Our Conure at 26 mos., "whats up", okay, thank you! :)
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Break Time: Enjoy.
Dan Seals - Everything That Glitters (is not Gold)
Drill baby drill!.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7500669/Oil-reserves-exaggerated-by-one-third.html
The moratorium in the Gulf although wise will be short lived because the US doesn't have the luxury to slow down oil production, or its rush to find new oil due to our demand. Forty years of talking about lessening our demand on foreign oil has been nothing but rhetoric because our demand for it has only increased.........Ironic isn't it?.
Just imagine if such a thing happened in Antarctica, there have been discussions about drilling there. An oil spill like the Exxon Valdez would be unlike the Nuclear bomb dropped on Japan. If the oil geniuses have no idea about what to do with this gusher, not a clue?, imagine what that would be like?. It would be on a scale like meltdown of Chernobyl that caused world wide panic, only worse yet. Oil does produce a slippery slope doesn't it?
We've been told the reasons for many of our wars were to fend off the spread of communism, but today our governments banker is China. Strange bedfellows considering what these wars have cost. Ironic isn't it?.
If we sift through all the red tape, or rather if we had the clearances we needed so we could read all the fine print we would come to the conclusion that our walnuts have been placed in a vice, and the handle has been slowing cranking. Its just a matter of time before we begin to feel the cold chafing before the real pressure is applied, and maybe sooner than later.
Without the oil this country needs daily, all 10 million + barrels, and without our unlimited access to credit all from abroad, what oh what we will do????. Not to mention our 13 trillion of debt with more on the horizon, and with every other thing going on within our borders. Maybe Goldman will break down and gives us a loan?.:). Its just a wire transfer!. Maybe pressure uncle Bernie who was noted as saying that many of his f'ing clients he made millionaires.:). Ironic isn't it?.
It appears that when billionaires begin losing their money in off shore hedgefunds the Fed will step in. If you lose money with the Bernie Madoffs of the world the Congress will step in, and find a means to reimberse some of those losses, so they can still at least remain close to a millionaire status. Ironic isn't it?
http://www.nchinc.com/faq-WhyNV.htm
In 1996, Nevada made its first appearance on the top ten list of states with the highest number of incorporations, even though thirty-six states have larger populations.
Each month, more than 5,000 corporations are formed in Nevada, with more than 80% of them formed by people who live outside Nevada.
Texas????????. Anyone who listened to Sen.Barton's apology to BP the other evening for destroying the pristine waters of the Gulf who is(was) the ranking member on the committee investigating BP was really a tell all of the mentality some of these elected shitheads have. The reasons why deregulation existed in the first place, the reasons why bums like Berman are allowed to exist outside of jail, and the very reasons why everyone within the agency of the SEC, and MMS need to be shut down for their conflict of interest, and replaced with new responsible agencies who have some teeth, and who will bust any kind of suspected improprieties, both inside and outside of their agencies. Each agency needs an oversight task force for these purposes. The very reason why there's suppose to be regulators, and auditors for financial institutions who can call in the FBI when someone is cooking the books. The very reason why Arthur Anderson went down with Enron was due the crimes they committed for money. A million a week paid by Enron to cover their lying asses.
Berman fits into the same category, and anyone associated with him.
http://www.americasbestcompanies.com/blog/best-states-for-startups.aspx
Nevada . The home of Las Vegas is all about opportunity, there is no question about that. This is a state that values entrepreneurship and prosperity with zero income or capital gains taxes on either individuals or corporations.
Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
Date : 06/15/2010 @ 3:58PM
Source : Edgar (US Regulatory)
Stock : Russell Industries (RIND)
Quote : 0.0001 0.0 (0.00%) @ 7:05AM
- Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
UNITED STATES SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
FORM D
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0076 Expires: June 30, 2012 Estimated Average burden hours per response: 4.0
Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities
1. Issuer's Identity
CIK (Filer ID Number) Previous Name(s) x None Entity Type
0001071220 x Corporation
o Limited Partnership
o Limited Liability Company
o General Partnership
o Business Trust
o Other
Name of Issuer
RUSSELL INDUSTRIES INC
Jurisdiction of Incorporation/Organization
NEVADA
Year of Incorporation/Organization
x Over Five Years Ago
o Within Last Five Years (Specify Year)
o Yet to Be Formed
2. Principal Place of Business and Contact Information
Name of Issuer
RUSSELL INDUSTRIES INC
Street Address 1 Street Address 2
9595 SIX PINES DRIVE SUITE 8210
City State/Province/Country ZIP/Postal Code Phone No. of Issuer
THE WOODLANDS TEXAS 77380 832-631-6074
3. Related Persons
Last Name First Name Middle Name
BERMAN RICHARD MARK
Street Address 1 Street Address 2
9595 SIX PINES DRIVE SUITE 8210
City State/Province/Country ZIP/Postal Code
THE WOODLANDS TEXAS 77380
Relationship: x Executive Officer x Director o Promoter
Clarification of Response (if Necessary)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Industry Group
o Agriculture Health Care o Retailing
Banking & Financial Services o Biotechnology o Restaurants
o Commercial Banking o Health Insurance Technology
o Insurance o Hospitals & Physicians o Computers
o Investing o Pharmaceuticals o Telecommunications
o Investment Banking o Other Health Care o Other Technology
o Pooled Investment Fund
Travel
o Other Banking & Financial Services o Manufacturing o Airlines & Airports
Real Estate o Lodging & Conventions
o Commercial o Tourism & Travel Services
o Construction o Other Travel
o REITS & Finance o Other
o Residential
o Other Real Estate
o Business Services
Energy
o Coal Mining
o Electric Utilities
o Energy Conservation
o Environmental Services
o Oil & Gas
x Other Energy
5. Issuer Size
Revenue Range Aggregate Net Asset Value Range
o No Revenues o No Aggregate Net Asset Value
x $1 - $1,000,000 o $1 - $5,000,000
o $1,000,001 - $5,000,000 o $5,000,001 - $25,000,000
o $5,000,001 - $25,000,000 o $25,000,001 - $50,000,000
o $25,000,001 - $100,000,000 o $50,000,001 - $100,000,000
o Over $100,000,000 o Over $100,000,000
o Decline to Disclose o Decline to Disclose
o Not Applicable o Not Applicable
6. Federal Exemption(s) and Exclusion(s) Claimed (select all that apply)
o Rule 504(b)(1) (not (i), (ii) or (iii)) o Rule 505
x Rule 504 (b)(1)(i)
x Rule 506
x Rule 504 (b)(1)(ii) o Securities Act Section 4(6)
x Rule 504 (b)(1)(iii) o Investment Company Act Section 3(c)
7. Type of Filing
o New Notice Date of First Sale 2009-11-06 o First Sale Yet to Occur
x Amendment
8. Duration of Offering
Does the Issuer intend this offering to last more than one year? o Yes x No
9. Type(s) of Securities Offered (select all that apply)
o Pooled Investment Fund Interests o Equity
o Tenant-in-Common Securities x Debt
o Mineral Property Securities o Option, Warrant or Other Right to Acquire Another Security
o Security to be Acquired Upon Exercise of Option, Warrant or Other Right to Acquire Security o Other (describe)
10. Business Combination Transaction
Is this offering being made in connection with a business combination transaction, such as a merger, acquisition or exchange offer? o Yes x No
Clarification of Response (if Necessary)
11. Minimum Investment
Minimum investment accepted from any outside investor $ 5000 USD
12. Sales Compensation
Recipient Recipient CRD Number o None
(Associated) Broker or Dealer o None (Associated) Broker or Dealer CRD Number o None
Street Address 1 Street Address 2
City State/Province/Country ZIP/Postal Code
State(s) of Solicitation o All States
13. Offering and Sales Amounts
Total Offering Amount $ 1000000 USD o Indefinite
Total Amount Sold $ 238148 USD
Total Remaining to be Sold $ 761852 USD o Indefinite
Clarification of Response (if Necessary)
14. Investors
o Select if securities in the offering have been or may be sold to persons who do not qualify as accredited investors,
Number of such non-accredited investors who already have invested in the offering
Regardless of whether securities in the offering have been or may be sold to persons who do not qualify as accredited investors, enter the total number of investors who already have invested in the offering: 1
15. Sales Commissions & Finders' Fees Expenses
Provide separately the amounts of sales commissions and finders' fees expenses, if any. If the amount of an expenditure is not known, provide an estimate and check the box next to the amount.
