Truck and Barter

Comments

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Sara Madgid wrote:

New scratch pad!
Cool! :)

Sara.

-- January 2, 2007 9:03 AM ∞

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Sara Madgid wrote:

Happy New Year to all of you:

http://www.image-upload.net/files/15/XXL.jpg

Sara.

-- January 2, 2007 9:12 AM ∞

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Sara Madgid wrote:

I apologise for being off topic from the Dinar, but it is very slow out there and there have been quite a few subjects covered recently as we pass the time waiting for more news after the holiday in Iraq (and New Years here). This is a reply to Carole on her post about the temperaments teaching, along with some comments on the recent talk on the above UFO siting that made the mainstream news (below, MSNBC.com).

As I said in my last post, "If you want my opinion, well, I think that what is being seen - the beings/UFOs - are present in extra dimensional space - the sort of space predicted to exist by String Theory in physics - and that, therefore, it is not that we are having visitations from "other planets". Little things like NOT seeing the UFOs coming TOWARD our galaxy/solar system with telescopes but only seeing them in our atmosphere, NOT tracking them on radar but only visually AND the fact that only SOME people can see them even standing side by side with others who cannot see them at all, makes this a more likely and plausible explanation to my way of thinking for this phenomenon - since extra dimensional space can be "opened" to a person or "closed"."

Note here in this account that some people saw this phenomenon, including pilots.. and yet the controllers saw nothing and there was nothing on the radar. Why can some see it (pilots, workers) and others NOT see it (controllers), when they are in the same location? Could it be that it is a dimension of space "open" to some people and "closed" to others? If so, then radar may not track it because it is in another dimension and the instruments don't work to detect such phenomenon.

Airline workers say they saw UFO
Mysterious saucer-shaped craft over O’Hare?
Updated: 5:27 p.m. MT Jan 1, 2007

CHICAGO - Federal officials say it was probably just some weird weather phenomenon, but a group of United Airlines employees swear they saw a mysterious, saucer-shaped craft hovering over O’Hare Airport last fall.

The workers, some of them pilots, said the object didn’t have lights and hovered over an airport terminal before shooting up through the clouds, according to a report in Monday’s Chicago Tribune.

The Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged that a United supervisor had called the control tower at O’Hare, asking if anyone had spotted a spinning disc-shaped object. But the controllers didn’t see anything, and a preliminary check of radar found nothing out of the ordinary, FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16431613/

Now, Carole mentioned about the "temperaments" teachings, saying, QUOTE, "The article is quite negative regarding the research, or lack of, in Le Hays writings. In fact the theory of the temperaments is quite old and is derived from ancient occult traditions." In other words, it was occult teachings pasted into Christianity by a well meaning but psychologically brainwashed individual. (Note the article is titled pschoHERESY.) I think it best to keep with the Bible alone and unadulterated by "occultic" teachings. Sins, whether of the physical variety (getting drunk, gluttony, murder, etc) or the occult variety (opening "doors" to the occult by various means - going to fortune tellers, trying to contact the dead, getting into witchcraft, embracing occultic teachings, etc.) - all variety of behaviors characterized as sins in the Bible are sins. And just because the one advocating embracing it is a Christian minister, that isn't good enough in my books.

I believe one must be very very careful in what "doors" you open in this life, and when one proves to be of occult origin (and thus sinful), it may behoove you to consider if it is one which should be repented of in order to shut that door. This is to be obedient to God - but one reason God gives for this (in His infinite wisdom) is that the beings on some of the extradimensional levels are quite nasty according to Scripture... not suprisingly, that fits with the stories of those "wingy" folks who say they were abducted by aliens.. the aliens which they say abduct them are nasty, too. I wouldn't wish to meet up with any such nasty "aliens", myself. I prefer to give such a very wide berth - walking on the other side of the street and preferably taking a completely other path.. so if I find a door open and alien footprints heading through the door, I think I would be on my knees asking God to close the door and keep whatever those things are from having any way of getting at me in my life. Those with nasty "alien" visitations always look so very tormented, and they say they don't really WANT those visits from "aliens". I have NOT been there and don't wish to go there, personally (ET, please don't visit me). I'll stick with God for any extradimensional experiences, because those end up in blessing.

Sara.

-- January 2, 2007 9:37 AM ∞

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Rob N. wrote:

All:

An article from www.iraqupdates.com

Iran, $1bn Iraq reconstruction loan

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02 January 2007 (AME Info FZ LLC)
Print article Send to friend
Iran is to loan $1bn to Iraq for reconstruction purposes, reported the Gulf Daily News citing the IRNA news agency. Iranian Economy Minister Davoud Danesh Jafari said Iraq had committed to using Iranian contractors and experts for the various infrastructure projects. The loan will be directed towards the construction of power plants, roads, hospitals and schools.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 2, 2007 10:25 AM ∞

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Sara Madgid wrote:

Chariots of fire

Elisha the prophet in the Old Testament was being told by God the battle plan of the enemy and would tell the King what God was saying. This frustrated the enemy's plans continually and the enemy King asked which one of his men was a spy. His servant answered him:

2Ki 6:12 And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."
2Ki 6:13 So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan."
2Ki 6:14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

Now, when Elisha and his servant woke up they saw all this army completely surrounding them and the servant was terrified:

2Ki 6:15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
2Ki 6:16 So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

Elisha answered that there were more with them than with the enemy, even though there was just him and his servant and this HUGE army surrounding them. But then he prayed...

2Ki 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

This is what I mean by having one's eyes open to the extradimensional space. The Lord opened the eyes of the young man.. and he saw what was there all along, but was not visible to him until it was opened to his eyes. This is what I believe (in an occultic sense) is what these "alien" visitations are. It is an opening to the extradimensional space which is normally closed to men. God can open that space, and here it was populated with "horses and chariots of fire" - the best description they can give in terms understood by that day. But I bet they were quite some "chariots of fire" to look at. What exactly is a chariot "of fire"? That means it glowed, right? Why are no beings (angels) spoken of.. just the "chariots" and what appeared to "pull" them? In regular chariots of that day there was a man behind the horses, in the chariot.. that is not spoken of here. Supposing some looked like glowing stealth bombers, how could they possibly describe it in terms that would be seen and understood? Hmmm...

Here, the experience is of God and the spaces and beings seen in that dimension were beautiful, powerful, good and from Him. I suggest that the "aliens" which look so grotesque and strange looking and are nasty to those they abduct are not from God - and being opened to such dimensions is not something which men ought to seek.

Sara.

-- January 2, 2007 10:29 AM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

From the National Post, one of Canada's leading national newspapers, this morning, a column by Christopher Hitchens, one of the leading political writers, in the world today, who write this, in a column while travelling through Iraq:

"If there is a flickering pulse that holds any of this together, it is kept going by two sources. The first is the astonishing actual and potential wealth of the country. The budget negotiations, which were occupying all parties during my visit, were to discuss the allocation of more than US$41 billion. This is not a paper figure. New oil fields are being prospected in parts of the country that haven't been explored yet, and there is no reason in principle why Iraq could not be one of the most prosperous countries on Earth.

For the moment, feuding sects use their control over ministries to enrich their own supporters, but even the most blinkered tribalist can glimpse the idea that a shared country would be more beneficial to each than a shattered one.

The second source of life is the presence of the coalition, where, yet again, even the most hard-line factionalist will admit that, as bad as things are, they would be instantly worse (and instantly worse for his group) in the case of a withdrawal.

These facts are stubborn: The idea that we could even consider abandoning such a keystone state, and so many decent people, to the forces of the faith-based is as inhumane as it is unrealistic" END QUOTE

Tim Bitts: if this thing hangs together, we'll all be rich!!!!!

-- January 2, 2007 10:58 AM ∞

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Okie wrote:

Sara….
Interesting comments about “extra dimensional space”. I don’t know if it’s the same thing but my Grandmother had the gift of being able to see the aura of other people. I discovered this in her when I was about 4 years old. I had sprained my elbow in a farm pond which was out of her sight. When I approached her at the house she said “I see” that your arm is hurt as she held up my left arm which is the one I had sprained. The reason I remember this so well is the cure she applied to my arm. She grabbed a piece of cloth and walked me to the barnyard where she put a large amount of fresh warm cow manure on my arm and wrapped the cloth around it and told me not to remove it until the manure cooled down. Needless to say it cured my sprain even though the smell was hard to take. She had raised nine kids on this farm so she knew what worked and what didn’t.

Later, when I asked her how she knew my arm was hurt by looking at me, she told me she could see my “light” and my left arm was not as bright as the rest of me. I could also see the aura of other people but I thought everybody had this ability and didn’t think too much about it. Later I found out my father didn’t have this ability so it had skipped a generation for some reason. I have three children and my oldest Daughter has this gift but my two sons don’t.

When my Grandmother died at 96 I attended her funeral and her glow was gone so I can only assume it travels with the soul of a person. I know it’s a good dimension or place to be in because it has always been a positive experience for me. I don’t talk about this very much but it’s always been very interesting to me. I think all people have different gifts at different levels and that’s why we humans are so interesting.

-- January 2, 2007 11:00 AM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

Thank you, Kevin, for removing the graffiti. Let's all, all the decent people, keep him informed, as soon as some fool comes by, posting rubbish, at the email: kevin@truckandbarter.com

Rubbish posters: go elsewhere. you won't be allowed to get away with it. go find an easier target.

-- January 2, 2007 11:05 AM ∞

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Okie wrote:

Tim Bitts.....

They're so many good positive indicators in Iraq that the MSM is having a hard time covering them up. The facts are that Iraq has been a very wealthy country in the past , prior to Saddam, that they will return to their normal level again.

I agree with you...we'll all be rich!!!

-- January 2, 2007 11:10 AM ∞

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Okie wrote:

More good news on the oil patch side of town.....

The Norwegian D.N.O obtain additional 15% of an oil field

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02 January 2007 (Iraq Directory)

The Norwegian Oil Company D.N.O said ,on Thursday, that it rose its share in the oil fields in northern Iraq to 55% from 40% in agreement with the authorities in the Kurdish area, on condition that the company would bear full cost of production-sharing agreements.

D.N.O is the first Western oil company that starts excavations in Iraq after the war. It is operating in northern Iraq under an agreement concluded in 2004 with the Kurdish authorities.

The company said in a statement that "the agreement with the Kurdish regional government to assume full funding commitments of the production-sharing agreement by D.N.O in return for an additional 15% was completed and signed".

-- January 2, 2007 11:54 AM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

What are the BIG things?

In analysing any particular investment, especially this one, it is crucial, if you want to understand this investment, to ask, what are the big things? What are the crucial aspects of this investment?

Not everything that happens in the world is equally important, obviously. The same with this investment. There are a handful of key variables that matter. The rest don't. The rest is all chatter. So, in assessing any situation, it is important, if you want to have a realistic opinion about something, you have to weigh the various factors, assign them relative weight, and focus on the key components.

So what are the key variables, on this investment, in my opinion?

1-follow the big money. As Rob N has wisely pointed out, this is one of the key rules of investing. The big money is the American government's investment in Iraq, it's army, it's rebuilding the country. The big money also includes big oil, which represents an awful lot of money, and is chomping at the bit to get into Iraq.

2-look for hidden value, or assets. Numerous credible reports indicate that even though Iraq has by some estimates the second biggest oil reserve in the world, it has large areas of unexplored areas that no doubt contain much hidden oil wealth. Hidden value would also include the ridiculously low price of the dinar, compared to historical precident, and other currencies in the region. No doubt, the value of this currency will very substantially increase in the future.

3-look at the history. As Oakie pointed out, Iraq was rich in the past, for various reasons, and the return to wealth for that country is a return to normalcy.

4-Oil. Worldwide demand for oil is soaring, and will continue to do so for decades. The economies of China and India are growing at phenomenal rates. They depend on oil. At the same time, the rate of discovery of new oil is slowing. Increasing demand and reducing supply indicate the value of present reserves will go up. This means whoever owns the oil will get a lot more money, their economies will develop, and the value of their currencies will rise.

5-Sufficient levels of education. Saddam did that well. He, more than many leaders, created a fairly educated population, by Arab standards.

6-Population age. A younger, dynamic population recovers much quicker from any kind of disaster, and is able to adapt to changing circumstances easier.

Now, the one thing that could bring this all down, is if the American military withdrew prematurely. I think all the fighting, and killing, and religious stuff in Iraq, is just chatter. It gets 98% of the media attention, but it should be assigned about 2% value, in importance, as far as variables that will ultimately determine outcome in Iraq, in my opinion. That last statement is contingent on one thing, though: American military presence. As long as the Americans stay long enough to get the Iraqi government stablized and in control, all will be well, Iraq will prosper, and we all will be rich. I am confident the Americans will stay there as long as needed, and as long as it makes sense to stay. As a premature American withdrawal would severly damage American interests in the region, and the global price of oil that the American economy runs on, I doubt that will happen. I don't think even the Democrats would be that unwise.

That's my list, and summary. If anyone has a better one, let everyone know. Or, if you would add to it, or dispute it, you're free to do so.

-- January 2, 2007 12:29 PM ∞

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mattuk wrote:

Hope this isn't old news...but I thought it was worth copying...happy year to all of you, got myself a mouse with a scroll function, works well when wanting to skip certain topics,no dislike...just not interested !! So live and let live and good luck to iraq...

Article came from dinarfinancial.com

(01-01-2007) Iraqi Central Bank expecting budget deficit in 2007.

An official at the Iraqi Central Bank expected a deficit in the next-year budget due to pumping dollars into the local market, to preserve the stability of the iraqi dinar exchange rate.

Head of the Department of Statistics and Research at the "Central", Madhar Mohamed Salih, declared that the new budget will exchange allocations by the dollar, pointing out that the rise in the value of the iraqi dinar had a positive impact through limiting expenditures, to reduce inflationary pressures in the Iraqi economy and reduce costs on prices.

He pointed out that 95% of the budget incomes depends on oil revenues, as a basic resource for the country, pointing out that the coming conditions will be encouraging for lifting the value of the iraq dinar against the dollar, but could not determine the rate of exchange only after starting the work by the general budget.

The iraqi dinar continued to rise against the dollar during the auction of the "Central", at a sale price of 1352 iraq dinar last Sunday, compared to 1360 iraqi dinar last Thursday. The expert at the "Central", Majid Assuri, expected a remarkable improvement in the rate of the iraqi dinar, due to the low dollar exchange rate, over the next couple of months. The last rise in the rate of the Iraqi dinar against the dollar exchange rate was in 1995, but then the exchange rate stabilized between 1400 and 1700 iraqi dinar to the dollar.

The "Central" attributed the high rate of the iraqi dinar against the dollar, to the stability in the sale of the dollar below its real exchange rate. Assuri explained that the inflation suffered by the economy now is a price inflation, and not a monetary inflation, pointing out that the aim of the "Central" is to limit the effects of the monetary inflation. As for the price inflation, it is due to the lower commodity presentations, and to the greedy who exploit the circumstances through which Iraq is going. He expected a significant improvement in the rate of the iraqi dinar, and the drop in prices according to this improvement.

-- January 2, 2007 12:33 PM ∞

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mattuk wrote:

BAGHDAD, Jan 2 (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces are likely to launch a limited New Year offensive against Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia, blamed for sectarian death squad killings, senior Iraqi officials say.

The Pentagon, in a report last month, described Mehdi Army militias as the biggest threat to Iraq's security and diplomats say Washington is impatient to confront them.

Several officials in the Shi'ite political parties that dominate Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's unity government also say they are losing patience with Sadr's supporters and predict more raids like last week's joint U.S.-Iraqi operation in which a senior Sadr aide was killed.

"There will be limited and targeted operations against members of the Mehdi Army," a senior Shi'ite official told Reuters. "The ground is full of surprises but we think around Jan. 5 there will be some operations. I can say no more."

British forces in the southern oil province of Basra have also been conducting major raids against groups they describe as "rogue Mehdi Army", some entrenched in Iraqi police units.

Last week, British troops blew up the headquarters of Basra's Major Crimes Unit and said they freed tortured prisoners.

"The Americans want a war with the Mehdi Army," said a Western diplomat in Baghdad, who was not American or British.

"They want to get rid of the militia and it seems they will succeed in getting one."

MALIKI BOLSTERED

Sadr's supporters twice launched armed uprisings against the U.S. occupation in 2004 but have since formally joined the U.S.-sponsored political process.

A handful of Sadr's ministers suspended their participation in Maliki's government and his 30 members of parliament have also been staying away since Maliki approved a renewal of the U.S. forces' U.N. mandate a month ago.

But Maliki's fragile authority among his fellow Shi'ite's has been bolstered by Saturday's hanging of Saddam Hussein, whose Sunni-led administration oppressed the Shi'ite majority.

While he negotiates to end a boycott of the cabinet by moderates in Sadr's movement, other Shi'ite leaders are pushing for a crackdown on Sadr militants.

"They are jeopardising all our efforts and achievements," said a senior official from another group in the main United Alliance bloc of which Sadr's group is a key part.

Hundreds of Iraqis are being killed every week and hundreds of thousands have fled. Many Sunnis accuse Sadr's movement of being behind many death squad killings, a charge Sadr himself denies. They also accuse them of being controlled by Washington's enemies in neighbouring, Shi'ite Islamist Iran.

Impressions among Sunnis of being victims of triumphal Shi'ite militias have been reinforced by video of Saddam's hanging, in which official observers chanted "Moqtada, Moqtada, Moqtada!" and taunted the former leader on the gallows.

Maliki has repeatedly said since taking office eight months ago that he will disband all militias but has asked for patience and insists the main threat is from Sunni insurgents.

Several political sources said Maliki, from the Dawa party and a compromise choice as premier who owed his appointment to support from the populist Sadr, was trying to give political negotiations with Sadr a last chance before any crackdown.

Last month, a government delegation to Najaf failed to persuade the cleric to end his boycott, however, and Maliki has said he still plans a cabinet reshuffle that government officials say could involve removing some Sadrist ministers.

The head of the Sadrists bloc in the parliament said the group was working with members in the Alliance on a proposal to reschedule the timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops which then will end their boycott of the parliament.

"In response to our demands we are working with others in the Alliance on a proposal for the timetable of withdrawal. This will help ending the boycott," Nassar al Rubaie told Reuters.

Rubaie accused U.S. commanders of trying to lure Sadr into a direct confrontation but said that he would not be provoked.

But other members of the Alliance said Sadr had no choice but more clearly to disown militant Mehdi Army commanders. He has done so more than once, and even arrested some, but critics remain unconvinced that Sadr is genuine in those efforts:

"These people will only respond to force and this is what they will get," the senior Alliance official said. "A decisive battle is not agreed yet but limited operations just began." (Additional reporting by Alastair Macdonald)

-- January 2, 2007 12:46 PM ∞

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mattuk wrote:

The Baath party has issued a statement received by Al Jazeera.net appointing Izzat al-Douri, its deputy secretary-general, as secretary-general, succeeding Saddam Hussein, who was executed on Saturday.
Al-Douri is one of the few former Saddam government officials who are still on the run.
The US has put a $10m bounty on his head. The party, which has been an underground movement since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, has vowed to continue its armed campaign to "liberate Iraq". The statement said Iraq is "under US, UK, and Iranian occupation".
The statement described the execution of Saddam as a crime and political assassination.

Leadership

Abu Muhammad, a Baath party spokesman, said al-Douri was responsible for steering the party after Saddam's capture in December 2003.
He said: "Comrade Izzat has been leading the party's political and resistance factions since 2003, but it is a matter of protocol and internal regulation to appoint him officially as the party's secretary-general."
Al-Sadr wanted Saddam dead, saying he was
responsible for the death of his father [AFP]
After Saddam's execution, Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, invited the Baath party to join the political process in the country and open a new chapter.
Muhammad said: "We would like to tell Mr al-Maliki that our only mission is to continue armed struggle until we get him and his masters [the US] out of our country.
"The martyrdom of President Saddam would be just another boost to our people's resistance against his corrupt rule and foreign occupation."
Muhammad further accused the Iraqi government and US authorities in Iraq of imposing a media blackout on Iraqis' reaction to the execution of Saddam.
He said: "Media outlets have been focusing on reactions in President Saddam's home town and few other Iraqi Sunni Arab cities, but we would like to say that people all over Iraq have been mourning the death of their legitimate president for two days.
"In al-Shatra in the southern governorate of Dhu Qar, there have been clashes where angry citizens attacked the al-Sadr al-Mahdi Army and killed eight of them and injured dozens."
Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shia leader, and his supporters had called for Saddam's execution. They hold him responsible for the death of al-Sadr's father in a car crash in 1999. Iraqi authorities at the time had denied any involvement in the elder al-Sadr's death.

-- January 2, 2007 12:59 PM ∞

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Rob N. wrote:

All:

Anyone have an inclination as to when the Presdient will speak to the nation about the way forward in Iraq?

I am looking forward to hearing his stragedy, which if received well could aid in continued confidence in the Dinar.

Observation: I have also noticed some online dealers have suspended Dinar orders. I find this development quite interesting. I think if I were a dealer (making money on other people buying this currency) I would sure stash some dinar away for myself.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 2, 2007 2:26 PM ∞

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Sara Madgid wrote:

Tim Bitts - Excellent summary on what to assign value to concerning Iraq. I agree that, "all the fighting, and killing, and religious stuff in Iraq, is just chatter. It gets 98% of the media attention, but it should be assigned about 2% value, in importance, as far as variables that will ultimately determine outcome in Iraq." This change in the Middle East is actually not alterable, in my opinion, because the interests cannot change. As you so succinctly put it, "As a premature American withdrawal would severly damage American interests in the region, and the global price of oil that the American economy runs on, I doubt that will happen. I don't think even the Democrats would be that unwise." With this I also agree. The only hope the terrorists have is that the Democrats will do the dirtywork for them and cause the withdrawl of the troops from Iraq. The terrorists boasted it wasn't a victory for the Democrats, but for the terrorists when the Dems won in the election:

Zawahri: Al Qaeda, Not Democrats, Won On Nov 7th
From ABC’s The Blotter:
"The first is that you aren’t the ones who won the midterm elections, nor are the Republicans the ones who lost. Rather, the Mujahideen — the Muslim Ummah’s vanguard in Afghanistan and Iraq — are the ones who won, and the American forces and their Crusader allies are the ones who lost," Zawahri said, according to a full transcript obtained by ABC News.
http://truckandbarter.com/mt/archives/2006/12/iraqi_dinar_dis_6.html#127299

But if even the Democrats see how unwise withdrawl is and how it hurts US interests then the terrorist's hope for help from that quarter will fall flat, too. Therefore, the present struggle in the news/politics will end up being the Democrats seeking to take a part of the credit to themselves for the beginning of a very profitable and historic enterprise - the creation of a prosperous, free, peaceful Iraq which influences the Middle East favorably for peace and prosperity for the region and its peoples.

Rumsfeld once said it was just "death throes", and I think he was right.. it is. Concentrating on the "death throes" 98% of the time, rather than the living Iraq which is left, is like continually bringing up the Saddam Hussein hanging, rather than where the country is now and where it is going. It doesn't change the real thing.. the change is here to stay and the old is doomed to die. Like Saddam's death, it just takes a while for the reality of it to sink in, and for people to look beyond the smoke and mirrors to the inevitable future of Iraq. The troops know this which is why, quote, "This is the striking difference, and probably the critical difference, between Iraq and Vietnam. The soldiers in this war believe in the task, their leaders, and they, almost unanimously, believe they have won the war and are making progress on establishing a country."
http://truckandbarter.com/mt/archives/2006/09/iraqi_dinar_dis_5.html#126956

And like Edwin A. Sumcad said, quote:
"Likewise, the Commission failed to realize that we have already won the war in Iraq. We vanquished the army of Saddam Hussein, sent the Butcher of Baghdad to the gallows and we are now occupying Iraq. We have begun our program of reconstruction of Iraq, established a democratic government, and put in place the economic infrastructure required for a new, free enterprise society of Iraq. "What we have not won yet is the complete democratization of Iraq... But we are on the high road towards that end. A little more push and we are there..."
http://truckandbarter.com/mt/archives/2006/09/iraqi_dinar_dis_5.html#126972

The Iraqis believe in it, too. Quote:
The Mini Economic Boom in Iraq That Is Hardly Reported
Amir Taheri, Arab News
Saturday, 30, December, 2006
When the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank reported two years ago that the Iraqi economy was heading for a boom, skeptics dismissed that as misplaced optimism. Now, however, even some of those who opposed the toppling of Saddam Hussein admit that many Iraqis share that optimism. Newsweek has just hailed the emergence of a booming market economy in Iraq as “the mother of all surprises,” noting “that Iraqis are more optimistic about the future than most Americans are.” The reason, of course, is that Iraqis know what is going on in their country while Americans are fed a diet of exclusively negative reporting from Iraq, focused on terrorist attacks, and motivated by an almost irrational hatred of the Bush administration.
http://truckandbarter.com/mt/archives/2006/12/iraqi_dinar_dis_6.html#127462

I don't think the troops who see it firsthand or the Iraqi people are wrong. I am sure the crown of England didn't give up its power without any difficulty or struggle. But the UK's governing power changed due to influences beyond control of the crown, just as this move toward Iraqi democracy is now a powerful force for change which cannot be stopped dispite the 98% emphasis put on reporting the ill - and ignoring the change and renewal and "boom" and hope for the future within Iraq.

The megapolitical factors changed, and with it, the world we know. The change is inevitable. It will just take time to assimilate that fact for those who had the greatest stake in the old. It is like the stock market - the market changed in Middle Eastern politics. The future belongs to the young, not the old, as you said. And the majority of the Iraqis will choose to build not destroy the future for themselves and their families - no matter what money the old political faction(s) pump in trying to derail the new megapolitical change happening in Iraq. Even in Iran, the people had the ability to kick out their radical President and did so, with the only comment being that at least it was the expression of the will of the people.. The people will be increasingly heard in Iraq and the Middle East. They won't stay suppressed when the megapolitical factors are in their favor. The yoke over Iraq is broken and we stand to become rich in the subsequent process of change there and throughout the Middle East. If the "kings" there were wise, they would look how to consolidate their wealth as the UK crown did, rather than hold onto the political power they once had by using revolutionary tactics and funding and equipping the insurgency.

Okie - interesting on the aura thing. I've heard of such things.

mattuk - The article on someone "succeeding" Saddam Hussein is ridiculous. His was not a Presidency, but a dictatorship. No one can take over for a dictator after his death. The rule of the despot has ended, no one can take it up any more than they could take it up after Hitler's death. And Saddam's sons are dead - will the insurgents follow his daughters as they did the despot himself and seek to bring one of them to rule? From a people so opposed to women in power, I cannot see it being so. The people of Iraq will not again be put under the yoke of bondage they were once under with Saddam Hussein. It is gone forever and now, with his death, that point is illustrated and they are now entering into the full realization of it.

Sara.

-- January 2, 2007 2:48 PM ∞

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Rob N. wrote:

All:

Contacted my local branch at Chase Bank and cofirmed I can purchase the New Iraqi Dinar from them at an exchange rate of .0067750. According to the rep at Chase, I can go to any branch and order the Dinar and have it within 48hrs.

She emphasized the same person that orders must pick it up. At time of order and reception the customer must show a valid id. She also asked me if a newsletter had gone out, because I was the fourth person she spoke to today inquring about the Iraqi Dinar.

Final note, the rep from JP Morgan Chase said she cannot request a specific customers notes be circulated or uncirculated. Therefore, you get what you get.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 2, 2007 4:02 PM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

All:

Spoke with a rep from Wellsfargo. No, to the bank selling Iraqi Dinar.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 2, 2007 4:15 PM ∞

---

Annon wrote:

Rob N. wrote:
All:

Contacted my local branch at Chase Bank and cofirmed I can purchase the New Iraqi Dinar from them at an exchange rate of .0067750. According to the rep at Chase, I can go to any branch and order the Dinar and have it within 48hrs.

That should be 0.00067750?

-- January 2, 2007 4:27 PM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

All:

Checked Citibank and B of A, both currently do not buy, sell, or trade the New Iraqi Dinar. It looks as though JP Morgan Chase is it.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 2, 2007 4:41 PM ∞

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Okie wrote:

Mattuk......

Welcome to the Dinar Train....AKA the roller coaster!!

-- January 2, 2007 6:16 PM ∞

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Okie wrote:

Just heard some guy on NBC evening news say that Bush would announce his plan for Iraq on Jan. 9. I haven't seen any other news on it....anybody have any news on this?

-- January 2, 2007 6:47 PM ∞

---

Sara Madgid wrote:

Reports of dollar's death greatly exaggerated, currency experts say
Diversity called goal of recent euro shift
By Jeremy W. Peters Published: January 2, 2007

Countries with large dollar holdings are showing a new willingness to dump the dollar in favor of the rising euro. Late last month, the United Arab Emirates became the latest country to shift more of its currency reserves away from the dollar, joining Russia, Switzerland, Venezuela and others.

Those moves come amid ambiguous signals from China recently about possibly pulling back from the dollar, and recent word from Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil producer, that it would prefer payments for oil, typically priced in dollars, in euros.

But currency experts say that this turn away from the dollar is not likely to do any long-term damage to the currency's value for a number of reasons. First, the motives of central banks that are adding other currencies to their reserves do not appear to be driven by the belief that the euro will eventually supplant the dollar as the world's key currency. Rather, these central banks are doing what investors typically do to minimize risk: diversifying their portfolios.

Moreover, the amount of currency moved so far has been relatively small in a global market that trades trillions of dollars a day — only about $2 billion in the case of the United Arab Emirates, for example.

"There is some indication that central banks are moving to diversify reserves, but it's at a very slow pace," said David Powell, a currency analyst with IDEAglobal. "Is it the start of a massive shift out of the dollar? I would say no."

Further, the lasting impact on the dollar's value when foreign central banks invest in other currencies is far from certain, analysts said.

"Most people think it does not influence exchange rates for any long period of time," said Edwin Truman, senior fellow at the Petersen Institute for International Economics who served for more than two decades as the director of international finance for the Federal Reserve. "It has some day-to-day effects, but not any big effects."

The euro finished the year at $1.31, and some economists see it climbing near $1.40 — a point it has never reached in its seven-year history.

"We believe that the dollar's decline versus the euro has further to run, with $1.38 a possible destination for the pair over the next six months," said Tom Levinson, a foreign exchange strategist with ING Wholesale Banking in London.

Still, many economists are unwilling to predict that the dollar faces an inevitable demise.

"The dollar is still the world's No.1 currency, and it's going to stay that way," said Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist for Global Insight. "The euro is gradually going to become more important, but I don't see it becoming more important than the dollar."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/02/business/dollar.php

It strikes me as a wish on someone's part, (perhaps Iran's??) that the USD face a demise - but I agree with the skeptics who say it is far from inevitable, and also agree concerning the euro that, quote, "I don't see it becoming more important than the dollar." They couldn't even get their member countries to ratify the union.. how stable is that to invest into as a monetary repository for stability?

Sara.

-- January 2, 2007 6:58 PM ∞

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Okie wrote:

I believe the plan that's announced will be a positive step forward for Iraq.....

====================================================================================================
Bush to reveal troop boost - BBC
By staff reporters
January 03, 2007 10:29am

US President George W. Bush will reveal within days a plan to send more troops to Iraq, the BBC reported today.
Mr Bush has come under pressure to change his strategy on Iraq, particularly in the wake of a report showing the current strategy is not working.

The BBC said it had learnt that Mr Bush will give a speech soon in which he will outline a plan to send more US troops to focus on ways of bringing greater security, rather than training Iraqi forces.

The BBC said it was told by a senior US Government source that Mr Bush's speech setting out the changes in Iraq policy was likely in the middle of next week.

-- January 2, 2007 7:13 PM ∞

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Anthony R wrote:

Wow, the last scratch pad just lasted about 3 weeks!!!!!!!

-- January 2, 2007 7:29 PM ∞

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panhandler wrote:

All: Went to the cardiologist today, do a stress test in 2 weeks, and am clear to travel back to the sand box. . .I'll do what I can to give everyone up to date info on what's happening as soon as I hear anything, as I have some reliable sources in Baghdad, this will be a very profitable year for all of us. . .and if I can help anyone to purchase more, feel free to ask. . . I have a bank at my disposal in Balad. . .

Okie: Next trip to Phuket. . .June or July. . .get on board or send JIM BEAM. . .P.H.

-- January 2, 2007 8:00 PM ∞

---

Tim Bitts wrote:

Sara, interesting comments you quoted on the fact that, in essence, America has already won the war. Saddam's army was vanquished, within 3 weeks. Another big difference, with Iraq, compared to Vietnam, is that the North Vietnamese had a country they were operating out of, and they had a large, and disciplined army. What is left in Iraq, facing American soldiers, is not a large and well organized, or equipped army. Insurgencies depend on stealth, run, kill, and hide. They are hard to completely destroy, unless you are willing to invest up to a decade. Even a great army like the American Army has difficulties with insurgencies. However, it would take a very large, very disciplined and well equipped army to drive the Americans right out of Iraq. That will never happen. What will continue to happen, is the killing of a soldier here, four soldiers here, three there. Although the loss of life is to be mourned, in the large military sense, these are tiny losses. What will be continued to be reported, by the media, however, is every little thing that goes wrong, and every soldier that is killed, from the American side. Like an odometer from hell, the American body count is displayed on American television many times a day, while victories are ignored, or misreported. All this creates the illusion in the mind of the public that their soldiers are losing. That, of course, is pure nonsense.

The MSM has decided that their definition of winning the war in Iraq, goes something like this: if all goes well in Iraq, nothing goes wrong, nobody dies, all the Arab groups that have abused each other for centuries suddenly end all hostility, and a fully functioning state emerges, like a genie out of a bottle, in no time, with no effort, then and only then, America has won. This, of course, is almost unbearably silly, but these are the underlying assumptions behind most of the media reports Americans are spoon fed every day. Of course, this is a completely warped definition of victory, and winning a war, given the context the Americans are fighting in.

The MSM, like Hollywood, defines reality, as the series of images that appear on a screen. This, of course, is pure rubbish. Images are incredibly powerful, to shape the minds of people, particularly weak-minded people, but I always thought one of the lessons of the bible, including the story of the golden calf, was to be careful to not pay too much heed to what is just an image. It may not be reality. It may, in fact, be a complete distortion of reality. Reader: if you think what you see on television represents the total reality in Iraq, you fool yourself.

Whoever reads this, ask yourself, does your television lie to you? I think it does.

No wonder President Bush said he doesn't watch much television. Doesn't have an appetite to be manipulated and fed a steady diet of nonsense, I guess.

-- January 2, 2007 8:55 PM ∞

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Annon wrote:

President Schwarzenegger... Sounds good, anybody know the status of the movement to allow him to run for President? Surely if they would allow Hillary to run then Arnold should be allowed, At least he is more patriotic than probably 50% of the so called natrual born Americans and imports.

Thoughts?

-- January 2, 2007 10:06 PM ∞

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Anthony R wrote:

NNNOOOOOOOOO President Arnold doesn't sound good at all. First, I am afraid he would take his action star mentality to the office, which is not good. 2nd, if this basic law that the nation was built around is changed, whats next? They gonna let illegal imigrants run for office? Then the little man from Mars?

Hillary, yes, she has a good head on her shoulders, has very a very good track record, and MIGHT be able to get a good start on fixing the mess the world and the USA in particular has become in the last 6 years.

-- January 2, 2007 11:23 PM ∞

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Bob wrote:

What is evryons thoughts on whn the Dinar will make it to the FOREX?

I have heard 6-9months.

-- January 3, 2007 12:13 AM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Sara, Thanks for your comments and opinions to my postings.

I was surprised to see a new site starting. I agree with the one that said soon Christmas vacation will be over and all the 9th graders will return back to school.

Interesting comments about the extradimensional phenomena. The spiritual world has the "light side" and the "dark side".
Scripture speaks so poignantly to the differences. We are all encouraged to "tests the spirits" which requires discernment.

The mind is a vaccum and needs to be guarded. SO Sara, your prayer asking God to take away anyting that disguises light and is really darkness, is very smart and very responsible behavior. Scripture describes some of these activities that are taking place ( and will continue in frequency and intensity) as the end of the age gets closer and closer.

This is a time when our antennas should be on alert.

Pan, Thank you for sharing with us about your continued health progress!!!! So happy for you!!!!

Carole

-- January 3, 2007 1:43 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

Way off the subject---but int the last 6 weeks our office has seen a disturbing amount of patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer ( ages 35-55) who have never smoked or been subject to second-hand smoke. NO comorbid diseases either. I haven't been doing this line of work for very long, but those who have are as equally disturbed and that means something significant to me.

I wonder what is going on?

Does anyone else have any information about high incidence of lung cancer in non-smoking people?

Carole

-- January 3, 2007 1:52 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

I don't mean to take anything away from the attention and respect being shown to the late Pres. Ford.
But I ahve not heard one mention of the fact that he appointed probably the most liberal and destructive Justice sitting on our High Court right now. Justice Stevens. It was a mystery to me at the time Ford apponted him and a bigger mystery why this has not been pointed out.

Carole

-- January 3, 2007 2:00 AM ∞

---

Valerio wrote:

Just got through catching up on 5 days of posts, that took awhile.

Happy New Year to all! May you succeed in accomplishing your resolutions.

Anthony R.,
Hillary??? Wow! I hope you didn't mean it.

On the topic of oil.
Can you imagine what would happen if the worlds dependancy on oil was removed. What would the Arab counties sell to support their people? They can't grow enough food. Do you want to buy a jar of sand? Their would definately be world war. Oil is good, and the more they can pump out of Iraq the better it will be for everyone. If the growth of the supply exceeds the growth of the demand the price will come down.

