > > speak of.
> > >
> > > Just because Fox News calls it a crisis does not make it so for you and
me.
> > N
> > > Korea is closely allied with China, and gets the bomb. China wants the
> > middle
> > > east to love China. What message is China sending to iran? "We can
> > protect
> > > you from USA."
> > >
> > > (At the Canton trade fair the direction signs to restaurants, services,
etc
> > > include directions to the Mosques the chinese maintain in the facilities,
> > and
> > > this is the year of celebration of China's greatest seafarer, a Mongol
> > Moslem
> > > castrata, with the Moslem part emphasised).
> > >
> > > I'll say it again; not only is USA leadership way outclassed by the
> > chinese
> > > players in this competition, our side tends to run the wrong way scoring
> > > points for the Chinese.
> > >
> > > I believe structurally USA can out compete anyone anytime. But we are
> > > dismantling that structure fast, and bricking up elsewhere. Compete means
> > to
> > > 'strive with' in which everyone wins according to their merit... with the
> > > neocons it is not competition but combat that is desired.
> > >
> > > I wouldn't worry about N Korean nukes falling on USA. Those are
> > underpowered,
> > > recklessly aimed things. I'd worry about USA nukes falling on USA. Those
> > are
> > > awesome perfectly targeted things. You know those monsters are computer
> > and
> > > radio controlled. A secret worry is our competitors have broken our codes
> > and
> > > hacked our systems, with the ability to redirect our missiles if launched.
> > We
> > > aim for Beijing but hit LA. As a practical matter the nukes are now being
> > > taken off our Trident submarines and replaced with cruise missiles.
> > >
> > > When the mighty Imperial Russian fleet set out to settle Japan's hash in
> > 1905
> > > the Japanese sent the fleet to the bottom of the Tsushima Straights using
> > > western technology. Big surprise that started Russias decline into chaos.
> > > When the English beat the French at Agincourt the English did so with
> > longbows
> > > they got from the french. It is always thus, the superior forces weapons
> > are
> > > turned back on themselves.
> > >
> > > When the Chinese govt was obliged to pay damages to a western power a
> > century
> > > or so ago, under the "Most Favored Nation" rules, the same had to be paid
> > to
> > > everyone else, too. UK, France, Germany would keep the money, but USA
> > would
> > > take the payment and build hospitals and colleges in China. The Chinese
> > > remember this. It is the way we used to be.
> > >
> > > In 1985 the USA car-bombed a mosque in Beirut killing 80 outright and
> > maiming
> > > 250 innocents in an attempt to assassinate a particular "terrorist." (We
> > > missed). We used such messy means so everyone would blame the Jews, who
> > were
> > > notorious for careless killings, according to Bob Woodward in his book
> > "Veil".
> > > It where we are.
> > >
> > > I think the Amish have the better response to a terror attack, more of an
> > > American response. They may not be exempt from murder, but they are
exempt
> > > from military duty, social security taxes, government schooling, and a
host
> > of
> > > other depradations. No one is obliged to stay. The Amish are a working
> > model
> > > of anarchy in practice.
> > >
> > > John
> > > On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:26:38 -0000, "mgranich"
> > >
> > >> >
> > >> > Why isn't China offering a solution to the North Korean crisis. If
> > >> > China is all powerful in Asia, why aren't they aggressively telling
> > >> > North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons. Certainly it's in the
> > >> > best interests of China to have a peaceful Asia. They would not want
> > >> > to see one of their trading partners, ie South Korea, Japan, US,
> > >> > nuked.... right? It would be a disaster for everyone.
> > >> >
> > >> > Anthony
North Korea and China
Re: [spiers] North Korea and China
On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:34:46 -0700 (PDT), M A Granich
:
> This article seems to refute John's assertion the "N
> Korea does not make a move that China does not approve
> of." Unless China wants the world to think it has no
> control over North Korea.
>
***Anthony, it certainly does refute my thesis, which is why I sent it on... I
find disagreement
more interesting... the idea that N Korea can get out of hand mirrors what
researchers are
finding in Moscow about East Germany. The Soviets were against the Berlin Wall
and were as
surprised as anyone when it went up... the thugs running east germany played the
Soviets
against the West for their own benefit, while crushing their people...sounds
just like N
Korea.***
> If China has so much control, why did the Chinese let
> 2 million North Koreans starve during the famine of
> 1997?
