This is the text on what happened in RU because of George HW Bush, that $240 million loan he took out in ~1991 to destabilize Russian rubles, alongside Leo Wanta & the money deals & wheels. Summary on Leo Wanta story you'll find at VToday. You likely already know it. Here are a few other GOOD (at least is when I sent this) links, are all part of the story, which I know to be true. Bush's loan was due on Sept 12, 2001, day after 911. PAY ATTENTION BIG CHANGES NEXT YEAR!! The Trump Executive Order Returns Stolen Wealth & Property To Rightful Owners ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z__IRy-iERg Bert Crevier: Pres. Trump Signed Executive Order for the Forgiveness of Debt! Jubilee Time Coming! (will believe when I see it) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjW6nn868MU&feature=youtu.be Blocking the Property of Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or Corruption https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/12/26/2017-27925/blocking-the-property-of-persons-involved-in-serious-human-rights-abuse-or-corruption Why have these 50 Wall Street darlings resigned suddenly? https://www.fbcoverup.com/docs/library/2017-12-26-CEO-stepdown-epidemic-compiled-12-26-2017.html Remember there were the ~76 Banker suicides in past few years too. CORPORATE TRANSNATIONAL WARLORD PIRATES ARE ON THE RUN https://aim4truth.org/2017/12/29/corporate-transnational-warlord-pirates-are-on-the-run/ Beware the Pirates of Vanguard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTnyhCsbZ_w RUSSIAN RUBLES COLLAPSE & IMF Loans http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/economics/trade_reports/1993/Russia.html Return to: Index of "1993 Country Reports on Economic Practice and Trade Reports" || Index of "Economic and Business Issues" || Electronic Research Collections Index || ERC Homepage TITLE: RUSSIA ECONOMIC POLICY AND TRADE PRACTICES DATE: FEBRUARY 1994 AUTHOR: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE RUSSIA Key Economic Indicators (Billions of rubles unless otherwise noted) 1991 1992 1993 /1 Income, Production, and Employment Real GDP (1990 prices) /2 522 459 409 Real GDP Growth (pct.) -12.9 -18.5 -11 GDP (at current prices) /2 1,300 19,992 165,000 Production of Goods 1,074 18,887 n/a Production of Services 226 1,105 n/a Market Services 116 309 n/a Non-market Services 110 796 n/a GNP Per Capita (US$, IBRD est.) 3,220 n/a n/a Labor Force (000's) 73,809 72,300 n/a Unemployment Rate (pct.) 0.1 0.8 n/a Money and Prices (annual percentage growth) Money Supply n/a 649.9 251.6 /4 Central Discount Rate (pct.) /3 20 80 210 Personal Savings Rate n/a n/a n/a Retail Inflation (pct.) 277.0 2,539.0 643 /4 Wholesale Inflation Industrial 238.0 2,049.0 975 /4 Agricultural 156.0 931.0 851.0 /4 Consumer Price Inflation 260.0 2,609.0 625.0 4/ Exchange Rate (Rubles per $) /3 1.67 414.5 1,186.0 4/ Balance of Payments and Trade (millions of U.S. dollars) Total Exports (FOB) 5/ 50,911.1 39,967.4 40,000.0 Exports to U.S. n/a 639.9 1,338.2 Total Imports (CIF) 5/ 44,473.0 34,981.3 18,000.0 Imports from U.S. n/a 2,883.7 1,343.4 Aid from U.S. n/a 358.4 467.1 Aid from Other Countries n/a 1,500.6 1,952.9 External Public Debt n/a 70,000.0 72,000.0 Debt Service Payments (paid) n/a 1,815.0 2,000.0 Gold and FOREX Reserves n/a 3,518.0 6,000.0 Trade Balance 5/ n/a 4,986.1 22,000.0 Balance with U.S. n/a -2,189.8 -5.2 Notes: 1/ Figures are from State Statistical Committee and embassy estimates; 1993 figures are estimates based on available monthly data in October 1993. 2/ GDP at factor cost; 1990 GDP was 644 billion rubles. 3/ Figures are actual, end of period. 4/ Money supply is through 8/93; other figures through 10/93. 5/ Merchandise trade. 1. General Policy Framework The Russian Federation (Russia) is the largest of the republics of the former Soviet Union and also the wealthiest, with oil, timber, natural gas, minerals, and fertile soil. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in October 1991, however, Russia was left with serious economic problems stemming from decades of a planned economy and the disruption of its traditional commercial and industrial ties. GDP fell by 13 percent in 1991, 19 percent in 1992, and a further 11 percent in 1993, for a cumulative decline of 37 percent, greater than that experienced by the United States during the great depression. Industrial production dropped dramatically in 1992 and 1993 as Soviet-era supply lines across new national borders were disrupted, defense orders plummeted, and low import duties exposed Russian products to foreign competition, particularly among consumer goods. Largely because of the efforts of Minister of Finance Boris Fedorov, the government made progress in controlling the amount of state credit made available to state enterprises in 1993. However, as in 1992, enterprises continued to lend to each other, thus maintaining output and employment while accumulating a large amount of inter-enterprise arrears, since ultimately much of the production went unsold. The year 1993 also saw the final dissolution of the "ruble zone." Following the July 26 Central Bank decision to withdraw old ruble notes from