UN: World Will Miss Economic Benefit of 1.8 billion Young People | Common Dreams
The largest cohort of young people ever known is about to find their most economically productive years wasted.
The world population is now passing 7 billion people... of this 7 billion, 1.8 billion are aged between 10 and 24, and 90% of those live in the developing world.
Some 620 million economically active young people ages 15 to 24, about 81 million were unemployed at the end of 2009, the highest level in two decades of record-keeping.
With the world now home to the largest number of young people in history, a new World Bank report on investing in youth will describes the real cost to families and country economic growth when young people are left to grapple on their own with HIV/AIDS and other diseases; violence; unemployment; inequality; and a loss of faith in their ability to join the workforce, acquire new skills to increase their wages and standards of living, raise families, and become proud citizens in their communities.
The opportunity for a demographic dividend is but a fleeting moment... it must be claimed quickly or it will be lost.
Either we do nothing risking alienating youth from the mainstream and instilling in them a legacy of distrust and hopelessness... or we invest in the biggest source of human potential the world has ever had, and reap benefits of that investment through greater growth and social well-being for generations to come.
The potential economic benefits of having such a large global population of young people to potentially go unfulfilled, as a generation suffers from a lack of education, and investment in infrastructure and job creation... what an immeasurable, devastating loss it would be.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
.. on the horizon.
late last night doing some reading came across this Matt Tabbi Isn't Winning --- It's Cheating piece...
...(those of us old enough remember his dad Mike doin a similar thing on ny tv news years ago)..
..it's a good window on what's wrong.. the system has been so badly bastardized by decontrol and special interest money,** and the cheats & charlatans let totally loose, no one can any more hope to determine how it's going to all shake out... the complete and growing instability reflects this...
as a tally of just how bad the problems have grown... all must read & weep, for derivative investments alone we're now up to almost $700 TRILLION !!!!! ... that's FOUR times what it was at the last financial meltdown just several short years ago... and three times total world wealth of around $250 trillion!!
... it's where lots and lots of $$$$ are going, and it's all hyper-speculative crap.. bringing hardly anything to the economic tables of the world...
...a gargantuan ponzi scheme, rapidly bleeding & sucking the world dry... and the a-holes making millions/ billions don't at all G-A-S !! ...
...this master plan is working spot-on for them... (and each lobbying $ comes back in immediate returns that are bizarrely astronomical !! ... $220 in tax benefits for every $1 spent on lobbying — a 22,000% return !!!
...and just look at this extremely DANGEROUS DEAL they've gotten into doing now ... they do the mother of all Vegas gambling.. collect winnings when it pans out... and should it come up snake-eyes, we're stuck with their outrageous 'bring-down-the-system' bets...
... they're smart guys, they know it's gonna end, and they're just grabbin as much as they can and setting up to protect themselves before it does..
...makes ya wanna exterminate the freakin bastards... (and all our so called 'leaders' on both sides that are helpin em get away with it!!)..
...one thing is for absolute certainty.. we're not gonna be able to avoid the mother of all meltdowns too much longer...
...burying heads in the sand... what we really don't know or want to hear about is approaching ever more rapidly...
... stay safe friends...
** Big money had a lot of influence before... with the advent of super PAC with the wrongheaded Citizens United Supreme Court decision; they now have a great deal more. Super PACs will “have more influence in being able to select who members are. It’s actually much worse than lobbying, much more dangerous."
...(those of us old enough remember his dad Mike doin a similar thing on ny tv news years ago)..
..it's a good window on what's wrong.. the system has been so badly bastardized by decontrol and special interest money,** and the cheats & charlatans let totally loose, no one can any more hope to determine how it's going to all shake out... the complete and growing instability reflects this...
as a tally of just how bad the problems have grown... all must read & weep, for derivative investments alone we're now up to almost $700 TRILLION !!!!! ... that's FOUR times what it was at the last financial meltdown just several short years ago... and three times total world wealth of around $250 trillion!!
... it's where lots and lots of $$$$ are going, and it's all hyper-speculative crap.. bringing hardly anything to the economic tables of the world...
...a gargantuan ponzi scheme, rapidly bleeding & sucking the world dry... and the a-holes making millions/ billions don't at all G-A-S !! ...
...this master plan is working spot-on for them... (and each lobbying $ comes back in immediate returns that are bizarrely astronomical !! ... $220 in tax benefits for every $1 spent on lobbying — a 22,000% return !!!
...and just look at this extremely DANGEROUS DEAL they've gotten into doing now ... they do the mother of all Vegas gambling.. collect winnings when it pans out... and should it come up snake-eyes, we're stuck with their outrageous 'bring-down-the-system' bets...
... they're smart guys, they know it's gonna end, and they're just grabbin as much as they can and setting up to protect themselves before it does..
...makes ya wanna exterminate the freakin bastards... (and all our so called 'leaders' on both sides that are helpin em get away with it!!)..
...one thing is for absolute certainty.. we're not gonna be able to avoid the mother of all meltdowns too much longer...
...burying heads in the sand... what we really don't know or want to hear about is approaching ever more rapidly...
... stay safe friends...
** Big money had a lot of influence before... with the advent of super PAC with the wrongheaded Citizens United Supreme Court decision; they now have a great deal more. Super PACs will “have more influence in being able to select who members are. It’s actually much worse than lobbying, much more dangerous."
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
International Debt - African Crisis
International Debt Crisis - African Debt Crisis
The African debt crisis is one among a wide range of problems that this HUGE continent is facing.
After Asia, Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent. At about 12 million sq mi, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area, and 20% of the total land area. With 1.0 billion people (2009) in 61 territories, it accounts for about 15% of the world's human population.
Regrettably, most countries in Africa can be considered Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC countries).
Over 60% of Africa’s debt is owed to official creditors such as the World Bank, the IMF and world leaders. The high interest rates along side the cost to reschedule debt have forced Africa and other developing regions into a relapse of instability, extreme poverty, and human suffering... tens of millions are at great risk... and the situation is growing rapidly worse.
In 1970, Africa owed just under $11 billion in debt... by 2002, that debt had swelled to the unbelievable figure of almost $300 billion. Its foreign debt today (partially reduced by debt forbearance) of roughly $175 billion amounts to more than $200 per person, a large burden in a region where the average annual incomes are under $1,000.
Less well known is the fact sub-Saharan Africa experienced an exodus of more than $700 billion in capital flight since 1970. Some of this money wound up in accounts at the same banks that made loans to African governments. Africa is a net creditor to the rest of the world in the sense that its foreign assets exceed its foreign liabilities. But there is a key difference between the two: the assets are in the hands of private Africans, while the liabilities are public, owed by the African people at large through their governments.
Africa’s debt inflows and capital flight outflows are closely connected... there is a powerful statistical correlation between the two. For every dollar of foreign borrowing, on average more than 50 cents leaves the borrower country in the same year. This tight relationship suggests that a substantial portion of Africa’s capital flight has been debt-fuelled.
As foreign loans come to Africa and a part of the proceeds is siphoned abroad, Africa still receives an inflow of money, albeit less than the face value of the debt. The net drain on African economies comes in subsequent years when the creditors are repaid with interest.
Every day people in Africa die from curable disease, poverty and hunger. The government cannot put money into helping these people because it must pay $15,000,000,000 a year in debt repayment to places like the World Bank and IMF. African economic advances cannot possibly be made when it must pay a shocking $1,000,000,000 a day interest fee. These loans from organizations such as the World Bank are meant to aid the country during this economic crisis... but these loans actually sabotage African countries.
Nigeria is a prime example... it borrowed $5,000,000,000 from the World Bank... to date they have repaid $16,000,000,000... and shockingly, due to high rates of interest built up... they still owe the bank $32,000,000,000 in interest.
To help solve the problems... more can and should be done to identify looters and their accomplices and to repatriate stolen funds back from those safe-haven countries where the funds have been deposited.
Better enforcement of existing laws to curtail money laundering and new laws to strengthen safeguards are needed to staunch the outflow of illicit money from Africa into the havens abroad.
African governments should be encouraged to selectively repudiate debts incurred by past dictatorial regimes that cannot be demonstrated to have been used for legitimate purposes... this will stop dead in its tracks new funds from being unscrupulously lent out.
The vital economic function of transferring money from savers to investors – creates scope for self-dealing, fraud, and outright theft that can be curtailed only by public vigilance. Repair of international financial architecture is desperately required, strengthening incentives for the exercise of due diligence by creditors and responsible borrowing by governments.Without these reforms, ‘debt relief’ can offer only a temporary solution to a crisis set of problems, and the impoverished African people will continue to bear the brunt of the suffering.
The African debt crisis is one among a wide range of problems that this HUGE continent is facing.
After Asia, Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent. At about 12 million sq mi, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area, and 20% of the total land area. With 1.0 billion people (2009) in 61 territories, it accounts for about 15% of the world's human population.
Regrettably, most countries in Africa can be considered Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC countries).
Over 60% of Africa’s debt is owed to official creditors such as the World Bank, the IMF and world leaders. The high interest rates along side the cost to reschedule debt have forced Africa and other developing regions into a relapse of instability, extreme poverty, and human suffering... tens of millions are at great risk... and the situation is growing rapidly worse.
In 1970, Africa owed just under $11 billion in debt... by 2002, that debt had swelled to the unbelievable figure of almost $300 billion. Its foreign debt today (partially reduced by debt forbearance) of roughly $175 billion amounts to more than $200 per person, a large burden in a region where the average annual incomes are under $1,000.
Less well known is the fact sub-Saharan Africa experienced an exodus of more than $700 billion in capital flight since 1970. Some of this money wound up in accounts at the same banks that made loans to African governments. Africa is a net creditor to the rest of the world in the sense that its foreign assets exceed its foreign liabilities. But there is a key difference between the two: the assets are in the hands of private Africans, while the liabilities are public, owed by the African people at large through their governments.
Africa’s debt inflows and capital flight outflows are closely connected... there is a powerful statistical correlation between the two. For every dollar of foreign borrowing, on average more than 50 cents leaves the borrower country in the same year. This tight relationship suggests that a substantial portion of Africa’s capital flight has been debt-fuelled.
As foreign loans come to Africa and a part of the proceeds is siphoned abroad, Africa still receives an inflow of money, albeit less than the face value of the debt. The net drain on African economies comes in subsequent years when the creditors are repaid with interest.
Every day people in Africa die from curable disease, poverty and hunger. The government cannot put money into helping these people because it must pay $15,000,000,000 a year in debt repayment to places like the World Bank and IMF. African economic advances cannot possibly be made when it must pay a shocking $1,000,000,000 a day interest fee. These loans from organizations such as the World Bank are meant to aid the country during this economic crisis... but these loans actually sabotage African countries.
Nigeria is a prime example... it borrowed $5,000,000,000 from the World Bank... to date they have repaid $16,000,000,000... and shockingly, due to high rates of interest built up... they still owe the bank $32,000,000,000 in interest.
To help solve the problems... more can and should be done to identify looters and their accomplices and to repatriate stolen funds back from those safe-haven countries where the funds have been deposited.
Better enforcement of existing laws to curtail money laundering and new laws to strengthen safeguards are needed to staunch the outflow of illicit money from Africa into the havens abroad.
African governments should be encouraged to selectively repudiate debts incurred by past dictatorial regimes that cannot be demonstrated to have been used for legitimate purposes... this will stop dead in its tracks new funds from being unscrupulously lent out.
The vital economic function of transferring money from savers to investors – creates scope for self-dealing, fraud, and outright theft that can be curtailed only by public vigilance. Repair of international financial architecture is desperately required, strengthening incentives for the exercise of due diligence by creditors and responsible borrowing by governments.Without these reforms, ‘debt relief’ can offer only a temporary solution to a crisis set of problems, and the impoverished African people will continue to bear the brunt of the suffering.
Monday, October 24, 2011
.. the non-sense CONTINUES...
Even with Dodd-Frank financial reform, from a market perspective, there are still within the structure of current banking operations unresolved issues that are not being adequately addressed.
One is that banks should NOT be allowed to have prop trading in-house... at all. Proprietary trading (aka 'prop trading' or PPT) occurs when a firm trades stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, their derivatives, or other financial instruments, with the firm's own money as opposed to its customers' money, so as to make a profit for itself.
At the very least, the clearing house and the trading arm now reside withing the same banks need to be completely separated into different companies, so as to have a physical secure and unbreachable wall in between.
The reason is that when the the banks, who are active players in trading the markets, can see where all the future market transactions are heading with their clearing house operations, they can position and front-run everybody... (great for them... BAD for everyone else!). It's an unfair advantage not only disrupting the normal functioning of the markets, but it also creates great deal of market volatility and instability.
