Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> And if it happens, watch how hard your hometown will get hammered as HQ will be in Chicago. << <<It's definetly a big deal here. I can't believe I didn't hear that it was United until last night. I'm really surprised they don't relocate corporate headquarters to Houston for the tax break.>> I hope this works. Delta has actually improved since taking over NWA, which was really not a great airline its last decade. It's just Continental is so head and shoulders above other domestics and United is one of (some might say the) worst. I shuddered when I saw they're keeping the Continental livery/logo and just replacing the name. Ought to be interesting. So long as they don't ruin my President's Club Bloody Marys, I'll be happy!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Your kidding me right? That's not what I'm reading on every news sight I go to. They're even questioning the reaction time of the White House. Though I don't see how the White House could have reacted any better than they already have. Maybe they want Obama to jump into a dinghy, head out to the oil slick, and start bailing with a bucket. >> I don't know. I haven't followed it as closely as I should because I was away (you may have heard) and have been on the go constantly since I got back. This just seems like a truly epic disaster. And the scary thing is I get the distinct impression that no one at either BP or in our Government has a real clue on how to stop oil from spewing forth from the ocean's floor. If that isn't a great reason to seriously look at our drilling situation, then I don't know what is. >> But money can't replace ecosystems ruined, dead creatures and ruined livelyhoods ... not to mention the dozen or so men who were killed when the rig 'sploded. Nothing is foolproof, so they say. But the chances for catestrophic incidents like this need to be made so tiny as to be thisclosetoimpossible and I don't believe we're close to it. << <<There are risk in most operations like this. Supplying energy is dangerous. No matter what form you are supplying it in. Like working in a coal mine or working in the refineries. I love how Britsh Petroleum is spotting off about their good safety record. All you have to do is ask anybody in the industry about that. You will find out BP is lying out their kazoo. Ask some of the widows living in Texas City from the blast there that killed 14 in 2005. It also sent prices soaring. Just like this latest mishap is going to do.>> Yes. Prices always go up. Just filled up at the bargain price of $2.87 a gallon (in my car that takes regular). And I have read since I first posted that BP has indeed had a checkered safety record this decade. <<The fact of the matter is, if we just shut down operations off our coast we leave ourselves in a very, very, very, very vunerable position. The equipment designed to prevent this from happening failed. They are working to assemble the containment, and pump system they need to stop this mess. You can bet several will be on hand, and ready in the future. By the way. There will be off-shore drilling off of the Florid coast. It will just be that China is doing the drilling. Have your state representives come up with a plan to block that yet? >> I will bet you my entire LE pin collection and every Disney-MGM Studios schedule from 1996 plus throw in a Monsters Inc plush that you will never see any drilling off the coast of Florida after this. Never! >> I honestly can say that EVERY country I've ever visited has better McDonald's BY FAR than the USA. I chalk that up to them being allowed (both by government and rube consumers) to put out a crappier product. << <<Have you tried the one in Dhaka Bangladesh yet?>> No. It's not on my travel list! ] >> As to chips, I just don't get why we have so few varieties in the USA. And I absolutely intend on trying Lay's Blueberry Tater Chips when I head back to China. << <<How many brands do you want?>> I went into a store in Beijing and they must have had 200 different varieties. It was wild. And most were very good, some very different. Variety is the spice of life.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Well I wouldn't have known if you hadn't told me. And you know I can't keep a secret. I already let it slip about you being a Gigalo. I'm just glad your Mom doesn't read LP.>> Nope. That would be scary! As to my 'career', she knows I do what I have to do to get my Disney travel fix. I'm sure she's just happy I never wanted to join WDI! (do I need a smiley? good ... cause I want to go back to not using them again ... only started a few years ago to make Danny Young happy and really, who wants to do that?)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> Because there is one fundamental point missing for all those 'keep it in your pants' and 'keep those legs crossed' brigades of Bible-thumpers and that's the fact people like SEX! And that's a good thing. The USA needs to get off this puritanical religious POV about getting off and let people have knowledge and the ability to protect themselves against disease and unwanted pregnancies. Period. If you have a moral issue, that's between you and your family and your church. But in NO WAY should affect/shape public policy. << <<As much as you dislike those Bible Thumpers, they are correct. No matter what you say. I knew about rubbers when I was a kid. Guess what, it doesn't work. You can spend 100 billion dollars (a drop in the bucket to the bail-out bill) on sex education, and it still won't work. PERIOD! Self responsibility is the only thing that will ever work. I swear I think some people want the Government to unzip their trousers for them when they take a leak!>> Self responsibility INCLUDES knowing options and being taught about contraception and being able to obtain it without Mommy and Daddy's (and the local church of which you may or may not be part of) OK. Sex ed absolutely does work to a large degree. Making kids ignorant and assuming they won't get pregnant or diseases is no answer. (BTW, do you just love how many topics we hit on in a typical Spirited thread?)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<It doesnt matter if it's 3 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon. The facts remain the same. People have always flocked to this country for the opportunities it offers. That is a fact. If anyone doubts that check out the statistics on immigration, both legal, and illegal Those folks aren't coming here to be oppressed. If that's not good enough next time they have a swearing in ceremony for citizenship, go to it. When it's over ask those people why they came here.>> Oh, there's no doubt why most of those folks come here. It's just the reality of what they face, and what many Americans also face, doesn't necessarily follow the dream. Although I do often think the group that has it best after the generational wealthy would be the new immigrants because of programs/funds open to them and their desire/ability to start at the bottom to make their way. It's much easier for someone who came here at age 14 with just the clothes on their back to work their way toward something than it is for someone who is 47 and went to school and did all the right things and lost their jobs, homes, spouses etc ... not so easy to go from an $85,000 a year job with all the benefits to 20 hours a week at $10 an hour and no benefits. If you just got off the boat from Haiti, it might be a whole lot more appealing. >> But now I'd rather discuss coloring with Aurora as a major new MK attraction << <<I know dshyates is pretty pumped up about it.>> Really? I know VBDAD is too!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Poor EE saves money to go to Boston. Not poor EE. Smart EE.>> Boston, like most places, can be done very cheaply. I am available for travel planning tips for FREE FOOD!!! <<*waits for Spirit to rant about how I need to stay onsite...Blah blah blah*>> I wouldn't say that these days, UNLESS you can get a significant discount. But I DO think a real Disney fan is missing out on part of the immersion if they never stay on-site. My next trip will be both on and off, likely.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Bah, Boston sucks. Sorry to any Bostonians that may be in attendance.>> Boston is a great city (native here!) ... although its 'burbs can get wicked scary the further out from Beantown you go. You can't beat the history, the food and Fenway!
