Category: Timber

The IMF Deconstructed

by

Sam Vaknin

A Dialogue Between

Tom Rodwell and Sam Vaknin, December 1998

By Sam Vaknin

Author of “Malignant Self Love – Narcissism Revisited”

The following is a standard IMF document, taken from its own website. Underlined phrases are related to categories A and / or B (see below). The phrases here are general examples as part of general criticism of the ideological tone and “aesthetic” of the IMF. This dialogue is a combination of philosophy and economics: does / can the IMF (or any organization) “facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade”?

The IMF is the cornerstone and centrepiece of the financial architecture of the world. Long a sacred cow, it has lately become the eye of a controversy. Its prescriptions to ailing countries as diverse as Zimbabwe and Russia have, at times, proven to be inadequate, some say: ruinous.

The IMF is a result of an ideology and its instrument. This is clearly revealed in its intentionally vaguely-phrased documents. Tom and Sam, a philosopher / journalist / composer and a philosopher and physicist turned economist, try to read between the lines (in the best of East European traditions.).

The IMF:

“Statutory Purposes

The IMF was created to promote international monetary co-operation ; to facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade; to promote exchange stability; to assist in the establishment of a multilateral system of payments; to make its general resources temporarily available to its members experiencing balance of payments difficulties under adequate safeguards; and to shorten the duration and lessen the degree of disequilibrium in the international balances of payments of members.

Areas of Activity

Surveillance is the process by which the IMF appraises its members’ exchange rate policies within the framework of a comprehensive analysis of the general economic situation and the policy strategy of each member. The IMF fulfills its surveillance responsibilities through: annual bilateral Article IV consultations with individual countries; multilateral surveillance twice a year in the context of its World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercise; and precautionary arrangements, enhanced surveillance, and program monitoring, which provide a member with close monitoring from the IMF in the absence of the use of IMF resources. (Precautionary arrangements serve to boost international confidence in a member’s policies. Program monitoring may include the setting of benchmarks under a shadow program, but it does not constitute a formal IMF endorsement.)”

Tom:

IMF IDEOLOGICAL TONE

The nature of the IMF is inextricably linked with its controlling member state and staff’s economic and political viewpoints. The IMF talks about itself, and about economic / political phenomena generally, in precisely the same terms. The kind of economics it discusses is one of authority, monitoring, and, dare I say it, intervention. While the IMF allegedly intends to promote “international monetary co-operation” and to “facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade” (standard free-market shibboleths), it consistently refers to “enhanced surveillance”, “close monitoring”, and “precautionary arrangements”. Orwellian undertones are hardly muffled.

Sam:

The IMF has yet to adopt the “client-orientated” approach. It harbours deep (and oft-justified) distrust of the willingness of governments to blindly follow its dictates. It is a paranoid organization, based on authoritarian techniques of “negotiations” and “agreement”. Euphemisms rule. Normally, the IMF holds “consultations” with the host governments. These are rather one-sided affairs. The governments are needy and impoverished ones. They lack the cadre of educated people needed in order to truly engage the IMF in constructive discourse. They are intimidated by the bullying tactics of the IMF and of its emissaries. The tone is imperial and impatient.

Tom:

The IMF clearly sees itself as the authority on international development ideology. International development becomes an ideological construction, with subsets of subjective terms: free trade, financial contact, economic vision. Many of these terms are defined in such a way that they enframe that which they discuss. The ideological position of the influential members is often significantly different from the developing countries. Sadly, the ideology only becomes reality when it is part of every day life in the developing nations.

Sam:

Worse still, the IMF’s language is riddled with contradictions in terms and logical fallacies. Let us review a few: International monetary co-operationin IMF lingo means exchange (rate) stability. But with such stability the expansion and balanced growth of international trade is not achievable. Trade is based on dynamic exchange rate disparities. Moreover, there is nothing inherently wrong in such dynamism. The changing disparities reflect the relative advantages of the countries involved. In a world of fixed exchange rates – trade stagnates. And what is “balanced” growth anyhow? Trade has been growing at 3-5% annually for a few years now. Is this balanced, overdone or insufficient, as some free trade zealots cry out?

