Taxis
Daily Ramble
I’m not the most well-traveled person, but I know, after being to 26 different countries, the majority of which I could speak but a few words of the local language, that the likelihood of getting scammed or weaseled out of my hard-earned dough is pretty high—a traveler’s tax. The worst fleecing I received in all my travels was in Jordan, where I traveled to see Wadi Rum, Petra, and the Red and Dead Seas. The natural and historical context of Jordan were top, bar none. Absolutely stunning. Traveling from Amman, the capital, down to Petra, we took a paid tour to wander our way down the King’s Highway of biblical reference. Seeing the places referenced by the ancient biblical figures I’d grown up with was a spine-tingling connection with history. The taxi drivers were a slap of cold, stark reality, though.
Taxi drivers everywhere are the most scammy of the folks you’ll interact with. I’m sorry if you’re a taxi driver, and I’m swiping my brushstroke too broadly. But, it’s true. Unless you have researched typical rates to go from your point of arrival to your accommodations, you’re likely to be given rates at least double the average. It’s just the typical predator-prey relationship in action. You’re a stranger with a wallet, and they’re a local. If you’re not researched, expect to overpay and consider it a hidden tax for your stupidity at not understand local customs. I learned that lesson and accepted it over my travels. No problem there.
However, on three separate occasions, while traveling in Jordan, I had negotiated cab fare with my driver, hopped into the cab, and set off for my destination. The cab driver pulled over several kilometers into the trip and asked for a new fare—literally, extortion. Now, if you have but the vaguest idea of where you are, don’t speak Arabic, and are considered a walking wallet by the locals, your ability to talk your way out of the situation is pretty limited. I did my best the first couple of times. The last time, I lost my lid and started shouting at the driver. Probably not the safest approach, but I told him I’d absolutely pay him his extortion, but I wanted his ID first because, when we arrived, I was walking right to the local police to report his actions. He choked out a weird little laugh, then said it was all a big joke, and he was glad I understood.
Moral of the story: take Uber when you’re abroad. It may be hated by local taxi drivers, but unless you’re traveling with a local or are well versed in the local customs, you’re going to get hosed by the local taxi drivers.
“I’m Glad That’s His Job” Things on the Interweb
Bitcoin Price Prediction
Yesterday: $29.7k - $32.6k
Today: $31.5k - $33.5k
Weekend: $29.7k - $33.5k
The bullish push we experienced two days ago is getting a bit long in the tooth. That doesn’t mean that we see a collapse to new lows, but it does mean that the bulls are exhausting themselves trying to push the price higher. If we do get a pullback today, it will be key to see where the bulls stage a rally, if they can. Anything below $30.8k starts to get dicey again. At the moment, we’re trading just over $32.2k, which continues to be a key line in the sand for bulls. The bulls want to end the week over it, and the bears want to see the price end the week below. It’s not clear how it will play out, but it is clear to me that we’re in a critical moment for the bulls to show they are in charge and not going to allow the bears too much leeway.
Bitcoin Q & A
Q: Is Bitcoin an asset?
A: Yes.
An asset is a resource with economic value. In an inflationary time period, assets increase in price. Many assets, like real estate, may be out of reach for newer investors, but being able to purchase as little as a penny’s worth of Bitcoin makes Bitcoin an asset accessible to everyone. During inflation, accessing assets is everyone’s best bet to riding out the inflationary time period with their value intact.
Thanks for reading,
Kent
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