circulation, other republics of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) moved to establish their own currencies. The collapse of the CIS ruble zone helped bring the currency under Central Bank control, and reduced inflationary pressures from other republics. Still to be solved, though, was the question of establishing a payments mechanism that would facilitate rather than hinder market-based trade between the new CIS states. An Interstate Bank was established in December 1993 to tackle this problem. By the beginning of 1993 Russia had freed prices on 85 percent of wholesale and retail goods, and remaining controls on energy, housing, transportation and some other products were eliminated during the course of the year. The often dramatic increases in formerly controlled prices and the continuing inflationary impulse of domestic credit expansion made inflation reduction a top government priority. Under pressure from the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank raised its discount rate in several stages to 210 percent in 1993 from the 1992 level of 125 percent, and tightened issuance of discounted credits. By the end of 1993 inflation was down to a monthly level of 15 percent. To cut the budget deficit, the government in 1992 slashed expenditures on defense procurement, investment, and industrial and consumer subsidies, while introducing a 28-percent value-added tax, which was lowered to 20 percent in 1993. Export taxes and licensing fees, intended to offset the differential between low domestic prices and world market prices for energy and other raw materials, also yielded revenue. The budget deficit for 1993 was 10 trillion rubles despite extensive cuts in subsidies. A significant amount of taxable income goes unreported. The government in late 1993 announced plans to limit monetary financing of the budget deficit by creating a domestic market for government paper and bonds. The government's privatization program, initiated in August 1992, continued to expand in 1993. Roughly half of Russia's medium and large state enterprises and 67 percent of small enterprises were privatized by the end of 1993; a growing number of large enterprises were being auctioned. The two-step process places the capital of a state enterprises on a share basis and then privatizes part or all of the ownership. The enterprise's managers and employees can receive 25 percent of the shares free and purchase up to an additional 15 percent. More frequently they elect instead to purchase a full 51 percent at discounted prices. The local state property committee, and in some cases the central government, typically retains a 20-30 percent stake; the remaining shares are auctioned publicly for vouchers or cash. One-third of the investment vouchers distributed to Russian citizens in October 1992 have been invested; the vouchers are currently valid to July 1994. Foreign investors have access to the public shares through investment funds or can purchase vouchers directly. A September 1993 land decree permitted the sale of agricultural land among Russian citizens. High percentages of urban residential units have been privatized and can be sold on the market. In Moscow 90 percent of residential property was privatized by the end of 1993. Foreigners still cannot purchase real estate in Russia but can lease it for 50 years and sometimes longer. A bankruptcy law passed in March 1993 provided the basis for several test cases in the courts. In December 1993 President Yeltsin signed a decree outlining criteria and procedures for reorganizing and eliminating unprofitable state enterprises through mandatory bankruptcy proceedings. To avoid bankruptcy proceedings, such enterprises must prove they have state orders, subsidies or private financing. This step represents a significant implementation of the new bankruptcy law. An initial list of 100 enterprises slated for bankruptcy was being prepared at the end of 1993. U.S. direct foreign investment commitments in Russia totalled $500 million in 1992, 14 percent of total foreign investment in Russia. Other leading investors were Germany, Italy, Austria and France. U.S. direct foreign investment in 1993 is estimated at $1 billion, comprising 15-20 percent of worldwide direct investment in Russia. The U.S.-Russian bilateral tax treaty, which goes into effect from January 1994, eliminates double taxation of U.S. citizens and firms, while the bilateral investment treaty signed in June 1992 awaits ratification by the Russian legislature. Russian exports, concentrated in raw materials, totalled $40 billion in 1992 and again in 1993, although with falling commodity prices export volumes increased in 1993. As a result of the massive decline in GDP, imports fell from $35 billion in 1992 to $18 billion in 1993, increasing Russia's trade surplus from $5 billion to $22 billion. Germany ranked first as Russia's leading non-CIS trading partner in 1993, followed by China, the United States, France, Japan and Britain. Trade with former allies in Eastern Europe continued to fall. Russia became a member of the International Monetary Fund in June 1992 and made a first credit tranche drawing of $1 