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl Got that right Spirit. I live about 45 minutes west of Boston, but go into "town" every few weeks. Can't beat the history and of course Fenway!
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<and Fenway!>> Sorry, but Fenway is a pit of a stadium. If it wasn't for "the Sawx" it would have been long gone.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Could make a comment about what took so long (although it surprises me it did given Austin, Houston and Dallas are big cities). But it sounds like a fun event. << Because we concentrate more on Beer, Barbecue, and Chicken Fried Steak here in Texas Dave! We do have a few wineries here though. <a href="http://www.fwscene.com/vineyard/vineyards.htm" target="_blank">http://www.fwscene.com/vineyar...ards.htm</a> My favorites being Messina Hof Wine Cellars, and Llano Estacado Winery. <a href="http://www.messinahof.com/" target="_blank">http://www.messinahof.com/</a> <a href="http://www.llanowine.com/" target="_blank">http://www.llanowine.com/</a>
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I have never been able to nap, except when I've been very ill. Closest I've come is falling asleep for 10-15 minutes while watching a ballgame on a rainy afternoon. << I've maybe had 2 or 3 in the last 50 years. >> I also can't sleep on planes no matter how much booze or dope (prescribed, of course) I down. << I've flown across the Pacific several times, and I've never slept on a plane. And this was before I became terrified of flying.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> So, Pierce, it's been what? 18 months since your last WDW sojourn? << You ever coming back? Waiting to color with Aurora? I imagine I will eventually. First I need to get this lousy feeling of being taken advantage of by the Mouse out of my system. The last trip I felt like he was playing pocket pool with me while wearing white iron clad gloves. I would really enjoy going with dshyates on a Aurora coloring spree.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I will bet you my entire LE pin collection and every Disney-MGM Studios schedule from 1996 plus throw in a Monsters Inc plush that you will never see any drilling off the coast of Florida after this. Never! << I'll take that bet. >> I went into a store in Beijing and they must have had 200 different varieties. It was wild. And most were very good, some very different. Variety is the spice of life. << That's outrages fab, fantastical, insane sick. Are those enough interjectory words to describe how I feel about any one place having a selection of 200 different varieties of potatoe (in memory of Dan Quail) chips? Do they have a web site?
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Self responsibility INCLUDES knowing options and being taught about contraception and being able to obtain it without Mommy and Daddy's (and the local church of which you may or may not be part of) OK. << That's the whole point Spirit. I knew about condoms (I like the term rubbers better) when I was a kid. I used them when I was a kid, and you better believe my parents didn't know about it. Sex ed absolutely does work to a large degree. Abstenence is 100% effective. Making kids ignorant and assuming they won't get pregnant or diseases is no answer. Who in the heck is making them ignorant. I bet most kids today know more about sex than I do. And I've been to the Chicago Club in Tiajuana! (BTW, do you just love how many topics we hit on in a typical Spirited thread?) It's all over the map. That's what makes them so much fun. It's like a polite World Events.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> We do have a few wineries here though.<<< You really have become Rachel Ray, huh?
Originally Posted By MPierce >> It's much easier for someone who came here at age 14 with just the clothes on their back to work their way toward something than it is for someone who is 47 and went to school and did all the right things and lost their jobs, homes, spouses etc ... not so easy to go from an $85,000 a year job with all the benefits to 20 hours a week at $10 an hour and no benefits. If you just got off the boat from Haiti, it might be a whole lot more appealing. << Sadly I believe that to be a fact. >> But now I'd rather discuss coloring with Aurora as a major new MK attraction << <<I know dshyates is pretty pumped up about it.>> >> Really? I know VBDAD is too!<< VBDAD is pumped up about anything that gets rid of Pooh's Playful Spot! Ican't help but snicker everytime I put that name in print.
Originally Posted By MPierce <<Poor EE saves money to go to Boston. Not poor EE. Smart EE.>> >> Boston, like most places, can be done very cheaply. I am available for travel planning tips for FREE FOOD!!! << FOOD WHORE!!! <<*waits for Spirit to rant about how I need to stay onsite...Blah blah blah*>> >> I wouldn't say that these days, UNLESS you can get a significant discount. But I DO think a real Disney fan is missing out on part of the immersion if they never stay on-site. << You definetly need to stay on site at least once. Even though it is definetly expensive/way over priced, It does enhance the experience. It also gives the illusion of spending more intimate time with Mickey, and Company.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> You really have become Rachel Ray, huh? << I don't even watch her anymore. She's become to commercial. I do wish I could prep, and cook as good as she does though.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>You definetly need to stay on site at least once. Even though it is definetly expensive/way over priced, It does enhance the experience. It also gives the illusion of spending more intimate time with Mickey, and Company.<<< I know, it'll happen one of these days. But I would rather have more time in the parks and or time on vacation than one night in an expensive room.