-- January 3, 2007 2:25 AM ∞

---

Laura Parker wrote:

All,

Just wanted to let everyone know--- Just like the great Martin Luther spiritualist, "I am home at last." I won't say it is the promise land but for now will do.

A new scratch pad, means a new beginning; and everyone is given a new chance at being better than yesterday.

I read what Kevin wrote and I agree with him.

I am hoping that posters will do better at remembering to treat others better than themselves. This spiritual principle will be a blessing to all, if followed.

On the topic of UFO's, while the object could be life from other planets or another dimension/plane for spiritual beings, my bet is that the object is military. Probably, a new plane (stealth project)--ours or another country's.

I also noticed that in the last post, economies were discussed, i.e.;
communist, socialist, and capitalist. While, I agree with Sara that the Bible seems to back a capitalist ecomony--I disagree that the structure of an ecomony will heal a nation without compassion...ours and everyone's elses.

The Lord speaks many times of a nation that has a hardened heart against the poor--

-This can be seen in people's lack of respect for the poor person who is not working with remarks that cut this person's down for his lowly estate. What comes to my mind is how easy it is to attack the only social net available to a poor person--the welfare state.

Our Lord set up such a welfare state in the Old Testament, when he instructed the farmers not to forget the poor but to leave crops in the fields for the poor. What comes to mind is the story of Ruth and Boaz.

However, I hear in politics and individual people a lack of compassion for the poor because of the perception of a tax payer, that the tax payer is footing the bill. Yet, we pay corporate welfare to companies with the perceived notion that this payment will create jobs. Different strategies for dealing with social problems-- but the real issue is grass roots, what is in the individual's heart for helping others less fortunate?.

The United States of America has spent a fortune on Iraq ($300 Billion onward). And as a nation, I believe, we need to continue to show compassion on this nation. However, we also needed to be more accountable for the expenitures as alot of this money was misappropriated.

A clear example of excessive spending was in the money used to buy weapons for the army and Iraq police and now these side arms are gone (Some say to insurgents, other say to corrupt officials or Iraqi citizens in underground arms sales).

Another example, I read about was when money was given to a Iraq officials for reconstruction projects w/o oversight and the money disappeared and the projects left undone.

Some of the money waste can be seen in our (United States) lack of foresight in measuring the lack of security with the damage done to insurgent attacks on valuable contruction projects, i.e., electricity, oil pipelines, educational and hospitals buildings etc.

In addition, there are continuing charges of USA Company Contractors being accused of lining their pockets (greed being the issue). However, this is nothing new and the charge can be found with previous wars.

The issue comes back to the heart of man. The Iraqi man or woman learning ethnics instead of corruption (as their former culture); Politicians learning not to capitialize on the money issue in their bill passing; citizens holding their politicians accountable for the spending of these priorities etc.

At issue is my point, we still have not rebuilt the city of New Orleans. We a nation that is suppose to be a super power cannot take care of our own people and their needs. What I am saying is that we as a nation needed balance for our check book to do both (i.e., help the Iraqi nation and our own people).

--My point, do not forget compassion in your money dealings and also in how you treat your fellow man.

My thought is that someone got rich on the war with the above examples. However, our own people are hurting and we cannot provide adequate social services (safety net). Something is wrong with this picture??. Don't you think?

Bob,

On the dinar hitting the Forex, it's anyone's guess. I believe it will be a long term investment before the dinar will re-value. I am with Rob N. and Carl on this one.

Laura

-- January 3, 2007 3:07 AM ∞

---

Valerio wrote:

Laura,
It's all about where the intrest lies. No doubt you have some dinars yourself, because its an investment with the hope of great profit. How much have you contributed to rebuild N.O.? Its no different with our government. Many people are poor, and many have tragic disasters that take all they have. It happens throughout our country by floods, fires, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, and there is help for these victoms. If the gov. built N.O. a new city and brand new houses for all the people, it would hardley be fair to all those who had to work night and day, take gov. loans that they payback, or spent their life savings in rebuilding from their disasters. It's awefull what happened there, and the insurance companies who ripped people off by denying rightfull claims should be prosecuted.
I believe we take care of our disabled, unemployeed, widowed, orphans, handicaped, and hungry fairly well in America. Even most of our starving people here are overweight. Ever seen those people standing at intersections with a sign "will work for food"? Ever try to hire one of them to do some work for you? They have every reason in the world why they can't work today.

-- January 3, 2007 4:43 AM ∞

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Okie wrote:

Panhandler.....

Good news about your health and return to work. I've marked Phuket on my things to do list for June-July.

COM'ON DINAR!!!

-- January 3, 2007 6:41 AM ∞

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Carl wrote:

Okie!
What a wonderful gift of seeing the Aura...

Valerio:
Good intentions are sometimes loaded with potholes...Federal Entitlements without requirement to repay or at least work for the money is one of them...We have millions of people on the dole...generation after generation after generation...of the same family...now they think they are due that money...it is owed to them...

A lot of these lets say heavier than lite souls...would not work in a pie factory tasting the crust...Walk...are you crazy...they are the ones blocking the parking lot waiting for someone to back out near the entrance...

Sara:
In my opinion, they are not demons....just simply another life form...that are apparently more intellegent than we are...and understand the universe a whole lots better than we do... Apparently they are not a danger to us...as they could have probably wiped us out a long time ago...
Personally, I think we of the human race scare the dickens out of them...and look at us as primative at best.. in both our technology and religious dogmas...

Laura:
The lords ole system of leaving grain in the field would not work today...Why? One of the poor would file legal action
against the farmer, because he made them pick up the grain in the fields, and they hurt their back taking his free grain..

Valerio to continue a litter bit further
They are the first to use their health insurance to have their diabetes checked, blood pressure regulated, varicose problems stripped, fallen arches rebuilt due to the weight, etc..
We should have a requirement...if you are overweight from over eating and not medical issue...you are required to go to work at a job, that requires you to move more than your mouth, arm and hand..

Panhandler:
Contact me at traderconnections@yahoo.com...interested in purchasing more dinar...would like to discuss...

-- January 3, 2007 6:42 AM ∞

---

DALE wrote:

New Orleans.
Just some thoughts.....
Ever been to THE BIG EASY???. I have. Fun place where one can go & have a great time. And I did.
Just ask your self where the most immoral place in our country is. People go to New Orleans & carry on in a manner they would never dream of in their home town. For that matter in any other place on earth. Grown women getting half, sometimes fully nakkid in public. Not that that is entirely bad.I am kinda fond of naked women. The female body is a beautiful thing. pPint is people lose theer inahabitions & act as if they have no morales at all, in that town.
I will ask to draw from Sarah's plethora of knowledge of biblical history here, if she might be so inclined to help me with some examples. Or anyone else that might cared to chime in. Does the bible not tell of places through out history that god has destroyed because of the immoral people there.
Does it strike anyone as odd that the tragedy of this magnitude took place in a city like New Orleans? The shit hit the fan there & the size of the tradgedy, was on a Biblical scale . If you ask me God was just fed up with the city of New Orleans.
Maybe I made all that up in my feeble little mind.
Maybe it was just a coincidence. What ever the reason, what good sense does it make to rebuild a city under sea level. ok, ok, you say build a better levy system.
I say mother nature ( or god ) will beat mans attempt to control her/him every time.
To me it's the same as the people that I see in Florida on TV crying I lost everything in that storm. To them I say I am sorry for your loss, But, BUT, don't you think it was stupid to sink everything you ever worked forall your life, into a home that sits in a place, where you know damn good & well there is gonna be giant storms that have a history of smashing homes, cars & lives every so many years.
Makes no sense to me. But then a again I am just a dumb mason.
I do agree that we should spend more of our money here at home. Feeding, housing & educating our people.

Saddam's hanging.
Last checked I thought being executed was supposed to be a bad thing. What's the big deal if someone heckled him before he died. Ever watch the tapes of his thugs killing people. Hands bound, being tossed off buildings to the pavement, then taken back up top & thrown off again? I say you get what you deserve. In his case some might argue that he deserved far worse than any heckling & a hangman's noose. The whole reap what you sow thing worked well here. He built the gallows that he deservedly was hanged from.

-- January 3, 2007 7:17 AM ∞

---

Chris wrote:

As anticipated, there is no move in the exchange rate today.

Carl,

You make several good points about helping the poor. I knew a man who grew corn. He took some to where he knew poor people lived and asked one man if he wanted some. His response was "well is it shucked?"

I seem to recall that Opra Winfrey took several welfare couples and provided them everything they needed to get back on their feet. Seems like most ended up back on welfare.

How to help the poor is truly a puzzle. Whatever we do, will it ever be enough?

-- January 3, 2007 7:28 AM ∞

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Okie wrote:

Dale.....

Our Military found body parts like fingers and toes in the torture rooms used by Saddam and his two son's. Hanging and some heckling was way to good for him. This is one case where paybacks are a MoFo should have been applied.

-- January 3, 2007 8:23 AM ∞

---

ANONYMOUS wrote:

ALL: Denver News

This text is from a county emergency manager out in the western part of
Jefferson County after a snowstorm.

WEATHER BULLETIN - COLORADO

Up here, in the Northern Plains, we just recovered from a Historic
event---may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" ---
with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90
MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded
hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated
scores of communities and cut power to 10s of thousands.

FYI:

George Bush did not come.

FEMA did nothing.

No one howled for the government.

No one blamed the government.

No one even uttered an expletive on TV.

Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit.

Our Mayor did not blame Bush or anyone else.

Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else, either.

CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5
snowstorm.

Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.

No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.

No one looted.

Nobody - I mean Nobody, demanded the government do something.

Nobody expected the government to do anything, either.

No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No
Geraldo Rivera.

No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found.

Nope, we just melted the snow for water.

Sent out caravans of SUVs to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars.

The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a
penny.

Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments
delivered it to the snowbound families.

Families took in the stranded people - total strangers.

We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman
lanterns.

We put on extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die."

We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of
a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades
votes for 'sittin at home' checks.

Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this
early, we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.

"In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about
40 degrees North Latitude, 90% of the world's social problems
evaporate." It does seem that way, at least to me.

I hope this gets passed on. Maybe SOME people will get the message.
The world does not owe you a living.

_________________________________________________________________
Fixing up the home? Live Search can help http://imagine-windowslive.com/search/kits/default.aspx?kit=improve&locale=en-US&source=hmemailtaglinenov06&FORM=WLMTAG

| |

-- January 3, 2007 8:50 AM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Laura,

Happy New Year! Glad you returned home safely.

Taking care of the poor and unfortunate in this country has never been an issue. It has and probably always be our mission as a free society.

BUT as with anything else, there are those that will always take something that was meant for good and use it for ill intentions, with greed and slouthfulness at the root of it. In the process of this decaying system in our country, our government, through it's unending entitlement programs have promoted dependency on these programs. In the process, this system rewards the lazy and shrewd and punishes the hard working middle class family. Without the working middleclass here in America, the world would suffer tremendously. We carry the burden of many nations and their economies, in the form of foreign aid, etc.

There are families here in California alone where children have never experienced their grandparents or parents ever get up in the morning and leave for work and bring home a paycheck. But they are very familiar with "waiting for the check and food stamps to arrive, at the first of the month". It is all they know. Years ago, these children as they grew up became embarrased of their family's situation and were motivated to do better. Not so today! Because the lifestyles are wide spread and we have whole communitities in the system of entitlement. So everyone is socially and economically equal.

Our healthcare system is plagued with much of the same, and here soon will self destruct.

Now for a real hardhsip and sad situation...

A family who has struggled to do the right thing and go to work, bring home the paycheck, raise their families under these values, hits a streak of bad luck and finds themselves with no where to turn except to the system that is suppose to be there for them. They struggle for weeks trying to penetrate a system that is foreign to them. They don't know the angles, and/or are not willing to play the lying nad cheating games to "get all they can" for govt. help and in the process they loose almost or all that they have worked so hard for with no where to turn.

Our govt. has denied humans the dignity needed for a healthy society to survive and pass on certain legacies to our young.

Communism demands that it's citizens become dependent on the govt for the most basic needs, from tiolet paper to utilities.

In our welfare system we have become the same meaning for a growing mass of people. I could go on and on and on.

But let us turn to the Social Security picture--
More than 35% of those receiving SS benefits have never worked or been linked to a contributing worker for their monthly alottment. And a growing number of those statics are not even American born.

There is a number of truly needy people hidden with in a system that is corrupt.That can not be denied. But the system, in order to get to those few has created a monster that preys on the working class in this country.

There are no better examples of the atrocities within that system than here in California. I become repulsed at events like during Christmas when organizations go to the "poor" communities to pass out toys and the ploice have to be brought in because of the luting and fightning that takes place if the masses are not happy with the amount of or quality of toys being distributed. Awhile back, police cars were being demolished by the adults seeking toys for their kids. It was one of the most distasteful demonstrations of what we have promoted through our philosophy of entitlement to the poor.

Many single mothers get up and go to at least 2 jobs to survive. But many many more do not. You see them walking their children to school, taking their children to the parks, and they are always behind a stroller and usually pregnant. And if there is truly a father in the picture, he is not tied legally to that family unit, so that the wife/mother can qualify for all the welfare benefits she and her social worker can get their hands on. How fair or healthy is this for our society. NOw throw in the factor that she is probably not even a legal citizen.....

One can not justifiably criticize another for taking objection to this process.

The white middleclass working parents are having less and less children, while the non-white commuinities are popping out kids and introducing them into this system faster than the census bureau can count.

Adding children to these families means a pay raise!

And instead of being grateful and looking forward to the day when their luck turns and they can get back to work to start to give back to a system that was there for them in hard times, the mindset is now---it is owed to me and I will take all I can get for as long as I can get it. And the govt. has assured them that this will go on for generation after generation.

Now , for sure there are the exceptions ( dwindling, but yet still there) that want something better for their lives, and strive to break the family traditional cycle.

I found this to be true in my profession, and my husband found this often in his profession.

A nurses aid with 3 children working for about $8.00 an hour can get an automatic substantial pay raise by staying home and collecting all the entitlement benefits available to her here in California.

So when you walk into a hospital or paticularly into a Nursing Home, just know that those individuals who are changing adult's diapers, feeding the drooling and caring patient loads of 10-12 patients within an 8 hour day, are there because of a strong character and desire to maintian their dignity of collecting a paycheck for a hard days work. I call them my angels of mercy.

When I worked as a Nursing Home Adminsitrator, I made sure that they got the recognition and all the gratitiude I could give them, and ALWAYS demanded that the patients and families treated them with the utmost of respect.

Recently, we found it necessary to call for assistance from the local Police Department. My husband struck up a conversation with the young officer, who was raised here in our city. My husband remarked on how proud his family must be of him. He replied to the contrary and went on to say that he is the object of harrassment and ridicule from most of his family, including his siblings and father. For 2 reasons. #1 He is the first and only who has done something with his life and is not on welfare and #2 of all things he is a policeman.

We expressed our sympathies to him and his remark was everytime he is confronted with the riducle and criticism, it his assurance that he is doing the right thing not to end up like his family, and the criticism motivates him.

According to my husband he saw much of the very same thing when he was on LAPD. The Black and Hispanic officer suffer like no white officer can ever imagine, not only on the streets but in their won family circles as well. Amazing, isn't it?

SO please Laura, I invite you to look beyond the propaganda the politicians ( democrats mostly) spew out about our poor and underprivilged. Look for yourself and study the statisitcs, and then tell me how and when this system can be fixed.

In California, there is no hope, because now the majority of entitlement receipents will vote for any politician who will offer more handouts--and that is how they get the votes. It is a self perpetutating, phagocytic reality in motion, and picking up speed faster than we can put money into the system. It is about to explode.

The welfare class is exceeding the working class here in California. Who then will put in, if more are taking out? Just do the math!

I used to say " look down the road 40 years". Now I say look down the road 5 or 10 years.

Here in California, we used to be a land fo opporotunity for all the right reasons, now we are still a land of opporotunity for all the wrong reasons. And anyone or system that might be put in place to turn this situation around would be inviting a revolution on our streets that would be equivalent to those in Baghdad.

Stepping down from my soap box!

Carole

-- January 3, 2007 8:53 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

Dale,

A little rough around the edges, but VERY VERY good insights.

What is so distrubing is that the goofy govenor was more in a hurry to put the casino back in function than to rebuild the hospitals or
schools. Guess he didn't buy into the " God is watching" idea. Poor fool!!!

As far as I am concerned the only thinking minds were the ones who said this is our opportunity to leave and never look back. To them Katrina was Saint Katrina!

Carl:

It will never be enough! A bottomless pit!

Solution--you work you eat!

You can't work, you better find someone who is working and beg for mercy until you can contribute! And if you can't find someone who can step in your place for you.

This will create an entity where more are giving and thus more available for the few who are truly incapable and needy, without destroying the core.

Carole

-- January 3, 2007 9:21 AM ∞

---

Carl wrote:

Chris:
The change of life patterns have to come from inside the individual first...
First...there is thought
Second there is thought made visible by words
Third there is thought made touchable by action..
Most social programs started with great intentions...but created a larger problem in the end...the majority need to be abolished or restructured to stop enabling souls...allow them to gain self respect and confidence within themselves again. How does it go...teach a man to...

Dale:
Simple answer to the BIG EASY being destroyed...

Build a house on a train track and the train sooner or later is going to smash the heck out of it...
New Orleans is built in the path of major storm patterns...sooner or later...well you know the rest...

-- January 3, 2007 9:22 AM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

All:

From www.safedinar.com

Economic Inflation is the prominent event in 2006

Experts find that the economic inflation phenomenon, which has begun to increase and had reached a frightening threat to the Iraqi economy, is one of the most prominent events in the country during 2006.

They emphasized in an opinion poll: "When the inflation rates in the countries of the world rise, they will rise to varying fractional, and this will compel the governments to make adjustments and changes in the economic decision, but the phenomenon in Iraq have taken another foreshadowing form, if it is unleashed, it will disrupt all productive sectors".

The economic expert, Dr. Madhar Mohamed Salih, said: "The dangerous phenomenon of inflation experienced by the Iraqi economy is one of the most serious economic phenomena because it is still continuing without finding any radical solutions to eliminate or control it effectively", pointing out that "part of the State policy to eradicate this phenomenon was to raise interest rates and other measures which are considered procedures for controlling and not eliminating it".

He explained: "The things that could be considered high profile events during 2006 is the fruitful movement of the Iraqi government for rescheduling the debt of commercial banks and foreign private sector to the government and quenching them with an international bill equivalent to the conditions of the Paris debt, amounting to 20 billion dollars".

Dr. Mohammed Risan, from the Economic Studies Center, said: "the economic inflation is one of the most prominent economic phenomena experienced by Iraq in 2006. It began to grow from the beginning of the year and continued without taking effective steps to stop or reduce the rate of its growth; which means that the country will live a serious economic crisis if effective steps were not taken to deal with it".

He explained: "The decision of the current Iraqi government to raise the prices of fuel by 125% compared to its prices last year, had a significant effect in raising the prices of foodstuffs, consumer goods and others; which created the appropriate environment for the growth of the phenomenon of economic inflation", pointing out that: "This did not come from the vacuum, but from the pressure imposed on Iraq by the International Bank and the IMF to reduce its debt, in exchange for raising the fuel prices without seeing the negative side, which Iraqis would live as a result of international resolutions that have more negatives than positives".

Dr. Sundus Abd Jassim, professor of international economics at the Faculty of Management and Economics in Baghdad explained: "The dramatic decline in the dollar exchange rate during the latest weeks is a phenomenon which should be taken into consideration because of the economic implications that could be reflected positively on the value of the Iraqi dinar".

She said: "The optimistic predictions for rehabilitating the deteriorating Iraqi economy coincide with starting the work by the budget of 2007; however, those predictions should be backed up by the State to raise the value of the Iraqi dinar versus foreign currency", adding: " the Iraqi government can eradicate the phenomenon of economic inflation through ongoing work to develop plans and programs to reduce the value of foreign currency against the Iraqi dinar". It is noteworthy that the rate of inflation during the last year ranged between 25 and 30 per cent, while reached up to 77% during the current year.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 3, 2007 9:24 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

Tim,

I was in B.C. and Vancover in the 70's ( vacation ). Was very impressed withtheir idea of welfare. PArks and hospitals were full of workers earning their welfare checks. Is it still like that?

Carole

-- January 3, 2007 9:26 AM ∞

---

Carl wrote:

Carole:
Have you ever noticed that the lowest paid employees at Health Care Facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, etc are the sanitation and supply teams.
At Helen Keller Hospital in Alabama those employees make $6.25 to $7.95 a hour. Yet! they are under the strictest of guidelines for cleanliness in the hospital...allow bacteria to spread or dirty instruments to be used in surgery and the hospital will have all kinds of legal problems...and probably shut down until sanitation is restored...
All of the nurses and doctors can go home...so it brings to mind who really carries the most responsibility for the hospital or health care facility for staying open...
It is not just or right, these individual who work the hardest get the least pay..

-- January 3, 2007 9:33 AM ∞

---

Carl wrote:

Carole:
It is simply economics 101 regarding the Casino's being rebuilt in La and Mississippi first...
The Casino's are a major cash cow for the state and local governments...they produce an huge portion of the states income. The States just got slammed hard...expenditures running out of the top of the billfold...green is needed fast to meet that drain...do put your resources into rebuilding the cash cow first or a school building...

Without Cash nothing gets rebuilt...

-- January 3, 2007 9:36 AM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

All:

Watched Frontline on PBS last night. It considered why the U.S. went to war. The program painted Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld as the wars architects.

According to the Frontline program Cheney and Rumsfeld used shoddy intelligence to justify the U.S. attack on Iraq. President Bush is presented as being duped by both of them.

Powell, Rice, and George Tenat are presented as being guilty of aiding the implementation of the war while knowing the evidence did not support Saddam having WMD.

I really did not expect this program to be honest about the events which led to the invasion of Iraq. The Frontline program continues to solidify for me that the American press has an inherent bias against President Bush, his administration, and this war.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 3, 2007 10:21 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

Carl,

I have to disagree with you a bit!

First of all , every line personnel in any hospital setting are disproportionately paid. I think we agree.

But in the sanitation and supply department, technology has improved so much so that the "dirty work" that it used to be is no longer the case. By the time the waste products get to the laundry and environmental services department they are bagged and rebagged and already separated for porper disposal.

However, technology has not been improved for those who must clean the waste from the body ( under the covers) and get it to the bags. There is no technology for changing the picture for the one who has to clean someone's bottom or cleanout grossly infected wounds, or feed a drooling combative patient, or turning a comatose or quad patient, etc etc.

And those ancillary departments that you speak of have the advantage of not having to answer call lights ringing day and night for continual assistance and expectations that at times are far reached from reality.

A janitor or dishwasher or laundry person can come to work with a headache or be out of sorts and it is acceptable and the work gets done, but maybe not as good when the worker is at full speed. On the otherhand, the luxury of a "bad day" is never afforded to the nurses aid.They must always be at their best attitude, fastest pace and skilled at custodial care that most people have never done for themselves on a daily basis.

Believe it or not there are patients who at home only brush their teeth once a day, shower a few times a week, and change their bed linens more infrequently. But when they get to a hospital, their expectations of personal hygiene changes and they expect and demand, daily bathing, linen changes frequently throughout the day, meals served hot and with attractive presentation, and on and on and on. ANd in California ( a Medi-cal driven health system, all being paid through an entitlement system. IN a nursing home in California, 80-95% of most occupied beds are filled with Medi-cal recipients. For approx. $110.00 a day, the patient receives 24 hour nursing care, 3 well balanced hot meals, entertainment and rehab services, medications prepared and delivered to the bedside, tuck-in services, mail delivered to their bedside, doctor visits to their bedside. call light that gives them immediate access to their needs, etc etc...and phone numbers posted every few feet of government agencies they can call if things are not to their liking which brings an immediate response from the DHS that causes havoc to an already fragile environment for the labor force. Those making the complaints are being cared for with your tax dollars, and those investigating the compalints are being paid for with your tax dollars. NOt a pretty picture and I am so glad to be out of it!!After over 20 years on the administration side of that distorted picture!

SO, everyone should seriously think about helping in that arena where ever you can, especially after the dinar hits, as 8 out of 10 will end up under the care of one of these angels of mercy, if you live beyond 75. And, yes you or your heirs will figure out a way to get it all paid through a government program!

Shoot, try to find a motel room for that rate!
And I certainly do not mean to take away from the sanitation or supply departments and their importance or dedication to their labor and effort to comply with sanitary regulations. I just approach the subject from a different perspective based on my experiences.

Carole

-- January 3, 2007 11:04 AM ∞

---

Tim Bitts wrote:

Carole,

no it's not like that. Welfare has been tightened up in BC, so that fewer people qualify, but they are not required to work, if that's what you meant.

Actually, to show how bad the welfare was, in BC, I know an able bodied, talented man, Bill, with three children, and a wife, who deliberately moved to a small town in northern BC, so he could go on welfare. The town is full of fairly new houses, as a mine operated there for many years, before shutting down. So housing was very cheap, easily available, and there was lots of hunting and fishing and recreation nearby, including a new pool and recreation centre in town. He didn't want to work. Bill told me, "I'll show up with three kids, in December, and they'll feel sorry for me, they'll give me a house, and a checque" He was right. He played the system, and had a three year hunting holiday.

That kind of thing has been stopped now.

I also know people who legitately need help. I know a woman, Mary, with a lot of children, whose husband died suddenly, unexpectantly, at a young age, leaving her destitute. By supporting layabouts like the first man I mentioned, Bill, the province does not have enough money for the truly needy and deserving, like Mary.

Bill takes money away from Mary. I've told him that, but he could care less.

I don't mind my taxes supporting Mary, but I don't want Bill supported on public money.

One of the best things people can do to fight poverty, is to ensure everyone has at least a grade 12 education. People who graduate from high school are at a statistically much lower risk for falling into poverty, because they are more employable. One interesting idea being tried here in Canada, in the province of Ontario, is a new law, just recently brought in by Premier McGuinty, that says that anyone who drops out of high school, will automatically lose their driver's licence. So if you want to drive, in Ontario, stay in school, or else. Sounds like a good idea to me.

American states might want to try that one.

-- January 3, 2007 11:11 AM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

All:

From the AP

Jan 3, 2:57 AM EST

U.S. Troops Detain 23 Suspects in Iraq

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BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. troops detained 23 people suspected of ties to senior al-Qaida leaders in raids Wednesday morning in western Iraq, the military said.

The raids took place in Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's volatile western Anbar province.

three of the suspects detonated an improvised explosive device, then ran into a house. American troops shot one of the suspects, wounding him as he tried to flee, the military said in a statement.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 3, 2007 11:19 AM ∞

---

Tim Bitts wrote:

A few comments on the roots of Welfare, a topic being kicked around on this site, for some reason, probably because people get tired about talking about the same thing.

Warning: Not about the Dinar, or Iraq. Ignore, and scroll past, if you don't want to hear my two cents, on welfare.

Carole:

In my opinion, changes in public morality, including changes in divorce laws, and atitudes toward marriage are at the root of the rise of the underclass. A generation ago, it was not considered respectable for a woman to have a child out of wedlock. Now, even middle class families have daughters and neices with unwed mothers in them, and there is no social stigma attached.

Fathers are now considered options, in terms of the structure of the family. Since the rise of the welfare state, men who father children no longer have to be the primary financial provider for that child. There is little or no social stigma attached to having children out of wedlock, and the government is more than willing to step in, and pay the bills. Since one of the original, primary roles of males, within a marriage, is to be a breadwinner, once he is no longer requied, he often abandons his responsibility. Governments have, in effect, become secondary husbands to large numbers of unwed women. Governments pay the bills, and thus provide the economic anchor a family needs, to survive.

So if things get rough, and the couple does not get along, the man can leave without worrying about the child going hungry. There will always be food, and shelter and clothing provided for the child. The feminist movement in the 1960s freed up public atitudes about sexuality, and changed the way Americans look at sexuality. Sexuality is now considered to be all about personal gratification. It is no longer primarily about procreation.

Look at all the young Latino mothers in California, who are on public assistance. They could care less if they have a man in their life. The social consequences of these atitudes are enormously corrosive, in the long run. These atitudes are causing widespread social destruction, and economic decay, in the United States. It's interesting that children raised without a father are statistically significantly higher risks, for dropping out of school, being unemployed, or underemployed, getting pregnant, or getting a girl pregnant at a young age, going on social assistance, going to prison, etc. etc.

You can thank the hippies and the feminists for all this mess. (The same ones that put roadblocks in front of your husband getting a deserved promotion, Carole) I'm recalling from memory, but if memory serves me, about 40% of American children are now being born out of wedlock. Someone, correct me if I'm wrong.

So Americans have listened to liberals, who told them the family was an oppressive institution, that must be weakened. They have loosened up atitudes about sexuality, made divorce easier, allowed men to escape responsibility, and marginalized the role of men withing families.

Also, at the heart of family are children. Historically, one of the main reasons men got married, was to have a family. Getting married is no longer necessary, in order to have a family. Since divorce no longer has a stigma, but it does come with an economic penalty, and since having children out of wedlock no longer has any social stigma, we have allowed men the choice of having children outside of wedlock. For many, this is an easier option, with less penalty attached if things go wrong. This does, of course, corrode the value of marriage, but the public has bought into the idea that marriage is a temporary arrangement anyway.

Since public atitudes about sexuality are so loose, men can have children, without bothering to get married. That makes it easier to leave if things get rough. And they do. So if a man can have children with a woman without the hassle of getting married, many irresponsible men are encouraged to do so, further destroying the family, the centre of American life.

And when the man leaves, there goes one paycheck, and you are left with a woman struggling with the burden of caring for a child, and looking for money for support. And along comes the Government, the Secondary Husband.

And the more children the woman has, the more society pays her. And you wonder why there are so many women and children on welfare? And you wonder why the underclass are breeding like rats? Well, you are paying them to do so, that's just simple economics, welfare is in fact an economic incentive to behave badly, that's why, and Americans have redefined family, to exclude males, and you have allowed males to act irresponsibly. How's that working for you?

So, who's fault is this, anyway? People tend to blame the poor. I say, no way.

Don't blame the lower classes for this mess. Social order and norms are set by the people in power, by the educated, by the upper class, not by waitresses at Denny's. Right now, in the United States, the upper educated classes are dominated, for the most part, by liberals, with a lot of silly ideas that are corroding the social order in America. That is changing, but if conservative Christians are really upset about these problems, they need to encourage like-minded conservative people to take over more political power in the United States and change some of the idiotic social norms that are creating this problem.

Just don't blame the lower classes. That's like blaming the symptoms, while ignoring the disease.

Back to our regularly scheduled Dinar programme.

-- January 3, 2007 12:06 PM ∞

---

Sara Madgid wrote:

How bipartisan consensus in the US will win the Iraq war
January 04, 2007
- US President George W. Bush writes in The Wall Street Journal on his plans for Iraq in his last two years in office

TOMORROW, members of the 110th Congress will take their oaths of office here in Washington. I will have the privilege of working with them for the next two years - one-quarter of my presidency, plenty of time to accomplish important things for the American people.

Our priorities begin with defeating the terrorists who killed thousands of innocent Americans on September 11, 2001 - and who are working hard to attack us again. These terrorists are part of a broader extremist movement that is now doing everything it can to defeat us in Iraq.

In the days ahead, I will be addressing our nation about a new strategy to help the Iraqi people gain control of the security situation and hasten the day when the Iraqi Government gains full control over its affairs. Ultimately, Iraqis must resolve the most pressing issues facing them. We can't do it for them.

But we can help Iraq defeat the extremists inside and outside of Iraq - and we can help provide the necessary breathing space for this young Government to meet its responsibilities. If democracy fails and the extremists prevail in Iraq, America's enemies will be stronger, more lethal, and emboldened by our defeat. Leaders in both parties understand the stakes in this struggle. We now have the opportunity to build a bipartisan consensus to fight and win the war.

===

Journalist John Keegan, in The Telegraph in Britain, on the benefits of flooding Iraq with coalition troops:

GEORGE W. Bush is about to launch a final push in Iraq with a large reinforcement of American troops in the hope of crushing the insurgency before America embarks on a large-scale withdrawal of force.

The size of the force is commonly set at about 40,000 to 50,000 troops. The aim of this surge will be to inflict severe damage and loss on the problem-making elements within Iraq, including both Shia and Sunni militias, and to increase training of the Iraqi security forces under American supervision.

The object of the surge deployment should be to overwhelm the insurgents with a sudden concentration, both of numbers, armoured vehicles and firepower with the intention to inflict severe losses and heavy shock. The Mahdi Army in Sadr City should prove vulnerable to such tactics, which would of course be supported by helicopters and fixed-wing aviation.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21007285-7583,00.html

-- January 3, 2007 12:11 PM ∞

---

Sara Madgid wrote:

Maliki Says "Impossible" to Second Term
Says U.S. "Too Slow" to React to Insurgents in WSJ Interview
Jan 3, 2007

The Wall Street Journal reveals that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is not seeking reelection and is not happy about his current term which may end if there is a shakeup before his four year term ends. "I didn't want to take this position. I only agreed because I thought it would serve the national interest, and I will not accept it again,"

In the interview conducted Dec 24th, Maliki sums up the violence and the lack of success as, "What is happening in Iraq is a war of gangs and a terrorist war. That is why it needs to be confronted with strong force and with fast reaction," Maliki said.

http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/514/Maliki_Says_Impossible__to_Second_Term

-- January 3, 2007 12:34 PM ∞

---

Carl wrote:

Tim:
I always thought if the male did not choose to support his off spring financially...then he had to get a vassectomy to stop his irresponsible ways...second child brings on castration...
If the woman did not want to corporate with the authorities on the male identification process...she did not get financial aid and have to have her tubes tied...
Second Pregnancy out of wed lock...tube tied automatically...no financial aid period..

You are right about the idiots in the upper society setting the current programs up...the lower end just has learned to advantage of the system...

Fox News announced this AM

President Bush is getting ready to sign a bill, that allows legal mexican immigrates to recieve full Social Security Benefits after 18 months of contributing...unlike Naturalized American Citizens of 10 years...

-- January 3, 2007 12:43 PM ∞

---

Annon wrote:

I am starting the process of finding another place to live. I am a firm believer in that if you don't like your surroundings then move on. I had always liked Costa Rica but its getting pretty crowded down there and getting expensive to live there. Any non USA living persons out there know of some great places to live without all the BS to put up with and relatively inexpensive? Although if the Dinar train comes in the cost would not be as much of a concern just the quality of life!

-- January 3, 2007 1:11 PM ∞

---

Cher wrote:

Hello everyone, this is my first time posting to this forum although
I have been following it for some time. I enjoy reading the posts
on a daily basis but when I read the post from Laura, Valerio, and
Dale I was prompted to post.

Laura,
Do you live in New Orleans? When you posted Home at last and
mentioned social services and the safety net it sounds like you
are aware of what is happening in New Orleans. The fact that
health care and social services are practically nil for many people
still astounds me.

Valerio,
You say there is help for victims of catastrophe situations. Can I
ask where I can go to get that information? I am in Gretna which
is across the river from New Orleans and I can't get any answer's.
If I were to estimate what the people of New Orleans and the
surrounding suburbs are asking I would say 80% are begging
for help (literally) be it a loan or a trailer and 20% want it for FREE.
Just a guess, because I surely would not want to offend anyone in
this situation. You are right about the Insurance Companies Valerio.
But again, it takes money to fight and the Ins. Companies know
that.

Dale, Dale, Dale,
Your first comment, "People go to New Orleans and carry on in
a manner they would never dream of in their hometown, for that
matter in any other place on earth." I was taught morals at a
very early age and that is something that you take with you.
So my thought is, if your immoral here when you go home you
are still immoral. I've never heard of your morals changing
from State to State. I would never go to Bourbon St., New Orleans,
or another state and get half, sometimes fully naked as you put it,
my morals wouldn't allow it.

You also talk about God destroying places because of the
immoral people that live there. Are you saying every man,
woman, and child that lives here is immoral. What about
Mississippi? Is that State immoral too? The God I believe
in wouldn't think that.

It doesn't matter if you live in Louisiana, Florida, or any other
state when something happens our Govt. should be there to
help. IN MY OPINION, the Govt. people will never be in a
situation similar to mine because they don't spend money
on health care but have the best, they don't worry about the
high prices of gas because they don't pay for it and the list
goes on. Just those two things, that I pay for, would help me
tremendously in rebuilding my home.

Here is a lil information about what is happening here.
It is one year, four months, and three days since Katrina
hit. They announced on TV last night that "The Road
Home Program" has sent 107 checks out. Wow, does
anyone else think that is fast? There are over 200,000
people that have been affected by this storm and they
have delivered 107 checks. Last week it was announced
the "Road Home Program" had a 19 Million Dollar budget
for travel expenses. When interviewed and questioned
about this the response was, "Plenty of our citizens were
living out of state." BUT, guess what everyone I know that
is out of state had to pay there way back here for their
appointment with the "Road Home" and was never told
someone could go to them. Yet, if the "Road Home"
doesn't spend their 19 million they get to keep it.
That is our Govt. at work.

This chaos was not caused by God, it was man
made. Decisions that were made by man left
pumps to be unmanned and levees to be built
improperly.

The storm came and went with problems but it
was the pumps not running that caused flooding
on the East and West banks of the river, it was
the levee break at the 17th canal that caused
the major flooding in New Orleans and it was the
Mr. Go (Mississippi River Gulf Outlet) that wiped
out New Orleans East, St. Bernard and the 9th
ward. The damage shown on TV was mainly
caused by the water rushing in with such a force
that it took down anything in its path. Did you
not see that huge ship sitting on the roadway
or the barge in someone's backyard? It was
carried there by the water.

