Useful Hard Skills for the near future

[zbigi]

I wonder about those Ukrainians with dollar accounts in large international institutions. Was it possible to get an international dollar account prior to this crisis? Would they have been able to simply land in Portugal and start spending without restriction?

I'm not an expert on banking by any means, but my impression is that there is not such thing as an "international account". Each account is created in some country and is subject to that country's laws.
The norm now is that in many countries you can't easily set up an account without being a resident there (it's to prevent tax evasion, financing terrorism etc.). According to the Ukrainian I worked with, Poland has changed its laws to make exception for Ukrainians so that they can just fly in and create an account. But, in my experience, when I moved to UK, proof of residency was required for opening a bank account. Similarly, when I wanted to open a Swiss bank account (for reasons) without moving there, the Swiss banks refused to accomodate me.

[chenda]

I wonder about those Ukrainians with dollar accounts in large international institutions...Would they have been able to simply land in Portugal and start spending without restriction?

Yes, as long as they had a VISA debit card or similar they could spend immediately.

[jacob]

Has anyone set up a plan for communicating with loved ones if all traditional communication systems go down?

We have preplanned Site A and Site B meeting spots if communication is down. Otherwise, we'll revert to the 1990s. I think there's an expectation these days for continuous instant updates on facebook---to always know exactly where everybody is---and the ability to avoid planning because everything is arranged on the spot with a phone.

It's ironic how the internet was designed specifically to handle disruption but given how retail uses it with ISPs, it's not resilient from a consumer perspective. That said, intermittent service is good enough to squeeze out of a few SMSs. What you don't want is your smartphone needing to exchange 50MB just to boot up or use an app.

In the US, you can buy GMRS handhelds. They do require a license, but IIRC they don't require a test to get the license. Effective range is more or less "line of sight", so 1-2 miles in urban territory. Maybe 10M if you're on top of a hill. There's no magic here: It's all about power (wattage) and the size of your antenna. I'd rather have a burner phone.

PS: Don't forget that if the internet is down then google maps are down too. Paper maps are useful.

[chenda]

I'm not an expert on banking by any means, but my impression is that there is not such thing as an "international account". Each account is created in some country and is subject to that country's laws.The norm now is that in many countries you can't easily set up an account without being a resident there

This is my non expert understanding as well (although within the EU they may accept foreign residency; I have a Portuguese bank account linked to my UK address) Although many banks operate internationally with branches in dozens of countries.

I think a number of major retail banks operate branches in Ukraine (and many other countries) so having an account with them would be useful if leaving Ukraine. Whatever happens in Ukraine your money is likely to be secured by the multi-jurisdictional operations of the bank, at least if its headquartered somewhere reputable. (Credit Agricole operate very widely I believe)

[Dream of Freedom]

PS: Don't forget that if the internet is down then google maps are down too. Paper maps are useful.

If you have the forethought the Google maps app allows you to download maps for whatever areas you choose. GPS should still work.

[jacob]

GPS should still work.

GPS may be spoofed in a warzone. More importantly, though, paper maps don't run out of batteries.

[zbigi]

I think a number of major retail banks operate branches in Ukraine (and many other countries) so having an account with them would be useful if leaving Ukraine. Whatever happens in Ukraine your money is likely to be secured by the multi-jurisdictional operations of the bank, at least if its headquartered somewhere reputable. (Credit Agricole operate very widely I believe)

My Ukrainian colleague had his money in Ukrainian Credit Agrigole and flew to Warsaw to set up an account in Polish Credit Agricole. I believe these two banks (and other national "branches" of CA) often legally have nothing to do with each other, except for the fact that they're owned by a common multi-national conglomerate, and lease the common CA brand from it.

I'm not sure that such multi-national conglomerate in any way guarantees your money across borders (i.e. if your national branch ceases to function due to war etc.)...

In particular, one multinational bank (a top 50 bank in the world) I worked for didn't even have a good central register of all its customers across all the countries, so if say its Ukrainian branch went down, the other branches wouldn't neccessarily even recognize you, let alone give you your money.

[7Wannabe5]

What are some options for long distance communication in such situations? Has anyone set up a plan for communicating with loved ones if all traditional communication systems go down?

I recently did a week of extreme beginner’s introduction to network engineering in a course I am taking. I also read the book “Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet” by Blum. The problem is roughly analogous to maintaining water flow on a permaculture project. I do not (yet) know enough to hack “upstream” solutions, but I know enough to know that it is possible. After all, the Internet was originally a Department of Defense initiative to deal with exactly this sort of problem. However, now that the system has become so much larger it is somewhat less like a net and more like a creature that has developed a backbone or spinal column for reasons of efficiency, so more subject to similar injuries. Fewer hubs relative to more spokes. Humans who are very knowledgeable about how the Internet works can predict pretty accurately the route of “hops” any packet might take. You can run traceroute experiments to see for yourself.

[chenda]

My Ukrainian colleague had his money in Ukrainian Credit Agrigole and flew to Warsaw to set up an account in Polish Credit Agricole. I believe these two banks (and other national "branches" of CA) often legally have nothing to do with each other, except for the fact that they're owned by a common multi-national conglomerate, and lease the common CA brand from it.

Ah that's interesting. Thinking about it it would be a big liability for a bank operating in an unstable part of the world, and either way the exchange rate might render your money worthless..

Also I hear many non US banks no longer cater to US citizens due to various regulatory interferences coming from Washington.

You may be able to set up a foreign bank account if you have legal representation but are non resident in the country. I think that's how I was able to get a Portuguese account as I have a Portuguese tax number and a fiscal representative (a lawyer)

[Ego]

I'm not an expert on banking by any means, but my impression is that there is not such thing as an "international account". Each account is created in some country and is subject to that country's laws.

