Panama Passes Law To Tax Worldwide Income on December 31, 2013

 Whhoaa -- I'm Thankful to not be that guy: "Panama Jack" Panama Passes Law To Tax Worldwide Income on December 31, 2013 -- the Panama assembly has passed (and it has been signed by the president) an amendment to the Codigo Fiscal that will make worldwide income subject to Panamanian income tax.

  In other words, they want to do what the US does (but vitually no other country does) by taxing any of your income anywhere in the world. This will be a definite game changer for most expats, as well as many Panamanians.

 This was passed during the extraordinary sessions of the Assembly, with virtually no debate and no notice. According to the article it may affect hundreds of thousands of corporations as well as individuals.: http://boquete.ning.com/forum/topics/panama-passes-law-to-tax-worldwide-income?commentId=1434455%3AComment%3A457294&xg_source=activity

Happy N Y E report: Could Ecuador be the most radical and exciting place on Earth?

Could Ecuador be the most radical and exciting place on Earth?

A decade ago, Ecuador was a banana republic, an economic basket case. Today, it has much to teach the rest of the world- 

President Rafael Correa's approval ratings are in excess of 70%. Photograph: Guillermo Granja/Reuters

 

  Ecuador must be one of the most exciting places on Earth right now, in terms of working towards a new development paradigm. It shows how much can be achieved with political will, even in uncertain economic times.

 Just 10 years ago, Ecuador was more or less a basket case, a quintessential "banana republic" (it happens to be the world's largest exporter of bananas), characterised by political instability, inequality, a poorly-performing economy, and the ever-looming impact of the US on its domestic politics.

In 2000, in response to hyperinflation and balance of payments problems, the government dollarised the economy, replacing the sucre with the US currency as legal tender. This subdued inflation, but it did nothing to address the core economic problems, and further constrained the domestic policy space.

 A major turning point came with the election of the economist Rafael Correa as president. After taking over in January 2007, his government ushered in a series of changes, based on a new constitution (the country's 20th, approved in 2008) that was itself mandated by a popular referendum. A hallmark of the changes that have occurred since then is that major policies have first been put through the referendum process. This has given the government the political ability to take on major vested interests and powerful lobbies.

 The government is now the most stable in recent times and will soon become the longest serving in Ecuador's tumultuous history. The president's approval ratings are well over 70%. All this is due to the reorientation of the government's approach, made possible by a constitution remarkable for its recognition of human rights and the rights of nature, and its acceptance of plurality and cultural diversity....read more: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/jan/19/ecuador-radical-exciting-place

Will Manta Be Ecuador's Third International Airport? - December 30, 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

Will Manta Be Ecuador's Third International Airport?

Reports pop up periodically, mostly on websites and blogs aimed at potential expats, that Ecuador is about to designate Manta as its third international airport, after Quito and Guayaquil. A few years ago, a popular move-overseas site tipped off its readers to a screaming real estate deal; buy property around the Manta airport quickly, it advised, before flights from Miami and Houston start arriving. Recently, another site pushing a Manta real estate development noted that new international flights were sure to make property prices soar.

What's the real story? We talked to an official at Ecuador's Dirección General de Aviación Civil to find out.

Ecuador actually has 11 airports with international designations, the official pointed out. Beside Quito and Guayaquil, airports in Cuenca, Manta, Santa Rosa (Machala), Salinas and Baltra (Galapagos) and five others, are classified as international. The international tag, he said, simply amounts to planning for the future and does not mean flights from the U.S. and Argentina are imminent. In fact, he says, it will probably be years before Ecuador needs another international passenger airport and, when it does, Cuenca would probably be the top choice based on demand.

He added: "Manta is already an international cargo airport and we expect it to grow in this capacity. As far as passenger service goes, Manta is the seventh or eighth largest city in Ecuador so there is minimal demand for international service."

For the record, the official said that the top five airports in Ecuador based on passenger traffic are (in order): Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Baltra and Manta.

Ecuador struggles to keep drug trade out of the country while activity increases in the jungle and northern coast

Posted By Admin | Published: December 22, 2013 22:04

Although Ecuador has managed to keep most of the drug trade outside of its borders, there are increasing signs that it is making inroads along its northern border with Colombia and on the Pacific coast.

The dreaded Mexican drug cartels have allied with former paramilitaries and guerrillas in Colombia and frequently encroach across the border into Ecuador. Although the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) officially claims that it is not involved in the drug trade, overwhelming evidence suggests it is, mostly for the purpose of financing its military activity. In many cases, it appears that drug cartels have joined forces with FARC and use remote northern Ecuadorian jungle areas as drug collection and distribution sites....read more:

The expat life as seen through the eyes of an Ecuadorian; battling stereotypes and adapting to new environments

Posted By Admin | Published: June 28, 2013 06:32

Editor's note: Adapting to life in Ecuador is an on-going topic of conversation among North American expats. Yolanda Reinoso Barzallo turns the tables and tells the story of being an Ecuadorian living in the Middle East and the U.S. She is a native of Cuenca and the author of a novel, Días de Arena y Dátiles and a collection of short stories, Muros de Papel: Cuentos. 
By Yolanda Reinoso Barzallo

I have been an expat for the last 10 years of my life.

