Frank's Not Nuts After All

Happy Frank

Frank26 is back though he now uses the name Frank Villa which may be his real name.  The seeming loss of many mental marbles a few weeks ago was apparently a pressure symptom as he transitioned his altruistic-oriented, nominally Christian blog into a commercial enterprise.  We should have seen this coming when he put on his suit and his mafia tie.  I don't blame he guy for making a living - and what he's put together at frankvilladinar.com is actually pretty darn brilliant.  Many of the believers from KTF Missions have found him by now and the blogs are full of prayers and blessings.  There are now three conference calls per week, each of which contains an introduction to the commercial side of his website and two of which feature a presentation by source Delta.

For dinarmaniacs, the best part of Frank's presentation is Delta.  The guy just seems genuinely plugged in as much as anyone can be.  While Frank is saying, "I never give a rate or a date but watch for something momentous between 5/16 and 5/22 at $3.22," Delta is saying, "We really don't know but we wait for Shabibi."

Bottom line here?  I'm glad Frank is able to finally support himself with this website.  I never fault the clever entrepreneur.  And I'm delighted I can continue to get insight from Delta.  What do you think?

Is Frank26 Going Insane?

Yesterday, it was announced that Frank26 had resigned from KTFM.  How ironic is it that I read the news just as I was about to post the following:

Frank26, Fading from View

If you have been following Frank26 at www.ktfmissions.com since September of 2010, maybe you have noticed…  he seems to be losing his mind.  Why do I say this?  His posts are becoming fewer and fewer and when they appear, contain new edginess, obscurity and impatience.  His conference calls which have always been egotistical and cryptic, now ramble on with repeated information, factual contradictions in the same sentence, voids of forgetfulness, and quick anger at any critics.  “How dare this man criticize me on my own forum; cut him off the website!”  It’s the megalomaniacal Queen of Hearts: “Off With Their Heads.” 

I don’t know if it’s the split Christian/Commercial personality of KTFM, the pressure of so many failed predictions with the IQD, the disappointment of two years of effort with no income, the weight of leading a virtual flock of thousands or a thin skin, but Frank is getting hard to take. 

I appreciate the Christian underpinnings of the site.  There are many prayer warriors in the Frank Followers who have given and received tangible prayer blessings from the flock.  Heck, I even like the cook book.  But the reason so many people follow KTFM is for information.  Til recently, it has been worth sitting through an hour of Frank’s awful singing, Frankspeak rambling, talking over his guests and advertising his omnimedia website… just to get to Delta.  In an investment where there does not seem to be one reliable fact, Delta who watches Iraqi TV and consults with his GOI insider cousin give us believable encouragement that things are moving forward.  Sometimes his predictions come true.  Beyond that, Frank adds only distraction.

All our problems would be solved of course if the IQD would RV for $1.00 or more.  Then maybe Frank could relax and I could be off to the islands.  Meanwhile, Frank, get a grip.

Update:
Now, on April 6, 2011, we learn Frank left KTFM to run the forum at his for-pay website: http://www.omnimediacast.com/frankvilla/.  If you don't want to pay for access to Frank's site - and listen to Frank singing, you can pick up transcripts of conference calls including insight from Delta and Eagle at Dinar Daddy, Chats & Posts section. 

Jumped Out of My Skin

This morning at 7 a.m. my phone buzzed telling me I had TWO text messages.  I never get texts at that hour.  And today is the day the Emir of Kuwait is supposed to show up in Iraq with PAPERS.  Iraq is nine hours ahead.  Dang, that Emir could have come and gone.  And I’ve got my phone listed with FIVE organizations to ALERT me when the RV is announced.  My eyes shot open.  My heart started pounding.  I grabbed the phone and found out it was only Sandy sending me a reminder before she went to work.  S**T!  Near heart attack for nothing.

Shabibi, Text Me, Man!