I mentioned international accounts because I was thinking of Seppia's experience with HSBC that he mentioned in this thread.
viewtopic.php?p=165264#p165264

Especially this.

Plus if you have multiple accounts with them and hit a certain balance (which is high but not absurd at all, I think it’s around 70k), you are allowed to move money internationally across different HSBC accounts at no cost, except for the currency exchange spread obviously.

@jacob, if you don't mind me asking, did you ever open an HSBC account? We have a branch just down the street so I was thinking it may be wise. If @seppia wants to chime in on recent experiences that would be great as well.

[Ego]

Regarding communications, I see those cheap little Baofeng and Midland radios at the swap meet all the time. This morning I saw a set of each and considered them but I am not sure how useful they would be. They would be good for coordinating a group at short range but I was thinking of connecting those much further away. HAM base station with a five story antenna is not out of the question.

Musk claims that the starlink satellites are in orbit over Ukraine, the system is working and more terminals are in route.
https://www.reuters.com/technology/musk ... 022-02-27/

[sky]

Mesh networking, ad hoc networking might be an option.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone_ad_hoc_network

https://briarproject.org/

CB radio for distances of up to 5 miles.

Ham VHF for slightly longer distances, up to 20? miles.

Ham 80 meter band is good for regional communication, up to 200 miles (or more).

[Seppia]

@jacob, if you don't mind me asking, did you ever open an HSBC account? We have a branch just down the street so I was thinking it may be wise. If @seppia wants to chime in on recent experiences that would be great as well.

I have been using HSBC Global Transfers for 12 years now.
The idea is simple, once you hit a certain threshold of money, you become a Premier customer.
This threshold varies by country, but it's usually somewhere between 70k euro and 100k usd. Everything counts towards it: savings, investments, stocks, etc. so it's not something reserved for the 0.1%.
Once you're premier, you can move around money across all your HSBC accounts across the globe for free, and they are all no-fee accounts with at least a debit card included at no cost (sometimes CC as well).

You get to pick which account/country "counts" towards the threshold (you only need to hit it in one place).

The great additional benefit is that it makes it easier to "startup" in any new country.

When I moved to France (the first time I expatriated from Italy back in 2003), this happened:
1/ I tried to rent a place, but I had no French bank account. Showed them my account balance in Italy and proposed them to wire up to six months of rent in advance. NOPE. "You need a bank account here sir"
2/ I go open a bank account. "can you please show proof of residence? like an electricity invoice or at least a rental agreement?"

I solved it at the time thanks to my company, but from then on HSBC was great help. When I moved to the USA, I went straight to HSBC and they opened an account for me with the promise that I would give them proof of residence asap. They also gave me $10k credit limit on my CC, even if I had zero credit history.

[zbigi]

(on HSBC Global Transfers)

That sounds to me like a convenience feature and not a guarantee that if say the Ukrainian branch goes to the toilet, your money will still be accessible through another country. So, more like a feature for people who move to another country, digital nomads etc. and less of a provision against local collapses.

[zbigi]

When I moved to France (the first time I expatriated from Italy back in 2003), this happened:
1/ I tried to rent a place, but I had no French bank account. Showed them my account balance in Italy and proposed them to wire up to six months of rent in advance. NOPE. "You need a bank account here sir"
2/ I go open a bank account. "can you please show proof of residence? like an electricity invoice or at least a rental agreement?"

I had the exact same experience when I moved to London. HSBC was the only bank willing to open an account for me on a basis of a provisional (unsigned) rental contract only.

[jacob]

Also I hear many non US banks no longer cater to US citizens due to various regulatory interferences coming from Washington.

Indeed!

@jacob, if you don't mind me asking, did you ever open an HSBC account? We have a branch just down the street so I was thinking it may be wise. If @seppia wants to chime in on recent experiences that would be great as well.

I did not. No branches anyway close to where I live or might live.

[Ego]

@seppia, thank you! I presented the idea to Mrs. Ego, she read through their website and the first thing she asked was whether it would circumvent the reluctance of international banks to do business with Americans. It is a good question. I will be calling HSBC next week to learn more.


Regarding communications: I mentioned above that Musk is shipping starlinks to Ukraine. Here is a good thread that outlines how regular cell phones, SAT phones and satellite internet connections can be triangulated and targeted for airstrikes.
https://twitter.com/jsrailton/status/14 ... 1932286979

[Ego]

The next few hours and days will be interesting for the average Russian. Any predictions on the consequences of the Swift situation on regular folks? Could individual Russians have done anything in anticipation of the sanctions? Which sanction will have more impact on them, blocking swift or restricting the Russian central bank's international reserves? Or something else? If you were in their shoes, what would you wish you had done with 20/20 hindsight?

[Dream of Freedom]

The next few hours and days will be interesting for the average Russian. Any predictions on the consequences of the Swift situation on regular folks? Could individual Russians have done anything in anticipation of the sanctions? Which sanction will have more impact on them, blocking swift or restricting the Russian central bank's international reserves? Or something else? If you were in their shoes, what would you wish you had done with 20/20 hindsight?

Russia is powerful and technologically advanced, but it has never been the easiest place for individuals to thrive. Since at least World War I the shrewdest choice has been to relocate when possible.

If there is going to be a run on banks then that will be the biggest problem. If not the biggest problem will be the currency falling so much that prices for anything not produced domestically soars.

[Jean]

The ability to keep and transfer wealth in those situation is one of the usecase for cryptos. Even if you don't want to invest in crypto, learning how to use them can be a very usefull skill.
Regarding downloadable maps, the mappy.cz app works better than google. It also contain many shelters and water sources.