[RoNin]

A Big Puff of Relief:

On november fourth the people of michigan voted in a very high (not surprising) percentage to leagalize the use of Marijuana prescribed by docters. This allows people with cancer, M.S., sleep deprivation, cronic pain victims to aquire pot to soothe any pain or discomfort without breaking the law or possibly inflicting damage on thier liver from various pain medicines. Those that qualify will be prescribed Marijuana and seeds so they might grow thier own to lessen the demand on the goverment to supply it. As I predicted soon as I heard about the proposal I told my friends suddenly everyone would have some sort of medical issue sure enough at work last night I overheard fourteen conversations about having migrains for the last two years every day or hurting limbs from injuries when they were a child. Whether or not these people will be elligible depends on how the docter views it. I myself just laugh every time.


On a side note the county I live in being the last one with this law has abolished the no purchase of alcohol on sundays law allowing the people of west Michigan to buy booze on sunday (also not a surprising outcome).

[RaVeN]

and in Massachusetts it is now legal to have under an ounce of marijuana in your possession.

It says nothing about smoking but you can carry it around...I have no idea why though...

[Jack]

i also voted for Obama and i am shocked no one has mentioned the biggest thing about this election...how is the next generation going to think, learn, and comprehend our history in regards to slavery and racisim? ITS ALL CHANGED! not even that Obama won, but the progress he made. the first African American to even be seriously considered for the office of President of the United States of America. that he won is even more powerful, and will make true the saying that an African American can do anything in America, that will no longer be an empty promise. also that we always mouth off to the world that we are very tolerant, that is no longer an empty promise. that, imo, is the biggest deal about this years election. even if i had voted for McCain or an independent, i would be so proud of this single achievement.

[Chantelle]

Serious question.

He looks mixed race to me. Is he mixed race or is he actually fully african American.

[RaVeN]

It's pretty cool actually Chantelle when you think about it. The term "African American" perfectly describes Obama.

He father was from Africa, Kenya, and his mother was from Kansas.

Obama grew up in Hawaii and only knew his father for about month when he left Africa to visit Obama in the States. Obama has been back to Kenya many times to see his brothers and sisters, but he is more American than African in that respect.

[Richard]

But he is still mixed race, not to play it down or anything.

Just alot of references to him being a black person, well he like many of us are many things. So yeah he had african and american heritage, thats great, and he has grown up as an American. He shouldn't be seen as a black man or a white man , but as himself which is an American man..

Oh god Im starting to sound American myself with some of these cringey cheesy lines.

[blacki]

one word i have to said....................BLACK POWER!!!

[Melissa]

one word i have to said....................BLACK POWER!!!

Thats two words.

He is as afore mentioned from a mixed race. Not that it matters what colour he is.. But there is too much obsession into his colour from some areas.

[RaVeN]

This is my favorite video of this historic election day, enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXR8g3-l ... gspot.com/

[Melissa]

The economy has to be his first priority , although not sure what he is going to do.

Greed of banks and western people living beyond their means has caused this.

Looks like Bushes bail out is about to fail as its running out of money!!

[Wolferion]

What really buggs me in this all, are comments of people that it's worst election of whole America, that they have the worst president now etc etc 0_0' What's the matter?

[BadWolf]

it seems to me that the people spouting things like 'hes a marxist' or started the obama housien group on facebook arent representing how the world should see us as a whole

just the other night i was watching a news show on comedy central {yeah i know not the best source but it does have some facts} and the news guy outright compaired obama to hitler, SERIOUSLY??!

[Jato]

While I am English mostly

I am part American. I can honestly say this

If McCain gets in, Ill be inclined to never mention to anyone ever again that I have American heritage. I would be worried about the judgment people would make, probably with valid reasons also.

All I heard from McCain is about picking up your guns and go fighting etc.. WTF whose the terrorists here? Its that attitude that caused the problems in the first place.

I have also heard interviews and people say

"Im voting for McCain as he is the only true American"

It worries me, this level of ignornace has caused the bad image. Picking up your guns isnt the way forward et al

Obama is the man who seems to have the character to fix this..

We wait and see.

Seriously

Dont sit on the fence Id rather you said what you think!!!

Ill Be honest I do much prefer Obama also.. McCain just seems to be all whats went wrong over the last 10 years into one package.

I do hope Obama gets in but whether he does what he says is another thing.. he could fall flat on his face and not achieve all he promises..

Mind you rather him that “lets go get me a fight” McCain

I hear Obama is not a big fan of guns?? Doubt he will, but he should ban them..