It is absolute insanity that with new government regulations coming out of almost everywhere everyday, there is no regulatory oversight in that aspect of banking industry activities.
One is that banks should NOT be allowed to have prop trading in-house... at all. Proprietary trading (aka 'prop trading' or PPT) occurs when a firm trades stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, their derivatives, or other financial instruments, with the firm's own money as opposed to its customers' money, so as to make a profit for itself.
At the very least, the clearing house and the trading arm now reside withing the same banks need to be completely separated into different companies, so as to have a physical secure and unbreachable wall in between.
The reason is that when the the banks, who are active players in trading the markets, can see where all the future market transactions are heading with their clearing house operations, they can position and front-run everybody... (great for them... BAD for everyone else!). It's an unfair advantage not only disrupting the normal functioning of the markets, but it also creates great deal of market volatility and instability.
It is absolute insanity that with new government regulations coming out of almost everywhere everyday, there is no regulatory oversight in that aspect of banking industry activities.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
'The Abandoned Class'
The Abandoned Class | Common Dreams
"Everyone possesses self-interest in a narrow sense: I want what’s good for me right now! Self-interest ‘properly understood’ is different. It means appreciating that paying attention to everyone else’s self-interest — in other words, the common welfare — is in fact a precondition for one’s own ultimate well-being.
The common good and common sense have been sacrificed on the altar of corporate profit over the past three decades.
At last this process has hit a counterforce, as more and more people reoccupy the public domain and demand a shift in national direction. For now, we all belong to the abandoned class."
“Everyone is important... My God, what if it were true?"
"Everyone possesses self-interest in a narrow sense: I want what’s good for me right now! Self-interest ‘properly understood’ is different. It means appreciating that paying attention to everyone else’s self-interest — in other words, the common welfare — is in fact a precondition for one’s own ultimate well-being.
The common good and common sense have been sacrificed on the altar of corporate profit over the past three decades.
At last this process has hit a counterforce, as more and more people reoccupy the public domain and demand a shift in national direction. For now, we all belong to the abandoned class."
"We can’t live like this. None of us can."
Monday, October 17, 2011
Got Class Warfare?
Got Class Warfare? Occupy Wall Street Now!
An outstanding Henry Giroux Truthout Op-Ed article...
"... what ruling classes have long tried to bury beneath the discourse of meritocracy and the myth of the classless society - that is, the harsh consequences of class power, hierarchical rule and savage inequality.
The richest 1% in the 1970s only took in about "8-9% of American total annual income," whereas today they take in 24%. Furthermore 10% of Americans as of 2007 have taken in 50% of all wages, higher than any other year since 1917.
The economic top 1% of the population now owns over 70% of all financial assets, an all-time record. As Joseph E. Stiglitz makes clear, "In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1% control 40%. Twenty-five years ago, the corresponding figures were 12% and 33% According to Robert Reich, one stark measure of the inequality that marks American society today is evident in the fact.. the 5% of Americans with the highest incomes now account for 37% of all consumer purchases.
There is no longer any distinction between political and corporate sovereignty. We now have a corporate-controlled state, not a democratic mode of governance. The rich and corporate elite control the system of government and leave a poisonous imprint upon national political culture, perhaps most notably a vociferous disdain for the common good. "A criminogenic environment" spreading fraud through lack of regulation and promotion of a compensation system creating perverse incentives in which cheaters prosper, "markets become perverse" and honesty is treated as a liability.
Any society in which morality disintegrates into self-interest and financial cruelty celebrated as a central element of a market-driven social order has no longer anything to do with either freedom or democracy.
Occupy Wall Street may be the beginning of a movement in which the future becomes alive with a new understanding of justice, equality and freedom and a willingness to fight for the promises of a radical democracy."
Carefully read the entire article, it is a remarkable piece of writing from one of the leading educational thinkers of our modern age.
It is important to note there is an AJ interview with Henry Giroux that should also not be missed.
“In an alleged democracy, the image of the public sphere with its appeal to dialogue and shared responsibility has given way to the spectacle of unbridled intolerance, ignorance, seething private fears, unchecked anger, along with the decoupling of reason from freedom. What this decline in civility, the emergence of mob behavior suggests is that we have become one of the most illiterate nations on the planet. An illiteracy not in the sense of ability to read, the new illiteracy is about more than learning how to read books or words; it is learning how not to 'read the world.' As a result of this widespread illiteracy has come to dominate American culture. We have moved from a culture of questioning to a culture of shouting, and in doing so have re-staged politics and power in both unproductive and anti-democratic ways.”
― Henry A. Giroux
An outstanding Henry Giroux Truthout Op-Ed article...
"... what ruling classes have long tried to bury beneath the discourse of meritocracy and the myth of the classless society - that is, the harsh consequences of class power, hierarchical rule and savage inequality.
The richest 1% in the 1970s only took in about "8-9% of American total annual income," whereas today they take in 24%. Furthermore 10% of Americans as of 2007 have taken in 50% of all wages, higher than any other year since 1917.
The economic top 1% of the population now owns over 70% of all financial assets, an all-time record. As Joseph E. Stiglitz makes clear, "In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1% control 40%. Twenty-five years ago, the corresponding figures were 12% and 33% According to Robert Reich, one stark measure of the inequality that marks American society today is evident in the fact.. the 5% of Americans with the highest incomes now account for 37% of all consumer purchases.
There is no longer any distinction between political and corporate sovereignty. We now have a corporate-controlled state, not a democratic mode of governance. The rich and corporate elite control the system of government and leave a poisonous imprint upon national political culture, perhaps most notably a vociferous disdain for the common good. "A criminogenic environment" spreading fraud through lack of regulation and promotion of a compensation system creating perverse incentives in which cheaters prosper, "markets become perverse" and honesty is treated as a liability.
Any society in which morality disintegrates into self-interest and financial cruelty celebrated as a central element of a market-driven social order has no longer anything to do with either freedom or democracy.
Occupy Wall Street may be the beginning of a movement in which the future becomes alive with a new understanding of justice, equality and freedom and a willingness to fight for the promises of a radical democracy."
Carefully read the entire article, it is a remarkable piece of writing from one of the leading educational thinkers of our modern age.
It is important to note there is an AJ interview with Henry Giroux that should also not be missed.
“In an alleged democracy, the image of the public sphere with its appeal to dialogue and shared responsibility has given way to the spectacle of unbridled intolerance, ignorance, seething private fears, unchecked anger, along with the decoupling of reason from freedom. What this decline in civility, the emergence of mob behavior suggests is that we have become one of the most illiterate nations on the planet. An illiteracy not in the sense of ability to read, the new illiteracy is about more than learning how to read books or words; it is learning how not to 'read the world.' As a result of this widespread illiteracy has come to dominate American culture. We have moved from a culture of questioning to a culture of shouting, and in doing so have re-staged politics and power in both unproductive and anti-democratic ways.”
― Henry A. Giroux
Friday, October 14, 2011
"Capitalism and Poverty"
Richard D. Wolff, "Capitalism and Poverty"
For those 'better-off,' they must search out and understand the true picture...
"America's poverty line works out to $15 per day per person for everything: food, clothing, housing, medical care, transportation, education, and so on. If you have more than $15 per day per person in your household to pay for everything each person needs, the Census Bureau does not count you as part of this country's poverty problem.
So the real number of US citizens living in poverty -- more reasonably defined -- is much larger today than the 46 million reported by the Census Bureau. It is thus much higher than the 15% of our people the Bureau sees as poor... conservatively estimated, about one in four Americans already lives in real poverty.
Another one in four is or should be worried about joining them soon... and no wonder such a system has provoked Occupy Wall Street (OWS) and so many of its signature slogans and demands.
A serious commitment to end poverty and its costly social effects requires us to face that capitalism has always reproduced widespread poverty as the other side of profits for a relative few."
For those 'better-off,' they must search out and understand the true picture...
"America's poverty line works out to $15 per day per person for everything: food, clothing, housing, medical care, transportation, education, and so on. If you have more than $15 per day per person in your household to pay for everything each person needs, the Census Bureau does not count you as part of this country's poverty problem.
So the real number of US citizens living in poverty -- more reasonably defined -- is much larger today than the 46 million reported by the Census Bureau. It is thus much higher than the 15% of our people the Bureau sees as poor... conservatively estimated, about one in four Americans already lives in real poverty.
 |
| A report from the Children’s Defense Fund finds child poverty jumped 10% between 2008 & 2009. ... the single largest annual jump in the data’s history. |
Another one in four is or should be worried about joining them soon... and no wonder such a system has provoked Occupy Wall Street (OWS) and so many of its signature slogans and demands.
A serious commitment to end poverty and its costly social effects requires us to face that capitalism has always reproduced widespread poverty as the other side of profits for a relative few."
Sunday, October 9, 2011
How Bad Will Things Get?
Thom Hartmann Interview - How Bad Will Things Get in AA America? | Professor Richard D. Wolff
It's assuredly not been good so far... but we've yet to see the real bad, bad time in America. The greater majority of Americans still do not understand what it truly means to have a government so poorly run for decades now.. Where political parties are so corrupted by the power of money, they are not any longer functioning properly or even rationally.
Not enough money is being taken in because the very wealthy and the corporations have lobbied and been successful in getting their taxes reduced to the point the government is now broke, and looking to further cut services a majority can ill afford to loose, while the well off enjoy lifestyles beyond belief.
Tens of millions of Americans have been laid off, as a result profits are now some of the highest they have ever been. And all the while the MICC 'war machine' now controls such might and power and spends so much on itself and all the numerous wars it has established to continue on its worldwide quest for empire and profit. It too is crippling the economy, yet too few realize and understand how serious the problem actually is. And in addition, our world environment continues to be uncomprehendingly laid to waste by 'for profit' motives and policies.
America has the distinct potential to collapse into anarchy and violent civil unrest.
We are at the very edge of full-scale meltdown.. and there soon will come time when all must implode. As all ponzi schemes reach their inevitable conclusions, this ENORMOUS 'house of cards' will be no different. Unbridled avarice can lead and take us only so far... history has proven this time and again.
The very poor will suffer first, and the most.. they already are. Tens of millions up to the hundreds of millions are at serious risk from every part of the equation. The environment, economy, wars, overpopulation... as bad as it might be now, all will increasingly continue to impact them in ways inconceivable to most.
Some are starting to ask... What Can Now Be Done?...
Learn and Understand What Is Happening...
Not having enough time leads us all down a path which we do not want to go.
It all starts with spending more time learning from independent researchers and thinkers... agenda driven main stream media is part of the problem, not any kind of solution.
There are hundreds of exceptional INS sources, find your own 'best ones'.. and subscribe to their feeds. Seek out those voices you learn over time to respect and trust, and pay real attention to what they have to say. There are huge numbers of absolutely brilliant and dedicated individuals out there, doing some great and most necessary work. Support them financially if and when you can.. for as their voices dim, so do our hopes.
And make use of applications such as 'Read It Later' when you can't find the immediate time. They work very well, and are exceptionally useful keeping track of crucial information you do not want to miss out on viewing.
Know The Critical Issues... The Ones That MUST Get Changed NOW!!...
Get Involved In Dialogue With Others...
We cannot act alone in this.. talk up the issues with friends, family, and neighbors.. this discussion is critical. Solutions only come about from dialogue. And if you know and have any contact with young people... they especially must become involved, for they are the ones that will truly have to make change happen long term.
These are difficult long term problems, only to be solved with even more difficult longer-term solutions.
Force The Issues With Representatives In Government...
Don't let them so easily 'off-the-hook.'
This is not as difficult as many would make it out to be... and it is REALLY important!!
Learn and keep handy the contact numbers for offices locally and in Washington... and call and leave your 'message' about what you believe they should be hearing.
Doing 'all of the above' there's still absolutely no guarantees... but not doing anything..
...well.. like said... WE REALLY DO NOT WANT TO GO THERE !!
It's assuredly not been good so far... but we've yet to see the real bad, bad time in America. The greater majority of Americans still do not understand what it truly means to have a government so poorly run for decades now.. Where political parties are so corrupted by the power of money, they are not any longer functioning properly or even rationally.
Not enough money is being taken in because the very wealthy and the corporations have lobbied and been successful in getting their taxes reduced to the point the government is now broke, and looking to further cut services a majority can ill afford to loose, while the well off enjoy lifestyles beyond belief.