Additionally, a regime of stable exchange rates won’t go far towards facilitating the second result: to shorten the duration and lessen the degree of disequilibrium in the international balances of payments of members. If a country runs a gigantic balance of payments deficit but is not permitted by the IMF to devalue its currency, in the name of exchange rate stability – its balance of payments is only likely to worsen. Take Macedonia: with a 14% of GDP deficit in its BOP – it MUST devalue and URGENTLY. Its currency is HEAVILY overvalued and the whole economy is deflating. Yet, the IMF is about to repeat there the same grave error it commited in Russia: to protect the currency, the whole system is drained of liquidity (demonitized), interest rates are kep insanely high and the balance of payments deficit skyrockets, until the inevitable collapse. If the IMF is interested in self perpetuating crisis situations in order to preserve its clout – it is doing a fine job indeed.

The IMF was never authorized to rate the creditworthiness of its shareholders (=the countries). It is acting ultra vires in providing clean or soiled bills of financial health. Its ability to strangle a country financially if it does not comply with its programmes – no matter what the social or economic costs are – is very worrying.

Tom:

LANGUAGE

The language in the IMF document can be roughly divided into two sections.

A. Phrases concerning the -history

-role / activities

-nature of the IMF

B. Phrases concerning -subjective economic and political concepts

-local policy

-international policy

Here’s my summary of the kind of language used:

1. Quasi-intellectual terms (“big words for a dismal science”), e.g. disequilibrium, comprehensive analysis, policy strategy.

2. Spin-doctoring euphemisms, e.g. promote, facilitate, balance, co-operation, safeguards, monitoring, responsibilities, precautionary arrangements, endorsement, benchmarks. This also includes intimidating terms such as “surveillance”.

3. Distancing terms, e.g. members, general economic situation, policy strategy.

(1) is simply pretension. The average “comprehensive analysis” undertaken by the IMF is often curiously selective and self-serving.

Sam:

Not to mention cursory “kangaroo-court” economic judgements replete with clear contempt and disregard for the “natives”. The latter are held to be cheats who are merely trying to extort as much money as they can and probably stash it in Swiss bank accounts (private ones, needless to say).

Tom:

(2) is the most obnoxious section. These phrases mislead. They paint a picture of the stability and democracy that supposedly is Western capitalism. They paint an image of the IMF as a fair, unbiased, caring, and democratic organisation. These phrases also confuse in that they connect “nice terms” (like balance, co-operation and safeguards) with complicated and subjective economic terms. Thus the language often functions as a “pacifier”, or perhaps as a “chaser”, softening the blow of the “hard stuff”.

(3) indicates the insular attitude of the IMF. Their “grand scheme” is apparently removed from localised activities and concerns.

Sam:

There is one place, which absolutely complies with the IMF utopia. There is no inflation there. People do not particularly care if the exchange rate never changes or what is the outlandish level of interest rates needed to ensure this eerie stability. It is the cemetery.

The IMF’s deadly sin, yet to yield its grapes of wrath, is not to understand that economics is a branch of psychology and should be at the service of humans and society. When setting economic goals one must always act with pragmatism and compassion. In the realm of humans, to be compassionate IS to be pragmatic. Otherwise, reality is bound to frustrate the most rigorous planning. If social costs are not accounted for – unemployment will bring about crime and a black market, which will render the official market and its statistics meaningless, for instance. If exchange rate stability supported by inanely high interest rates prevails over the goals of industrial reconstruction and export-enhancement, the result is erosion of the very fabric of society. Lack of liquidity translates into a lack of trust in fellow citizens and in institutions. If public expenditures are harnessed too strenuously – corruption will flourish. The IMF’s propensity to provide a “catchall” one-measure-fits-all panacea is nothing short of shortsighted and disastrous. It cannot be that the same financial recipe will apply to Pakistan, Macedonia, Estonia and Russia. Yet, a close scrutiny of the four IMF programmes imposed upon these countries (Estonia wriggled out) – demonstrates striking similarities. It is a fact that there are conflicting CAPITALIST economic models. Not because human nature is so diverse – and it is – but because different people have different preferences. Americans prefer profits and self-reliance to social justice. Not so the French. Paradoxically, this is exactly why markets exist: to trade in disparate preferences. The IMF is a central planning agency but as opposed to previous models it believes that it is omniscient – and knows that it is omnipotent.

