Take a moment and THINK

cam0940 says on Aug 30, 2005, 20:08:

Guilt I was previously married. My ex-wife was bipolar. During our divorce, she lied to the judge about everything. Just totally trashed me in the courtroom and the judge never asked for any proof of anything. Her coup de gras was alleging that I gave her permission to relocate to another state with our 2 year old daughter. I did give her written permission to go visit her foster mother for 7 days who was allegedly on her deathbed, but she never came back. I have no address. I can't get visitation papers served because I don't know specifically where she lives or works. I haven't seen my daughter in 2 1/2 years. My ex-wife was talking about "Oh, I just want to start my life over here,"

Where, you ask? New Orleans.

She's in Jefferson Parish, which is all I know. I pay child support directly to the County of Los Angeles, and they forward the payments to her.

When she left, some man hating Capital B who doesn't even know me helped her steal my daughter. Like I said, I know they're in a house in Marrero, LA, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

So when I look at CNN, and I see Marrero with water up to the roof and people who have lost everything, the first thing I think is it's karma. But then, I feel guilty because there are hundreds of thousands of people who had nothing to do with my specific situation and it's a tragedy. Then I feel guilt.

In any event, my Colombiana will be here in a month and I'm still young enough to be a father and a husband and leave all that stuff behind me.

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cam0940 says on Aug 30, 2005, 20:20:

Thanks, Mario This is one of the things I have talked about with my fiancee, who is such a breath of fresh air, let me tell you.

We're just going to have to come to an agreement on what we want to do about this. It's very uncomfortable.

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TACTICAL says on Aug 30, 2005, 20:50:

A MEN BROTHER, A MEN! What is the saying, "There but by the grace of God go I"

Here is one my father told me many years ago, "I cried when I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet"

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Lostgringo says on Aug 30, 2005, 21:04:

lost children I had all of my 3 children taken from me by ex my wife who moved parts on unknown for a year. She only surfaced because she needed money. She told them all kinds of crap that never happened. Made herself look real good. If I could have taken my kids back I would have. This happened about 25 years ago when men had no rights. Even today things are not 100% with me and my kids. They still believe many of the lies my ex told them.

The longer you wait for your kids the worse it gets. This is no time to play nice guy. If there is any way in the world to get your kids back do it Now!!!!!

Your Home Away from Home www.welovebogota.com and www.apartmentinbogota.com "Luxury apartments and rooms Cheap" Only 2 blocks from the American Embassy! 24/7 hour security.

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poco says on Aug 30, 2005, 21:34:

More suffering to come Just wait until the price of gas goes above $3.00 plus EVERYWHERE next week. Imagine, $80 to fill up you dually and pull your boat to the lake and pay $3.50 a gallon at the boat dock, some real suffering, damn,, for some reason I'm not feeling remorse.

Colombia has one advantage for a few more years, they are self sufficient on energy, but it is running out. Oil is no more than sediment filler while underground.

Failure of Colombia to increase reserves and production will be a bigger disaster than two Hurricanes.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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platano says on Aug 30, 2005, 21:37:

poco, I don't recall Colombia ever considering nuclear energy. To your knowledge has anyone ever proposed it? Just wondering since the oil will run out eventually.

plátano

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Rubiazo says on Aug 30, 2005, 22:22:

I just saw today a gas station along la caracas here offering natural gas for cars for the first time. the wave of the future. Also watch for more electric cars, ethanol, etc. They are doing it in Brazil already. Only problem is the whole country now smells like a big cob of corn.

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Miguel says on Aug 31, 2005, 00:57:

GDL Good to see you are safe and sound. I think the stark reality that New Orleans has been reduced to a "pre-industrial age" condition sums up the future for the area. It's going to be a long road to recovery.

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Miguel says on Aug 31, 2005, 02:00:

GDL The quote "reduced to pre-industrial age" condition I read on the web page of the Strategic Forecasting group. And no GDL, I am in St.Louis, Missouri (¿te aquerdes?). Already the barge traffic here on the Mississippi is coming to a halt.

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tomtom33 says on Aug 31, 2005, 04:27:

Poco Where do you find $3.50 gas at a boat dock? Fortunately I only have a small boat with a 50-gallon tank. I fill it when it gets to half a tank. Don't want to max out the credit card.

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kernow62 says on Aug 31, 2005, 05:28:

I have no pity on whiners who bitch about gas prices and drive a gas guzzler.

Rubiazo the country smells like panela, the ethanol in Brazil is made from sugar cane.

Unfortunatey natural gas tends to disappear about the same time oil production does.

Colombia has plenty of potential with hydroelectric power, dams are damn expensive though!

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flaleo says on Aug 31, 2005, 05:41:

Gas dock in South Beach had 89 octane for about $3.50/gal a week ago.

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expatriate says on Aug 31, 2005, 05:41:

When the levee breaks It appears that the money has been moved in the president’s budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, and I suppose that’s the price we pay. Nobody locally is happy that the levees can’t be finished, and we are doing everything we can to make the case that this is a security issue for us. -- Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; New Orleans Times-Picayune, June 8, 2004.