You hear of 18 year olds with guns I even spoke to a few KR members who have multiple guns and carry one around and a knife..

Understand about protection but... its uncivilised society that’s caused that.

While I hold all my political views, I jsut wanted to point out (for the few {if anyone} cares) that the "uncivilized" who are armed 90% of the time do not get their weopens through people who buy them legally throughthe U.S., but rather the main flow of illegal weopens comes mostly through mexico. Just fyi adn those who care......

[Melissa]

Good then difference matters not, the standard should be set. It works elsewhere.

It is regretable to see people comparing Oba,a to Hitler.. It is this kind of attitude which americans wish to get away from surley? if they want to come into the 21st century?

Obama has a lot to offer a nation. He will probably need two full terms to make his mark but he can be just what is needed.

[Jato]

Personally I think calling obama hitler or osama or any of the others is completely wrong and showing ignorance, although im not backign his policies I do believe he is atleast owed a bit more respect than people seem to give him... imo

[RaVeN]

Well it was a congressman that called Obama a Marxist and also compared him to hitler. The comedy show you're talking about is the Daily Show where they were making fun of the comparison - to show that not only is it baseless but also really really idiotic. They weren't supporting it.

And this argument just shows again that the people trying to sling mud have none, because anyone who knows anything about politics knows that Marxism is on the extreme left side of the political spectrum and fascism is on the extreme right. So comparing Obama to both Marxism and hitler is like someone telling me how much oranges and apples are so so so alike.


Well...they are not. One is an apple the other is an orange. If this person, who is trying to convince me of the fruit's similarities, was a farmer than this would kinda scare me. Rightfully so. I mean I wouldn't want to eat the food of someone who doesn't even know what they are growing.

However this guy was not a farmer...he was a congressman...and this guy in politics knows nothing about politics...I'm now afraid of him.

At least my fear is justified (unlike his) and I wouldn't digest anything he is talking about.

[Richard]

Unfortunateley it still highlights alot of challenges America faces..

Most of its down to ill education and ill informed hatred.. Honestly it could take 20 years for that to go away. Obama could well be the catalyst in the process..

I believe he will restore alot of dignity to US on a global scale.

Things like this disparage the opposition more than anything.

[Richard]

The economy has to be his first priority , although not sure what he is going to do.

Greed of banks and western people living beyond their means has caused this.

Looks like Bushes bail out is about to fail as its running out of money!!

They are in serious trouble if this continues.

Since all the banks are entwinned everywhere globally is affected, as it would if asian markets did the same.

News that the bail out is running out of cash is worrying

[RoNin]

OK I carry a knife I admit but its a habbit I developed in Hungary since the gypsy mafia and I didn't get along and I wouldn't let them walk on me like most of the hungarians.

[RaVeN]

One thing about the States is that, as everyone knows, when we start going into a depression the world goes into a depression.

And the world going into a depression actually helps the States. We have this really weird system when you break it down:

If anyone is keeping watch, the dollar value against the euro has risen. Last time I checked it was 1.5 (I saw it at 1.2 even a while back) this means that it takes 1.5 dollars to equal 1 euro.

For comparison, when I went to Europe 2 summers ago it was something like 2.2 dollars for one euro.

Needless to say my trip to Europe would be much cheaper if I had gone now.

So why then is it, in this time of a drastic financial depression, is the dollar rising? Doesn't seem fair does it?

Well the most known Country in the world is the States, therefore when other Countries (such as in Africa) start falling into a depression, like the rest of the world, they start to lose faith in the their Country's money. So instead of keeping it they trade their money in for something more assuring, more concrete, a more wealthier country's currency. They trade in their money for the US dollar.

With all of these smaller Countries buying up American Dollars the value of the dollar rises which so far is keeping the States, and therefore the world, a float a tad bit longer (hopefully in time to start to fix it)

Class dismissed

[Richard]

I do work in the finacial sector

In fairness its American financials thats mostly to blame for the finance crisis. (fat cats yes but also the policies and end recipients of this)

Bankers borrowed tons of money from Asia, and then passed this on to US citizens living well beyond their means.. The US now incredibly in debt, Asian are becomin the big lenders in the world. Not to say alot of people here in Europe are not to blame also for the global crisis since they also took on alot of the policies.

A lot of Dow jones investors are also within the FTSE index.. vica versa. What affetcs one typically will go and effect the others.

I think your looking at it slightly inwards, its not just America, if any major country had this problem it would ripple world markets.