Sales Commissions $ 0 USD o Estimate
Finders' Fees $ 0 USD o Estimate
Clarification of Response (if Necessary)
16. Use of Proceeds
Provide the amount of the gross proceeds of the offering that has been or is proposed to be used for payments to any of the persons required to be named as executive officers, directors or promoters in response to Item 3 above. If the amount is unknown, provide an estimate and check the box next to the amount.
$ 350000 USD x Estimate
Clarification of Response (if Necessary)
Signature and Submission
Please verify the information you have entered and review the Terms of Submission below before signing and clicking SUBMIT below to file this notice.
Terms of Submission
In submitting this notice, each Issuer named above is:
Notifying the SEC and/or each State in which this notice is filed of the offering of securities described and undertaking to furnish them, upon written request, the information furnished to offerees.
Irrevocably appointing each of the Secretary of the SEC and, the Securities Administrator or other legally designated officer of the State in which the Issuer maintains its principal place of business and any State in which this notice is filed, as its agents for service of process, and agreeing that these persons may accept service on its behalf, of any notice, process or pleading, and further agreeing that such service may be made by registered or certified mail, in any Federal or state action, administrative proceeding, or arbitration brought against it in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, if the action, proceeding or arbitration (a) arises out of any activity in connection with the offering of securities that is the subject of this notice, and (b) is founded, directly or indirectly, upon the provisions of: (i) the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or any rule or regulation under any of these statutes, or (ii) the laws of the State in which the issuer maintains its principal place of business or any State in which this notice is filed.
Certifying that the Issuer is not disqualified from relying on any Regulation D exemption it has identified in Item 6 above for one of the reasons stated in Rule 505(b)(2)(iii).
Each Issuer identified above has read this notice, knows the contents to be true, and has duly caused this notice to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized person.
For signature, type in the signer's name or other letters or characters adopted or authorized as the signer's signature.
Issuer Signature Name of Signer Title Date
RUSSELL INDUSTRIES INC /s/Richard M Berman Richard M Berman President & CEO 2010-06-15
Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
Date : 05/17/2010 @ 4:05PM
Source : Edgar (US Regulatory)
Stock : Russell Industries (RIND)
Quote : 0.0001 0.0 (0.00%) @ 7:05AM
- Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
UNITED STATES SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
FORM D
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0076 Expires: June 30, 2012 Estimated Average burden hours per response: 4.0
Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities
1. Issuer's Identity
CIK (Filer ID Number) Previous Name(s) x None Entity Type
0001071220 x Corporation
o Limited Partnership
o Limited Liability Company
o General Partnership
o Business Trust
o Other
Name of Issuer
RUSSELL INDUSTRIES INC
Jurisdiction of Incorporation/Organization
NEVADA
Year of Incorporation/Organization
x Over Five Years Ago
o Within Last Five Years (Specify Year)
o Yet to Be Formed
2. Principal Place of Business and Contact Information
Name of Issuer
RUSSELL INDUSTRIES INC
Street Address 1 Street Address 2
9595 SIX PINES DRIVE SUITE 8210
City State/Province/Country ZIP/Postal Code Phone No. of Issuer
THE WOODLANDS TEXAS 77380 832-631-6074
3. Related Persons
Last Name First Name Middle Name
BERMAN RICHARD MARK
Street Address 1 Street Address 2
9595 SIX PINES DRIVE SUITE 8210
City State/Province/Country ZIP/Postal Code
THE WOODLANDS TEXAS 77380
Relationship: x Executive Officer x Director o Promoter
Clarification of Response (if Necessary)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Industry Group
o Agriculture Health Care o Retailing
Banking & Financial Services o Biotechnology o Restaurants
o Commercial Banking o Health Insurance Technology
o Insurance o Hospitals & Physicians o Computers
o Investing o Pharmaceuticals o Telecommunications
o Investment Banking o Other Health Care o Other Technology
o Pooled Investment Fund
Travel
o Other Banking & Financial Services o Manufacturing o Airlines & Airports
Real Estate o Lodging & Conventions
o Commercial o Tourism & Travel Services
o Construction o Other Travel
o REITS & Finance o Other
o Residential
o Other Real Estate
o Business Services
Energy
o Coal Mining
o Electric Utilities
o Energy Conservation
o Environmental Services
o Oil & Gas
x Other Energy
5. Issuer Size
Revenue Range Aggregate Net Asset Value Range
o No Revenues o No Aggregate Net Asset Value
x $1 - $1,000,000 o $1 - $5,000,000 o $1,000,001 - $5,000,000 o $5,000,001 - $25,000,000
o $5,000,001 - $25,000,000 o $25,000,001 - $50,000,000
o $25,000,001 - $100,000,000 o $50,000,001 - $100,000,000
o Over $100,000,000 o Over $100,000,000
o Decline to Disclose o Decline to Disclose
o Not Applicable o Not Applicable
6. Federal Exemption(s) and Exclusion(s) Claimed (select all that apply)
o Rule 504(b)(1) (not (i), (ii) or (iii)) o Rule 505
x Rule 504 (b)(1)(i) x Rule 506
x Rule 504 (b)(1)(ii) o Securities Act Section 4(6)
x Rule 504 (b)(1)(iii) o Investment Company Act Section 3(c)
7. Type of Filing
o New Notice Date of First Sale 2009-11-06 o First Sale Yet to Occur
x Amendment
8. Duration of Offering
Does the Issuer intend this offering to last more than one year? o Yes x No
9. Type(s) of Securities Offered (select all that apply)
o Pooled Investment Fund Interests o Equity
o Tenant-in-Common Securities x Debt
o Mineral Property Securities o Option, Warrant or Other Right to Acquire Another Security
o Security to be Acquired Upon Exercise of Option, Warrant or Other Right to Acquire Security o Other (describe)
10. Business Combination Transaction
Is this offering being made in connection with a business combination transaction, such as a merger, acquisition or exchange offer? o Yes x No
Clarification of Response (if Necessary)
11. Minimum Investment
Minimum investment accepted from any outside investor $ 5000 USD
12. Sales Compensation
Recipient Recipient CRD Number o None
(Associated) Broker or Dealer o None (Associated) Broker or Dealer CRD Number o None
Street Address 1 Street Address 2
City State/Province/Country ZIP/Postal Code
State(s) of Solicitation o All States
13. Offering and Sales Amounts
Total Offering Amount $ 1000000 USD o Indefinite
Total Amount Sold $ 226398 USD
Total Remaining to be Sold $ 773602 USD o Indefinite
Clarification of Response (if Necessary)
14. Investors
o Select if securities in the offering have been or may be sold to persons who do not qualify as accredited investors,
Number of such non-accredited investors who already have invested in the offering
Regardless of whether securities in the offering have been or may be sold to persons who do not qualify as accredited investors, enter the total number of investors who already have invested in the offering: 1
15. Sales Commissions & Finders' Fees Expenses
Provide separately the amounts of sales commissions and finders' fees expenses, if any. If the amount of an expenditure is not known, provide an estimate and check the box next to the amount.
Sales Commissions $ 0 USD o Estimate
Finders' Fees $ 0 USD o Estimate
Clarification of Response (if Necessary)
16. Use of Proceeds
Provide the amount of the gross proceeds of the offering that has been or is proposed to be used for payments to any of the persons required to be named as executive officers, directors or promoters in response to Item 3 above. If the amount is unknown, provide an estimate and check the box next to the amount.
$ 350000 USD x Estimate
Clarification of Response (if Necessary)
Signature and Submission
Please verify the information you have entered and review the Terms of Submission below before signing and clicking SUBMIT below to file this notice.