billion in December. In July 1993, Russia borrowed a further $1.5 billion from the IMF under the new Systemic Transformation Facility. The borrowing was intended to support a program of tighter limits on credit expansion and a reduced budget deficit. However, Russia was unable to meet its third quarter targets as a result of credits issued for the harvest and for winter provisioning of the Russian northern territories. Renewed stabilization policies were implemented during the fall, opening the way for a second $1.5 billion STF drawing envisioned for early 1994 to be followed by a $4 billion upper credit tranche standby program. In 1993 the World Bank approved a $610 million loan for oil sector rehabilitation, which became effective in November. A $90 million loan for privatization assistance, approved in 1992, became effective in December 1993. The World Bank has also proposed an additional $70 million loan for federal employment assistance. Disbursements in 1993 on a previously approved import rehabilitation loan totalled $350 million. The international program of technical and humanitarian assistance, begun in 1992, became increasingly active in 1993. The United States is the largest source of technical assistance and funding. The Group of Seven in 1993 established a support implementation group (SIG) in Moscow and will open its office in 1994. The IMF, World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which opened offices in Moscow in 1992, have active technical assistance programs and provide funding in various areas. The International Financial Corporation has focused its assistance activities on the privatization program. The European Community has begun to mobilize an assistance program, and individual countries have established bilateral programs. Differences in income distribution have widened steadily in the uneven transition to a market economy. On the one hand, a class of wealthy entrepreneurs has begun to emerge; on the other, many have experienced a decline in living standards, although official unemployment levels have remained below one percent. Much unemployment and under-employment remains hidden. Enterprises have increasingly reduced the work week and compelled employees to take annual leave. Some employees have acquired second jobs to supplement reduced real wages. The government has sought to keep social welfare support in line with the cost of living, but many pensioners have slipped below the poverty line. Welfare responsibilities jettisoned by enterprises in the course of privatization have usually devolved upon regional and local governments. 2. Exchange Rate Policy Russia has a unified exchange rate which floats based upon a daily Moscow interbank currency exchange auction where the central bank intervenes to smooth fluctuations. After declining rapidly in nominal terms through mid-June the ruble held steady at about 1000/dollar until the siege of the parliament. The ensuing political turmoil caused a sharp downward correction of about 20 percent, after which the rate again stabilized. In practice, the central bank exerts considerable influence on the rate due to the continuing large reserve accumulation resulting from surpluses in Russia's trade accounts. The ruble is convertible within Russia and CIS countries which remain in the ruble zone. Capital flight remains a problem. Exporters are required to convert into rubles 50 percent of export earnings at the free market rate. From January 1994 commercial banks will be responsible for monitoring the repatriation of export earnings. Without special permission it is illegal for Russian companies or citizens to maintain bank accounts outside of Russia for purposes other than operating expenses. Licenses are required for offshore accounts and can be difficult to obtain. Non-residents can open individual ruble accounts and commercial ruble accounts for servicing import/exports operations and for investment. Both citizens and non-residents can maintain domestic hard currency accounts. 3. Structural Policies The Russian legal system is in a state of flux but continues to make progress toward a market economy having transparent pricing, tax and regulatory policies. Legal Framework: Russia's rudimentary antitrust law was supplemented in December by a new tax and anti-monopoly law passed by presidential decree. A similar November 1993 decree implementing the law on protection of shareholders requires larger companies to establish stock registries to record ownership in the company. Also in preparation are a brokerage law facilitating trading of stocks through brokers rather than through the company. The government is working on a commercial code. One-third of Russian commercial banks have substantial government ownership and the largest banks are still government-owned. Russia still lacks a corporatization law. Pricing policies: Despite the continuing privatization of larger enterprises, key sectors such as energy and transport remain in state hands. The Ministry of Economy, formerly GOSPLAN, retains some of its former managerial functions for certain sectors of the economy. Centralized imports and import subsidies were eliminated