Member Info for desertjoe

(PauliD) - " these are shrewd operators where the directors seems to make their riches but the shareholder cannot be rewarded for their investment and patience" . I have bee concerned about this aspect of what I think of as " Lifesyle Firms" over the years when you see the fate of so many AIM -listed Companies. A perfect example imho was the principal directors of the similar-named Arian Silver where the bosses creamed it off and the investors lost out. However I was assured that sort of situation would not happen here ' cos everone tended to marvel at the hitherto success of Dr K in developing Ariana Resources. However these last 2 years it seems to have turned into a dog. Folks on here thought reaching 10p per share was imminent. You and I now regret we didn't sell out at 6p ( although I tried to reduce my holding but my broker couldn't find buyers for the numbers for the size of tranche I was offering at that moment. Following on from the enthusiasm of VanVan and the massive (near 3%) investment of Biggles, I have somewhat hung on....but I can't help sedriously wondering now whether my faith has been misplaced. Yes - you can hope that Cyprus will uplift things but I am also aware that another of our regular bloggers (he knows what he said) did not want any part of this Venus connection because he had serious misgivings about their BoD and its dual-citizen principal. As for the Salinbas timetable (or lack of Grantt Chart) I am also invested with Sandstorm , who having gobbled up Mariana) have not exactly increased their shareprice dramatically....in fact they are around 35+% down and there is no dramatic news coming out of the vaunted Hod Maden area. My only consolation is, unlike the UK where you get quite a good allowance for Capital Gains, across the ocean here just about ever cent of gain is taxed but at least this year I have losses to offset that "arguable" AAU Dividend.

Of Course, Paul but don't drink too much beforehand ! https://medium.com/the-story-hall/the-worlds-oldest-father-6a3dc9a8ab04. Seemingly Anthony Quinn ("Zorba the Greek") was still randy in his 80s. woof-woof !

Paul1D - " I really do not think you are either educated or researched enough to understand fabian socialism, it's purpose and it's end goal" and again ".you old sloppy sausage!" . Thank your for further clarifying some of your other points but let's face it, Paul, you are a self-opinionated big girl's blouse.(and I'm putting it politely!) since I also believe you aspire to be considered an " intellectual". Clearly you feel you that you need recognition and thus you resort to trying to reinforce your position by " name dropping" - be it quotes or opinions expressed by other various sources.

At the other extreme, your further supposition that vulgarity and demeaning others will give you an aura of superiority. is of little consequence...and in my own case biologically incorrect. I am not in fact a sausage.

Historically , Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, goes down as an accomplished general and leader. In truth he also screwed up extremely badly at Cannae where he was routed by an inferior allied force. He was also known by the term " cunctator" (or delayer) and, yes, he eventually briefly became a dictator. Sounds familiar?

My own political thinking is somewhat different to "Fabianism" as it ultimately devolved and I see myself as Social Democrat (as opposed to democratic socialist .....there is a difference). Quite frankly I am not interested at all in reading opinions, whether it's those of the Huxleys, George Bernard Shaw, Bertrand Russell or for that matter the various stock-buying tipsters referred to on here from time to time. I need to see clear proof, ideally factual or at least a very strong majority opinion in support to gain my interest.

Generally therefore I choose to immerse myself with things I enjoy and do my best to avoid things I don't. That goes for reading, traveling, sports, pastimes, films and tv. It makes absolutely no sense to take on unnecessary stress when there are consultants to deal with that. Compared with say a Greenland Shark, our lives are not especially of long duration.

Apologies to all for going off subject. AAU has gained a little today.. Lithium appears to be holding up quite well. However I don't anticipate shares moving up until the problems with Ukraine and Trump's assertions (and accomplices) are finalized.

Sorry Paul1D but you live on a different planet at times and I sincerely doubt if many of our fellows on here connected your Rio Tinto thoughts with Australian truckers. I freely admit that some of the time your thinking (or satirical diversions) go right over my head. What seems quite clear though is that you motivated somewhat " right of center" (although not fascist) whereas I am " left of center" because I have witnessed many apparently "Privileged-class" power wielders venting their contempt for the plebs during the privacy of visits to the rather more exclusive executive " bogs" (as in loo) during my many years of experience. I have little doubt that you will become further enlightened as you age, my Dear Chap.. Ultimately you might even hurl your smart phone into the nearest lake, perceive all the nicer things you are now free to enjoy if you so wish and smile at the antics of others.. Finally remember to stay clear of the M20 ' cos it's ramjamfull of truckers. Dang those foreigners again! Have a nice Day.