Terms of Submission
In submitting this notice, each Issuer named above is:
Notifying the SEC and/or each State in which this notice is filed of the offering of securities described and undertaking to furnish them, upon written request, the information furnished to offerees.
Irrevocably appointing each of the Secretary of the SEC and, the Securities Administrator or other legally designated officer of the State in which the Issuer maintains its principal place of business and any State in which this notice is filed, as its agents for service of process, and agreeing that these persons may accept service on its behalf, of any notice, process or pleading, and further agreeing that such service may be made by registered or certified mail, in any Federal or state action, administrative proceeding, or arbitration brought against it in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, if the action, proceeding or arbitration (a) arises out of any activity in connection with the offering of securities that is the subject of this notice, and (b) is founded, directly or indirectly, upon the provisions of: (i) the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or any rule or regulation under any of these statutes, or (ii) the laws of the State in which the issuer maintains its principal place of business or any State in which this notice is filed.
Certifying that the Issuer is not disqualified from relying on any Regulation D exemption it has identified in Item 6 above for one of the reasons stated in Rule 505(b)(2)(iii).
Each Issuer identified above has read this notice, knows the contents to be true, and has duly caused this notice to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized person.
For signature, type in the signer's name or other letters or characters adopted or authorized as the signer's signature.
Issuer Signature Name of Signer Title Date
RUSSELL INDUSTRIES INC /S/ Richard M Berman Richard M Berman President & CEO 2010-05-17
06/15/2010 3:58PM Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
05/18/2010 9:01AM Russell Industries Increases Interest in Payday Mine Claims 05/17/2010 4:05PM Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
05/03/2010 11:00AM Russell Industries Second Quarter Project Update
04/28/2010 4:44PM Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
04/12/2010 6:02AM Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
04/01/2010 1:08PM Russell Industries Update
03/23/2010 6:01AM Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
03/03/2010 10:01AM Russell Industries Update
03/01/2010 6:04AM Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
02/01/2010 2:06PM Russell Industries Meets First Milestones
02/01/2010 6:01AM Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
01/06/2010 11:23AM Russell Industries Pilot to Scale Project Update
01/06/2010 6:01AM Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
12/08/2009 4:43PM Amended Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D/A)
12/08/2009 12:11PM Russell Industries Obtains Lease
12/02/2009 12:12PM Russell Industries Pilot to Scale Project Update
12/01/2009 6:02AM Small Company Offering and Sale of Securities Without Registration (D)
11/10/2009 7:01AM Russell Industries Begins Pilot to Scale Project
11/09/2009 1:08PM Russell Industries Closes $1M Priv
American working in Mexico Mexican work visa truth
Mexican work visa
American working in Mexico
From the other side of the fence...
Received the following from Tom O'Malley, who was a Director with S.W. BELL in Mexico City :
"I spent five years working in Mexico . I worked under a tourist Visa for three months and could legally renew it for three more months. After that you were working illegally. I was technically illegal for three weeks waiting on the FM3 approval.
"During that six months our Mexican and U.S. attorneys were working to secure a permanent work visa called a 'FM3'. It was in addition to my U.S. passport that I had to show each time I entered and left the country. Barbara's was the same, except hers did not permit her to work.
"To apply for the FM3, I needed to submit the following notarized originals (not copies):
1. Birth certificate for Barbara and me.
2. Marriage certificate.
3. High school transcripts and proof of graduation.
4. College transcripts for every college I attended and proof of graduation.
5. Two letters of recommendation from supervisors I had worked for at least one year.
6. A letter from the St. Louis Chief of Police indicating that I had no arrest record in the U.S. and no
outstanding warrants and, was "a citizen in good standing".
7. "Finally, I had to write a letter about myself that clearly stated why there was no Mexican citizen with
my skills and why my skills were important to Mexico . We called it our 'I am the greatest person on Earth'
letter. It was fun to write."
"All of the above were in English that had to be translated into Spanish and be certified as legal translations, and our signatures notarized. It produced a folder about 1.5 inches thick with English on the left side & Spanish on the right."
"Once they were completed Barbara and I spent about five hours, accompanied by a Mexican attorney, touring Mexican government office locations and being photographed and fingerprinted at least three times at each location, and we remember at least four locations where we were instructed on Mexican tax, labor, housing, and criminal law and that we were required to obey their laws or face the consequences. We could not protest any of the government's actions or we would be committing a felony. We paid out four thousand dollars in fees and bribes to complete the process. When this was done we could legally bring in our household goods that were held by U.S. Customs in Laredo , Texas . This meant we had rented furniture in Mexico while awaiting our goods. There were extensive fees involved here that the company paid."
"We could not buy a home and were required to rent at very high rates and under contract and compliance with Mexican law."
"We were required to get a Mexican driver's license. This was an amazing process. The company arranged for the licensing agency to come to our headquarters location with their photography and fingerprint equipment and the laminating machine. We showed our U.S. license, were photographed and fingerprinted again and issued the license instantly after paying out a six dollar fee. We did not take a written or driving test and never received instructions on the rules of the road. Our only instruction was to never give a policeman your license if stopped and asked. We were instructed to hold it against the inside window away from his grasp. If he got his hands on it you would have to pay ransom to get it back."
"We then had to pay and file Mexican income tax annually using the number of our FM3 as our ID number. The company's Mexican accountants did this for us and we just signed what they prepared. It was about twenty legal size pages annually."
"The FM3 was good for three years and renewable for two more after paying more fees."
"Leaving the country meant turning in the FM3 and certifying we were leaving no debts behind and no outstanding legal affairs (warrants, tickets or liens) before our household goods were released to customs."
"It was a real adventure and if any of our Senators or Congressmen went through it once they would have a different attitude toward Mexico ."
"The Mexican government uses its vast military and police forces to keep its citizens intimidated and compliant. They never protest at their capitol or government offices, but do protest daily in front of the United States Embassy. The U.S. Embassy looks like a strongly reinforced fortress and during most protests the Mexican military surrounds the block with their men standing shoulder to shoulder in full riot gear to protect the Embassy. These protests are never shown on U.S. or Mexican TV. There is a large public park across the street where they do their protesting. Anything can cause a protest such as proposed law changes in California or Texas ."
Please feel free to share this with everyone who thinks we are being hard on the illegal aliens.
The Evil
By: Christina Mayo
Have you ever wondered to yourself why great civilizations have fallen? Well, whether or not you have, I can tell you that it is because of the squirrels. To build on this point, let me use colleges as an example. Usually, wild creatures do not have a place in an urban environment, however, because of administrative policies, squirrels have been shipped onto campuses nation wide. Officials have denied that the rodents were brought here purposefully, but do claim that "if on the off chance they [the squirrels] were attracted to colleges, it was purelly aesthetic measure." Experts claim that the squirrels produce an environment that remind people of home. I don't know where most students come from, but to me it doesn't sound like home. Here's the main flaws in the whole squirrel conspiracy: squirrels have no natural enemy other than man in an urban environment; mass squirrel numbers due to reproduction; squirrels cause millions of dollars in damage every year; squirrels have been the cause of death of innocents throughout the years; squirrels have no respect for privacy or property rights; and squirrels kill and castrate other squirrels.
First of all, in an urban environment, the squirrels have no natural enemy other than man. In addition, with the rise of new food storage procedures, the squirrels are no longer a viable staple.
Second, due to the recent liberal tree-hugging hippie tendencies, many have gone the "politically correct" way and have avoided the harming of the squirrels. NoW people no longer hunt them for fun and profit (as there is no longer any profit from squirrels in an industrial market due to mass reproduction and their low body mass). As a result squirrels have been allowed to overpopulate in exponential numbers. At this rate, scientists estimate that the squirrel population will reach the same level as humans within the next two years. Imagine, 6 billion squirrels, there is no way the ecosphere of the earth could support that many creatures.
Thirdly, squirrels have caused millions of dollars of damage every year. They are one of the top causes of power outages and damage to very expensive equipment. They seem to be attracted to transformers and fly into them like Kamikaze pilots. They are masters of breakins, detroying siding, vents, wiring, ect. in the process. Squirrels get into people's gardens and destroy the vegetables, fruits, and flowers causing massive crop damage. They rarely even consume them, they just detroy them for fun.