in 1993 on all items except a handful of products, and the remainder are expected to be phased out in 1994. In late 1993 the government reduced export duties and curtailed the number of exports subject to quotas and licensing. State procurement plays a limited and declining role for non-defense industries, and production subsidies have been abolished in most sectors, including foodstuffs. Energy and rail transportation prices were decontrolled in 1993 and have risen sharply. Tax Policies: Russia's tax system, established in December 1991, has been rendered obsolescent by the de facto transfer of substantial federal responsibilities to the regions, expected to be codified in a new tax law in 1994. All major taxes are collected by a single federal agency and redistributed among the regions through an ad hoc bargaining process which attempts to accommodate this transfer of responsibilities. A new tax law in preparation is intended to reflect the increased regional responsibilities by making their collections independent of the center. The value-added tax is imposed on Russian and foreign firms conducting commercial activities in Russia. Placed on a sliding scale ranging between 25 and 35 percent by region in 1992, the tax was reduced to a uniform 20 percent in 1993. Corporate profits are taxed at a rate of 32 percent. A December 1993 presidential decree raised personal income tax rates for 1994; income below five million rubles per year will be taxed at 12 percent, income between five and ten million rubles/year at 20 percent, and income over ten million rubles/year at 30 percent. Regulatory Policies: All enterprises above 100 million rubles capitalization ($85,000 as of 12/93) must be registered with the government, which can involve extensive delays. Exports of energy and several other raw materials require a license, for which foreign investors are permitted to bid. The government has only recently begun to introduce auction tenders for official procurements. Noncompetitive bidding is sometimes used to award contracts for very large government projects involving natural resources. Cases exist of tenders awarded to U.S. companies being subsequently revoked by the government in the interests of domestic competitors. An established and transparent set of regulations regarding bidding is lacking, but a law on concessions for development of raw reserves is in preparation. 4. Debt Management Policies Russia and the other former republics of the USSR agreed in October 1991 to become "jointly and severally" liable for the Soviet foreign debt. Russia's share of the debt was set at 61 percent. Russia subsequently reached agreement with the other republics to manage or assume liability for their respective share of the Soviet debt in exchange for their relinquishing their respective claims on Soviet assets. Russia has succeeded in gaining significant temporary relief from its debt burden during the transition to a market economy. An April 1993 agreement with government creditors (Paris club) rescheduled virtually all of Russia's official bilateral debt arrears and maturities falling due in 1993. By December 1993 Russia had reached bilateral agreements with most major creditor governments to implement the April 1993 accord. The April accord requires that Russia obtain comparable debt relief from its other main groups of creditors. Negotiations with London Club creditors to reschedule commercial bank credits resulted in agreement in principle but stalled in late 1993 over the issue of Russia's refusal to waive sovereign immunity. Pending conclusion of an agreement, the Russian government is setting aside money in the budget for debt servicing payments to the banks. Russia also has proposed formation of a creditors club for rescheduling uninsured supplier credits. The total external debt is estimated to be approximately $72 billion dollars. Servicing of the debt in 1993, after rescheduling, was about $3 billion. In order to ensure control of contracting for new foreign lending, the Russian government has formed an inter-ministerial committee to limit the amount of borrowing. 5. Significant Barriers to U.S. Exports The 1992 U.S.-Russia Trade Agreement provides mutual most-favored-nation status. Russia remains subject to the Jackson-Vanik Amendment which conditions extension of MFN status upon conclusion of a bilateral commercial agreement and compliance with, or waiver of, freedom of emigration requirements found in the law. In 1993 President Clinton continued a waiver for Russia from the freedom of emigration requirements of Jackson-Vanik, which has been continued annually since first being issued for the Soviet Union in 1990. Russia is negotiating or has concluded limited free-trade agreements with CIS states and former East European satellites. Some of these involve barter or guaranteed delivery of specified commodities. The U.S. Russia Business Development Committee and its working commissions, established in June 1992, provide a mechanism for resolving particular trade problems on both sides. Russia and the European Union have been involved in the negotiation of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which