Tens of millions of Americans have been laid off, as a result profits are now some of the highest they have ever been. And all the while the MICC 'war machine' now controls such might and power and spends so much on itself and all the numerous wars it has established to continue on its worldwide quest for empire and profit. It too is crippling the economy, yet too few realize and understand how serious the problem actually is. And in addition, our world environment continues to be uncomprehendingly laid to waste by 'for profit' motives and policies.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men, they create for themselves in the course of time
a legal system that authorizes it, and a moral code that glorifies it."
America has the distinct potential to collapse into anarchy and violent civil unrest.
We are at the very edge of full-scale meltdown.. and there soon will come time when all must implode. As all ponzi schemes reach their inevitable conclusions, this ENORMOUS 'house of cards' will be no different. Unbridled avarice can lead and take us only so far... history has proven this time and again.
The very poor will suffer first, and the most.. they already are. Tens of millions up to the hundreds of millions are at serious risk from every part of the equation. The environment, economy, wars, overpopulation... as bad as it might be now, all will increasingly continue to impact them in ways inconceivable to most.
Some are starting to ask... What Can Now Be Done?...
Learn and Understand What Is Happening...
Not having enough time leads us all down a path which we do not want to go.
It all starts with spending more time learning from independent researchers and thinkers... agenda driven main stream media is part of the problem, not any kind of solution.
There are hundreds of exceptional INS sources, find your own 'best ones'.. and subscribe to their feeds. Seek out those voices you learn over time to respect and trust, and pay real attention to what they have to say. There are huge numbers of absolutely brilliant and dedicated individuals out there, doing some great and most necessary work. Support them financially if and when you can.. for as their voices dim, so do our hopes.
And make use of applications such as 'Read It Later' when you can't find the immediate time. They work very well, and are exceptionally useful keeping track of crucial information you do not want to miss out on viewing.
Know The Critical Issues... The Ones That MUST Get Changed NOW!!...
Get Involved In Dialogue With Others...
We cannot act alone in this.. talk up the issues with friends, family, and neighbors.. this discussion is critical. Solutions only come about from dialogue. And if you know and have any contact with young people... they especially must become involved, for they are the ones that will truly have to make change happen long term.
These are difficult long term problems, only to be solved with even more difficult longer-term solutions.
Force The Issues With Representatives In Government...
Don't let them so easily 'off-the-hook.'
This is not as difficult as many would make it out to be... and it is REALLY important!!
Learn and keep handy the contact numbers for offices locally and in Washington... and call and leave your 'message' about what you believe they should be hearing.
Doing 'all of the above' there's still absolutely no guarantees... but not doing anything..
...well.. like said... WE REALLY DO NOT WANT TO GO THERE !!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
How much longer do we have... our present path is not sustainable...
Friday, October 7, 2011
Military Assault on Global Climate
The Military Assault on Global Climate | Truthout
The Pentagon is the largest institutional user of petroleum products and energy. In 1940, the US military consumed one percent of the country's total energy usage; by the end of World War II, the military's share rose to 29 percent... oil is indispensable for war.
At the outset of the Iraq war in March 2003, the Army estimated it would need more than 40 million gallons of gasoline for three weeks of combat, exceeding the total quantity used by all Allied forces in the four years of World War 1. Among the Army's armamentarium were 2,000 staunch M-1 Abrams tanks fired up for the war and burning 250 gallons of fuel per hour.
The US Air Force is the single largest consumer of jet fuel in the world. Fathom, if you can, the astronomical fuel usage of USAF fighter planes: the F-4 Phantom Fighter burns more than 1,600 gallons of jet fuel per hour and peaks at 14,400 gallons per hour at supersonic speeds.
The B-52 Stratocruiser, with eight jet engines, guzzles 500 gallons per minute; ten minutes of flight uses as much fuel as the average driver does in one year of driving!
A quarter of the world's jet fuel feeds the USAF fleet of flying killing machines; in 2006, they consumed as much fuel as US planes did during the Second World War (1941-1945) - an astounding 2.6 billion gallons!
Yet, the Pentagon has a blanket exemption in all international climate agreements. While many of us assiduously reduce our carbon footprint through simpler living, eating locally, recycling and reusing, energy conservation, taking public transportation, installing solar panels, and so on, the single largest institutional polluter and contributor to global warming - the US military - is immune to climate change concerns. The military reports no climate change emissions to any national or international body.
And oil security comprises both military protection against sabotage to pipelines and tankers and also US-led wars in oil-rich regions to assure long-term access. Nearly 1,000+ U.S. military bases trace an arc from the Andes to North Africa across the Middle East to Indonesia, the Philippines and North Korea, sweeping over all major oil resources - all related, in part, to projecting force for the sake of energy security. Is is estimated that about 20% of the conventional DoD budget is attributable to the objective of oil security.
Just how much petroleum the Pentagon consumes is one of the best-kept secrets in government. More likely, no one in DoD knows precisely. By best expert estimates, the US military consumes as much as one million barrels of oil per day and contributes 5 percent of current global warming emissions... (that's 1.4 million active duty military personnel, or .0002 percent of the world's population, generating 5 percent of climate pollution... and military fuel is more polluting because of the fuel type used for aviation). The United States contributes more than 30 percent of global warming gases to the atmosphere, generated by five percent of the world's population and U.S. militarism.
But the United States has the wealth (currently larding the defense budget) and the technical capacity to revolutionize our energy economy and turn it within a few decades into an economy based on efficiency and renewable energy sources, thus removing a critical demand factor of our Goliath military.
Projected full costs of the Iraq war (estimated $3 trillion) would cover "all of the global investments in renewable power generation" needed between now and 2030 to reverse global warming trends.
Between 2003-2007, the war generated at least 141 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, more each year of the war than 139 of the world's countries release annually. Rebuilding Iraqi schools, homes, businesses, bridges, roads and hospitals pulverized by the war, and new security walls and barriers will require millions of tons of cement, one of the largest industrial sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2006, the US spent more on the war in Iraq than the entire world spent on renewable energy investment. By 2008, the Bush administration had spent 97 times more on military than on climate change. As a presidential candidate, President Obama pledged to spend $150 billion over ten years on green energy technology and infrastructure - less than the United States was spending in one year of the Iraq war.
Martin Luther King once said.. "Any nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."
Our cultural competence for high-tech war may be our society's nemesis unless we do critical soul searching about our cultural and personal values and actively engage in transforming them.
The Pentagon is the largest institutional user of petroleum products and energy. In 1940, the US military consumed one percent of the country's total energy usage; by the end of World War II, the military's share rose to 29 percent... oil is indispensable for war.
At the outset of the Iraq war in March 2003, the Army estimated it would need more than 40 million gallons of gasoline for three weeks of combat, exceeding the total quantity used by all Allied forces in the four years of World War 1. Among the Army's armamentarium were 2,000 staunch M-1 Abrams tanks fired up for the war and burning 250 gallons of fuel per hour.
The US Air Force is the single largest consumer of jet fuel in the world. Fathom, if you can, the astronomical fuel usage of USAF fighter planes: the F-4 Phantom Fighter burns more than 1,600 gallons of jet fuel per hour and peaks at 14,400 gallons per hour at supersonic speeds.
The B-52 Stratocruiser, with eight jet engines, guzzles 500 gallons per minute; ten minutes of flight uses as much fuel as the average driver does in one year of driving!
A quarter of the world's jet fuel feeds the USAF fleet of flying killing machines; in 2006, they consumed as much fuel as US planes did during the Second World War (1941-1945) - an astounding 2.6 billion gallons!
Yet, the Pentagon has a blanket exemption in all international climate agreements. While many of us assiduously reduce our carbon footprint through simpler living, eating locally, recycling and reusing, energy conservation, taking public transportation, installing solar panels, and so on, the single largest institutional polluter and contributor to global warming - the US military - is immune to climate change concerns. The military reports no climate change emissions to any national or international body.
And oil security comprises both military protection against sabotage to pipelines and tankers and also US-led wars in oil-rich regions to assure long-term access. Nearly 1,000+ U.S. military bases trace an arc from the Andes to North Africa across the Middle East to Indonesia, the Philippines and North Korea, sweeping over all major oil resources - all related, in part, to projecting force for the sake of energy security. Is is estimated that about 20% of the conventional DoD budget is attributable to the objective of oil security.
Just how much petroleum the Pentagon consumes is one of the best-kept secrets in government. More likely, no one in DoD knows precisely. By best expert estimates, the US military consumes as much as one million barrels of oil per day and contributes 5 percent of current global warming emissions... (that's 1.4 million active duty military personnel, or .0002 percent of the world's population, generating 5 percent of climate pollution... and military fuel is more polluting because of the fuel type used for aviation). The United States contributes more than 30 percent of global warming gases to the atmosphere, generated by five percent of the world's population and U.S. militarism.
But the United States has the wealth (currently larding the defense budget) and the technical capacity to revolutionize our energy economy and turn it within a few decades into an economy based on efficiency and renewable energy sources, thus removing a critical demand factor of our Goliath military.
Projected full costs of the Iraq war (estimated $3 trillion) would cover "all of the global investments in renewable power generation" needed between now and 2030 to reverse global warming trends.
Between 2003-2007, the war generated at least 141 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, more each year of the war than 139 of the world's countries release annually. Rebuilding Iraqi schools, homes, businesses, bridges, roads and hospitals pulverized by the war, and new security walls and barriers will require millions of tons of cement, one of the largest industrial sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2006, the US spent more on the war in Iraq than the entire world spent on renewable energy investment. By 2008, the Bush administration had spent 97 times more on military than on climate change. As a presidential candidate, President Obama pledged to spend $150 billion over ten years on green energy technology and infrastructure - less than the United States was spending in one year of the Iraq war.
Martin Luther King once said.. "Any nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."
Our cultural competence for high-tech war may be our society's nemesis unless we do critical soul searching about our cultural and personal values and actively engage in transforming them.
Foreign Policy and Torture - SOA's Role
The Military's Role in US Foreign Policy and Torture: Why Is School of the Americas Absent From the National Dialogue? | Truthout
Known as the "School of Dictators," it has instructed and trained hundreds of less than honorable graduates linked to military death squads throughout the world. Since its creation, it has trained over 64,000 Latin American soldiers, including 10,000 from Colombia. Results in that country are absolutely devastating and shocking. Thirty of the 33 brigade commanders of the Colombian Army were trained at the school and in those regions where they operated, extrajudicial executions almost doubled.
There is a direct relationship between the school's graduates and human rights atrocities through all of Latin America. They include over two-thirds of human rights violators named in a UN Commission report, the head of the central death squads and secret police in Guatemala, the military leader responsible for the disappearance of 20,000-30,000 Argentinians and many of the officers connected to former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Costa Rica does not have an Army, but according to a 'watch groups', some 2,600 Costa Rican police officers have been trained at the school.
In Honduras, Gen. Romeo Velásquez had toppled Pres. Manuel Zelaya in a coup. The general who overthrew the democratically elected president of Honduras is a two-time graduate of the U.S. Army School of the Americas.
Honduras remains one of the deadliest places on earth for journalists...(be sure and watch all of this chilling video). Continually attempting to shed light on what is happening in the country, Honduran journalists have watched 15 colleagues assassinated in 19 months under the new, but as equally dictatorial, Lobo regime, a government Barack Obama praises for its "strong commitment to democracy." (Behind the scenes supporting one of the wealthiest, most powerful, businessmen in the country).
In total hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been murdered, tortured, raped, disappeared and forced into exile by graduates of the SOA.
Under intense public pressure, it was coerced to release training manuals advocating torture, extortion, blackmail and the targeting of civilian populations. Used in courses, the manual says that to recruit and control informants, counterintelligence agents could use fear, payment of bounties for enemy dead, beatings, false imprisonment, executions and the use of truth serum, according to secret summaries of the manuals compiled during a 1992 investigation of the instructional material.
Over the past 15 years, popular movements in Latin America have successfully stood up to imperialism and neoliberal economic policies, including free trade agreements. The governments of Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina and Costa Rica have all severed ties with this 'School.'
If you are not familiar with this 'school'... it is the infamous United State Army's School of the Americas (SOA) based in Fort Benning, Georgia. Originally established by the U.S. Army in the Panama Canal in 1946, the military training school moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1984.
The SOA has remained a microcosm of US foreign policy. And that's why so many people have dedicated their lives to changing the culture of militarization, exposing the SOA's practices and, ultimately, shutting it down. Taxpayers' money has been used for physical abuse and torture.. and the school of the Americas, a Cold War relic, must be closed forever.
Why continue the public efforts to close it... when you don't have accountability, you have impunity and we've seen a dramatic spread of many of the tactics perfected and used at the School of the Americas. They have been revealed to be central to U.S. foreign policy elsewhere and now must be ended for all time.
