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jeremy.lopez_11

I have been reading numerous articles talking about countries threatening to boycott the 2008 Olympics in China over the issues facing Tibet. although I do not agree with what is happening in Tibet I do feel strongly that the Olympics should be used as, at very least, an opportunity for countries and individuals to display their talent and pride. I believe that governments should not intervene with the Olympics turning them into a political platform to leverage their needs and wants, for the good or the bad. Although I can get on board more so with the idea of leveraging for the good, I believe that the fine line would be blurred and too difficult to draw. As history has shown, the Olympics (1936) can be used as a tool for manipulation of the masses and thus why I do not feel the political/sporting line should crossed.

jeremy.lopez_11

I wanted to drop a quick note to all readers and start a process of wishing all in China that have suffered from this disaster well and that our thoughts are with them. As the numbers continue to come in and grow I can only imagine how horrible the destruction is and to what degree the devastation personally to the indivuals involved. My thoughts and wishes go out to everyone affected.

Vox Vorbosus

I have recently read several articles and reports about terrible wastage of aid funds allocated for Afganistan; Aid packages being passed to agencies who deduct 20% for administrative costs, then 'subcontract' the package to other agencies, which take their share and so on. Aid packages can pass through up to four agencies with each taking their share before reaching the project for which they are intended (if the remainder of the funds are not embezzled by corrupt officials that is). A negative impact of NGO activity in Afganistan is that they offer the highest wages in the country, leading to a drain of educated locals from state institutions. What can be done to make sure that aid is effective and not siphoned off by charity professionals and corrupt local officials?

vox verbosus

I'm by no means a socialist who adheres to the principal of state ownership. However, given the huge profits that energy co's such as Exxon, BP and British Gas are reaping as a result of soaring oil and gas prices (8 of the 10 of Fortune 500's most profitable companies are oil & gas) and moreover, the fact that the world economy as a whole is absolutely dependent on diminishing reserves of carbon fuels, there needs to be a major revision of management of energy reserves and supplies. The number one priority of practically all multinationals is maximum profit; the price of their shares and keeping shareholders happy. This priority is not condusive to long-term investment and research into alternative energy. For all of their claims to the contrary, the last thing the oil majors want to see is a serious alternative to black gold because then demand for their produce will fall. I suspect that oil major's 'initiatives' in the field of alternative energy research are essentially gimmicks to appease all too light political pressure and the public. Another fact is that as a rule, local populations in countries with large oil reserves hardly ever benefit from the sale. If anything it is to their detriment in the form of environmental damage. In the Niger Delta, Venezuela, Columbia snd Siberia locals have been forcebly relocated and/or their environment damaged and they receive no share of the profits. The majors typically throw together ill-planned community projects, supposedly for the benefit of the local populations, though the real motivation for such projects is positive PR spin for consumers in the developed world. A major exception to this state of affairs is Norway which has the second highest GDP per capita in the world (after Luxembourg which hardly counts as a nation), and consistanly ranks in the top five in quality of life ratings. This is largely due to the fact that StatoilHydro, the world's largest off-shore oil and gas producer and largest Scandanavian company in terms of turnover, is over 60% state owned. Norway is a genuine exception where profits from natural resources really have benefited the population as a whole (invested in infrastructure, schools, hospitals etc.) and state-owned HydoStatoil really is making serious headway in the field of alternative hydrogen power. The Norwegian government and Statoil are testimony to the fact that state monitoring and control of energy resources and means of production really can benefit the population as whole and finance genuine research into new energies.

YUSUFA95

"The supply and affordability problem affects more than those at the bottom of the income pyramid. In Washington D.C and elsewhere, it's increasingly difficult for middle-income households to find, buy and keep a home" WASHINGTONPOST 02/16/2008. A good friend of mine for many years called me few days ago and the first thing he said was: The Mortgage crisis has hit me hard. I knew that he lives in a one bedroom Condo right off of 14th and Clifton Street. So I decided to stop by his Condo after work and chat with him, This is a sad story and I want to share it and seek advices from everyone on how to help my dear friend before things get to hell without any return. This building on Clifton street nw, has been a Co-op property for over fourteen years, few years ago the management company decided to turn it over to Condos, the Co-op's can buy as it is for an inside prices, while the outsiders will pay full prices, which sounds great. But not everyone in the Co-op's have good credits despite they might have a good job with good pay and benefits etc. So the Property managements hired a consulting firm and the consulting firms hired Chevy chase bank Mortgage company for mortgages for the Co-op's. But the bank refused all the Co-op's with poor credits, as such the Consulting company with the backing of the Property managements refers all the poor credit to a firm Called V. Mortgage(PRIME LOAN) of Greenbelt, Maryland. Since the few Co-op's with poor credits needs the deals, the deal went through with the V. Mortgage company. That was two years ago now. Since then my Friend has been paying on time both the Condo's fee to the property managements and the Mortgage to the V. Mortgage Company of Greenbelt, Maryland. Well, the V. Mortgage company has not been cashing the payments my friend has been sending in for the past year, my friend has been to there office in Greenbelt and make several calls and E-mails to find out what is going on. No one to reached, the Property management company too who are collecting the Condo's fees said they have no idea of what's happening with the V. Mortgage Company. But this is what the game was all about with the Vanguard Mortgage Company: THEY SOLD THE MORTGAGE LOAN TO ANOTHER PRIME LOAN COMPANY IN FLORIDA without the notice of my friend. Now, the PRIME LOAN company has jacked up the interest rate so high and they are after my friend to kick him out of the Condo. My friend is a single father with two lovely kids, him and the kids don't have no where to go, no family members can accommodates them or help them. he works two jobs just to make ends meet and he's also taking college classes. He's confused and just wondering what next. Today he called me and said that the D.C Tax office has sent him a tax due bill, after they have granted him a five year tax break due to his income, and he called the property managements about it since they are the one who said they filed for him. But they told him they have no idea of what's going on. There is no where my friend can take his case to, because the Mortgage melt-down seems to be above anyone and those PRIME LOANERS are kings or gods as they assumed to be. Please advice what my friend can do. All ideas or comments are welcome. Help him before he goes down fast.