Fourth, squirrels have been the cause of death of innocent citizens throughout the years. How many times have innocent drivers barely avoided running off the road trying to miss (or to hit) a squirrel taunting them in the middle of the road? Some are not so lucky and wreck because of the little monsters. Squirrels caused the black plague in Europe and currently carry numerous life threatening deseases including rabies and bubonic plague. It is a historical fact that squirrels were one of the carriers of the black plauge in the Middle Ages throughout Europe leading to the horrible deaths of millions.
Fifth, squirrels have no respect for private or property rights. They invade attics and refuse to leave. They are not invited. An attic is not an oak tree, and they know this. They are too lazy to build their own houses so they try to take over someone else's. They move around in the attic at night scaring lttle kids. Squirrels are notorious theives stealing food and property from other animals and people. They are the most skillful theives on the planet. They are hated by birds and their watchers everywhere. They love to steal nuts and fruits. When measures are taken to prevent them from getting the prize, they try that much harder.
Finally, squirrels kill and castrate other squirrels. Naturalists that have studied squirrels have discovered many alarming behaviors among them. Squirrels fight among themselves. A male squirrel will invade the tree of an enemy squirrel and bite off the testacles of the young in the nest.
In conclusion, squirrels are evil. They may look cute, but have you ever really looked into a squirrel's eyes and seen what makes them tick? I have, and I was frightened by what I saw. Pure hatred towards all that we created. Squirrels want to destroy us with every inch of their tiny, fury little selves. They wish to destroy us humans for all we have done to them. What have we ever done to them though? I think such things have been lost to time, but it must have been really bad considering all their rage. The only way to solve this problem is to resurrect the old art of thinning out their numbers. As a citizen, it is your duty to flatten a squirrel any time you see one on the highway. One bump and you have just added another tally mark in the battle against the rodent menace. But undoubtedly, the squirrels have realized the hopeless situation for their race, and are plotting their plans at this very moment. So the next time you look at a "cute" little squirrel, ask yourself: "Is that love in his eye, or the murderous gleam of a deranged rodent?"
Thanx fer that awesome essay!! Love ya mayo
The Census: How will this bureau account for all the illegal aliens?. Whats the count?, I've heard 12m on the low end, and 20m on the high end. The second guess has been 20m on the low end, and 50m on the high end. In reality its anyone's guess?. Whatever we derive at may very well be correct. 20m will cover the population of NY with all its boroughs twice over, and Chicago. This has been going on since the days of Eisenhower, when illegals were coming in for farm work, then go back home, so it wasn't a concern. But things began to change during the Kennedy era, and grew worse as time went on, the inflow outgrew the gate keepers, and farm work became less appealing and they just couldn't stay away from the city lights. The result throughout the country is what Arizona is tiered of, if the Fed can't do its job, the State imo has every right to protect itself from a situation completely out of control.
In addition to all this the govt is allowing 55,000 Haitians into the country following the earth quake. Just for starts anyway. They will arrive here with no money, no home, medical, transportation, and none of the necessary essentials needed for daily life. I wonder where all this funding will come from?. This reminds me of the days of Carter when he asked Castro to let some of his people leave Cuba. He obliged him by opening up his prison gates and sent 50,000 of Cuba's finest to Miami. It will fall on the govt to take care of their every need.
Obama stated that it would take "years" to rebuild that country. I wonder if he has any idea the length of time and the amount of money it will take to rebuild our infrastructure which has been neglected over the last 45 years. The figures are mind boggling. The money given for Tarp could have covered alot of it. The money spent in Iraq could have as well. We are over $13 trillion in debt, and none in Washington seems to know which way is up, other than what the see as personal, and political gains.
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/41423/
Now that you mention it, its grew into nothing more than an entity who creates, signs, and services government contracts for the largest corporations in the country. 45 years of the biggest waste in history. The politicians being given careers of it have gotten very rich with retirement pensions second to none. One home is not sufficient, they need 5, 6, 7............just like the fat cats of wall street. In the midst of it all we have lost nearly all of our manufacturing jobs to countries abroad, and our infrastructure is cracking at the seams.............
Good work fella's!...........the same ole shit heads that continue to seek re-election.
I agree with you with all your points one. Whatever happened to to using the rails for campaigns. All they would need is a rail pass.
I only got to listen to a fraction of Buffets testimony on the rating agencies, but given this he made this point, not surprisingly either. He jumped into GS knowing the government was coming to its rescue, and is obviously one of its great admirers, like the rating agencies. Guess he's trying to smooth things over for them considering the criminal investigations that are underway. If a person chooses to run with crooks gives away who and what they really are. He has to be stupid or naive to think he has such a reputation due to his billions that he can sway the public into believing these people just made a mistake, and couldn't see the bubble, like him, who wants to convey he's was one of the smartest people in the room who didn't see it, "whose he trying to kid?", he knew exactly what was going on, he pays people to keep him abreast of everything, he's in the inner circle. He's just another one of these people with the kind of government influence that helps to blacken it. Like Soro's. Like Gates. 2 links at the bottom that are worthy or reading. Buffet fails to acknowledge that GS, and these rating agenices were just some of the players who caused the crisis in the first place.
Warren Buffet—Wall Street’s Teflon Don?
November 30, 2008 by Jeff Gates · 2 Comments
ShareLionized as the world’s most astute investor, Warren Buffet’s recent acquisitions drew on networks that this Wall Street legend may prefer remain obscure. Yet the ongoing market meltdown reveals how Berkshire Hathaway tapped the U.S. Treasury to buy Wachovia Bank with the help of tax dodges that left even the experts speechless.
One day after Wachovia agreed to be acquired by Citigroup, Treasury Assistant Secretary Eric Solomon published a notice that transformed Wachovia’s $74 billion in losses into $25 billion in potential tax savings for Wells Fargo, Berkshire’s second largest holding. Based on that notice, Buffet renewed a Wells Fargo bid for Wachovia that he had withdrawn just days earlier.
That acquisition typifies the murky relationships key to Buffet’s top ranking in the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans. He bested Citi not with financial expertise but with well-timed political influence that, in effect, treated the U.S. Treasury as his personal bank.
His latest built on the foundation of an earlier bank stock meltdown when, in 1990, Berkshire acquired 10% of Wells Fargo as its share price plummeted by half in the financial bloodbath that followed a nationwide savings and loan fraud. Today’s Wall Street rout resembles the S&L bust but without the perspective of time required to grasp that this latest collapse is likewise a nationwide fraud—in which Buffet was both perpetrator and beneficiary.
At the core of this latest pump-and-dump are the credit rating agencies: Fitch, S&P and Moody’s. Investors recall the key role played in the dotcom fraud by Citigroup analyst Jack Grubman. His inflated financial projections lured investors to over-priced telecom stocks while Citi lent them money, provided them investment banking, sold them insurance and even managed their pension funds. Rating agencies filled the analyst’s role in this latest fraud by making junk securities appear equivalent in risk to gilt-edged government bonds.
Berkshire Hathaway not only owns a 20% interest in Moody’s, Buffet also controls a bond insurer to which Moody’s gave a triple-A rating. But that’s only the most obvious of the conflicts-of-interest that enriched the Oracle of Omaha and his loyal followers who make an annual pilgrimage to Nebraska to marvel at his homespun wisdom.
Much as Solomon’s ruling transformed Wachovia losses into Wells Fargo assets, Moody’s ratings converted financial straw into gold. Or, as during the dotcom era, into fool’s gold when investors realized that genuine risk analysis had been replaced with what the public could be deceived to believe. In return, Moody’s pocketed record fees for Buffet.
Solomon’s ruling was the first of two expanding the losses that banks could use to reduce future taxes. In effect, he shifted to the Treasury much of the cost of those phony ratings along with the entire cost of Buffet’s $15.4 billion purchase of Wachovia. As taxpayers absorb the fiscal pain—an estimated $140 billion—savvy insiders will pocket the gain while also quickening the pace at which banks are consolidated into ever fewer hands.