Yes PaulD - Political uncertainty is certainly spooking things but it's rather more than Serbia and Kosovo., even. thoughhstan though the Serbs have strong ties to Russia. Kazakhstan is something else - rather like Azerbaijan it has had a history of corruption. Probably the same goes for all the "Stans" and I prefer to keep well away from investing in any of them.. You may remember the current boss of WRES Resources was invested (as Caspian Oil) in Kazakhstan and shareholders (including me) suffered. From the history of WES it doesn't look as if they've fared better in Spain or Portugal either!

Methinks today's downturn has an element of panic introduced and don't be surprised if the likes of Goldman Sucks don't have a full trough to lap on by say Friday....unless Putin messes us all up. ' cos I think today's fall is deliberate and somewhat "overdone". There's been a lot of big buyers over-active imho.

Finally, I don't think civil war is likely in Canada or Oz but we are in a dangerous position over my side of the pond unless and until " The Big Lie" is extremely well illuminated - ideally with sufficient indictments and even jail terms to push a few Republican Senators and Congressionals back into the realms of genuine Conservatives (even if they have to perhaps temporarily support the current Administration..

Coincidentally, Jackie. I read exactly the same info on the RNS posted on this site. All good stuff and the sp even rose 0.10.

I always thought it was the Irish capital.

Interesting point, PaulD. Maybe she soaks them in vintage Bollinger.

Yep...You're right about the politics of both Carolinas...but then they were losers Meanwhile "Battle born" Nevada received its Statehood for loyalty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvjOG5gboFU

Paul D - Well, Jerry Lee Lewis at 22 was considered a "baby snatcher" when he married his 13 year old cousin and it caused controversy over here. Macron has gone 25 years the other direction but not without some problems when he attempted to seek a " First Lady" approval status from the electorate.

I've been to Weymouth...once dubbed "The Naples of England" .. If they'd got it wrong here at Winfrith it could have been Pompeii. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-38075798

Some nasty tides off Portland though. I kept about 10 miles offshore. Never got to Lyme Regis but it looks interesting on Google Maps.

Had some nice dinners in Lichfield, Paul D and a charming date in Dorset who loudly remarked..."This zider be as ruff as a badger's arze" lol.
Someone certainly ain't smiling... https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/melania-and-trudeau-cheek-kiss-gets-meme-treatment-1.4565590

Paul D - Did you notice the sly smirk on your "emperor's" wife's face when she met up with Dear Justin ? ....and before you call out Brummie, bear in mind " The Great Wen" .... a disparaging nickname for London. The term was coined in the 1820s by William Cobbett, the radical pamphleteer and champion of rural England . Incidentally I don't believe you have mentioned where you got dropped on this planet. No offence, old bean, just curious.

Mexico is officially classified as being in North America. Not much is said on chat boards about NAFTA (or its new version USMCA) and you may be surprised by...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States–Mexico–Canada_Agreement

My thinking is that Mexico can offer a hard-working large population, Canada can offer vast natural resources and the USA can offer logistical and business knowledge plus, of course military clout if necessary. Put that together and (without sounding nasty) the EU, the CIS and possibly the trading aims of China & India need to be somewhat cautious in their attitude and relations with we North Americans.

A Caterham 7, John? See yourself as Patrick McGoohan do you? I never got round to driving a (properly) Lotus 7 although I did occasionally enjoy the fun of driving a Lotus X1. As a youth I briefly owned a (Jag) SS 100 until my mother ordered me to " get rid" .cos it scared her and guzzled a lot of gas.

Hi John - No, I never lived in Texas. My wife ( Michigan born) always pointed out that she prefers " things with at least 4 stars!" ( lmao). I previously lived in the southern extremity of Nevada which, effectively, is within the Mohave Desert (or Mojave if you're Californian or hispanic.. In parts of rural Nevada you can legally drive at 80 mph. Outside of the two bigger cities (Las Vegas & Reno) traffic is light. I have now moved to the Atlantic side of the US in South Carolina which is a total contrast to Nevada. Traffic is very heavy (nose to tail even on dual carriageways) and often rural roads and even motorways are limited to 40-55 mph. I didn't particularly want to move but climate changes were creating 126F summers and rivers and reservoirs are drying up.
Add to that Californians by the thousands trying to get out of their State for a variety of reasons aren't too welcome" fitting in" the adjoining States and there is going to be one helluva future problem competing for natural and social resources therein.. All our relatives are in the east anyway and we aren't getting any younger so last Christmas was time to move when home prices in Nevada had rocketed. .