would liberalize trade between them. The June 1993 Customs Code, which offers 15 alternative regimes for handling external trade, standardizes Russian customs procedures in accordance with international norms. The Tariff Law promulgated in July 1993 establishes types of duties and provides for establishing preferential tariffs on a reciprocal basis. Implementation of the new customs regime has occurred gradually and unevenly, and is still subject to arbitrary decisions. In December 1993 the United States and Russia implemented a 1990 Mutual Customs Assistance Agreement. The government plans to raise import duties across the board in 1994; although many duties will be below ten percent, the expected weighted tariff will be 13-14 percent, with some exceeding 25 percent. Inherited Soviet-era qualitative restrictions on imports were initially limited to security and health requirements, but Russia's July 1993 Consumer Protection Law stipulated official certification (by Gosstandart) of imported products for conformity to Russian technical, safety and quality standards. Certification is based on a combination of international and Russian standards. U.S. companies have complained of costly procedures and arbitrary certification requirements. A joint Russian-U.S. communique of December 1993 pledges cooperation on improving and simplifying certification, testing and quality assurance of U.S. and Russian products in each other's markets. Russia is establishing reciprocal standardization with the U.S. and other countries and acceptance of foreign certification by accredited institutions. Import licenses are required on the normal range of dangerous and harmful materials and goods. A November 1993 presidential decree freezing registered foreign bank activity and barring new entry of foreign banks with less than 30 percent Russia ownership appears to conflict with a September 1993 decree sheltering foreign investors from adverse changes for three years and contradicts the foreign banking law. Under current law only 12 percent of the total capital in the banking system can be foreign-owned. The Russian insurance industry is lobbying for similar protection, and the government recently circulated proposed regulations prohibiting foreign attorneys from counseling clients on Russian legal matters. 6. Export Subsidies Policies From July 1992 exports of oil, gas, precious metals and other strategic raw materials were conducted by enterprises specially licensed by the Russian government. In 1993 a quarter of these exports were re-centralized through government-controlled foreign trade organizations and involved domestic purchase below world prices and exemption from export taxes. Antidumping duties imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce on Russian uranium in early 1992 were suspended in October 1992 in return for export restraints. U.S. antidumping duties remain in place on imports of Russian ferrosilicon, titanium sponge, and urea. A request for information under Section 406(d) of the 1974 Trade Act has also been sent to Russia regarding the production and export of potash. A surge of Russian aluminum exports to western markets contributed to record low real aluminum prices and was the subject of multilateral talks. 7. Protection of U.S. Intellectual Property In 1992-93 Russia enacted laws strengthening the protection of patents, trademarks and appellations of origins, semiconductors, computer programs, literary, artistic and scientific works, and audio/visual recordings. The Patent Law, which accords with the norms of the World Intellectual Property Organization, includes a grace period, procedures for deferred examination, protection for chemical and pharmaceutical products, and national treatment for foreign patent holders. Inventions are protected for 20 years, industrial designs for ten years, and utility models for five years. One must wait four years before applying for a compulsory license. The Law on Trademarks and Appellation of Origins introduces for the first time in Russia protection of appellation of origins and provides for automatic recognition of Soviet trademarks upon presentation of the Soviet certificate of registration. The Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights, enacted in August 1993, protects all forms of artistic creation, including audio/visual recordings and computer programs as literary works for the lifetime of the author plus 50 years and is compatible with the Bern Convention. The September 1992 Act on Topology of Integrated Microcircuits protects semiconductor topographies for ten years from the date of registration. Russia has acceded to obligations of the former Soviet Union toward the Universal Copyright Convention, the Paris Convention, the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and the Madrid Agreement. Further, under the unratified U.S.