Tom:

The IMF’s desire to paint a kind of stasis on the world economy is, as you have said, a kind of religious-ideological defence mechanism. The language employed by the IMF is an attempt to give form to the haphazard and contradictory nature of international trade and development. This language functions in a similar way to their policies, in that both seek to describe and promote a uniform concept / practice of international economics.

The reference to economics as a branch of psychology is spot-on. It is ignorant, unethical and unworkable to attempt to impose or promote any kind of exclusive and conformist concept of ‘the economy’. Indeed, the IMF’s bizarre language and policies reveal a mistaken view (commonly held) that there is such a single practice or entity called “The Economy”, or “International Trade”. Absolutist and limiting concepts of economy (communism, now capitalism) are increasingly being shown to be unworkable. The language used by the IMF is evidence of the impractical, restrictive and unethical nature of an elitist concept / practice of economics.

FINAL STATEMENT

Tom:

The IMF is a part of the industry of “trade”, “development”, and “economics” in general. This criticism of the language found in their promotional documents is, in some ways, a criticism of the aforementioned “economics industry” in general. When I first read the IMF’s comments / reports, I was struck by the combination of arrogance and defensiveness (in a tone of barely muted desperation). I now believe that these documents were written with the first whiff of fear in the NYC air-conditioned office ambience. No doubt that those miners, steel workers, farmers, and manufacturers whose own industries were flattened by free trade hysteria will feel a tiny degree of satisfaction, if we really are seeing the decline of the “economics industry”.

The IMF is unethical because it espouses an abstract concept -free trade- that influences the complex process of “development” (too often defined with insufficient complexity) while being unconcerned with specific and local realities and interactions. It is simply too abstract: international development is not assisted on a truly local level by investment in the military, state, or heavy industry. It is ridiculous for a third world country to build massive steel-plants, or allow foreign companies to extract vast amounts of timber or oil, when local people are concerned with finding clean drinking water. This abstraction criticism stands for the entire “economics industry”, and will continue to do so while it has an insufficiently perceptive and complex understanding of localised realities.

The language of economics is murky, and our criticism of it will remain justified as long as the IMF (et al) produce officious and misleading documents. The practice of economics is also murky, and our criticism of it too will remain justified as long as policies that are illogical, impractical and unethical are produced and enforced.

Sam:

The IMF is an essential institution. There must exist a multilateral organization geared towards the maintenance of the marketplace itself. But the IMF should get rid of its Multiple Personality Disorder. It must first decide WHAT is it: a lender of last resort? A creditworthiness rating agency, sort of an ominous Moody’s? A missionary organization, preaching a particular brand of the religion known as capitalism? A commercially-orientated, return-on-investment based financial organization? Dumping grounds for aging polticians and third rate bankers doing the USA’s bidding? Whatever the definition, it is bound to be far superior to the current muddled state of affairs.

Second, the IMF must maintain transparency. It controls vast resources. It is prone to be inefficient (not to say corrupt). Transparency humbles, ensures the injection of fresh intellectual blood, improves performance, gives taxpayers a good feeling. The IMF needs to be humbled. Its actions have been politicized lately. It intervenes in the internal affairs of dozens of soverign, reasonably managed countries – and its intervention is not confined to matters economic. It develops an internal “Organizational cult” (we know best and always). It is one of the most rigid and intellectually handicapped organization in the world, yet it considers itself a bastion ofeconomic ingenuity and righteousness. Delusions of grandeur are dangerous on such a scale.