***"Control" and "care" are usually mutually exclusive.***
John
North Korea and China
Re: [spiers] North Korea and China
This article seems to refute John's assertion the "N
Korea does not make a move that China does not approve
of." Unless China wants the world to think it has no
control over North Korea.
If China has so much control, why did the Chinese let
2 million North Koreans starve during the famine of
1997?
In any case, our US Diplomatic Corps has hit rock
bottom. I don't know how it can get any worse. I've
heard US diplomatic policy referred to as "Paris
Hilton Diplomacy"... Don't talk to anyone who
disagrees with you. AND, I think it will take years
to recover. Speaking of diplomatic crises,... I think
every time the president of Iran opens his mouth, he
makes Bush look like an idiot. During the 60 Minutes
interview, Ahmadinejad came off as intelligent,
thoughtful and well spoken... a showman for sure. If
I were Bush, I would be worried.
Anthony
--- Jay Schuyler
>
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/10/MNG54LLP4G1.DTL
>
>
> On 10/9/06 8:31 PM, "John Spiers"
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Anthony,
> >
> > N Korea does not make a move that China does not
> approve of. If N Korea has
> > the bomb, it is compliments of China, since N
> Korea has no outside contacts to
> > speak of.
> >
> > Just because Fox News calls it a crisis does not
> make it so for you and me. N
> > Korea is closely allied with China, and gets the
> bomb. China wants the middle
> > east to love China. What message is China sending
> to iran? "We can protect
> > you from USA."
> >
> > (At the Canton trade fair the direction signs to
> restaurants, services, etc
> > include directions to the Mosques the chinese
> maintain in the facilities, and
> > this is the year of celebration of China's
> greatest seafarer, a Mongol Moslem
> > castrata, with the Moslem part emphasised).
> >
> > I'll say it again; not only is USA leadership way
> outclassed by the chinese
> > players in this competition, our side tends to run
> the wrong way scoring
> > points for the Chinese.
> >
> > I believe structurally USA can out compete anyone
> anytime. But we are
> > dismantling that structure fast, and bricking up
> elsewhere. Compete means to
> > 'strive with' in which everyone wins according to
> their merit... with the
> > neocons it is not competition but combat that is
> desired.
> >
> > I wouldn't worry about N Korean nukes falling on
> USA. Those are underpowered,
> > recklessly aimed things. I'd worry about USA
> nukes falling on USA. Those are
> > awesome perfectly targeted things. You know
> those monsters are computer and
> > radio controlled. A secret worry is our
> competitors have broken our codes and
> > hacked our systems, with the ability to redirect
> our missiles if launched. We
> > aim for Beijing but hit LA. As a practical matter
> the nukes are now being
> > taken off our Trident submarines and replaced with
> cruise missiles.
> >
> > When the mighty Imperial Russian fleet set out to
> settle Japan's hash in 1905
> > the Japanese sent the fleet to the bottom of the
> Tsushima Straights using
> > western technology. Big surprise that started
> Russias decline into chaos.
> > When the English beat the French at Agincourt the
> English did so with longbows
> > they got from the french. It is always thus, the
> superior forces weapons are
> > turned back on themselves.
> >
> > When the Chinese govt was obliged to pay damages
> to a western power a century
> > or so ago, under the "Most Favored Nation" rules,
> the same had to be paid to
> > everyone else, too. UK, France, Germany would
> keep the money, but USA would
> > take the payment and build hospitals and colleges
> in China. The Chinese
> > remember this. It is the way we used to be.
> >
> > In 1985 the USA car-bombed a mosque in Beirut
> killing 80 outright and maiming
> > 250 innocents in an attempt to assassinate a
> particular "terrorist." (We
> > missed). We used such messy means so everyone
> would blame the Jews, who were
> > notorious for careless killings, according to Bob
> Woodward in his book "Veil".
> > It where we are.