-Russian Bilateral Investment Treaty, Russia has undertaken to protect investors' intellectual property rights, and the bilateral trade agreement obligates protection of the normal range of literary, scientific and artistic works through legislation and enforcement. Russia does not belong to the Rome convention and protects only sound recordings first produced in Russia. Still ahead are a comprehensive revision of the Russian criminal and civil codes and of administrative regulations pertaining to intellectual property rights; strengthened penalties; the establishment of specialized courts, particularly a patent court, with trained and experienced judges and attorneys, and trained police and customs officers. So far legal enforcement of property rights has been a low priority of the Russian government, as is evident in the widespread marketing of pirated U.S. video-cassettes, recordings, books, computer software, clothes and toys. The Russian Intellectual Property Agency, established in 1992 with direct accountability to the Russian president, was given responsibility to develop and coordinate state IPR policy, promote copyright protection, and collect and distribute royalties. It was replaced in October 1993 by the revived Russian Authors Organization, a semi-official agency combining the inherited supervisory functions with advocacy of author's commercial interests. 8. Worker Rights a. Right of Association The Russian Labor Code guarantees the right to join trade unions. The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR), successor to the Soviet All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions (AUCCTU), enjoyed a privileged position until a September 1993 presidential decree transferred control of the Social Insurance Fund from the FNPR to the government, thereby neutralizing the key economic factor deterring workers from joining other unions. Unions may form federations and participate in international bodies, and are independent of political parties. The Russian Labor Code qualifies the right to strike with several restrictions. It requires first exhausting other means of dispute resolution, prohibits strikes for political reasons and bars them altogether in the transportation, communications, energy and defense industries, and allows suppression of strikes deemed threatening public health or having severe social or economic consequences. The government does little to protect workers actively from retribution. FNPR officials generally collaborate with enterprise management, while free union leaders and members face threats, intimidation and occasionally physical abuse, often with the acquiescence of FNPR officials and local politicians. In the past year, free union officials have scored moderate success in pursuing more aggressive judicial defense of their rights. b. Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively. Unions remain concentrated in the state sector, where previously membership was mandatory. Because of the collaborative tradition of Soviet labor unions, collective bargaining is still largely misunderstood on both sides. Recently Russian courts have begun compelling management compliance with labor contracts. c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor. Prohibited by the Russian Labor Code but largely unenforced or ineffective. d. Minimum Age for Employment of Children. Regular employment of children under age 16 is prohibited, although younger children may work in intern or apprenticeship programs. The Labor Code bars dangerous, nighttime and overtime work for children under 18. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work. Parliament sets the minimum wage, but given current inflation and budget deficits, most workers receive less than the minimum pension level. The standard work week is forty hours and the calendar week must contain one 24-hour rest period. Premium pay is required for overtime and holiday work. Minimum legal safety and health requirements continue to be widely ignored with impunity. Industrial death and injury rates are very high, especially in heavy industries such as mining. f. Rights in Sectors with U.S. Investment. In the petroleum, food and telecommunications industries where U.S. investment is significant, observance of worker rights does not differ significantly from other sectors. The petroleum industry is highly unionized but the official union remains predominant. U.S. joint ventures in the telecommunications and food industries are less unionized but tend in some cases to enjoy better working conditions. Extent of U.S. Investment in Selected Industries U.S. Direct Investment Position Abroad on an Historical Cost Basis - 1992 (Millions of U.S. dollars) Category Amount Petroleum 0 Total Manufacturing D Food & Kindred Products 0 Chemicals and Allied Products 0 Metals, Primary & Fabricated 0 Machinery, except Electrical * Electric & Electronic Equipment 0 Transportation Equipment 0 Other Manufacturing D Wholesale Trade 2 Banking 0 Finance and Insurance 0 Services 3 Other Industries 0 TOTAL ALL INDUSTRIES 16 (D) -Suppressed to avoid disclosing data of individual companies (*) -Less than $500,000 Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, unpublished data. 73, VanDameDanna! "The sight of the huge world put mad ideas into me, as if I could wander away, wander forever, see strange and beautiful things, one after the other." ~C.S. Lewis Sent with ProtonMail Secure Email.