Known as the "School of Dictators," it has instructed and trained hundreds of less than honorable graduates linked to military death squads throughout the world. Since its creation, it has trained over 64,000 Latin American soldiers, including 10,000 from Colombia. Results in that country are absolutely devastating and shocking. Thirty of the 33 brigade commanders of the Colombian Army were trained at the school and in those regions where they operated, extrajudicial executions almost doubled.
There is a direct relationship between the school's graduates and human rights atrocities through all of Latin America. They include over two-thirds of human rights violators named in a UN Commission report, the head of the central death squads and secret police in Guatemala, the military leader responsible for the disappearance of 20,000-30,000 Argentinians and many of the officers connected to former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Costa Rica does not have an Army, but according to a 'watch groups', some 2,600 Costa Rican police officers have been trained at the school.
In Honduras, Gen. Romeo Velásquez had toppled Pres. Manuel Zelaya in a coup. The general who overthrew the democratically elected president of Honduras is a two-time graduate of the U.S. Army School of the Americas.
Honduras remains one of the deadliest places on earth for journalists...(be sure and watch all of this chilling video). Continually attempting to shed light on what is happening in the country, Honduran journalists have watched 15 colleagues assassinated in 19 months under the new, but as equally dictatorial, Lobo regime, a government Barack Obama praises for its "strong commitment to democracy." (Behind the scenes supporting one of the wealthiest, most powerful, businessmen in the country).
In total hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been murdered, tortured, raped, disappeared and forced into exile by graduates of the SOA.
Under intense public pressure, it was coerced to release training manuals advocating torture, extortion, blackmail and the targeting of civilian populations. Used in courses, the manual says that to recruit and control informants, counterintelligence agents could use fear, payment of bounties for enemy dead, beatings, false imprisonment, executions and the use of truth serum, according to secret summaries of the manuals compiled during a 1992 investigation of the instructional material.
Over the past 15 years, popular movements in Latin America have successfully stood up to imperialism and neoliberal economic policies, including free trade agreements. The governments of Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina and Costa Rica have all severed ties with this 'School.'
If you are not familiar with this 'school'... it is the infamous United State Army's School of the Americas (SOA) based in Fort Benning, Georgia. Originally established by the U.S. Army in the Panama Canal in 1946, the military training school moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1984.
The SOA has remained a microcosm of US foreign policy. And that's why so many people have dedicated their lives to changing the culture of militarization, exposing the SOA's practices and, ultimately, shutting it down. Taxpayers' money has been used for physical abuse and torture.. and the school of the Americas, a Cold War relic, must be closed forever.
Why continue the public efforts to close it... when you don't have accountability, you have impunity and we've seen a dramatic spread of many of the tactics perfected and used at the School of the Americas. They have been revealed to be central to U.S. foreign policy elsewhere and now must be ended for all time.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
No MoreTax Holidays!!
No Tax Holiday for Corporate Job Destroyers | Common Dreams
The income tax system in this country is another broken function of government. It is so far off from what makes sense.. and it is continually getting worse as money wants more money. Talk to most average folks that you know, and they say they just want the government to leave them alone and and stop taking their tax money and wasting it... (lots of wars... lots of waste).
They really don't make mention of just how unfair the current system has become. When the huge majority of the wealth being generated today is going almost entirely to the very rich and to corporations.. how can it be justified to increase taxes on any other group. And how is it at all sensible most of the very wealthy and a sizable portion of corporations now can avoid paying taxes entirely... and if they do, they pay at rates far lower than the average individual.
For the approximately 1.4 million people who make up the top 1% of taxpayers, the effective federal income tax rate dropped from 29% to 23% in 2008...(it may seem too unreal to be true, but the top 400 ended up paying a lower rate than the next 1.4 million people). Speculators in the financial markets now can individually earn billions of dollars, and at most pay taxes at the capital gains rate of 15%... if they pay anything at all.
Between 1948 and 1979, the richest 10% of families in the U.S. claimed 33% of average income growth.... between 2000 and 2007, the richest 10% claimed the full 100% of average income growth in the U.S.
The very rich have reaped the vast majority of every economic expansion over the last 30 years, including the top 1% gaining two thirds of it in recent years. The top 0.1% have seen a 94% income growth since 2002. The richest of them all (the top 400) have seen an astounding 476% increase since 1992. The richest 74 people made as much as the 19 million lowest-paid people in America.
As for corporations picking up their share.. nearly two-thirds of U.S. corporations currently do not pay any income taxes... (many are America’s most profitable companies -Exxon-Mobil, General Electric, Bank of America & Citigroup, all paid $0 in federal income taxes... some adding insult to injury have income credits in addition!!).
Business taxes in the U.S. were cut from 46 to 34% 25 years ago... but today almost 25% of the big 500 companies listed on Standard and Poor’s paid federal and other taxes of less than 20% over the last 5 years. Tax loopholes and lobbying have lowered the top tax rate to its lowest point since the Truman era, and now corporate tax dollars only account for 5-7% of all federal tax receipts.
The change in corporate taxes — not merely rates, but what they actually paid — over the past half century is astounding...
The power of money has never been as great and selfish and shameless as it is now. Corporations now paying for campaigns of elected officials, and who own the mainstream media, are allowed to avoid paying their fair tax share. Also through their Citizens United decision, the Supreme Court has opened the door allowing corporations, now designated 'as people' to spend millions lobbying political leaders to continue avoiding their tax obligations (this was/is a HUGE deal... 'a game changer'). As well intensified lobbying for more and more tax breaks like the 'tax holidays as the Chuck Collins article details... read it and get pissed.. ...you've every right to be!!
At the end of the Second World War, every $1.00 Washington raised in taxes on individuals, it raised $1.50 in taxes on business profits. Today, that ratio is dramatically different:.. every $1.00 Washington gets in taxes on individuals, it takes only $0.25 cents in taxes on business.
In short, the last half-century has seen a massive shift of the burden of federal taxation off business and onto individuals.
The system must be brought back to one that is fair... we had a progressive tax system that although not perfect did work fairly well for decades. Top marginal tax rates have traditionally been very high in the US, averaging 61% since 1917. The average top tax rate was at one time over 81%. Today it stands at 35%, which is 27% below the historical average, and 59% below it’s highest rate.
There are numerous progressive tax proposals for taxing the wealthy... this is but one of many that have been put forth..
A progressive tax code to create new brackets for the wealthy and ultra wealthy. Restore tax rates to 35% for those with an income between $250,000-$1 million per year.
Add new brackets that increases the level to 45% for anyone with an annual income between $1 million to $10 million, 50% for $10-50 million, 60% for $50-100 million, 70% for $100 million to $1 billion, and 80% for anyone over $1,000,000,000 per year...(that's 20 million a WEEK!!!)
The U.S. has seen diminishing progressivity of its tax structure for decades... and the present system only fosters discontent, class separation and alienation... we are in for some serious long term trouble if it does not get fixed soon.
Studies comparing nations found that flattening the tax risks flattening social well-being as well. The more progressive the tax policy is, the happier citizens are. Researchers analyzed the relationship between tax progressivity and personal well-being in nations surveyed by the Gallup Organization in 2007.
On average, residents of the nations with the most progressive taxation evaluated their own lives as closer to “the best possible.” They also reported having more satisfying experiences and fewer discomfiting ones than respondents living in nations with less progressive taxes.
If the goal of societies is to make citizens happier and better off, it must be realized equitable and consistently enforced tax policy truly does matter. Certain policies, like tax progressivity, seem to be more conducive to the well being of the people. It is time we went backwards on this issue.
The income tax system in this country is another broken function of government. It is so far off from what makes sense.. and it is continually getting worse as money wants more money. Talk to most average folks that you know, and they say they just want the government to leave them alone and and stop taking their tax money and wasting it... (lots of wars... lots of waste).
They really don't make mention of just how unfair the current system has become. When the huge majority of the wealth being generated today is going almost entirely to the very rich and to corporations.. how can it be justified to increase taxes on any other group. And how is it at all sensible most of the very wealthy and a sizable portion of corporations now can avoid paying taxes entirely... and if they do, they pay at rates far lower than the average individual.
For the approximately 1.4 million people who make up the top 1% of taxpayers, the effective federal income tax rate dropped from 29% to 23% in 2008...(it may seem too unreal to be true, but the top 400 ended up paying a lower rate than the next 1.4 million people). Speculators in the financial markets now can individually earn billions of dollars, and at most pay taxes at the capital gains rate of 15%... if they pay anything at all.
Between 1948 and 1979, the richest 10% of families in the U.S. claimed 33% of average income growth.... between 2000 and 2007, the richest 10% claimed the full 100% of average income growth in the U.S.
The very rich have reaped the vast majority of every economic expansion over the last 30 years, including the top 1% gaining two thirds of it in recent years. The top 0.1% have seen a 94% income growth since 2002. The richest of them all (the top 400) have seen an astounding 476% increase since 1992. The richest 74 people made as much as the 19 million lowest-paid people in America.
As for corporations picking up their share.. nearly two-thirds of U.S. corporations currently do not pay any income taxes... (many are America’s most profitable companies -Exxon-Mobil, General Electric, Bank of America & Citigroup, all paid $0 in federal income taxes... some adding insult to injury have income credits in addition!!).
Business taxes in the U.S. were cut from 46 to 34% 25 years ago... but today almost 25% of the big 500 companies listed on Standard and Poor’s paid federal and other taxes of less than 20% over the last 5 years. Tax loopholes and lobbying have lowered the top tax rate to its lowest point since the Truman era, and now corporate tax dollars only account for 5-7% of all federal tax receipts.
The change in corporate taxes — not merely rates, but what they actually paid — over the past half century is astounding...
- Corporate Taxes as a Percentage of Federal Revenue
1955 . . . 27.3%
2010 . . . 8.9%
- Corporate Taxes as a Percentage of GDP
1955 . . . 4.3%
2010 . . . 1.3%
- Individual Income/Payrolls as a Percentage of Federal Revenue
1955 . . . 58.0%
2010 . . . 81.5%
The power of money has never been as great and selfish and shameless as it is now. Corporations now paying for campaigns of elected officials, and who own the mainstream media, are allowed to avoid paying their fair tax share. Also through their Citizens United decision, the Supreme Court has opened the door allowing corporations, now designated 'as people' to spend millions lobbying political leaders to continue avoiding their tax obligations (this was/is a HUGE deal... 'a game changer'). As well intensified lobbying for more and more tax breaks like the 'tax holidays as the Chuck Collins article details... read it and get pissed.. ...you've every right to be!!
Corporations are now lobbying HARD for another tax holiday (spending tens of millions, employing dozens of lobbyists)..
to bring an additional 1.5 trillion dollars back into the country... at ridiculous low rates similar (or less) than what
GW permitted them to do back in 2004...
to bring an additional 1.5 trillion dollars back into the country... at ridiculous low rates similar (or less) than what
GW permitted them to do back in 2004...
..subsequently corporations laid off hundreds of thousands of workers the next couple years in 2005-2006...
... most all that 'holiday' money went towards executive compensation and share buyback.
At the end of the Second World War, every $1.00 Washington raised in taxes on individuals, it raised $1.50 in taxes on business profits. Today, that ratio is dramatically different:.. every $1.00 Washington gets in taxes on individuals, it takes only $0.25 cents in taxes on business.
In short, the last half-century has seen a massive shift of the burden of federal taxation off business and onto individuals.
The system must be brought back to one that is fair... we had a progressive tax system that although not perfect did work fairly well for decades. Top marginal tax rates have traditionally been very high in the US, averaging 61% since 1917. The average top tax rate was at one time over 81%. Today it stands at 35%, which is 27% below the historical average, and 59% below it’s highest rate.
There are numerous progressive tax proposals for taxing the wealthy... this is but one of many that have been put forth..
A progressive tax code to create new brackets for the wealthy and ultra wealthy. Restore tax rates to 35% for those with an income between $250,000-$1 million per year.
Add new brackets that increases the level to 45% for anyone with an annual income between $1 million to $10 million, 50% for $10-50 million, 60% for $50-100 million, 70% for $100 million to $1 billion, and 80% for anyone over $1,000,000,000 per year...(that's 20 million a WEEK!!!)
Tax Rate - Income Bracket
35% $250,000-$1 million
45% $1 million-$10 million
50% $10 million-50 million
60% $50 million-100 million
70% $100 million-1 billion
80% $1 billion and above
The U.S. has seen diminishing progressivity of its tax structure for decades... and the present system only fosters discontent, class separation and alienation... we are in for some serious long term trouble if it does not get fixed soon.