Third, the revamped, no-longer-haughty, IMF must be able to fine tune to different social and cultural constraints in different spots of the world. It must strive at least to BE SEEN to be trying to minimize the social costs of its often-botched plans. It must not behave as a colonial power, which it often does. It must establish trust rather than impose discipline. Otherwise, it stands no chance to laugh last. Actually, it stands no chance even to survive.

Sam Vaknin ( http://samvak.tripod.com ) is the author of Malignant Self Love – Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain – How the West Lost the East. He served as a columnist for Global Politician, Central Europe Review, PopMatters, Bellaonline, and eBookWeb, a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory and Suite101.Until recently, he served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Macedonia.Visit Sam’s Web site at http://samvak.tripod.com

Article Source:

The IMF Deconstructed

Ipe Wood: Decking You dont Have to Replace

by

Ronnie Tanner

When considering what wood to use for outdoor decking Ipe wood cannot be beat for its durability and cost. Ipe wood is an exotic hardwood found throughout South America that is incredibly resistant to rot, insect infestation and has amazing fire resistance as well. Pronounced ee-PAY, this incredible hardwood has several common names, which include Brazilian Walnut, Amapa and Cortez.

When the famous boardwalk in Atlantic City needed to be replaced, Ipe wood was chosen. It was also used for the boardwalk at the Treasure Island Resort in Las Vegas

This wood is an extremely dense, tight-grained wood, which is the source of its longevity. When tested by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory it received its highest rating. This was based on Ipe wood left in the ground for 15 years without attack by termites. It is also resistant to mold and fungi. The wood can be expected to last 40+ years left untreated and an amazing 100+ years with a treatment of deck oil. Not only is it long lasting, it is a fraction of the cost of Teak.

When compared to more common woods used in outdoor projects, Ipe wood wins easily. Even against those woods long thought superior for out door use such as Cedar and Redwood. Studies done on recent Redwood use suggest that while Redwoods used at the beginning of the twentieth century did indeed offer excellent quality when used outdoors, that is not the case today. The reason for this is quite simple. Redwood used a century ago was taken from old growth forests and those no longer exist. The Redwood used today is produced from new growth trees and the heartwood of younger trees provides much less resistance to rot and insects than that of old trees. Irresponsible logging practices of the past century depleted all old growth Redwood except those trees protected in National Forests.

Use of Ipe wood is also an environmentally sound choice as well. Importers of Ipe wood to the United States usually purchase wood that is grown in managed forests that have been approved by the Forest Stewardship council. The practice of taking trees from managed forests means that sustainable forestry practices are in use, thus Ipe wood produces one of the renewable wood products in the world today. The use of Ipe instead of Teak or Mahogany leads to environmentally responsible forestry practices in sensitive rain forest environments.

One of the reasons Ipe wood is so new to the market for outdoor products is actually the same reason Ipe wood is also so durable. The wood is so incredibly dense that only recent technological machinery advances have made it possible to process the timber at an affordable price. Ipe wood must be drilled for fasteners and attachments; it is much too dense for the traditional hammer and nail techniques. This wood nearly 400% harder than teak and is one of the only woods that sinks in water!

When it comes to investing in your homes beauty and functionality, Ipe wood is a natural choice. Although it is more costly initially to install, the rewards by far outweigh the initial investment because once it is installed, Ipe wood is virtually maintenance free and will last a lifetime. Even pressure treated woods cannot boast the staying power of Ipe wood.

Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at Everlasting Hardwoods. He writes about

Ipe wood

and other related industry specific topics for the company.

Article Source:

Ipe Wood: Decking You dont Have to Replace}

By Ronald Cringer

Decades ago, the conventional spring beds were believed to be better than waterbeds because they are firmer and thus thought to give better support. On the contrary, studies showed that a firm bed that remains straight and do not follow the body’s natural curves causes unnecessary pressure points. There is a pressure on body parts (e.g. heel, calf, buttock, elbow, shoulder and head) that became in contact with the firm bed.

