Saturday, July 17, 2010

Now This Is Really Dirty...!


We all are taught from an early age that we shouldn't put money in our mouths, that money is dirty, and that worn and torn money is turned in and destroyed with new!

These folks, it seems, take the art of money laundering to a whole other level! It is bad enough to make Uncle Sam get really angry about the whole process!

Hey, that alone makes it a good story, right? From the Houston Chronicle, here is the story!

Zimbabweans wash dirty U.S. dollars with soap, water

By ANGUS SHAW Associated Press
July 6, 2010, 8:16AM

HARARE, Zimbabwe — The washing machine cycle takes about 45 minutes — and George Washington comes out much cleaner in the Zimbabwe-style laundering of dirty money.

Low-denomination U.S bank notes change hands until they fall apart here in Africa, and the bills are routinely carried in underwear and shoes through crime-ridden slums.

Some have become almost too smelly to handle, so Zimbabweans have taken to putting their $1 bills through the spin cycle and hanging them up to dry with clothes pins alongside their sheets and clothes.

It's the best solution — apart from rubber gloves or disinfectant wipes — in a country where the U.S. dollar has long been the currency of choice and where the lifespan of a dollar far exceeds what the U.S. Federal Reserve intends.

Zimbabwe's coalition government officially declared the U.S. dollar legal tender last year to eradicate world record inflation of billions of percent in the local Zimbabwe dollar as the economy collapsed.

The U.S. Federal Reserve destroys about 7,000 tons of worn-out money every year. It says the average $1 bill circulates in the United States for about 20 months — nowhere near its African life span of many years.

Larger denominations coming in through banks and formal import and export trade are less soiled. But among Africa's poor, the $1, $2, $5 and $10 bills are the most sought after. Dirty $1 bills can remain in circulation at rural markets, bus parks and beer halls almost indefinitely, or at least until they finally disintegrate.

Still, banks and most businesses in Zimbabwe do not accept torn, Scotch-taped, scorched, defaced, exceptionally dirty or otherwise damaged U.S. notes.

Zimbabweans say the U.S. notes do best with gentle hand-washing in warm water. But at a laundry and dry cleaner in eastern Harare, a machine cycle does little harm either to the cotton-weave type of paper. Locals say chemical "dry cleaning" is not recommended — it fades the color of the famed greenback.

Storekeeper Jackie Dube hasn't yet taken up advice of friends to start washing the often damp and stinking U.S. dollars she receives for the garments and cheap Chinese consumer goods she sells in Harare. It's time-consuming, she says, but notes stinky bills are a problem.

"I get rid of the worst of the notes as soon as I can in change," she said.

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh drinks (coffee or iced tea) and sit outside for a bit! No money needed, but the tip jar accepts all donations...dirty or otherwise!

14 comments:

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

This story sort of makes money laundring a great buissness :-) :-) :-)

Have a great day now!
Christer.

Catman said...

Jim,

There was this guy that ran a magazine stand in San Francisco back when I was in college there.

He handed me my change one day, a few bills and some coins, and grabbed by hand as I went to put the bills between my teeth while struggling with a backpack and wallet.

He told me to NEVER put paper money anywhere near my mouth and to wash my hands after handling it, especially in San Francisco.

The homeless used it as toilet paper and would wash it out later.

The St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco washes their money before they make it available for use in the hotel.

Sixbears said...

Thanks to the homeless, we now know what to do with all those dollars when the currency collapses. Reusable TP.

Ben in Texas said...

YUCK!!! I always thought Las Vegas was the money Laundering capitol of the World. :-)

Fred said...

It's been a long time fact that 80% of the paper money tested has traces of shoot and cocaine on the bills!

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One
well thats kind of a nasty and disgusting story first thing in the morning LOL
I am going to help at the yard sale this morning guess who will be bringing there germ-x along
Please pass the pot I need it to get moving.
Have a wonderful day

HermitJim said...

Hey Christer...
I had no idea that usiness was that good ! Guess that someone is really cleaning up, huh?

Thanks for dropping by today!


Hey Catman...
That's kind of a sick thought, isn't it? Just goes to show, you never know where something has been!

Hey, I appreciate you coming by today!


Hey SixBears...
Not sure, but I reckon that will be all it's good for! That, and starting fires!

Wonder if we can find a good use for the change!

I sure o appreciate the visit this morning!


Hey Ben...
I think that because of the drug problem and all, other places have Vegas beat!

Still, it does seem to be some nasty stuff!

Thanks, buddy, for dropping by today!


Hey Fred...
Somehow, that doesn't surprise me at all! Just shows how sick our society has become, that's for sure!

If the government ever figures out how to tax this stuff, then you can bet that they will!

Thanks so much for coming by this morning!


Hey JoJo...
Maybe you should wear some rubber gloves at the sale! Never kno where that money has been!

Hope you all have a great sale, and make lots of the old dirty stuff!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!

Mechanic in illinois said...

I would like to pay my taxes with those dirty bills,especially the ones the bums use for tp. Thanks for another great lesson.

HermitJim said...

Hey Mechanic...
Probably wouldn't matter to them, s greed seems to have done away with their thinking process!

I appreciate the visit today!

Anonymous said...

I do money-laundering. Looks good, feels good and cleans well. Think about it - zillions germs GONE.

HermitJim said...

Hey Anon 12:40...
I never seem to have enough to clean or wash! Guess that's both a good thing and a bad thing!

Good thing that money is made of strong stuff!

Thank you for coming by today!

Ken said...

...sooo,i guess it's a good thing i forget money in the pockets and it gets washed(regularly...lol)

...anyway,i've been OCD on hand washing for years now,good thing huh?...

HermitJim said...

Hey Ken...
I'm thinking that forgetting money in the pocket is a good way to clean it up! Used to be a regular trick of mine as well!

As far as the hand washing... i figure that it certainly can't hurt anything!

Hey, thanks for the visit, buddy!

Anonymous said...

Well, that puts a whole new meaning to "dirty money"

AV