Studies comparing nations found that flattening the tax risks flattening social well-being as well. The more progressive the tax policy is, the happier citizens are. Researchers analyzed the relationship between tax progressivity and personal well-being in nations surveyed by the Gallup Organization in 2007.
On average, residents of the nations with the most progressive taxation evaluated their own lives as closer to “the best possible.” They also reported having more satisfying experiences and fewer discomfiting ones than respondents living in nations with less progressive taxes.
If the goal of societies is to make citizens happier and better off, it must be realized equitable and consistently enforced tax policy truly does matter. Certain policies, like tax progressivity, seem to be more conducive to the well being of the people. It is time we went backwards on this issue.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Bush Ordered 9/11 Investigation Suppressed
Ordered Investigation to Suppress Saudi 9/11 Connection
This is part 2 of an exceptional interview... well worth time spent watching... Swan and Summers are terrific (notably Swan's commentary)...
...and be sure and read carefully the well-detailed investigative report from David Kaplan ...
'The Saudi Connection'... published in U.S. World & News Report a couple years after 9/11 in December of 2003. It details the connection of our 'friends' the Saudis, and their funding of world terrorism.
Simple answer as to why... bribe money for the utterly lavish lifestyle of most of the 7,000 member 'royal' family. Extremist Muslims don't like theirs any more than ours, but the cash they need to fund their deadly activities has to come from somewhere... Saudi 'protection money' is the result.
The world's thirst for oil has caused, and continues to produce, much trouble and pain.
This is part 2 of an exceptional interview... well worth time spent watching... Swan and Summers are terrific (notably Swan's commentary)...
...and be sure and read carefully the well-detailed investigative report from David Kaplan ...
'The Saudi Connection'... published in U.S. World & News Report a couple years after 9/11 in December of 2003. It details the connection of our 'friends' the Saudis, and their funding of world terrorism.
Simple answer as to why... bribe money for the utterly lavish lifestyle of most of the 7,000 member 'royal' family. Extremist Muslims don't like theirs any more than ours, but the cash they need to fund their deadly activities has to come from somewhere... Saudi 'protection money' is the result.
The world's thirst for oil has caused, and continues to produce, much trouble and pain.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Unequal Wealth
Unequal Wealth | Truthout
..very good article..well worth a careful read... jury's still out on how we're going to do in surviving all this.. but at the moment, it does not look promising... who leads us out from this doomsday mess...
... whoever wins on election day.. we lose...
... and I just fail to believe a good portion of the current crop in office do not see what is happening.. they just do not have an answer, or they just do not care... being mainly involved in positioning themselves to survive in a way that works best for them...
...same what the oligarchs are doing..
..it's an enormous gamble....
...some are beginning to make a stand against a 'broken & corrupt' system......
... 64k question, will this new struggle be enough to turn the tide...
... and is there enough time... ...how many 'last chances' are we gonna get...
..very good article..well worth a careful read... jury's still out on how we're going to do in surviving all this.. but at the moment, it does not look promising... who leads us out from this doomsday mess...
... whoever wins on election day.. we lose...
... and I just fail to believe a good portion of the current crop in office do not see what is happening.. they just do not have an answer, or they just do not care... being mainly involved in positioning themselves to survive in a way that works best for them...
...same what the oligarchs are doing..
..it's an enormous gamble....
...some are beginning to make a stand against a 'broken & corrupt' system......
... 64k question, will this new struggle be enough to turn the tide...
... and is there enough time... ...how many 'last chances' are we gonna get...
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The World Is Broken.... Disasters Are Merging
Nomi Prins: Disasters Merging - Book Review - Truthdig
The numbers are growing... more and more will be feeling the effects of just how devastating the past policies of 'grab what you can' and to hell with the rest of humanity have brought to our world.
There are numerous layers upon layers in our society that are insulated and have yet to realize the extent of just how bad things have evolved. Throughout history there have always been people suffering, but now it is different in numerous ways...
...we are fast approaching a time (if we have not already arrived) when it gets to the point where there is no turning back.
Hundreds of millions are very much at risk... the majority of those with resources are 'advantaged' and will be somewhat insulated (not completely though, that just ain't gonna be possible)... they always are, but untold numbers of others will suffer terribly.
It's been building for a long time. You can't do what we've done to each other... to civilization and the world in general for such a long period of time... and escape scott-free.
We're unequivocally going to be paying a HUGE price.. only a matter of how bad it gets... and when the reality really sinks in, hitting home to the majority... that's really gonna be a BAD time in history.
Are we now able to somehow miraculously force a 180 degree turn... well, we just have to wait and see what happens. The numbers of 'protesters' are substantially increasing... major question... have we really reached our 'tipping point'... or is there still enough time?
Most NEVER thought this generation would be here for this.. maybe that was the plan for the 'powers that be'... a good number HAVE to understand what is happening.
And in the event there is a possibility for partial escape... how do we create a recovering world economy that provides dignified livelihoods to all who are willing to work, without undermining the natural systems that we, and our future must rely on?
A real solution will require a vision that is both humble in terms of the material wealth we can expect... and ambitious about the fairness, mutual support, and quality of life we can build.
“We owe such an effort to people who are already suffering and dying on the front lines of the catastrophic convergence, and to the next generation who will inherit the mess. And, we owe it to ourselves.”
Who would have expected it would come down to this kind of crap-shoot with our future.
All would all love to be absolutely dead wrong bout what's gonna happen... it just ain't playin out that way.
The numbers are growing... more and more will be feeling the effects of just how devastating the past policies of 'grab what you can' and to hell with the rest of humanity have brought to our world.
There are numerous layers upon layers in our society that are insulated and have yet to realize the extent of just how bad things have evolved. Throughout history there have always been people suffering, but now it is different in numerous ways...
...we are fast approaching a time (if we have not already arrived) when it gets to the point where there is no turning back.
Hundreds of millions are very much at risk... the majority of those with resources are 'advantaged' and will be somewhat insulated (not completely though, that just ain't gonna be possible)... they always are, but untold numbers of others will suffer terribly.
It's been building for a long time. You can't do what we've done to each other... to civilization and the world in general for such a long period of time... and escape scott-free.
We're unequivocally going to be paying a HUGE price.. only a matter of how bad it gets... and when the reality really sinks in, hitting home to the majority... that's really gonna be a BAD time in history.
Are we now able to somehow miraculously force a 180 degree turn... well, we just have to wait and see what happens. The numbers of 'protesters' are substantially increasing... major question... have we really reached our 'tipping point'... or is there still enough time?
Most NEVER thought this generation would be here for this.. maybe that was the plan for the 'powers that be'... a good number HAVE to understand what is happening.
And in the event there is a possibility for partial escape... how do we create a recovering world economy that provides dignified livelihoods to all who are willing to work, without undermining the natural systems that we, and our future must rely on?
A real solution will require a vision that is both humble in terms of the material wealth we can expect... and ambitious about the fairness, mutual support, and quality of life we can build.
“We owe such an effort to people who are already suffering and dying on the front lines of the catastrophic convergence, and to the next generation who will inherit the mess. And, we owe it to ourselves.”
Who would have expected it would come down to this kind of crap-shoot with our future.
All would all love to be absolutely dead wrong bout what's gonna happen... it just ain't playin out that way.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
.. thoughts of John...
It has been a very emotional past week, for it was exactly one week to the day we were informed of the passing of one of our most dear relatives and friends... John Ward, of Alexander/ Weaverville, North Carolina. (Cindy, John's wife is Bernadette's niece.. one of Bern's older brother John's two daughters.)
JW isn't just 'special'.. he is 'giant-sized special' to both of us... and to many, many others that had met and know him throughout his all too short but amazingly full life.
Up until today, thoughts about John, and his lovely and loving family... his wife Cindy, and their two beautiful daughters Kady and Samantha have been bouncing around in my head, but with all going on the past week, there's not been adequate time or near enough composure to put anything in writing.
Before traveling to North Carolina this past Saturday (along with Bernadette's sister Laurie), we spent a very difficult couple of days 'on our own'... all that changed dramatically once we arrived in North Carolina on Saturday afternoon.
What began then, and did not lessen until we got on the plane three days later and returned home to Canaan was something beyond true comprehension, unless you were fortunate enough to have been one of those present for the entire wonderful shared experience.
You see, John had a totally unique quality among people, he loved helping others so much it was what he dedicated most his entire life to doing. He knew an awful lot about most everything, especially things needing help & repair.. and he assisted folks in building and repairing most everything... themselves as well.
I came across a saying most recently.. and every time now it will come to mind when I think of John...
John's full time religion and passion was doing good... helping others. It's hard in today's world to find this belief practiced to the level he took it, and we feel most blessed to have him forever a part of our lives... as his love and spirit will never separate from us.
At John's memorial service on Sunday afternoon, once the people began arriving they needed to wait patiently in line for almost forty-five minutes before they were able to say their goodbye’s to John, and offer condolences to Cindy and her family... and this remarkable line of people of all ages, from all walks of life went on for somewhat over two solid hours... John once again 'closed the joint.'
It was something absolutely astounding and marvelous to behold, as Cindy and Sam and Kady's grace, warmth, patience & strength was amazing to witness. Without doubt, John is one of a kind, but it was well evidenced there and then, life with a truly loving family is a 'full partnership' of equals in every respect.
The next day there was a gathering and celebration of John's life at a local pub in Weaverville.. the hundreds of people attending, celebrating the life of a man they all knew and loved dearly. We ate and drank, laughed & cried, and spoke about the wonderful times we all shared with John.
It was obvious from the way all spoke about John, we were all feeling the exact same emotion at the exact same time. John made people 'feel better' just by being around him.. and his life gave each of us an example how to build on ours.
I consider myself most fortunate, for I've had several individuals in my life by their example and personality have made me want to be a better person... among them, my most dear mother Josephine.. my life partner - my dearest Bernadette.. and there has been John.
September is an absolutely beautiful time of year.. I now have two dates during the month to emphasize for me how precious and fulfilling life is...
... this past 9.3 Bern and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary... and now 9.14 to celebrate the exemplary life of a dearly beloved friend.
Several of the folks in this close knit community expressed the desire to keep John's celebration of life moving forward, by each year holding some form of community event in his honor and memory. It is hoped it comes to fruition, and we will support it in whatever manner necessary to ensure its' success, and we wholeheartedly would look forward to attending.
The hole in all our hearts at this moment is enormous... time should help soften our now exposed and raw emotions... but unequivocally will never lessen the intensity of love we all share.
You can close your eyes and pray they'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all they have left.
Your heart can be empty because you cannot see them,
or you can be full of the love you all shared together.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember them only that they are gone,
or you can cherish their memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what they would want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
JW isn't just 'special'.. he is 'giant-sized special' to both of us... and to many, many others that had met and know him throughout his all too short but amazingly full life.
Up until today, thoughts about John, and his lovely and loving family... his wife Cindy, and their two beautiful daughters Kady and Samantha have been bouncing around in my head, but with all going on the past week, there's not been adequate time or near enough composure to put anything in writing.
 |
| Samantha, Cindy, John, Kady |
What began then, and did not lessen until we got on the plane three days later and returned home to Canaan was something beyond true comprehension, unless you were fortunate enough to have been one of those present for the entire wonderful shared experience.
You see, John had a totally unique quality among people, he loved helping others so much it was what he dedicated most his entire life to doing. He knew an awful lot about most everything, especially things needing help & repair.. and he assisted folks in building and repairing most everything... themselves as well.
I came across a saying most recently.. and every time now it will come to mind when I think of John...
"When I do bad, I feel bad... and when I do good, I feel good... that is my religion."
John's full time religion and passion was doing good... helping others. It's hard in today's world to find this belief practiced to the level he took it, and we feel most blessed to have him forever a part of our lives... as his love and spirit will never separate from us.
At John's memorial service on Sunday afternoon, once the people began arriving they needed to wait patiently in line for almost forty-five minutes before they were able to say their goodbye’s to John, and offer condolences to Cindy and her family... and this remarkable line of people of all ages, from all walks of life went on for somewhat over two solid hours... John once again 'closed the joint.'
It was something absolutely astounding and marvelous to behold, as Cindy and Sam and Kady's grace, warmth, patience & strength was amazing to witness. Without doubt, John is one of a kind, but it was well evidenced there and then, life with a truly loving family is a 'full partnership' of equals in every respect.
The next day there was a gathering and celebration of John's life at a local pub in Weaverville.. the hundreds of people attending, celebrating the life of a man they all knew and loved dearly. We ate and drank, laughed & cried, and spoke about the wonderful times we all shared with John.