That barely scratches the surface of the mega-fraud now underway. Over a 10-day stretch in September—amid taxpayer bailouts for AIG, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and a bankruptcy filing by Lehman Brothers—the shares of Goldman Sachs dropped 36%. The firm quickly gained approval to become a bank holding company and completed a $5 billion offering, diluting its shareholders by 20%. Under the leadership of Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman had operated more as a hedge fund than a brokerage firm or an investment bank, generating steady returns that relied on bogus credit ratings.
As those phony ratings became transparent and capital markets tumbled, Berkshire received $8.2 billion in value for its $5 billion cash infusion when Buffet further hammered Goldman’s public shareholders by using Berkshire’s cash hoard to extract massive stock warrants and dividend-assured preferred shares paying $1.3 million per day.
The role played by the Treasury was again obscured, hidden in the $150 billion-plus bailout of AIG. Former CEO Maurice “Hank” Greenberg had used that insurance giant as the counterparty for credit default swaps and financial derivatives originated by Goldman and Lehman. Had Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson not backed the AIG bailout, Goldman would have suffered a $20 billion loss. As a former co-chairman of Goldman with a personal net worth exceeding $850 million, Paulson could not have been unmindful that Goldman’s bonus pool for 2007 was $20 billion.
Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, a senior Citigroup director and previously a co-chairman at Goldman, insisted that Citi invest heavily in securitized loans backed by sham credit ratings. When Buffet prevailed over Citi in his Treasury-funded bid for Wachovia, his triumph cleared the way for Goldman alumni at Treasury to offer Citi a $306 billion bailout.
This scale of fraud only works when the public cannot prove who is stealing from whom.
Filed Under: Business, Politics
Tagged: Berkshire Hathaway, Citi, Citigroup, Eric Solomon, Forbes 400, Goldman Sachs, Henry Paulson, Jack Grubman, Lehman Brothers, Lloyd Blankfein, Maurice "Hank" Greenspan, Moody's, Oracle of Omaha, Robert Rubin, Sanford Weil, Wachovia, Warren Buffet, Wells Fargo
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2010/05/03/why-do-we-still-listen-to-the-ratings-agencies.aspx
http://www.vccircle.com/500/news/value-emerges-warren-buffet-to-invest-5b-in-goldman-sachs
Jackie Mason
Obama
I agree. The govt started breaking down in the 60's, and we have been on a downward spiral since. I thought the flat tax was the answer several years ago, I even urged Forbes not to give up the fight. I was surprised to find an email response from him thanking me for my support. Under his plan capital gains would be eliminated, from money already taxed once, and money put at risk that could create growth, jobs, and could be a total loss, but the reasons behind the risk is the hope of seeing a return, that some reward can be hoped for by taking on such risk, but?
The argument I got from family members, but not entirely was that the ones who would benefit the most from it were the wealthy. I don't think people in general have a distaste for wealthy people, its the way most of them obtain it. Not all but most. Primarily those who use publicly traded companies for their road to riches at the expense of everyone else. Jefferey Skilling, Kozloski, Bernie Edwards, Madoff, Stanford, are just a few, and they aren't entirely at fault. Government makes what they do legal, and politicians benefit from bending over forward has allowed it. Our politicians have proven to be no better, and in many cases worse for going along with the schemes.
And your right imo they already benefit exponentially from the 62,000+ tax codes, when the working class pays again, again, and again on money we have already been taxed on thru the employer. No matter how its sliced the rich will always benefit more, but who cares if everyone else is able to keep a little more of what they earn.
What would make it even better would be for the government to get a grip on what goes on within publicly traded corporations, and then stopping those at the top from being allowed to receive stock and options for compensation, along with the ludicrous severance packages we have all been witness to. There is no cap, there is no limit to what they can get, and Board members have been little more than club members who benefit right along with those at the top, and have a direct connection in going along because they to can benefit enormously.
If you and I work for one of these companies we get a payroll check, and if we want to own stock within them we have to purchase them. Those at the top should not have keys to the treasury, stocks should only be used to benefit the company, not its executives. Whoever founded the company are issued controlling shares, and they should never be issued more, and these should remain restricted till they decide to sell the company, its that given day where they should be able to benefit from whatever the market is willing to pay. Imo they deserve every penny when they do from their creation. If the company fails they shouldn't be able to cash in before it collapses, and they shouldn't be allowed to continue to trade once they enter bankruptcy proceedings, this in itself should be illegal.
Whatever pay the Ceo, top executives, and directors receive should be agreed upon by the shareholders, not the board members.
Severance packages should have steep stipulations tied to them, foremost how much time they get should depend on time, performance, and many other variables, and not limited to receiving no severance package. This would prompt them to invest their personal earnings into a retirement plan like every other employee who works for them. If a person is fired there should be limitations on what they can get. This should inspire them to work for what they earn, and to be a good steward.
Bill Gates is a prime example of why these kind of reformations are needed. Whoever has this stock tied to a 401K, etc is footing the bill, and a gate that should be closed.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=MSFT+Insider+Transactions
The other problem we have is the unbridled greed of the non regulated hedge fund industry, on an off shore, and short selling on borrowed stocks when options for puts, and call already exist. This truly puts every individuals investment in the market at greater risk.
Personally I think banks should be required to pay interest on depositors money of no less than 7%, but even this has been lost, and this forces many to put their savings in the stock market.
With all the manufacturing jobs in this country abroad, I'm afraid that the government throughout its years of concessions with foreign countries on trade, like GATT, and NAFTA, and selling jobs down the river thru outsourcing and making this a service oriented economy will never produce enough jobs to bring in the kind of tax revenues that will benefit us a nation. Corporations that exist to benefit mainly those at the top will never work, and they are proving it by moving abroad and giving American jobs away to foreigners. Countries, politicians abroad that have been opened up from war are now the real beneficiaries of capitalism, and the meager wages paid out to those who they employee to produce products are sold back to us, and we buy them, making all this a one big Catch 22.
Our government has failed on every level because of them selling their offices to lobbyist, as well as all our regulatory agencies that were suppose to protect the public from unscrupulous behavior. I think most with common sense can see what needs to be done to change things, but then again nothing changes if nothing changes.
David Faber of Cnbc did a documentary entitled, "The House of Cards". In the documentary he states 1% of Americans control 90% of its wealth. Its available for viewing on the Internet or was.
He's a pretty reliable source, and of all the people on that program, imo a trusted source of information.
Even so here's something to scan over.
http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html
Just because a person may work a mediocre job doesn't mean he's of less intelligence. I would like to point out that a persons job at the top is no more strenuous than someone whose of a lesser position. I did state that not one Ceo is worth tens and in some cases hundreds of millions annually in comp. "Not One!".
Its beyond ludicrous. Including every key executive.
I also said that everyone of them should have to be paid from the generated revenues of the companies by company check, not stock and options, on top of these outrageous severance packages. They should earn their money like those who work for them. Banning the latter would curtail alot of the corruption we see within these publicy traded companies. It would eliminate them using these companies like their own personal ATM machines filled with stockholders dollars.
???????? If you really believe all that your in for a whole lot more. Maybe the taxpayers should keep bailing out Wall Street and its ceo's?.
The ceo of BP and his key execs have caused one of the worst oil desasters in history, the cashier couldn't have done worse.
This man was not only elected once, but twice. This was the guy who got us on the fast track for Iraq with a de-regulatory Bugatti that could be driven up and down Wall Street emitting its intoxicating gas fumes of corruption.
Quite a legacy for the history books for GW.
See what happens when he is left by himself
General Patton's Opening Speech
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=108603
Forget Politics for a minute, just smile!
DISNEYLAND
Two blondes were going to Disneyland . They were driving on the Interstate when they saw the sign that said Disneyland LEFT!. They started crying and turned around and went home.
FLORIDA OR MOON
Two blondes living in Oklahoma were sitting on a bench talking, and one blonde says to the other, 'Which do you think is farther away... Florida or the moon?' The other blonde turns and says 'Helloooooooooo, can you see Florida ?????'