> >
> > I think the Amish have the better response to a
> terror attack, more of an
> > American response. They may not be exempt from
> murder, but they are exempt
> > from military duty, social security taxes,
> government schooling, and a host of
> > other depradations. No one is obliged to stay.
> The Amish are a working model
> > of anarchy in practice.
> >
> > John
> > On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:26:38 -0000, "mgranich"
>
> >
> >> >
> >> > Why isn't China offering a solution to the
> North Korean crisis. If
> >> > China is all powerful in Asia, why aren't they
> aggressively telling
> >> > North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons.
> Certainly it's in the
> >> > best interests of China to have a peaceful
> Asia. They would not want
> >> > to see one of their trading partners, ie South
> Korea, Japan, US,
> >> > nuked.... right? It would be a disaster for
> everyone.
> >> >
> >> > Anthony
North Korea and China
Re: [spiers] North Korea and China
I personally feel that the message of "we can protct you (the Middle East) from
USA" is debatable. China has its own concerns over its Muslim poplulation. In
fact, I grew up in a region where there is a large Muslim population that has
its own so-called fundamenlist Islam group who wants to break away from China.
The history textbooks that I used when I was in school never really quite
played up the fact that Zhenghe (the greatest seafarer in China) is a muslim.
Sure, China wants oil from the Middle East. But "we (Chinese) can protct you
(the Middle East) from USA" seems to be reading too much in between
lines,although it's an appealing hypothesis.
Lily
China wants the> middle> > east to love China. What message is China sending
to iran? "We can protect you from USA."
> > (At the Canton trade fair the direction signs to restaurants, services, etc
> > include directions to the Mosques the chinese maintain in the facilities,
> and
> > this is the year of celebration of China's greatest seafarer, a Mongol
> Moslem
> > castrata, with the Moslem part emphasised).
--- Jay Schuyler
> http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/10/MNG54LLP4G1.DTL
>
>
> On 10/9/06 8:31 PM, "John Spiers"
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Anthony,
> >
> > N Korea does not make a move that China does not approve of. If N Korea
> has
> > the bomb, it is compliments of China, since N Korea has no outside contacts
> to
> > speak of.
> >
> > Just because Fox News calls it a crisis does not make it so for you and me.
> N
> > Korea is closely allied with China, and gets the bomb. China wants the
> middle
> > east to love China. What message is China sending to iran? "We can
> protect
> > you from USA."
> >
> > (At the Canton trade fair the direction signs to restaurants, services, etc
> > include directions to the Mosques the chinese maintain in the facilities,
> and
> > this is the year of celebration of China's greatest seafarer, a Mongol
> Moslem
> > castrata, with the Moslem part emphasised).
> >
> > I'll say it again; not only is USA leadership way outclassed by the
> chinese
> > players in this competition, our side tends to run the wrong way scoring
> > points for the Chinese.
> >
> > I believe structurally USA can out compete anyone anytime. But we are
> > dismantling that structure fast, and bricking up elsewhere. Compete means
> to
> > 'strive with' in which everyone wins according to their merit... with the
> > neocons it is not competition but combat that is desired.
> >
> > I wouldn't worry about N Korean nukes falling on USA. Those are
> underpowered,
> > recklessly aimed things. I'd worry about USA nukes falling on USA. Those
> are
> > awesome perfectly targeted things. You know those monsters are computer
> and
> > radio controlled. A secret worry is our competitors have broken our codes
> and
> > hacked our systems, with the ability to redirect our missiles if launched.
> We
> > aim for Beijing but hit LA. As a practical matter the nukes are now being
> > taken off our Trident submarines and replaced with cruise missiles.
> >
> > When the mighty Imperial Russian fleet set out to settle Japan's hash in
> 1905
> > the Japanese sent the fleet to the bottom of the Tsushima Straights using
> > western technology. Big surprise that started Russias decline into chaos.
> > When the English beat the French at Agincourt the English did so with
> longbows
> > they got from the french. It is always thus, the superior forces weapons
> are
> > turned back on themselves.
