https://fortune.com/2023/08/14/vladimir-putin-russia-ruble-dollar-ukraine-war/
“They’re laughing at us.”
On Amazon you can get a 24pk of Charmin toilet paper for $37. That's $1.56 per roll.
There are 150 sheets of toilet paper on a roll so that's $0.01⁰⁴ per sheet.
The Russian ruble is at 101.00R to $1.00USD, making it equivalent to $0.00⁹ (9 mil) in USD.
It's now officially cheaper to wipe your ass with Russian money than toilet paper
If you use 1 rubel coins, sure. Personally, I prefer to splurge on TP.
Let me know once the 50 rubel note is cheaper than a sheet of TP.
If you use 1 rubel coins, sure
I'm pretty sure the metal value of a 1 ruble coin is worth a substantially more in it's weight in metal than 1 ruble
The same can be said about the US penny and nickel. Both cost at least double their value to produce.
While true for the penny at least ($0.03 melt value (for solid copper pennies before 1982)) that's the lowest value coin we have. What's a Kopeck worth vs it's metal value?
I remember it used to be 1/13 of its metal value, but I can't Google it up quickly and the ratio has probably changed since then anyway.
Yeah, you think your chlamydia is bad now? Wipe you ass with some ones. As a sciencer, just wait about 48 hours between receiving new paper money and wiping.
In Snow Crash (Neal Stephenson) it makes fun of this, with the company complaining that paper money is clogging the toilets as people use this because it's a lot cheaper than toilet paper because of extreme inflation.
NEW TP POOL REGULATIONS
I’ve been asked to distribute the new regulations regarding office pool displays. The enclosed memo is a new subchapter of the EBGOC Procedure Manual, replacing the old subchapter entitled PHYSICAL PLANT/CALIFORNIA/LOS ANGELES/BUILDINGS/OFFICE AREAS/PHYSICAL LAYOUT REGULATIONS/EMPLOYEE INPUT/GROUP ACTIVITIES.
The old subchapter was a flat prohibition on the use of office space or time for “pool” activities of any kind, whether permanent (e.g., coffee pool) or one-time (e.g., birthday parties).
This prohibition still applies, but a single, onetime exception has now been made for any office that wishes to pursue a joint bathroom-tissue strategy.
By way of introduction, let me just make a few general comments on this subject. The problem of distributing bathroom tissue to workers presents inherent challenges for any office management system due to the inherent unpredictability of usage—not every facility usage transaction necessitates the use of bathroom tissue, and when it is used, the amount needed (number of squares) may vary quite widely from person to person and, for a given person, from one transaction to the next. This does not even take into account the occasional use of bathroom tissue for unpredictable/creative purposes such as applying/removing cosmetics, beverage-spill management, etc. For this reason, rather than trying to package bathroom tissue in small one-transaction packets (as is done with premoistened towelettes, for example), which can be wasteful in some cases and limiting in other cases, it has been traditional to package this product in bulk distribution units whose size exceeds the maximum amount of squares that an individual could conceivably use in a single transaction (barring force majeure). This reduces to a minimum the number of transactions in which the distribution unit is depleted (the roll runs out) during the transaction, a situation that can lead to emotional stress for the affected employee. However, it does present the manager with some challenges in that the distribution unit is rather bulky and must be repeatedly used by a number of different individuals if it is not to be wasted.
Since the implementation of Phase XVII of the Austerity Program, employees have been allowed to bring their own bathroom tissue from home. This approach is somewhat bulky and redundant, as every worker usually brings their own roll.
Some offices have attempted to meet this challenge by instituting bathroom-tissue pools.
Without overgeneralizing, it may be stated that an inherent and irreducible feature of any bathroom-tissue pool implemented at the office level, in an environment (i.e., building) in which comfort stations are distributed on a per-floor basis (i.e., in which several offices share a single facility) is that provision must be made within the confines of the individual office for temporary stationing of bathroom tissue distribution units (i.e., rolls). This follows from the fact that if the BTDUs (rolls) are stationed, while inactive, outside of the purview of the controlling office (i.e., the office that has collectively purchased the BTDU)—that is, if the BTDUs are stored, for example, in a lobby area or within the facility in which they are actually utilized, they will be subject to pilferage and “shrinkage” as unauthorized persons consume them, either as part of a conscious effort to pilfer or out of an honest misunderstanding, i.e., a belief that the BTDUs are being provided free of charge by the operating agency (in this case the United States Government), or as the result of necessity, as in the case of a beverage spill that is encroaching on sensitive electronic equipment and whose management will thus brook no delay. This fact has led certain offices (which shall go unnamed—you know who you are, guys) to establish makeshift BTDU depots that also serve as pool-contribution collection points. Usually, these depots take the form of a table, near the door closest to the facility, on which the BTDUs are stacked or otherwise deployed, with a bowl or some other receptacle in which participants may place their contributions, and typically with a sign or other attention-getting device (such as a stuffed animal or cartoon) requesting donations. A quick glance at the current regulations will show that placement of such a display/depot violates the procedure manual. However, in the interests of employee hygiene, morale, and group spirit-building, my higher-ups have agreed to make a one-time exception in the regulations for this purpose.