It got me thinking, however, what really WILL happen when the RV is announced? There are more than a million of us dinarmaniacs in the US alone, many with involved spouses and families – let’s say three million hopeful souls.  That means at least five million instant texts sent from various dinar sources, double that if they double up, maybe 15 million near heart attacks.  But that’s just the beginning.  50 million tearful prayers of thanks pour into Heaven.  Now the emails start to fly – everywhere.  Phone calls hit DinarTrade like a tsunami bigger than the one that slammed Japan.  Servers moan across the land and some give up.

Phones at banks all over America start ringing and don’t stop.  If you are one of those with a personal relationship with some bank president, you’ll be calling good old Joe RIGHT NOW.  Another three million calls to DinarTrade.  Their 5,000 phone lines are choked so you call again and again.  A million more calls to our Dinar Daddy.  Airlines are swamped with reservations to Belize. A caravan bigger than the Million Man March heads for Toledo.   People who were normal, good-hearted folk have now turned into crazed dinarmaniacs, anxious to cash in their 10,000% capital gain.  It’s a feeding frenzy, piranhas all tearing at the same pig.  For awhile

Two weeks later, the market for pleasure boats skyrockets.  Land prices rise.  The banks are flush with money as mortgages are paid off.  They’re making a fortune in spreads and wire transfer fees.  All kinds of unsold real estate goes under contract.  The stock market rockets up.   Businesses that have held off releasing new products or expansion pull the trigger while new businesses are launched.  Employment jumps.  O takes the credit and, now that we can afford it, invades Libya, making it the 51^st state.

One month after RV, we realize the US economy is saved.  Same for Europe.  China starts selling US debt to Kuwait.   Gasoline prices drop to $1.50 / gallon because the U.S. is trading dinars for oil, as agreed and, of course, we own Libya.  

Wait, didn’t my phone just buzz a few minutes ago?  I must have fallen back asleep.  What a delicious dream.   

Maliki Fighting His DNA in Developing Democracy

The gains in Iraq are all that much more impressive when one understands that the Arab culture is one of personal power and control.  As much as Maliki & Co. say they are attempting to create a working democracy, he and they fighting at least 6,000 years of tribal culture where it is common to keep the masses numb, dumb and poor.

Since the Arab culture is that way, is it not surprising that Islam would contain the same ingredients?  Unlike Christianity, Islam was not founded on principles of loving one another and caring for the widows and orphans.  Islam is based on survival of the family, the tribe, the sect, the Caliphate, the Sultanate, the Emirate, the Kingdom to the extent that any threat to the entity will be dealt with by death.  This is why we see peon migrant labor in Arab countries – a population excluded from citizens who may share in the country’s wealth.  They are not family.  It is why we see radical laws against foreigners.  They are not family. 

Nouri al-Maliki, fighting his DNA

Even if you are part of the Islamic entity, unless you are in a position of control, you are still a peon.  I watched in Cairo while the local Caliph sat in a tea shop like a Godfather in Sicily was visited by his people seeking favors, bowing, scraping, kissing the ring.  For, you see, Islam gives that Caliph or that Emir complete control over your family relations, your job, your position in society and your faith life.  He (and it is always He) has complete power over you and the ones you love.  If he grants you a divorce, a job, a prayer, you owe him.  He can collect the favor at any time.  He will not forget.

Let’s overlay this culture on Iraq.  Maliki currently has ultimate power.  He got the position because he took it and gave others power.  Why hasn’t he hurried to pass out benefits to 4 million poor people?  IMO, his embedded DNA says they should stay that way.  They are easier to control that way.  There is more in it for him if they stay that way.  Why is it so easy for him to delay social benefits?  Because he has several hundred Members of Parliament with the same DNA.  Why won’t he expedite the decision to RI or RV the currency and enrich the entire nation?  Because, in the Muslim/Arab mind, that would allow the common man, the peon, the women, to become educated and economically self-sufficient – which eliminates the need to depend on the parent theocracy – and erodes the Caliph’s power… his ability to be the chosen voice of Allah.  He says he wants to – but his gut says no – but maybe he could have more power if he did – but his ancestors and his Prophet never did – but maybe – but no – but, but, but…

The world is pushing Maliki to make his country’s currency viable on the world stage.  And some day, when the pressure becomes too great, he will do it.  But you can see it in his face… he’s struggling.   It’s against his nature to do so.  Because, Allah forbid, another tribe might benefit as well.