CAR TROUBLE SPEEDING TICKET
A police officer stops a blonde for speeding and asks her very nicely if he could see her license.
She replied in a huff, 'I wish you guys would get your act together.
Just yesterday you take away my license and then today you expect me to show it to you!'
RIVER WALK There's this blonde out for a walk. She comes to a river and sees another blonde on the opposite bank 'Yoo-hoo!' she shouts, 'How can I get to the other side?'
The second blonde looks up the river then down the river and shouts back, 'You ARE on the other side.'
AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE
A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's office and said that her body hurt wherever she touched it.
'Impossible!' says the doctor.. 'Show me.'
The redhead took her finger, pushed on her left shoulder and screamed, then she pushed her elbow and screamed even more. She pushed her knee and screamed; likewise she pushed her ankle and screamed. Everywhere she touched made her scream.
The doctor said, 'You're not really a redhead, are you?
'Well, no' she said, 'I'm actually a blonde.'
'I thought so,' the doctor said, 'Your finger is broken.'
KNITTING
A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting!
Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, 'PULL OVER!'
'NO!' the blonde yelled back, 'IT'S A SCARF!'
BLONDE ON THE SUN
A Russian, an American, and a Blonde were talking one day.
The Russian said, 'We were the first in space!'
The American said, 'We were the first on the moon!'
The Blonde said, 'So what? We're going to be the first on the sun!' The Russian and the American looked at each other and shook their heads.
'You can't land on the sun, you idiot! You'll burn up!' said the Russian.
To which the Blonde replied, 'We're not stupid, you know. We're going at night!'
IN A VACUUM
A blonde was playing Trivial Pursuit one night... It was her turn. She rolled the dice and she landed on Science & Nature. Her question was, 'If you are in a vacuum and someone calls your name, can you hear it?' She thought for a time and then asked, 'Is it on or off?'
FINALLY,
THE BLONDE JOKE TO END ALL BLONDE JOKES!
A girl was visiting her blonde friend, who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names were. The blonde responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex. Her friend said, 'Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?' 'HELLLOOOOOOO......,' answered the blonde. 'They're watch dogs'!
If its not the oil in the Gulf, its illegals.
Just think if it were feasible to go into a country like Holland for example, even Germany or Italy cross over illegally thru the woods if any are left standing?, remain there illegally, and after a while send for the kids so they could get enrolled in their school system free. The citizens will pay for it all till graduation. Better yet have children there, and receive all the free medical, and this would make them legal citizens. Not us or the parents but them.
If we or this couple got really lucky home ownership could also be a possiblity, if the wheels of the Financial Industry were spun correctly. Ownership of real tangible property could be possible. With the creation of mortgage origination even illegals could obtain home loans without the lender knowing if the signature on the mortgage was the same as the signature on the loan application?????????????
It gets no better than this............other than all the conceivable perks the government will grant.
How is it written?
A government by the people for the people. There must have been some amendments added to this that reads, "all the people", on the planet.
To think any corporations chief product is petroleum, and extremely toxic would not have a plan to contain it if something went wrong during its extraction, and or production is unfathomable. This is an underwater gusher. Not one oil company with all their years of expertise combined has been able to come up with a solid plan.
To think there have been discussions of drilling in the Antarctic?. If ever there would be an accident like the Exxon Valdez, its result would be beyond imaginings. "Planet Green?", the worrisome emitting of Co2 emissions we're being "engulfed with" to rattle everyone, really takes a back seat to profit. The the largest polluters will be able to carbon trade so they can continue to pollute. Like toxic mortgage origination, a New Market for Toxins. It almost sounds like the way they've been handling the US Border problem over several decades.
http://wokv.com/localnews/2010/05/nelson-bp-knew-about-rig-failu.html
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Huge-underwater-oil-plumes-apf-1551899726.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=3&asset=&ccode=
Satelite photos:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/05/photogalleries/100504-gulf-of-mexico-oil-spill-environment-nation-pictures#gulf-oil-spill-satellite-picture-timeline-april-21_19871_600x450.jpg
Three or four large plumes have been found, at least one that is 10 miles (16 kilometers) long and a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide, said Samantha Joye, a marine science professor at the University of Georgia.
Researchers Vernon Asper and Arne Dierks said in Web posts that the plumes were "perhaps due to the deep injection of dispersants which BP has stated that they are conducting."
These researchers were also testing the effects of large amounts of subsea oil on oxygen levels in the water. The oil can deplete oxygen in the water, harming plankton and other tiny creatures that serve as food for a wide variety of sea critters.
Oxygen levels in some areas have dropped 30 percent, and should continue to drop, Joye said.
"It could take years, possibly decades, for the system to recover from an infusion of this quantity of oil and gas," Joye said. "We've never seen anything like this before. It's impossible to fathom the impact."Joye's lab was waiting for the research boat to return so a team of scientists can test about 75 water samples and 100 sediment samples gathered during the voyage. Researchers plan to go back out in about a month and sample the same areas to see if oil and oxygen levels have worsened.
One expert said BP's latest idea seems to have the best chance for success so far. Inserting a pipe into the oil gusher would be easy at the surface, said Ed Overton, a LSU professor of environmental studies. But using robots in 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) of water with oil rushing out of the pipe makes things much more difficult.
Shame on any of us if we think all of any one people are bad. I'm sure that isn't the case.
We know not all Americans are not good, or all the people who profess to be Christians, Jews, etc.
Our moms and dads from our youth have taught us there is good and bad people within every creed, color and religion. I have plenty of my own shortcomings. Its left up to the rest of us to try and live a life that will help us to discern between the two.
The Native Americans didn't need the Puritans to acknowledge God. Think of the way the Europeans displayed their Christian faith? To a people who lived in this pristine land for thousands of years, and acknowledged it as a gift from the heavens, and took care of it and its wildlife. It was still a pristine continent having lived here all that time.
We look back from today and 500 years into the past, and look at it today, and its people. It would be a far stretch to say this was Gods intentions. What the Spaniards did, what the Europeans did, was take what wasn't theirs. This land was founded on genocide, and was taken as if it wasn't inhabited, and called their own. This is this countries dark past.
We have never risen up out of this, not really. This nation did answer a righteous call though when it rose up against Germany and Japan. It acknowledged the face of evil, and slew it. The unbridled sacrifices of those who went to face it deserves our honor. The country rose out of the depression and the war because we had some real leadership, something we have lost since in government as in many respects as a people. We cannot ever really move forward until the wounds here at home are healed, but as a nation we have so much lost our way not staying focused more on things here at home as opposed to abroad, think about it, it was from there where the people came from, and by all accounts wanted to escape from. Look where its been over the last 45+ years?
Civil War Tidbits
http://www.harrybrowne.org/articles/CivilWarBooks.htm
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_would_our_country_be_different_if_the_South_had_won_the_Civil_War
http://www.historycentral.com/CivilWar/AMERICA/Economics.html
http://blueandgraytrail.com/features/southerncauses.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrill_Tariff
Native Americans in the United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States
True. I have listened to many Iranians who reside in their country speak out against its government, and who would like nothing more than its dismantling. The last of their interest would be to display the expression of hostility toward the West. Your right its archaic. There is nothing to gain in it for them. They want to be able to learn and grow, dress as they like, find the job of their interest, have families, a place of their own, and enjoy life like everyday people...........then we have those in power, and the nuts who support them, both inside and outside of their country who enjoy in tyranny. If the people can't get rid of them thru a legitimate democratic process we know to be a facade when it comes to their vote, they may have to result to other means. It sounds like a very high percentage of the population are against that regime.
I believe the people of Iraq could have done the same thing, and chose to do nothing out of fear. Now they are fighting all over the streets.
I know the Dome of the Rock has religious meaning to the Palestinians, its a shrine, but yet we have been witness to the carnage from Muslims when they were allowed to use them for sanctuary. This would not stand during WW2. If the Germans wanted to use the Vatican to kill American soldiers with machine gun nest and snipers the the US would have transformed it into rubble.