As with any part of the procedure manual, new or old, it is your responsibility to be thoroughly familiar with this material. Estimated reading time for this document is 15.62 minutes (and don’t think we won’t check). Please make note of the major points made in this document, as follows:
BTDU depot/displays are now allowed, on a trial basis, with the new policy to be reviewed in six months.
These must be operated on a voluntary, pool-type basis, as described in the subchapter on employee pools. (Note: This means keeping books and tallying all financial transactions.)
BTDUs must be brought in by the employees (not shipped through the mailroom) and are subject to all the usual search-and-seizure regulations.
Scented BTDUs are prohibited as they may cause allergic reactions, wheezing, etc. in some persons.
Cash pool donations, as with all monetary transactions within the U.S. Government, must use official U.S. currency—no yen or Kongbucks!
Naturally, this will lead to a bulk problem if people try to use the donation bucket as a dumping ground for bundles of old billion- and trillion-dollar bills. The Buildings and Grounds people are worried about waste-disposal problems and the potential fire hazard that may ensue if large piles of billions and trillions begin to mount up. Therefore, a key feature of the new regulation is that the donation bucket must be emptied every day—more often if an excessive build-up situation is seen to develop.
In this vein, the B & G people would also like me to point out that many of you who have excess U.S. currency to get rid of have been trying to kill two birds with one stone by using old billions as bathroom tissue. While creative, this approach has two drawbacks:
It clogs the plumbing, and
It constitutes defacement of U.S. currency, which is a federal crime.
DON’T DO IT.
Join your office bathroom-tissue pool instead. It’s easy, it’s hygienic, and it’s legal.
Happy pooling!
Marietta.
Shows that the $60 oil cap is working. The Russian central bank will likely raise interest rates to halt the slide. Unless Russia can boost it's exports or reduce it's imports there are no other options. Putin is unlikely to reduce spending on the war so in the end it is ordinary Russians who will bear the brunt of this.
I don't think that's fair. Yes, some are supportive of the invasion, some are passively complicit, but those against it are likely afraid to speak up. They have to think about their future and their loved ones. People were being arrested for literally standing and holding a blank sheet of paper in protest, and in Russia I don't think the legal system is quiiiiite as accountable and human-rights-ish as in the US. It's easy (and a bit shitty) for us to judge those not willing to put their life on the line for Truth when we're behind a keyboard and not the ones taking the risk.
Every population ever had to suffer before they decided revolt is a good idea. When they are dying and have nothing left to loose. That's when stuff happens.
What action was the general public supposed to take? Opposing voices have ended up in jail or worse. If you think this can't happen to you in your country then you're very much mistaken!
What's this "whole country" thing...how do you get that to happen? No, I'm seriously asking cause as an American, I wanna know how we can revolt for healthcare and a livable wage. Just takes all of us right? Maybe tomorrow 🤞
In other countries, when things got bad enough, people would revolt all over the country like a wildfire. Basically, people decided to stop showing up at work and start occupying government's buildings so the government can't function. Police will initially show up and arrest people, but after a few days they'll eventually give up because they simply can't arrest all those people. Military may show up, and depending on how tight the relationship between the military and the current government, the military may decide to back the government and start a civil war, or side with the people and strip the current government from power. We had the latter happened in our country so things got resolved pretty fast and the new government successfully set up without prolonged bloodshed (though bloodshed did happen and many innocent lives lost due to clash with the authorities or looters targeting minorities to rob their home during the chaos).
Its funny that people like you believe in this bullshit, and then shit on russians for believing in propoganda as if you dont do the same :)
We don't know the real numbers and likely will not be able to know. When one of the answers has the potential to land you in prison, public polls are pretty useless.