Discouragement Over RV Setting In

“What the (bleep) are you waiting for?”

“How hard can it be?

“Git ‘er Done!”

“These idiots are gonna blow the whole deal!”

Some Day The Cash Will Come...

Have you read these comments on the blogs?  Do you get the idea people are getting discouraged with the IQD investment?  Frankly, between the hype of the dinar sellers, the frequent “sure things” by the dinar rumorists and all the authoritative statements on the conference calls over the last year, people have become eerily quiet, like, they’ve given up.   Perhaps it’s finally settled in that we have no control and virtually zero accurate information about what is really going on – and we are beginning to feel pretty stupid about falling for the IQD story. 

There are some pretty smart, knowledgeable “git ‘er done” people in the IQD investment community.  You can tell from the posts.  The advice from most of them is, “it’s got to happen, all we have to do is wait.”  But for people who will lose their homes this month if it doesn’t happen, people who are champing at the bit to fund charitable projects, people who need funds to retire, and the guy who really wants to buy a big boat for his kids this summer, waiting is painful.

The real danger of delay is that Iraq will fall back into civil unrest, undoing most of the work, money and blood spent in creating a democracy.  It’s a very real possibility.  The final ministers aren’t ratified yet and the Parliament is talking about taking a TWO MONTH break from April to June.  Now is the time for Maliki to put the finishing touches on his government.  He is the man.  Let’s see if he’s got the guts.   Meanwhile,

“Maliki, we are waiting for you!!”

“…great, they are going backwards in democracy.”

Also meanwhile more food for disappointment… or is it???, “Mohammid my buddy for over 25 years working for B.S.I. inc. out of Baghdad said he just got the word to change computer chips in all B.S.I. vending machines throughout Baghdad and outlying cities no later than 17 MAR. He told me his Superior told him to hold his IQD also because it would soon be worth 2.77 US.”

Iraq Protesters “Days of Irritation”

"Oh, give me a home where the oil trucks roam"

You may have read about how much pressure “the people” were putting on their government on Friday February 25 with their “days of rage” protest.  Approximately 10,000 bored, hungry people showed up in eight cities carrying signs.  Out of more than 25 million citizens, 10,000 showed up.  Security forces shot a few because they were trying to burn down buildings and then they went home.  Yesterday, a few hundred came back to protest.  This doesn’t sound like much rage to me, more like “irritation.”

There’s no doubt people are pissed that the government is taking so long to provide services, but the gripe in Iraq is nothing like the gripes in Egypt, Tunisia or Libya where MILLIONS are truly enraged and thousands are dying for their cause. 

So, what’s going on here?  Are the Iraqis protesting just to be one of the gang?  Is this some kind of Maliki Theater to put pressure on the various factions, sects, caliphates, tribes and castes?  Or is it Allawi Theater to make life uncomfortable for the Maliki machine?   Or is it just some bored hungry people with sign boards.

One thing is clear.  The Iraqis have a lot less to gripe about than many of their neighbors.  And in the end, if Maliki ever gives the nation a tradeable currency, the protests will be few and far between. 

Watermelon Found!!!!

In an earlier post, we talked about the interesting language that comes out of the Google translation of Arabic. At that time, we often came across the term "watermelon" but could not come up with a reference.  Well, here's one found on February 12, 2011 in a news bit describing ministers approved by Parliament:

"The most prominent of the ministries that have been approved by the electricity that is assigned to the Iraqi List led by Iyad Allawi. The source added that the ministers who approved them, they thunder Falh Ani (electricity) and the good of God’s good Babiker (trade) and just Mhodr Maliki (Municipalities and Public Works) and the invocation Zaidi (women). The regulation also includes the ministers of state beauty watermelon (without portfolio) and Amer Khuzaie (National Reconciliation) and exotic Kazem (for civil society)."