Myself, my Brother, and his Son were consider
essential personnel and had to work the storm.
Although, each of us work for a different entity
the stories were the same. Some of the things
I saw and heard I hope never happens again in
my lifetime. I am not sure I could handle it again.

Now, closer to home my Brother and his wife
have been married for 43 years and worked
all there life. They lived in St. Bernard and
lost everything. They asked for help in getting
a trailer. The trailer was delivered on May 19,
2006, 10 months after the storm. Here's the
best part, 16 months after the storm and 7
months after it was delivered he has yet to get the
keys or electricity to this trailer that is sitting on
his property. That is our Govt. at work.

My Sister-in-law has spent the last year in
Tennessee working because her job with the
Company no longer existed here. She needed
one more year before she could retire and last
month she accomplished that and is now back
home.

One nephew and his family is living in Florida,
again, his job no longer exists here. I have
friends and family that are living in Florida, Texas,
Virginia, Washington, Iowa, Mississippi and again
the list goes on.

This is a very tender subject with me, I am still
living in a FEMA Trailer. My brother, my Son,
and myself have been living in this trailer for over
a year with the exception of 2 months when my
Brother had to move into my gutted home. He
was trying to work on his home (his ins. co. has
yet to pay anything) and he fell from a ladder
and broke four ribs. We bought him a chair and
he slept in that chair for about 2 months because
it was too painful for him to lay down. He is 66 years
old and doesn't deserve the situation he and his
family have been thrown into. Since he and his
entire family are very religious I don't think God
wanted this for them.

I am grateful for the roof this trailer has provided us
it but I do long to get back into my home. It's not a
big home but I know I will feel like I am in a mansion
once I am out of this trailer. I did have insurance but
under the flood policy the insurance company only
covers 60% of your loss. Good contractors are few
and far between. There are more horror stories associated
with that problem. Our local Law Enforcement is now having
to hunt down and arrest contractors for doing terrible work
or for taking the money and running. Many of these
contractors are from out of state and they brought their
immoral's with them. I have gotten more estimates then
I ever thought I would need and the difference is as much
as $20,000.00 higher for the exact same work. So it has
been a slow and tedious process for me but I am finally
starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I lost my Husband of 33 years to Cancer in October
2000. He was 49 years old. I would have to say
I was on auto pilot for almost two years and our Son
is what got me through the grief. They say you have
anger when someone passes but I never felt that
way. I was grateful for the time we had and of course
we still had plenty of hopes and dreams after all this
was the person I expected to spend the rest of my
life with, but I wasn't angry. I have been at my job for
30 years and was hoping to retire this year but that
won't happen now because of the situation I am in due
to Katrina, man made decisions by the Government,
and the Insurance Company. So, if you think I am angry
now, Yes, Yes I am.

When things are said and people don't fully
understand the impact of this situation it frustrates
me. I will apologize in advance if I offend anyone
in this forum because I have been following it for
quite sometime. I too enjoy the posts from Sara,
Tim, Carl, and yes Carole. She sounds like a
fighter too. I was almost prompted to post my
email addy when Carole spoke about her good fortune
but I decided to wait. Oh, I can't forget about Roger,
Okie and Panhandler, take care of yourself Pan.
Everyone that posts usually has very interesting
theories and stories except for the 9th graders. (LOL)

To our Men and Women fighting this war my
Thoughts and Prayers are with you every night.

And Yes, before anyone asks, I did buy Dinars back
in Dec. 2003. Now, more than before I am hoping
the Dinar bounces back quickly.

Carole
I just logged back on to see you somewhat agree with
Dale. First, our Governor is a Woman and it was the
Mayor (man) of New Orleans that made that decision.
As Tim stated, you can't rebuild without resources.
Second, I am saddened by your statement of thinking
minds and by Carl's post.

Anonymous wrote,
WEATHER BULLETIN - COLORADO

Up here, in the Northern Plains, we just recovered from a Historic
event---may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" ---
with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90
MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded
hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated
scores of communities and cut power to 10s of thousands.

Add 20 to 25 feet of water to that scenairo, have no homes to bring
people to and then tell me your state wouldn't need help from the
Government. Our people were were being rescued by boat and the
people that had miminal damage took in strangers. Resturants
owners were prepaing food under tents and feeding anyone who came.
None of these people asked for money.

Dale,
What about Colorado? Is God angry at them too?

Like I said before 80% of the people here are not looking for
a handout and from some of the comments it seems there are 20%
of the people in other states too. We are having to jump through
hoops just to get A LOAN (meaning it will be paid back). Most all
of us lost our important papers because even the safety deposit boxes
were not spared.

It is now painfully obvious to me I have wasted my time responding to
this Forum but here it goes and since I do work for a living I can't
check back till this evening.

Thanks for listening.

-- January 3, 2007 1:26 PM ∞

---

Anonymous wrote:

I agree with Tim.

Women's Liberation in my eyes destroyed the family values in our country.
Stand back I always get blasted from the women when I say this.
Hear me out before you start to try to hang me ladies.
In my eyes the mother was & always has been the backbone of the family. She provided the love & effection, instilled the sense of right & wrong, & taught us about responsibilty while dad was out making a living. The mother was the glue that held the family together. She was present to provide around the clock supervision & she cared what her kids were doing.
When women started to pursue their own goals in the work world for whatever the reasons, that long standing rock at home crumbled. Rightly so. When mom started working all day she didn't have the energy to do all the things she used to do. A lot of women do a great job or working & being mom, however , the job of being a MOM suffers when 8 hours or more of her day is dedicated to another job. Being a MOM is a job, make no mistake fellas. The mothers already know this.
I am in no way shape or form saying that equals pay for equal work is bad thing. I think any woman should be paid the same as any man doing the same job, provided all things besides, sex are equal.
I am also in favor of any woman pursuing any career she wishes to. I just say the family suffers when the woman has children. They family might have more money to buy more video games for the children, but the part that suffers is the glue, the foundation, "THE ROCK." Could the father fill this role? I am sure he could, but it doesn't happen.
Now, a single mother has no choice, she must work & then do her best to be the rock. No matter how much she tries, she can't do all the things moms used to do when that was their sole obligation.
Again I am in now way or shape saying women should not work, or should not be paid equally.
I just think the family unit & family values suffered when the days of full time moms gave way to the more independent woman.
Ever see the Walton's. Remember when they family raised the family????
Not any more we all have to have everything of our own, our own house our own car our own cell phone.
It all has to be bigger & better.
BIGER CAR
BIGGER HOUSE
COOLEST CELL PHONE
Hmmm wonder why we can't make in on one income anymore????

-- January 3, 2007 1:46 PM ∞

---

dale wrote:

Cher,

I never said all people, I said people, & i stand by that Idea, I have talked to many people while i was there, people told me they would never act that way at home, it might be sad, but it's true.
So you can imagine that New Orleans is a very moral upstanding place to be.
I don't intend to offend anyone. what i post is mealry my thoughts & ideas. i will take no offense to anyone dismissing what i have to say as rubbish. or what ever they choose to think of it.
just my thoughts.

-- January 3, 2007 2:04 PM ∞

---

Madbrad wrote:

Happy New Year Everybody.............

and welcome to Cher 1st time posting, like millions of others we all watched the the terrible events in N.O. and no doubt the now long term suffering of peole waiting for government to sort things out.

But hey, look on the bright side, your not a polar bear!! they've only been give 50 years left! (all that dam global warming)

Worst still, you could live in the UK under Labour gov! and we've just been told we have the highest tax's ever, and 30k people with go bankrupt in the next 3mths, sad life really!!!

go dinar go.......for everybodies sake.....

-- January 3, 2007 2:05 PM ∞

---

dale wrote:

that was me , the anonymous post two up

-- January 3, 2007 2:06 PM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

Sara and All:

I found a couple of interesting articles on the website Sara cites in her post.

Enclosed, is one from www.iraqslogger.com

Topic: Iraq Economy
Life Goes On
Iraqi Market Basket Report
Costs: Sugar, Flour, Rice, Eggs, Noodles, Chicken, Tomatoes
By ZEYAD Posted 4 hr. 52 min. ago
(1 USD = 1,336 ID)

Sugar, 50-Kilo Bag: 50,000 ID ($37.42)

Iraqi Flour, 50-Kilo Bag: 17,000 ID ($12.72)

Imported Flour, 50-Kilo Bag: 30,000 ID ($22.46) to 50,000 ID ($37.42), depends on brand and import location

American Rice, 50-Kilo Bag: 20,000 ID ($14.97)

Vietnamese Rice, 50-Kilo Bag: 10,000 ID ($7.49)

Iraqi Anbar Rice, 50-Kilo Bag: 50,000 ID ($37.42)

Tomato Paste, 850 Gram Can: 10,000 ID ($7.49)

Tea, 1KG: 600 ($.52) to 800 ID ($.60), depends on brand import location.

Iraqi Noodles, 1KG: 800 ($.60) to 1000 ($.75) ID

Iraqi Chicken, 1KG: 2,500 ID ($1.81)

Iraqi Eggs Platter, 30 eggs: 5,000 ($3.72) to 5,500 ID ($4.06), depends on source.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 3, 2007 2:26 PM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

All:

One more from www.iraqslogger.com

Topic: Baghdad Journal
Investigation
Guns and Gas: Baghdad Price Update
IraqSlogger Tracks the Necessities in Baghdad
By NIR ROSEN 01/01/2007 3:04 PM ET
In eastern Baghdad's majority Shia district of Shaab, those seeking to purchase arms and ammunition often turn to the police. Muqtada al Sadr's Mahdi Army militia dominates the police and the streets in Shaab and has been engaging in sectarian attacks there for over two years, targeting Sunnis. In Early December, bullets for Kalashnikovs were selling at a cost of 750 Iraqi Dinars each, or over fifty cents, whereas a month before, prior to a devastating attack in Sadr City bullets were 250 Dinars each.

In early December, according to an IraqSlogger security source in the Iraqi government, the average prices for bullets in southern Baghdad and Sadr City Kalashnikov bullets were approximately 500 Dinars each, or less than fifty cents. Kalashnikovs cost between $200 and $400, depending on the country of origin. The weapon in highest demand by militias was the PKC, a Russian machine gun often mounted on the back of pick up trucks. The average PKC price was about $2200 and they were in such high demand that they were difficult to obtain. Rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launchers cost 70,000 Dinars, or about $50, and their ammunition cost 50,000 Dinars each, or about $36. RPGs were also difficult to obtain. In addition, Shias could only purchase RPGs from Shia militias and Sunnis could only purchase them from Sunni militias.

In late December, IraqSlogger surveyed weapons prices in the southern Baghdad neighborhoods of Maalif, Shurta, Bayaa, Hai Al-Jihad, Seidiya and Dora and found some increases. The Iraqi Dinar itself had gone up to about 1300 to the dollar, as opposed to the nearly 1400 to the dollar a month earlier and the 1450 it was at a few months before. The Iraqi government is reportedly trying to bring it down to 1000 to the dollar.

Kalashnikov bullets were 750 Dinars each, or over fifty cents. Kalashnikov prices ranged depending on the quality, with Russian made Kalashnikovs being the most expensive, but the cheapest, meaning not Russian made, were $400. The more expensive Russian made Kalashnikovs are currently unavailable due to high demand. PKCs went up to $2500, and are also scarce. RPG prices are the same, at about 70,000 Dinars, or $54 at the new exchange rate.

In early December the official price for gasoline at gas stations was 350 Iraqi Dinars per liter. The black-market price was about 500 Dinars per liter. This reflected the fact that the shortage was not as bad as it has been in the recent past. At the end of December gas stations were less crowded than usual, and the lack of delay had encouraged Iraqis to purchase their gas from gas stations and not from the black-market. High quality gas cost 350 Dinars per liter while regular gas costs 250 Dinars per liter. Cooking gas now costs 25,000 Dinars per gas tank. Oil is not available on the black market. It is managed by the government and each family purchases one container for 18,000 Dinars although there is a shortage.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 3, 2007 2:27 PM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

Cher,

Thanks for sharing your views and story. My heart goes out to you. And I meant not to cause you anymore anger.

I met several families in Arizonia last year who were displaced by Katrina. They were Christian families that shared their new life In Arizonia compared to their old life ( before Katirna) in Missippi. It was a rags to riches story. And Katrina, for them became St. Katrina.

It left an image in my mind, that I may have mistakenly applied to the masses in general. Forgive me.

People from my church packed up vans and drove to the tragic sites to help and bring food and help with the social services attempts being made out there. I got to hear stories about the looting, about one of the vans being stolen as the volunteers were unpacking the van and left it running. As well as the stories about the lack of "thank you's" and the "this is all you brought?" gestures made by several. It was disheartenting to those volunteers.

Now I am sure that there were equal stories to counter balance their experiences.

YOu are very right about people's behaviors. A bad situation of any dimension, usually brings out the inner quality of people. Those who stole and looted and did the discusting things that were reported, probably did similar before tradgey struck. And those people of quality like yourself and many others spent their energies mustering up every bit of courage and resourcefulness to survive. I honor you.

So, comments expressed by generalities are probably going to be offensive to someone.

Plus, most information on a large scale is coming from the Mass Media, and from a small scale from personal experiences like the ones I stated.

So I will refrain from speaking anymore about something that I have to depend on information from the media and my tiny little personal experiences.

Again, thank you for responding, and may God continue to sustain you and open doors for you to walk through this awful life changing experience and tradgey with blessings flowing.

Carole

-- January 3, 2007 2:30 PM ∞

---

Sara Madgid wrote:

Gone in 60 Stories
Posted by Bob Owens on January 3, 2007 - 15:56.

On December 5 of last year, I wrote a blog post entitled 60 Billion Minutes, where I wrote:

We also know that Jamil Hussein has consistently been a source for at least 60 news stories over two years, and that Jamil Hussein is just one of many apparently fake sources that has driven Associated Press reporting in Iraq.

This presents us with the unsettling possibility that the Associated Press has no idea how much of the news it has reported out of Iraq since the 2003 invasion is in fact real, and how much they reported was propaganda. The failure of accountability here is potentially of epic proportions.

In the weeks since that date, the Associated Press has maintained that the stories they originally reported on November 24-25 of burning mosques and burning men is true, even though almost every single factual claim made in the account has been disputed. The AP maintains this position today, even after the Iraqi Interior Ministry Officially stated that the AP's source, Captain Jamil Hussein, simply didn't exist, and that no one by that name ever worked at the two police stations where AP said he did.

To all of this, Associated Press Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll stated, QUOTE:

Some of AP's critics question the existence of police Capt. Jamil Hussein, who was one (but not the only) source to tell us about the burning.
These critics cite a U.S. military officer and an Iraqi official who first said Hussein is not an authorized spokesman and later said he is not on their list of Interior Ministry employees. It's worth noting that such lists are relatively recent creations of the fledgling Iraqi government.
By contrast, Hussein is well known to AP. We first met him, in uniform, in a police station, some two years ago. We have talked with him a number of times since then and he has been a reliable source of accurate information on a variety of events in Baghdad.
No one - not a single person - raised questions about Hussein's accuracy or his very existence in all that time. Those questions were raised only after he was quoted by name describing a terrible attack in a neighborhood that U.S. and Iraqi forces have struggled to make safe.

===end of quote===

That last paragraph printed above has bothered me since I first read it. Executive Editor Carroll, you see, is absolutely correct.

No one raised questions about Hussein's accuracy or his very existence for a span of run of stories starting on April 24 until his late November unmasking as a probable specter; a remarkable run that Curt at Flopping Aces pegged at 61 stories. This run as a named source doesn't begin to account for any stories he may have contributed anonymously as "an Iraqi Police Captain" or "according to Iraqi Police" over his two-year relationship with AP.

And so it was more than a month after Hussein was compromised that I did what the Associated Press editorial process should have been doing the entire time: I began attempting to fact-check the claims made by Jamil Hussein. I took the list of 61 AP stories citing Hussein, opened my web browser to Google.com, and went to work.

Put bluntly, a search for other news agency accounts of the events described by Jamil Hussein seems to indicate that most of these events simply do not exist anywhere else except in AP reporting. I was completely unable to find a definitive corroborating account of any of Jamil Hussein's accounts, anywhere.

That I was unable to find corroborating accounts for some stories is quite understandable; -though it should be somewhat suspect when in 40 straight stories, not a single one of your competitors captured the same event. Not one. At that point, some sort of editorial oversight should have kicked in, should it not?

And yet, in 40 AP stories checked, only in two instances covering a total of four stories did I run into anything approaching possible corroboration.

Over the course of the first 40 stories in which he provided apparently uncorroborated information, it seems that the Associated Press could have easily questioned how reliable of a source Iraqi Police Captain Jamil Hussein might be before they were backed into the corner of having to defend the apparently fictional captain, the apparently fictional five dozen news accounts he fed them, and the eventual and righteous questioning of their basic journalistic methodologies that allowed something so wrong to run for so long.

And so, as Associated Press Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll noted previously:

"No one - not a single person - raised questions about Hussein's accuracy or his very existence in all that time."

This includes the reporters, editors, and officers of an apparently unreliable and unrepentant Associated Press.

Update: We also learned last night from former CNN head honcho Eason Jordan of IraqSlogger that, QUOTE:

In statements, the AP insists Captain Hussein is real, insists he has been known to the AP and others for years, and insists the immolation episode occurred based on multiple eyewitnesses.

But efforts by two governments, several news organizations, and bloggers have failed to produce such evidence or proof that there is a Captain Jamil Hussein. The AP cannot or will not produce him or convincing evidence of his existence.

It is striking that no one has been able to find a family member, friend, or colleague of Captain Hussein. Nor has the AP told us who in the AP's ranks has actually spoken with Captain Hussein. Nor has the AP quoted Captain Hussein once since the story of the disputed episode.

Therefore, in the absence of clear and compelling evidence to corroborate the AP's exclusive story and Captain Hussein's existence, we must conclude for now that the AP's reporting in this case was flawed.

To make matters worse, Captain Jamil Hussein was a key named source in more than 60 AP stories on at least 25 supposed violent incidents over eight months.

Until this controversy is resolved, every one of those AP reports is tainted.

==end of quote==

http://newsbusters.org/node/9941

-- January 3, 2007 5:28 PM ∞

---

Sara Madgid wrote:

Democrats to start without GOP input
Quick passage of first bills is goal
By Lyndsey Layton and Juliet Eilperin
Jan 1, 2007

As they prepare to take control of Congress this week and face up to campaign pledges to restore bipartisanship and openness, Democrats are planning to largely sideline Republicans from the first burst of lawmaking.

House Democrats intend to pass a raft of popular measures as part of their well-publicized plan for the first 100 hours. They include tightening ethics rules for lawmakers, raising the minimum wage, allowing more research on stem cells and cutting interest rates on student loans.

But instead of allowing Republicans to fully participate in deliberations, as promised after the Democratic victory in the Nov. 7 midterm elections, Democrats now say they will use House rules to prevent the opposition from offering alternative measures, assuring speedy passage of the bills and allowing their party to trumpet early victories.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16431173/

I know it means nothing to these politicians, but, lest we forget..
promising to do something then not doing so makes them liars..
a deliberate and intentional abrogation of their word.
And they campaigned on "cleaning up" the corruption in politics, right?
How does that work when you cannot trust their promises?

Sara.

-- January 3, 2007 6:19 PM ∞

---

Okie wrote:

Cher.....

WOW!!!! It's CHER...welcome to our little group. Sorry to hear about your downers....most of us can't even imagine the aftermath of Katrina and the magnitude of the storm. It's sounds like you're keeping your chin up and making some progress which speaks very positive of your heart. I've been in deep holes before and the only thing that got me thru it was the fact that it's always darkest before the dawn....hopefully some new doors are getting ready to open up for you. Take care!

-- January 3, 2007 6:58 PM ∞

---

Tim Bitts wrote:

Cher, I was touched by your story. I hope all goes well, from here on in, in the future, and you make money on the Dinar, like the rest of us. Our family has suffered numerous tragedies, over the years, so I have a lot of sympathy for people like you.

If you have been wronged, fight. Fight for you dignity, fight to be heard, and to be treated with respect. Life, I know all too well, does not deal her cards out fairly. An awful lot of good-hearted people tune in to this blog, so I'm sure your story touched many. Drop by anytime.

PS: My wife is a HUGE Cher fan. She'll be tickled when I told her I e-mailed Cher!

-- January 3, 2007 7:35 PM ∞

---

Carl wrote:

Cher:
Glad to have you aboard another in the mix...more makes it better as they say...

Not sure what you were pin pointing when you stated you were sadden by my statement...
Regarding N.O. I simply said, build a city in the path of high intensity storms that come either once every year or once every 30 years...still spells destruction....thoughts..words...deeds...They planned and built it...the experience is destroyed structures and lost of lives...don't won't to experience that any more...simply don't keep builting in the same path, the same way, with the same attitude of well that was a 100 year storm...cause ya gonna get smacked again...
How many times does the government allow what you think are reasonable people to continually do stupid things..
I don't have a problem, if someone wants to build and live in the path of hurricanes...that is their choice...but when they get their butt blown to hell and back..I don't appreciate them crying about how they want the rest of the country to bail them out...and to help rebuild back in the same place..
Sorry! They are not owed that much....
I grew up here in the South...Being in the Coast Guard I have been all in the areas of Katrina Destruction...have friends living in Fema Trailers still...but they choose to stay along the coast...why? They like the lifestyle...nothing wrong with that...but as I told them...you know its going to happen again...again...and again...
You can't change mother nature...I know it...they know it..but they continually to build in the hurricanes path..So! the next time it happens...the rest of the population needs to take the phone off of the hook...

As far as the Irresponsible Parents who have child after child... married or single, they can not support, is ignorant and stupidity of the highest scale...these individuals know what causes births...but they keep doing the same thing...its simple don't want to get pregnant..don't spread your legs...or if you do...at least make the effort to prevent an unplanned member of the family 9 months later...Males...simply wear a condom...they think condoms are expensive...I wonder if they have bought Semilac lately..? No excuse...No excuse...can't afford to support a child then the male and female should both have their reproductive system nullified forever...society does not need to feed the result of someones funny feeling...

-- January 3, 2007 9:03 PM ∞

---

Carl wrote:

Cher:
Just pulled up the Drudgereport.com...one of the topics is National Weather Chief gives final warning on day of retirement... 7 million residents on the Gulf Coast are setting themselves up for the BIG ONE... Why? because they continue to rebuild in the same area of the destructive hurricanes...and the Federal/State/County and City Governments are not stopping them from doing so...you can read the rest on their site...

-- January 3, 2007 9:12 PM ∞

---

Robert S wrote:

Why are Hurricanes and the Gulf Coast suddenly get the attention and doomsday prophecy? I‘ve lived here in on the coast in Northwest Florida for over 40 years and with the exception of a few “bad ones” We have got along just fine. Hurricane Camille in 1969 was pretty bad in gulf Port, Miss and up until Hurricane Ivan we bounced back pretty quickly. We happen to go along a two year period where we were hammered. We may have another one this season or it could be another 30 to 70 years.

I have often wondered why people would live in California with the earthquakes. ( I lived off and on in Alaska for several years, same deal) or in the Midwest with the constant threat of Tornados or in the blizzard prone areas mid-West and Northeast or up the Eastern Seaboard with the Nor’easters. I’ll take the hurricanes, at least you can see them coming.

We would be hard pressed to find a safe place and certainly a safe big enough to house al the people and even that would present and create its own hazards. The hurricane’s death swatch is not confined to the coastal areas either, just look at the path just about any category storm or even a tropical depression takes and see all the destruction from land fall till it fizzles out up the east coast somewhere. It’s usually torrential floods, flash floods, mudslides, etc… that continues to do a lot of damage.

MSM is already at it here again even with the season being 6 months away. We had storms forming off of Africa last season and the locals were already saying we were in the path, of course we were fortunate that all the storms went north out of harms way. We are trying our best to recover and part of that recovery is our tourist industry. The media only reported how bad it was here never the progress. Never that another hotel or motel and other related businesses opened and wanted to welcome the tourist. I would talk to out of State friends, they would tell me how sorry they were for me and offer a place to stay and work till we rebuilt. This was long after our recovery was well on its way. The individual Businesses on the Island here got together with advertising to lure the tourist back here. When they tried to link with the local county commission and tourist board they were told we are not ready for the crowds. I believe they actually wanted us to die on the wine waiting on them.

Kinda sounds like the same situation with Iraq. Anyway it’s just not the Gulf Coast it’s anywhere in the World that is subject to a catastrophe at any give time of the year.

-- January 3, 2007 9:45 PM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

All:

Here is an article from www.isx-data.com. This article is from September, but I think it a good read for all of us.

ISX-Data.com Editorial
The Unique Situation of the Iraqi Dinar
A backgrounder on the Iraqi dinar, including details on why the Iraqi dinar is positioned for a huge rise in value.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By: Roger Isaksson (email)
Published: 09/11/2006
this author's past articles

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Iraq Dinar is set up in a very simple, almost crude fashion. The set up was a quick fix after the invasion, seeing that the banking sector in Iraq was about as developed as a model T. Without a modern bank system in place, the "crude and simple" was chosen as a workable interim model.

A Brief History of the Dinar
With Saddam's face plastered all over it, the old dinar had to go. The Saddam dinar also was of very low quality, and could be easily forged on a simple copy machine.

After the invasion, new bills were immediately ordered, but due to the enormous amount needed, some of the old Saddam dinars continued to be printed and circulated until the new ones arrived.

Trusted Iraqi Dinar
Next day delivery, low prices and reliable service.

The new dinar bills started to arrive, and they brought with them all the modern safety features one would expect. A wide spread of denominations was chosen, both to make the daily handling easier, and to cover for value variations in it's exchange. Finally, a reasonable time period was granted in order to allow the citizens of Iraq to swap the old Saddam, and "Swiss" dinar in.

The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI)
The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) was set up as an auction system, with the CBI sitting on the newly printed currency, auctioning older outdated dinars and other foreign currencies with Iraqi banks for new dinars. Now that the currency exchange has been completed, the CBI also sends nearly half of it's daily auction of dinars to foreign banks in Kuwait, Jordan and beyond.

If you go to the CBI official website you will see the daily auction, the currency is now primarily sold in exchange for US dollars. The CBI is slowly but surely acquiring US dollars to help back the worth of the dinar. Everyday the amount of dollars in it's vaults increases.

The exact number of dinars in print, in circulation or on hold at the CBI is exactly known. By doing some very simple steps, full control is achieved through:

Limit the amount a person can bring with him if he is leaving Iraq, to a very small amount (in this case, 100,000 dinar);
Knowing the exact amount sold to banks outside of Iraq.
Once you know the amount of dinars out there, viola, you have complete control over it's fate. The CBI simply sells more or less to hold the dinar in a position exactly where they want it to be.

Given this situation, the dinar will not strictly be pegged. It has been called 'pegged' by some, but in reality you will have some small fluctuations on the dinar value, which you have likely noticed if you have followed it over time. These fluctuations are a balancing act by the CBI.

Simply put, truly pegged currencies don't move from the currency it is pegged to.

This is the basic Iraqi dinar system. Now some may already be asking, that if the Dinar is endlessly sold, wouldn't it flood the market, making them worthless? No, because you have exchanged your US dollars for your dinar, which helps to back the dinar through the above explained CBI mechanism.

Now, this is a very temporary system. Interested readers will of course note that any currency that is not free flowing is a hindrance to full economic development. This fall, new Iraq investment laws are suppose to be passed by the elected Iraqi parliament, allowing international investment companies (read: Big Oil) to invest.

At this very moment, oil company survey and geological teams are crisscrossing the desert, testing grounds, staking claims and hopefully not giving each other a black eye. Again, this is not Iraq government, US government, US Government contractors, US armed forces, etc. running around, this is oil companies. The future mega investment in Iraq which will help drive the economy forward.

A Question of Priorities
Some may ask if we shouldn't take care of the violence first. If Joe Everyman is building a house, is it relevant that his young children are fighting? The short answer is that 'Big Oil' is operating in many areas of the world where violence is the norm, not the exception.

By last June it was announced that no more printing of the dinar is necessary, meaning that we are most probably in the end part of the 'first stage', and are ready for the dinar revaluation. It would be an suicidal economically to leave the dinar in it's current low range, and let the oil companies come in 'on the cheap'. The dinar MUST have a much higher value at that time, otherwise Iraqi will be sold off for literally pennies, or dinars, on the dollar.

While the exact arrangement of the investment law is not yet settled, deals have already been made in how the oil revenue will be shared amongst the different regions and groups in Iraq. So things are moving forward.

It is not yet known if the revaluing of the dinar will be an overnight thing, with no previous announcements, or if it will be a gradual increase as necessary. It should be pointed out that the value of many oilfields in Iraq is also not fully known, because actual modern geological surveys have not been done for decades, if at all, but even with this lack of recent study, the known reserve in the ground rivals that of Saudi Arabia. It is hoped that in the next decade, Iraq will achieve the same oil output as its southern neighbor. Nobody can deny that the potential is there.

From the time the pumps start working, Iraqi society will start getting more and more benefits from the oil revenue. The finances will be available for roads, schools, the electric grid, social programs, new equipment, better computers, etc. These oil-funded infrastructure improvements will help drive manufacturing, and in turn, generate more jobs. Social unrest is handled with police and justice, but it must also be handled with economics. A prosperous nation is a happy nation.

Finally, Iraq has been blessed with something very few Arab countries have. Water. The agricultural heartland of Iraq have one of the highest potentials of big development. With proper development, it could be the Iraqi equivalent of the orchards and fields of California's central valley. This development and the potential of it will only strengthen the dinar now and in the future.

Exciting Times, a Positive Direction
For the dinar, these are exciting times, but even more interesting when it comes to investing in the Iraq stock exchange, because as the oil revenue will start making things possible in Iraq, the opportunities to be in on the ground floor on different investment start ups, will increase. Knowing this is a nation destined for great wealth it makes it even more exciting.

Saudi Arabia, Dubai, the Arab Emirates and Kuwait; are they rich and prosperous states? Of course they are. Why are they wealthy? Oil. Oil is money. Iraq is practically floating on oil. When do the oil companies want to start pumping? ... Yesterday.

Will Iraq continue to be a poor nation? Will the dinar continue to be at it's all time low?

**END ARTICLE**
Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 3, 2007 10:29 PM ∞

---

Cher wrote:

Dale
I don't have to imagine that New Orleans and the surrounding areas are moral and upstanding. I'm here :o) and I live in a very moral upstanding place. I am sure you were referring to Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras when you were talking about the women. But how can a State be judged by that ONE Street? You are right though, everyone is entitled to their own thoughts but when statements are made about God being fed up with the City of New Orleans and the place I live, I am sorry, I do take it to heart. But enough said, I do wish you well Dale with anything that comes your way.

Carole,
Thanks for your kind words and for seeing things from my point of view. I am sure the volunteers you spoke of did encounter those problems. There are many ungrateful people here as well as in other states. That is the 20% that I was talking about, unfortunately for them they probably encountered 18% of them in one place depending on what area they went in too.

Unless you were here no one can begin to imagine the chaos. When anonymous posted they didn't ask for help from the Govt with the blizzard in Colorado my thought was no they still had vehicles to rescue people and take them to someone's home or to a shelter and once they got to that home or shelter they had food and water and possibly a fireplace to keep warm. Some people here sat on rooftops for three days in sweltering temperatures with no food and water. Keep in mind the water I spoke about, 20 to 25 feet in some areas. I had 6 feet in my home and my Brother had 9 feet in his. But his home is already 3 feet off the ground so that made 12-15 feet in his neighborhood. That means all your food has been lost to the flood waters and you surely can't drink the water because you know that has been contaminated too. If trucks and cars could have been used to get to people it would have been so much easier but that wasn't the case. They were asking anyone with boats to come out and help. How many people can be rescued in a flat boat? Not many. It was some very long and very tedious days after the storm. Many people drowned in their cars and many other's in there homes when that water came rushing in. There were many that could only be rescued by helicopter. So yes, we did have to look to our Govt. for help and I am sad to say it didn't come quick enough. The Govt and Local Parish also decided with all the devastation that people should
not be allowed back in. That was at least a month for most and I am assuming that is why the Govt.decided to send out the $2000.00. In the meantime there is still water in plenty of areas and in other areas the water went down but with no electricity and the heat that followed the mold and funk spread like a Wildfire. When I opened the door to my home there was still traces of water inside along with a rat sitting on my love seat, a couple of mice running in the kitchen, and a whole lot of spiders and other little critters running around but no snakes, thank goodness.

Just try to imagine what would have happened in Colorado if they had no vehicles to rescue people, their fire trucks and police cars incapable of getting to anyone, and no food and water even if they were lucky enough to get to a safe place. Who would they have looked to for help.

The storm hit on a Monday and the National Guard presence in the streets didn't take place till Saturday. There was little or no food and water for the masses that were left. The areas that weren't hit quite as bad still couldn't get out because there was no gas for cars. Yes, there were some people trying to steal gas and food either to get out of the state or feed their families but the ones that were stealing designer clothes, shoes, TVs, and electronics were like that before the storm. We actually laughed because first of all they had no place to store the stuff they were stealing, they couldn't use it because we went weeks without electricity and if they fell asleep someone else would come along and steal from them. Vicious Circle.

One more thing and I'm done on this subject.
The reason we are waiting on our Govt. for help now is because we can't go to a regular bank and ask for a Loan to rebuild our homes. That is too risky for them because God forbid some people will take the money and leave the home then the bank would have to get into the business of restoring homes to get there money back. That is also the reason that people who did have a Mortgage didn't even get to see their ins. checks. That went directly to the Company that held their Mortgage and if the check didn't cover the entire balance (which in most cases it didn't) these people are still having to pay a note on a home that no longer exists. So we have no choice but to rely on our Govt. for loans, grants, whatever the case maybe to put our lives back together. Of course the Govt. wants all your records so most are running around trying to find some entity that may still have the information required to secure an SBA loan or apply for help.

I will ask one question, If anyone reading this were to lose their home, car, and all their possessions would you have the money on hand to replace it? Don't tell me you have insurance because remember plenty of people had insurance but have not received any compensation as of yet. My brother being one and his Insurance Company is ALL STATE.

Me, personally, I am looking at a $50,000.00 loss and maybe more because I am not sure the insurance money I did get will put my entire home back together. I have already spent $16,000.00 replacing the roofs on the house and the garage, replacing the windows, completely rewiring the house, and buying a Washer and Dryer. All I need are Walls, Ceilings, 2 complete bathrooms, 3 Bedrooms of furniture, Living Room Furniture, TV, Dining Table, Kitchen Cabinets, Stove, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Water Heater, flooring and a Microwave.(LOL) If living in this trailer has taught me one thing, it's how to cook in the Microwave because I am scared of the propane stove.

Madbrad
I am sorry to hear about the problems in the UK but as far as the Polar Bears go they will still be around when I am dead and gone because I don't think I will live to be 107. (LOL)

Okie and Tim
Thank you for the encouraging words and yes I had to laugh with the reference to Cher.
Hmmmm....That would be nice to have her money right about now.

Ok, just read Carl's post.
I was referring to your train comment Carl. There are snow storms and blizzards in the North but people live there. There are wildfires and earthquakes in California but people rebuild there. There are Tornado Alley's but people live there too. What about Southeast Asia, parts of Indonesia, Sir Lanka, India, and Thailand where the tsunami hit? Do you think they are rebuilding there? North Carolina and South Carolina have rebuilt after storms. So has Texas and Florida. Keep in mind the storms crossing our Heartland are also becoming more intense. After all you said it, you can't change Mother Nature but according to your comment there must be many unreasonable and stupid people walking this earth Carl. I for one hope I won't need the Governments help but I also would like to know I have some place to turn. If you call that crying that's OK, I am a woman and I do cry from time to time. I do however completely and unequivably agree with your comments on Irresponsible Parents.

Robert S.
You took some of the words right out of my post. You beat me to it. (LOL)

Take care everyone and maybe I will be able to take some time off for that Roast that everyone keeps talking about

-- January 3, 2007 10:52 PM ∞

---

Tim Bitts wrote:

Laura,

I read your comments, regarding helping the poor. You have a kind heart. You say "the real issue is grass roots, what is in the individual's heart for helping others less fortunate." I have always believed wisdom is a balance of compassion, and hard-headed common sense. Without compassion, people are just cruel. Without hard-headed common sense, compassion goes astray. Compassion and common sense are like two twins, that work well together.

You say, "the only social net available to a poor person--the welfare state".

Well, that's a sad commentary. The best social safety net should be the family. A large portion of the poor are unwed women, with young children. A significant decline in morality regarding marriage, and having children has occurred in the United States in the past 40 years. It is now socially respectable to have children, without getting married first. I believe it's something like 40% of children are born out of wedlock. Very few women who wait till they are married, to have children, end up on welfare. Very few end up poor. By condoning poor sexual morals, and public idols like that slatern, Britainy Spears, a large, irresponsible underclass is growing in the United States, especially in California, as Carole outlined, so well. These people are supported by public finances, paid for, on the hardworking backs of the ordinary American taxpayer. And the economic cost of this is so high, it's threatening to overwhelm and bankrupt public finances.

Now, I have compassion for the poor, because I was one of them. I was born into the very bottom rung of society. I could tell you stories about poverty that would make your hair curl. I managed to struggle, get a good education eventually, and am now doing very well, thank you.

What I think the poor need are better Christian morals, regarding sex and raising children. Compassion from society they already have. There is a very simple formula to solving poverty. I asked my sister, who studied sociology, before going into medicine, about this. "First get your grade 12. Then get married first, before you make babies. Very little chance of being poor then". I thought that was a pretty good prescription for eliminating poverty. However, it's a common sense prescription a large segment of the American public ignores.