Its not just US that causes the rift.. If Heng Sang ripped to peices it would probably cause as big effect.

Be careful the currency is two fold, while the dollar became consistatly weak it has a doubel edge effect, importations are gonna hurt badly. The US Dollar is only returning to what it once was. Its been struggling for a long time..

I honestly think US is going to feel this worse than many. Dow Jones could go under 7k if this continues .. Investors pulling money out of the US stock exchange. It does domino to other Markets.

But recovery should probably kick in mid next year.

Lets hope so anyway.

[Chantelle]

One thing about the States is that, as everyone knows, when we start going into a depression the world goes into a depression.

And the world going into a depression actually helps the States. We have this really weird system when you break it down:

If anyone is keeping watch, the dollar value against the euro has risen. Last time I checked it was 1.5 (I saw it at 1.2 even a while back) this means that it takes 1.5 dollars to equal 1 euro.

For comparison, when I went to Europe 2 summers ago it was something like 2.2 dollars for one euro.

Needless to say my trip to Europe would be much cheaper if I had gone now.

So why then is it, in this time of a drastic financial depression, is the dollar rising? Doesn't seem fair does it?

Well the most known Country in the world is the States, therefore when other Countries (such as in Africa) start falling into a depression, like the rest of the world, they start to lose faith in the their Country's money. So instead of keeping it they trade their money in for something more assuring, more concrete, a more wealthier country's currency. They trade in their money for the US dollar.

With all of these smaller Countries buying up American Dollars the value of the dollar rises which so far is keeping the States, and therefore the world, a float a tad bit longer (hopefully in time to start to fix it)

Class dismissed

Dollars strenght is is relfecting direction of trade.. People may purchase bonds..or secure their money elsewhere as you say in the states.

Doesnt nessesarily mean anything reflecting of the economy state as such, I wouldnt say thats going to give you as much strenght as you think.. you may actually hit you hard in some areas

UK have been there for years and it kills exportation markets.

It will hit your manufacturing and secondary markets hard.

In relaity its just a switch and cycle, whats invested now will be transfered and changed at another point. The dollar is in fact where it was 5 years ago.

Reality factoring points are world markets are falling off now , yes some days two steps forward then others 3 days back. The main markets are going to set to fall alot further as investors pull out of US , Asia and Europe.

As soon as markets gain confidence alot of people will jump on the bandwagon of investment again.

I have plenty a few shares and will remain with them until the upturn, might increase the block as the turn begins


Potentially if we come out unscathed by it, you could be on for a nice little earner if your willing to stick a few pennies on some major index stocks

By the way I think your confusing the Euro with the British Pound.. £.. the Euro has never been that strong € when first started it was about 1.1 euro per dollar.. and at most rose to 1.7.. it was at one time 2 dollars per pound the pound has been stronger than the euro ever since introduction.

[RaVeN]

haha...

You guys kinda took what I was saying and ran in a different direction that what I was aiming at I think.

All I was saying is that during a time of financial crisis the last thing you'd expect to see was your currency rising among the world market.

Also, I know that if other foreign markets crash the ripple effect will be felt worldwide...again...I wasn't saying like "only America effects the world." I would hope you guys thought of me as a bit more intelligent

I don't think anyone is denying the overall s---fan we are all in (Most of all America). I was just pointing out this interesting enigma that I came across about currency and the way the system is setup oddly and unfairly it seems. We (the States) contributed most to this disaster and yet countries are buying up the dollar which is increasing its value.

That post was just talking about the enigma...not much else haha. I didn't mean for it to sound like I thought this was going to solve all of our problems...or something.

Also Chantelle, you are correct I did have it confused with the pound

[Richard]

Ar right, you did have me fooled, I thought you was thinking that it was a safer place in the crisis.. My bad I shoudl have known better lol

Incidentally have you noticed any effect from the crisis yet?

Here businesses have had a few downturns and some old ones have even gone out of business..

For me its okay at least for nowFuel prices are all over the shop one minute its horrendous to fill up the car, next its .. not so bad..

Dow Jones doesnt look too bad today, hopefully Heng Sang and FTSE will be okay tomorrow aswell..

As soon as confidence restores then hopefully money can go back into the markets again.

[RaVeN]

Well I think its bad timing that this crisis is kinda expediting the death of print, at least here in the States. So many mags and newspapers are closing up shop and even more having mass layoffs.

Minus all of the wall-st/bank/insurance jobs I think the second most job at risk right now is print.