Oh, yeah!  But... just who thunders Fahl Ani anyway?  And who came up with the title of God's good Babiker for the Minister of Trade? I pray to God the Minister of Parliament given Exotic Kazem is a woman.  And, here we're getting to the crux of the matter... just what kind of portfolio do you think might have been under the control of the Ministers of State Beauty Watermelon? 

Oh, now I see.

Disappointment in Maliki Runs Deep

Surely the RV would happen by the end of 2010, the blogs said.  Surely it would happen in January, they hoped when it didn’t.  And now that Maliki has let the Feb. 15 deadline pass without RV, disappointment has hit a new high.  Here are avatars of active people on the dinar investment fora and some of their thoughts:

“I’ve had it with those rag-hat, sand-pounding, camel-eating illegitimate sons of Abraham.  No two of them speak the same truth.  A contract means nothing.”

“The pressure is so great – from the Arab world, the IMF, the Joe Biden Band, banks, businesses with contracts, governments, investors and the 28 million Iraqi people who are starving – something’s gotta happen and if the GOI doesn’t act soon – with tangible results, everything done to date will fall apart in anger.

“Everybody’s wrong while the dinar pumpers get rich.”

“The thing that gets me is all these so-called sources on the conference calls.  They are so confident, they sound so connected.  Thousands of us thirst for their words.  The hosts bow and scrape in gratitude for the nuggets being shared but, in fact, they are as much in the dark as every other person who’s not Maliki.  It’s all smoke.”

“If we are disappointed, think how the Iraqi people must feel.  Many are starving.  Most are unemployed.  The natural Arab drive for commerce is being squelched because the currency is worthless.  Frustration, frustration, frustration.  The country remains isolated from the world because its currency is not tradeable.  And the babies die.  And the fields remain uncultivated.  And the oil waits underground.  And the ships in the harbor rust at their moorings, unloaded.”

And so we wait.

Let’s Rate the Dinar Blogs

Once you jump into the swirling eddy of information that surrounds the IQD, it’s easy to get swallowed, kind of like being in a toilet while it is flushing.  I find new sources of info everyday… heck, I added this blog less than a month ago.  They all have their personalities.  And now, after swirling in the ever-quickening stream for over a year, I offer my opinion of each one based on its value as an information source.  Just my opinion, offered for your enlightenment and entertainment.  Would appreciate your opinion as well.

DinarVets - Rating ****

Adam Montana, the "guy who wrote the book on the dinar" operates this site on two levels.  In its public persona, it offers all the commentary, rumors and user-generated info any site can offer.  Very civil.  In its private, or VIP persona, it offers virtually no news at all.  News arrives by the site owner's email when it is absolutely true and a done deal.  The emphasis for VIP is what to do "after RV..."  how to cash out economically including offshore banking advice - and promises of business investment opportunities after RV.  You will never find "rate and date" info here but VIPs can expect text messages and emails once the RV happens - along with resources for taxes, estate planning, specially negotiated exchange rates with banks, etc.  Following DinarVets makes you believe the RV is real.

Dinar Daddy's Tidbits - Rating ****

The forum on this site is pure news with backup links.  There is no chitchat.  There is no sense of insidership.  The purpose of the site is to attract attention so they can sell more dinar.  Now that we understand that, and whether we buy dinar or not there, we still appreciate the up-to-date news - with better translations than found anywhere else.

KTF Missions - Rating ***

As arguably the most-visited dinar site in the world, KTFM offers voluminous user content led by Frank Villa, known as Frank26.  The site is heavily overlain with Christian sentiment including much prayer and a very caring on-line community.  Heck, they even have their own cook book.  It is here that the RV was first called "the blessing" which, when it occurs, certainly is apt. As for its news content, I would characterize the info on KTFM conference calls and written notes as well-reasoned, passionate, collaborative conjecture.  And maybe that's the best that can come out of a very unformed, secretive Iraq.  Frank26 is diligent as he sticks to his 1-2-3 predictions, cautions against reading too much into the information presented, and counsels people to be ever-patient.  People appreciate the effort he puts out with his mods and admins.

