As much as I can't stand Hugo Chavez and everything he represents, I wouldn't want anyone to have to deal with terminal cancer. It's a horrible, painful death and no one with any compassion would want another to face that fate. I lost both my parents to that disease. I wish Hugo would pass peacefully in his sleep and have to face his maker after what he has allowed to occur in Venezuela. Shame on you, Hugo.
Don't call that piece of trash Soros an American! Examine the history of his life. He certainly does not embrace the values, ethics and morality that Americans traditionally have stood. He should have never been able to enter this country, let alone live here, after what he has openly admitted to Jewish people and others. He'd be one of the first ones I kick out if I had the power. A disgusting, greedy, petty....Well, you know what I mean!
Rescue the survivors, respectfully reclaim the dead for their families, put out the oil booms and clean up the mess. The captain screwed up and instead of owning up to his moral and legal responsibility, promptly departed without providing leadership to the stricken crew and passengers. Absolutely shameful! He demonstrated total absence of character by his abdication of his duties. Ecological disaster? Nonsense! What about the loss of the beloved souls on board the ship? Spills can be cleaned up without too much problem if they occur. Our hearts should go out the families who lost loved ones instead of worrying about eco-nonsense that hasn't happened.
Let's hope the warlock is right about Mr. Obama failing to win another term. That would be very good news. Chavez of Venezuela and Mrs. Fernandez have cancer in one form or another. I hope President Fernandez makes a complete recovery. She's the prettiest president out there. On the other hand.... In terms of Mr. Chavez, I hate his policies and his friends but I wouldn't wish cancer on anyone. I hope he gets well too and spends the rest of his days selling corn in an outdoor market someplace or riding a jackass in the mountains. How fitting.
For Europe, it's all over with the single currency. You can't expect young working people to keep paying taxes for benefits for elders while having no say in the matter. The same here in the US. These programs need to be phased out in such a way as to cause the least disruption with an eye to maintain as much fairness as possible. Phase out the high taxes and require that people, and their families, be responsible for themselves. That is the only way these societies can survive. To allow the present system to continue will just make things worse!
Unlike 1929, today's world is highly interdependent. This applies not only to energy and food, but technology and productive capacity. Sadly, I don't think most European countries will ever recover to their former greatness as those in power have completely mismanaged their economies, created a socialist welfare state and due to massive demographic changes (Middle East immigration), their culture, traditions, ethics and values are destined to die off in time. Once that occurs, Europe will be a Moslem majority continent with no future at all. They did it to themselves by trying to be "good people" instead of thinking ahead as to what was best for Europe. It's gone now. It is only a matter of time. Sad.
Solution to bullying...
When I was a child, my father taught me to stand up for myself. He taught me to fight if necessary. If another kid tried to physically bully me, I'd give them a good punch so they would remember it. One kid didn't learn the first time. He contronted me and I had no choice but beat the living hell out of him after he hit me once. I mopped the floor with him right on the school campus in plain view of the other students. I didn't care if the "school authorities" liked it or not. I did what my father told me and that was that. After that good ass-kicking, no one ever bothered me again. And, I gained a great deal of respect. Toughen up your kids. Those morons who run schools are too politically correct to teach them the important lessons in life.
Why are we training new astronauts when no manned space program exists?
I'd like to have another manned program if we could afford it, but the moronic politicians have spent so much of our money on illegal wars and BS social programs, bailouts of banks, and corrupt institutions, we have nothing left. Manned space flight is a luxury we can no longer afford.
As a nation, we need to reorganize the whole idea of "government" from the top down, set realistic and practical priorities, etc. The days of near-earth manned missions is pretty well over and there is little need for it given current economic realities. It is time for private industry to come up to the table if there is a genuine need and market. If not, we'd be better off shelving these ideas until we are in a better position or have a true need for it. Personally, as a retired airline pilot, I can't see this in the near future. We have many more pressing problems here on Earth that require our urgent attention.
With high speed rail, they have to run on time or the whole system bunches up. While stopped on a platform France, I witnessed several trains travelling at 165 MPH every few minutes, one after another. If the Italians have problems, they can always seek out the help of the French or Swiss who would be only too happy to provide them their technology.
I travel to Europe constantly and I ride the train everytime. I see lots of people who do the same as I, so your comment people can't afford to ride high speed rail is simply not true. And I'm no Rockefeller!
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