It was obvious from the way all spoke about John, we were all feeling the exact same emotion at the exact same time. John made people 'feel better' just by being around him.. and his life gave each of us an example how to build on ours.
I consider myself most fortunate, for I've had several individuals in my life by their example and personality have made me want to be a better person... among them, my most dear mother Josephine.. my life partner - my dearest Bernadette.. and there has been John.
September is an absolutely beautiful time of year.. I now have two dates during the month to emphasize for me how precious and fulfilling life is...
... this past 9.3 Bern and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary... and now 9.14 to celebrate the exemplary life of a dearly beloved friend.
Several of the folks in this close knit community expressed the desire to keep John's celebration of life moving forward, by each year holding some form of community event in his honor and memory. It is hoped it comes to fruition, and we will support it in whatever manner necessary to ensure its' success, and we wholeheartedly would look forward to attending.
************************
John had an unbridled passion for all things regarding the great outdoors..
...and he spent his final hours doing one of the things he loved most..
...mountain biking on the backwoods trails (whenever I now see this video I think of JW)
up in the mountains of western North Carolina....
up in the mountains of western North Carolina....
***********************
You can shed tears they are gone,
or you can smile because they have lived.
or you can smile because they have lived.
You can close your eyes and pray they'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all they have left.
Your heart can be empty because you cannot see them,
or you can be full of the love you all shared together.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember them only that they are gone,
or you can cherish their memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what they would want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Conversations With Great Minds - Bill McKibben
Hartmann: Conversations With Great Minds - Bill McKibben (Part 1) | Truthout
Watch both parts of this interview...
We have choices... what we do and where we go from here determines our future fate.
Watch both parts of this interview...
We have choices... what we do and where we go from here determines our future fate.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
.. trouble for the Bill of Rights...
... catching up on some back reading built up while away.. came across this exceptionally well done and important talk by Glen Greenwald (the brilliant young independent journalist writing at Salon.com)..
...would have liked to have sent it on to an attorney we had dinner with one night on the recent cruise.. had a lengthy discussion with him regarding the current US policy of targeted assignations, and detention/ imprisonment... (he was all in favor...)
... long-term trouble for the Bill of Rights...(well worth a listen to the full audio)
...would have liked to have sent it on to an attorney we had dinner with one night on the recent cruise.. had a lengthy discussion with him regarding the current US policy of targeted assignations, and detention/ imprisonment... (he was all in favor...)
.. we are in increasingly serious trouble if we cannot wrestle back control....(as we move ever further away from democratic and legal principles)...
"Pay no attention to man behind the curtain."
... nothing needs to be added to this succinct 700 word piece from Steve Pizzo.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Levers of Power and Wealth Are No Longer
Connected to Anything Real
by BuzzFlash, blog.buzzflash.com/node/12984
September 3rd 2011
STEPHEN PIZZO FOR BUZZFLASH AT TRUTHOUT
"Pay no attention to man behind the curtain."
That was the famous line from Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy caught a glimpse of the fake wizard desperately pulling switches and punching buttons in a vain attempt to impress his visitors of his power.
I think about that scene a lot lately. I see that image in my head when I read about of one attempt after another by our leaders, or other leaders around the world, furiously trying every old trick in the book to get things back to "normal."
So far nothing has worked. Nothing is normal any more, anywhere. If Chicken Little were around today he'd be booked solid on cable talk shows. Hell, he'd probably have his own show.
I've felt for some time now that this turmoil we're experiencing is a horse of an entirely different color -- something we've never live through before. This is no recession -- at least no recession I've seen in my 66-years. I hardly noticed any of our previously declared recessions.
I sure as hell notice this one
Whatever the hell this is, it's no recession. It's something else.
One of the biggest distinctions between this -- let's just call it a "mess" -- and previous recessions is the number of things going wrong all at the same time.
If it were just the banks and bankers getting caught one again with their grimy mitts in the till, we have survived those kind of muggings many times before.
If it were just another cyclical disruption in domestic labor markets, we've seen that before too and, after a few lock-outs, some worker protests and strikes, things settled back down and everyone went back to work.
But this time the meltdown of financial markets exposed some breathtaking evidence; an enormous hunk of what had been counted as "wealth" was actually just valueless concoctions, the value of which depended entirely on the current holder finding a greater fool to pay more for it than they did. When we ran out of fools, those assets immediately morphed into liabilities. (As Warren Buffet put it recently, "You never really know who's swimming naked until the tide goes out.") Trillions of dollars in "wealth" vanished at the click of mouse.
Then there's the job market. Outsourcing -- oh it was all great fun until someone lost an eye. In our case that eye was nearly the entire US manufacturing base. With that went jobs.. millions and millions and millions of jobs. America, which less than 70 years earlier had been dubbed "the arsenal of democracy," for our vast ability to produce, has become instead the arsenal of bickering, bluster and bullshit.
Then there's the rest of the world.
After the fall of the Soviet Union only one super-power remained standing. So it seemed logical for the rest of the developed world to hitch their wagons to ours and shaping their fiscal policies, economies and policies to accommodate ours. They took short courses in the Chicago School of economics where they learned that the less government interferes with the private sector the better. And they learn the magic of "leverage," borrowing, and that "deficits don't matter."
Some learned our bad habits better than others. And now they're sharing beds alongside ours in intensive care. (A satirical movie title comes to mind: "Fiscal Jackasses")
While the wreckage of the world's free market systems continue their collapse, nearly the entire Arab world picked now to decide this is moment in history to rearrange their own deck chairs -- usually at gun point. And, of course, we decided that, rather than deal with our own growing problems at home, to jump right into the Arab world's business -- at gun point.
As I've said before-- this time it's different because there are too many disturbances in "the Force"-- all at once. The center not only cannot hold, but has not held.
So, pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
We are in for it. And, the man, men, women, World Bank, IMF, the Fed -- you see furiously working behind those curtains, can pull those levers and buttons all they want.
It won't do any good this time. Because all those levers are no longer connected to anything real.
"Pay no attention to man behind the curtain."
That was the famous line from Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy caught a glimpse of the fake wizard desperately pulling switches and punching buttons in a vain attempt to impress his visitors of his power.
I think about that scene a lot lately. I see that image in my head when I read about of one attempt after another by our leaders, or other leaders around the world, furiously trying every old trick in the book to get things back to "normal."
So far nothing has worked. Nothing is normal any more, anywhere. If Chicken Little were around today he'd be booked solid on cable talk shows. Hell, he'd probably have his own show.
I've felt for some time now that this turmoil we're experiencing is a horse of an entirely different color -- something we've never live through before. This is no recession -- at least no recession I've seen in my 66-years. I hardly noticed any of our previously declared recessions.
I sure as hell notice this one
Whatever the hell this is, it's no recession. It's something else.
One of the biggest distinctions between this -- let's just call it a "mess" -- and previous recessions is the number of things going wrong all at the same time.
If it were just the banks and bankers getting caught one again with their grimy mitts in the till, we have survived those kind of muggings many times before.
If it were just another cyclical disruption in domestic labor markets, we've seen that before too and, after a few lock-outs, some worker protests and strikes, things settled back down and everyone went back to work.
But this time the meltdown of financial markets exposed some breathtaking evidence; an enormous hunk of what had been counted as "wealth" was actually just valueless concoctions, the value of which depended entirely on the current holder finding a greater fool to pay more for it than they did. When we ran out of fools, those assets immediately morphed into liabilities. (As Warren Buffet put it recently, "You never really know who's swimming naked until the tide goes out.") Trillions of dollars in "wealth" vanished at the click of mouse.
Then there's the job market. Outsourcing -- oh it was all great fun until someone lost an eye. In our case that eye was nearly the entire US manufacturing base. With that went jobs.. millions and millions and millions of jobs. America, which less than 70 years earlier had been dubbed "the arsenal of democracy," for our vast ability to produce, has become instead the arsenal of bickering, bluster and bullshit.
Then there's the rest of the world.
After the fall of the Soviet Union only one super-power remained standing. So it seemed logical for the rest of the developed world to hitch their wagons to ours and shaping their fiscal policies, economies and policies to accommodate ours. They took short courses in the Chicago School of economics where they learned that the less government interferes with the private sector the better. And they learn the magic of "leverage," borrowing, and that "deficits don't matter."
Some learned our bad habits better than others. And now they're sharing beds alongside ours in intensive care. (A satirical movie title comes to mind: "Fiscal Jackasses")
While the wreckage of the world's free market systems continue their collapse, nearly the entire Arab world picked now to decide this is moment in history to rearrange their own deck chairs -- usually at gun point. And, of course, we decided that, rather than deal with our own growing problems at home, to jump right into the Arab world's business -- at gun point.
As I've said before-- this time it's different because there are too many disturbances in "the Force"-- all at once. The center not only cannot hold, but has not held.
So, pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
We are in for it. And, the man, men, women, World Bank, IMF, the Fed -- you see furiously working behind those curtains, can pull those levers and buttons all they want.
It won't do any good this time. Because all those levers are no longer connected to anything real.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
... Take 5: Trip to Europe - August 2011
Had been planning and looking forward to this trip for quite some...
.. regrettably, our friends from the U.K will not be making the cruise with us, as they had to cancel at the last minute.. but we look forward to seeing them sometime while we are in London, and maybe as well when we visit the south of France...
...in the event you might want to come along on a day to day tour recap... glad to have you visit with us...
...all our love... bj & bern
Day 1. Wednesday - August 10th
Flight out of JFK at 9:30am.. took off one hour late (had to replace an engine oil gauge).. but still arrived on time at Heathrow at 9:30pm... met by car service and drove to The Bowood Hotel in Derry Hill.. arrived just before midnight.. had drink & something to eat at the hotel bar and off to bed.
Day 2. Thursday - August 11th
After breakfast, took a taxi over to Chippenham to pick up our rental car.
Then went out to visit Stonehenge.. started to downpour while we were in line to enter, so left the line to see the site and drove over to Avebury, another famous stone circle site... spend most all afternoon at this pleasant little village. Stonehenge will have to wait for another day.
Had dinner at the Shelburne restaurant at Bowood that evening.
Day 3. Friday - August 12th
Went to visit the National Heritage Village of Lacock, one of the picture perfect villages close in the area... fans of the Harry Potter films know it well for the Lacock Abbey, where a good portion of some scenes from several of the movies were filmed.
Around lunchtime we drove over to the nearby Village of Bradford-on-Avon, a charming small village set on the river, and referred to by many as 'the mini-Bath.' Had a very nice and leisurely lunch at The Three Feathers restaurant and spent the remainder of the afternoon touring the many sights of the town.
That evening had dinner at The Landsdowne Arms pub... just outside the 'Golden Gate' at Bowood.
Day 4. Saturday - August 13th
Started off with a visit to the world famous City of Bath in the morning. It's said Bath is the second most visited location in England after the city of London. It was terribly busy on this Saturday, so we just walked about for a couple-three hours, then went of to visit.Corsham, a pretty little village not far from Bath, with one of the most famous tourist locations in the area... Corsham Court..
From Corsham we went to visit Stonehenge..another location in Britain that is known by most everyone.
And then a couple of final stops to visit some of the most recent crop circle formations just outside Yatesbury.. very nearby the Silent Circle.
This one below we did not see.. the two we did were much less elaborate, and in all probability were of the man-made variety...
Day 5. Sunday - August 14th
Traveling over to Twyford this morning (90 min east of Bowood) to visit with Trish, Mark, Ryan, Michael and Maryann... and have lunch along the river at the St George & Dragon Pub.
Then back to Bowood for a long sunset walk around the golf course pathways... our final night in the English countryside.
We enjoyed our stay at Bowood very much and look forward to returning.. maybe to rent the Queenwood Lodge... want to come along?
Day 6. Monday - August 15th...
After breakfast on to Chippenham to return the rental car and pick up the train to Paddington Station in London.. and then a cab to The Millennium Hotel In Grosvenor Square in Mayfair. ..
.. we used up half a tank of gas in the four days... cost 60 pounds to fill it back up.. folks in the US are spoiled... would take almost $200.00 to fill that tank up here in the UK !! (..these prices will be coming to us in America pretty soon !!)...
after checking into the hotel in London and getting settled in, we went for a long walk on Grosvenor Street over to Regent Street and then back towards the hotel on Piccadilly.
Had one heck of a huge piece of English beef for dinner at Goodman Restaurant not far from the hotel.
Day 7. Tuesday - August 16th...
After breakfast today we go over to Buckingham Palace for 'the dress' tour..
they told us 8,000-9,000 people a day tour the palace during summer... seemed like all 9k were there same time as us !! Queen's doin okay with all the cash registers ringing at the numerous 'Royal' gift shops, and all the tour tix being sold...
