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Dollar

Posted on Tuesday, April 12th, 2005

Dave!Last night I decided to sit down and figure out exactly where I want to go on vacation this year. The first step is checking into airfare and prices of the various places I'm interested in visiting for some reason or another. Right now that would be Greece, Australia, Scotland, Sweden, Japan, and Thailand. Airfare is not really a big deal, because I've accumulated enough frequent flier miles to handle that. The big issue is food, lodging, and transportation once I get there.

Houston, we have a problem.

Everywhere I check, the costs are outrageously expensive. Prohibitively expensive. As in "there's no way I can afford to leave the country" expensive. And it's not because things in other countries are costing more, it turns out that it's because the US Dollar is practically worthless. Take a look...

Worthless Dollar

The above graphs show the value of the US Dollar against the Euro, Japanese Yen, Australian Dollar, and British Pound. I didn't know where to start the graph, so I went ahead and picked a random date of January 20, 2001. As an odd coincidence, it's also the day that George W. Bush took office.

The graph doesn't mean much to me except A) it looks like I can't afford to vacation outside the US this year, and B) the US Dollar is going to crash any day now. Because the world revolves around me, I decided to make a new graph that shoes how Bushenomics affects Dave...

Blogography Dollar

The above graph measures Dave's Vacation Prospects, The US Dollar Value, and Toilet Paper Value. As you can see, it turns out that a roll of toilet paper is worth more than the US Dollar, and the chances of me getting to go to Australia fall somewhere in-between. It's only a matter of time before Americans figure this out, and rampant toilet paper theft starts plaguing the country. Better wipe 'em now while you still can!

Four more years of Bushenomics means that we might as well start wiping our asses with dollar bills and save the toilet paper for more important things... like making clothing and shelter.

Movie Quotable of the Day: "Anyone who isn't dead or from another plane of existence would do well to cover their ears right about now!"
Yesterday's Answer: Hellboy (2004) with Ron Perlman and Selma Blair.

Categories: Travel 2005Click To It: Permalink
   

Comments

  1. Patrick says:

    Contrary to money, you can actually make your own toilet paper. I see a great potential…

  2. kazza says:

    Well if you want someone to split accommodation costs with, I’d go with you 🙂
    And you’re welcome to stay here if you don’t mind sharing with lego and fish 🙂

  3. karla says:

    Yeah, the exchange rate is now something I am very familiar with. I have been railing against Bush’s “soft dollar” policy for years now. He is such a *&^% idiot, a &^%$#@! ***wipe, a monkey slapping, butt munching dorkwad, I…I…I’ll stop now. I could go on forever.
    Go ahead and travel, Dave, just find folks to stay with and eat bread. And only bread….be a poor traveler like me.

  4. karla says:

    Oh and I forgot…toilet paper brings alot on the black market here, so just bring many many rolls of charmin and trade for what you want…..we pay just over $5. for a six pack of asswipe….

  5. ssp says:

    While the dollar is weak right now, it’s not _that_ bad. I think exchange rates were quite similar around 1996

  6. Dave2 says:

    Patrick: Actually, in addition to being the ugliest money in the world, the US dollar is actually very easy to make. Why, there was a story just a few days ago about a kid who scanned money into his computer, printed it on his ink jet, and was happily spending for months before getting caught!

    Kazza: Lego and fish?!? I may never leave!! 🙂

    Karla: Mmmmm… bread. An no worries, if I ever make it to Norway, I’ll bring a roll of toilet paper to trade for food and lodging.

    SSP: As an example… I’ve been to Stockholm a little over a year ago, so I realize it is pricey, but the exchange rate coupled with inflation in the past 500-odd days has made “expensive” turn into “SUPER EXPENSIVE.” To stay in the same hotel now is 22% more!! And now that we’ve crossed SEVEN TRILLION DOLLARS in debt, I’d say it is looking bad indeed. If it weren’t for Japan and China buying up our debt, toilet paper would be the least of our worries. 🙁

  7. James Bow says:

    Care to consider Canada? The U.S. greenback has dropped in value there as well, but you still get 1.19 for every dollar.

  8. theMike says:

    You could always tour the US this summer, just as long as you don’t cross the border into California, you won’t have to pay any exchange rates.

  9. Rob says:

    Movie quote is from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

  10. Dave2 says:

    James: Love Canada… though the dollar isn’t what it used to be there either! I would really like to explore more of Eastern Canada, because I’ve really enjoyed visiting Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.

    theMike: I think I am now wanted in California. 🙂

    Rob: So close! But J&SBSB didn’t have angels, muses, apostles, prophets, and God in it! Different Kevin Smith film…

  11. Dave2 says:

    And Cavan “Lord of the Dance” Terrill gets it! Funny… I was just talking about Ottawa… I wonder if all those tulips are in bloom yet?

  12. karla says:

    There’s an old arrest warrant for me in California…long story. Teach me to commune with nature!

    And Dave, if you do come to Norway? I want Big Red Gum, Pop Tarts, Spaghettios and a digital camera….(I’ll pay you back, of course..). Toilet paper, I can get here. Big Red gum? OH….God, Big Red Gum. I need a cold shower.

  13. amy says:

    there’s always lithuania

  14. Patrick says:

    Karla, are you sure you can’t get Wrigley’s Big Red in Norway? We have them in Sweden thanks to Gray’s American Food store and according to their homepage they supply grocery store in the entire Nordic region.
    Check it out: http://www.grays.se

  15. Tim Leffel says:

    There are plenty of places where the dollar is worth the same or more now than it was when Dubya took office. You just have to expand your horizons. Try Latin America (except Chile or Brazil), or nearly anywhere in Asia, for starters.

    Start here:
    http://www.worldscheapestdestinations.com

  16. karla says:

    Patrick , I have been to Grays, it rocks. And I did find some Big Red here just the other day…but I could swear the take out some of the heat or something. It doesn’t taste the same, where my jaw actually kind of siezes up when I chew it? Maybe it’s just my memories….sigh.

  17. Dave2 says:

    Sounds to me like the Big Red you got was old. The moisture slowly leaches out of the gum as it ages, and I think some of the flavor goes with it?

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