CurrencyChatter - Rating **

These guys, commonly known as the GET team, are way behind in the Iraq news cycle.  The site tries to do a lot of things, only one of which is Iraqi dinar info.  News is typically days old.  But rumors are fresh and common.  This is the home of Okie the Oilman and various other imaginative prognosticators so if you want a boost where you can hear someone say "It's happening TODAY," this is the place.  

Dinartrade - Rating *

This is not a news site but the sales site where Ali sells dinars.  Nevertheless, there is a button for "Latest news" and it is interesting to see what this Iraqi-based organization, chooses as news.  Most is economic, building a case for Iraq as a pending super-economy.  You'll never find a hint of rate or date here which is consistent with what Ali says in interviews.  Worth visiting once every other week... until the RV happens at which time, Ali will send you a text message on your phone with the best news of all. 

A Clash of Sources - Budget or No Budget

One of the great frustrations about following events in Iraq and especially those factors that affect the Iraqi Dinar is that the sources of information are voluminous and we can't really tell who knows what they're talking about.  There are innumerable bloggers - the best of which provide links to their sources.  There are also many news sources - which tend to contradict themselves.  And then of course there is the translation factor - we speakers of American English are just not able to easily glean the meaning of Googletranslated English from Arabic.

Whenever it happens, the banks are ready

Here is an example that happened today:
Source Number One says: "Iraqi Government Passes Budget."  We have been waiting for this for a long time; I'm about to jump out of my chair for joy.  Then Source Number Two says: "Budget NOT approved but Article 140 is passed."  Good thing I didn't jump out of my chair.  Then Source Number Three says: "An Amendment to Budget Has Passed (but not the whole thing)."  Okay, that's a step but still feeling deflated.  Then at 9:31 a.m. Source Number Four says (without a link), "Budget Reading Postponed to 2/13."  Now it's sounding like the original news is really bogus.  But then Source Number Five at 9:39 a.m. says (with link): "Budget Passed." Now I'm feeling good again.  Then the last source says:  "Budget to be voted on tomorrow."  Now, that's more like it.  Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps time in its own petty pace, especially in Baghdad.   But I can live with that. 

In fact, I'll just live with whatever happens, but my question is, where there is a situation as cut-and-dried as having a bill pass or not pass, why aren't the sources consistent?  IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS.  How about you?  Anybody else following this stuff?  Lemme know.  Meanwhile, fingers crossed at least until tomorrow.

Okay, Here's Another One

I thought we were done with exploring funny translations, but this just came along today and I had to share:

January 27, 2011 04:12 pm · Posted in NEWS (Iraq & World Currency)

New costumes law to affect Iraqi economy positively, says MP

(excerpt from news story, paragraph 2)

In a statement to the National Iraqi News Agency NINA “The new law will reduce inflammation of goods in the Iraqi markets and encourages the Iraqi Private Sector to increase agricultural and industrial production to support national production.   The law will also help to reduce and prevent entrance of bad or illegal goods into Iraq,” he added.

I'm really excited to see what costumes they're gonna wear to positively affect the economy.  Hopefully Obama and company are watching as well.  And any law that reduces inflammation is really good in my book.  (and this was NOT a translation by Google).  

Lost in Translation

We know the best information coming from Iraq comes in Arabic.  If we really want to know what's going on, get the firsthand scoop, we should watch Iraq TV and follow the local news services in the native language.  Those of us who don't speak Arabic but still snarf around to find every tidbit of real news we can find are stuck with Google translations and the results can be hilarious.
For example:

Let's hope Google can spell RV

 I am SO glad Iraq will be in front of the Monetary Enormous

“The economist said Sirwan Kirkuki to Kurdistan News Agency (Rn), said that "the continuation of the opening of international banks in Iraq will work cash by 26% what it is now and will put Iraq in front of the evolution of monetary enormous, especially if the benefit of private banks and government of the mechanism of action of the branches of international banks in the country."