I do, however, agree with you, on Iraq. I think you are quite correct. Lots of abuses, in finances have occured, and better public accountability is needed. I also agree there is plenty of public welfare going to successful corporations, and that should stop.

I don't usually like to weigh in to these off the topic issues, but as I have a lot of experience, regarding poverty, when I was younger, that I couldn't help but speak up.

Thanks, Laura, take care.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled program, which is a whole lot more fun: Getting stinking rich, and war and politics, and religion, and fear and the thin line between hope and despair, as well as intrigue and economics and UFOs, and spagetti monsters, watching Roger and Carole fight, and watching the world change! Welcome aboard the Dinar rollercoaster! No seatbelt required! It wouldn't help you anyway!!!

-- January 3, 2007 10:56 PM ∞

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Cher wrote:

Tim,

Kudos on your post to Laura. You seem to be a very understanding man with
a kind heart.

-- January 3, 2007 11:17 PM ∞

---

Seeker wrote:

Lance:

Welcome back!!
A Happy New Year to you, and I hope all is good with you and yours. I for one have missed your colorful posts and inside views to life on the ground in the sandbox.
I'm sorry to hear about Fred, George(my socks) was really looking forward to meeting him someday.

As you can read, not much has changed here on to board. Like you said some old, some new. Same topics.

P.S.
If you get the time. Have you noticed anything new/different in the "street economy"?

-- January 3, 2007 11:28 PM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Anyone heard of the absolute ridiculous events going on at the UN in the last 72 hours?

Many times before, but now even more we need to get out!

Corruption at a magnitutde of the speed of light!

Carole

-- January 4, 2007 12:17 AM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Rob, Tim, Carl,

Can either of you enlighten me on how we might be protected from a repeat of the Lybia, Exxon and Atlantic Richfield, in the Qadaphy( spelling?) scam?

Are there things in place that would prevent the same thing happening, or are we just putting our trust in the Iraqi regime to be loyal to us once the oil starts-a-flowing-

I hope you have a good answer, cause right now I see tremendous parallels.

Carole

-- January 4, 2007 3:32 AM ∞

---

Roger wrote:

Hi All'

Lance, welcome back, sorry about Fred, Seekers socks will go into trauma. Really nice to hear you again, thought you've gone AWOL there for a while. I can't be on the blog as much as in days past, but will check in occasionally.

Been reading through the last postings, lot about Big Easy and not too much about the Dinar.

The real interesting posting is the one by Mattuk.

CBI claims they can closer determine the exchange value toward the Dollar when the general budget is worked out.

So when is the budget ready over there? I can assume it is done early in the year, but I don't know if they follow our calender. I think they have the end of the middle ages, year 1400 something.

I don't even know if they consider our new year as being the new year.

Might be a good question for Lance, Panhandler or Turtle.

Do they have our years, months and days over there, and do they start and end when ours do?

I can imagine that they must have a 24 hour clock, as we do, otherwise they couldn't even start integrating with the world. I can further think that all electronic clocks around the world must go per our system, and thus end its yearly cycle the 31'st of Dec.

Any fly schedules must be per world accepted time frames, and even though they don't celebrate Christmas, they're still in the northern hemisphere, and have(somewhat warm though) winter.

They must have summer and winter solstice, fall and spring equinox, as well as the rest of the world, and those I can imagine, would be time markers.

I don't know if they call the days Sunday Monday Tuesday etc, but they have a 7 days week as we do, even if their Sunday is on our Friday.

As Christian country, we count the time from Jesus birth, and I can imagine that would from a religious aspect be a bit off the wall over there, but on the other hand, the whole darn world is set on those figures, even if you live in a Hindu (India) or Shinto, (Japan) place.

Lance Panhandler or Turtle, can you please fill in on what the deal is on that?

As for New Orleans, cool place, been there lot of culture, but for heavens sake, it's under the sea level.

Some places are not meant to build on.

Sacramento Ca is built on river mud plains. To keep it alive, levies are built, as a great stretch of the Mississippi river is. Every year the river will deposit more silt in the river channel, rising the river surface, demanding a bit higher levies.

The river can't deposit it's silt in its natural form on the river plains, (yearly flooding) as Mall Wart and Kentucky Fried Doughnuts, and Startled Bucks are there.

So right now, levies, higher river, levies, higher....well, it's a matter of time, no more, until the river will take a completely different path than the Corps of Engineers have predicted.

Imagine if the levy, higher river, effort ... was to continue in absurdum.

Half a mile up, with slopes leaning 45%, a long ridge, with a river flowing along the top of it.

Good luck.

This is not an earthquake, tornado or hurricane, where you shield yourself from the immediate effects, this is an artificial, man made effort to try to counter a force that will constantly work against the intended effort to stop it.

New Orleans is that way, and perhaps higher levies will get the town safe, and rebuilt again, but it will only be safe for now, eventually they have to be higher, and higher, and I can imagine a couple of hundred yards high wall around the city. Eventually it will actually come to that, sunshine will be a premium commodity.

And .....if THAT wall goes, don't think of it.

-- January 4, 2007 5:49 AM ∞

---

DALE wrote:

I have a question. when the government order people to evacuate the area, why did people stay home & wait for the water to rise to 15 feet?
I realize there were some people elderly, & sick that might not have been able to leave own their own. Ialso saw many of well abled bodies trapped at the super dome. Seems to me if the government said for me to leave the cincinnati area or risk death, I would be walking if thats the only way i had to get out of dodge. I saw evactuation warning here in KY.
I never said anything about the state, I said the city. The city tolerates the behavior in Bourbon Street.
If I tolerate my sons stealing from the neighbors, I too am to blame. I too am responsible for their actions.
The difference between a blizzard & a flood. Do I really have to tell you?
Fly over the north west a month after a blizzard. tell me how many houses & streets & neighbor hoods are uninhabitable... People may still be stuck at home but i am sure they would not be forced to camp on the roof. The water would not be contaminated. although people may me with out food,Close will be dry & blankest will be warm. there are warning signs for snow storms as well, when you hear one you go get some extra food & go home.
When you hear a warning of a Giant hurricane you leave the area.
That was nasty storm no doubt, but in its wake wont lie years of recovery & sufferings
I have heard predictions of the city of New Orleans flooding for as long as can remember.
I say" DON"T WAST MONEY REBUILDING THERE "

-- January 4, 2007 6:35 AM ∞

---

Carl wrote:

Cher:
I travel the area you live in, slidell, abita springs,covington,ocean springs,pearl river, all along the La Coast and Mississippi Coast Line....Roger also covers that area during his runs in the Southeast..
Think about it...and look at what is allowed to be done in the rebuilting...
The homes are being rebuilt in Marshes below sea level...some on poles, a lot still flat on the ground...the individuals who live in those areas know hurricanes can come each year...they are well aware of their destructive force..yet most of the individuals did not have and still do not have as of today, even after they moved back in :
Enough Water,food, batteries, emergency radio, candles, flashlights, a generator, or a plan where to meet if they get separated, a mutual relative to call and let the know where they are at, and health condition...no mode of transportation to get out of the path, or even a plan to secure mode of transportation to scaddle....
Then if something does happen...they start screaming save me..and when the reponse is not according to the time frame they expected, they start blaming the government for not doing enough...they never once look in the mirror and say "IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF AND FAMILY" "IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GET MY FAMILY OUT OF THE PATH BEFORE IT ARRIVED...IT WAS MY FAULT I DID NOT STORE UP WATER AND FOOD...AFTER ALL THEY HAD 48 -72 HOUR NOTICE"...There was more than 20% of the Gulf Population that was irresponsible...I would say more like 85%..

On a historic scale most storm surges come no more than 1/4 mile inland...in Katrina's case in some areas that were extremely low such as St. Bernard Parish,etc...more...to stop loss of life and property...the State and Federal Government should put the following into affect...you the individual can live on the coast line and in flat marsh land areas that are going to flood in a storm if you want too...but under this understanding:
If you do not leave a head of time before the storm hits..do not expect to be rescued
If your property is destroyed do not ask for a loan, grant or any type of government funds to enable your irresponsible act of living in an area coded Red for extreme storm damage likely...if you lived in a state where it snowed heavy all of the time, you would be foolish to build a house in the path where avalanches occur on a consistant bases or on the edge of a volcano where the lava flows consistantly...
I have no problem with individuals who use common sense and live a 1/2 mile or more from the coast line...they are still living in a beautiful area and yet have taken some measures to protect their property from flooding...Storm Surges are the biggest cause of damage and lost of life during hurricanes..not wind..(the early north americans built their villages about 1 mile inland from the coast)
I love your area...I truly like the people...I like their spirit and love for life...the food ...what can I say...a plate filled with turnip greens cooked with smoke hamhock, fried cheese sausage grits with gravy, canal rice, seasoned black eyed peas and jalapeno cornbread...topped off with a ole fashion hot banana pudding with lots of vanilla waffers.......
I have thought about moving down there myself, but as much as I love it, I would not build on the coast line, or in flat marshland areas subject to flooding from a storm surge...
LA. Politicians have the reputation as being the most corrupt in the nation...but that is the perceived reality...not the reality...the reality is Mississippi had more politicians go to prison for corruption than any other state the last century...In 2006...Mississippi had Law Enforcement officials consisting of sheriffs, police chiefs, and police officers indicted for corruption and criminal activity...I know..I knew 3 of the sheriffs and worked with their counties...I just left a county in Wilkinson, Miss where the Chief Deputy Sheriff of Franklin County, Miss was sitting in their jail cell for organizing a gang of thefts who stole four wheelers and sold them in Tenn, and Alabama....
When assigned to DEA during my narotic division stint, I worked with your N.O. Police in the French Quarter...At that time it was called District One...So I know the quarter and surrounding area pretty well..
I wish you and your family the best in your rebuilding...FEMA is like a large ship with props too small to push or steer the boat efficently...a lot of mismanagement and just plain incompetence exist...too much paper work and not enough just gitta done attitude..everybody is in CYA mode with those guys... The new division HomeLand Security, of which I am part of in the Coast Guard is still sucking the bottle and has not learn to walk very well yet...unfortunately, FEMA has been placed under their control and this is a major part of the problem with getting things done quickly...

-- January 4, 2007 7:00 AM ∞

---

Chris wrote:

Dale and Carl,

The question is why don't people evacuate. Remember the guy the press interviewed before Mt St. Helens erupted. "No volcano was gonna run him outta his house". He was never seen again. I grew up on the east coast where the press would go down to the marinas to interview the people riding hurricanes out on their boats because their things were more important than life.

Cher,

maybe you can share your theories as to why people don't evacuate. As I see the people interviewed before landfall of any hurricane there seems to be some level of maucho involved. People are told to be self sufficient in FL for 3 days. They run out of resources after 1 then blame the government.

Carl,

I understand your frustration. People refuse to evacuate, then call 911 during the storm, asking people like you to put your life at risk because they wouldn't leave.

-- January 4, 2007 9:06 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

Cher,

The media reported so many issues that I would like to know if you have any further information.

For example, as stated by Carl above, the people should have been taking care of thier families and not waiting around for a system that was not there with all of the efficiencies necessary to handle the massive needs and demands. The media reported that the poeple in general in some areas were already dependednt on the government for decades in the form of welfare mentalitiy. In otherwards, they had not been taking care of themselves as a way of life. SO when disaster struck, they totally expected the govt. to take care of all of their needs as usual.

Can you speak to this?

I also read where people were on house tops waiting for rescue, when a few hundred yards away, hotels were available for them to retreat to.

Can you speak to this?

Also, when you get your home restored and "back to normal"
what will you do to prepare for the next storm?
What, if anything can you do to avoid the sitaution you find yourself in now.

I beleive that if there is nothing that you can do differently, then what is the sense of returning?

Yes, in Ca. we have earthquakes that are devestating to communities. But are surrounded by communities that do not fall and are very able to step in and help immediately.

Also, the masses here ae always earthquake ready. Businesses are required to have emergency evac and sustaining plans. The fire and Police, hospitals and schools have regular drills, that have proven to be very effective in controlling the outcome during the real event.

We have some do-do's that live here too that continue to build houses on slopes that melt away with the rains and watch their houses and all their pssessions slide off the slopes and in some cases into the Ocean. Then they get all torked when the govt. says no more we are not paying the bill anylonger. You slide--you pay!

I think it is only reasonable that anyone who rebuilds in proven risky areas, must assume the responsibility for their actions. DOn't you?

Anyway, your first obligation is to take care of your needs and your family, and I would not even know how I would react if I were in your situation.

But during Katrina, the world was watching and there are questions that yet have to be answered and people that yet have to be held accountable, both the private sector and the govt.

I am interested in your response.

If your anger helps you to redirect your future plans, then it will not be in vain. If your anger stands in the way of eliminating as much of the blame game as you can, then you might find yourself in a similar situation someday. I hope not!

Carole

-- January 4, 2007 9:26 AM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Roger,

Hi, thought that you would be happy (?) to hear that I am not in jail yet.

By the way, I found out yesterday, that a breast cancer fund raising entity has opened a site for advertising surfing as the one I am involved in.

Interesting-huh?

I will accept your apology for calling me a thief any time your ego allows you to do so :}

Carole

-- January 4, 2007 9:31 AM ∞

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Chris wrote:

Don't want to play Roger's advocate here but didn't you say that you were uneasy with answers to your questions on that investment op.

-- January 4, 2007 10:10 AM ∞

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Rob N. wrote:

All:

Here is a glimpse into the way forward in Iraq. Though it is from the AP, www.dinartrade.com has it post on their site. I hope you enjoy.

Pentagon helping restart old Iraq government factories in jobs program

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As President George W. Bush ponders how to salvage the Iraq military campaign, business minds at the Pentagon are moving ahead with a part of the equation _ fighting Iraq's unemployment and trying to boost its economy.

Under a new program, the Defense Department is already helping reopen factories that were owned by Saddam Hussein's government and abandoned by occupation authorities shortly after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The Pentagon may also start providing them with contracts to support U.S. troops.

One factory restarted operations in the last two weeks, and nine more are to open by the end of this month, a Pentagon official said Wednesday, adding some 11,000 Iraqis to employment rolls. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information had not been released yet.

Pentagon officials declined to identify the facilities for fear they or their employees could be attacked amid the country's increasing violence.

Reopening factories that produced everything from cement to buses for Saddam's regime is among the ideas that have been discussed by Bush as he struggles to find the way forward in Iraq after nearly four years of war.

Bush is expected to announce a new Iraq strategy next week. He is widely expected to say he wants to send additional U.S. troops there.

Military commanders have long seen employment as one of the keys to slowing the violence. The idea of restarting factories differs from some previous reconstruction efforts that have had limited success in that it's aimed at providing long-term employment for factory workers as opposed to short-term jobs that came with individual rebuilding projects.

The Pentagon formed a task force six months ago that has identified some 200 factories _ producers of textiles, industrial equipment and other goods _ that could be restarted.

Paul Brinkley, deputy undersecretary of defense in charge of business modernization efforts, said in a recent interview that putting idle Iraqis back to work should help calm violence because it will leave fewer disgruntled men willing to plant bombs or commit other crimes for money.

"I believe there's an indisputable correlation between peoples' livelihoods ... and unrest, civil unrest, social unrest," he said.

Iraqi unemployment is thought to be from 20 percent to 60 percent, with inflation above 50 percent. More than 1.5 million Iraqis, mostly professionals, are believed to have fled abroad, according to the U.N. and the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which recommended a new Iraq strategy to Bush last month.

Officials hope the factory reopenings will be the first wave in a series of restarts that will stretch throughout the next year to restore jobs lost after the 2003 invasion. At that time, occupation officials of the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority decided to do nothing with the government facilities, hoping they would quickly be taken over by the private sector.

Privatization of the businesses never happened as violence gripped the country and disrupted the economy. But if the factories start producing and become well-functioning enterprises, that could be a step toward any privatization effort the new officials may decide upon.

Under the new program, private as well as government factories would be restarted. The American military expects to be among the customers for some of the restarted operations.

"We buy a lot of items, all kinds of items," such as cement and furniture, Brinkley said. "We import a portion of that. But if there are Iraqis who make things that we can buy, it just makes lots of good sense to buy it from Iraqis ... to stimulate the economy, build good will."

The U.S. military is spending more than $100 billion (A75 million) annually for the war. Brinkley said he hopes to spark the Iraqi economy by funneling some of it to newly restarted factories.

While the average worker in American supports four people, the average Iraqi workers supports 13, Brinkley said.

"For every Iraqi you put back to work, it has a huge cascading effect," he said.

Source: Associated Press

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 4, 2007 10:11 AM ∞

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Chris wrote:

Last question directed at Carole

-- January 4, 2007 10:12 AM ∞

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panhandler wrote:

Carole: ok, normally I don't point fingers, but someone said in a post, I believe it was during the last scratch pad, that "you wear your feelings on your sleeve" and today, I think it is pretty evident. . .Roger graced us with his presence, and you just jumped in lookin for a fight. . .I thought we were all going to try to be a little more civil on this post. . .I understand that you have had you feelings or dignity hurt from the name calling you got when you first got here, and believe me, I didn't, and still don't like it. . .like I've said before. . "ain't noones' business but chure own". . .if you're making money in your venture, more power to you. . .whether you are a thief or not. . .it's noones' business. . .if you're breaking the law. . .you'll get in trouble when someone catches you, and I'm sure that your intentions were honorable and honest. . so don't worry what ever one else thinks. . .be like a duck. . .and let everything run off your back. . .you don't need this crap, and neither do we. . .

Roger: apologize to Carole or I'm gonna smack you. . .and behave yourself. . and as for Iraq. . .they're on the same page we are. . .Fridays are prayer days. . every other day is business as usual. . .And I do believe the '07 budget is finished and after the holidays are over for them, they will bring to the table. . .should be an interesting week coming up. . . watch closely. . .P.H.

Cher: welcome aboard and good luck with your project. . .P.H.

-- January 4, 2007 10:21 AM ∞

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Okie wrote:

In the meantime....the oil patch guys continue to make progress.
=================================================================================
Test oil well produces 8,500 barrels in Iraq

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OSLO, 04 January 2007 (Gulf Daily News)

A test oil well in northern Iraq produced 8,500 barrels per day (bpd), the most of three wells tested in the first post-war drilling by a foreign firm, Norwegian oil company DNO said yesterday.

"We are very pleased with the well and how the project is progressing," DNO managing director Helge Eide said of the results from the Tawke number 4 well.

Two previous tests of the field had produced flow rates of about 5,000 and 4,000 barrels per day, he said.

The wells could be put into production during the first quarter of 2007, as soon as a processing plant is ready.

-- January 4, 2007 10:41 AM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Chris,

Iam still a little skeptical about the venture I am in.
But I am not a good business minded person, in some areas. For example: when I was in business, my accountant (business manager) would find himself trying to answer my questions by saying "Carole, this is business!" There were somethings he would do that seemed a little "iffy" to me, but again, his remarks were always : this is business!

We had a few audits during those 9 or 10 years and his books always held up. So I have to assume he was doing things okay. Plus, one time I was a "whistleblower" for the govt. investigating Medicare fraud of a company I worked for. The OIG did a thorough investigation of my own business practices and found them to be in compliance.

But still today, if you were to ask me, I think a few things were a little "iffy" when put alongside of my own personal ethics.

As far as this advertising investment, I can only investigate so far. And then it seems I come to a dead end.

My 2 concerns are:#1 I go on conference calls with the "owner". I have his phone number. He has a wonderful website, but so far I can not get a physical address for this business. This bothers me. It doesn't seem to bother anyone else, but I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me.

#2. I have not been paid for my first cycle yet. I am about 10 days overdue. The explaination is that since they are in the process of converting from Safepay to an actual Debit/Atm type card, to put your money into, it has slowed down payments for now.

Soooooooooooo, we'll see! The jury is still out in my books. And, until I am sure
( or as sure as I can be), I will not invest anymore or spread the news!
Can you understand my reasoning?

Roger did give me some things to ponder. Especially since he pointed out the possibility of "lookers-on" at this site. I can wear almost any color with my olive complexion, except for Orange, yellow or black and white stripes! :}

Pan:
I am instigating, I'll admit! But just enough to give the audience that enjoys the Roger/Carole routine a kick!

I think I have the Carole/ROger thing figured out ( FINALLY!).

Some think I get hurt or deeply offended by Roger. It is probably because you can't hear my voice intonations or the laughter he causes me with his smart-axx remarks.

I get a sense that he probably goes through the same thing. He is sarcastic and witty and I think I am too. He is quick to bash me and I am quick to slap-jack him right back. So, far the score is even or at least it will be once he apologizes for going over the line. And once he does I may consider changing some of my adjectives to describe him. But for now-if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck......more than likely........

:} Relax Pan don't mean to cause you any stress! You must be on heart guard at all times, my friend!

Carole

-- January 4, 2007 11:06 AM ∞

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Carl wrote:

Carole:
Long ago, in the 20th Century, there was a pyamid type senario known as the "Round Robin" The Robin was the bird that flew from investor to investor creating an impression of returns of 30 to 50% or more on your investment...Once the Robin got to going in the Circle(Round) of investors...the creator of the Robin starts to slowly siphon off the funds little at a time...what you see is payments getting less...payments being made slower...stories concocted to protect the Robin as it continues to run, and the funds continue to be siphon off...Then the Robin misses the tree and dies...no more funds...no physical address...no real name....just a bogus corporate name filed under a bogus real name...disconnected phone number...returned written inquires...Investors left with sweat on the brow, because a lot invested everything they owed...Why? because a friend or family member recommended it...they allowed the emotion of the moment to override the pragmatics of business thinking...

First Red Flag...No physical address..

Second Red Flag..if payments start to get slow

Third Red Flag... Continued excuses for late payment

Fourth Red Flag.. no response to returned calls

Fifth Red Flag... answering machine is full

Catch my Drift...

Are youi daughters starting to get late payments...if so contact the attorney generals office regarding white collar crime...see if the name of the company or owners are familiar...

If it is a round robin they use different names, different locations in different states, different owner names, but the modus is the same...

Good Luck...Let us know if your payments come in...

PS: Take the City Directory where the number is located...see if listed...it should give the address of the number and who it is listed too...see if it is listed as private or blocked..another thing contact the governmental authorities in that established business area and see if if is listed with Chamber of Commerce, has a city license...has a Federal ID Number...If it is a corporation asked the owner which state he is incorporated under...it will be listed in that state if leget...so many other things you can do to locate this turkey. I am sure your husband can made a call and get a history, wants and warrants ran on this guy through NCIC...
Plenty of Files you can pull up on the internet that will give you a ton of information if leget...

Run like hell and get your money out immediately..

-- January 4, 2007 11:50 AM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

I read an interesting comment by Victor Davis Hanson, the writer. He said something to the effect that, any thinking Muslim should be in favour of the Americans succeeding in Iraq, in helping a successful Iraqi democracy and a successful Iraqi economy to emerge.

Here's why, according to Mr. Hanson: Americans are spending an enormous amount of money, in Iraq. If I remember correctly, the figure is around 300 billion. All this money is being spent to help a peaceful, and prosperous Iraq emerge. American blood is being spilt, to ensure Arabs can control their own government, through the democratic process. If successful, this would change the longstanding abusive relationship that the Arab governments have had, especially in Iraq, with their citizens. Americans are liberating them from being ruled from brutal dictatorships, and helping them head toward a peaceful, democratic path, where sanity and human rights prevail, and the will of the majority controls the government, and the abuse of the population by the Muslim elite stops.

Now, suppose, for a minute, that this Iraqi venture screws up, because Iraqis prove themselves to be incapable of governing themselves in a civilized manor, and they just revert back to barbarism. This, of course, is a possibility. I don't think it is possible for the Americans to fail to help, in Iraq. I do think it is possible for the Iraq intellectual and leadership class to screw this up. If there is a failure in Iraq, it certainly won't be due to American screw-ups. It will be because of Iraqi failures.

Now, suppose for a minute that Iraq fails, and religious fanatics take control, when the Americans pull out. Now, suppose another 9-11 happens. Suppose the attack on America happens, and is traceable to any Muslim country. What do you think would happen, after the experience and subsequent fiasco in Iraq?

Well, as Mr. Hanson points out, if the Iraqis fail at this chance, and religious radicals take over, and another 9-11 happens, once the trace-back comes, whatever Muslim country, including Iraq, that is found to be responsible for harbouring the terrorist would be bombed to oblivion. No negotiation. No trying to invade and help people build a peaceful, rich democracy. No more help.

I think he's right. If the Iraqis fail to take advantage of this American help, and fail to succeed, there will be no more help the second time around. In fact, there will be no second time. This time, the Americans are staying for a few years, to help straighten the place out. Next time, expect round the clock bombing, following by massive military invasion, like in the first three weeks of this was. Then, next time, the Americans won't wait around five years, fighting a costly insurgency. They'll just destroy and blow up the place, then leave, and let Iraqis sort out the rubble.

I can see the logic of that. I can see how the American public would never support this kind of costly, long term intervention, if the first one failed.

That, essentially, is Mr. Hanson's prediction. I agree with him. The ball is in the Muslim court. They can do what they want with the opportunity they are being presented with. They can reform their society, or live with the long-term future consequences of failing to do so. The consequences are dire, for the Arabs. It's do or die time, in terms of history. It's put up, or shut up time.

In the end, as President Bush has stated numerous times, Iraq will succeed if the Iraqis want it to. I think that's true. You can't think for someone. You can give them advice, and help them succeed, but if they don't listen, and they do the wrong thing, against good advice, and screw up, not much you can do about it. I hope the Iraqi leadership has the brains to figure this out, and the guts to implement the changes, that are needed. I hope they succeed. For the sake of my bank account, and the people of that country.

I really hope Muslim leaders have their thinking caps on, this time.

-- January 4, 2007 11:54 AM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Carl,

Thanks for all the thoughts and help!

I've got my running shoes ready.

You have given me several places to continue my investigation. And as soon as I have a little time, I will.

My daughters are too naieve. But their husbands may take the charge and join me in the investigation. SO far, they have been paid. I will also contact the RE investor friend that introduced us to this. He has > 30K invested, and I heard he is waiting for payouts too. If this is a "robin" type scam, I would imagine he will go after them with a vengenance, and I'll hang on to his coattails.

For now, I will continue to give them the benefit of the doubt. Assuming that just because I can not find the answers I want, doesn't mean there aren't any. I will check out all the leads you gave me and let you know what I find out. In the meantime, between the Dinar and this thing I have alot of money out there doing nothing!! It is my dad's genes in me that is doing a little revolting inside of me. I hate wasting money, I would rather give it away than lose it! I think we can all say that.

One time, all in one day, I accidentally threw in the trash 3 -100 dollar bills and a diamond ring. By the time I reaoized what I had done, the trash collector had already been here and gone for several days. I was besides myself. I prayed and prayed that someone would find them and use them. If I dwell on it, I still can hyperventilate at the waste of valuables that could bring someone a stroke of luck!!! I guess I will never know and that drives me nuts too!!

Tim

If history has anything to do with your last post, I agree, the Iraqi's will make a deadly mistake that will cause us to reduce them to rubble------But history also shows that without exception, we will go back and rebuild and restore what we destroyed, even when the destruction we cause is justifiable. It is what we do. Maybe right or wrong, who knows? SOme think that is what keeps this nation blessed. I have ambivalent feelings about the subject.

Carole

-- January 4, 2007 12:34 PM ∞

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Anonymous wrote:

Carole: thanks for confirming my suspicions. I always figured you were having fun with Roger, and he was doing the same.

-- January 4, 2007 12:44 PM ∞

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Anonymous wrote:

That was me!

-- January 4, 2007 12:45 PM ∞

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Sara Madgid wrote:

Interesting title this.. It says Iraq is "resisting" - like they are not a sovereign nation entitled to their own justice system. It implies that they are wrong to resist the imposition of the judgement of other courts from outside their jurisdiction - a world court, I presume they mean. Whose judgement does that mean prevails?? - not the Iraqi's as expressed through their court system, but someone from outside that country, right? Isn't that kind of like a busybody sticking their nose into another country's affairs?

Iraq resisting stay of execution
Thursday, 4 January 2007

No amount of international pressure can stop the execution of two men sentenced to death alongside Saddam Hussein, a top Iraqi official has said. Sami al-Askari told the BBC the law did not allow for death sentences to be commuted, even by the president.

No date has been announced for the execution of Saddam Hussein's half-brother Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and former chief judge Awad al-Bandar.

The United Nations has urged the Iraqi government not to execute them. Under international law the men should have the chance to seek a pardon or have their sentences commuted, UN Commissioner Louise Arbour said.

But Mr Askari told the BBC's Arabic service: "Nobody can stop the carrying out of court verdicts. The court's statute does not allow even the president of the republic or the prime minister to commute sentences, let alone grant a pardon.

"Therefore, no pressure can stop the executions."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6230557.stm

-- January 4, 2007 1:41 PM ∞

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Sara Madgid wrote:

Prime Minister Maliki may have resigned,
if so it may precipitate a radical change in government..
which may be good for Iraq in the long run.

Conflicting reports from providing Nuri al-Maliki resignation

media sources close to the Iraqi government that the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki submitted his resignation to the Office of the President Jalal Talabani on Wednesday evening 1 - 3-2007, but...

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ar&u=http://www.alarabiya.net/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAl-Arabiya%2BTV%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

-- January 4, 2007 4:52 PM ∞

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CYMRU001 wrote:

Carole,

I was one of those who gave you my email address and asked you to email me so I could ask you some questions about your venture.

I asked you this after you posted that you had looked into this from every angle. You said you had done your research and this was top notch.

Now it seems you are not too sure about this venture and you also go as far as to say you are sceptical and have some concerns.

Why did you invest to begin with?

I'm with Carl on this. If you can get your money out, then do it immediately. Forget the payment you are expecting, just get your cash back.

Had you emailed me, I was going to ask you if the company had a website, if they had a 'bricks and mortar' address which a person could go to and knock on the door and if this venture would be open to UK residents, given that you mentioned you had to supply your social security number.

I am glad you chose not to release this infomation immediately. I don't think I would be eligible as I am in the UK, but there are probably people who also asked for information who could well have invested money they could not afford to invest/ lose.

If this does work out for you then I will be glad for you. If it doesn't, then you can at least be safe in the knowlege no-one else lost money.

-- January 4, 2007 5:12 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Panhandler,
Thanks for the hint, I rather take the slap.

Carole,
Wow, you're amazing. If there is a sports stadium, a lot of people there, and you're intent on pick pocketing, wouldn't you know your pick pocketing (that is ...stealing), just because thee is no signs telling you not to do so?

Some people are telling you it's a "Business Adventure" and you make him responsible, saying he told you it's legit.

You're skimming off an ad account, and you're showing me another victim of yours, in an effort to show it's legitimacy. Apparently you are skimming off a Breast Cancer research facility as well.

Carole, if you were using an ad company, and just found out they were skimming you, and scammed you on thousands, for a non existing product.

What exactly would you say to them?

What is most amazing is the fact that some one have to TELL you you're stealing.

You're using lawyers and accountants as an excuse, they are not your consciousness, you are.

When it comes to the issue of being psychotic, well, your back again on the issue of ROGER, and that's the reason I'm answering you back.

You're hypnotically fixated with my name, no matter how much you say you're only having fun. That leads me to believe you can be as fixated on anything in your life as well.

You for sure can show a very social side of you, very social, cozy and warm, but scratch on it, WHAM.

So far I have not seen any after thoughts, regrets of stealing (the fact that you're stealing is not in question, (you're displaying fear of being caught, or fear of losing your investment and is very concerned about that) , but nothing in you says that you have the slightest reflection of what you're doing is wrong.

It's not in your universe even real to you,(because my lawyer said...my accountant said....my husband said...)

I don't care how "business like" you're trying to explain it, deep down there you know your stealing, but are so blind to it, seems like you're floating above it, and when some one tells you, your stealing, you see it as a social annoyance, and demand excuses and apologies, (hah...***rolling my eyes, shaking my head, smiling***)

You sure can spread thick layers of sociability around you, but when it comes to values, I cant even see that you have any with substance in them.

You have to tell Criminals and Children, right from wrong, adults would just know.

Whats so appalling is, that the venture you're in, is so OBVIOUSLY theft, and someone have to TELL you that.

How old did you say you are? 13? 11? 9? 7? FIVE ok .

You seem to have found a very good spiritual guidance in the Bible, and perhaps it's time for you to have a talk with God now, stop whining about this darn scam you're into, stop explaining to yourself and others how legit it is, stop being right about stealing.

Go to the spiritual guidance of your choice, the Bible, and start with the Ten Commandments.

I know you're fast and quick to give a hasty response, but this time around I ask you to have a bit of reflection of your own before you're back.

ANY WAY OF TURNING THIS ALL BACK TO THE IRAQI DINAR

-- January 4, 2007 5:35 PM ∞

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Sara Madgid wrote:

U.N. Chief: Gaffe On First Day of Work
Seemed Unaware of Official U.N. Policy on Death Penalty
Jan 4, 2007

British Times Online reports that: "The new Secretary-General of the United Nations ... Ban Ki Moon, the former South Korean Foreign Minister, received a warm welcome from staff at the UN headquarters on Manhattan's East River when he turned up for his first day at work yesterday.
But his spokeswoman was forced to issue a clarification after Mr Ban said that capital punishment should be a decision for individual member states.

The UN has an official stance opposing capital punishment and Ban’s predecessor Kofi Annan reiterated it frequently. The organisation's top envoy in Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, restated it again after the former Iraqi dictator was hanged on Saturday.

Mr Ban, however, took a different approach, "Saddam Hussein was responsible for committing heinous crimes and unspeakable atrocities against Iraqi people and we should never forget victims of his crime," Mr Ban said in response to a question about Saddam’s execution. "The issue of capital punishment is for each and every member state to decide."

It was unclear whether Mr Ban was simply unaware of UN policy or did not agree with it, but his new spokeswoman, the Haitian journalist Michele Montas, insisted that there was no change despite what she called "his own nuance."

http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/537/UN_Chief_Gaffe_On_First_Day_of_Work

-- January 4, 2007 5:36 PM ∞

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Dale wrote:

Carl,
WELL SAID. I live in Ky, about 20 minutes south of Cincinnati,OH. The mighty Ohio River floods from time to time. As a result the smaller water ways like the Licking River that dump into the Ohio flood as well. Around here you can build a house where ever you want, but if you build it in a flood zone, you will not be insured for flood damage. It is a live at your own risk proposition.
As well it should be.
Some people are just plain stupid i think.

-- January 4, 2007 6:11 PM ∞

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CYMRU001 wrote:

I have scrolled back thtough this pad and gone quite a way back on the last. I was trying to find out who it was who asked how we all came to be buying Dinar. I can't find the originator of the question, but I feel it is an interesting one which no-one answered.

To the person who asked the question, my apologies for not being able to find you, maybe you can let us know you are. My answer to your question is below: -

I became hooked as a result of eBay!!

I would check in on eBAy looking for various parts for my 1972, type 2, bay window camper. One particular day, I checked the parts and decided to have a look around the site I was interested in gold sovereigns and krugerands and wondered if there were any on eBay. I began clicking around and found Dinar.

I also found this blog as a result of that find. I began emailling the seller asking all sorts of questions. He gave me the address of this site and that was me hooked!!!

I am now wondering about the rest of you? Anyone else want to share their story?

-- January 4, 2007 6:44 PM ∞

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Robert S wrote:

CYMRU001

I had be meaning, or Fixin to as we say in the South, to respond to the question of why I invested in the Dinar.

I happened to catch the full page ad in the USA Today from October 2005 concerning the Iraqi Dinar and the Seller selling them. I almost always go directly to EBay when I find something I want to buy or learn more about and did the search for Dinar. The results were something else. I also found the link to DrDinar.Com and Truck & Barter a few days later.

What I learned early on was the amount of money the US was pouring into Iraq and the printing of the New Iraqi Dinar notes. When I saw how low the Dinar was valued and figured it would be hard for it to get much lower and the early post here enlightened me to the point I was ready to invest by December. All the talk of the value going up even just a few pennies and what that would do to the value was just overwhelming. Of course all the old timers were cautioning not to invest any amount you couldn't afford to lose.

I checked out buying the notes quite a bit. Then the post about opening up an account at Warka Bank showed up. I questioned and sought out all the info I could concerning this and chose to open an account in lieu of buying the actual notes. The account offered for me anyway certain benefits that sitting on the actual notes couldn't. One benny was I just received my statement with an (nice) additional sum added from interest earned.

So now over a year later I have deposited quite a bit money in my account than I originally opted to but am quite happy in my decision and know much more now than when I started. The only change I have made in my investment is securing more and wanting to add just one extra zero to the final tally. That's really not asking that much.

Bottom line is I felt that even without deeply investigating this investment and the almost certainty that the Dinar's value would be raised to at least a couple of penny’s it would be the best investment I had ever made and one that I had initially gone into almost totally blind. I just trusted that if our Government was pouring Billions of $$$ into Iraq that had to say a lot for the future of the Country and stability of the currency.

-- January 4, 2007 7:14 PM ∞

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Carole, wrote:

CYMRU001,

As I stated before, there are only 2 things I am not comfortable with. I also think I stated earlier, that there was a certain amount of risk. But as I saw it, the risk was from the time you bought your first cycle to the time your money was deposited into your secured safe-pay account. And yes I am very glad I kept it to myself and will until I get a physical address, and get my first pay.

Roger:

Tell me, how can I be stealing when first, I am the consumer--I bought something, I made a contract to purchase something, And what I bought are 14 advertising sites that I get paid to look at everyday for 25 seconds each.