Benefits of Waterbeds

The unnecessary pressure points are avoided in waterbeds yet they can get support that the body needs. Sleeping on a waterbed simulates the feeling of sleeping weightless. This is comfortable for many individuals. For years, waterbeds have been very common for people who want to avoid or minimize problems with their muscles and/or bones such as back pain, rheumatism, and arthritis.

Because of pressure points are avoided, waterbeds are recommended to people with insomnia and to individuals who are having a hard time sleeping at night. Studies show that 30% of the population suffers from sleeping difficulty and there are many causes including discomfort, stress and noise. Without the unnecessary pressure points, discomfort and pain can be avoided resulting to a sound sleep.

In addition, the waterbeds have helped people who suffer from allergies and other skin problems caused by dirt and dust as well as bed bugs that feed on flakes of skin that naturally falls out of the body. Because of this benefit, waterbeds have been highly recommended to people with asthma, allergies and eczema.

Benefits of Airdream

Airdream is labeled as the successor of waterbeds. If you have benefited from waterbeds, do not be surprised if its successor is better.

The Airdream mattress gets rid of the unnecessary pressure points just like the waterbed. Thus, all the benefits of being able to sleep comfortably, the elimination of pain, and increased quality of sleep are also provided by this mattress. In fact, this mattress was clinically proven to relieve back pain with more than 90% of the participants saying that their back pain was relieved after sleeping on the Airdream mattress.

However, this mattress is better than the waterbed because it allows you to control the firmness or softness of the mattress. What’s better is that it is remote controlled. You can change the mattress’ softness right while you are lying on it.

In addition, the Airdream mattress’ various parts can be controlled differently. It gives solution to couples who fight when deciding on the kind of mattress to buy. The Airdream allows you to have one of the sides firm while the other is very soft. It is definitely great for couples especially that many studies show that men and women have various needs including the kind of mattress to sleep on.

The Airdream mattress is definitely a great choice for people who want to finally have a comfortable sleep every night. Luckily, the waterbed successor mattress is available in many countries. Most suppliers allow free trial for weeks or even for a whole month.

About the Author: Are you looking for more information regarding

Airdream

? Visit

bedden-matrassen.be/matrassen/matrassen.html

today!

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=1388633&ca=Home+Management

Let s Go To Hanoi

by

Corine R. Vega

Hanoi is situated in northern Vietnam and will definitely offer to its visitors incredible sceneries, gorgeous landscapes, pointed with colours, gorgeous food, friendly individuals and a millenary culture.

Relating to accommodation Hanoi has nothing to envy to some standard interesting urban centers providing at the same time great services to the travel business. Being much less developed than Ho Chi Minh City, and thanks to this, Hanoi has preserved a unique vibe given by old colonial and conventional buildings, green boulevards, and colourful temples. Relating to accessibility, Hanoi supplies many services as comfy boutique hotels, internet point and restaurants with a great range of food.

Within the Old Quarter that preserves an ineludibly French taste, many boutique hotels give modest but distinctive charming environments to their guests. In reality, the recent refurbishments have been respecting the standard architecture and invention of Vietnam. Many of them, like the Pearls hotel as an instance, or the Old street Hotel, Hanoi Queen Plaza, the Ritz Hotel, the Delight Hotel, the Return Hotel, the Y Van Riverside Hotel or the Hanoi Plaza hotel are facing the still water of Lake Hoan Kiem offering occasionally a gorgeous view to the people that ask for it.

Relating to cultural events Hanoi’s calendar and Vietnamese calendar in the main are spotted with quite a lot interesting festivals. Despite not within December, yet a few of the most critical occasions of Vietnamese culture are in January whenever you can still hope to get a mild wheatear.