Anyway I was most surprised to learn you still have a large holding in AAU and I think it is a good bet that our sp will increase considerably when Salisbas starts to produce. I am also invested in Sandstorm (whose shares have dived around 35% this last year) but they possibly have a headstart in the same Hod Maden area so I can wait. Might be a fair gamble for folk though at their present level, bearing in mind they are a Royalty setup too.
I suppose that Australia is particularly attractive for investing Brits and there are a lot of embryo miners looking for help or investments there ...but for my money, Canada is of prime interest. Bear in mind that many of the mines in the United States (which has a huge and varied mining industry) are owned or controlled by Canadian Companies. Places imho to keep away from are Central America where there is instability in government and extreme left influences. Costa Rica might be an exception because of the numbers and influence of US ex-Pats and big fruit corporates.

" That belongs to DJ now, a man who used to be so sunny :" . Well, John , imho it's you who reversed course. In my case I've lost my faith in the " established" mines and many of them are down on the world's stock exchanges We have friends on here who still anticipate gold going through the roof imminently. No chance! It's fallen below $1800 ounce yet again.

Daylight dawned for me when I quickly learned (the hard way) that Africa and Eastern Asia had autocratic governments who were skilled at kinda stealing major parts of foreign owned companies one way or another. It's still going on which is why I've stayed with (and made some good money) in the American Trade Area (NAFTA). AAU is now my sole " British" interest (albeit Turk related) and is mostly the only board here in LSE where I post I had a fling in lithium recently but I think the peak is coming and I have something (and somewhere else) in mind if the indigenous population doesn't screw things u politically. The sun indeed was shining today but 40F cooled things down for me. Cheers, DJ.

Sounds about right, John....but the next payout will be half the last so if nothing exciting happens either in AAU or in the world gold price, the dividend might be nearer the possibly increased bank interest rate by then (especially if our sp slowly drifts down in the meantime.) Imho we have to be seeing an sp of at least 6p by this time next year as well as some sort of regular annual dividend as well to be worthwhile " hanging in there" until Hod Maden comes on stream and is earning money for the JV.

Would I growl at you, John, for charts? Perhaps I might have a few doubts about using witchcraft if you were really rattling on about " Chartism" . What kinda gets to me are quotes that certain " apparent celebrities in the stock game " are hotly suggesting particular shares to invest in. When I first " played the stocks" I believed them but First I got "Fooled" (their name is appropriate!) and then I got " British BS" (if you get my drift). I just don't relate any more to these gurus . They are mostly just spinners and the best choice is to DYOR. I reserve my (generally under my breath growling) when dear VAnVan mentions certain names . Anyway I think we may all have had enough of 2021 one way or another and in a few hours I'll lift my glass to ya'all here and Cheer In what I sincerely hope will turn out to be a Happy & Prosperous 2022. All the Best, Folks! Regards, DJ

Chartists, gold speculation, wishful thinking....it's all a load of " rollocks" . We are on an undulating path for at least the next two years and I've already said why that is on several occasions. The guys who seem to have got it reasonably right are Goldman Sucks, Soros & Warren Buffett. Other than that Her Majesty has it pretty well sorted financially.

So take note and start the New Year with a burger and Cola then follow up with some Pepto Bismol and you're all set to go!

Hi VanVan and I reckon your Oregon college quote is fair comment generally. However my comparison is between " over here" and " over there". I am now an octogenarian and much travelled in Europe. I have also lived (and worked) in UK....Manchester, The Cotswolds, Southampton, Portsmouth, London, Coventry, Norwich, Ipswich, Cardiff to name some and yes....even Clacton-on Sea so I can reasonably claim to know my way around.