Watching news coverage of the refugees trying to enter the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans for safety from the approaching force-five Hurricane Katrina, I was incredulous how the people attempting to enter the stadium were being treated by the National Guard troops and local police. The people were made to stand for hours outside in the awful Louisiana climate while they were admitted one or two adults at a time so they could be searched "for firearms and alcohol."

The frail elderly, many grasping walkers and others in wheelchairs seemed to be near collapse. They, along with hundreds of small children needing water and rest-room relief, were forced to wait as long as four hours to get to safety.

Bush vetoed needed flood and hurricane protection projects, and cut funding for Louisiana's pare-disaster mitigation program starting in 2002. Meanwhile, as the levees collapse in New Orleans and all commerce on the Mississippi comes to a halt, 3000 Louisiana National Guardsmen are stuck in Iraq, fighting and dying in a war based on lies and deceptions. Meanwhile, all the Bush supporters who got suckered into Bush's "God told me to attack" hoax have to be wondering if Katrina wasn't a message that they had made a gigantic blunder listening to the man.

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cam0940 says on Aug 31, 2005, 05:54:

Very interesting expatriate GringoinLouisiana, it is good to hear that you are not only safe, but somewhere you can log on and use the computer. And that you have time to check in with us.

Why is it that whenever some other country has a problem, the US is the first one there with checkbook in hand to help out, but when WE have a problem, we never hear from any of our supposed "friends"? America is hurting now. I haven't heard any reports of international support at all.

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tomtom33 says on Aug 31, 2005, 06:50:

flaleo I cruise the inland lakes in the upper midwest. When there is little competition, you get it sin vaseline.

Kern-my Ford Expedition gets around 8 miles per gallon when I'm towing the boat. But I don't whine.

Don't hold your breath, Cam.

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poco says on Aug 31, 2005, 08:03:

We won’t get any help Why is it that whenever some other country has a problem, the US is the first one there with checkbook in hand to help out, but when WE have a problem, we never hear from any of our supposed "friends"? America is hurting now. I haven't heard any reports of international support at all.

Platanos question was more interesting but will take a little more research. This one was easy.

Because we don’t require help. Don’t take this wrong, individual suffering when you loose your “stuff�, like a job or roof over your head, is an immense blow.

The reality is that the GDP looks like it will drop by a small percentage point THIS year but in short order Mississippi, Louisiana and especially Baton Rouge will be the center of a huge economic shot in the arm.

Right NOW many are employed at high wages to repair the electrical infrastructure. Insurance companies and FEMA will start writing checks in the next few weeks. Millions of dollars are pouring into the coffers of the charities and Red Cross, shelters are being setup as far away as Oklahoma and Tennessee and it is understood these people will NOT be going back for quite some time. New materials across the spectrum will be required to rebuild. Stocks in companies that stand to gain have started to spike up. A new levee system may finally be in the cards. Baton Rouge is filling up with water as I write this. Looters are everywhere and it appears the mayor has called for the evacuation of the remaining residents.

Rebuilding the business and homes will take years. Construction workers biggest problem will be finding somewhere to live.

Bad, yes but I’d bet ALL these people will still live better than 50% of the population of Colombia.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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cam0940 says on Aug 31, 2005, 13:42:

Help Today NATO, the Brits, French, Germans, Russia, and even Venezuela all called the State Department to offer their help.

Very gentlemanly move by Chavez, considering Pat Robertson's recent comments. Venezuela is offering energy resources (oil) as is Russia.

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BAQ says on Aug 31, 2005, 14:00:

When the chips are down Well, when the chips are down, you find out WHO your friends really are and I for one have a LOOOOONG MEMORY !!!

As far as the UN's "Secretary General" goes, the only thing that son of a bitch could do was say "Oh well, we send our THOUGHTS", well I have a message for the Secretary General, SHOVE IT!!! Oh, and call SOMEONE ELSE next time you need something!

Semper Fidelis !

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poco says on Aug 31, 2005, 14:45:

Forgot to mention Today NATO, the Brits, French, Germans, Russia, and even Venezuela all called the State Department to offer their help.

I should have mentioned we would be offered help. Everything helps and you are right, makes it hard to forget your friends. Hummm even Venezuela?? they have their own problems with production and refining, still nice of them if it's true.

The biggest help would be for oil producing countries to sell their oil for less,, but life and the price of oil does not work that way.

The Saudi’s held the lid on the price for quite some time,, I really do think they can’t produce more w/o major infrastructure updates.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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cam0940 says on Aug 31, 2005, 15:28:

About Venezuela.... I saw it on TV, so it MUST be true....

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CaryGrant says on Aug 31, 2005, 17:38:

When a man posts that his wife gained a *tremendous* amount of weight, he and every man who suggests he do something about it are flamed by insecure women.

When several men post that women have far more rights in court when it comes to child custody, the women are silent. Hmm.

This is a terrible disaster, and my heart goes out to all those who lost loved ones or homes. (I live on the West Coast, and the next earthquake will be along any time....) I am less sympathetic when I hear that the US gov't has reallocated infrastructure money for wars. Or when I see Americans driving small tanks...if you're a patriot, which I believe very few Americans really are, do things that make your country *less* dependent upon foreigners (especially ones who want to destroy you), not more.

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