Israel is such a tiny country, and after all its their country, and the US cares less about the Palestinians, other than using them as a pawn, Israel to. I've begun to wonder if it really even cares about Israel?. But they may some day need them more than they can realize today. All of it has bigger implications, and Israel doesn't have oil, it doesn't have much of anything in line of natural resources, but it is the only democratic society in the Middle East who is allied with the US. But even the US government has, had, and keeps some pretty strange bedfellows, and its getting harder to determine what they themselves are up to?
Iraq is another. If Iraq would have been dry would the US have gone back and invaded again?. Would our government used the kind of resources it has to turn that country upside down?. I think most of would arrive at the same conclusion. Its like one big game of chess these guys play with each other only the game pieces are human.
There may never be peace between the Israeli's and the Palestinians.The Jewish people were building Jerusalem 3000 years ago, and the Jewish people are building it today, said Netanyahu. Its not a settlement its their capital. The Palestinians goal has always been the same to eliminate the Jewish state. Negotiations in the past, nor giving up the Gaza Strip really changed anything.
The want them gone.
Its the same thought provoking sentiment Amademajad has, as well as their many surrounding neighbors.
The Middle East is, and has been a hot bed for conflicts, and wars. We're up to our necks in the mix of it.
The real threat is Nuclear weapons. We all may like to put it in the backs of our minds, but nothing can prevent Russia, China, North Korea, and now Iran from furthering their research and development.
Its not just the Middle East lots of things are developing in Germany, and in Europe that we hardly follow.
We ourselves have our own set of problems to deal with and on a massive scale.
You know b2b its been the way of the world throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Its drive has been forged in greed, power, and domination.
For thousands of years the west went unnoticed, and the civilizations who lived on the continent was a world away, and had all the resources they needed. Same for some of the Polynesian islands. Unkept beauty hidden from the rest of the world.
They had it just about right, then the envitable happened due to Europe depleting themselves of their own resources, and the wanton need, and greed to replenish these, and not just needed resources. Gold, and silver, treasure, and whatever else they could pillage. It was forever in their blood, and they would stop at nothing to spill blood for all they were seeking once they went to sea. People were not all that were on their menus.
Mankind has expanded like no other creature on this planet, and at the peril of many in particular those who lived on this continent, and whose land this truly was. Many tribes are now extinct, many animals and creatures of every kind extinct due to man, and many are just hanging on.
It looks as though what man has not yet exploited on our planet will continue until its all gone, or destroyed.
The world is changing (our planet). Nothing like it in the entire universe. A true Oasis in space was gifted us, and was given a creature that didn't know how to live on it, or with each other, and in so many respects didn't care if it made one rich, powerful, and all consuming. The never ending arrogance may some day lead to the end of it all.
This is what the Romans had in mind, Kings/Queens, The British Empire, The Czars of Russia, The Spaniards, The French, English, The Germans who wanted world dominination, the list is endless. The power struggles continue today.
Its as close as neighborhoods which exist in most American cities, and can be as dangerous as the streets of Bagdad.
I doubt if any solutions will ever be found for Israel, the Palestinians, or for that matter ourselves unless people are willing to change?.......whats the odds of this ever happening?
Its not about what we can do for a needy neighbor, maybe just a little help when their car is stuck it the snow, or even a display of courtesy while driving anymore, its about me, its about my time. I would like to find a flashing thank you for the lowerback window when someone lets me in. What I do see are bumper stickers like this, "Why am I driving this way?". To piss you off!
Things have gotten so bad most are afraid to stop to help someone broken down on the road. Surely not everyone out there is gonna kill or rob, but it didn't use to be this way.
Have a good day b2b
For all those who need to fix things around the house etc, with the hope of saving a little money, here's a few idea's and illustrations on how to get the job done:)
http://thereifixedit.com/
Thank you for the interesting read.
They really do need to work some things out for those people, and with that help the Palestinians need to earn trust. This will take a very long time as you've noted to dissolve suspicion of them. If they had their own State, and with this would be pride. The countries who can best afford it, the oil rich, and with help maybe they to could become another Israel without the wmd, but prosperous in their own way, and then grow to become a good neighbor. Its evident that the same ole things bring about the same ole things with the same ole result. There is more than enough oil money to do it. Its really something that in the face of everything Israel endures constantly doesn't stop their growth. They have a thriving business community with ongoing advances in a multitude fields, whether it be medical, pharmacology, or technology. With all the security pressure that constantly keeps them on guard, and what can be a trying environment they still move to achieve things that we can benefit from. The kind of things that the Palenstinians could be accomplishing with their educated minds if they were given the want to do so in a land they could call their own. This would be the hope for them. Suicide bombings will not get them there.
Lets shift gears for a moment. What about the now 300m inhabitants in America, and the tiny populace of the Native Americans who were its inhabitants for thousands of years, what was the final solution for the people whose land this truly was, even after a government was formed they found land for these people huh?. I don't hear anyone crying about these atrocities.
What you don't seem to understand is that more than anything the Palestinians and their surrounding Muslim neighbors would like for nothing more than for Israel to be no more. They hate the Jews. With all that land in the Middle East none of their neighbors, and many with unending wealth, and land has never attributed anything that would help their plight, other than supporting their terrorist activities.
There are possiblities that Israel may cease to exist one day, who knows?........if this were the case would this resolve the issues in the Middle East?. Would it make for us a better neighbor for them?. Would they love America any more, or less?.
We as a nation cannot even deal with our own issues, but like always we do have our noses into everyone elses. This government has to decide whether or not Israel is worth saving?. They don't want to offend others in the Middle East who control the oil do they?
The Jews are persecuted no matter where they live, and for why?, because they believe in one God, because of their faith?.
Give a look at what is happening in England today, maybe one day it to will be Muslim. Our open borders are causing havoc in this land and the government doesn't know what to do, but they can tell Israel what they need to be doing. We have a lot of clean up here at home, and have had for decades, and these are bigger issues than global warming which may be caused by Sun Spots?. Things are heating up here at home, and abroad at it has nothing to do with air quality.
A good read:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071204080532AArVgfd
Why were the Jews allowed to basically steal Israel?
by Asker
"The land formerly known as Palestine."
The region formerly known as Palestine was formerly known as Israel and only renamed to Palestine by the Romans in order to offend the Jews who lived there
Maybe you have never read a history book but the Jews have been continuously living there for over three thousand years
How long have Arabs or Muslims been living there? Nowhere near as long.
Half of Jewish history had already happened there by the time Mohammed even spoke his first words.
The history of the area is complex due to the many tribes and (later) nations that settled, conquered and ruled, traded there or moved through: Canaanites, Philistines, Samaritans, Nabataeans, Greeks, Romans, Muslims and Christians.
In pre-Biblical times, the area was known as the Land of Canaan and had been a collection of city-states, tributary to the Egyptian Pharoah, as attested to in the Tel-El Amarna tablets. The breakup of the Egyptian empire beginning about 1500 BC made possible the invasion of the Israelites. According to Jewish tradition, twelve tribes entered Canaan from Egypt and conquered it, led by Moses approximately 1240-1200 BC. Historical evidence from the Amarna tablets suggests that there were already 'apiru' (Hebrews) among the Canaanites in the time of Egyptian rule.
During the final years of the Late Bronze Age, the Philistines also invaded Canaan (1500 - 1200 BC). Other evidence suggests that around 1200 BC, semi-nomads from the desert fringes to the east, joined by elements from Anatolia, the Aegean, and the south, possibly including Egypt, began to settle in the hill country of Canaan. A large proportion - probably a majority of this population - were refugees from the Canaanite city states, destroyed by the Egyptians in one of their periodic invasions.
The Biblical account continues with the rise of an Israelite kingdom, first under Saul and then under David at about 1000 BC, the date of David's conquest of Jerusalem.
In 539 B.C. the Persians conquered the Babylonians. The Jewish Temple, destroyed by the Babylonians, was rebuilt (516 BC). Under Persian rule the Jewish state enjoyed considerable autonomy. Alexander the Great of Macedon, conquered the area in 333 BC His successors, the Ptolemies and Seleucids, contested for control. The attempt of the Seleucid Antiochus IV (Antiochus Epiphanes) to impose Hellenism brought a Jewish revolt under the Maccabees, who set up a new Jewish state in 142 BC The state lasted until 63 BC, when Pompey conquered the region for Rome.