> >
> > When the Chinese govt was obliged to pay damages to a western power a
> century
> > or so ago, under the "Most Favored Nation" rules, the same had to be paid
> to
> > everyone else, too. UK, France, Germany would keep the money, but USA
> would
> > take the payment and build hospitals and colleges in China. The Chinese
> > remember this. It is the way we used to be.
> >
> > In 1985 the USA car-bombed a mosque in Beirut killing 80 outright and
> maiming
> > 250 innocents in an attempt to assassinate a particular "terrorist." (We
> > missed). We used such messy means so everyone would blame the Jews, who
> were
> > notorious for careless killings, according to Bob Woodward in his book
> "Veil".
> > It where we are.
> >
> > I think the Amish have the better response to a terror attack, more of an
> > American response. They may not be exempt from murder, but they are exempt
> > from military duty, social security taxes, government schooling, and a host
> of
> > other depradations. No one is obliged to stay. The Amish are a working
> model
> > of anarchy in practice.
> >
> > John
> > On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:26:38 -0000, "mgranich"
> >
> >> >
> >> > Why isn't China offering a solution to the North Korean crisis. If
> >> > China is all powerful in Asia, why aren't they aggressively telling
> >> > North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons. Certainly it's in the
> >> > best interests of China to have a peaceful Asia. They would not want
> >> > to see one of their trading partners, ie South Korea, Japan, US,
> >> > nuked.... right? It would be a disaster for everyone.
> >> >
> >> > Anthony
North Korea and China
Re: [spiers] North Korea and China
>Why isn't China offering a solution to the North Korean crisis.<
Interesting question Anthony. The people I listen to believe the Chinese are
doing what IS in their best interest by doing very little. The NK is a hollow
shell of a government. Too much pressure collapses the regime. If NK fails
millions of starving, penniless NK citizens cross the border into China and
South Korea. They bring not only their poverty but 55 years of "brain washing"
into societies which are ill equipped to absorb them.
>They would not want to see one of their trading partners, ie South Korea,
Japan, US, nuked.... right? It would be a disaster for everyone.<
True, it would be a disaster for everyone but the anticipated "social nuking" of
China and S. Korea seem to them just as bad. We know the nuclear half-life of
atomic material; i.e. Very long. We still do not know the half-life of social
upheaval in China.
What Washington admits to being afraid of is nuclear material and technology
sales to the "bad guys". This is predictable. China will likely not face that
problem for a few years to come. In the meantime, China can wait and try to
control the degradation of NK while hoping for the best. I think the Chinese are
neither as passive or helpless as they appear publicly. History records many a
coup d'etat which produces a more manageable government in the short run.
Communism in China outlived the fall of the Soviet Union and 50 years of being
called the Red Menace. I believe they can deal with NK when it is in their best
interest.
R.L. Tietz
(Spiers alumnus)
North Korea and China
Re: [spiers] North Korea and China
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/10/MNG54LLP4G1.DTL
On 10/9/06 8:31 PM, "John Spiers"
>
>
>
>
> Anthony,
>
> N Korea does not make a move that China does not approve of. If N Korea has
> the bomb, it is compliments of China, since N Korea has no outside contacts to
> speak of.
>
> Just because Fox News calls it a crisis does not make it so for you and me. N
> Korea is closely allied with China, and gets the bomb. China wants the middle
> east to love China. What message is China sending to iran? "We can protect
> you from USA."
>
> (At the Canton trade fair the direction signs to restaurants, services, etc
> include directions to the Mosques the chinese maintain in the facilities, and
> this is the year of celebration of China's greatest seafarer, a Mongol Moslem
> castrata, with the Moslem part emphasised).
>
> I'll say it again; not only is USA leadership way outclassed by the chinese
> players in this competition, our side tends to run the wrong way scoring
> points for the Chinese.
>
> I believe structurally USA can out compete anyone anytime. But we are
> dismantling that structure fast, and bricking up elsewhere. Compete means to
> 'strive with' in which everyone wins according to their merit... with the
> neocons it is not competition but combat that is desired.