I also told you that I bought on the other side of the equation, to test the contract. For $350.00 I bought an ad. The contract stated that 200 times a day someone would be looking at my ad. The contract was clear that there was no guarantee of future sales from the ad surfing that I was paying this company to set up. I can renew the ad as often as I want in 10 day increments. I get a discounted rate if I buy more than one 10 day cycle of ads.

Now maybe I bought something on either end that doesn't have the value I might hope for, but each side of the contract has a risk with a no money back guarantee if disatisfied with the results.

So can you please explain how you see this as stealing? Especially since all I've done is spend money and not made a bloody dime yet( rolling my eyes, and about to throw up).

You are beginging to sound like a blubbering fool.

I have been giving you the opporotunity to redeem yourself in front of your fans and public, but you keep stubbing your toe.

Sure let's get back to the Dinar. You know the one that you encouraged people to sell their children to buy more........

Oh no!!! here comes, breakfast and lunch---someone get me an emesis basin---quick!!

-- January 4, 2007 7:22 PM ∞

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Carl wrote:

Carole and Roger!
You two sometimes make me laugh my butt off..
But I appreciate you being on the board anyway...

-- January 4, 2007 8:28 PM ∞

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Anonymous wrote:

Good old Roger, always with robes and gavel in hand........

Perhaps you should take a more laid back approach when confronting people you suspect of engaging in less than savory acts. But I supppose thats the European side of you.......

Anyways, I wanted to address Anthony R.

In an earlier post he had asked a question about taxes and ways to AVOID them (at least I assume thats what he meant, because we all know soliciting ways to EVADE them on a public forum would be really dumb.....).

Be very careful about how you attempt to reduce your tax burden. Consult a tax attorney rather than strangers on a public forum. asking for advice from anyone other than an expert is asking for trouble.

At the end of the day, you wanna pay your taxes and walk off into the sunset. Look for ways to reduce your burden LEGALLY, but, IMO theres no reason to play games with the US government over a few million when you walk off with 10 times that amount.......

-- January 4, 2007 8:32 PM ∞

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Rob N. wrote:

All:

My story of beginning to purchase Dinar came in the winter of 2005, I ran accross a website selling Iraqi Dinar after some more outside investigation I purchased my first 2 million. I thought I was done, as time progressed so did my desire to purchase more Dinar. Today I have only about 8 million. I will be buying another 2 million shortly.

Unlike some of you, I choose to physically hold the currency. Specifically, the 25000 notes. At this point, my only regret is not buying in sooner; circa 2003. I truly believe we have all made a good and right decision to hold Dinars. We will see a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. In the coming months we will see a new Iraq emerge that defies the bias of the MSM.

I am encouraged by what I am seeing. If the reports of Malaki's resignation are true; let us hope the next Iraqi Prime Minister will put the welfare of the people of Iraq first rather than his own ethnic tribe.

C'mon Dinars!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 4, 2007 8:45 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Carole,

This is very simple, and when it comes to a blubbering fool, you fit the bill, but ok lets get technical for a moment.

If you are a seller or buyer, that is, customer or merchant, there is always an exchange taking place.

Meaning:

1. As a customer you expect to get either service or goods in a fair exchange for the money you are paying.
2. As a merchant you are expecting to get payed for your goods or services, also in a fair and reasonable exchange.

There is always an exchange taking place. ALWAYS.

Right.??? You know as well as I, that something for something is law, sense of rightness, and according to moral and ethical codes from any corner of the world that is the way things work.

The other side of it.

Something for nothing.

Ever got your lunch apple stolen in your workplace, your stereo ripped out of your car, your gas siphoned out, or your lawn ornaments stolen, ever got your lost wallet back from a train, without money, (If you get it back at all).

That is all something for nothing.

I really don't care about the intricate set up of your operation, somewhere at the end, someone have to pay for something they didn't get.

Right.??

If you have such a hard time getting this concept, then just follow the money...follow it, where does it come from?

Ask your self....who in the hell on this earth is willing to pay you enormous amount of money clicking on ads.

None.

Is it the ad company that are paying it, the customer of the ad company, or what????

Money, by definition is conserved energy, produced once in the past, and can be exchanged for future goods or services.

Money, just don't "appear".

Ok, be very unbiased, pure technical, go back in your "money making machine" and found out the originator of the money you are collecting.

What is the original SOURCE of the money?

When you find the original SOURCE of the money, ask your self, what that source is EXPECTING IN EXCHANGE for his money?

Now at this point, ask yourself, am I contributing to that?

No you're not!

The SOURCE of the money, expecting a fair exchange for his goods or services, will in this operation have to be kept in the dark....right?

Secrecy and deception have to be one of the elements in this operation for it to work, ....right.?

On top of that you're not too good in keeping secrets, you're like a sift, but that's another story.

If you bought yourself an ad, that you're looking at, paying you to look at your own ad, and in the end you get far far more than you ever invested in the ad, then you know your scamming an ad bureau.

The ad bureau is expected to sell a service or goods, for a customer and are working under a normal rightful exchange pattern designed for possible hits/ versus sold articles.

Your scam "money opportunity" have managed to find some loopholes, where ad's can be milked, and we're back to the sign at the football stadium.

You're operating under the premise that, as there are no signs saying "do not pickpocket", it must be ok.

Someone have to tell you to not steal!!???? This is the point I'm really weary about, Carole, can't you come to that conclusion yourself?

What I'm trying to get into your thick head is that you are receiving money from somewhere, and that somewhere is your victim.

Well Carole, I'm not sure I can communicate this concept fully to you, all attempts have failed so far, and you have defended it, motivated it, and trying to make it right, in any way and form you can.

That part is between you and God at the end,....can't help you there, all I ask is to take another unbiased look on it, and maybe you will come up with the right conclusion this time.

As for now, please follow Carls advice, get out of it as quick as you can.

I can tell you one more time where all this started....in the beginning, when this was presented to you, you had a flash moment, where you clearly saw it was theft......and then it happened..... you compromised with yourself.

Well anyhow Carole, the "business" you're in, seem to crumble under it's own deceiveness, and set up lies, just make sure you wont get hurt, we all make miss-steakes.

Me for one, I would like my miss-steak medium rare.

-- January 4, 2007 9:34 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Rob N,

Good posting about the Banks.

The original data about B of A was from Darrenchabruk, a person posting news about Dinars, where he posted B of A as a seller of Dinars, even had a little bit of posting on dates and such, don't remember more about it now.

The Wells Fargo, there was a poster some months,(actually quite some time ago now), he claimed that he was buying in Wells Fargo, a Texas branch if I remember it right.

Either way, Chase One is the only one you could confirm, well done thanks.

-- January 4, 2007 9:41 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Anynomous, why are you anynomous,

What exactly have the concept of right and wrong to do with the continent of Europe?

I know the concept of Up and Down have to do with Australia, Hot and Cold with Antarctica, and long train travels across Siberia. Other than that you've got me lost.

Yeah I was a judge one time, in a football game, but have to give it up, my lead dog got bezerk being locked up in my locker cabinet.

-- January 4, 2007 9:53 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

CYMRU001,

Saw an ad in the USA Today, and spent a lot of time on the net trying to get a grip on it. Knowing that historically currency have always followed the same pattern after a war, it seemed to me a very logic and sound investment. Lot of naysayers though, but the pattern have always been consistent. After a war, low valued currency, then expansion and higher valued currency. So that's how I got in on this.

Each case is different, but the basic pattern have always come true, so that's how Dinars started to look attractive to me.

I can fully agree with Anonymous...(get a name sucker), that exemplary book keeping on this investment, is very important, and there is no need for a game with IRS.

Taxmama was here, earlier, explaining some basics. Get a spreadsheet, with your date of purchase, because depending on how long time you sit on the investment, the taxes will differ.

Have had a talk with my own accountant on this, and on this particular point, my accountant confirmed.

-- January 4, 2007 10:13 PM ∞

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Anonymous wrote:

Read again good sir.

I clearly stated that your confrontational nature shows your European side.

And, its not so much that you confronted her. Its how you go about doing it.

Perception is reality Rog.....It might be clear to you that her "business" is a scam, but perhaps you don't have all of the facts, hmm? Carol seems to be of that opinion. Wait, and perhaps things get cleared up? Mebbe shes describing the overall workings incorrectly and needs time to the her facts straight.

I know, I know. Your next response will be "I know enough...."

My point here: You're always ready to render an opinion, solicited or not. It can be very annoying for some people.

We are strangers after all. Text doesn't do your intentions justice Roger. Perhaps you actually mean well while some might mistake your approach as arrogant and unbecoming. No way to tell obviously since we aren't face to face.

Try saving the moral arguments for someone who would actually benefit from it, like your neighbor. Or better yet, how about a family member. I find it amusing that you feel the need to get into a pissing contest with a complete stranger over something which, at the end of the day, doesn't affect you.

Stick to an analysis of the Dinar. You seem to have a gift for providing decent info. Stick to things that you're good at. You don't have the father routine down at all....

-- January 4, 2007 10:28 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Rob N,

I'm with you, I like to have the Ayatolla of Casholla in my hand, but it seems though that some are very happy with their foreign bank account set up.

Been so sporadic on this site, lately, and are not up, in the way I really was in the past, and must admit I'm freeloading a bit now on research others are doing, and must say you and Sara are the stars when it comes to research.

I appreciate what you're sharing with others on this site.

Rumors about Malakis resignation....hm, well he's been an enigma, so far. A couple of months ago I was loudly demanding him being ousted whether it was a coup or not, Iraq had sagged so deeply into an un holdable security situation, that it was borderline civil war.

It seems that he (mostly by Bush backing) survived politically, and if he is going, so be it.

Accusations about his Shiite affiliation have been blatant, strong and loud, and in true, the real actions on the ground confirm, that he have not exactly been something you can call a strong leader.

I say, it's for the better if he goes, and leave the chair to someone much more bipartisan than he is.

Iraq is about to break out of some old mold right now, and something tells me that this coming year will be a lot of positive changes in Iraq.

This fall, is the first time, OFFICIAL persons or institutions are flagging widely open, that they see a positive raise in the Dinar, so, they themselves seem to be set on it.

As a fellow investor, I can just smile and watch the daily progress.

-- January 4, 2007 10:34 PM ∞

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The Dhali Lama wrote:

Rogerrrr! Be nice to Carole. Carollllle, be nice to Roger. Don't you guys realize you were husband and wife, in a past life?

-- January 4, 2007 10:45 PM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Roger:

Talk about a hard head! Geeez!

Okay, let me try it again. I will answer your 2 basic questions. Because you set them up right. But your answer is wrong.

Okay: "#1 as a customer you expect to get either service or goods in a fair exchange for the money you are paying."

As a customer, I bought 14 daily clicks to watch 14 advertisers a day and get a 40% return on my purchase at the end of the day. ( sort of like you let the bank borrow your money by putting it in their savings account program, and at the end of the month you get 2%)

Are we together this far? Everytime you make a deposit in your bank you are buying their interest rate. They are using your money to make more money than they are paying you in the interest they have contracted to pay you. (This should start to answer your question as to where the money comes from)

"#2. As a merchant you are expecting to get payed for your goods or service, also in a fair and reasonable exchange".

Okay, as the merchant, I bought an ad ( by the way I have never seen my own ad, my family hasn't either. I think it is because there are hundreds maybe thousands of ad "buyers").

What I expected from the purchase of this ad was that in a 10 day cycle my ad will be viewed 200 times a day for 25 seconds times 10 days.

Now at this point, I had to decide if I wanted to buy the product ( which is ad space and their program)or not. This is probably another answer to your question of where does the money come from.

Now back to the banking scenario....

I go to the bank to borrow money. Do they charge me the 2% they pay their depositors? Heck no! They charge me 7% if I am lucky.

They pay the depositor 2% and they are ahead 5%.

Is it fair and reasonable??? Not really, but it is what I have bargained and agreed to.

Fair and reasonable are very subjective theories.

IN the case of this agency, I get 40% ( I hope ;}) and they get 60%.

The key is everybody is getting what they bargained for, REASONABLE OR NOT ( to the onlooker).

The risk is all on me, really. Cause I have to depend on the agency coming through to pay me what he said my investment would pay me.

Now back to the bank scenario. When you put your deposit in and you get a slip of paper saying that you have xxx dollars plus the interest you have been promised. How sure are you that when you go to take it out, that the bank will still be there?

In the investment world, the higher the risk the higher the return.

Are we anywhere near being on the same page???

You are absolutely right, there is something you think I see that I don't. And in return, I don't see what you see, especially since you keep trying to appeal to my conscience.

Investing is a "conscience" thing. I have stated before, no one should ever invest in anything they can't afford to lose.

Banks and other entities are safe, because most are insured against potential loses. In this case, there is no insurance or real assurance.

As I stated in the begining, this, as I see it, is no more risky than my investment in the dinar. The big difference is that I know people who have been payed for what they bought and it happens relatively quick.

Will the Dinar ever pay me off on what I have put my trust in? I sure hope so.

Will the advertising agency deliver on what I have put my trust in? Hopefully so.

Could I possibly lose it all?

Absolutely! And if I do it will be because I trusted those who led me to believe that I would get a good return on my money. Now that would be the Dinar company that gave me the pitch to buy their product, and the advertising agency that gave the pitch that their oppporotunity was a sure thing.

Either way, If I lose, I am not the thief! They are! They did not deliver the goods!!!

How can I be the thief?---I have no goods to deliver or not deliver!!

If you still don't get it at this point, I don't know what else I can do.

At any rate, in a few days I should know about the ad agency as at this point they owe me 12,600.00 ( my 9k and my 40%)

IF they deliver, I will only reinvest after I have checked out all the things that Carl suggested and I am passing that information on to my family and others who are in the same program.

If, by some miracle you do get it---your apology accepted :}

Carole

-- January 4, 2007 10:49 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Sara,

Thank you for the report on the strong Dollar, it is the world leading currency right now, and as you stated in the article about it, and also from one of my earlier postings on the subject, the world is right now adjusting for a low Dollar.

That adjustment will in itself further bring the Dollar down a bit.

The Dollar had a very low around 1975-76 just after the Watergate Nixon and after the Vietnam war, where the Dollar had a value approximately half of today's value compared with other currencies.

The Dollar survived, and regained it's strength, during the Reagan years, the Dollar was so strong it was almost the currency of choice in other nations with their own currency.

The Euro is rising in importance, but have not come close to the Dollar in World Currency, but the trap ahead right now, is that , as the Dollar is going down, Central Banks all over the world are selling it, in order to preserve their own reserve value, and thus are diversifying into mainly Stirling and Euros.

Problem is, by analysts, it's commonly agreed that both the Euro and Stirling is overvalued, in estimates between 5 and 20%.

If world nations Central Bank are selling an already falling Dollar, and replacing it with Euro and Stirling, that will push the Dollar down further, and bring an already over valued currency (Stirling & Euro) up even further.

A fall in Euros and Stirling is not estimated until the buying frenzy is over, and they still have a long way to go, but I would advice for short buys and sells when it comes to Stirling and Euros.

We have got some very interesting times a head of us when it comes to the Dollar, it might lose it's world domination, but have always had an ability to work itself back again.

For us, the difference will be while the Dollar is falling, that a Cafe Latte in Paris might cost us 8 Bucks...(but hey Starbucks are already doing that here anyway)

-- January 4, 2007 10:58 PM ∞

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Cher wrote:

Hello Everyone,

Roger & Carl,
I understand what is being said about the levee's. Both of you'll travel this area and know how things looked. Myself and many, many others that are in this situation would not have flooded if the pumping stations would have been manned. But that was a decision made by officials.
In my opinion not a good one but I didn't have the power to veto(LOL)that decision.

I also realize what you are saying about people that are still not prepared and I stand by my 80-20. When I said 80-20 I was talking statewide. Now if we are strictly talking about NEW ORLEANS, THE CITY, then I would think the numbers would completely reverse to 20% ready and 80% not. Maybe even 15%-85%.

Dale,
No, you don't have to tell me the difference between a blizzard and a flood. That was my point, you CAN'T compare the two.

Chris,
Yes, I can give my OWN thoughts or theories as to why people don't evacuate.

The number one reason is Money. They don't have money for gas, hotel rooms, or food.
I'm sure all of us can remember living from paycheck to paycheck at some point in our lives. If not, Congratulations.

Another is, everybody has been talking about the Big One for years and it hasn't happened yet.
My thoughts.....foolish.

Some don't have vehicles capable of traveling for long distances.

Some won't leave because their parents or loved ones won't leave and they don't want to leave them behind. The older people always say they survived Betsy or Camille and they will survive this one.
My thoughts...many that felt that way did not survive Katrina.

The problem now...Since the local entity's made people wait at least a month after Katrina before they allowed them back home many are saying they won't leave next time no matter what comes their way.
My thoughts...again foolish.

Carole,
In your post on 01-03-07 you talked about the disgust of the system in California. Louisiana and other States are no different. Most of the people, I will not say all, that I briefly saw on TV and in the streets appeared to be people living off the system. That's why so many are displaced because their large housing complex's were destroyed. I think the count that is still in Texas is over 100,000 and Texas doesn't want them. The Sheriff of Texas has already been on TV and said it's time for Louisiana to take them back.

The Local Gun Shop Owner in Texas is telling people to arm themselves because of the Katrina Evacuee's. Their crime rate has increased since the evacuee's flooded into their state. Tim Bitts also posted a situation in his area where Bill was bilking the system but Mary couldn't get help.

Yes, there were people on roof tops but I did not see any that were near a hotel. But, if that was the case a few hundred yards can be a long distance. 300 yds would be 900 feet and I would not get down into water with who knows what floating in it and try to swim 900 feet. Especially in rushing water. I wasn't quite sure what you meant by a few hundred yards.

Carole there is nothing anyone can do to prepare for a Category 5 storm except evacuate. Since I have to work I send the dogs (2) with my Son and his family to where ever they can find a Hotel Room. For Katrina he ended up in Arkansas and it wasn't cheap. All in all I think he said he spent almost $3000.00 in the five weeks they were gone. Gas, hotel rooms, and food (and they didn't always eat out).

I will be so thankful when my home is restored and back to normal. I have lived in Gretna all my life. I have never before been thru anything of this magnitude and as previously stated hope I never have to experience it again. But, I will do what I have to do. I have a job that I have been at for 30 years and I won't cut my nose off to spite my face. I don't want to go someplace else and start over. The main thing I worry about now is the crime rate and in all probability when I retire 2 or 3 years down the line
my intent is to move North of I-12 which not only helps with the crime rate because the locations are smaller communities but they faired out very well when Hurricane Katrina hit. The problem with that though is some areas they really don't have a drainage system...they do it by slope.

I would also like to say this is not the third or fouth time that I am rebuilding my home. This is the FIRST. I have lived here (in Gretna) 57 years without the mess I have now and my Sister-in-law lived 63 years without the mess her and my brother are dealing with.

It sounds like you may be a little bit defensive about the earthquake's that I mentioned. That was the way I felt when things were said about New Orleans. I stated in my post I did not want to offend anyone with
my comments but I just felt the need to respond to the God Theory of immoral people. My Mom always said you never argue politics and religion so I'm sure she's smiling down on me right now.

We too, have drills, evacuation routes, and sustaining plans. The mistake in Jefferson Parish was turning the pumps off and I still have not figured that one out but everything else worked. Now, The City of New Orleans had buses ready to evacuee the masses but they did not expect the levee's to breech or give way and it appeared they were trying to make the people take
care of themselves.

When the people from the City of New Orleans tried to walk across the Bridge the City of Gretna and Jefferson Parish Police Officers would not let them down into the city and the parish. I'm not sure if I agreed with that but it was done. The Parish and Gretna felt they had enough to sustain what people they had and had not prepared to support the City of New Orleans. They felt it was the Mayor's responsibility to take care of his City which I agree with. Their were many elderly people there and that
made me sad because I would not have wanted my Parents treated that way. But in the Parish and Gretna's defense they are the one's that made arrangements to get most of those people out.

Carole, I'm not trying to eliminate the blame game. I can try to make people see it my way till I am blue in the face and others are trying to do the same with me but each will feel their point has not been understood.

About my anger, it seems everyone thinks Louisiana is the only state to get help from FEMA so I went to their site. There is a whole list of disasters listed and aid given by FEMA to many, many states. So yes, we are all part of Mother Nature's plans and if we stop the aid for one because their
City is below sea level than stop the aid for all the other disaster's that happen. There's been more than one quake, there's been more than one blizzard, more than one tornado, and problems for the farmers and people did receive aid from the Government.

In my own opinion, I do think the welfare system is the biggest drain on our Government. You can make one mistake but not two, three, four, and more.

With that being said all I can say now is...Goodnight Gracie.

P.S.
Carole and Roger, what is wrong? Can't you each understand each other's
point. Trust me, this is truly in jest, I just couldn't resist.

-- January 4, 2007 11:10 PM ∞

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Laura Parker wrote:

Hi everyone,

It seems my posting on the "welfare state" got some attention. I meant it to be so.

What I wanted to impose on each of you is your boxed thinking (or more commonly call pigeon holing) about "those people" that separate them from the righteous people... when in fact, we are talking about human beings.

Making public policy comes from the grass roots of each voter.

Writing public policy... that makes sense... is very very difficult!!!. When public policy is written, it is done with uniformity to all persons with certain levels of qualifications (to rule out discrimination).

I have said these things above to bring about discussion and not to judge others for statements/attitudes made. I had in fact read many of your thoughts in December 2006 and due to holiday's did not have time to respond to my own concerns about stigma statements about the poor.

Carole,

I am glad you heard Cher.

Dale,

Your morality sounds much like Job's advisor in the book of Job, Old Testament. The advisor's conclusion, Job had done some evil and God was punishing him with his poverty, health issues.

Valerio,

You stated that there is help for people in New Orleans or similar predictaments. As you can see, maybe, this is not always so.

Cher,

I am glad you wrote in. Writing in, when one is personally involved in dire straights is courageous. I admire you for doing so!

Also, yes, I am aware of the situation in New Orleans. However, my home is not in New Orleans.

Tim Bitts,

Your writings are insightful. Your background bought you a bit of insight into the plight of the poor. For this, you are blessed.

Carl and Roger,

You both raised the point of where New Orleans is built. Sounds like the two of you need to get together and write public policy on when the government will help out and not help out disaster persons, city-state governments.

All,

Some of you raised the question of why didn't the citizens of New Orleans get out in the alotted time?. The poor --the truly poor, do not have cars, gasoline, money to stay at hotels etc. They were at the mercy of persons like you all on this forum. After all, if society doesn't look after its most vulernable citizen's--than who will?.

In the text of biblical scripture, Jesus was asked, who is my neighbor? Those of you who know the scriptures can answer his reply.

Laura

-- January 4, 2007 11:14 PM ∞

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Cher wrote:

Thank you Laura !!!

-- January 4, 2007 11:27 PM ∞

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Madbrad wrote:

Found this on my travels, some interesting reading,apologies if there's some old info.

The hydrocarbon law, though crucial, is beset by sectarian backstabbing. Each side has written its own draft of the law—there are at least three currently floating around—and the Kurdish draft is the most professionally done, says a Western diplomat who advises Iraq's Oil Ministry. Barham Salih, a Kurd and Iraqi vice president involved in the bill, says his goal is to make Iraq the Arab world's first "petro-democracy"; the Kurds have already cut a deal, independent of the central government, with a Norwegian firm to start test-producing oil in the first quarter of 2007. Another key player involved in writing the law—Finance Minister Bayan Jabr—is considered one of the worst sectarian offenders. He was pushed out of running Iraqi's Interior Ministry in June 2006 because Shiite death-squad activity ballooned under his watch.

Indeed, the squabbling over Iraq's oil laws has kept the biggest international oil companies out of the country. U.S. and Iraqi officials say they're the force that is needed to fix Iraqi oil, but without a legal framework—which they hope the hydrocarbon law will provide—the companies haven't dared make significant investments. According to a U.S. official, who asked to remain anonymous as a condition for the interview, there have been at least 43 memorandums of understanding signed between Iraq's government and international oil companies. The MOUs are a way for firms to test the temperature of the country with a contract that says "let's cooperate in the future," allowing them to make technical studies of the production potential in a nation that holds the world's third largest oil reserves, many of them largely untapped.

These firms, says the Western diplomat, include all the "big boys," like ExxonMobil, Chevron and Total. He says the oil companies have already worked with the Iraqi government to do independent analyses and R&D. British Petroleum recently handed over its yearlong reservoir study of the Rumailah field to Iraq's Southern Oil Co. It's BP's first piece of work in Iraq in more than 20 years. The Rumailah field, referred to as one of the world's super oil-fields, is still capable of producing more than 1 million barrels a day. Shell is currently working on an evaluation study in Kirkuk—a city that still regularly sees massive car bombings between Kurds, Sunnis and Turkomans, who all lay claim to the town's ownership. "Major oil companies are very interested," says Catherine Hunter, senior energy analyst at Global Insight in London. "But they're only dipping their toe in the water."

On a recent trip to Japan to drum up support from outside investors, Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani told reporters that international companies were the only way Iraq could meet its official target: it aims to attract $20 billion in investment and increase output to 6 million barrels a day by 2012. He said Iraq currently produces just under 2.5 million barrels a day, but added, "We are determined to increase that to 4 to 4.5 million by the end of 2010. But we are also determined to go beyond that by cooperating with international companies."

He blamed the production declines on sabotage, but said the ministry is learning to cope. "We've managed to get it to be repaired on an average of within 48 hours," he said.

For now, Iraq continues to punch well below its potential weight in global oil markets. At about 2.5 million barrels per day, it contributes just about 2 percent of global output. Iraq's oil affects global prices minimally on a day-to-day basis, says Vera de Ladoucette, senior vice president of Cambridge Energy Research Associates in Paris. And over the last three years, Iraqi oil officials have consistently overestimated how quickly they can bring back production. Yes, there's no doubt about Iraq's future potential. Analysts say the country could contribute up to 8 percent of global oil output by 2020 if all goes well—which means a lot better than it has done in 2006. But that is probably expecting too much

-- January 4, 2007 11:55 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Carole,

I can see it clearly, "How can I be the thief? I have no goods to deliver or not deliver!!

Follow this slowly, and I hope some insight (scary though), will start to creap up in your mind. You're not going to like one bit what I am about to say, but if you dont get it, your will lose a lot financially, maybe already have.

You risk your 9K, 10 days later you split something that looks like a 60%-40% split and you end up with $12600.

So...out of your original "investment", this money have now generated twice it's volume in 10 days.

You get back your 9000 plus your profit of 40%, making it a 12600 dollars payback to you.

At the same time, as the company you're dealing with are making 60% or $5400.

That must, mean that the original $9000 will in 10 days make another $9000 for a total of $18000 in those days.

Now at this point I had to decide whether I wanted to buy the product ( I guess you're meaning buy the "business opportunity").

Ok you have clearly laid it out, and its worse than I suspected.

YOU"RE the one getting scammed.

The money generated, and payed back to the "investor" is coming from other investors that are getting in on the deal. At least that's the way your saying it.

Who in the heavens and earth wants to pay thousands of Dollars, for a half hours worth of clicking on a site......Carole, cmon....so others are getting on on this fantastic opportunity, send their money, and in their naive way think they are generating money by clicking on ads, thousands and thousands of Dollars.

The ads have really nothing to do with it.

The money they are paying you with, is no more than money coming from suckers like you.

Stop and think for a second.

Money that doubles every 10 days.

I'm sure you have heard the old story about the man that once saved a King, and the King offered him a reward.

The King offered him land and houses, but instead he told the King that all I want is that you bring a chessboard on the table.

On the first square you put one wheat corn, then on each square thereafter you double the corns, so next square you put two, next four, and next eight and so on.

Do so until you have doubled the amount through each square, through the whole chessboard.

The King thought that was an easy way out, and accepted, but it ended up, that the King didn't have any resources even close enough to fulfill his promise.

This emporium is set up in exactly the same way.

The ads is the smoke and mirror, the money generated is from suckers believing they are getting in on a fantastic deal, and as it grows, the guys that are running the show, wants to keep as many as possible happy.....in the beginning.

The intended victims of this theft is then, the interested parties wanting to get in on the deal....and hopefully you are amongst the first one in, ....otherwise you have just been taken dear Carole.

And listen to me now Carole, it was planned from the beginning, the outcome is certain. Whoever you are dealing with, KNOWS this.

Like the sinking of Titanic, once the water comes over the last bulkhead, it was an impossibility for that ship to float.

Same thing with this set up, it is a mathematical impossibility for this to continue.

YOUR money have payed someone else, and he or she have been very excited, and recruited all their friends.

Just click half an hour, and you make thousands.....

Oh really, (common sense goes out) how much did you say you did???, and you say all you had to do was just sit and click???????

Thank you for the last piece of the puzzle, it's still theft, and it is still embezzlement and fraud, but YOU are the victim. In a sense this became somewhat tragic comic.

Just hope you can get out fast enough.

What is it exactly, you feel I need to apologize to you for?

-- January 5, 2007 12:11 AM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Madbrat,

Good posting of yours.

Your post highlight the enigma of the Iraqi development. Always slow, always squabble, always this and that.

They sure don't do things our way, but then again, it's their country, and have to do it as they please.

The HCL have been stuck far too long, and have not heard any report of how the progress is doing on it. This is the key law that will catapult Iraq as a wealthy nation, but as usually another week, another week, and so on of indecisiveness's.

Last report was a couple of weeks before Christmas, when the HCL reportedly had only ONE point left to iron out.

Since then it have been very quiet about it.

The Dinar will probably continue it's rise after the Iraqi holidays, as the budget is based on 1270 to the Dollar, and the Dinar is just now resting on 1325 while they have closed down the shops over there. Still got some ways to go until then, but there is no firm indication that it will stop there, all that is said, is that the BUDGET IS BASED on that figure. Any higher valued Dinar will undoubtedly be even better for the Iraqis. We'll see.

-- January 5, 2007 12:44 AM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

The following are comments about welfare, which Laura brought up. Temporary non-Dinar diversion. Scroll through if not interested. Thanks.

Laura,

Here' my "public policy" to reduce poverty:

1-Kids in school should lose their driver's licence, if they drop out of high school before finishing grade 12.

2-all people, over 18, wishing to renew their driver's licence, or obtain one, need to prove they have graduated from grade 12.

3-single mothers should not get public assistance unless they give the name of the father, to a public social agency, who should be tested for paternity, and made to support the mother, or go to jail. If the mother refuses, the state should take her children into custody.

4-It should be illegal for employers to hire someone who doesn't have their grade 12. The only exception should be someone who is going to school, part time, to finish school.

5-It should be illegal for anyone without grade 12 to vote.

Education is the key to avoiding poverty. People who get at least grade 12 are not likely to end up on public assistance. The best way to help someone is make sure they are educated enough to help themselves. Grade 12 should be a minimum manditory education level for everyone in America, except the mentally handicapped. Right now, a large segment of the American population drops out of high school, before finishing. This group represents the biggest drain on the economy, of any group, and is the least productive. Young people are not mentally mature enough to make the decision of whether to drop out or not. Society needs to make that decision for them. That decision should be, you ARE finishing grade 12, if you want to vote, drive a car, get a job, eat....

Also, once single mother know they can no longer free load off the taxpayer, and must deal with the father, for money, and access to the child, they are less likely to act irresponsibly. Also, when men become aware they can no longer pawn off financial responsibility for their children, onto the taxpayer, and they may go to jail if they fail to comply, they are more likely to act responsibly.

I know a young man who had two children with a young lady, without being married, and moved away, then got another common law partner pregnant, had two kids with her, and then left. The guy is off having fun somewhere else now, playing pool. Both young women are on public assistance. This sort of nonsense is rampant in the underclass. The children suffer, from a lack of two parents, and a normal family structure. The laws of British Columbia allowed this jerk to get away with this. They still do.

Raising children, over the course of a couple decades, costs close to $200,000 per child, for a middle class upbringing, when the cost of a mortgage, food, clothing, etc, are added up. By allowing people to have someone else pay for this cost of bringing up their children, is it any wonder a lot of people take advantage of it? It takes a lot of effort to generate money to pay for a family. It's easier to go down to the pool hall, while the suckers work. I've seen it with my own two eyes. The welfare system is set up to encourage people to behave badly, and to basically steal from their fellow man.

Then, if a woman on the dole were to get married, she would be penalized, and she would get her benefits cut off, right? So she does the rational thing, and doesn't get married. Is this a dumb system or what? The laws are designed to discourage people from getting married, and acting responsibly.

The underclass rips off the system, and who pays for it? The rest of us middle class suckers slave to pay for our own children's upbringing, and then work extra to generate extra income to pay for the freeloader's children's financial needs as well. This seems immoral to me, and a kind of systemic thievery, set up by well meaning people, who don't realize someone has to pay for this.

Just don't blame the underclass for this nonsense, please. They didn't set up the rules. They are just small time con artists. They are just smart enough to rip off a system set up by people dumber than they are, who set up a system that encourages thievery and irresponsibility. The real people to blame are the liberal politicians who set up this system.

I am in favor of people either getting married first, and then having kids, but if they don't want to get married, fine. Go ahead and have children. Just don't expect Tim the Taxpayer to pay for the upkeep of your children. If you have a kid, or kids, you pay for him or her, whether you are married or not. I say jail men who don't support their own children. And don't give money to women who won't turn the rat in, and take their children away if they don't cooperate.

That being said, there are some cases of genuine need. A married woman could suddenly have her husband die, very young, and unexpectantly, and without insurance. I know one such case. That kind of person I don't mind paying for.

So, what do you think? Would it work? Is it fair? Or is it ok to continue letting things go on as they are?

-- January 5, 2007 12:57 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

Laura,

I don't think anyone of us would ever deny the poor, needy or the infirmed the help, assistance and compassion they deserve. I don't think I picked up any of those tones from all the discussion presented here.

The objection is to the multitudes who have ravaged the system unecessarily--and now for generations. Do they care that they are taking away the resources that are meant to help the truly needy. Frankly, they could care less. They live in a parasitic state of mind, feeding off the host, and never giving back.

Do you really believe that this is the reference that Jesus meant to make?

Also, concerning Job. God had already declared him a rigtheous man. We do not know the spiriutal condition of the communities involved in the disasters.

I think there are however, substantial biblically historical events where wicked people were judged by GOd with environmental disasters.

NOW, I am not in any way inferring that this is what Katrina was all about. But one must never rule out the possiblity of the judgement hand of God in any event in life.

On TV during the Katrina coverage they interviewed a fraile black man, who was the pastor of the christian church. He built himself a little lean-to, and continued to hold worship services. A meek sweet soft-spoken man, he raised the bible, praising God for the disaster that brought many to their knees. His idea was that many had strayed and Katrina brought them back.
Of course the media made a mockery of what he was saying, but my husband and I
asprobably millions of others understood.

God is involved in everything. When we put on our spiritual glasses and hearing aids, we see HIs blessings and rewards as well as HIs judgements and chastisements. Not only do we see them, we experience them according to our deeds.
Sometimes His blessings are delayed and sometimes His judgements are delayed.

I just hope that you didn't misundertand the tone of the discussion here. I think we all know that, there by the grace of GOd goes we....

I think when tragedy hits, we all start to project ourselves in that situation and the 20/20 hindsight kicks in. I'm sure a few blocks down in someone elses shoes would give us all a different posting.

Carole

-- January 5, 2007 1:04 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

Roger,
I guess I will just have to wait and see if I have been scammed.

You have misunderstood the figures though. I invested 9k. I will hopefully get back a TOTAL of 12,600. That is $3600 profit. It would take approximately 3 cycles to double my money.

My thought and what I have been told is that the pay-out money is coming from the ads that are sold. It is high profit for the agency, cause the overhead is almost nil.

What I know for sure is that I have taken two big investment gambles this year. And I am not happy, at this point with either one of them.

I think it is time to start thinking realestate again.

If you have to be prompted about an apology--keep it! Or better yet--stuff it!! :}

Dali:

Opium and/or it's derivatives are bad for your mind and body. It causes hallucinations!!! Like the one your having concerning Roger and Carole being married in previous lives!

Cher:

Roger and I are like oil and vinegar. I'm the oil(Italian) and God knows where his source of vinegar came from!! Kidding, of course. Don't try to figure it out--just enjoy the sideshow!

Carole

-- January 5, 2007 1:35 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

TIM BITTS FOR PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD.!!!

Signed,
Carole
Tim's campaign manager!

Do not send contributions to Roger, he will only buy more dinar. DO not send contributions to Carole, she's on a bad luck streak.
Send all contributions to Sara who will see to it that millions will get Bibles and the world will be changed and Tim will have a fighting chance at a happy, successful first term.

:} :} :} :} :} :} :} :} :} :}

Good night gracie and mrs. calabash where ever you are!

-- January 5, 2007 1:48 AM ∞

---

Roger wrote:

Iraq badly needs to get their currency on the Forex,

After running a plus budget, this year Iraq is forecasting a minus budget.

This is the problem, and why.

Iraq have still, after all this years not changed it's Central Bank system over to an integrated bank, that can mesh with the international community.

I believe they are working on it, but as with everything else over there, days, weeks, months and years have to pass before it happens.

They still are operating on the crude basic system of Auctions.

Their main export is oil, it's paid in Dollars, the Dollars are now in the ownership of the Iraqis, where the finance department issues Dollar bonds to the CBI to be sold on auction. All of the Dollars might not end up in the auction, only for expenses in needed Dinars.

As the Dinar is Dollar associated, and the oil is paid in Dollar, the only big currency of any value the Iraqis have is now the Dollar.