At the time of Christ the Jewish state was ruled by puppet kings of the Romans, the Herods. When the Jews revolted in 66 AD, the Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem (70 AD). The Bar Kokba revolt between 132 and 135 AD was also suppressed, Jericho and Bethlehem were destroyed, and the Jews were barred from Jerusalem. The Roman Emperor Hadrian determined to wipe out the identity of Israel-Judah-Judea. Therefore, he took the name Palastina and imposed it on all the Land of Israel. At the same time, he changed the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina. The Romans killed many Jews and sold many more in slavery. Some of those who survived left the devastated country (and established Jewish communities throughout the Middle East) but there was never a complete abandonment of the Land of Israel. That is, there were always Jews and Jewish communities in Palestine, though the size and conditions of those communities fluctuated greatly.
When Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity (312), he took steps to elevate the status of Jerusalem and the city became a center of Christian pilgrimage. Constantine relaxed some restrictions on Jews, but renewed the prohibition on the residence of Jews in Jerusalem, permitting them to mourn for its destruction once a year, on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av.
Palestine over the next few centuries generally enjoyed peace and prosperity until it was conquered in 614 AD by the Persians. It was recovered briefly by the Byzantine Romans, but fell to the Muslim Arabs under caliph Umar by the year 640. During the Umayyad rule, the importance of Palestine as a holy place for Muslims was emphasized, but little was done to develop the region economically. Few Arabs came to Palestine; the Muslim rulers ruled Christians and Jews.
In 691 the Dome of the Rock was erected on the site of the Temple of Solomon, which is claimed by Muslims to have been the halting station of Muhammad on his journey to heaven. Close to the Dome, the al Aqsa mosque was built. In 750, Palestine passed to the Abbasid caliphate, and this period was marked by unrest between factions that favored the Umayyads and those who preferred the new rulers.
In the 9th century, Palestine was conquered by the Fatimid dynasty, which had risen to power in North Africa. The Fatimids had many enemies - the Seljuks, Karmatians, Byzantines, and Bedouins - and Palestine became a battlefield. Under the Fatimid caliph al Hakim (996-1021), the Christians and Jews were harshly suppressed, and many churches were destroyed. In 1099, Palestine was captured by the Crusaders, establishing the Latin Kingdom. Jews were seen by the Crusaders as infidels, as bad as the Muslim occupiers of Jerusalem, and were slaughtered by Christian soldiers along their way to liberate Jerusalem and then thousands in the city when they got there. Following the first Crusade, a Papal Bull was issued in 1119 AD to reinforce St. Augustine's earlier plea, in 427 AD, not to kill the Jews, but to allow them to wander the earth as evidence of their rejection by God.
By the time the Crusaders were defeated by Saladin at the battle of Hittin (1187), and the Latin Kingdom was ended, Palestine had become a wasteland. Mongol invaders who arrived in 1260 destroyed many of the villages. The Mamluks ended the Crusader period in 1291, but under Mamluk rule Palestine declined further. Mamluks burned and sacked towns and villages, uprooted orchards, and destroyed wells. In 1351, the Black Death was reported in Palestine and by 1500 the population had declined to barely 200,000 people. For comparison, the state of New Jersey, roughly comparable to Israel in size, had a 2001 population of about 8.5 million people and still had rural, undeveloped areas.
In 1516 the Mamluks were defeated by the Ottoman Turks. The first three centuries of Ottoman rule isolated Palestine from outside influence. The discovery of sea routes to the East began to erode the importance of the Middle East to commerce. In 1831, Muhammad Ali, the Egyptian viceroy nominally subject to the Ottoman sultan, occupied Palestine. Under him and his son the region was opened to European influence. Ottoman control was reasserted in 1840, but Western influence continued. The Ottoman tax system was ruinous and did much to keep the land underdeveloped and the population small. When Alexander W. Kinglake crossed the Jordan in 1834-35, he used the Jordan's only bridge, a survival from Roman antiquity. Among the many European settlements established, the most significant in the long run were those of Jews, Russian Jews being the first to come (1882).
It is important to note that there was a Jewish population in Palestine continuously. Even after the Jewish state was ended by the Romans, Jewish communities continued to exist. All of the successor governments tried to eliminate the Jews at one time or another, but none succeeded as numerous accounts testify over the centuries. When the Zionists started the modern "return" to Eretz Yisrael in the 19th Century, they were joining Jews who never left.
http://volokh.com/2010/04/16/more-on-what-if-the-palestinians-dont-want-a-state/
The General Results:
• 71.3% of respondents supported the call of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to the
Palestinian Authority to declare the establishment of a Palestinian State in August
2011.
• 21.3% of respondents believed that the USA will succeed in exerting pressure on
Israel to freeze settlement activities in East Jerusalem for four months.
• 48.7% of respondents supported conducting direct negotiations between the
Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Government; 47.3% rejected.
• 34% of respondents supported conducting indirect negotiations between the
Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Government; 60.8% rejected.
• 78.6% of respondents supported the decision of the Palestinian Authority not
to negotiate with the Israeli Government while the latter continues to build
settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
• 83% of respondents rejected conducting negotiations between the Palestinian
Authority and Israel in case Israel continues to build settlements in the West
Bank and East Jerusalem; 14.3% supported.
• 9.3% of respondents believed that the decisions of the Arab Summit relating to
Jerusalem were satisfactory; 83% believed that they were not.
• 11.6% of respondents believed that the Arab countries will carry out the
decisions of the Arab Summit relating to the Palestinian question and
Jerusalem while 79.5% believed that they will not.
• 56.1% of respondents supported the declaration made by a group of
Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip to stop firing rockets against Israel from
Gaza; 37.7% rejected.
• 55.6% of respondents believed that the stand of Hamas towards firing rockets
against Israel has become congruent with that of the Palestinian Authority.
• 51.3% of respondents believed that it is possible to reach a national
reconciliation agreement between Fateh and Hamas in the near future; 42.5%
believed the contrary.
• 15.7% of respondents believed that Hamas is the side which benefits most
from signing the Palestinian reconciliation agreement while 22.2% believed
that Fateh is the side that benefits most.
• 50.6% of respondents said that they are not optimistic of signing a
reconciliation agreement in the near future.
• 44.7% of respondents believed that the sides of the Palestinian dialogue,
particularly Fateh and Hamas, are not concerned with ending the Palestinian
split.
• 48.9% of respondents believed that the reason behind not reaching a
Palestinian reconciliation agreement is that some people seek to achieve
personal interests; 42.6% believed that the reason has to do with seeking
factional interests.
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Maybe you don't get it!. You show a map of 1946, then one of 2000. Its Israel Not Palestine, Israel shouldn't give up one square foot. They've tried, and we see what it gets them. If you go back to my original statement, I stated than Obama wanting something from Netanyahu as whats been suggested. Obama wasn't very cordial when he visited here. Maybe he's afraid he wouldn't like what he would hear?
I agree with ya to an extent. There is something wrong with the system when 1% of our populaton controls 90% of the countrys wealth. More than its 90% combined total wealth. We have heard the story of the former Ceo of Home Depot making more in 10 minutes than the worker on the floor of the store earns in a year. Thats nothing more than he pouring a cup of coffee, combing his hair, and reading a few emails.
I believe its this more than anything. Most of these people had nothing to do with the founding of these entities, and even those that have use them like the own personal bank. They don't receive a weekly paycheck, bi-weekly like everyone else, and no person is worth this kind of money no matter what.
What we pay in taxes we could live without, but the percentage of what we pay will increase overtime, and places more of a burden on us than those raking in tens an hundreds of millions.
Then we have these conglomerates paying little to no taxes.
What we need is a fair an honest system that works for everyone.
I gave you my answer, or so I thought?. It wouldn't matter if it were Gaza or the west bank or Jerusalem, the Palestinians would like it all. What Obama wants from Netanyahu are the kind of concessions he isn't willing to give.