Passing Thoughts

When you guys read, can you comment on whether the entire thing is in bold. It is on my computer and I didn't do anything to add that.

Welcome back. Must be your computer. It is in normal type here. You know,I have not travelled to the old world,simply because I have no desire to see it.2 of my daughters have gone to Italy,and 1 to Austria,Germany,and England.They both said it was a good experience to go,but they would not want to live there. Must be I'm just not nuanced enough to see how wonderful living under a socialist state is.

My thoughts exactly. Fun to visit, but you have to pay to go to the bathroom for crying out loud. I wouldn't want to live there, no way.

"Experts say this recession is going to end around years end, so Ive read, but on what grounds do they base this? Slowing rates of unemployment drops? See, my father owns a manufacturing business and has noticed no great increase in orders, which means that in 6 months, we won't be on any major road to recovery. Manufacturing is about 6 months ahead of time."

I have work lined up (as a professional engineer) for at least the next 6 months. I would say that 40% is for the private sector and 60% for the public sector. But notice that "public sector" amount. Normally my work load is 80% private and 20% public.

I am getting worried too.

Yes, my fathers largest customer is the public school system. Public money will get us into a stable spot for the time being, but imagine never climbing out of this recession? Imagine a lower stable point? Im thinking "Day After Tomorrow" in economic terms. Good observation.

about Israel. I think there's a point where Bibi Netanyahu will say enough's enough and mean it. I also agree that he'll have to go it alone, because Obama's sympathies lie with the Palestinians. Never mind that Israel is our ally; Allies Schmallies...Obama seems to be doing his best to insult and alienate them all. He's the anointed one; the messiah; who needs allies? "God help us" is sooooo true. We are in deep deep doo-doo with our Narcissist King in charge of things.

Good post as usual, Histler.

Hustler. I'm so bad. (:-

Your site looks normal to me, if it is in Bold for others, it is meant to be taken seriously!! Great blog, CK!

My brother has lived just south of Stuttgart for 30 years. He`s happy as he can be -- Good beer! he drives a forklift, lives in a rent controlled aptmt. He said he should have bought it 20 years ago but they couldn`t afford it. I visited the famdamily two years ago. Everything is sooooo very $$$$. BLTs are a gourmet meal. Many people drive the new eco-teeny-tiny auto but no one has any extra money. That`s what my bro told me ....

We live in Mexico. I have started to notice the lack of products on the shelves, such as canned catfood, and other American brands. I am buying a few extras as available. Not hoarding, just TP, and catfood, when I can find it, etc. We are fortunate here that agriculture and meat products flourish. Saw on Bloomberg that trucking/freight movers are way down across the country. When the shelves of Safeway are empty of staples ....

Histler!!! I went to Germany, but I didn't read Mein Kampf and go Nazi. ;)

Yea, Israel must see this coming. They are probably planning how they are going to do things. This rioting does change things a bit. They can sit on the sidelines militarily and hope that the people rise up in Iran. They probably have agents there helping them out as well.

Yes, some people like that life, but for any ambitious people, it really drags them down. Dragging down ambitious people hurts the whole, even though most don't realize it.

I like the individualism here in America that we have. We don't take crap from anyone. Our "unsophisticated" way of life has never really left us. We are not the tea drinkers of the Europeans. That is one reason that I think socialism will fall as soon as it takes flight. At least I am hoping it will based on that assessment.

Isn't it the trucking laws that are causing some problems with exports on both sides? I heard the story a while back about changing the trucking laws and how it will constrict exchange with Mexico, but I haven't heard anything since. Stock up on the TP though lol, one thing I would have a hard time living without.

Your observations are accurate, although unleaded in Italy is closer to $8.00 per gallon.

I’ve been living in Europe for close to ten years. Here are a few comments on European style socialism:

http://inthenow.blogtownhall.com/2009/02/08/young_democrati c_socialist.thtml

http://inthenow.blogtownhall.com/2009/01/22/cat_n%e2%80%99_ da_bag.thtml

I stand by my prediction that once universal healthcare and amnesty are enacted, the foundation of democratic socialism will be laid, and nothing short of revolution or states succession will reverse it.

WELCOME BACK!

Normal print on my screen.

A word about European lifestyles. In the early 90’s. I earned extra money as a bouncer in a nightclub. For whatever reason, the place drew LOTS of foreign exchange students. LOTS of Euro girls would get jobs as nannies in the evenings and go to school in the daytime while the kids were in school. I met this female grad student who grew up in Sweden and the USSR. She was fresh off the plane and was out with the other nannies in her neighborhood. We met on Friday, she came out again Saturday and on Sunday we hung out, went to the zoo, a movie and dinner. She HAD NOT done anything around the house over the weekend as those were here days off. Monday I was at my day job and she calls me from the supermarket and was crying HYSTERICALLY! I FINALLY calmed her down enough that she could tell me what was wrong. The problem you ask? She said AND I QUOTE: “This store has a WHOLE AISLE of food JUST FOR DOGS!” She was used to standing in line for HOURS to buy a loaf of STALE bread. The sight of the ABUNDANCE we have in America JUST FOR DOGS was s SHOCK!

Amnesty is a major step towards socialism, as is healthcare. You are probably right that something major must occur to reverse the flow after those things are enacted. Im counting on the millions of non-political conservatives to step up for their freedoms. We will see though, I guess.

Ten years in Europe! How did you make it so long? haha. Ill check out those posts. :)

Haha! Communism at its finest. Turn in every convenience, in return for your basic needs.

Going over there, does make me appreciate what our capitalistic society has done for us. I didn't get to see the USSR or any communist society, so I so didn't see rock bottom, but I got a taste at least.