...to be fair though, it is a very well done tour, the palace and grounds are amazing.. and the ticket does grant you a one year pass to return.
Tonight we do seafood at Scott's restaurant on Mount Street a couple blocks away from the hotel.. said one of the best seafood places in the area... we'll see.
Yes.. it is one of the best restaurants we have found in town.. upscale all the way.. pricey, but you get the goods delivered.. will definitely return.
Day 8. Wednesday - August 17th...
In the morning we take the underground to the Waterloo rail station to head out south to meet up with Brenda (she's 1/2 of the couple from the UK we normally go cruising with).. we're doing lunch with her and then a visit to Mac & Mac Interiors in Farnham.. to see a certain 'Betty' chair we thinking about purchasing for the dining room out in Nevada.... ultra contemporary look... like it allot..
Our friend could not make lunch (she was not feeling well).. but we did venture out to Farnham by rail (an easy journey).. took a look at the Cattelan Italia 'Betty' chair and decided it will work. The price was less than the quotes we got from companies in the States.. so we'll more than likely be ordering them from the store here in England.
... we tried to find this chair in showrooms out west that carried the brand.. but none of them had the chair 'on the floor', and we were not about to buy them sight unseen. So, we had to travel 40 miles outside London to the small town of Farnham to view them.
Dinner that night was at a place Bern came across in the dining section of the NYT in May... the St. John Hotel restaurant off Leicester Square. The meal was exceptional.. very eclectic, intriguing and well prepared food, and service that was top notch... a great find from a piece in a recent NYT by Bern.
Day 9. Thursday - August 18th...
In the morning we'll head over to Knightsbridge and walk-around Harvey Nichols before having a late lunch at 'Dinner' the new Heston Blumenthal restaurant that Bern again read about in the NYT (tried to go for dinner, but they are solidly booked weeks and weeks in advance).
So how was it... great !! Blumenthal's restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental is very trendy, very busy, very expensive... and VERY good !! A starter I had was from a recipe circa 1390 by a chef of Richard II... (and it was fantastic!). Glad we were able to make it there for lunch... believe we'll be skipping dinner this evening though.
Day 10. Friday - August 19th...
Grab some breakfast and afterward catch a cab to the Waterloo rail station.. then off to Southampton to meet up with the cruise ship.
London was an enjoyable stop, although the weather was much cooler than expected or normal for August... overall we have seen very little of the sun since arriving in England a week and a half ago.
The trip down to the Port of Southampton was pretty easy by rail.. a short cab ride to the ship and we were on board having lunch by 1pm. Rest of the day spent setteling in and getting accustomed to the new surroundings on-board the Regent Seven Seas 'Voyager.'
At dinner last night in the ship's main dining room we were seated at the same table with a couple that also lives in Nevada.. in Henderson.. in a community just a couple of miles from us... and another couple Dave & Carol that were on the Regent cruise we took to Peru a couple years back.. and they were also part of a very small group that went on a side trip to Machu Picchu as well.... what are the odds.
The ship set sail at 6pm for Le Havre, France... the first stop on the 14 night cruise ending in Monte Carlo...
Day 11. Saturday - August 20th...
We're free in the morning.. after lunch we go on tour to Deauvill & Pays d'Auge.
We docked in the morning in the small picturesque Port of Honfleur... it is a very quaint and pretty place, easily one where more time can be spent wandering the many wonderful old and very charming streets and numerous enticing shops and restaurants.. an extremely pleasant surprise.
The afternoon tour stopped at a Calvedos winery.. a place that could have easily been skipped.. but the stop at Deauville was an eye opener.
Deauville is an outstanding Normandy resort town... with its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference center, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and one of the most prestigious seaside resorts in all of France. Before visiting here, we had never thought much about it before but it is without a doubt a premier world class destination, and could be somewhere that we could easily look forward to returning to sometime in the near future.
It was too bad Deauville was not an all-day tour stop... spending so little time there was unfortunate.
The ship pulled out to sea at 6pm... tomorrow is one of out two 'at sea' days.. time to catch our breath and do absolutely very little.
Day 12. - Sunday, August 21st...
At sea today... sailing from Normandy to Bordeaux... weather is slightly overcast, sea relatively calm, just some slight rolling side to side from the sea swells.
We're scheduled to arrive at Bordeaux mid-day tomorrow.
Day 13 & 14 - Monday & Tuesday, August 22nd & 23rd...
Still under way, we are scheduled to be docking around noon today. We have a scheduled tour of a chateau & winery this afternoon. Afterward we'll probably stay in Bordeaux for a few hours, then return back to the ship for a late dinner (or should we come across a restaurant on shore we'd really like to try, we'll eat there).
The ship overnights in Bordeaux.
Bordeaux was a very relaxing port stop... being right at the waterfront promenade and being able to walk right into the city both day and night was great.
Day 15 - Wednesday, August 24th...
From 8am to 8pm today the ship was at anchor at Saint Jean de Luz, on the Cote Basque, France.. only a very short distance north of the Spanish border. A small, very picturesque little fishing and tourist village on the coast. Weather was misty for most all the day but not enough rain to make things uncomfortable.
We'll took a coach tour to the resort city of Biarritz. It's a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, and it is a very luxurious seaside town, popular with tourists and surfers.
The town lies in Basque territory, and Basque flags and symbols are prevalent throughout Biarritz. It is a bid deal, world class French resort town... a place that's definitely worth returning to sometime soon.
Day 16 - Thursday, August 25th...
Early this morning we entered the Port of Bilbao, Spain, ... we also today take a tour and visit the nearby resort town of Getxo
Bilbo is really a fairly good sized city, spread out among the surrounding mountains.. and the Guggenheim Museum is the tourist 'show' centerpiece.. an amazing construction.
Getxo is right alongside Bilbo, and one of the suburban areas that expanded population as Bilbo grew in size over the past couple of decades.
Day 17 - Friday, August 26th...
Today we are in La Coruna, Spain... most of the older period buildings in the town were taken down, leaving it with much less appeal... the physical location and the several very large municipal beaches are very nice... well worth a walk about.
This was really more of a port stop for those passengers wanting to go on the all day tour to Santiago de Compostala.. the main inland attraction.
Day 18 - Saturday, August 27th...
Oporto, Portugal is the port stop.. and our tour is to the nearby medieval city of Guimaraes.
After returning to the ship from the tour, we went back out into Oporto for a very nice walk around the city and the bustling riverfront filled with cafes and lots of people.. on a warm late-summer afternoon, it was a very memorable experience.
Day 19 - Sunday, August 28th...
Lisbon, Portugal is our stop today... capital and largest city in the country.. 1/4th of the population lives in Lisbon. The city is the seventh-most-visited city in Southern Europe, after Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens, and Milan, with almost 2 million tourists in 2009.
We're off in the morning to tour the oldest district in Lisbon.. Alfama district....the Lisbon Cathedral... and the Ajuda National Palace.
Day 20 - Monday, August 29th...
The port stop is Cadiz, Spain... but we leave the ship at noon to travel to Seville for the day... we do not return to the ship until 8pm.
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville.
One of the highlights of the tour is a visit to the Alcazar Palace... a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The upper levels of the Alcázar are still used by the royal family as the official Seville residence.
Another significant highlight of the city is the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See.. or the Seville Cathedral.. a magnificent Gothic structure.. the 3rd largest cathedral in the world after St Peter's in Rome, and St Paul's in London.
Seville is a special city.. in normal times a very beautiful and livable place... but as many of the villages, towns, and cities we have visited on this trip to date, it too is having it's fair share of economic difficulties.
With unemployment for it's young people approaching unbelievably high levels.. there are no jobs for university school graduates. And as you walk the main streets and boulevards the numbers of empty storefronts is quite apparent, evidencing just how deep the recession has hit... they too do not know what will bring them out from this crisis.
(With budget troubles everywhere, you wonder just how much longer many of these kinds very costly 'attractions' we have been visiting will be able to be maintained and kept open.)
Day 21 - Tuesday, August 30th...
In the very early hours of the morning we passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, on our way from Cadiz to our next port stop in Barcelona.. arriving there early tomorrow morning.
We spend all day today at sea... time to nurse the colds we both have caught, and catch up on some needed rest.
Day 22 - Wednesday, August 31st...
Arrive in Barcelona in the morning... in all of Europe, one of our favorite cities to visit... lots of street life, and magnificent architecture to enjoy.
Las Ramblas...with its world famous Boqueria Market... Avenue de Catalunya... and Passeig de Gracia... all wonderful street to stroll for hours.
Then there is the old 'Gothic Quarter' of the city, with it's narrow streets and buildings that seem to have been there forever.
A week would be too short a time to spend in this magnificent city... we will be back again soon.
Day 23 - Thursday, September 1st...
We had to take the day off from touring the Provence countryside (our scheduled tour was to be Aix-en-Provence) just north of the port stop of Marseille, France. We just felt a bit too weary and battling sore throats from our colds (Bern visited the ship's doctor to get some medicine to help).
Will maybe go out after lunch (depending how we feel), and see some of the sights of Marseilles.
Day 24 - Friday, September 2nd...
Arrive in Monte Carlo, Monaco in the morning and departed the ship. We meet up with Stephen (our friend living in Monaco), and spent a very pleasant morning at his port apartment overlooking the Monte Carlo harbor. We then picked up a car at a nearby location, and headed over to a small hotel Le Mas Candille just outside the very small town of Mougins just northwest of Monaco for four nights.
Arriving at the town a bit tired we just walked about the old town for a couple of hours.. had dinner on the dining terrace at the hotel (lovely), and went early to bed.
Day 25 - Saturday, September 3rd...
Our 35th wedding anniversary... we were not feeling to well... our severe colds having their way with us. But we did manage to get down to visit with Stephen down in Cannes... just a short drive south from where we are staying in Mougins. We had some lunch at a spot along the beach...
... and then afterward spent a couple hours with him at his apartment on the Rue de Antibes.
We returned back to Mougins late afternoon and had dinner at a restaurant in Mougins.
Day 27 - Sunday, September 4th...
With the 90% chance for rain the entire day, we still decided to make the drive down to Nice to meet up with Dave & Carol for lunch on the beach. Was good seeing them again after leaving the ship, and walking around Nice for a few hours was great.. (and although it did shower a couple of times, all in all it was not too bad a day).
We had dinner back in Mougins again that evening.
Day 28 - Monday, September 5th..
We had thought we'd be taking a drive over to St Paul d'Venice, but still not feeling decided to spend the morning strolling around Mougins and having lunch in one of the town restaurants.
Dinner will also be in Mougins, at one of the several top restaurants for which the town is noted... L'amandier des Mougins
Day 29 - Tuesday, September 6th...
Today we leave Mougins mid-morning and travel to Nice to fly into London for our connecting flight back to New York... we're scheduled to arrive in JFK in the evening around 8pm.
.. regrettably, our friends from the U.K will not be making the cruise with us, as they had to cancel at the last minute.. but we look forward to seeing them sometime while we are in London, and maybe as well when we visit the south of France...
...in the event you might want to come along on a day to day tour recap... glad to have you visit with us...
...all our love... bj & bern
Day 1. Wednesday - August 10th
Flight out of JFK at 9:30am.. took off one hour late (had to replace an engine oil gauge).. but still arrived on time at Heathrow at 9:30pm... met by car service and drove to The Bowood Hotel in Derry Hill.. arrived just before midnight.. had drink & something to eat at the hotel bar and off to bed.
Day 2. Thursday - August 11th
After breakfast, took a taxi over to Chippenham to pick up our rental car.
Then went out to visit Stonehenge.. started to downpour while we were in line to enter, so left the line to see the site and drove over to Avebury, another famous stone circle site... spend most all afternoon at this pleasant little village. Stonehenge will have to wait for another day.
Had dinner at the Shelburne restaurant at Bowood that evening.
Day 3. Friday - August 12th
Went to visit the National Heritage Village of Lacock, one of the picture perfect villages close in the area... fans of the Harry Potter films know it well for the Lacock Abbey, where a good portion of some scenes from several of the movies were filmed.
Around lunchtime we drove over to the nearby Village of Bradford-on-Avon, a charming small village set on the river, and referred to by many as 'the mini-Bath.' Had a very nice and leisurely lunch at The Three Feathers restaurant and spent the remainder of the afternoon touring the many sights of the town.
That evening had dinner at The Landsdowne Arms pub... just outside the 'Golden Gate' at Bowood.