This may not seem remarkable to many people in Cuenca, a city with thousands of North American and European expats. My story, however, has a different twist.

I am a Cuencana. I was born and raised here and my family continues to live here.  I married a gringo from Florida who came to Cuenca to teach English and then moved with him, 10 years ago, when his work took him to the Middle East. Later, we lived in the U.S., in New York and Colorado, before moving back to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

I would like to share with you my perspective on the expat life and how I have changed by being exposed to new cultures....read more:

Ecuador: Tales from the Middle of the Earth: A Tale of an Ecuadorian Night Watchman

Ecuador: Tales from the Middle of the Earth: A Tale of an Ecuadorian Night Watchman: In Ecuador, there is a tradition of the Night Watchman. It took me about a month to completely acclimate to my surroundings before I became ...

Correa slams report on CIA role in Ecuador strike- Quito (AFP) - Dec 23, 2013 -

Correa slams report on CIA role in Ecuador strike- Quito (AFP) - Dec 23, 2013 - Ecuador's President Rafael Correa warned Monday that reports US intelligence played a role in a 2008 Colombian attack on FARC rebels in his country could threaten regional peace efforts.
 

Over the weekend, the Washington Post reported that a secret Central Intelligence Agency program had helped Colombia kill at least two dozen leftist guerrilla leaders.

And, according to the report, it was thanks to US intelligence that the FARC number two, Raul Reyes, was found and killed in a cross-border attack on Ecuador in 2008 that left 24 dead.

Ecuador temporarily broke diplomatic relations with its Andean neighbor following the incident.

On his Twitter account, Correa wondered if these "very serious" revelations and other recent disagreements between his government and Washington were simply coincidence.

He speculated that the report was an attempt to affect Ecuador's relations with the United States and Colombia and "above all, the peace process" under way between Colombia and the FARC.






"At this point, I don't believe in 'coincidences.' Colombia and the international extreme right are capable of anything!" he wrote.

According to the Post, a secret CIA program in Colombia was initially authorized by president George W. Bush around 2000 and has been continued under his successor Barack Obama.

The covert operation provided intelligence to help locate the FARC leaders and supplied a special GPS guidance kit that helped Colombia convert standard bombs into precise smart munitions.

The 2008 incident triggered a diplomatic crisis between Bogota and Quito, with Ecuador suspecting the attack was orchestrated with the help of the United States, despite denial from Colombian authorities.

The governments fully restored relations in 2011....read more: http://news.yahoo.com/correa-slams-report-cia-role-ecuador-strike-213223229.html

The Holiday Issue of Ecuador George- December 24, 2013

The Holiday Issue of Ecuador George 
December 24, 2013

Now here is a great picture I stole from Kimbler’s Exit to Ecuador. From a Christmas Parade a few years ago. Again, you can click on the picture and visit Karen Kimbler’s blog site.



....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/ecuador-george/

Dec23 by helpingkidsinecuador - Daniel is home!

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Daniel is home!

Dec23 by helpingkidsinecuador

Daniel arrived at the Cuenca airport this  Sunday evening. He was welcomed by over 50 friends and relatives!

 

As you can imagine Daniel and his mother were overwhelmed by the reception. Talking with his mother she indicated she feels this is like Daniel and her “First ”  Christmas. This gift of life is definitely the most incredible Christmas gift possible!!!

Daniel and mom-


Her gratitude to all who helped in saving her child’s life is so very obvious when speaking with her…she is sincerely grateful to all who participated by contributions, thoughts and prayers. This Christmas miracle is acknowledged by all…family and doctors alike.
We, too, want to thank everyone for your incredible response to Helping Kids in Ecuador. This would never have happened without your support. We especially want to thank our medical adviser, Dr. Victor Astudillo of Clinica Latino whose contact with the Foundation Metropolitano set this entire project in motion.

Daniel and Rocio arriving

 

Read more:....http://helpingkidsinecuador.org/2013/12/23/daniel-is-home/

Lyman's Journey: Budget Analysis To Date (Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuad...

Lyman's Journey: Budget Analysis To Date (Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuad...: Before you go peeking at our expense chart below, I need to make a few statements: * This is OUR full disclosure cost breakdown of every...

