Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 1:31PM

first, b!tches

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 1:31PM

v e r y s l o w n e w s d a y .

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 1:32PM

shadesvilllle

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 1:32PM

We said there warn't no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 1:54PM

portugal due south - what?

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 1:54PM

Ha ha...that was a needed laugh on a dismal day.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 1:55PM

Ha ha--that was a needed laugh on a dismal day.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:02PM

Paraguay is indeed lovely at this time of the year. Nice weather, gorgeous girls and a stable economy w/ no failing banks and stable exchange rates. You can buy a lovely house for less than $150,000 and easily get by with less than $3000 a month. No wonder its considered one of the most affordable cities in the world.

Failed wall street execs are not welcome - we do have extradition treaties with the U.S.

- Proud Paraguayan reader of Dealbreaker

P.S.: The government is potentially looking for smart Wall Street banks interested in renegotiating /restructuring the $10-$20 billion debt load of the Itaipu Binational Hydrolectric Dam. Bear Stearns and Merril Lynch were once interested in doing so. (I'm serious!)

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:06PM

Paraguay is indeed lovely at this time of the year. Nice weather, gorgeous girls and a stable economy w/ no failing banks and stable exchange rates. You can buy a lovely house for less than $150,000 and easily get by with less than $3000 a month. No wonder its considered one of the most affordable cities in the world.

Failed wall street execs are not welcome - we do have extradition treaties with the U.S.

- Proud Paraguayan reader of Dealbreaker

P.S.: The government is potentially looking for smart Wall Street banks interested in renegotiating /restructuring the $10-$20 billion debt load of the Itaipu Binational Hydrolectric Dam. Bear Stearns and Merril Lynch were once interested in doing so. (I'm serious!)

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:07PM

And it can circle the globe without refueling:

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1866292/0

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:10PM

You're Paraguayan and refer to Paraguay as a city?

You've just earned honorary American citizenship for that display of profound stupidity.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:22PM

@#14...

Why is the turd Renwick selling Lone Ranger now? Things not going well for him?

The Guy from Delaware

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:23PM

Paraguay is landlocked.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:23PM

Portugaul, down south america way

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:27PM

Paraguay is landlocked.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:29PM

@5 Huckleberry Finn?

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:31PM

@14 great link!

did you see the remark at the end?

"Not for sale to US residents while in US waters."

What the hell does that mean?
a) It's now about to leave US waters, so any potential US buyers just hold your feets.
b) All currencies except $ accepted?

- old europe -

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 2:44PM

@15... you have delivered the line of the day.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 3:13PM

@21... You don't have to pay state sales tax if you sign the papers in international waters.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 3:47PM

@15 - You sure have a stick up your ass for being so anal about little omissions.

I meant to say: "You can buy a lovely house [in Asuncion] for less than $150,00..." Asuncion, the capital, has been ranked as one of the most affordable cities in the world by Mercer Management Consulting.

Of course, as an American you could not have fathomed to imagine I was referring to Asuncion, since you can barely recall the capital cities of your neighboring countries. Stupidity goes both ways apparently, and no thanks, you can keep the citizenship.

@17 - Yes, Paraguay is landlocked, but there is such a thing called the Paraguay and Parana rivers which allow you to navigate from the Atlantic Ocean, all the way north into the Port of Asuncion in Paraguay. Just because a country is landlocked doesn't mean they don't have access to the sea through navigable rivers.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 3:57PM

@24... no one cares. Paraguay is a speedbump on the way to Argentina.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 4:00PM

@24

So Asuncion is like Houston, then, but without hurricanes?
-Andrew

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 4:01PM

"...since you can barely recall the capital cities of your neighboring countries."

Fail again. The US isn't a neighboring country of Paraguay. I know you wish it were - then you could sneak over the border.

0 for 2 Einstein.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 4:16PM

@24

Sure, easy to sail up to Asuncion. Just about 500 miles upriver, and pay no attention to the terrorists / drug & arms dealers / human trafficking / money launderers etc. associated human scum you may come into contact with who are on their way to the infamous tri-border region.

But maybe that's just Uncle Roberto's business, to you. And perhaps that's why your dirty little capitol is so cheap.

Also, at no time did anyone say anything about a city. The post is about the country.

Before you continue disparaging Americans over their lack of geographic knowledge, keep in mind there are 50 states. We only pay attention to countries that AT LEAST have a GDP equivalent to California.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 4:18PM

@24

Sure, easy to sail up to Asuncion. Just about 500 miles upriver, and pay no attention to the terrorists / drug & arms dealers / human trafficking / money launderers etc. associated human scum you may come into contact with who are on their way to the infamous tri-border region.