In January, there is most likely what it’s considered to be the biggest festival that celebrates the Lunar New Year. The Tet Nguyen Dan festival lasts for an whole week and involves families in particular. As a matter of fact, every family member is reunited and everyone is provided some little presents with unique wishes for health and happiness. It is also a short while where family discussions, old difficulties and hangers are levelled in an atmosphere of forgiveness. But as the traditional conventional family can’t forget the ancient relatives, the ancestors, several candles and incense sticks are burst for them. Within the precise same month the annual Dong Da Festival celebrates the triumphant historical victory of King Quang Trung (Nguyen Hue) against the invaders of the Vietnamese country. There are different venues where processions, pursuits and games, competitions, war stories, fires of colourful dragons and much more will entertain adults and kids!

Still in January, but on the 6th day of Tet Hanoi and Vietnam celebrate the 5 elements (metal, timber, water, fire and earth) with music and sacrifices with the so remarked as Co Loa Festival. Colourful flags and Dai Flags (fantastic ones) within the wind and sculptures adorning the temples, are just a number of the magic things you’ll be assisting to.

Last but not least, The Cau Ngu Festival celebrates an historic native who originated from the north to teach the village locals quite a lot arts and plans like fishing, trading etc. The name of this man was Truong Quy Cong, or Truong Thieu.

How many wonders have you visit during your lifetime? Visit famouswonders.com and see the top wonders of the world and also have a look at

things to do in vanuatu

.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Kitchen Carts- A Great Way to Add Functionality to Your Kitchen

by

ahad ali

A bigger truck might be made out of oak, maple and other heavier woods for a solid, sturdier utilize. A littler home or loft might be exceptionally constrained in counter space. Including a toaster, espresso pot and microwave will practically dispense with the counter space accessible and make your Kitchen Island with Stools appear to be littler than it really is. Including a utility truck bodes well and will make you sense that you have more space in your kitchen. There are an assortment of wire carts to browse, and additionally wooden carts. A wooden truck can be exceptionally slick with either a butcher-piece beat or painted with racks underneath to help with your counter top and capacity issues. In a bigger condo or home there are utility carts that are sufficiently huge to be an island. They have locking wheels are exceptionally solid so that on the off chance that you needed to dice or cut on you could do that and not have the haul detract from you. They arrive in an assortment of wood and wood completes the process of including oak, maple, cherry and bamboo. The tops can be butcher piece and there are even some accessible with rock or improving tile work.

What I don’t care for about them. Choosing the correct sort of portable Kitchen Island with Stools is the greatest concern. Now and then individuals wind up getting one that baffles them. There are some substandard quality items accessible available and it is conceivable that you will be deceived. So make certain and do your exploration and discover everything you can about the item before you settle on your ultimate choice. Additionally, the gathering might be a significant bother. It can take a hour or more to get everything set up. On the off chance that you don’t have the correct pieces, the parts may not fit well with each other. Some of the time clients get pieces that are harmed (if there should be an occurrence of more affordable items). Be that as it may, on the off chance that you are watchful while choosing a portable Kitchen Island with Seating, these issues can be dispensed with before they begin.

General Considerations on these carts. These kitchen carts are an unquestionable requirement have for each kitchen. Regardless of whether you have a little or enormous kitchen, it is constantly handy and simple to use as it moves alongside you wherever you go. It’s a perfect place to do different sorts of employments with most extreme comfort. Henceforth, in the event that you don’t have a portable Kitchen Island with Seating, then it is time you get one. There are blended material carts that may incorporate glass entryways in the under bureau, bushel drawers, and support wooden retires all in a similar truck. A portable utility truck can be an awesome approach to use all the space in your kitchen or dividers and in addition include the wooden excellence of the truck itself.

Additional substantial

Kitchen Island with Stools

and

Kitchen Island with Seating

can have drawers and an encased bureau underneath with a wine bottle rack too. Some traditional bigger outlines incorporate a drop leaf or overlay out expansion that can be utilized as a breakfast bar.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com

}