Budget Analysis To Date (Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador & Nicaragua)

Before you go peeking at our expense chart below, I need to make a few statements:

* This is OUR full disclosure cost breakdown of everything we spent money on based on the way WE live our lives. 

* Our goal for a total monthly budget is $1,800 for living expenses ONLY.  Our income is higher but this amount is what we wanted to see if we could live with so that the extra could be set aside for savings toward further traveling......

Thursday, December 19, 2013 Six months in Ecuador

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Six months in Ecuador

Today marks six months since we moved to Ecuador. It has been a wonderful, trying, fabulous, frustrating time.  We are legal residents of the country, which means that we have our cedulas (Ecuadorian ID card) and the permanent resident stamp in our passports.



Here are some of highlights:

• Moved from Guayaquil to the Olon area after we obtained residency.  We are renting a casita from a couple of expats while we look for our own property.
• Bought a car (some people choose to rely solely on the great public transportation system - we did not want to be without our own car)  Scott detailed the process on his blog.
• Opened a savings account.  This sounds like a simple task but it was not!  It took us three months to accomplish this task. The items required included: 
• Color copy of passport picture page
• Color copy of cedula
• Letter of recommendation no more than one month old from an Ecuadorian who has an account at that bank (our Guayaquil landlady wrote this for us)
• A cell phone number (or two - we gave two but I am not sure if they were both required)
• Two land line phone numbers (we gave the number of our landlady and a lady who did translations for us)
• Proof of employment, retirement income, or bank balance from overseas bank
• Proof that we either voted in the last election or were not eligible to vote
• Copy of the most recent month's electric bill showing where we live
• Made a trip a week after opening it to pick up the ATM card, which took several hours since the system was down when we first arrived,
  

Visited a hotel in northern Manabi province that is raising a baby monkey!  Something happened to his mother so they stepped in to raise him.  The monkey walked around on my head.  It was funny - just like kittens like to sit on shoulders, behind someone's head, he climbed right up to sit on my head.  He liked my hair and played with it quite a bit....read more: http://emilbloo.blogspot.com/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Time for phase three...:Sunday, October 13, 2013

Buying the car-

Time for phase three...: Buying the car: In my last post I mentioned that Emily and I had purchased a vehicle here in Ecuador, a Chevrolet/Suzuki Grand Vitara: It's been wo...





In my last post I mentioned that Emily and I had purchased a vehicle here in Ecuador, a Chevrolet/Suzuki Grand Vitara:

It's been working well for us and we're getting about 50 km/gal!  It doesn't have excessive power and it's not four-wheel drive, so we won't be driving it on the beach (which some people do), but it does everything we need.

Buying a car in Ecuador is a much different process than buying one back home.  In the States, the car dealership provides one-stop shopping that covers everything.  In Ecuador, we get to run all over the place to get it done.  There are multiple times where I had to suppress my inner Lewis Black and exercise patience: ....read more: http://sbphasethree.blogspot.com/2013/10/buying-car.html

EcuadorGeorgeAfterDark- Eight Steps to Making the Transition from the United States to Ecuador:

EcuadorGeorgeAfterDark

December 19, 2013
Sometimes people send me things that they want me to use on my blog.
Although the author has remained anonomous on other sites, she has given me permission to give her credit on my After Dark page.
So cheers to Kathie Sedwick who has produce a magnificent piece of writing. Please enjoy.

Eight Steps to Making the Transition from the United States to Ecuador:

Step 1: Before you leave spend a few months bashing the US on the EE forum at every opportunity. This will endear you to the expat community because ALL expats hate the US.
Step 2: Make sure everyone knows all about how terrible your life has been so you will receive all the sympathy you so richly deserve and people will admire you.....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/ecuador-george-after-dark/

The band Metallica is reportedly coming to Quito MARCH 18, 2014

The band Metallica is reportedly coming to Quito. The former host of MTV's "Headbangers", Alfredo Lewin tweeted a picture with the tentative dates of Metallica's tour in South America. It showed a Quito concert on March 18. City councilor Freddy Heredia said the concert would be at Bicentennial Park.






Update: It's now confirmed that Metallica will indeed perform at Quito's Bicentennial Park on March 18 at 21:00. Tickets go on sale December 19.

Metallica became the only band to perform concerts on all seven continents in the same year. The band recently held a concert in Antarctica. Rock on, penguins!

Bogota, Colombia- March 16, 2014
Lima, Peru-- March 20, 2014

 The band Metallica is reportedly coming to Quito. The former host of MTV's "Headbangers", Alfredo Lewin tweeted a picture with the tentative dates of Metallica's tour in South America. It showed a Quito concert on March 18. City councilor Freddy Heredia said the concert would be at Bicentennial Park.

Update: It's now confirmed that Metallica will indeed perform at Quito's Bicentennial Park on March 18 at 21:00. Tickets go on sale December 19.