>
> I wouldn't worry about N Korean nukes falling on USA. Those are underpowered,
> recklessly aimed things. I'd worry about USA nukes falling on USA. Those are
> awesome perfectly targeted things. You know those monsters are computer and
> radio controlled. A secret worry is our competitors have broken our codes and
> hacked our systems, with the ability to redirect our missiles if launched. We
> aim for Beijing but hit LA. As a practical matter the nukes are now being
> taken off our Trident submarines and replaced with cruise missiles.
>
> When the mighty Imperial Russian fleet set out to settle Japan's hash in 1905
> the Japanese sent the fleet to the bottom of the Tsushima Straights using
> western technology. Big surprise that started Russias decline into chaos.
> When the English beat the French at Agincourt the English did so with longbows
> they got from the french. It is always thus, the superior forces weapons are
> turned back on themselves.
>
> When the Chinese govt was obliged to pay damages to a western power a century
> or so ago, under the "Most Favored Nation" rules, the same had to be paid to
> everyone else, too. UK, France, Germany would keep the money, but USA would
> take the payment and build hospitals and colleges in China. The Chinese
> remember this. It is the way we used to be.
>
> In 1985 the USA car-bombed a mosque in Beirut killing 80 outright and maiming
> 250 innocents in an attempt to assassinate a particular "terrorist." (We
> missed). We used such messy means so everyone would blame the Jews, who were
> notorious for careless killings, according to Bob Woodward in his book "Veil".
> It where we are.
>
> I think the Amish have the better response to a terror attack, more of an
> American response. They may not be exempt from murder, but they are exempt
> from military duty, social security taxes, government schooling, and a host of
> other depradations. No one is obliged to stay. The Amish are a working model
> of anarchy in practice.
>
> John
> On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:26:38 -0000, "mgranich"
>
>> >
>> > Why isn't China offering a solution to the North Korean crisis. If
>> > China is all powerful in Asia, why aren't they aggressively telling
>> > North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons. Certainly it's in the
>> > best interests of China to have a peaceful Asia. They would not want
>> > to see one of their trading partners, ie South Korea, Japan, US,
>> > nuked.... right? It would be a disaster for everyone.
>> >
>> > Anthony
Monday, October 9, 2006
North Korea and China
Re: [spiers] North Korea and China
Anthony,
N Korea does not make a move that China does not approve of. If N Korea has the
bomb, it is compliments of China, since N Korea has no outside contacts to speak
of.
Just because Fox News calls it a crisis does not make it so for you and me. N
Korea is closely allied with China, and gets the bomb. China wants the middle
east to love China. What message is China sending to iran? "We can protect you
from USA."
(At the Canton trade fair the direction signs to restaurants, services, etc
include directions to the Mosques the chinese maintain in the facilities, and
this is the year of celebration of China's greatest seafarer, a Mongol Moslem
castrata, with the Moslem part emphasised).
I'll say it again; not only is USA leadership way outclassed by the chinese
players in this competition, our side tends to run the wrong way scoring points
for the Chinese.
I believe structurally USA can out compete anyone anytime. But we are
dismantling that structure fast, and bricking up elsewhere. Compete means to
'strive with' in which everyone wins according to their merit... with the
neocons it is not competition but combat that is desired.
I wouldn't worry about N Korean nukes falling on USA. Those are underpowered,
recklessly aimed things. I'd worry about USA nukes falling on USA. Those are
awesome perfectly targeted things. You know those monsters are computer and
radio controlled. A secret worry is our competitors have broken our codes and
hacked our systems, with the ability to redirect our missiles if launched. We
aim for Beijing but hit LA. As a practical matter the nukes are now being taken
off our Trident submarines and replaced with cruise missiles.
When the mighty Imperial Russian fleet set out to settle Japan's hash in 1905
the Japanese sent the fleet to the bottom of the Tsushima Straights using
western technology. Big surprise that started Russias decline into chaos. When
the English beat the French at Agincourt the English did so with longbows they
got from the french. It is always thus, the superior forces weapons are turned
back on themselves.
When the Chinese govt was obliged to pay damages to a western power a century or
so ago, under the "Most Favored Nation" rules, the same had to be paid to
everyone else, too. UK, France, Germany would keep the money, but USA would
take the payment and build hospitals and colleges in China. The Chinese
remember this. It is the way we used to be.