Ok in order to prop up the Dinar, and do it artificially on the auction, as usually, the mostly internal sale of the Dollar will give less Dinars for a bigger amount of Dollar.

So the Dollar, used in propping up the Dinar , will be sold a touch under the Dollar value, each time an auction is held.

Thus making the "auction bid" legit as an official currency exchange of two currencies.

As only the two currencies are exchanged in this horse trade, the Dinar will be the always winner, going up in value, and the Dollar will be given away more or less as less valued towards the Dinar.

The Dinar really badly needs a lift, but in the crude system they are working it in, their (the Iraqis) income, in oil Dollar, will go down, down and down in purchase value within their own country.

This is the crutch the CBI have to work with right now, but it shows that the system is hopelessly past it's time now. It worked fine when the Dinar was held stable for years, but it just doesn't work at all when the Dinar moves.

Every time a currency moves, a long line of causes and effects are happening along the whole spectrum of an economy, and the current system with auctions is one that might harm the Iraqis more than help them if they insist on continuing with it.

The currency is overdue for Forex, and I hope the Iraqis are well aware of the intricate short coming effects of their current system.

It all came to light in their, (well founded) increase of Dinar value they are currently doing.

Lets increase the value of the Dinar......oooops a budget deficit, darn.

Forex is the place for the Dinar now.

-- January 5, 2007 1:49 AM ∞

---

Madbrad wrote:

Roger

totally agree......... the dinar was picking up some momentum before xmas it will be interesting this next week and with all the those pay rise's we may start to see the Iraq'is enjoy some retail therapy! LOL

-- January 5, 2007 1:50 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

TIM BITTS FOR PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD.!!!

Signed,
Carole
Tim's campaign manager!

Do not send contributions to Roger, he will only buy more dinar. DO not send contributions to Carole, she's on a bad luck streak.
Send all contributions to Sara who will see to it that millions will get Bibles and the world will be changed and Tim will have a fighting chance at a happy, successful first term.

:} :} :} :} :} :} :} :} :} :}

Good night gracie and mrs. calabash where ever you are!

-- January 5, 2007 1:51 AM ∞

---

Roger wrote:

Carole,

You're releasing bits and pieces, in a confusing manner, and sometimes I wonder if you yourself know what your doing, but anyhow.

You dont understand that I understand, and are trying to tell you something. ok if you get $12600 out of an investment that originally cost you $9000, and that is supposedly your investment , you will then get 40% (supposedly) out of the profit, for O N E cycle. Ok got that.

I fully understand that it will take you about three cycles to double Y O U R money.

But, as the company FOR EACH CYCLE takes 60% and you get 40%, that means that the TOTAL GAIN for ONE cycle is double the money. (At least thats what they are telling you)

So clicking on ads half an hour a day for 10 days is supposedly not only going to pay you 40% that is $3600, but it is supposedly also going to pay the company 60% or $5400.

So for each cycle the money have doubled.

Why would a golden goose like that, be farmed out to naive housewifes?

It's exactly where we started, despite your insults, you put one wheat corn on the first square, two on the second,four on the third, eight on the fourth and so on. It must by the nature of it blow.

Carole, a calculator costs about 10 bucks, you could have punched all these numbers yourself, how hard is it to spend 30 seconds on a calculator, I did it while I was eating a sandwitch, and you could have done so to.

While I'm on it, I have some ocean front property in Wyoming I would like to talk with you about.

Good luck

-- January 5, 2007 2:25 AM ∞

---

Sara Madgid wrote:

Roger;

Thank you that you thought the dollar post interesting.
I know it doesn't directly relate to Dinars.. but I felt
it was significant, too. I appreciated your post. :)

Carole;

Chuckle.. by way of entertainment..
I thought this was good.

If the US takes over Canada (forget taking over Mexico - too unpopular)
and gets all that tar sands oil Tim Bitts was telling us about..
(in return for securing Canada's borders and helping them with their terrorist problems
of course.. - still nothing in the news on the story I found, Tim?)
Well, then I think Tim Bitts should be considered a full American - having lived
in North America for all his life - and thus qualified to run for President!
(unlike Arnold Schwarzenegger who wasn't born in North America).
So then, Carole can be the campaign contributions manager and the extra money
for after he gets elected will go to buying Bibles for the world...
Sounds good to me.. :)

===

PREMEDITATED MERGER
How leaders are stealthily transforming USA into North American Union
Posted: January 2, 2007

It seems unthinkable. But then, so did 9/11 before it happened.

Can it really be possible that Americans are witnessing a governmental program designed to merge – slowly but surely – the United States, Mexico and Canada?

That question is generating a major amount of below-the-media-radar buzz. In recent months, e-mails and telephone calls have poured into radio talk shows and congressional offices asking: Is there a plan to create a "North American Union"? Will a new currency, the "amero," replace the dollar? Is it true that Mexicans will now get Social Security?

Yet Congress (except for a few representatives like Tom Tancredo and Ron Paul) as well as the establishment press (with notable exceptions like CNN's Lou Dobbs) turn a blind eye – despite major evidence mounting daily.

Just recently, for example, confirmation surfaced that the U.S. government is indeed planning on providing full Social Security benefits to Mexicans – which critics predict will bankrupt the already-shaky system. And a report by the powerful Council on Foreign Relations, regarded by many as something of a "shadow government," has called for a massive transfer of wealth from the U.S. to Mexico and the establishment of a "security perimeter" around North America – rather than securing America's borders with Mexico and Canada.

So, while many dismiss plans to integrate the three North American countries as wild Internet "conspiracy theories," the January edition of WND's acclaimed Whistleblower magazine – titled "PREMEDITATED MERGER" – boldly lays out the disturbing evidence for all to see...

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53599

One never knows where one might find "Manifest Destiny"...
(originally a term used by the Democrats, not Republicans...)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_Destiny
"The phrase was coined in 1845 by journalist John L. O'Sullivan, then an influential advocate for the Democratic Party. O'Sullivan's original conception of Manifest Destiny was not a call for territorial expansion by force. He believed that the expansion of the United States would happen without the direction of the U.S. government or the involvement of the military. After "Anglo-Saxons" emigrated to new regions, they would set up new democratic governments, and then seek admission to the United States, as Texas had done... the outcome would be beneficial to both countries."

Sara.

-- January 5, 2007 3:01 AM ∞

---

Valerio wrote:

Cher,
My statements regearding available help for the victims of disasters were not intended to be specific toward N.O., but rather a general statement regarding all victims of declared disaster areas. There are no doubt serious problems with the efficiency in which the agencies are implementing the programs. Although I cannot justify by reasoning the magnitude of neglegence, mishandling, and incompitence, I do know that there are reasons for some of the problems you see. The magnitude of the destruction. You not only lost homes, but also your jobs, public facilities, private businesses. The entire economic structure was totaly destroyed. Even the civil services and the law were destroyed. All these things must be rebuilt at the same time, for one cannot live without the other. Then you have within in the policies, safegaurds against fraudulent activity that often hinder those with rightfull claims. Then there is the question regarding how and when any loans can be repaid, and if the purpose of the loans will actually be done. There are also health and safety issues, which is a big reason why many people can't get a FEMA trailer even though they are available and sitting empty. My thoughts on this subject must be taken with a grain of salt as I have no authority, education, or experience in this matter.
I certainly do not mean any offense to anyone effected by this incredible destruction of life and property.
My statements were more of a response to Laura's post which seemed to say that America was giving away billions to Iraq and ignoring its responsibilities it has to rebuild N.O. I was asking Laura, who was appauled at our governments spending in Iraq and depriving it's own in N.O., and who is herself an investor in the dinar, how much she contributed to rebuilding N.O. Therefore unless she has contributed money to rebuild N.O. she would also be guilty of the same thing she was accusing our government of. I was making the point that these are seperate issues, one being more of a social expenditure, and the other being an investment. Our president believes the expense of our effort in Iraq is an investment, although risky, in the future of the world in terms of peace and security, and the global economies. The real question will always be debated; was it worth it?
I don't believe it's the governments job to rebuild N.O., but each individual should have every opportunity for the help thats available to them according to the policies in effect to do their own rebuilding, and nothing more or less.

Laura,
I'm not saying anything against you, because I know you mean well, and you have compassion for the unfortunate victims of Katrina. I'm merely conveying my thoughts that these are seperate issues, and one does not effect the other. If we were not in Iraq I doubt the situation in N.O. would be much different, in my view.

-- January 5, 2007 3:22 AM ∞

---

Laura Parker wrote:

Carole,

I appreciate your writing of your thoughts on our "welfare topic". However, Jesus himself noted in the New Testament writings when asked about whether a man was blind, who sinned?. The implications are the blind man as being punished by God. Do you remember his response?. Simply because a person finds themselves in dire circumstances, is this person being judged by God. My answer is No!.

You will never know for sure until you ask God about Katrina and its impact implications on the citizens of New Orleans.

Having said this, I would give any human being the benefit of the doubt until I was guided by other factors than the fact that Katrina was a bad storm.

I will give another example of human suffering. I have two very good close friends that my husband and I served with as leaders in a local church. Our children grew up with this couple's two children. Eventually, as our children grew older, the younger daughter of our friends got interested in Journalism.
While she was on a journistic assignment, our friend's daughter was involved in a fender bender on I-95. Three cars were on the shoulder on low speed side of expressway and three cars were in the medium on high speed side of expressway.

Our friend's daughter got out and checked on the two drivers/passengers on high speed side of highway and then she decided to cross the expressway after a truck had passed to check on the other drivers on the low speed side of highway. Right behind the truck, a passenger car decided to change lanes and hit this young 25 year old girl. Needless to say, Kelly was killed.

Her mother asked, "Why did God not protect our little girl?".

Some in the church thought this tragedy might be a judgement from God. Others like myself, see this incident as just that--a terrible accident. God does not get at us by deliberately judging innocent people as with this accident. I am certain of this in my faith. This is not God's character.

However, once the accident occurs, God is there to help people put the pieces back together as he promises that all things work together for good to those who love God.

Poverty is a life status and nothing more. God does not judge people on the basis of our outward appearance and give us less importance due to our economic circumstances!

Case in point, look at Joseph and his coat of many colors. Remember the story?.
He suffered severely at the hands of his brothers and later became a King. God allowed this tragedy and used it to shape the character of who Joseph was all along.

All that I am saying is be careful in your judging of circumstances and stand ready to be a neighbor.

Tim Bitts,

In looking at your policy guidelines a few comments.

The first, if a person does not obtain grade 12, the person loses driver's license. --My comment, they will drive anyway w/o license.

The second, a single mother if not cooperative with child support will lose custody of children. I believe this is a bad policy and here's why. How much do you think it will cost the tax payer to place child or children in foster care and/or state facility. A bunch!!! Not to mention, family break up and all that that means to a child!

In addition, the current welfare program has policy in place that if a mother is not cooperative with child support, the mother will not get benefits.

Instead of helping this young welfare parent (whether a male or female) we the public place unneccessary burdens on this very responsible parent who remained. We don't as a society give enough credit to the spouse who stays with the children!. Instead society stigmatize the remaining parent who chose to stay with the children. The remaining parent is generally the woman.

In addition, what if the woman has two or more children at time of separation from the father of the children? My reason for asking this is how much do you think it costs the tax payer to pay for child care --when we force the mother to work to earned the living in this family? My answer a bunch!

Woman typically earned less than men (and this statement can be verified by research at your local library). The child care expense, transportation on buses to get to work, uniforms, rent, electricity etc. are now to much for the woman to afford to support the family unit.

In the meantime, children suffer due to lack of adequate time a mother has to influence social values to her children. What happens?. The woman has to quit due to minimum wage not keeping up with her ability to run the family.

My question is why keep this policy above? Why are we penalizing the partner who stayed with the children, when in fact, had this partner not stayed, the tax payer would have an enormous debt to pay to facilities/or foster care.

Now, on your policy to jail the father for non-payment of child support, how effective is this policy?. Does the woman/male get child support while he is in jail?. The answer is no. However, with the threat of going to jail, this does seem to be an effective way to get dads or moms to pay up.

Tim, you also state "This group represents biggest drain on ecomony of any group and is least productive." Where is your support for this statement?

How unproductive is the parent who stays? They are shaping the values of thier children by doing so and also sparing the tax payer the expense of foster care and or other facility placements.

Did you know that cash given out to people on welfare is not what is costing the tax payer the most money?. It is the one program that is least expensive and the most governed by policy writing.

The most expensive program is medicaid! Medicaid is paid to medical personnel and hospitals who have strong lobbying efforts on congress. It is also the one program that is least monitored.

These are just points to think about when writing legislation.

Love to All,

Laura

-- January 5, 2007 3:47 AM ∞

---

Laura Parker wrote:

Valerio,

First, how do you know I am an investor in dinar?. Unless I told you so, you would not know.--an assumption.

Second, you asked, "How much I personally contributed to New Orleans?" and for my answer to you, it is none of your business. I am using a scriptural principle that what I do to help others-- my left hand will not let my right hand know my deals. Therefore, you have made another assumption for which you have no proof.

I could turn the tables and ask you the same questions. However, I won't because God still requires each of us to be ministers to one another.

Laura

-- January 5, 2007 4:04 AM ∞

---

panhandler wrote:

CYMRU001: Sure. . .I've been working in Iraq for over 2 years, and part of my responsibilities is to escort local food and materials vendors to sub-contractors, and one of the vendors who is from Kurdistan came in to get payment for materials, and he got paid over 250k USD, I asked him why he just didn't have it wired to his bank. . and he told me the dinar was worthless at that time and he would rather have the USD, but he did have 10 million dinars in his own bank account, and he was buying more, but not putting it in the back until the dinar revalued for fear that someone would steal it, then he asked me if I had bought any yet, and at that time didn't have an inkling about investing in the dinar, so he said that he would bring me some on his next delivery, so, I started buying about $100 worth everytime he came down, but he doesn't come anymore, so I get them from an interpeter. . .the last batch I got was 650k IQD for $445 I have between 6 and 10 million now, and as soon as I get back, I will buy more, if it's not too late and the dinars have already hit. . .could happen. . .P.H.

-- January 5, 2007 4:51 AM ∞

---

Valerio wrote:

Laura,
I've been reading this blog for awhile now, it's easy to assume you invested in dinars in some way through your many posts. Not trying to prove anything.

You misunderstand! That was not a question you were expected to answer at all. It was only made to create a thought. In fact my comments were not even directed toward you, but rather toward the many that hold the view that we ( USA ) are spending all our money in Iraq instead of helping our own people who are in need.

How much are we really spending in Iraq? How much of the money being credited to the Iraqi war would have actually been spent anyway? No doubt theres a huge cost to this war, but even during peace time all our armed branches are always pretending that their fighting a war to keep in shape.

-- January 5, 2007 4:54 AM ∞

---

DALE wrote:

Not really sure what you last post to me was suppossed to mean. was that an attack on me & the way i live my life? If you only knew, my friend. As i reflect on my life, i can say i am not proud of all of the things i have done. I can say how ever i have never once intentionally hurt anyone.
I have no children, yet i have played santa clause to many children, they had no idea who i was. I am not a mother, that has given birth, yet i have given the gift of life. I would consider my self poor by monitary standers. Always food on the table & roof over head. but a mason is not going to be rich.
Aside from money i may be the wealthiest person alive. I love what i do for a living. I hate that I have to do it for a living. I know who i am & what i am. who are you.
I sleep great evry night.

-- January 5, 2007 6:14 AM ∞

---

Carl wrote:

Dale:
It is a fool who measures wealth by money or what material things they have in life..

-- January 5, 2007 8:12 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

Dale,

I am not quite sure who you addressed your last post to. I scrolled back to see if I can understand, but I don't get the drift.

I commend you for not once ever intentionally hurting anyone. That is , in my opinion, a rare quality. You are somenone I would feel privileged to know and can probably learn alot from.

What exactly do you do for a living that you love, but hate having to do it?

As a Hospice Nurse, I love being there for the patient and families in their most desperate times in life. I love and appreciate the opporotunity to be able to lighten their load in any way that I can. But, I also hate the fact that people have to suffer, and in that sense, my job is not an "easy" thing to do and I would prefer that no one ever has to face that part of life. Especially when there are young families involved or children.

Hospice services have helped me the last few years go through several losses in my life, and getting involved in this service, has helped me tremendously in dealing with my grief. I am particularly blessed because, I can so relate. As I am in someones home or at their bedside in a hospital, I can truly get into their world, knowing that in my very own home, my own mother is dying alittle more everyday. As I minister to my patients, other nurses and doctors are ministering to me at home.

Suffering is unavoidable as a human being. I have never, and pray I will never have to pay the ultimate suffering and sacrifice as a mother. But I know that we can all draw an incredible amount of strength from eachother. I believe this is God's design.

You obviously have found that prescription in life and I am so glad you are here. If the Dinar never hits, the investment paid me back in ways that can not be measured, through meeting and mingling with people like you.

Carole

-- January 5, 2007 9:15 AM ∞

---

Carole wrote:

Laura,

Thank you, too for your response and thoughts.

I don't think we can or should get to dogmatic about the issues of "punishment" or to try to even attempt to know the mind of God. His ways are not our ways.

There are some undisputable events in scripture tied to God's judgement on people in times past ( Noah and the great flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah, and the great earthquake following Jesus' last breath, etc.)

On this subject, some intersting trivia, I read awhile back concerning earthquakes in California.
The article was quite extensive, but I only remember just a few points, because they were relative to me. They are vertainly disputable and refutable, but none-the -less the analogies were made by the writer.

His premise was that God used earthquakes throughout history as a statement. Either as a prelude to some great event about to take place, or as a judgement.

There are 2 instances of earthquakes that I related to.

Most of my youth and adult life has been spent in a small Quaker town called Whittier, California. Around 20 years ago this little bedroom city got their first big Hotel. The Whittier Hilton. The whole town felt so proud, and enjoyed many of the amentities offered there.

Until one day, it was announced that one of the conference rooms was going to be used weekly for meetings for witches and witchcraft activites. As you can imagine, the public protested, and tried many ways to stop the Hilton from involving the community in such an activity. Around that same time, adult book stores were established in Whittier, with more outcry from the citizens objiecting. However, their attempts to stop the activites failed. Within a few months after every door being shut to the protesters, a major earthquake struck that city. For the most part the downtown area was demolished and destroyed. When the earthqyake hit, I had just parked my car about 100 feet from the epicenter, just west of the Whittier Narrows Dam. I worked at a Skilled nursing facility that butted up to the river bed. I thought the end of the world was coming, or at least for sure this was the one that was going to dump california into the ocean. It was awful, and probably why I remember this authors mentioning this event.

I was also close by the Northridge earthquake on a consulting assignment when that earthquake hit. As i read this article it documented that just days after the city had passed laws to open the door to Northridge becoming the worlds capital market for pornographic movie making, this earthquake hit.

There were several references to events that took place in San Francisco that the author could tie to earthquakes, eetc. And if I ever find the article or book, I will share it with whomever might be interested.

I remember it was not a doomsdayer book or article but somewhat interesting reading.

Forgive me for not being able to state my sources, it is all part of the aging process that has me in a
" where the heck did I put it" syndrome.

Anyway, I have no real axe to grind or point to make, just sharing someones observations and I guess his conclusions, that are not particularly mine.

Well, I have spent alot of time this past few days on this blog and my Christams decorations are no nearer their resting place in my storage. So, I'll take a break for awhile and get some chores done.

Carole

-- January 5, 2007 9:55 AM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

All:

This article is posted on www.safedinar.com

U.S. military sees Iraq control, purchases in 2007
1/3/2007

Wed Jan 3, 12:00 PM ET

U.S. commanders in Iraq expect to have handed over full control of the country's security and armed forces to the Iraqi authorities by the end of this year, a U.S. general said on Wednesday.

Major General William Caldwell, a spokesman, also told a news conference that Iraq's military and police planned to buy hundreds of armoured vehicles, as well as helicopters, under a $150 million agreement signed last month with the United States.

Describing 2007 as the "Year of Transition," Caldwell said that by summer all 11 Iraqi army divisions to have been formed by that time would be directly under the command of the Iraqi government and by autumn all of Iraq's 18 provincial governors would be in charge of security in their regions.

"By the end of this year, the dynamics will be entirely different," he said.

The timetable he sketched out is longer than one Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki forecast after he took office eight months ago, when he said Iraqi control of the divisions and provinces could be complete by the spring or summer.

However, it is in line with remarks in recent months by General George Casey, the U.S. commander in Iraq, about when he believes Iraqi forces will be able to cope largely without U.S. help.

Caldwell said the United States would continue to provide logistical and intelligence support, as well as work to ensure the "loyalty" of some units of the Iraqi forces -- many in Saddam Hussein's once dominant Sunni Arab minority accuse some of being loyal not to the government but to sectarian Shi'ite militias.

"Iraq's security forces must not only continue to improve their capabilities but must also work to gain the confidence of all Iraqi people," Caldwell said.

He urged the Shi'ite-led government to make "hard compromises" for national reconciliation and to reach out to Sunnis after Saddam's televised hanging angered many Sunnis.

Caldwell said that Iraq planned to buy 300 armored personnel carriers, 600 heavily armored Humvee patrol vehicles and a number of UH-2 Huey helicopters as part of a $150 million foreign military sales agreement with Washington.

He declined comment on speculation that President George W. Bush may announce a temporary increase in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq as part of a new strategy to try to arrest a slide toward all-out sectarian civil war.

U.S. military sees Iraq control, purchases in 2007 - Source

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 5, 2007 10:00 AM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

All:

Another from www.safedinar.com

Kurdish struggle for Iraq's oil
1/3/2007

by Yo Takatsuki
Business reporter, BBC World Service, Irbil, Iraqi Kurdistan

One of the most common sights in Irbil is that of a mountain of jerry-cans stacked by a busy roadside.

As a car draws up, a young man will rush over to the window and be handed a bundle of Iraqi dinars by the driver. In return, a cherry-coloured liquid will be poured in to the car's petrol tank.

Welcome to a petrol station in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Despite sitting on huge reserves of oil, it is still difficult for people of this region to get access to petrol through formal means.

Instead, cars and trucks fill up at these illegal roadside operations.

19-year-old Mustafa, who works at one, says he has to smuggle fuel from Iran because the petrol from domestic refineries is too low grade.

"We buy the Iranian one, which has this red colour," he says.

"It's not legal, of course, and it's expensive. We don't make much profit. We wouldn't be doing this if the government distributed good petrol."

Slow progress

Iraqi Kurdistan suffered decades of repression by Saddam Hussein's regime during which more than 100,000 Kurds are believed to have perished.

After the 1991 Gulf War, it had autonomy but remained isolated. Now, though, it is finally beginning to prosper.

Since the fall of Saddam in 2003, investment has started to flow and the region has had greater access to central government revenue from Baghdad.

And while much of the country is engulfed in violence, life in the Kurdish-administered regions of northern Iraq goes on in relative peace.

However, the Kurds are yet to benefit from the oil reserves beneath their territory - an issue high on the agenda for the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).

The KRG has tasked foreign experts such as Jerry Kiser, from Kansas in the US, with getting the oil out.

"We've identified lots of opportunities but there's no pipelines or access to market," he says.

"In a country that has vast amounts of reserves proven but none producing, the single highest line-item burden on the government is the importing of fuels.

Mr Kiser argues that progress has been slow because international oil companies are still reluctant to come and work in northern Iraq.

"Lots of people come to meet the minister but nobody is really doing anything," Mr Kiser says.

Currently, only two small foreign operators are working in Kurdistan.

Kirkuk question

Only an hour away from Irbil is the city of Kirkuk, a major oil centre with a majority Kurdish population which is nonetheless outside Iraqi Kurdistan and is therefore under the control of the central government in Baghdad.

Kirkuk's citizens are expected to hold a referendum in 2007 to decide whether to stay with Baghdad or to join the Kurdish-controlled areas.

Should the referendum be in favour of the KRG, then the Kurds should have direct access to one of the biggest oil fields in the country.

The prime minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani, says that the Kirkuk issue is not just about securing more oil.

"Kirkuk is Kurdish," he says. "No-one can dispute that, but we understand that oil does not belong to just the Kurds. It belongs to everybody in Iraq."

Under Saddam Hussein's regime, he argues, the proceeds of Kurdish oil bought weapons which were used against Kurds.

"For the first time in history the people of Kurdistan, they feel they are part of Iraq. If we are part of Iraq, then they have to give us a fair share of Iraq's oil," Mr Barzani says.

In fact, though, Kirkuk's position could be more difficult to settle.

The city has a large mix of ethnicities, including Arabs, Turkomen, and Assyrians living alongside the Kurds.

It is also extremely violent, with US forces engaged in daily gunfights with local militias.

Its oil installations are attacked regularly and it is costing millions of dollars to repair an oil pipeline that has been blown up.

But Mr Barzani is confident that if it came under Kurdish control, Kirkuk could be secured in a matter of months.

"After the referendum the situation will be totally different. We need some time, maybe one year. We are sure about that, we can bring back security to the area."

Great Game

The Kurds may have their eyes firmly on the oil in neighbouring regions, but there is also an increasing foreign interest in the future of Kurdistan's oil.

Almost every night, a fresh foreign trade mission can be found entertaining local officials in the bar of the city's top hotel.

As well as Americans, there are groups from Europe and the Far East.

But it is Iran and Turkey that seem keenest to gain a foothold.

For Jerry Kiser, it is Iran in particular which has increased its influence in the region in recent months.

The Iranians, he says, are already benefiting from 300,000 barrels a day flowing across the border from southern Iraq thanks to smuggling systems set up by Saddam and still operating.

But on a more long-term basis, he says the country is actively looking for projects and companies to recruit and fund.

"They advise me that they have $1bn to invest in the Iraqi oil sector," he says.

"They have their eyes on lots of cross-border fields. It's a reality that's hard for Americans to swallow. Americans may have been playing chequers, but Iranians are playing chess."

Kurdish struggle for Iraq's oil - Source

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 5, 2007 10:05 AM ∞

---

Rob N. wrote:

All:

Another from www.safedinar.com

Iraq unity possible, says Cameron
1/4/2007

David Cameron visited Iraq in November
Conservative leader David Cameron says he believes a stable Iraq is possible as "the alternatives are frankly unpalatable".

He said the situation in Iraq, where the government says almost 2,000 civilians died in sectarian violence in December alone, was "truly dreadful".

Mr Cameron, who visited Iraq last year, said a political settlement between Sunni, Shia and Kurds was needed.

This would "show that this Iraqi government can and will work."

"There can be a coming together, but there has to be a real exercise of political will amongst those at the centre to say 'we're going to make this country work, we want a whole Iraq and not a broken one' and they're going to have to really focus on security " he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

In the end it must be an Iraqi government that gets its act together
David Cameron
Conservative leader

With the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki stating that he dislikes being the country's leader and would prefer to leave the job before his first term ends, Mr Cameron said there was "a huge amount of work" to make the government "stronger".

Mr Cameron, who met Mr Maliki during his November visit, said: "The key to the future of Iraq is for there to be a settlement at the centre between Sunni, Shia and Kurd that they are going to make this country work, that they are going to form a compact together to disarm the militia, to make sure their writ runs through the country.

"Of course we have a role in helping them to do that, but in the end it must be an Iraqi government that gets its act together."

The Conservatives supported going to war in Iraq - a view still held by Mr Cameron, but he now questioned decisions made since the 2003 invasion.

Troop increase

"I still believe it was right to get rid of Saddam Hussein, but I think decisions made subsequent to the war have been extremely poor."

With US President George W Bush expected to announce plans to increase US troops in Iraq, Mr Cameron said a similar plan by the British government would not be a good move, unless it was part of a "broader strategy" to bring stability.

The UK has about 7,000 troops in the south of Iraq, mostly around Basra.

He added his concerns about the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, saying the images of the moments before his hanging where he was taunted were "frankly pretty grisly".

"The way it was handled with people shouting and gesticulating was quite wrong.

"I am glad the Iraqi authorities are going to have an investigation and review into this."

Story from BBC NEWS:

Iraq unity possible, says Cameron - Source

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 5, 2007 10:06 AM ∞

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Okie wrote:

Carole & Roger.......

The "get rich quick" scheme that you two are discussing is not something new....it's been around for a long time, just different variations.

Do some reading on the "Ponzi scheme".

http://www.sec.gov/answers/ponzi.htm

-- January 5, 2007 10:07 AM ∞

---

Roger's Ego wrote:

Anyways, back to the Dinar. I bought into this thing about 2 years ago. It seems the same old crap is going on over there, save for the fact that they are making a cosmetic change to the Dinar right now (yeah, the current valuation can only be considered cosmetic cause it sure as hell doesn't help anyone....).

Roger brought up a good point about Iraq running a budget deficit. Although not a problem in and of itself right now, it's definitely portentous of trouble in the future. I don't advocate jumping ship obviously, but one might want to reconsider the "cash is king" mentality if things continue to crawl at a snails pace over there.

It midnight of cinderella so to speak. The carriage has already turned into pumpkin, but Iraq still has its ball gown on. Might be the last dance if things dont shape up soon.

-- January 5, 2007 12:10 PM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

Non-Dinar remarks: Skip if not interested, in Laura and Tim's convesation.

Laura, thanks for your comments.

I suggested if people don't finish their high school, or drop out, take away their driver's licence. Your comment was, if you take away someone's driver's licence, some will drive anyway. So? Then put them in jail for 30 days, aften which let them have a conversation with a judge. You wouldn't like to put that law in, because people might break it? So what are you saying, we shouldn't have a law because we are afraid people might break it?

You don't like my suggestion of taking away the children of mother's who don't co-operate, and tell authorities who the father is? You say it will cost a lot of money for the state to look after the kids? You're right. But letting the situation continue also costs money, and it goes on a long time, so it adds up. I'm sure you can do the math. Many people raise families, till the kids are over 18, all on public assistance. That adds up to a lot more money than a temporary foster home, doesn't it?

It would be far cheaper to take the kids away temporarily, till the mother co-operates. My guess is, the mother would be the easy part. Most women would co-operate, and say who the father was, if you threatened to take away their kids. And doing things your way, what you are advocating, which is allowing the father to avoid hundreds of thousands of dollars of costs, incurred in raising his own children, means you are aiding and abetting, immoral behaviour.

Someone has to pay for the children. You are saying fathers should not pay for their own children. By letting them off the hook, you are saying they should just scam the system, and get other people to pay for their offspring. In my opinion, that's a morally reprehensible view. You say, a mother does not get any money from a dad who is in jail. I say, 30 days in the clink, and most men will cooperate, and act responsibly, from then on. Family should be built on responsibility, and caring for one's offspring, not using other people's money to avoid responsibility. In my mind, the present option amounts to organized social thievery.

And it is kept together by the "compassion industry". That is, people in the government who organize and administer this twisted solution have a vested interest in keeping a social blight going, rather than solving the problem. Don't look to them for solutions. The continuance of this social problem means a continued paycheck for them, and a pension down the road, while they soothe their consciences over social problems, by applying misguided solutions. The misguided solutions you advocate actually perpetuate the problem, long term, and are lacking in compassion. True compassion is not simply caring. It's doing things that will help someone look after themselves, as soon as they can. Real compassion is helping people to take care of themselves, not perpetuating the problem. What you advocate is continuing parasitism, and social abuse, where one class in society lives off the labor and efforts of another class. In my view, rather than being compassionate, that's reprehensible.

I did say this group represents the biggest drain on the economy, of any group, and is the least productive. Who do you think is on public assistance? Who constitutes the bulk of the clients? People with Phds? People who used to work in Silicon Valley? Engineers? People with teaching degrees? Or a lot of people who are poorly and inadequately educated? It's the latter group, of course. I grew up with these people. I know who they are. Most are uneducated.

I have a lot of education, but I'm unusual, for someone from my background. Most don't. Most don't even have their grade 12. What kind of McJobs do the poorly educated wind up with? What kind of economic contribution do you think poorly educated people make? Economic contribution in America is directly proportional to educational level attained. That's obvious. Medical doctors, for instance, make an enormous contribution because they are well educated. The guy who puts gas in my truck, at the full-service station I go to, makes far less contribution.

And people who are on public assistance hurt society in two ways. First, most aren't stupid, they are just uneducated. They cannot fulfill their economic potential because they lack education to do so. There is a large opportunity cost, of unfulfilled economic potential, for people who do not contribute what they could because they do not have the education and training to do so. That's a huge social and economic loss, and America loses for it. And secondly, the cost of raising their families is paid for by other taxpayers. That is an enormous economic drain on the economy. As Carole has mentioned, the non-working part of California is starting to outnumber the working part, in places.

I'll give you an example, of lost opportunity cost, and a drain on the economy.

I know a man, Rod, who was on public assistance for many years. He has a grade 9 education, and occasionally does work in trades. He's a brilliant man. He's far smarter than most of the friends I hang around with now, most of whom are well educated, and from middle class and upper middle class backgrounds. Rod simply lacks a good education. His daughter is becoming an engineer as well as an architect, and is a talented writer and visual artist, and she gets her intelligence from her father, the welfare bum with a grade 9 education. Like I said, these people are not stupid. For one reason or another, they are simply uneducated. My proposal is to force and help them to get an education, and be more productive members of society.

Now, Rod was often a drain on the public purse. He often did not work. He preferred recreational fishing, and smoking pot, on the West Coast. Other people, tax payers, paid to raise his children. That's the first cost. Then there is the lost opportunity cost of who he could have been, what he could have accomplished, with a good education. Rod, as I said, is brilliant. He could have done many worthwile things, with a good education. He could have been a first rate engineer. Society loses because Rod works occasionally, on a job far below what his natural intelligence would indicate he should be doing. I'm sure there are millions of Rods out there, and a fair number of them are on public assistance.

Rod, when he was younger, was a twit. Very immature, and not very good judgement. Like many young men, he was irresponsible. By the time he grew up, it was too late, in his mind, to go back to school. Besides, he had a few kids, by then, and he got used to the pot, the fishing, the free time, and the steady, if small, "pay" checque each month.

I say, Rod should have been forced to go back to school, when he was younger. Then he could have pursued opportunities more in line with his abilities, and been much happier. Rod is unhappy, and has an inferiority complex that comes from being way too smart for what he is doing, and comes from having all your dreams frustrated. The dreams were frustrated because he lacked a proper education. He lacked a proper education because no one gave him a boot in the rear, when he was younger, and told him to get an education.

Laura, you ask, isn't the parent who stays and looks after the child being productive? You ask, aren't they shaping the child's values? Aren't they sparing society the cost of foster homes?

Well, yes, mothers are productive. Very productive. I believe being a mother puts a woman in an economically vulnerable position. To have a child, a woman gives up economic opportunity. She could have gone out, and earned a lot of money, instead. She chose to have children instead. Children are a joy, and an enormous burden. Women need to be supported in every way, financially and otherwise, when they have children. Part of the reason women earn less money than men, which you mentioned, is that she gives up an enormous chunk of her life, to have kids. That's why the father should support her choice, financially. It's only fair. The woman with children should be supported.

Just not by the state, if it can be helped. It is the father's job to support his own children. By buying into the notion that it is the state's responsibility to financially support single mothers, rather than getting dad to do so, you are saying men are peripheral to the social institution of family. That is degrading to men, and is an inverse of the natural order, it encourages bad behavior and irresponsibility on the part of men, and it teaches children that men don't have to act responsibly, and are not a natural part of family life. Is this really what you want to teach young boys? Good luck dealing with the social problems coming out of that approach in twenty years.

Now, Laura, you mentioned that mothers at home shape a child's values. That's true. Many mothers instill many good values in their children. But the process of single parenthood also instills negative and socially corrosive values I just mentioned.

Also Laura, you said single mothers, by staying at home, are saving the state money for foster homes. Since when, in the first place, is it the state's responsibility to raise everyone's children? I must have missed that memo. Your point assumes it is the state's responsibility to pay for a raise everyone's children, in the first place. I don't think so. It's a family's responsibility, including the dad, to look after their own children.

Laura, you are obviously a Christian. What does your church say about this? What does your religion say about family and responsibility, and the role of men?

My beliefs haven't changed. Get people to get a good education, and act responsibly. That's the key. It's just common sense.

Have a good day. I suspect we'll have to agree to disagree. It doesn't sound like I changed your mind. To each his own, I guess.