 Metallica became the only band to perform concerts on all seven continents in the same year. The band recently held a concert in Antarctica. Rock on, penguins!

https://www.metallica.com/.../history-made-in-antarctica.asp

 Must be a lot of heavy metal fans in Ecuador. Rumor of the band coming to Quito is the most read story this morning on El Comercio's website.
http://www.elcomercio.com/.../Metallica-musica-concierto...

Ticket prices range from $60 to $225. The South America tour schedule is now on Metallica's website.
Bogota, Colombia - March 16, 2014
Quito, Ecuador - March 18, 2014
Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014
http://www.metallica.com/tour_date_list.asp?show=current 

9 Ways to Spot a Fake Guru or Spiritual Teacher - June 15, 2013

These are several ways in which you can spot a false guru, spiritual teacher, or other peddler of faux spirituality. In this day and age where there are thousands of so-called gurus, we have to be careful who we choose to listen to because if we make the mistake of following someone who is ego-centered in their true intentions, then we will lose time, money, and opportunity costs (among other things).


It is my hope that this article can help in discerning between the genuine teacher that wishes nothing more than to help others become self-realized and experience spiritual bliss and those who proclaim they will do these things for you, but in reality are just emptying your bank account. Be mindful of who you decide to listen to and follow, and you will be thankful you spent some time to discern between those who are looking out for others and those who are looking out for themselves.

  Identifying False Gurus and Spiritual Teachers:  
Charging Large Amounts of Money - Giving Themselves Fancy Titles - 
Inability to Take Criticism - Overly Focused on the End Goal -

 Behaving Hypocritically - Focus on Fulfilling Egocentric Desires -

 Displaying Spiritual Materialism - Behaving Selfishly - 

Promising a Fast Path to Self-Realization- .......read more: http://shift.is/2013/06/9-ways-to-spot-a-fake-guru-or-spiritual-teacher/?fb_action_ids=474202272689078&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=[393981224055066]&action_type_map=[%22og.likes%22]&action_ref_map=[]

Embracing the Weirdness…Ecuador’s Surprises! -DEC 12th, 2013

Embracing the Weirdness…Ecuador’s Surprises!

Posted by Donald Murray 

· Thursday, December 12th, 2013 

· No Comments

 Our first exposure to the weirdness occurred the day after we landed in Ecuador as we began the long drive from Quito to the coast. We encountered a variety of biological and mechanized conveyances sharing the roadways with each other. Yep! Things with hooves share the same streets and roads with things with wheels. You can round the bend on a mountain road and encounter a herd of cattle blocking both lanes requiring quick, evasive action.

  It’s not uncommon to see a man riding a donkey alongside a motorcycle carrying 4 passengers. Drivers passing slow moving traffic on blind curves is the norm as are the too-often, horrific collisions! I cannot explain this. It is if some of these drivers just don’t understand or believe there could be opposing traffic. Driving a vehicle in this country will expose you to weirdness and moments of terror that you cannot see or fully experience riding as a passenger...read more: http://donaldmurrayecuador.com/embracing-the-weirdnessecuadors-surprises

Learn Spanish Before Living in Ecuador Part 3

Learn Spanish Before Living in Ecuador Part 3

Learn Spanish before living in Ecuador

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that one of my goals is to learn Spanish before living in Ecuador.  But what does it mean to learn Spanish?  It might be better to say “become familiar with the Spanish language”.
After studying on and off for six months I am convinced that formal Spanish lessons will eventually be needed. Immersion in a Spanish speaking culture will also be a huge help. But for now, these little windows on the language will have to do… I’ll try to make it as un-boring as possible.

Are you a puzzle person? Learning something completely new like a language is a lot like putting a puzzle together.
What do you do first? I go for the easy pieces.
Outside pieces first, then I look for objects, faces, and similar colors.

An American Military Veteran in Ecuador: Expat to Illegal Alien

An American Military Veteran in Ecuador: Expat to Illegal Alien: As you may have surmised from the title, we went from Expats legally residing in Ecuador, to Illegal Aliens living in Ecuador. How? We went ...

Are You - possibly considering relocation to Ecuador or other parts of S.A....?