But maybe that's just Uncle Roberto's business, to you. And perhaps that's why your dirty little capitol is so cheap.

Also, at no time did anyone say anything about a city. The post is about the country.

Before you continue disparaging Americans over their lack of geographic knowledge, keep in mind there are 50 states. We only pay attention to countries that AT LEAST have a GDP equivalent to California.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 5:05PM

Ms. Lewin -- as a supposed "journalist", you should make sure you have your facts straight. The Lone Ranger is owned by Progressive Chairman Peter Lewis, not CEO Glenn Renwick.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 5:09PM

@30
I am confident that many DB readers grateful for your correction.
Doesn't change the facts though. And Bess' name is Levin, not Lewin.

And, man, are these tricky times for you guys. I wouldn' post if I were you as they may seize your servers.

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 5:29PM

@25 - Proof of Geographical Idiocy #1: Argentina precedes Paraguay, if we are talking about taking a ship upriver.

@26 - Never been to Houston, but yes, I've heard similar comparisons, especially due to weather and the attitude of the people. Its all very similar to Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

@27 - Proof of Geographical Idiocy #2: Of course Paraguay isn't a neighboring country to the US. I was referring to a research study where it was found that a majority of Americans couldn't recall the name (and capital cities) of the two neighboring countries to the US. Hm, can you?

@28 - Proof of Geographic Idiocy #3: The tri-border region is far away from the Parana-Paraguay navigation route this hypothetical yacht would take. I would not bat an eye to navigate these rivers, since billion$ in soy and agricultural exports do so every year. Just because its a developing country doesn't mean its waterways are as dangerous as Somalia's and the Malacca straights. Stop daydreaming of being Sinbad the Sailor.

Asuncion is a jewel that is affordable because it has not been over-run by dumb-ass American tourists and investors who are always late to the party, as they were in Buenos Aires and Costa Rica, just to give an example. Europeans know how to spot value, because they know a little more about the world, and geography for the matter. They're going to cash in...

America's ignorance of the rest of the world is just another proof of the impending doom of the American era....when you have presidential candidates like John McCain saying that
Iraq and Pakistan share borders...you're in a world of pain.

I'm off to dump some dollars....

Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2008 6:19PM

@32

Check out how your jewel fares in the latest OSAC report

http://asuncion.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=65130

Select tidbits include:

In early 2007, the Paraguayan Ministry of Health issued an epidemiological warning due to the outbreak of Dengue Fever in Paraguay. Dengue Fever, a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, is present in both urban and rural areas.

Drivers throughout Paraguay routinely ignore traffic regulations and many Paraguayans drive without any insurance coverage. Furthermore, most urban streets consist of cobblestones over dirt.

As for geographical idiocy, how "far away" is the effect of the tri-border region from the city? Oh, I forgot that there's a 30-foot wall surrounding it.

Yeah, real jewel. How's your boyfriend liking his cubic zirconia?

Posted by guest , Sep 19, 2008 5:08PM

@33 - No biggie, you can always get a yellow fever vaccine and these were given out freely.

Reckless driving hampers your quality of life? Oh no, please move to South Dakota where the insurance premiums are the lowest in the U.S. With a big car and expert (affordable) chauffeurs, you can always get by anywhere in Paraguay. We've got plenty of paved roads where you need them. Asuncion ain't Managua, for those who know what I mean.

The triple frontier's problems do not foster high-seas or river piracy as you have implied. Yeah, there's some drug/gun/contraband smuggling, as in any part of the world, including the U.S., but if you are not directly involved, it does not hamper your quality of life

Paraguay is an undervalued asset for those who know how to live and manage risk, and for anybody who likes working hard and paying no income taxes. (Oh, did I mention that, yeah no income taxes.) The country ain't no dreamland either, but its definitely worth living in. For those who want to retire here and maximize the bang for their buck, its a no brainer.

@34 - There have been rumors about that, and there might be a degree of truth about them. I wouldn't be surprised if Bush or the Carlyle Group or someone associated with Bush has bought land in the Chaco region. Its definitely a good investment right now, since the price of land has skyrocketed due to commodity prices. Uruguayans and Argentinian investors regularly hire helicopters and planes to fly over land they're interested in buying and land prices have doubled/tripled in some areas.

Re: extradition, I highly doubt Bush would exile himself in Paraguay. We don't like former presidents/dictators...look at what happened to Somoza