-- January 5, 2007 12:21 PM ∞

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mattuk wrote:

Media bias 'threat' to Iraq
By Ahmed Janabi
Al-Hashimi says Western media speak of Sunni
Arabs in the same breath as terrorists [EPA]
Information about Iraq propagated by Western media is often woefully inaccurate or downright wrong, according to leading Arab figures, and such distortions are damaging any chance of peace in the country.
Tariq al-Hashimi, Iraq's Sunni Arab vice-president, says that one idea - widely accepted in the West as true but which lacks evidence to support it - has upset the balance of power in Iraq to such an extent that violence was an inevitable outcome.
Western media often refer to Iraq as being "overwhelmingly Shia", or use other phrases to imply a large Shia majority. This, he says, is wrong - and it has resulted in over-representation of Shia parties in the Iraqi government at the expense of Sunni Arabs.
Al-Hashimi said: "The false allegations promoted by Western media have resulted in an [inappropriate] political process, and everyone is paying the price for its wrong foundations."
Where the figures came from to back up assertions of a large Shia majority are unclear: no Iraqi census in modern history has ever included sect.
Sources such as Encyclopaedia Britannica put the Shia population in Iraq at 52 per cent of the total in 2001. However, figures circulated by the US military, which invaded Iraq in 2003, put the figure at 60 per cent.
Feeling of deprivation
"Actually, sect was never an issue in Iraq. I am Shia and I have been a senior Baath official ... No Baath party official - no Iraqi official - ever asked me about my sect"
- Baath party spokesman
Al-Hashimi has also blamed the Western media for the feeling of deprivation among Iraq’s Shia, referring to phrases such as "the once-dominant Sunni", and "Sunni who enjoyed privileges under Baath Party rule" - widely used in news reports.
He said: "Western media and politicians are still promoting those same allegations, and we really do not know how to let them realise that everybody got his share in ruling Iraq across history.
"Western media and politicians are still defining this community [Sunni Arabs] as a troublesome group, whose motives are incomprehensible by the West.
"Western media always put question marks around this community and speak of it in the same breath as terrorism. They portray it as a community that is still incapable of comprehending the new Iraq; hence, it is not qualified to play a role in a democratic process. Such allegations are backed by lobbies whose aim is to undermine Iraqi nationalism."
Baath party
The spokesman for the Arab Baath Socialist Party, which ruled Iraq from 1968 to 2003, who asked to be identified as Abu Muhammad for security reasons, said: "Most Western media outlets have been helping the US occupation authorities to portray the Baath party as a Sunni party which suppressed the Shia and deprived them of their rights.
"Actually, sect was never an issue in Iraq. I am a Shia and I have been a senior Baath official ... No Baath party official - no Iraqi official - ever asked me about my sect.
"When the US army occupied Iraq they issued a list of 55 wanted top Iraqi officials, starting with President Saddam Hussein; half of those senior officials were Shia.
"The Committee of Debaathification issued a list of 100,000 senior Iraqi Baathists who would not be allowed to enjoy governmental posts, 66,000 of them were Shia - so how is the Baath party a Sunni party?
"It is a character assassination campaign instructed by Western lobbies and carried out by Western media."
Who is fighting?
Abu Muhammad voiced resentment at the the term "Sunni insurgency", saying that Iraqis from different backgrounds are fighting the foreign presence in Iraq.
"This term plays down Iraqi nationalism," he said. "I repeat, I am a Shia and I am resisting the US forces in Iraq, and we know for sure that resistance fighters from all background are fighting. Why do the Western agencies insist that only Sunni are fighting? Big question mark, I think."
"I think there was sectarianism under Saddam and the Western media reflected that, but the question is, should we hold the Sunni sect responsible for that? I think Iraqis must be careful in answering this question"
Karim Bader
Mustafa Bakri, chief editor of the Egyptian newspaper El-osboa, said the attitude of the Western media is unsatisfactory when it comes to any issue in the Arab world, not only Iraq.
He said: "In their coverage of the current Palestinian issues, they are backing Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, to such an extent that it is basically the US and Israeli view.
"Look at their coverage of last year’s attack on Mar Jerjes Churge [a Christian church in Cairo] in Egypt, their coverage was provoking, unprofessional and seemed designed to create a rift between Egypt’s Muslims and Christians."
Prominent Western media outlets that served the Middle East for decades have, for many people, ceased to be credible. Many people in Arab countries now feel that they take sides rather report news fairly.
Aws Sattar, an Iraqi journalist, said: "Until the second Gulf war in 1991, Iraqis and all Arabs used to listen to the BBC Arabic service and the Voice of America radio station to get information, they thought they were revered international news agencies.
"It has not been the case since the role they played in keeping Iraq under sanctions and the subsequent invasion of the country. I can feel that people have become wary of the news they get from Western agencies … They do listen, but they tend to verify the information by also listening to, watching or reading Arab media."
Apology
Bakri expressed surprise that no Western media outlet has ever apologised to its readers for promoting false Iraq war pretexts.
"Western media in general supported what the US and UK governments wanted in their massive build-up for the war," he said.
"They supported the existence of alleged weapons of mass destruction ... It took them the destruction of a country, murder of hundreds of thousands of its people, to realise they were wrong. Personally, I think they knew it was wrong from the beginning but they wanted it this way, because they are simply an arm for their governments not for truth and neutrality as they promote themselves."
Responsible
However, Karim Bader, an independent Iraqi politician, said that Western media had done a decent job on reporting what had occurred under Saddam's rule.
He said one had to look only at the senior army commanders and intelligence officers in Saddam's day, all of whom he said were Sunni. Or to look at the sizes of houses in Shia suburbs - small and overcrowded - or in Sunni areas, where houses were far larger but with fewer occupants.
Bader said: "I think there was sectarianism under Saddam and the Western media reflected that, but the question is, should we hold the Sunni sect responsible for that? I think Iraqis must be careful in answering this question."

-- January 5, 2007 1:01 PM ∞

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ANNON wrote:

This just in... I asked GOD about New Orleans and He is NOT I repeat is NOT claiming responsibility for the destruction, chaos and famine! Mother Nature has a look of guilt on her face... more at 11

-- January 5, 2007 3:03 PM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

Sara,

a couple of comments about the U.S. "taking over Canada", which you mentioned. First of all, on border security.

Have a look at a map, when you are around an atlas. The Canadian/American border is the longest undefended border, in the world. I can't see Americans ever really strictly enforcing this border. There are a lot of reasons for this. For one thing, a lot of Canadians, though not all, sound like Americans, from some of the northern states. (Canadians from Quebec and from the Maritime provinces don't sound like Americans at all) I'm from Alberta. I could live in Iowa or Colorodo and most people, unless I told them, wouldn't know I was Canadian. They would assume I'm from North Dakota, or Montana, if they listened to me talk.

There are differences between Canadians and American, but they are subtle. Some Canadians could pick these out, but most Americans couldn't. So first off, on the border, what would be the point of putting up and patrolling a border with Canada, a country that is friendly, America's number one trading partner, and is mostly full of people who would fit in fairly well, into the American population? Can't see that happening.

The other thing is, it's a very long border. Over 5,000 miles long, if memory serves. It would be enormously expensive to patrol a border that long. I"ve snuck into the U.S. briefly, a few times, and it was easy. So, if it did happen, if a Canadian snuck over the border, what would the police look for? Someone who could fit and blend in with the population very easily? Seems like a hard thing to enforce.

I'm in favour of joint Canadian-Mexican-American cooperation on security, at international airports and seaports, and there is a lot of that going on already. That's where real security starts. Joint North American perimeter security sounds like a good idea.

On the point of America taking over Canada politically, stay tuned. Within two years, a separtist government may take power in the French-speaking province of Quebec, and they have vowed to hold a vote to break up Canada. Last time a vote was held, they came within a few thousand votes, out of six million, to having enough votes to break up Canada. It could happen. Canada might, just might, break up in a couple of years.

If that happens, all bets are off as to what would happen to Canada, politically. Personally, I don't think Canada, without Quebec, could or would survive as an independent country, for a variety of reasons. I think, at that point, pieces of Canada could very well ask to join the States. That's a lot of ifs, in that half-prediction, but we'll see. The ball is in Quebec's court, for now.

Here's something the media hasn't picked up on: There has been a substantial change in the mood in Canada, these past ten years. It used to be, Canadians would be freaked out at the prospect of Quebec leaving. Now, a lot of people, especially young people, are at ease with the idea, as I am. So, if Quebec decided to leave, I don't think too many people up here would be lining up to stop them. A lot of Canadians are frankly tired of the whole ongoing decades long soap opera between English Canada and French Canada.

One comment, though. I think it's true. A push for a merger of Canadian provinces, into the United States, can come from an unexpected source: Free Trade. A lot of Americans are opposed to free trade, with Canada. Some Americans think Canadians get the best of that deal. Some Canadians think the Americans get the best deal. Personally, I don't know. But one thing. Free trade, brought in under President Reagan, and Prime Minister Mulroney, significantly sped up the amount of north-south traffic, in North America, compared to the past. In the past, most traffic flow in Canada, was east-west. Now, there's an awful lot more people and products moving north and south. This changes the pscychology of a country in subtle ways. For instance, since airfare has become cheaper, I am more likely to travel to the States, rather than eastward, in my own country. I think I'm typical. I've made nine trips to the States, but have only been to the Canadian maritimes provinces once. The reason is it is cheaper and easier to go to the States. In the city I live in, an awful lot of flights go to the United States. That wasn't the case, when I was young. Also, the local radio stations are starting to announce weather forecasts, in my Canadian city, about weather patterns in American cities like Denver, and Houston, since a lot of Canadians travel there regularly. All this came about, from free trade. All this, I think, gets Canadians used to and comfortable moving around in, sometimes working in, the United States. A good chunk of the well-to-do up here we call "Canadian snowbirds". For four or five months, during the coldest part of winter, a lot of people I know are in Nevada, or New Mexico, or Florida. So all this will have an effect down the road. If Canada does break up, a lot of Canadians, due to all this north-south traffic they participate in, would be fairly comfortable if some Canadian provinces became part of the United States.

Geography is a strong ifluence on what will happen. Canada is, to some degree, a bit of an aberation. It is a country built in defiance of what should be, natural north south trade and people movement patterns, in North America. To build a country along east-west patterns, in a cold country like Canada, took a bit of an effort. Natural geographic patterns may yet defeat the plans of mice and men.

So, it might, just might, happen. A greater North American Union might happen some day. Americans used to call this process Manifest Destiny. I call it natural geography at work. We'll see. Stay tuned.

Also: No, I didn't find anything on the story you quoted a week or two ago. I don't think the Canadian media picked up on it.

Have a good day! :)

-- January 5, 2007 3:57 PM ∞

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Sara Madgid wrote:

Thanks, Tim Bitts.

I do think it an increasingly logical possibility...
that Canada may ASK to become a part of the USA -
due to many reasons - such as you quoted above.

In that case - if they were added on as new "states" -
kind of 'joining the union' as it were,
then I suppose they would enjoy the full rights of US citizens
including the ability to run for President.
Hence my joking around about you becoming President.
You'd do a good job of it.. :)
IF you could handle the sniping media attacks, that is.

Sara.

-- January 5, 2007 5:08 PM ∞

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DALE wrote:

Carol,
Sorry that post was ment to have laura's name at the top. In response to post atht includedthe follwing.
Dale,

Your morality sounds much like Job's advisor in the book of Job, Old Testament. The advisor's conclusion, Job had done some evil and God was punishing him with his poverty, health issues.

One thing that I will do is help hospice when the dinar ship comes in. They allowed my younger brother to come home & spend his final night at one of my older brother's home. He wanted to go home & they made it possible.
Instead of his last seconds on earth spent in a cold hospital room, he dieD in the arms of three of his brothers& mom & dad at a plce much more like home.
The people from hospice were wonderful. There was no nurse or doctor they just threw together all the things we would need for him, hospital bed, oxygen & so on.
So hospice will always have a special place in my heart. So many times people don't realize what their donations will do. I know exactly what hospice will & does mean to people

well off to take mom out for her B day dinner

-- January 5, 2007 5:12 PM ∞

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CYMRU001 wrote:

OK, time for more questions.

Why is this blog called a blog? What does that mean?

Sara, how do you get text to appear in bold?

Thanks to those of you who answered the question on how they got into Dinar. It seems most of us came across it by chance. Good luck to us all.

I know the is a pig roast planned for when the Dinar hits, I also know it is planned fot the Florida Keys, but has anyone decided where? Just want to know which hotel in which to make a reservation!!!!!

-- January 5, 2007 5:24 PM ∞

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Sara Madgid wrote:

Mattuk, thanks for the post Media bias threat to Iraq, above.
I knew that, "Information about Iraq propagated by Western media is often woefully inaccurate or downright wrong," BUT I didn't know that "such distortions are damaging any chance of peace in the country."

1) I didn't realize that their portrayal of the Shia as the majority has no basis in fact
Quote:

Where the figures came from to back up assertions of a large Shia majority are unclear: no Iraqi census in modern history has ever included sect.

AND:

Sources such as Encyclopaedia Britannica put the Shia population in Iraq at 52 per cent of the total in 2001.

I did not realize their "feeling of deprivation among Iraq’s Shia" which happens when they hear the media "referring to phrases such as "the once-dominant Sunni", and "Sunni who enjoyed privileges under Baath Party rule" - widely used in news reports."
Thus:

2) I did not realize the MISINFORMATION the media puts out which intentionally portrays them as divided along sectarian lines when they have not been.

3) I did not realize that they did this to undermine Iraqi nationalism by creating divisions by saying one people group is backward and incapable of ruling.

Here, they show that the media wants to create STEREOTYPES again - LABELS which say all the Sunni are terrorists..

"Western media always put question marks around this community and speak of it in the same breath as terrorism. They portray it as a community that is still incapable of comprehending the new Iraq; hence, it is not qualified to play a role in a democratic process. Such allegations are backed by lobbies whose aim is to undermine Iraqi nationalism."

It was also a revelation to me to read that this was also a terrible misrepresentation of fact:

"Most Western media outlets have been helping the US occupation authorities to portray the Baath party as a Sunni party which suppressed the Shia and deprived them of their rights. "Actually, sect was never an issue in Iraq.... "The Committee of Debaathification issued a list of 100,000 senior Iraqi Baathists who would not be allowed to enjoy governmental posts, 66,000 of them were Shia - so how is the Baath party a Sunni party?

4) I did not realize that the Baath party was not a completely SUNNI party, but was bipartisan.

The article says "It is a character assassination campaign instructed by Western lobbies and carried out by Western media." I think it is a strategy to try to CREATE the divisions which are not present naturally, and to influence the US to believe these lies. Obviously, they do a good job of this misinformation which does sway the perception and then the reality of the policies implemented in Iraq.

I was pleased to see the Arabs see the Western media bias and don't trust it as an unbiased source of news, but that they continually are checking it. If only Americans would be so wise.

Sara.

-- January 5, 2007 5:43 PM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Howdy,

Well christmas packing almost done and a friend invited me to go play poker tonight.

It is really about time my luck start to change. Haven't played in months!

Omaha! here I come! :}

Dale:

Thanks for sharing your story.

An organization called Vitas Innovative Hospice, is a national program and does thousands of dollars a year of charity work. The only one I know that does that.

Carole

-- January 5, 2007 5:56 PM ∞

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Tim Bitt's Ego wrote:

Tim Bitts wrote:

I say, Rod should have been forced to go back to school, when he was younger. Then he could have pursued opportunities more in line with his abilities, and been much happier. Rod is unhappy, and has an inferiority complex that comes from being way too smart for what he is doing, and comes from having all your dreams frustrated. The dreams were frustrated because he lacked a proper education. He lacked a proper education because no one gave him a boot in the rear, when he was younger, and told him to get an education.

---- This is nothing short of comical. Forcing people to get educations? Thats freedom and liberty at it's finest now isn't it?

Incentives my man, incentives. Coercing people into an action they themselves would not otherwise take is slavery by any other name. "Thou shalt do this for the good of the state, so says Tim Bitts."

Providing incentives is one thing, coercion is something completely different. You sir cross that line and then some.....

Humans are inherently lazy and the fact that you pay to take care of a few others is an unforunate byproduct of being a member of our wonderful species. If you want self sufficiency, go live with monkeys. I'm sure they don't give a rats ass about how many bananas you might have collected on any given day.

-- January 5, 2007 7:14 PM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

Thanks, Tim Bitts Ego,

for your comments. You say people should not be forced to get an education. Actually, we already force some people, called children, to get an education. I may have used the word, "forced". If I did, that was wrong. I wouldn't force anyone, to get an education. Society should just tell them, however, if you don't get an education, you can't drive, vote, or get a job. I think that's fair. Illiterate, poorly educated people cost everyone, including me. They often can't look after themselves, and ask others to.

Tim's ego, you say my ideas are, you say, "slavery"? That was the word you used. I wonder why you used that word? It's obviously out of context. Slavery is a barbaric human institution, depriving human beings of rights and freedom, and subjecting them to harsh and brutal physical pain and beatings at the whim of the slave owner. And you think this is the same as going to grade 10 math class? If you think this is the same, perhaps your parents spared you the pain of learning to think, or getting a half decent education. If that's the case, my heart goes out to you.

When it comes to collecting bananas, I think everyone should collect their own, and your ideas are bananas.

You say I cross the line into coersion? Well then, so does the government of Ontario, a province of ten million, with an economy and population larger than, and equally as advanced as, and educated as, Sweden. Premier McGuinty, premier of that province, just brought in a law saying kids who drop out of high school, will lose their driver's licence. Seems fair to me. Unlike you, I want to have drivers on the road who can read road signs.

You say, go live with monkeys, because they don't care how many bananas anyone collects, in a given day. Actually, that's not accurate. Go read a book called Chimpanzee Politics. It's about a study of a chimp colony, and various social behaviours in chimps. It turns out, chimps care a lot about who steals someone else's bananas.

I agree with you, people should be free. If they chose to be illiterate baboons, I won't force them to get an education. I would just limit their life options. Then let them choose. The fact is, the world is getting more and more complex. American workers are falling far behind workers in other countries, as Lou Dobbs and others keep reminding Americans. People need a good education to compete, and enjoy life.

Thanks for the entertainment.

-- January 5, 2007 8:19 PM ∞

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curious wrote:

Hi, I'm new to the Iraqi Dinar investment scene. Can somebody explain what the outlook is, including both positive and negative factors?

What is the real chance that the dinar might make a good return? What is the probable time frame of good return and what kind of real potential are we talking about?

-- January 5, 2007 8:35 PM ∞

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DALE wrote:

curious,
scroll back though & you can find so much to read about.
Seems to me that most that have invested have positive outlook. thise that think we are fools have negatives things to say.
Go Dinar!!!!!!!!!!

-- January 5, 2007 9:04 PM ∞

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Rob N. wrote:

All:

Called Safe Dinar today and they are completely out of stock of all notes.

Also, ran accross a man who actually purchased Dinar from Chase Bank. According to him the Iraqi Dinar notes purchased from the bank are in new condition.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 5, 2007 9:22 PM ∞

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Johan wrote:

Just look at the trash they spout on http://www.investorsiraq.com/iraqi-dinar-speculation/29443-dinar-gospel-oldskiier.html

Anybody that believes this monopoly money is worth anything more than toilet paper is crazy.

What a bunch of muppets.

-- January 5, 2007 9:45 PM ∞

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Terry853 wrote:

Hey Tim Bitts I have to disagree with your opinion on Canada. I have never met a Canuk that wanted to join America. No offense to America, I believe that Canada is America's best friend and time and joint military ventures will prove this. But no Canadian I have ever talked too wants to be Ameircan!! Their best allie for sure!! Anybody must know that if America falls so does Canada. Quebec is a pain in the whatever and the boys from the East coast are the salt of the earth. Smart, hardworking and with the best sense of humor you have ever experianced. Canada will not divide. Quebec's are the smartest voters in the country and will not kill the golden goose..
Hey Sara Magdid-Hell will likely freeze over before any Canadian province thinks about joining America because Quebec has separated. I was born in Calgary, live on Vancouver Island and work in the oil patch in northern western Canada. I am 50 years old, work a job that covers a lot of ground and and I have never met another canuck that wants to join America. We want to be your best allies but Quebec keeps getting in the way. As Tim Bitts says that could change. My first post in a long time. Best wishes to all!!

-- January 5, 2007 9:51 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Johan,

I think most on this site are aware of, and check in occasionally on the blog "Investors Iraq Forum". They're sure enthusiastic above reason over there, and the rumors can take off from one persons "reading between the lines".

From that, to, thinking Iraqi Dinars are Monopoly money, is a long leap.

Iraq have up until now, gone through something that could be called a chock treatment in economics.

The program they've been on, could be compared with a family gone bankrupt, put on rice and beans, mend the socks, don't buy new ones, sell the car, and oil up the bicycle, and work two jobs, until the financial house is restored.

A financial very sound concept, but foreign to our own lifestyle, where we rather live a life in debt, then tighten the belt.

All these programs have now run it's course, (however something tells me, the majority of "news" you have got from that part of the world, is the body part count at car bombings), and there are three very basic laws just in the wrap up stage going on right now.

First a General investment law, second a Hydrocarbon law, to fit into the General investment Law, third they are setting up a revised pension system that will secure older peoples existence after productive age.

The currency have been ARTIFICIALLY held to a very low value, during the reconstruction phase, and have been a pain for the man on the street, as imported goods have been so scarce, because of extremely weak buying power abroad.

I read on another blog that Malaki(Iraqi PM) have made a statement that all three laws will, at the very beginning of the year mark the foundation of something new to come. I don't know the exact dates and time for these events, but when all this is implemented ....will it make a difference, it sure will my dear Johan.

Follow the money, as they say in investigative circles. Read these words slowly ....O I L.

Iraq is pumping far far from capacity, one of the oilfields in the south is what experts call, a "Mega field".

About your monopoly money.

Target by 2012 is a pumping capacity of 6 mill barrel a day, that is a revenue of (depending on oil prices) between 100 to 150 Billions in yearly revenue.

Ok, Johan, that's with a B and that's in Dollar.

THAT is the future of Iraq.

So please, don't jump in and give a two liner, saying how crappy something is, and leave it with that, without backing it up with something that at least remotely can be said to have substance to it.

-- January 5, 2007 10:40 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Johan,

Ta dig i aschelet, du behover en dush och ett stadigt job

-- January 5, 2007 10:42 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Curious,

Rob N said it best, but I just want to ad, that most of us, of course wants a quick RV (revalue) but it seems though that it is the consensus that this is in fact a long term investment, as with most probability the value of the Dinar will follow the industrial output of the country.(read ,how much oil they can pump and sell)

-- January 5, 2007 10:55 PM ∞

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Neil wrote:

Carole: Your analogy of the welfare,benefits,entitlements stystem is the best I have ever seen. Carole-you got in on a Ponzi scheme where those who get in first get some profits but as time goes on, those who get in lose their money. I will make a post soon on Charles Ponzi who was the Daddy of the pyramid scheme.

Tim Bitts: I thought you were a little to assertive to begin with but your comments lately have been so intelligent and informative that I believe that I could support you for president.

I still think of myself as a young man but Roger made me feel old and revered so I will give you an example:
As a five-year old child, my mother sent me to the local market to get a loaf of bread and a quart of milk. She gave me $.30 and three tokens to pay with. A token was 1/10th of penny as sales tax was 1%. The token was a hard cardboard piece about the size of a nickle with a metal center with a hole in it. The quart of milk was a glass container with a long skinny neck with a cardboard stopper in it. If you spent a dollar the tax was one penny, anything less was paid with tokens.

-- January 5, 2007 11:20 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Iran,

Iran is getting a tougher and tougher time keeping it's position as the fundamental country and nation that will unite all the righteous Muslims, and thus challenging, even small and trivial issues emanating from any other source other than their interpretation of Islam.

The counterweight of the region....Saudi Arabia, just announced that the Iranian currency was no longer good in Saudi Arabia, so the Iranian currency dealers, have to present another currency.

Most probably the close nit countries in the Gulf region that already are in financial alliance will follow suit.

Iran with its fingers in Iraq, is getting a lesser and lesser grip, in the past, the Iranian currency was pretty free flowing in Iraq, but with the rise of the Dinar, the Iranian currency is waning, and almost gone from the Iraqi market.

The regime Mullahs in Iraq, have another counter weight, the business Mullahs.

With the imposed UN sanction, just before Christmas, the regime have 60 days to give a formal answer. The first comments, was "ha", and the Iranians signaled that they can live with it, and didn't care, however, the business Mullahs have assets, and value abroad, and are eager to make sure their assets is not included in the freeze list.

Strangely enough, but logic from that perspective, the business Mullahs are pushing for conflict, thinking that it is better to have a fast resolution rather than a slow strangulation.

There will be another fascist meeting in Tehran now in the coming months, where the usual parties, are expected, Hezbollah, Hamas, Socialists presidents from South America, some Stalinistic groups from Europe, and of course our own beloved White Supremacist group from god ol US. (where do they find these people?)

As a side note, it's interesting to see that the Communist and Socialist movement, that in it's dogmas consider religion the "Opium of the Masses" have so easily embraced extreme Islam.

Anyhow, Iran have to come up with currency either Dollar or Euro, most probably they are because of ideological reason avoiding the "Big Satan's" money, and go for the Euro.

With Iran's declining oil production, (that is, it's not declining per see, but a swelling domestic market is swallowing more and more of the oil, leaving less and less to be exported), the Iranian economy have a forecast of slowing down more and more.

Iran is experiencing right now the same backwards walk as Iraq have had under Saddams regime, take a look at the value of the Iranian currency, you think the Iraqi Dinar is low valued, the Iranian paper notes are probably more valued as wallpaper.

Last time I checked, they were 5000 to the Dollar (if you can get them at all that is).

What all this will mean and how it will play out is very unpredictable, but two classes, that hate each other, the reigning Mullahs, and the Business Mullahs are both pushing for conflict, but for different reasons.

-- January 5, 2007 11:42 PM ∞

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Laura Parker wrote:

Tim Bitts,

Thank you for responding to my thoughts on the "welfare situation" of families.

I believe you have made a lot of assumptions about my own values that aren't necessarily what was intended by me.

First, I am very much aware of social under privileged people and their lack of education. I too believe that an education is necessary for opportunities to increase. You have no arguement from me about this. Research has also been done on the co-relation between education and a person's ability to earn wages.

Second, you seem to make an assumption that I believe a father should not support his family. For the record, I do not believe this. My church views and my values are ok on both of these points.

I too believe in strong family ties. What I am looking at with this discussion is the costs incurred by society verses the real value to the family.

First, you object to my objection that people would break the law and drive anyway (if a law was enacted that required a person to have a 12th grade education). How many teenagers would be in detention centers/jails due to this law? An added cost to society. And while these teenagers are in jail, how many of them have situations like child abuse happen inside of these institutions. The answer is too many. This is another consequence to this law. If the policy were written that the teenager did community service and stayed at home...it might be better. Eventually, teenagers grow up to be adults. I have even seen adults that drive without licenses!!!.

Second, you state "You don't like my suggestion of taking away children of mother's who don't cooperate and tell authorities who the father is." You state that allowing the situation to continue is costly in money. And then you ask, ...that adds up to more money than a temporary foster home, doesn't it?. You also state that my way allows fathers to avoid hundred of thousands of dollars of costs inclurred in society raising someone elses children. I hope I got all these statements correct?. Please allow me to address each of these questions.

First, a mother who does not cooperate with child support-- is denied benefits. Did you know that? She is unable to get help financially-cash payments. Therefore, taking away her children is not an option. Sometimes, a mother refuses to cooperate with child support due to her fear of spousal abuse. She can still get medicaid for the children for medical insurance, however, she is excluded for insurance.

Second, you assume that I value letting fathers off the hook. This is totally false. I would prefer that fathers support their own children.

What I am pointing out is our country's blame game on the mother who cooperates with child support (and is therefore the most responsible adult in the family structure) and society does not give this parent credit for staying. No one is saying, "That away" for the parent who stays. If anything, the dad (or person who leaves the family structure by irresponsibility of lack of financial support) is not brought into accountability. It is the mother (or parent who stays), who will hear this message from society over and over again.

I believe, this should not be so. As a christian, moral support is very important to the parent who stays(i.e., Just like, having Johnny in school being praised for his good report card. And this praise, does not cost anything to society). I and the parent who stays,recongnize that this family structure is not the best.

The next part of your statement is that by letting the situation continue, this too costs money-- that adds up to more money than a temporary foster home, doesn't it?

The key word is temporary. Permanently, the answer is no. The other consideration I would have, is that many of these foster homes and institutions are many times not safe for children. You also have the psychological impact on children. They wonder, why mommy and daddy don't want me?. Maybe, I could be better and they would not leave?. Also, a child will wonder, what have I done wrong that I must be punished and sent away?.

Temporary placement solutions also means that society pays the bills. And, as the parent cannot get financial rewards for lack of cooperation, what's the point.

The last and final point I will cover is my way allows fathers to avoid hundreds of thousand of dollars of costs (as I am saying society is responsible to raise the children) and therefore, your conclusion is I am aiding and abetting immoral behavior.

I think I have made myself clear about my views that the father does need to support their own children. However, when the father refuses to do so--- where would you expect a mother (normally the one who stays) to get financial help, if not to society?. As I have previously pointed out, the mother has tried to work and she is unable to keep up the bills and the children are lacking food, clothing etc (if she keeps her mimimum wage job). She is often forced to quit work in order to get help her children desperately need. I have seen this over and over.

I therefore, believe that society does have a moral responsibility to help the remaining spouse. Jesus asked us, who is your neighbor?.

Lastly, you state, I am aiding and abetting immoral behavior. My thoughts on this, get the father but stop beating up on the mother for a failed relationship and her new found circumstances.

Laura

-- January 5, 2007 11:55 PM ∞

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Rob N. wrote:

Johan:

History has thus far borne true that America is the modern Greece. Just as Alexander the Great spread Greek culture around the world in his day. America continues to far outshine any country any other nation.

In the words of Ronald Regan, America has yet to reach its zenith. To be honest Johan, America does run the whole world. Economic success in America means economic success around the world. Whether or not you like it, America probably saved ever arse in the country you reside at one time or another.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 5, 2007 11:58 PM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Neil,

I'm so sorry if I invalidated you , I can assure you that I wrote that, to show my humble respect for age.
Would be nice to hear about that Ponzi stuff. I know no more than this was I believe in the years of 1921 or thereabouts, and at the peak of his operation he collected 1 mill bucks per hour. Imagine that in those days currency value.

I can understand why someone would do so for money, but I can't understand why someone would do so just for the kick of it, I remember as a kid I got those, postcards, where I was suppose to send a billion more postcards to a long list of kids, and if I broke the chain, all kind of heavenly and earthly punishments would happen to me.

I asked mom if I could get money for post cards and stamps to do so, but got a "no".

I assumed that mom had a direct line with the powers that would dish out all the promised punishments, and had a way to absolute me from my sins, and I left it with that.

In a pyramid scheme, there will always be a lucky few at the top, and the rest is the losers.

If Carole was around the top, she will get lucky and come out of it, if not....sorry.

That is just a mathematical fact.

-- January 6, 2007 12:01 AM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Rob N,

You have a very interesting point, Alexander the Great was sure a feisty guy, and books can be written about his ego, ambition, motives and all that, but what happened when everything was said and done.

The Greek culture, at the time, the Hi Tech of the earth, spread its knowledge across the region. After Alexanders early death, Egypt was one of the provinces remaining from Alexanders empire, runned and managed per Greek cultural tradition.

For the first time in history, it was implemented that knowledge should be preserved, and thus the Library of Alexandria was built.

Mistakes was done, war broke, Romans burned it later, but just the fact that knowledge was to be preserved was a completely new concept, and value in knowledge had it's own merits beyond monetary value.

At the time, the power from a steam head, was discovered, and simple rotating machines, was built and demonstrated. Lenses, reflecting mirrors and optics was written about. The level of knowledge, passed on, would had the library not burned, probably have eliminated the middle ages.

The knowledge was just about where Galileo was, with optics, just before Watts with the steam engine.

Wonder if.......

-- January 6, 2007 12:20 AM ∞

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Laura Parker wrote:

Carole,

Thank you for your response to my writing and conversaton on God's judgements towards nations. I think we understand each other.

Laura

-- January 6, 2007 12:21 AM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

Terry853,

I don't know if Canada will eventually join the States, or not, and that's what I said. I agree with you, that for now, popular sentiment in Canada is strongly against the idea of joining the United States. But in the future, who knows? Remember the early 1980s? The Liberals brought in the National Energy Program? The economy of Alberta crashed because of it? My brother's house went from being worth $100,000 to $35,000, within a few months. Well, at the time, separtist leanings in Alberta, for Alberta to leave Canada, and become an independent country, hit around 25-30 percent, at it's peak, before settling down to 12%, and we actually elected one Western separtist in the provincial legislature. In the 1982 Alberta general provincial election, Gordon Kesler, of the Western Canada Concept Party, a separtist party, who favoured Western Canadian separation from the rest of Canada, was sitting as a provincial member of the legislature.

Terry, as you know, Quebec came within a few thousand votes of separating from Canada last time. That's about the same number as many small prairie towns. Very close. So you know it could happen. You say Quebec would never leave, but the vote was less than one percent, on the side of keeping Canada together, last time. That's very very close.

So let's do some math. Canada has, about 32 million people. Suppose Quebec does leave. Quebec has about 7.6 million people. What does Canada look like then? That leaves 24.4 million people left in Canada. Have a look at what Canada would look like then: Ontario, with about 12.5 million people, would be kind of super province, with about half the population of Canada, in one province. Also, have a look at what the other remaining provinces look like:

Newfoundland has 516,000 people
Prince Edward Island has 138,000 people
New Brunswick has 722,000 people
Nova Scotia has 938,000 people
Manitoba has 1.17 million people
Saskatchewan has 994,000 people
Alberta has 3,200,000 people
British Columbia has 4,200,000 people in it.

And Ontario? Again, it has 12.5 million, which is a greater number than all the remaining provinces of Canada, on the list, at 11.8 million people combined.

Now, if Quebec leaves, what will political power look like in Canada? Well, political and economic power is roughly proportional to population, in Canada. And in this new Canada, if Quebec leaves, one super province, Ontario, would have more votes, more economic power, and more political power, than the rest of the country, and the rest of the provinces, combined. Ontario already dominates Canada, and causes resentment. This would accelerate dramatically if Quebec left. Even more than today, Ontario could do whatever it wanted.

For my money, this would cause enormous political instability, in Canada, in the long run. It would be like this. Imagine if the United States were constructed along different lines. Suppose all states east of the Mississippi were combined into one superstate, with over half the population and political and economic power of the United States. Would a country constructed like that last, in that form, for a long time? I doubt it. Regional rivalries would tear at the fabric of the United States very quickly. Part of the original genius of the founders of the United States was, they knew some states would grow larger, and stronger than others, so they constructed the American Constitution so that each state, even the little ones, were equal in Senate power, to the bigger and more populous and richer states. That way, they staved off the possibility of regional rivalries tearing at the fabric of the nation.

So, one thing is obvious. If Quebec does leave Canada for good, then Canada, as we have known it, is over. Canada either radically reforms the distribution of power, or it simply would not work anymore. There would be too much domination at the centre, in Ontario.

Till now, Canada was kept together partly because it has had two demographic and political and economic giants at the centre, that is, Quebec, and Ontario. They played off each other, and competed for power, and balanced each other out. Part of the uniqueness of Canada has been that we have a large and populous and strong French-speaking part of our country, to distinguish us from the United States. If Quebec leaves, that's gone, and all we are left with is a single giant super-province, Ontario, dominating everything.

In my opinion, such a country would never last. So, you are correct. For now, there is no appetite from Canadians, to join the United States. But in a Canada where Ontario is completely dominating, equal statehood, and joining the United States, on an even level with New York, and California, for a lot of small and insignificant provinces, might start to look good.

All this speculation, of course, just that, pure speculation. And only if, the separtists take power in Quebec, in two years, and if they are good to their promise, and call a separation vote, and if they win, and leave the country. Only then, after all those qualifiers, could the possibility of the emergence of statehood as an option for Canadians emerge.

A lot of Americans might welcome such a change, and might welcome some Canadian provinces, into the American tent, especially when they learn that Canadian provinces have an awful lot of oil and raw resources, like the Tar Sands, in Alberta.

Does the world sometimes change, in unexpected directions?

I'm old enough to remember a time, only 30 years ago, when I was young, when the notion of two women, or two men, getting married to a same sex partner, in Canada, would have been laughed out of a bar room. Now, it's the law, in Canada, and an everyday occurance.

Times change. Will they change again? We'll see, I guess.

-- January 6, 2007 12:33 AM ∞

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Laura Parker wrote:

Dale,

Please read the beginning of my post where your name is mentioned. You will have my answer to your question.

No, I am not attacking you. Each of us has a tendency, if not careful, to pre-judge another by that person's circumstances. We simply need to guard against this perception as it is hurtful to others. Job was being judged by his advisor. Read the story in Old Testament for yourself.

I however, will take your statement of no ill-will at face value.

Laura

Laura

-- January 6, 2007 12:46 AM ∞

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Valerio wrote:

It's seems that 40% return on an investment is common for scams.
I know a man who was involved in a scam who promised a 40% return per year on a cash investment. They only took investors upon nomination by current investors, and they would have to be approved first. The investment would have to be cash, and a minimum of $1000. They claimed to be part of the Hunt foundation, and the money paid out came from government matching funds. From the 100% matching funds the investor received 40%, the agent received 10%, and the foundation kept the other 50%. This scam went on for several years with much success. Investors were incouraged to roll over the 40% to compound the profit, but if you wanted to make a withdraw that was fine. Many people made withdraws over the years totaling more than the initial investment. Investor were plentiful so there was always money to pay out with, and plenty left over for those running the scam to live like kings. Many were letting the 40% roll over year after year with the goal of the million dollar payoff after 16 years on a $5000 investment I believe. These people were the big loosers. As the Reagan era recession was in full swing, the new investors slowed dramatically, and the amount of people wanting withdraws increased to point they could no longer meet the demand. At this time the Hunt's got their money frozen by the govt., and that became their excuse for awhile, but it wasn't long until the whole thing came crashing down. A few were indicted and did prison terms, but many who morgaged the homes for as much as $100K lost it to the tune of at least 6 million dollars. I was very young then when I was approved to be allowed to be an investor. Supposedly you had to be a conservative type person who wouldn't go out and buy fancy cars and things that could be documented or noticed with your big promised return. Happy to say I didn't invest, because I knew something was wrong with the picture.
Red flags:
need a sponsor and approval
guaranteed high returns
hand written receipts on a piece of paper
secrecy

iteresting similarities with the ad investment thing

-- January 6, 2007 1:20 AM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Tim Bitts,

How would the Canadians embrace the constitution, assuming one day, part or the whole Canada would opt for joining in with the Stars and Stripes?

I don't think the first amendment is any problem, but I can see a problem when it comes to the 2nd.