In 1985 the USA car-bombed a mosque in Beirut killing 80 outright and maiming
250 innocents in an attempt to assassinate a particular "terrorist." (We
missed). We used such messy means so everyone would blame the Jews, who were
notorious for careless killings, according to Bob Woodward in his book "Veil".
It where we are.
I think the Amish have the better response to a terror attack, more of an
American response. They may not be exempt from murder, but they are exempt from
military duty, social security taxes, government schooling, and a host of other
depradations. No one is obliged to stay. The Amish are a working model of
anarchy in practice.
John
On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:26:38 -0000, "mgranich"
>
> Why isn't China offering a solution to the North Korean crisis. If
> China is all powerful in Asia, why aren't they aggressively telling
> North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons. Certainly it's in the
> best interests of China to have a peaceful Asia. They would not want
> to see one of their trading partners, ie South Korea, Japan, US,
> nuked.... right? It would be a disaster for everyone.
>
> Anthony
Watchout for From:Mr. Richard Williams.
Re: [spiers] Watchout for From:Mr. Richard Williams.
GRP,
Nope, not this list, this is so widespread that there si a website devoted to
fighting it...
http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/
John
On Mon, 9 Oct 2006 18:14:19 -0700, "grp grp"
>
> Here is a million dollar jackpot email I had just recieved which some of the
> group members in the past had mentioned. Looks like someone is watching this
> group to bait a fish!
>
Brick and Mortar vs .com sites
Re: [spiers] Brick and Mortar vs .com sites
On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:20:31 -0000, "mgranich"
>
> Has anyone had to approach a website to discuss their idea or
> innovation vs a "brick and mortar" retail outlet?
> What happens if the only realistic place to sell your potential product
> is on someones business internet web site? Would the same rules apply
> when investigating the idea?
***Yes!***
Do you e-mail them and say "Do you have
> such and such product?" How do you get to the person who can provide
> valuable information vs some flunky hired to fill orders? In face to
> face meetings, you can tell if someone says "its a great idea" while
> their face says "your idea sucks." In which case you may need to
> rethink the approach. How would such a scenario work with a .com
> site? How would you know if thier opinion is guenuine or if they are
> just being polite?
>
***dot.com sites have real locations and offices... and buyers etc... you'd have
to do the same
thing...get to them and work your way back... try it and find out... as always,
if something
cannot be done, well, then, now you know.***
John
Watchout for From:Mr. Richard Williams.
Here is a million dollar jackpot email I had just recieved which some of the
group members in the past had mentioned. Looks like someone is watching this
group to bait a fish!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: richard williams
Date: Oct 8, 2006 4:17 AM
Subject: From:Mr. Richard Williams.
To:
From:Mr. Richard Williams.
#67 Cresent Close,
Lynnwood Road
Hatfield
Pretoria
Gauteng, South
Africa.
{INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE
TRANSACTION}
{One Hundred & Seventy Two Million Six Hundred And
Fifty Four Thousand United State Dollars}
{(RE: TRANSFER OF
($172,654,000.00 USD}{BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY/YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED}
Dear Sir/Madam!!
I sincerely ask for forgiveness for I know this may
seem like a complete intrusion to your privacy but right about now this
is my option of communication. This mail might come to you as a
surprise and the temptation to ignore it as unserious could come into
your mind; but please consider it a divine wish and accept it with a
deep sense of humility.
I am aware that this is certainly an
unconventional approach to starting a relationship. I am Mr. Richard
Williams, the personal account officer to the great late diseased who
has an account in one of the top banks here in South Africa. The
account was opened in 2001 and he died in 2004 without a written or
oral WILL and since 2004 nobody has operated on this account again
hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money out
urgently it will be forfeited for nothing and Govt.of South Africa will
confiscate the funds for their personal use which I personally don't
wantsuchincident to happen being that this is a great opportunity for
me.
My contact is for you to please assist me to transfer the fund
($172,654,000.00 USD) One Hundred & Seventy Two Million Six Hundred And
Fifty Four Thousand United State Dollars from a Cooperate Bank here in
South Africa to an oversea account. First, I must solicit your
strictest confidence in this ransaction. This is by virtue of its
nature as being utterly confidential. I am sure and have confidence of
your ability and reliability to prosecute a transaction of this great
magnitude. I solicit your assistance to enable us transfer the said
amount into your safe account for onward investment.