1942 - "Der Führer's Face" This song is a Walt Disney Production and was used in America as propaganda during WWII-

~~Is this Nutsy land so good, Would you leave it if you could,
Ja this Nutsy land is good, We would leave it if we could,
We bring the world to order, Heil Hitler's world to order,
Everyone of foreign race, Will love der fuehrer's face,
When we bring to the world dis order~~ 

Chorus
When der fuehrer says we is de master race
We heil heil right in der fueher's face
Not to love der fuehrer is a great disgrace
So we heil heil right in der fuehrer's face

When Herr Goebbels says we own the world and space
We heil heil right in Herr Goebbels' face
When Herr Goring says they'll never bomb dis place
We heil heil right in Herr Goring's face
Are we not he supermen Aryan pure supermen
Ja we are the supermen (super duper supermen)
Is this Nutsy land so good
Would you leave it if you could
Ja this Nutsy land is good
We would leave it if we could
We bring the world to order
Heil Hitler's world to order
Everyone of foreign race
Will love der fuehrer's face
When we bring to the world dis order,

Comments by Jour-Ja: not really about Ecuador, but you may be able to draw some parallels for wanting to look outside of  N.A. and possibly considering relocation to Ecuador or other parts of S.A....? Good ole Walt Disney - what a guy!

Ecuador Blogs….Which Ones Should You Read?

Ecuador Blogs….Which Ones Should You Read?


Lets try and guess how many Ecuador blogs and forums there are…
Go ahead and pick a number….
Lots and lots of them, that is for sure. A good guess might be somewhere between 300 and 500.  Some of these are more active than others.
So which ones do you take the time to read? How do you find them?
Maybe you just Google “Ecuador Blogs” and look for the most popular. Those usually will show up on page one and two.
Maybe you join an Ecuador Facebook Forum and then get referrals from the membership…

World

Hungry Planet: What The World Eats

What's on family dinner tables around the globe? Photographs by Peter Menzel from the book "Hungry Planet"

Sept. 20, 2013128 Comments

Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo. Food expenditure for one week: $31.55. Family recipe: Potato soup with cabbage. (The family in the picture lives in Tingo, a small town just outside of Quito, ECUADOR)

Read more: Hungry Planet: What The World Eats | TIME.com http://world.time.com/2013/09/20/hungry-planet-what-the-world-eats/#ixzz2lhNaOlbM

Comment by Jour-Ja: Thanks to my few followers, I will try to do more original & better content next year! But I just had to share the above photo right here at Thanksgiving Time! What a Beautiful Ecuadorian Family in their humble abode w/ and abundance of Food! Let's not forget those less fortunate than we at all times as well as this time of year, be sure to reach out to your fellow man & woman, give them a hug & encouragement, not everyone lives on the Equator w/ a year round growing Season.

 ...you talk about Thankful~ and happy to have an abundance of fresh food:-) The family in the picture lives in Tingo, a small town just outside of Quito, ECUADOR -

The picture was taken by Peter Menzel, for a book he did with his wife, Faith D'Aluisio, called "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."

Do note in photo over the Father's head is an "Angel's Trumpet Plant - Brugmansia / Floripondio (can be made into Scopolamine) used by EC Indigenous to help the young children & babies to sleep well and have sweet dreams,

..but is also commonly found in Boliva / Peru / COL ( and other SA countries) and is also used by other aspects of SA society in the Scopolamine form for nefarious reasons, it puts you sort of under a spell / trance like state for- date rape - take me to your ATM etc etc crimes., so be on your toes and alert at this time of year: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopolamine

Video Camera surveilance will double in 2014

 22 NOV 2013- www.hoy.com.ec

  Someone is probably watching you. Video surveillance in Ecuador has increased five-fold in two years. There are now 2,000 surveillance cameras in the country. And that number is expected to double in 2014. These surveillance systems are located on streets and bridges, at harbors, parks, airports, beaches, borders and soon within fútbol stadiums. 

 

  Critics call it an invasion of privacy. But authorities believe the cameras help in the fight against crime. ECU-911 said every day it receives hundreds of requests from people who want the cameras put in their neighborhoods. By year's end, all taxis and public buses will also be equipped with surveillance cameras.

 

La videovigilancia se duplicará en 2014

Publicado el 22/Noviembre/2013 | 00:52

El número de cámaras se quintuplicó en dos años.

Sonría, aquí también hay cámaras: la polémica videovigilancia llegó hasta los taxis y buses en Ecuador, y su expansión parece irrefrenable ante el éxito que le atribuyen las autoridades en la lucha contra la delincuencia.

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hoy.com.ec%2Fnoticias-ecuador%2Fla-videovigilancia-se-duplicara-en-2014-595537.html&act=url

 

Via - David Sasaki, 

American Borders Will Be Changing

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

American Borders Will Be Changing

Wendy McElroy
Activist Post

An iron curtain is slowly descending around the borders of America. When it falls, some people will be shut in; others will be shut out. It will be up to bureaucrats and agents with guns to decide which one of those people you are.

Changes in border policy are in the wind. On June 27th, 2013, the 1,300-page Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act passed the Senate and proceeded to the House of Representatives. Debate on the Act has focused on the path of citizenship being extended to the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in America. This is controversial because Republicans fear that the new Americans, and especially Hispanics, will vote Democrat in upcoming elections. Happily, the bill has stalled in the House.