Day 4. Saturday - August 13th
Started off with a visit to the world famous City of Bath in the morning. It's said Bath is the second most visited location in England after the city of London. It was terribly busy on this Saturday, so we just walked about for a couple-three hours, then went of to visit.Corsham, a pretty little village not far from Bath, with one of the most famous tourist locations in the area... Corsham Court..
From Corsham we went to visit Stonehenge..another location in Britain that is known by most everyone.
And then a couple of final stops to visit some of the most recent crop circle formations just outside Yatesbury.. very nearby the Silent Circle.
This one below we did not see.. the two we did were much less elaborate, and in all probability were of the man-made variety...
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| Temple Farm, near Rockley, reported August 7th |
Day 5. Sunday - August 14th
Traveling over to Twyford this morning (90 min east of Bowood) to visit with Trish, Mark, Ryan, Michael and Maryann... and have lunch along the river at the St George & Dragon Pub.
Then back to Bowood for a long sunset walk around the golf course pathways... our final night in the English countryside.
We enjoyed our stay at Bowood very much and look forward to returning.. maybe to rent the Queenwood Lodge... want to come along?
Day 6. Monday - August 15th...
After breakfast on to Chippenham to return the rental car and pick up the train to Paddington Station in London.. and then a cab to The Millennium Hotel In Grosvenor Square in Mayfair. ..
.. we used up half a tank of gas in the four days... cost 60 pounds to fill it back up.. folks in the US are spoiled... would take almost $200.00 to fill that tank up here in the UK !! (..these prices will be coming to us in America pretty soon !!)...
after checking into the hotel in London and getting settled in, we went for a long walk on Grosvenor Street over to Regent Street and then back towards the hotel on Piccadilly.
Had one heck of a huge piece of English beef for dinner at Goodman Restaurant not far from the hotel.
Day 7. Tuesday - August 16th...
After breakfast today we go over to Buckingham Palace for 'the dress' tour..
they told us 8,000-9,000 people a day tour the palace during summer... seemed like all 9k were there same time as us !! Queen's doin okay with all the cash registers ringing at the numerous 'Royal' gift shops, and all the tour tix being sold...
...to be fair though, it is a very well done tour, the palace and grounds are amazing.. and the ticket does grant you a one year pass to return.
Tonight we do seafood at Scott's restaurant on Mount Street a couple blocks away from the hotel.. said one of the best seafood places in the area... we'll see.
Yes.. it is one of the best restaurants we have found in town.. upscale all the way.. pricey, but you get the goods delivered.. will definitely return.
Day 8. Wednesday - August 17th...
In the morning we take the underground to the Waterloo rail station to head out south to meet up with Brenda (she's 1/2 of the couple from the UK we normally go cruising with).. we're doing lunch with her and then a visit to Mac & Mac Interiors in Farnham.. to see a certain 'Betty' chair we thinking about purchasing for the dining room out in Nevada.... ultra contemporary look... like it allot..
Our friend could not make lunch (she was not feeling well).. but we did venture out to Farnham by rail (an easy journey).. took a look at the Cattelan Italia 'Betty' chair and decided it will work. The price was less than the quotes we got from companies in the States.. so we'll more than likely be ordering them from the store here in England.
... we tried to find this chair in showrooms out west that carried the brand.. but none of them had the chair 'on the floor', and we were not about to buy them sight unseen. So, we had to travel 40 miles outside London to the small town of Farnham to view them.
Dinner that night was at a place Bern came across in the dining section of the NYT in May... the St. John Hotel restaurant off Leicester Square. The meal was exceptional.. very eclectic, intriguing and well prepared food, and service that was top notch... a great find from a piece in a recent NYT by Bern.
Day 9. Thursday - August 18th...
In the morning we'll head over to Knightsbridge and walk-around Harvey Nichols before having a late lunch at 'Dinner' the new Heston Blumenthal restaurant that Bern again read about in the NYT (tried to go for dinner, but they are solidly booked weeks and weeks in advance).
So how was it... great !! Blumenthal's restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental is very trendy, very busy, very expensive... and VERY good !! A starter I had was from a recipe circa 1390 by a chef of Richard II... (and it was fantastic!). Glad we were able to make it there for lunch... believe we'll be skipping dinner this evening though.
Day 10. Friday - August 19th...
Grab some breakfast and afterward catch a cab to the Waterloo rail station.. then off to Southampton to meet up with the cruise ship.
London was an enjoyable stop, although the weather was much cooler than expected or normal for August... overall we have seen very little of the sun since arriving in England a week and a half ago.
The trip down to the Port of Southampton was pretty easy by rail.. a short cab ride to the ship and we were on board having lunch by 1pm. Rest of the day spent setteling in and getting accustomed to the new surroundings on-board the Regent Seven Seas 'Voyager.'
At dinner last night in the ship's main dining room we were seated at the same table with a couple that also lives in Nevada.. in Henderson.. in a community just a couple of miles from us... and another couple Dave & Carol that were on the Regent cruise we took to Peru a couple years back.. and they were also part of a very small group that went on a side trip to Machu Picchu as well.... what are the odds.
The ship set sail at 6pm for Le Havre, France... the first stop on the 14 night cruise ending in Monte Carlo...
Day 11. Saturday - August 20th...
We're free in the morning.. after lunch we go on tour to Deauvill & Pays d'Auge.
We docked in the morning in the small picturesque Port of Honfleur... it is a very quaint and pretty place, easily one where more time can be spent wandering the many wonderful old and very charming streets and numerous enticing shops and restaurants.. an extremely pleasant surprise.
The afternoon tour stopped at a Calvedos winery.. a place that could have easily been skipped.. but the stop at Deauville was an eye opener.
Deauville is an outstanding Normandy resort town... with its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference center, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and one of the most prestigious seaside resorts in all of France. Before visiting here, we had never thought much about it before but it is without a doubt a premier world class destination, and could be somewhere that we could easily look forward to returning to sometime in the near future.
It was too bad Deauville was not an all-day tour stop... spending so little time there was unfortunate.
The ship pulled out to sea at 6pm... tomorrow is one of out two 'at sea' days.. time to catch our breath and do absolutely very little.
Day 12. - Sunday, August 21st...
At sea today... sailing from Normandy to Bordeaux... weather is slightly overcast, sea relatively calm, just some slight rolling side to side from the sea swells.
We're scheduled to arrive at Bordeaux mid-day tomorrow.
Day 13 & 14 - Monday & Tuesday, August 22nd & 23rd...
Still under way, we are scheduled to be docking around noon today. We have a scheduled tour of a chateau & winery this afternoon. Afterward we'll probably stay in Bordeaux for a few hours, then return back to the ship for a late dinner (or should we come across a restaurant on shore we'd really like to try, we'll eat there).
The ship overnights in Bordeaux.
Bordeaux was a very relaxing port stop... being right at the waterfront promenade and being able to walk right into the city both day and night was great.
Day 15 - Wednesday, August 24th...
From 8am to 8pm today the ship was at anchor at Saint Jean de Luz, on the Cote Basque, France.. only a very short distance north of the Spanish border. A small, very picturesque little fishing and tourist village on the coast. Weather was misty for most all the day but not enough rain to make things uncomfortable.
We'll took a coach tour to the resort city of Biarritz. It's a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, and it is a very luxurious seaside town, popular with tourists and surfers.
The town lies in Basque territory, and Basque flags and symbols are prevalent throughout Biarritz. It is a bid deal, world class French resort town... a place that's definitely worth returning to sometime soon.
Day 16 - Thursday, August 25th...
Early this morning we entered the Port of Bilbao, Spain, ... we also today take a tour and visit the nearby resort town of Getxo
Bilbo is really a fairly good sized city, spread out among the surrounding mountains.. and the Guggenheim Museum is the tourist 'show' centerpiece.. an amazing construction.
Getxo is right alongside Bilbo, and one of the suburban areas that expanded population as Bilbo grew in size over the past couple of decades.
Day 17 - Friday, August 26th...
Today we are in La Coruna, Spain... most of the older period buildings in the town were taken down, leaving it with much less appeal... the physical location and the several very large municipal beaches are very nice... well worth a walk about.
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| La Coruna -Plaza de Raizor |
This was really more of a port stop for those passengers wanting to go on the all day tour to Santiago de Compostala.. the main inland attraction.
Day 18 - Saturday, August 27th...
Oporto, Portugal is the port stop.. and our tour is to the nearby medieval city of Guimaraes.
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| Oporto, Portugal |
Day 19 - Sunday, August 28th...
Lisbon, Portugal is our stop today... capital and largest city in the country.. 1/4th of the population lives in Lisbon. The city is the seventh-most-visited city in Southern Europe, after Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens, and Milan, with almost 2 million tourists in 2009.
We're off in the morning to tour the oldest district in Lisbon.. Alfama district....the Lisbon Cathedral... and the Ajuda National Palace.
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| Alfama District in Lisbon |
The port stop is Cadiz, Spain... but we leave the ship at noon to travel to Seville for the day... we do not return to the ship until 8pm.
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville.
One of the highlights of the tour is a visit to the Alcazar Palace... a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The upper levels of the Alcázar are still used by the royal family as the official Seville residence.
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| Alcazar - Patio de las doncellas |
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| Cathedral of St Mary of the See.. or the Seville Cathedral |
Seville is a special city.. in normal times a very beautiful and livable place... but as many of the villages, towns, and cities we have visited on this trip to date, it too is having it's fair share of economic difficulties.
With unemployment for it's young people approaching unbelievably high levels.. there are no jobs for university school graduates. And as you walk the main streets and boulevards the numbers of empty storefronts is quite apparent, evidencing just how deep the recession has hit... they too do not know what will bring them out from this crisis.
(With budget troubles everywhere, you wonder just how much longer many of these kinds very costly 'attractions' we have been visiting will be able to be maintained and kept open.)
Day 21 - Tuesday, August 30th...
In the very early hours of the morning we passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, on our way from Cadiz to our next port stop in Barcelona.. arriving there early tomorrow morning.
We spend all day today at sea... time to nurse the colds we both have caught, and catch up on some needed rest.
Day 22 - Wednesday, August 31st...
Arrive in Barcelona in the morning... in all of Europe, one of our favorite cities to visit... lots of street life, and magnificent architecture to enjoy.
Las Ramblas...with its world famous Boqueria Market... Avenue de Catalunya... and Passeig de Gracia... all wonderful street to stroll for hours.
Then there is the old 'Gothic Quarter' of the city, with it's narrow streets and buildings that seem to have been there forever.
A week would be too short a time to spend in this magnificent city... we will be back again soon.
Day 23 - Thursday, September 1st...
We had to take the day off from touring the Provence countryside (our scheduled tour was to be Aix-en-Provence) just north of the port stop of Marseille, France. We just felt a bit too weary and battling sore throats from our colds (Bern visited the ship's doctor to get some medicine to help).
Will maybe go out after lunch (depending how we feel), and see some of the sights of Marseilles.
Day 24 - Friday, September 2nd...
Arrive in Monte Carlo, Monaco in the morning and departed the ship. We meet up with Stephen (our friend living in Monaco), and spent a very pleasant morning at his port apartment overlooking the Monte Carlo harbor. We then picked up a car at a nearby location, and headed over to a small hotel Le Mas Candille just outside the very small town of Mougins just northwest of Monaco for four nights.
Arriving at the town a bit tired we just walked about the old town for a couple of hours.. had dinner on the dining terrace at the hotel (lovely), and went early to bed.
Day 25 - Saturday, September 3rd...
Our 35th wedding anniversary... we were not feeling to well... our severe colds having their way with us. But we did manage to get down to visit with Stephen down in Cannes... just a short drive south from where we are staying in Mougins. We had some lunch at a spot along the beach...
... and then afterward spent a couple hours with him at his apartment on the Rue de Antibes.
We returned back to Mougins late afternoon and had dinner at a restaurant in Mougins.
Day 27 - Sunday, September 4th...
With the 90% chance for rain the entire day, we still decided to make the drive down to Nice to meet up with Dave & Carol for lunch on the beach. Was good seeing them again after leaving the ship, and walking around Nice for a few hours was great.. (and although it did shower a couple of times, all in all it was not too bad a day).
We had dinner back in Mougins again that evening.
Day 28 - Monday, September 5th..
We had thought we'd be taking a drive over to St Paul d'Venice, but still not feeling decided to spend the morning strolling around Mougins and having lunch in one of the town restaurants.
Dinner will also be in Mougins, at one of the several top restaurants for which the town is noted... L'amandier des Mougins
Day 29 - Tuesday, September 6th...
Today we leave Mougins mid-morning and travel to Nice to fly into London for our connecting flight back to New York... we're scheduled to arrive in JFK in the evening around 8pm.
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