Latest article for 21Cryptos magazine. Saving the world’s worst economic crisis with Cryptocurrency – discusses a few recent attempts by crypto-currency companies and foundations to stabilize Venezuelan hyper-inflation by increasing the adoption of crypto-currencies.
James McGirk
Writer specializing in finance, energy, emerging technologies, development, and longform content.
Kim Jong-un Contemplates His Failed Launch
The rocket had failed. Kim Jong-un snapped off his the monitor and turned to face his advisors. What could they possibly tell him? This was total failure. Five ashen men in uniform glittered in the gloom. They groveled and made excuses. Kim lifted a hand and batted the air as if to shoo a fly, and the men backed away slowly, heads bowed deeply in shame. He waited for them to leave and left the control room for his private chambers. The hallway smelled of sandalwood and cognac.
Marco Polo in Boulder, Colorado
Let me begin in the small mountain state of Colorado, in the city of Boulder, a city of some 60,000 souls laying approximately a day’s journey from the great aerodrome of Denver International Airport. Boulder is subject to the President of the United States of America, and its inhabitants worship myriad gods and goddesses, though most accept Jesus Christ as their lord. The city rests at the base of a great cliff, in the foothills the Rocky Mountains, the tallest and most forbidding of mountain ranges in the United States of America, though its highest peaks are dwarfed by the Himalayas.
Stage one of the ‘Middle Income Economies Microfund’
INVESTMENT THESIS
States are beginning to mature from resource- and foreign aid-based economies to ‘middle-income,’ as they transition demand begins to grow in predictable markets such as infrastructure, telecom, automobiles and consumer goods.
Many “emerging middle income” countries have endured strict state controls over the economy, such as Vietnam, Uganda, India… These sectors often are dominated by one or two companies. Well-managed companies will face little competition, particularly when insulated from foreign competition.
A “buy-and-hold” strategy will provide insulation from political and economic fluctuations over time and best take advantage of these growing economies.
Annual growth (after inflation) of these economies approaches and often exceeds 10 percent despite the poor performance of the global economy. Individual sectors have enjoyed much faster growth.
STAGE ONE: LOGISTICS – finding an online brokerage — one with a modest or non-existant annual fee — with access to emerging markets. The best so far is Scottrade which offers ADPs for Mexico, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Brazil. Vietnam offers online trading accounts… Another issue is finding index funds that focus on the sector to give me a little bit of insulation and breadth.
THOUGHTS? Please weigh in…
Rig Names
Piper Alpha… Deepwater Horizons… rigs have beautiful names.
The Deepwater Family:
Deepwater Discovery – Drillship type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. 2000
Deepwater Expedition – Drillship type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. 1999
Deepwater Frontier – Drillship type rig. Owned by Deepwater Drilling LLC. 1999
Deepwater Horizon – Semisub type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. 2001
Deepwater Millennium – Drillship type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. 1999
Deepwater Nautilus – Semisub type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. 2000
Deepwater Navigator – Drillship type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. 1971
Deepwater Pathfinder – Drillship type rig. Owned by Deepwater Drilling LLC. 1998
A few (all offshore):
Borgland Dolphin (a semisubmersible rig)
Cuu Long (VietSovPetro, 1982)
Dada Gorgud – Semisub type rig. Owned by Socar. 1980
Deepsea Trym
Ekofisk X – Platform Rig type rig. Owned by ConocoPhillips. (Also Eldofisk)
GSF Key Manhattan – Jackup type rig. Owned by GlobalSantaFe. 1980
Mad Dog – Platform Rig type rig. Owned by BP.
Ocean Whittington – Semisub type rig. Owned by Diamond Offshore. 1974
OffRig Pioneer – Semisub type rig. Owned by OffRig Drilling ASA. 2008
Perro Negro 4 – Jackup type rig. Owned by Saipem. 1977
Petrojack IV – Jackup type rig. Owned by Petrojack ASA. 2008
Petrolia – Semisub type rig. Owned by Petrolia Drilling. 1976
Rowan Gorilla IV – Jackup type rig. Owned by Rowan. 1986
SC Lancer – Drillship type rig. Owned by Schahin Cury. 1977
Scooter Yeargain – Jackup type rig. Owned by Rowan. 2004
Sea of Azov Rig 02 – Platform Rig type rig. Owned by Chernomorneftegaz.
Searex 10 – Tender type rig. Owned by Marlin Offshore International. 1983
Searex 4 – Inland Barge type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. 1981
Shahid Modarress – Jackup type rig. Owned by NIOC. 1974
Shelf 7 – Semisub type rig. Owned by Lukoil. 2004
Sneferu – Jackup type rig. Owned by Egyptian Drilling. 1980
Snorre Rig 01 – Platform Rig type rig. Owned by Statoil.
Super Sundowner XXI – Platform Rig type rig. Owned by Nabors Offshore. 2006
Thistle – Platform Rig type rig. Owned by BP.
Transocean Polar Pioneer – Semisub type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. 1985
Transocean Wildcat – Semisub type rig. Owned by Vildkat Holdings Camyan Ltd. 1977
Troll – Platform Rig type rig. Owned by Statoil.
Viking Producer – Semisub type rig. Owned by Viking Drilling ASA. 1969
West Titania – Jackup type rig. Owned by Seatankers. 1981
WilStrike – Jackup type rig. Owned by Awilco AS. 2009
Zoser – Jackup type rig. Owned by Egyptian Drilling. 1982
There aren’t many old ones. I sought them out.
Via. Subsea.org