But one of the worst features of the Act has bipartisan support: namely, the ramping up of border security. (The security provisions were a cynical bribe to House Republicans by Senate Democrats who are far more interested in ramming the immigration policies through.) The Act allocates an astounding $46.3 billion for increased border control. It proposes to hire 20,000 additional border patrol agents, swelling their numbers from about 21,000 (in fiscal 2012) to about 40,000. The stated focus of the mega bucks and muscle is the US-Mexican border but the entire system would be even more militarized.

Shutting People In

The proposed doubling of might comes in the wake of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA's) announcement of a dramatic expansion in the screening of airline passengers. Even before a flyer arrives, he will be profiled by the TSA based on his travel record, and personal documents such as employment information, property records, police files, tax data, and car registration.....

What to Expect at the US Border?
More questioning. More in-depth screening. More difficulty in traveling to and from the United States. The situation will grow steadily worse through 2014, when a compromise bill on immigration and border control is probable....http://www.activistpost.com/2013/11/american-borders-will-be-changing.html

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LIVE THE LIFE OF YOUR FORBEARS

Not until World War I were official passports required by most countries. In the beginning of the twentieth century,
document-free international travel was the rule.

That meant that people could freely travel between borders, creating unimaginable possibilities for business.

It's unimaginable today because international living is so regulated that a US citizen who wishes to leave the country – even for only a visit – must present an official US Passport for visits to neighbors Canada or Mexico.

Unfortunately, as a US passport goes from a top-tier financial asset to a financial burden, a US citizen with only one passport enjoys little or no safety on the international level…

…But, in the 21^st century - and thanks to TDV - You can have options
…BUT ONLY IF you seize upon them!

You can secure another nation’s passport through TDV and achieve the safety you need to feel comfortable in uncertain and changing times…

WHY YOU NEED A SECOND PASSPORT

• Increase your reach and wealth
  
• Lift imposed boundaries and live a freer lifestyle
  
• Secure your access to foreign markets and benefits
  
• Decrease political risk to yourself and loved ones
  

YOU'RE NEVER STRANDED...

Some countries require Americans, Canadians, and other nationalities pay a fee to enter. This is the case with Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, for example.

Additionally there are plenty of countries, like Brazil and Paraguay that require US citizens to obtain costly and time consuming visas for entry.

“It's a pretty good feeling to bypass the Americans lining up and pulling out their cash for entry and head instead to a line for those with non-US passports.”

AVOID POLITICAL OSTRACIZATION

A Canadian bank just closed the accounts of all customers who are citizens of Iran. Non-US banks refuse to do business with US citizens.

The Netherlands forced GoldMoney to refuse Dutch customers. Offshore brokerage firms do not accept US customers. Argentina and Italy are outright forbidding citizens to move money out of the country.

A second passport in this type of situation could literally mean THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KEEPING YOUR ASSETS AND LOSING THEM ALL.

TDV PASSPORTS: SECOND PASSPORTS, STRESS-FREE

TDV HANDLES THE RED-TAPE

FACTA form 8938; Report of Foreign Bank Account Form; Foreign Earned Income Exclusion…Never heard of these?

You’re not alone.

The US Government has been closing as many doors as possible for its citizens.

Last year, TDV’s main contact for opening foreign accounts for our US clientele wrote to us:

"You won't believe this," he said. Rietumu bank,... (one of the best and most important banks in Latvia)... called me today.  From now on they won't accept US clients."

"FACTA?" we wondered.

"They wouldn't say... but obviously that's why," he said.  "I just thank goodness they didn't say they were going to close existing US accounts... you know how many clients I have there?"

TDV Passports = Years of Experience

• Up-to-Date Tax & Expat News So That You Are Never In The Dark
  
• Country-By-Country Reviews. In-Depth Coverage
  
• Diverse Investment and Real Estate Options Get You In The Door.
  
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An American Military Veteran in Ecuador: Bonanza at the Middle of the World?

An American Military Veteran in Ecuador: Bonanza at the Middle of the World?: The main house at Hotel Bonanze Yes, the old American west is alive and well just outside Quito, Ecuador. No, no alcohol was involved in...

Dengue is endemic in many parts of Ecuador-

Nicholas Crowder-

Dengue is endemic in many parts of Ecuador and who has just issued a worldwide report stating expected worldwide cases expected to surpass 330 million annually. We are coming up to the season when Dengue will wreck havoc with many in Ecuador. Be proactive....http://latinamericacurrentevents.com/dengue-fever-spreading-at-unprescedented-degree/30059/

ECUADOR NEWS MAGAZINE: Over the past six years Ecuador reduced its crime ...