Yes there are huge regional differences within the US . Many of our States are larger than your entire country so at best I can only generalize. Probably our biggest advantage is our lower taxation . As just one example - State Purchase Tax 7-8% is a helluva lot less than your VAT. My own rule of thumb is that the numbers shown on your shop prices over there in pounds are generally about the same as over here....except ours are in US dollars so we are at least 25% better off with regards to our disposable money. But regional differences are more pronounced here. Right now you will pay something between 2 and 3 times the fuel price per gallon in California compared to South Carolina.. A wage of $8 per hour is not unusual in some rural areas (Arizona for instance). You are not forced to take the job...but if you need money? Our President is currently boasting that we have a record number of jobs available. But where and at what pay level? My understanding is that you may have a problem next summer getting cheap EU labor to work in your agriculture now Brexit has happened. Finally US pensions have a lot of clauses, mainly because they were written in " legalease" to the advantage of Big Corporate. They may well not turn out to be as valuable as you thought when you reach retirement age of if you are beneficiary.. In fact your employer of many years may not even give you a pension. Quite often the Company goal is to employ (or downgrade you) so you could be classified as a Part-Time worker. There are all kinds of Ways to get around things and we have no shortage of attorneys and judges over here! Again it seems to me that it is the top executives (that 1% !) who are at the trough and the UK seems it can't get enough " foreigners" to head up banks and big Corporations. Immigration at that level is no problem either.

Other than that ,Van I can only say that this is an entirely different sort of chat we have shared during the many years that we have been on this and other similar Chat sites and I have always enjoyed your opinions and advice on various company aims. As you say... "nice to see AAU tick up today" . I had began to remember that famous cartoon of Bismarck headed "Dropping the Pilot" and fearing that Dr K may now be more interested elsewhere than in steering AAU (and us) to greater prosperity. He has certainly collected some extra directorships. My mistake was not selling out at 6 pence and gambling to buy back right now..

All the Best to you and yours for the coming year and of course MERRY CHISTMAS !

Hi John and I trust you will enjoy a most pleasant Christmas. I sincerely hope that the New Year will be the start of increased prosperity for us all on here. Anyway I can understand where you are seeking to make a different case to mine in our latest exchange...but there are some serious differences. For many people over here life is vary different. . We don't have your Welfare State or in many cases support from trade unions. Over here many State laws incorporate " The Right to Work" .
Basically what this boils down to is that if you don't show up for work, you don't get paid. Home working can be equated to " part time working" and there are plenty out there who would replace you in a flash. We don't have your levels of paid holidays or sickness cover, Health costs and medications are already crippling, so much so that I know of many septuagenerians who are working two and even three jobs to keep their heads above the water. As for food - I guess we are paying at least 25% more than pre-Covid but the wages have not increased to cover that. Motor fuel has increased about 33% in 12 months .Only the mega rich (that infamous 1%) are in a position to dabble in classic cars or basically any collectables these days.. You are right about real estate but in many cases people are trying to escape from expensive places to cheaper houses and for many reasons. State actions, fires ,crime, climatic change and every chance of serious drought and diabolical commuting problems. Finally at least your people are mostly getting their vaccinations and boosters while we still have thousands running with the crazy advice of political idiots still. All in all, it's a time to be very frugal (especially with your savings) for many over here it can only get worse under Corporate Greed and one way or another that has to be brought under control..

And yes we are going to receive a couple of dividends from AAU fairly soon.....but where is their value. The shares have been dropping almost daily and there have been a lot of selling. It's going to be a race against time whether new ventures will come on stream and earn enough from production to make even our long term investments here worthwhile.

My apologies but I "lost" five essential words from the second para of my previous comments Please read these as " I generally take what is said by kinda regular promoters " with a pinch of salt" .

" Good old Van, you've been telling me that gold is going into orbit for the last 4 years" .... My sentiments entirely, John and I've been giving ya'all my alternative views about the usage of gold for a similar number of years. Quite frankly, imho, gold ain't going anywhere in the present or near future for four basic reasons. Firstly the current world politics as dominated by China, Russia and my own United States. Secondly Covid. Thirdly it is the large Corporates which deem how much and what sort of precious metals are currently required and, finally, Joe Public these days ain't got the money to splash out on "fancy additions like gold" to his or her lifestyle. There are other home/family priorities to pay out for fist.

I do pay serious attention to Van's personal appraisals and views regarding Ariana (and other shares mentioned on these boards) but as I have often said, I generally take what is said by kinda regular " promoters" (and I put Soloway in this category)) . I believe to some extent the same could be said of most of the firms recommending the best shares to buy at any given time. Either way they hope to gain fame and followers ...l they make their living by doing this. To a similar extent, professional " presentations" and podcasts are in a similar category and most likely follow suitable scripts even if they appear to be " ad hoc" at the time. More obvious are tipsters at the courses or even some market traders. Either way the goal is to get your attention and buy their wares (or pass on your recommendation to your pals)..