Is it customary to have sexual relations along with electricity projects?

بدء قسم العقود العامة في محافظة الديوانية بالمباشرة بتنفيذ عشرة مشاريع للكهرباء والاتصالات في المحافظة، بكلفة أربعة مليارات دينار ضمن ميزانية تنمية الأقاليم للعام الماضي Start section of public contracts in the province of Diwaniyah sexual relations to the implementation of ten projects for electricity and communications in the province, at a cost of four billion dinars in the budget of the development of regions of the past year

Petrlionat Dinars?  Follow the math if you can

Discussed the budget year 2011 in the House of Representatives and many of the official forums and professional, and make observations before we view the budget totals Petrlionat dinars. Total expenditure on 93 of those units, income, disability scheme 79 14. Budget has allocated 29 of the investment, 1 for projects listed for the first time. Acquired operational spending to 64, and includes the amount of compensation to Kuwait, and could have been excluded from both sides of the revenues and expenditures as long as deducted automatically "from the account of the receipt of oil resources. And also include operational expenses amounts to produce and export oil and therefore does not exceed 58 At the exclusion of what is not them, and the total spending due to "So about 87.  

Word order, words and phrases with multiple meanings, locally understood things that cannot be parsed unless you were born there - one guy keeps coming out as "Watermelon." Poor Google Translator just doesn't get it.  But that's okay, we only need to understand one word: RV. 

Don't You Love The Okie Rumors?

If there's no real news happening and you want to get your battery charged about the IQD, go to any of the dinar blogs and click on "Rumors."  Here you can find whatever info that makes you feel good.  You want a rate?  It's there from $.35 to $9.00.  You want a date?  It's there, from "it's already happened" to "maybe in June."

With Prince Poppycock - or is it Okie?

Too often, the post starts with, "I know this to be true.  My cousin's friend who works in a bank says his mother talked to a teller of a different bank about the IQD.  The teller said the IQD was a rumor, but the mom saw for her own eyes a DeLaRue Model 4150 laser-verification currency counting machine sitting on the counter behind her.  That means we're gettin' rich tomorrow, right?"

One of the most infamous rumor sources is Okie the Oil Man.  Okie first appeared about October, 2010 with such authority, people believed him right away.  He tells us he has 40 years in the oil business with highly placed sources in-country and in the US government.  He's rough and tough, can't spell his way out of a sentence, and is dead sure of his intel.  Says he's ordered a new private jet, he's so sure it's gonna happen.  Here's a recent post from Okie:

[OKIE] i’m not going to be on here long enough to answer questions–have new intel just recently received–there are a confidentiality agreement that i have made–suffice to say that those of of today that was dis-appointed will not be dis-appointed very much longer–is is done and expect this week may be a wonderful week for all of us–lets see what develpopes–sure looking good right now
[OKIE] wish i could tell all-but have to honor my word–if your word is no good –neither are you (myself i’m referring too
[OKIE] gankans–will happen sooner than expected–as per source 5 minutes ago

Sounds encouraging, yes?  Okie has been wrong so often (as in every time), people read his posts for comic relief.  Responses to his posts include "Yawn," "Gee, glad I'm glad I quit my job last week,"  "One of these days if we live long enough, Okie's gonna be right," and "Pure Poppycock."   He's been dropped from sites, reviled on others.  I hope he's a real guy, sounds like he'd be a blast to have a beer with at the Driller's Bar.  And I hope he gets his jet.  But really, either he's completely snowed by his sources or his brain is a little brittle from 40 years of sniffing petroleum fumes.  Okie, no offense, man, but you're gonna have to be patient with the rest of us.   

So, if you need a jolt while you're waiting, go read some rumors.  New ones every day.  But think of it as reading the comics or watching The Bachelor - entertainment without any hint of reality (but maybe a speck of hope).