ECUADOR NEWS MAGAZINE: Over the past six years Ecuador reduced its crime ...: Ecuador news magazine - Quito, November 14 (Andes).- Ecuador is one of the countries with the best results regarding the fight against crime...

Thoughts on Urban Survival (2005) - “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” Argentina, SA

Thoughts on Urban Survival (2005)

 "Thoughts on Urban Survival" is a long essay I wrote a few years ago. While long, this is not my book, “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” . My book is much longer and  better written. It covers the same topics more in depth as well as many others. You can check the table of contents by clicking on the book cover over at Amazon. It’s safe to say that if you like this essay you sure will enjoy my book, but I wanted to clarify that they are not the same thing and none of the material in this essay was used in the book.

Fernando "FerFAL" Aguirre 


Thoughts on Urban Survival


My brother visited Argentina a few weeks ago. He’s been living in Spain for a few years now. Within the first week, he got sick, some kind of strong flu, even though climate isn’t that cold and he took care of himself. Without a doubt he got sick because there are lots of new viruses in my country that can’t be found in 1st world countries. The misery and famine lead us to a situation where, even though you have food, shelter and health care, most of others don’t, and therefore they get sick and spread the diseases all over the region......read more:..http://ferfal.blogspot.com/2008/10/thoughts-on-urban-survival-2005.html

Comments by Journeyman Jack: The above story is a compilation from 2005 & 2008 on Surviving in Argentina after the economic collapse. These tips & pointers could come in handy wherever you may find yourself in this current global economy - be it SA or NA.

"Forewarned is Forearmed"  / "He who fails to plan plans to fail"
Call on me anytime for pre-trip planning and or exist strategy:

All of my web & blog links, articles, photos, info and contact toll free telephone #'s - US & EC. are all below:

Thank you! Jack,
jackabercrombie1492@yahoo.com
see Ecuador: journeymanjack.com@gmail.com
toll free from U.S. & Canada:
770-828-7913 or 770-872-4104,
Ecuador Off: 011-(593) 2-235-4329,
Claro: 011-(593) 98-806-6508,
Movistar: 011-(593) 98-743-3009,

Talk free on "skype" user name: "Jack.Abercrombie"

Fb: http://www.facebook.com/JourneymanJackinEcuador

Blog: http://journeymanjackinecuador.blogspot.com/

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzl4rnxszGXGXEn-WY91hzg
Linked: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jackabercrombie

twitter: https://twitter.com/CatManDoTractor

My google maps - saved places - frequented in EC:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=212187393968777541090.000479e892ce8f4227992&msa=0


Photos of the Transport - Tour Vehicle: 2011 Kia K2700 Diesel 1.5 Ton 4wd / 4dr / half mini van /
half truck: https://plus.google.com/photos/108089047953129234429/albums/5684719527378323953?banner=pwa

The Truth About the Truth…Can You Believe What You Read?

Posted by Donald Murray 

· Monday, November 18th, 2013 

· No Comments

With Significant Contributions from Diane (ThePocket Babe) Murray-

   It’s very interesting and, at the same time, a bit distressing. I recently shared that Diane and I accepted an invitation to speak at the upcoming International Living Conference in Quito, Ecuador.  Soon after, I received a flood of emails and private messages urging me to tell the “real truth” about Ecuador. It’s up to me, they insisted, to set the record straight and expose the rose-colored-glasses-lies about the realities of life in this tiny nation!  ...http://donaldmurrayecuador.com/the-truth-about-the-truthcan-you-believe-what-you-read

An American Military Veteran in Ecuador: Buyer Beware

An American Military Veteran in Ecuador: Buyer Beware: One of the things I see pretty commonly on many forums for expats is this statement,"It was not what we thought it was." It seem...

Does anyone feel an unusually accelerated perception of time?

whoaaa Dude - where does the time go, I went outside for a breath of fresh air (minus Fukishima radiation fallout) 19:35 EST looked up to the sky and the half moon literally streaked across the sky about 10-15 degrees in the matter of a few seconds!

I think possibly "They" can speed up and manipulate time to some extent - similar to Greenspan & Bernake could throttle up and down the economy! Halloween - Vets Day - Turkey Day - X-mas bam bam bam new yrs 2014

Does anyone feel an unusually accelerated perception of time? Or see any unusual events in the night sky lately?

Time is flying by so frixin fraxin fast, it is UNreal~: User ID- journeymanjack / Effective Date- Nov-12-2003 - Present,: http://www.ebay.com/usr/journeymanjack

Read more on "They"-

Even the dumbest person knows that the world is controlled by certain individuals. - See more at: http://humansarefree.com/2013/11/6-secrets-they-dont-want-you-to-know.html#sthash.qvE7FohQ.TQDs9cUl.dpuf

- http://humansarefree.com/2013/11/6-secrets-they-dont-want-you-to-know.html

6 Secrets "They" Don't Want You to Know

Even the dumbest person knows that the world is controlled by certain individuals. Some say they are the richest families, some say secret organizations with members posing as a president’s right hand, some even say aliens in disguise.