You can either
provide us with an existing account or to set up a new Bank account
immediately to receive this money, even an empty a/c can serve to
receive this money, as long as you will remain honest to me till the
end of this important businesstrusting in you and believing that you
will never let me down either now or in future because this business is
my life. The owner of this account is a foreigner and no other person
knows about this account or anything concerning it, the account has no
other beneficiary and until his death he was the manager of the
company.
My investigation through the National immigration department
& Ministries here proved to me as well that he was single as at the
time of his entry into the Republic of South Africa. The amount in this
account is USD ($172,654,000.00 USD) One Hundred & Seventy Two Million
Six Hundred And Fifty Four Thousand United State Dollars} only.
As a
matter of fact, I have decided to transfer this fund abroad for
investment. Your assistance as a foreigner is necessary because the
management of the bank will welcome any foreigner who has correct
information to this account which I will give to you immediately, if
youare interested to do this business with me. There is no risk in this
business. With my position and my personal contact with the manager of
the bank, the money can be transferred to any account you can provide
with assurance that this money will be intact pending our physical
arrival in your country for sharing. We will start the first transfer
with Fifty million [$50,000.000]. Upon successful transfer without any
disappointment from your side,we shall re-apply for the payment of the
remaining balance of $122,654,000.00 Million to your account.
I am
only contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be
approved to a local person here, but can only be approved to any
foreigner who has the correct information of the account, which I will
provide for you. So you should provide me with your correct account
details where you will like the fund to be ransferred to, or you can
set up a newaccount for the transfer even an empty account is ok. At
the conclusion of the transfer you will take 45%, 6% will be for any
expenses both parties incurred in the process of this business and the
remaining 49% will be for me.
As soon as I hear from you and upon your
strong assurance that you will not let me down once the fund goes into
your account I will then start the processing of the transfer of the
fund to your
account without further delay. If you are interested,
please forward the following information as below:
{1} Your
Name/company's name and full address,
{2} Bank Name:............
{3}
Bank Address...
{4} Account No:.........
{5} Swift Code...{if any}
{6}
Account Holder's Name: ..........
{7} Your telephone Nos.both Home,
Office & ell/Mobile and faxNumbers...
{8} Your Occupation
{9} Your
Valid ID
Upon the receipt of the above details, payment will be
activatedby the feeding of your data into payment system, followed by a
signal that will be sent to the paying bank to remit funds into your
nominated bank account within 5 official working days of receipt of the
above information.
Contact me urgently via email
(private_consultant20@myway.com) privately for further details:
Thanks.
Best Regards,
Mr.Richard Williams.
North Korea and China
Why isn't China offering a solution to the North Korean crisis. If
China is all powerful in Asia, why aren't they aggressively telling
North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons. Certainly it's in the
best interests of China to have a peaceful Asia. They would not want
to see one of their trading partners, ie South Korea, Japan, US,
nuked.... right? It would be a disaster for everyone.
Anthony
Brick and Mortar vs .com sites
Has anyone had to approach a website to discuss their idea or
innovation vs a "brick and mortar" retail outlet?
In chapter 3 of John's book there are explicit instructions to take
your idea/inovation to a likely retail outlet for the prodcut and
question a store employee/owner gauging their reaction and modifying
the design accordingly.
What happens if the only realistic place to sell your potential product
is on someones business internet web site? Would the same rules apply
when investigating the idea? Do you e-mail them and say "Do you have
such and such product?" How do you get to the person who can provide
valuable information vs some flunky hired to fill orders? In face to
face meetings, you can tell if someone says "its a great idea" while
their face says "your idea sucks." In which case you may need to
rethink the approach. How would such a scenario work with a .com
site? How would you know if thier opinion is guenuine or if they are
just being polite?
Anthony
Wide Open Press
Folks,
Here is compete on design, news division...
http://www.slate.com/id/2150961/nav/tap1/
John