However, if you talk to any anti-war Russians, they will tell you that from their observations the majority support the war and the 70-80% figure is in the right ballpark. Explicit support is just too common. A person who doesn't support the war will probably say that he doesn't want to answer the question or discuss the topic. They won't say that they want Ukraine eradicated.
Every population is susceptible to propaganda. But Russia is on a completely different level. For many, when they see something with their own eyes but the TV says the opposite, they believe the TV. And the TV says blatantly and easily verifiably false things. Such blatant propaganda wouldn't work in the West.
Thats because some anti-war people have unrealistic expectations to what they consider support. Not enough to just not like it. Anything less then beaten up by police and lost yout job on protest is not enough. Hell, before Navalny got to prison there were rumours, every now and then, that he is kremlin project to divide opposition, so the barrier to count as antiwar could be even "actively tortured in prison" for some.
When in reality 75% of the population dont give a fuck and wont care both if putin conquers europe or if they are separated from moscow by 4 new country borders.
What is Fox News then? Would you not say that it's successful blatant lies being propagated in the west?
Yeah I also heard the American banking system is as strong as ever... 👀. Not like they'd actually tell us and risk a bank run!
Ordinary Russians either support the war or have no qualms with it. Maybe if it starts affecting their day to day life, some of them will change their stance.
Well yeah, no shit, it was kind of expected.
It lasted one more year than it should have but now the pressure will gradually and slowly build up on Russia's side.
All Ukrainians have to do now is defend, chill out and wait.
Your move, Putin.
Why everyone fall down stairs and out windows all the time?
- falling rubles..."stable rubles;" stable footing
Well, to be honest the ruble has been sucking for a while:
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=RUB&to=USD&view=5Y
However, it now sucks more.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
On Sunday, images were shared online of a small symbolic protest mounted in western Siberia: A building’s chyron kept repeating the message that “Putin is a dickhead and a thief,” calling the ruble’s exchange rate “crazy.”
Nonetheless, Russia’s central bank decided to freeze purchases of foreign currency on the domestic market through the remainder of this year to restore faith in the sliding ruble.
The economic situation in the United States by contrast is deteriorating fast,” then Fox News host Tucker Carlson, a chief critic of U.S. aid to Kyiv, said last April.
Nabiullina was celebrated for cleverly steering her financial system through the worst of the turmoil by placing a range of capital controls that quickly stabilized the currency and prevented mass outflows.
“They were a quick fix for the ruble in 2022, but are counterproductive in the long run,” wrote Janis Kluge, senior associate at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, last week.
The Russian army is attempting to defend large swaths of territory seized in the early months of the invasion against a Kyiv counteroffensive boasting modern Western military equipment.
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Well yeah, no shit, it was kind of expected.
It lasted one more year than it should have but now the pressure will gradually and slowly build up on Russia's side.
All Ukrainians have to do now is defend, chill out and wait.
Your move, Putin.
You are right, the spot exchange rate at a given point in time is random and tells you nothing (nothing!) about the strength of a currency (or economy). Japan is a great example.
What, however, does indicate a weakening or economic downturn is the uncontrolled depreciation of a currency, which errodes savings, threatens foreign debt paybacks, and makes imports more expensive
The Yen is relatively stable for decades at its spot. The Rubel is sliding against monetary and fiscal efforts, which indicates deeper macroeconomic issues.
"Deeper economic issues" is one of nicer things he's been called since he started openly warmongering.
Year over year, the yen is down 8.3% vs USD
Year over year, the rouble is down 46.2% vs USD
People aren't talking about absolute value. Being worth 0.01 of one dollar or 300 of one dollar doesn't say anything.
People are saying it with the context of the previous value.
If there is a headline saying Euro/dollar has reached 1.30, no one should be responding "so what, the Canadian dollar is 1.35". Because everyone knows the context of Euro/dollar not being near that rate for a long time.
What's misleading about it? His inner circle aren't upset? He has an inner hexagon rather than a circle?
You see comrade, this is misleading title. The mighty Russian rouble is worth one mighty Russian Rouble.
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A ruble has only been worth less than a penny one other time in the last 20 years, and that was in Feb 2022. After which Russia instituted a plethora of monetary policies to get it back under control. But the price has been steadily sliding back down.
What economic change will Putin make to stabilize the currency, besides raising interest rates?
I see the trend continuing. How long can the trend continue without social unrest?
Who wants to hold Russian currency?
The problem is so massive that the social implications are hard to grasp.