The truth is, no matter who, the 99% is controlled by the 1% and there are things that the 1% would be happy if the 99% never find out of. But, be that as it may, the Murphy ’s Law still stands even for those individuals who steer the wheel and as the law says “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”.

People with humanity still in their hearts leaked some information, people who see things as they really are revealed conspiracies, and some with a little logic still in the head discovered the truth hidden from the 99%. Here are some of the greatest secrets “They” don’t want you to know of: - See more at: http://humansarefree.com/2013/11/6-secrets-they-dont-want-you-to-know.html#sthash.qvE7FohQ.TQDs9cUl.dpuf

Even the dumbest person knows that the world is controlled by certain individuals. Some say they are the richest families, some say secret organizations with members posing as a president’s right hand, some even say aliens in disguise.

The truth is, no matter who, the 99% is controlled by the 1% and there are things that the 1% would be happy if the 99% never find out of. But, be that as it may, the Murphy ’s Law still stands even for those individuals who steer the wheel and as the law says “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”.

People with humanity still in their hearts leaked some information, people who see things as they really are revealed conspiracies, and some with a little logic still in the head discovered the truth hidden from the 99%. Here are some of the greatest secrets “They” don’t want you to know of: - See more at: http://humansarefree.com/2013/11/6-secrets-they-dont-want-you-to-know.html#sthash.qvE7FohQ.TQDs9cUl.dpuf

 

Even the dumbest person knows that the world is controlled by certain individuals. Some say they are the richest families, some say secret organizations with members posing as a president’s right hand, some even say aliens in disguise. - See more at: http://humansarefree.com/2013/11/6-secrets-they-dont-want-you-to-know.html#sthash.qvE7FohQ.TQDs9cUl.dpuf

Even the dumbest person knows that the world is controlled by certain individuals. Some say they are the richest families, some say secret organizations with members posing as a president’s right hand, some even say aliens in disguise.

The truth is, no matter who, the 99% is controlled by the 1% and there are things that the 1% would be happy if the 99% never find out of. But, be that as it may, the Murphy ’s Law still stands even for those individuals who steer the wheel and as the law says “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”.

People with humanity still in their hearts leaked some information, people who see things as they really are revealed conspiracies, and some with a little logic still in the head discovered the truth hidden from the 99%. Here are some of the greatest secrets “They” don’t want you to know of:

- See more at: http://humansarefree.com/2013/11/6-secrets-they-dont-want-you-to-know.html#sthash.qvE7FohQ.TQDs9cUl.dpuf

 

AAA LIVING IN CUENCA: Retired in Cuenca, Ecuador - My book is available ...

AAA LIVING IN CUENCA: Retired in Cuenca, Ecuador - My book is available ...: Why Ecuador for me! By Gary A Sisk   During my preparation to move to Ecuador I spent many hours on-line reading ex...

The fastest way to send money electronically We put Square, Google, Paypal, and Popmoney to the test

The fastest way to send money electronically

We put Square, Google, Paypal, and Popmoney to the test-

Nov. 6, 2013, 7:05 a.m. EST 

Downloading a book, movie or album takes just minutes. But electronically transferring cash to a friend can take the better part of a week. 

In an earlier story, we explained how part of the reason computers move money so slowly is that banks still rely on 1970s technology. But with a growing number of services vying to become the new go-to way to message money, MarketWatch decided to take the tech for a test spin. 

We sent $10 from New York to a colleague, multimedia producer Billy Higgins, in San Francisco five different ways: through PayPal, Popmoney, Google Wallet GOOG -0.08%  , and the recently launched Square Cash. As a control, we also sent $10 by putting a good, old-fashioned check in the mail. All of these transactions were initiated at 3 p.m. eastern on a recent Friday afternoon....http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-fastest-way-to-send-money-electronically-2013-11-05?link=sfmw_sm 

Google, Square thwarted by banks’ 1970s tech

Disco-era computers bedevil efforts to allow for instant money transfers- Nov. 5, 2013, 8:55 a.m. EST

Shutterstock.com

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

New services are popping up to make sending someone cash as easy as sending an email. 

There’s just one problem: the technology banks use to move money dates back to the 1970s. So while the Internet makes it possible to transmit 10 books across the country in several seconds, moving 10 bucks can take several days. And demand for instant payment services isn’t nearly strong enough to convince the banking industry to join the 21st century, experts say...http://www.marketwatch.com/story/banks-rely-on-1970s-tech-to-move-money-2013-10-21