Went over the Canadian border once, here in the US things like Pepper spray and Tazers is something you give to your girlfriends, but over there, they are full fledged weapons. They found one of those pepper sprays, and that gave them cause to search everything I had, it was almost to the point they searched in places on my body I didn't even know I had myself.

Gun ownership is a controversial subject even here, and miles have been written about all the rights and wrong about it, but nevertheless, even though in some places it is walked upon, it is a right.

In case Canada goes our way, they have to face this issue, do you think the Canadians in general can assume ownership as a right, rather than getting an ok from the Gov, to own one? Also be ok to own not only a long gun but a handgun?

I have noticed here in the US, that the more Big City you are getting, the more restricted the laws are, and places like Montana or Wyoming, it's almost unnatural to NOT have one.

I can assume from the sparse population and very large areas of land, gun ownership in Canada would not be a big issue.

But again, the politics in Canada may have schooled the Canadians in a different way.

Do you think this issue would be THE issue that a vote to join the US would hang on?

-- January 6, 2007 1:27 AM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

Roger,

Gun ownership would be an important issue, for sure. Canadians like to think they are more peaceful, and law abiding than "those gun-toting Americans". That's one of our national myths. Upon close examination, that myth turns out to be not true. American crime rates historically have been a bit higher than Canadian ones, primarily because crime within one minority community in the States, the black community, was quite high, for a long time, due to problems involving integrating blacks into the mainstream. If you factor that out, there's not much difference in crime rates between the two countries.

In Canada, a lot of the population is centred in Ontario, and most of our population is within an hour or two drive of the American border, in a few large cities. Generally speaking, the more rural the location, in Canada, the more relaxed the people are about guns. It's part of the rural life. I have several farmer relatives in Saskatchewan, and they all have guns, for hunting, and getting rid of gophers. I grew up with guns.

So the attitude split on gun ownership in Canada is probably similar to the States. City people are uneasy about it, because of the high concentration of people in cities, and country people are more at ease with it, because of the lower density of people, and the fact that it's just a significant part of the rural lifestyle.

However, in general, I think it's fair to say, most Canadians, even rural ones, aren't crazy about hand guns. Rifles, sure, in the rural enviroment, but hand guns, not so much. I think it's also fair to say that the overall tradition of gun use, which has always been there in your constitution, was never as strong a tradition, in Canada, as it has been in places, in the United States.

Keep in mind, the scenario I outlined would unravel slowly, probably over the course of twenty years, or more, if it happened. Right now, I'd say the odds of Canada, surviving in it's present form, over the long run, are about 50-50. In a recent poll, around 20% of Western Canadians said they would consider the option of Western Canada separating from the rest of the country.

-- January 6, 2007 1:54 AM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Valerio,

Yes, the thing that could keep that thing floating for a long time was the promise of 40% over a YEAR, and a nudge to roll it over to "next level" and don't do a withdrawal.

The "click the ad" promise 40% on 10 days, and that will give a very short life span on the pyramid.

This is a quick, set it up, grab the money, and run, thing.

The "Investment" of $9000 is suppose to buy ads, that will be viewed about 200 times a day, but according to Carole, she haven't even seen what ads she is buying.

So sitting and clicking on ad's half an hour a day, how many can you find in half an hour, find the site, let it load up, click and wait 10 seconds for each ad.

I'd say about 45in a half hour.

On a "cycle" that is 10 days, you should have been able to do about 450 clicks.

If that would generate $9000 in revenue, that means each click would cost the company that is putting the ad on the net, $20 Dollar per click.

You would bankrupt a company, if you charged $20/click on an ad. One hundred browsers only and they have to pay $2000.

True revenue price is pennies or fraction of pennies per click, and it's getting cheaper as time goes by.

The products involved in a pyramid set up, is the effort to show a product or legitimacy, but it has nothing to do in the core, with anything, because the main set up is the money "invested".

I remember long ago a friend of mine enthusiastically tried to get me in on one of these things, I refused, and he ended up with his garage full of water purifying filters.

Multi Level Marketing is not necessary a pyramid, as long as there is a product, service or exchangeable goods, and there are a lot of successful MLM's around, I really don't care for them that much though.

Some pyramid schemes are masquerading as an MLM, and have given the concept of MLM a bad rap.

Many Franchise opportunities are set up as an MLM. In the Fast Food Franchise system you can, with many, invest in more and more of your fast food restaurants.

As you go up the chain, you get more and more fanciful titles.

Local supervisor of Impeccable Character
District manager of Dutiful Production.
Area Executive of Less Then Smart Underlings,
Continental Financial Expert Consultant Overlord
The Royal Holder of the Golden Key to Success.

...or whatever. If you like titles, there where you want to be.

-- January 6, 2007 2:15 AM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Tim Bitts,

Interesting, that 20% is willing to break out, now does that mean that they are in favour of joining the US or just plainly break out?

The number is fairly high, even though it's so low that I don't think it will take off, unless a very dire political crisis will erupt in Canada.

If Quebec will break out, and they seem to be heading in that direction, I can imagine that the rest Canada will get a very real concept of, that it is fully possible to go your own way if that is desired.

I can imagine a concept of, "hey they did it, why not us" a copy cat effect so to say.

Here, the southerners are still a very distinct breed, and even though by war and capitulation they are part of the US, the "Stars and Bars" is very visible in those part of the country, and I can assume that the heritage, way of thinking and social conduct, will remain in Canada even though it would join the US Federation, and the Maple will fly there as well as the Stars and Bars down there.

States that are on the fringe Geographically, have a small independent movement here, hardly visible though, but it's alive in Texas, California and a few other places.

I do believe Texas is the only state that legally can break loose, if they wish to do so.

Places that are in the middle of everything would not benefit anything from breaking out, I have a hard time seeing Nebraska as a separate country.

The Civil War, amongst all the other issues it was fought over, one of them was the actual action of breaking loose. The war set a precedent that, you better not try to be too independent, Washington DC....IS the last word, or else....

The concept of breaking loose have not been tested in modern courts though.

All in all Americans seem to love being Americans, holds it high, with all the good and bad it involves, and a breakout from the federation would mean a lot of advantages being lost.

I think Tim, that Americans as well as Canadians are content with what they are, and only a very big political cultural or economical crisis, maybe a combination of all, could question the minds, if this is a good idea to continue being a country like this.

Well if another ice age comes, and Canada decides to freeze over, I guess your coming this way, but I can't really foresee any bigger cultural upheaval in Canada or the US that would be so drastic that the question of re arranging borders or alliances would benefit.

At least not in Canada, but perhaps.....watch the millions and millions of Illegal Immigrants in this country, that have their allegiance to another country.

You can wonder, when the Mexican day of Independence, 5 of May, is a "day off" celebration in southern California.

-- January 6, 2007 2:52 AM ∞

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Roger wrote:

About the Dinars,

Sorry to interrupt but I wanted to say something about the Dinar here.

An earlier poster claimed the Dinar was on a "program rate" right now, caused me some thinking as he didn't divulge where he got it from.

It's from a quote on one of the Iraqi Dinars sites, where it states that the "Dinar is on a program rate, as specified by IMF."

Ok, that means that IMF have control over the Iraqi currency exchange as well, and not only are suggesting, but are specifying what the currency exchange should be.

Damn IMF, a country in debt, but in order for IMF to fix it, they come in and say we own your Central Bank until we are done.

You owe on your house, your car and on your boat, and the lender comes in, sit down at your kitchen table and make your budget, start talking with every family member, including their kids, how they have to financially behave, and then come checking in every half hour, for a report.

The money Iraq owes is not even IMF's money, they are the brokers, no more. Most of the debt is from neighbouring countries.

IMF a long arm of the World Bank, sounds like a do good for all, United Nation, we're all so happy you exist, is a fricking COMMERCIAL BANK.

It's original formation was just after WW2 and it was founded in order to help war torn countries after the war. Iraq was actually one of the founding members, but the World bank, operating on no countries jurisdiction, a country less, free floating entity, that answers to no one, have grown in itself to be one of the authorities of the world in financial matters.

Now it's a ....we say, you do, institution. By blurring in statements like "international standards" and such, they have appointed themselves to oversee, direct and approve of how currency is handled, then if you behave, you can be a member.

Hope all the fullfillments are done soon in Iraq, so the Iraqis can put their currency on the Forex as soon as possible.

IMF needs to get their fingers out of the Iraqi economy, because IMF will ONLY direct the Iraqis to do what is good for the IMF.

It's not the Iraqi Central Bank that is raising slightly the value of the Dinar to combat inflation, it's done only by approval from IMF. Can we do that please???.....oh well ok, but just a little bit.

The Dinar can only be fully realized once it is out of the IMF's tight control, and is played freely on the market.

I would check for when the IMF programs are done.

So far, it's looking good, the debt burden was to be cancelled by Christmas time, and that has to be around this time.
That was the biggest hurdle Iraq have had with IMF.

Together with all the new investment laws, that also are to be done around this time, I'd say, the time is just right for the Dinar to hit it.

The long holiday, that have been over there, Saddams hanging and a new start of the year, together with numerous statements from Iraqi officials predicting a higher Dinar, maybe we're at the end of this long waiting.

Perhaps there will be a surprise at the start of the banking season after the holidays. Well I can always wish...can't I...the statement from CBI was for this long holiday to establish the Dinar as stable, and conclude current deals, and affairs going on right now.

Why would they mention, to hurry up to conclude your deals, and affairs ???

hmmm...

-- January 6, 2007 4:04 AM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Well, my luck did change.
I had a great night and alot of fun with some old friends.

Anyway, a few comments before I go to bed.

I so very much appreciate the comments and advice concerning my investment.

I don't know if the fact that this is not a pyramid makes any difference. It is not even a binary program. There is no recruiting required.

Everyone has raised a lot of questions, and I don't know if I will ever get all of the answers. Right now, my biggest ansswer I want is a physical address of the business.

By the way, my daughter did get paid today, so she is a happy camper. Over all I have deemed my 9k a doomed figure. Remeber, at the time I was going to buy more dinar and decided to try somethign with a little more life in it. SO whether I did the ad thing or the dinar, my 9k is pretty much history!

Tim:

Many years ago, Ronald Reagan, while govenor of Ca. Suggested that we give Mexico back everything south of the Santa Barbara border and persue Canada as a territory of the US. He had alot of support from the rich northern californians, because hate paying taxes for the southern ca. welfare drones. IN his proposal, he wanted to keep Catalina. He was dead serious about all of this, but it never got off the ground.

Also, if Canada shoudl ever decide that they want to bless out nation with their joining our ranks, I sure hope the American people will have something to say about it. I would not be interested in adding another fascimile of a big Massacheuttes to our already socially confused society.

Sorry, I love you to death, and I would vote for you for president of the world in a heart beat. I mean not to offend you, but I think you are a mutation of the Canadian species.

YOur morals and values appear to supercede most Americans, I am sorry to say. But I think you are a rare treasure amongst your countrymen. I don't see how adding millions of more liberal elitests to our nation can be a positive thing. The only advantage is the Canadian oil, that we should be negotiating a partnership with anyway.

Well, again no offense meant.

One last comment and that is Kuddos to Roger, he finally experienced and demonstrated being sorry for something he said. There is a God!

:}

Carole

-- January 6, 2007 4:16 AM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Panhandler,

Ok, regarding the Christian calender, I've seen on official pages, that they are using our year, the time of Jesus birth, but I have heard that they are in fact on another time schedule , like it being the year 1400 something, when Mohammad was born or died or something.

Do you see that figure being used anywhere over there?

-- January 6, 2007 4:20 AM ∞

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Roger wrote:

Carole,

No if there is a reason to apologize I will. For the money lost, well I'm sorry, for being so darn right about this, no I'm not one bit sorry, the money could have done you better things, but then again, as I say Carole, it's your money and a calculator is only 10 bucks.

Carl gave a lot of tips and ideas how to try to track down the people setting this up.

Pyramids ARE illegal, and the persons setting it up have probably gone to some great length to cover their tracks as much as possible.

No tracks are invisible, and there are ways to get to the originators of the pyramid, it's just a matter of how much your own time and effort you want to spend.

Most participants being burned, will probably not go after the pyramid originators, mainly because their own participation, and their own guilt in it. That is also part of the deal in these scams, the participants, just give up.

They accept that they have been had, and leave it as that. With the 20/20 hind sight it was always so clear, and bite the bullet.

If your intentions were pure, and you had no intention in the beginning of getting in on anything that will break the law, you can with that intention claim you have been scammed, and go after the originators.

If you sent $9000 and don't even have an address, hm...well all I can say is good luck.

-- January 6, 2007 4:47 AM ∞

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Anonymous wrote:

From what I hear....this has a good chance of being true! It's been talked about for awhile now.
====================================================================================================
U.S. may dump PM
By Mursi Abu Tareq

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

05 January 2007 (Azzaman)

The U.S. is frustrated with the government of Nouri al-Maliki and is seeking ways to dump him, well-placed sources say.

The prime minister has failed drastically in efforts to reconcile the country’s warring factions and is even thought to be unable to solve difference among his own ruling Shiite-dominated coalition.

Maliki, the sources say, has caused the U.S. deep embarrassment through his government’s inefficiency in running the country and the way former leader Saddam Hussein was put to death.

Maliki himself does not seem to be interested to continue and is reported to have openly expressed a willingness to his advisers to step aside even before the end of his term.

http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php?refid=DH-S-05-01-2007&article=13166

-- January 6, 2007 9:23 AM ∞

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Okie wrote:

Last post was mine.....

-- January 6, 2007 9:25 AM ∞

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Carole wrote:

Roger,

You are truly goofy! It would have been nice for you to have a little remorse for calling me ( repeatedly) a thief and demeaning my character. You know, my friend, alledging that some one is involved in thievry versus calling and condeming them a thief, without due process, is denying an individual of the presumption of innocence until proven guity. This is a crime against a persons civil rights protected by the Constitution. Not to mention your documented repeated harrassments intended to cause me harm from slanderous remarks and capricious activity towards me that resulted in emotional and physical duress. Lost sleep, trips to the doctor, medication to help compensate and allieviate the effects of the personal injury you caused me. Your actions caused harm to my relationship with my spouse and other members of my immediate family ( namely Bentley and Bernice), Because of the harm you caused me, I was unable to provide the adequate care to those whom I was responsible for, due to the distraction from the pain and suffering you caused me. Futhermore you referred to my age and gender, violating my protections from discrimination as a protected class of females over the age of 40. My attorney fees would be required by you to be covered, under these statues. My Cause of Action could include you, Roger Dinaraholic, and JOhn Does 1-15. And as the potential plantiff,could justifiably ask for full compensation to each of the categories in my Cause of action, which could include, but not limited to :
1. all of your dinars
2. relinguishing of all rights of ever touching a key board again in any and all public forums, immediately following your last post apologizing to me for your contemptous actions on this blog site.
3. A muzzle for your mouth when within 50 feet of me
( for sure at the pig roast,)
4. Lastly, a revocation of your dirver's license, just in case you were to decide to drive off a cliff to end all your torment you caused yourself with your inflammatory ( criminal)
remarks and actions towards little ole' me.

(are you sorry yet?)

\:)

-- January 6, 2007 11:16 AM ∞

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Chris wrote:

Carole,

I'm worried about your blood pressure

-- January 6, 2007 11:52 AM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

Carole,

Most Canadians are fairly middle of the road. It's true that liberal elitists dominate political power, at present, in Canada, but that could change, in the long run. Remember, after Barry Goldwater wanted to be president, in, I think it was the early 1960s, and he didn't make it, and then subsequent to that, the Republicans started a long term strategy, to retake power from the Democrats? That took a long time. At one point, before that, the Republicans were a much smaller party. Do you remember the American political party, the Whigs? Most people don't. They are long gone, in the dust bin of history. They produced two American presidents, Harrison, and Taylor. The head of the Illinois Whig Party, you might have heard of: Abraham Lincoln. My point is, things change. There are a number of movements afoot in Canada, to change the political dynamics of this country. That obviously has to be done at the top. Canadians at present have a very conservative prime minister, Stephen Harper. He's a bit of an aberation, though. It would take a concerted effort, over a few decades to change the political culture of Canada. As I said, efforts are underway, and I hope they are successful.

You are right, Carole, that Canada, as it is presently led, is more left-wing, due to it's leadership, than would be comfortable, to a lot of Americans. But I wouldn't count on that staying the same forever. Right now, you're right, some of Canada looks like a socially confused Massachusetts, but, again, that may change in time.

Roger,

if Quebec leaves, then you have a new and changing political dynamic, where you really do not know where you will end up. Perhaps chunks of Canada would form small, independent countries, like Ontario calling itself Canada, and Western Canada as another country, and of course Quebec as a country. And the four maritime provinces? Perhaps they would be attached to Ontario, but that would raise all kinds of political problems. Canadian provinces have a history as being treated as equal partners, and if Western Canada and Quebec were gone, then the remaining parts of Canada would be a very odd match. The four remaining maritime provinces would only have about a fifth of the population, combined, as Ontario. Now, there are used to being treated as equal partners to every other province, each one of them, in Confederation, as part of Canadian history. So if new rules for Canada were written up at that point, would tiny Prince Edward Island, with a population of only 138,000, be equal to a province like Ontario, with over 12 million? I can't see it. I think if the maritime provinces, at that point, wanted to stay with Ontario, they would end up being basically, a bunch of almost powerless wards of Ontario. Not a good situation for them.

They may end up going on their own. The province of Newfoundland was not even a part of Canada until 1949, so there is recent historical precident for some of that area not belonging to Canada, anyway.

Another wild card, in this scenario, is terrorism. A Canadian, of Muslim origin, was already caught a couple of years ago, trying to sneak over the American border between Washington state and British Columbia. He had a large amount of conventional explosives in his trunk, and was on his way to Los Angeles, to blow up the airport. Recently, the Canadian government uncovered a plot, by Muslim extremists, to blow up our parliament, and behead our prime minister. Then there was the report Sara quoted, about Muslim radicals trying to get ahold of enriched uranium, by stealing it from a research facility, at a Canadian university. Enriched uranium, of course, can be used to make atomic bombs.

Suppose, God forbid, these radicals are successful some day, in their diabolical schemes, and something drastic happens to an American city, and it is sourced back to a Canadian city. What would happen then? Who knows? It depends on what happened, and what the response of the Canadian government was.

What I do know is, at that point, you are entering an entirely new realm of possibilities. I know the American government would never allow the continuance of a threat along it's northern border. We have, as I have said, the world's longest undefended border, around 5,000 miles of basically Swiss cheese, full of holes. It's very easy to sneak across, with anything.

Now, obviously, if there was any kind of attack on America, that originated in Canada, the border would be immediately shut down, as it was during 9-11, for a short time. Now, the thing is, the Canadian economy depends very heavily on the American economy, because of free trade. About a billion dollars in trade flows over the border each day. The American economy is ten times as big as the Canadian economy. This means any border closure affects Canada much much more than it does the states. If the border were shut down for a long time, we would lose our leg, the Americans would lose a couple of fingers. Any long term border closure, due to a terrorist attack, would devastate Canada economically. This, as well, could change the dynamics of the situation, in the future. If security vulnerability and economic vulnerability became a big issue in Canada, some Canadians might welcome joining the states, for security and economic reasons.

So, all kind of scenarios are possible, in the future: Canada could stay intact, it could be radically re-organized, Quebec could leave, Western Canada might end up separating, various political configurations of what we now call Canada might emerge, terrorism could come to the fore as a wild card, and you could end up with a Canada that is economically vulnerable, and would want to join the states.

Who knows? I don't. I don't know what the future holds. What I do know, is 9-11 taught me to expect the unexpected.

Laura Parker:

I'm still mulling over, what you said. I'll get back to you. Thanks for your thoughtful comments.

-- January 6, 2007 12:07 PM ∞

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Terry853 wrote:

Hey Tim Bitts That was an excellent post about Canada. I have to agree with you, anything is possible. Your statement about gay marriage being laughed at a few years ago was dead on. With the mass exodus of easterners to the west in recent years the population of Alberta and BC combined is now greater than Quebec's but nowhere near ontario's. So your point about being ruled by Ontario with the loss of Quebec has tipped me over into believing your view. At least we are on the rich side of the country. Alberta,s oil, gas and farmland. BC's oil, gas, timber and seaports. The west's tarsands which hold trillions of barrels of oil. I believe that western Canada's huge diverse resources and political stability will make us in the west the richest people on the planet in the next 20 years. You hinted yesterday about the possibility of a North American Union. Have you read about the proposed superhighway from Mexico through the states and into Canada. The free trade highway!! A single currency!! We live in interesting times. I enjoy this forum a lot for the diverse views of its users. Now back to the dinar. This coming week should be very interesting. The CBI shut down(supposedly) for ten days. Rumors of a surge of American troops, 20 to 40 thousand strong going to Bagdad. Maliki's possible resignation or removal. President Bush announcing a new strategy on the 9th. An Iraqi dinar not yet worth the paper it's written on. A country litterly floating on light sweet shallow crude that will cost about a buck a barrel to produce as compared to 15 dollars a barrel for tarsands oil. Everything I have read says that the Iraq's are a proud hardworking people IF they have job to go to. So let's(the western world) see that they have a good paying job to go to and this insurgency will be over. Thanks all and Happy New Year!!

-- January 6, 2007 12:53 PM ∞

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Tim Bitts wrote:

Terry 853,

thanks for the response. That free trade super-highway you mentioned, that might be developed, linking the States, Mexico, and Canada, could be a very big deal, that will affect a lot of things. I had forgotten about that.

-- January 6, 2007 1:25 PM ∞

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Rob N. wrote:

All:

The following posts are found on www.safedinar.com

If Iraq fragments, what's Plan B?
1/5/2007

By Peter Grier, Staff writer of The Christian Science MonitorFri Jan 5, 3:00 AM ET

As President Bush readies a new strategy for Iraq, some experts in Washington are looking beyond the question of US troop levels to what might happen if worst-case scenarios come true. Call it Plan B: How the United States might handle Iraq's partition.

It may still be possible to hold Iraq together, many of these critics believe. A surge in American military strength might help. But the hour is late - and a lack of contingency planning on the part of US officials may be one reason the situation has become so dire.

"If I was working for George Bush, I would want somebody to be thinking hard about this, sort of preparing the groundwork," says Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow in foreign-policy studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

The US might need actively to aid Iraqis in relocating to parts of the country where they feel safer, says Mr. O'Hanlon. This sort of resettlement assistance wouldn't be unprecedented, he notes. The US did it in Bosnia.

Such a policy would perhaps preempt the violent Balkans-style ethnic cleansing that is already occurring in Iraq, O'Hanlon says. Sectarian strife is displacing 100,000 Iraqis a month.

"One-third to one-quarter of the ethnic cleansing that might occur [in Iraq] has occurred," says O'Hanlon.

Of course, to many US officials such a policy would be anathema. Mr. Bush has long insisted that a unified, democratic Iraq is one of his goals - not an Iraq separated into sectarian regions.

It has been widely reported that the new "way forward" Bush is expected to announce next week will include a substantial surge in US forces, designed to bring stability to violence-torn parts of the country.

Such an increase might allow reconstruction aid to begin to have a real effect in Baghdad and elsewhere, improving the daily life of Iraqis and strengthening the shaky central government, according to an influential report on the subject co-authored by Frederick Kagan, a military historian at American Enterprise Institute in Washington.

"Victory in Iraq is still possible at an acceptable level of effort," says a summary of the AEI study.

But events in Iraq now may be running at a speed that outpaces the US ability to respond. Bush has mulled over his options for weeks, while sectarian violence rises and the political partition of the country continues apace, says Vali Nasr, an adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The attempt to form a unity government has completely failed, says Mr. Nasr. Absent viable political plans, power is determined by the violence of militia in the street.

"The carnival of Saddam's execution is handwriting on the wall about how deeply divided this society is," he says.

Will the country's political divide be followed by a physical one? Possibly. Sen. Joseph Biden (news, bio, voting record) (D) of Delaware, incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has long advocated establishing Iraq as a loose federation, consisting of Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish regions, and a Baghdad that belongs to all.

Other experts, including Leslie Gelb, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, have been increasingly vocal in calling for the US to help Iraqis resettle in areas of safety.

"We've got to provide them the means, the protection, and the funds to set up a new life," said Mr. Gelb in a recent National Public Radio interview. "We owe them that."

Resettled refugees might, in the end, blame America for their plight. The US could be accused of abetting ethnic cleansing. All plausible, says O'Hanlon of Brookings - but the problem is, the ethnic cleansing is happening anyway. The question, therefore, is really a humanitarian one: How to save lives?

In a recent piece titled "A Bosnia Option for Iraq," published in the journal American Interest and co-authored with Edward Joseph, a visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins University, O'Hanlon proposes a "soft partition" of Iraq.

The war in Bosnia ended only after 200,000 civilians died and half the country's population had fled their homes, says the article. Ethnic relocation may be distasteful, but with Sunni insurgents and Shiite death squads now attacking even hospitals and schools, what is the alternative?

"If US and Iraqi forces cannot protect civilians, there is little moral dilemma about facilitating their movement to safer areas," says the article.

The Iraqi government would have to offer housing and jobs for those resettled, as well as protection while moving, according to the article. Government property commissions could help Sunnis and Shiites swap homes.

The key to making the relocation work might be a division of oil money. It should be split a number of ways, the article says, with individuals, provinces, and the overall government receiving allocations.

"The Bosnia option has a much higher chance of success than anything resembling current strategy ... although I can still see the case for one last big push [with more US troops]," says O'Hanlon.

Other experts say that a surge in troops will serve a purpose only if tied to a comprehensive approach of bringing stability and security to Iraq.

The problem now is not just troop levels or stability in Baghdad, says Anthony Cordesman, a military expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in a new study.

"The 'threat' from the insurgency and militias is only part of the problem," writes Mr. Cordesman. "Iraq's central government is weak and the nation is steadily dividing into sectarian and ethnically controlled areas."

Thus any new military effort should be accompanied by a further push to create incentives for peaceful coexistence, according to Cordesman - or peaceful separation where there is not a credible alternative. The US should "provide aid to relocation when this is the only option," writes the CSIS scholar.

If Iraq fragments, what's Plan B? - Source

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 6, 2007 1:27 PM ∞

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Rob N. wrote:

All:

Another from www.safedinar.com

Iraq awaits US changes to curb sectarian terror
1/5/2007

Iraq was awaiting top-level US military and diplomatic changes to tackle the raging sectarian bloodshed that killed at least 28 people a day earlier.

US President George W Bush's plans to announce a major overhaul in Iraq strategy next week comes as the violence-wracked country battles a fresh crisis triggered by the grisly execution video of Saddam Hussein.

On Thursday, Bush moved to make top-level intelligence, diplomatic, and military changes in Iraq ahead of a strategy shift that is expected to include sending more troops to the country in the near term.

As part of his personnel overhaul Bush is soon expected to replace his ambassador in Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, and bring in Lieutenant General David Petraeus to replace General George Casey as ground commander, media reports suggested.

It was also reported by ABC Television that Bush would nominate the head of US forces in the Pacific, Admiral William Fallon, to replace General John Abizaid at Central Command, which oversees the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Khalilzad, the most familiar face of the Bush administration in Iraq, has often been accused by the country's Shiite leaders of supporting the Sunni Arabs.

Replacing him is Ryan Crocker, 57, the US ambassador in Pakistan since November 2004. Crocker is one of the State Department's most experienced Middle East experts and a fluent Arabic speaker.

Bush's top advisers remain split over sending more US troops to Iraq and over the reliability of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government, the Washington Post reported, citing officials familiar with the debate.

Media reports suggest that Bush is likely to announce sending up to 20,000 new troops to Iraq, a number recommended by visiting US congressmen last month in Baghdad.

But the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- the top generals and admirals who advise the president on military policy -- believe the possible dangers of sending more US troops to Iraq outweigh the benefits, according to the Post.

The US military is already stretched thin with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and those 20,000 soldiers could be obtained only by extending tours of duty, re-mobilizing reserve units and accelerating planned deployments, US media say.

The strategy shift was expected after the present policy failed to curb the sectarian violence that has left thousands dead since the February 22, 2006 bombing of a Shiite shrine.

On Thursday, 28 people were killed in sectarian and insurgent attacks, while 47 bullet-riddled corpses were found in Baghdad. Three Iraqi soldiers were killed on Friday northeast of the capital.

International leaders continue to criticise the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

French President Jacques Chirac, a fierce opponent of the invasion, warned Friday that the conflict has provided a dangerous new breeding ground for terrorism.

"It offered terrorism a new field for expansion," Chirac said in a traditional New Year's address to the French diplomatic corps.

He said the war had "exacerbated the divisions between communities and threatened the very integrity of Iraq".

But Iraq's Sunni politicians hope that the new strategy makes a real difference on the ground.

"There must be real changes that help in finding solutions to the political and security situation in Iraq," said Sunni parliamentarian Safia al-Suhail.

She said she would support any US plan that curbs the blood spilt by Shiite militias. Shiite leaders oppose it, however, saying strong local forces were the key to success in Iraq.

Nassar al-Rubaie, a lawmaker from radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's group, said "the change of strategy is merely a tactical measure and will not solve any problem".

"The Iraqi problem will be solved by Iraqis. There should be qualitative increase of Iraqi forces and this should go together with a decrease in the occupying forces as wished by the Sadr group."

US authorities accuse Sadr's Mahdi Army militia of killing Sunni Arabs who were once powerful under Saddam Hussein's regime.

The bitter divide between Iraq's Shiite and Sunni communities worsened after a guard, said to be a Shiite, secretly shot a grisly video of Saddam's execution in which the former strongman was taunted by his executioners in his final moments.

In the unofficial video one member of the execution party was heard shouting the name of Sadr -- "Moqtada! Moqtada! Moqtada!" -- at a sneering Saddam, inspiring some observers to compare the hanging to a sectarian lynching.

Bush acknowledged that the execution should have been more dignified.

"I wish, obviously, that the proceedings had gone in a more dignified way. But nevertheless, he was given justice; the thousands of people he killed were not," Bush said after a video conference with Iraqi premier Nuri al-Maliki.

On Friday Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said in an interview that Saddam's execution had made him a martyr.

"People are executed all over the world, but what happened in Baghdad on the first day of Eid al-Adha was unthinkable. I didn't believe it was happening," Mubarak told Israel's mass-selling Yediot Aharonot daily.

"In the end, no one will ever forget the circumstances and the way in which Saddam was executed. They turned him into a martyr, and the problems in Iraq remained."

The Iraqi authorities are currently questioning two guards in connection the video.

Meanwhile, a US citizen and his two interpretors were kidnapped from near the southern city of Basra Friday, local police said. It was not immediately clear if the missing man was a security contractor.

Iraq awaits US changes to curb sectarian terror - Source

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 6, 2007 1:31 PM ∞

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Rob N. wrote:

All:

As we egarly await the President's new way forward in Iraq, I am reminded of the cliche that Rome was not built in a day.

In reference to Roger's post concerning the IMF's control over the Iraqi Central Bank. If this is true, the snails pace at which the Dinar has appreciated will continue. I think we will see the Dinar continue to appreciate to 1260 to 1000 Dinars to the dollar under IMF control.

IF (Big if) Iraq can be subdued and a signficant amount of oil begins to be pumped out during 2007. We might see the IMF relinquish control of the Central Bank and then the Dinar can be placed on Forex for international trading.

The shift in military commanders may help speed up the evolution of Iraq to a peaceful society. If Malaki resigns, let us hope the new Prime Minister will place the welfare of the country ahead of his own ethnic community.

Friends it appears we still have a little ways to go before we see the the kind of return on the Dinar we are all wanting. I am not discouraged just patiently waiting. This lull will give me more time to purchase more dinars.

Thanks,

Rob N.

-- January 6, 2007 1:42 PM ∞

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Dale wrote:

Rob N.
I agree. When I purchased my Dinar. My brother & I talked about it. We obtained 10,000,000 Dinar for $7,600.00 sometime in early 2004.
I told him I have always been broke. & I ama gambler so whats thiry-eight hundred dollers in the long run. Seemed like best best odds ever given to me on a bet.
We figured it would be at the best a ten year wait, maybe 15 or 20. but if it takes 20 I will be 54 years old & ready to start my full time fishing carear.
We put it in a safety deposit box & act as if we never had that maney to begin with.

well that's what I did till the day I found this place. Thanks guys, now I find my self looking here every day for some insight or any bit of info you all might have. I still think we are in for a longer than wanted wait. But I am thinking it will not be the 15- 20 year wait I first anticipated to be possible.
I also will be buying more.
I think I am looking at another 5 million. maybe more if I can squeeze it out of my budget.

-- January 6, 2007 2:05 PM ∞

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panhandler wrote:

Roger: I believe the year is 400 that they are celebrating.. . but just about everything they celebrate goes back to the pre-teens. . .P.H.

-- January 6, 2007 2:24 PM ∞

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Okie wrote:

Panhandler & Roger.....

Here's some more info. on the Islamic calendar. It used to drive me nuts in Saudi and it's also used by a few other countries. It also explains why a lot of them are dumber than a box of rocks....they're several hundred years behind the rest of the world....
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The Islamic calendar (called the hijiri or alternately spelled hejirie) is a lunar calendar. There are twelve months in this calendar. However, lunar months are shorter than solar months, so there are only 354.36 days in a lunar year, making the hijiri shorter than the Gregorian or Persian calendar (both are based upon the solar year).[1]

The origins of the Islamic calendar date to the 5th century. However, around 400 AD, the Arabs adopted a lunisolar calendar. The Prophet (7th century AD) then restored the earlier, lunar calendar. The lunisolar calendar was based upon the Jewish calendar and was designed to ensure that the times of pilgrimage always occurred when agricultural products and other goods were ready to go to market.[2]

The months in the hijiri start when the lunar crescent is first seen by a human after a new moon. However, the view of the phases of the moon differ depending upon your location on Earth. There are also variations in custom in determining the lunar crescent as well. In some areas, local sightings determine the first day of the month and in others, an authority determines it for everyone.[3] As a result, most Muslim countries around the Gulf use another calendar for government/business reasons and the hijiri for religious purposes only. The use of the Islamic calendar is considered a sacred religious duty for all Muslims.[4] Saudi Arabia is an exception in that they use the hijiri calendar for official functions as well as religious. Saudi Arabia has standardized the hijiri by using calculations of the astronomical moon to determine the start of the months. The calculations are based upon the phases of the moon over Mecca.[5] The hijiri is also the official calendar of Kuwait and Yemen.[6]

The hijiri year begins with the anniversary of the flight of Mohammed from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD (known as the hejrat). However, as it is shorter than the solar year, you cannot simply subtract 622 from 2003 determine the correct year. For example the Persian calendar (jalaali) is a solar calendar that begins on the hejrat. Therefore, March 21, 2003 is the date Persian Year 1382 began, but Islamic Year 1424 began on March 15, 2003.[7]

-- January 6, 2007 3:20 PM ∞

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ANNON wrote:

Carole All your causes of actions against Roger are refutable. IF you will throw in that Rogers capricious actions have caused you to not be the woman for your husband that he has became accustomed to and expects that in turn has deprived your husband of your normal and customary sexuality that he longs for since before Rogers tirade that has caused so you much pain, suffering and inability to provide pleasure to your spouse you would stand on much better ground for receiving penance from Roger either personally or through sanctions of the Court. Deprivation of sexual quality is still one of the best defenses at retaliation against someone that is causing you metal and physical harm!

-- January 6, 2007 3:55 PM ∞

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ANNON wrote:

Carole All your causes of actions against Roger are refutable. IF you will throw in that Rogers capricious actions have caused you to not be the woman for your husband that he has became accustomed to and expects that in turn has deprived your husband of your normal and customary sexuality that he longs for since before Rogers tirade that has caused so you much pain, suffering and inability to provide pleasure to your spouse you would stand on much better ground for receiving penance from Roger either personally or through sanctions of the Court. Deprivation of sexual quality is still one of the best defenses at retaliation against someone that is causing you mental and physical harm!

-- January 6, 2007 3:55 PM ∞

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CYMRU001 wrote:

Annon,

Just to help stir things up,

If Carole wanted to use that in court, then to prevent her purgering herself, she would have to stop having a physical relationship with her husband. He would have to know the reason why she has stopped. Carole would have to explain the low self esteem and all the issues surrounding her and Roger and the ad investment. Carole's husband would then have to agree to the proceedings and therefore become an accomplice (assuming Roger is right and Carole's activities are illegal). If he talks her out of going to court and says nothing, then he is surely aiding and abetting? Otherwise he, as an ex policeman, is duty bound to report his wife for the illegal activity!!!!!!!!!!!

Even if Carole didn't use the sex card, Carole would have to explain why she feels the way she does and why she is sueing Roger. The court could reject Carole's claim on the basis that what she is doing is illegal. Roger would be exhonerated and Carole could be arrested. This would give grounds for a counter claim which Roger would win hands down because this blog (What does blog mean?) is evidence of Roger trying to warn Carole and her rejection of that advice?

Remember, Carole has already posted that she doesn't know how the system works other than you give $9000 and 10 days later you get $12600.

I don't know about the US, but in the UK there is a saying, "Ignorance is no defence". Just because you didn't know it was illegal doesn't make it OK. Remember Roger's analagy about pick pocket signs in a football stadium?

-- January 6, 2007 4:35 PM ∞

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Sara Madgid wrote:

CYMRU001 wrote: (What does blog mean?)

A blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order.

Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual although some focus on photographs (photoblog), sketchblog, videos (vlog), or audio (podcasting), and are part of a wider network of social media.

The term "blog" is derived from "Web log." "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

-- January 6, 2007 5:02 PM ∞

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CYMRU001 wrote: