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Pastimes : Clown-Free Zone... sorry, no clowns allowed -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Box-By-The-Riviera™ who wrote (344605)	9/29/2007 8:10:37 PM
From: Giordano Bruno	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 436258

Children are running the asylum G-7 Debates Whether to Discuss Dollar By NATHALIE BOSCHAT and GERALDINE AMIEL September 28, 2007 11:16 p.m. PARIS -- European members of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations are at odds over whether to acknowledge publicly concerns over the weak dollar at the G-7's Oct. 19-20 meeting in Washington, people involved in the discussions said. By contrast, there appears to be early consensus that the Chinese yuan will receive a mention in the G-7 communique, they said. Advance planners from the U.S., Japan, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Canada are currently deliberating over the content and wording of the closely watched communique to be issued after the meeting, they said. Despite the negative impact of a strong euro on their trade positions, European countries are divided over whether to elevate the issue to an agenda item getting mention in the communique. "It is true that all Europeans are worried about the strong euro, but it is unlikely that we will see any mention of it in the G7 statement," one of the people close to the situation said. The French have been the most vocal among Europeans about their concern that the weak dollar and strong euro was hurting exporters, even calling on the European Central Bank to cut interest rates. German officials recently have expressed concern, but haven't called for action. The people close to the G-7 preparations said the U.S., which insists currency levels be determined by markets and not by governments, objects to making the dollar an official topic. The G-7 meets in Washington ahead of the regular autumn meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The Europeans are worried that their currency continues to climb against the dollar and yen. On Friday, European Union Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia suggested in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro that the EU could take action in the face of the dollar's weakness. "We are preoccupied with the value of the dollar... One can't expect us to remain passive when it comes to paying for the imbalances" of trade between the U.S. and China, Mr. Almunia said. The euro hit a fresh record against the dollar at $1.4209 Friday in anticipation of further rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. "The euro-zone members of the G-7 will speak with the same voice," one of the people close to the G-7 talks said. "Even though all the Europeans are worried about their trade balance, Germany is not worried enough to discuss a mention of the weak dollar in the G-7 statement." While the French trade balance has deteriorated over the past few months, Germany continues to show surpluses. But it is the U.S. that would most likely to block any mention of the dollar weakness in the G7 communique, the people close to the matter said. U.S. Treasury Secretary "Henry Paulson is a strong supporter of market fundamentals and believes currency levels should be set by markets," one of the people said. "Therefore the U.S. is likely to resist any calls to put the fall in the dollar in the G-7 final communique, unless the fall becomes so disorderly that it triggers inflation risks for the U.S. economy." Write to Nathalie Boschat at nathalie.boschat@dowjones.com and Geraldine Amiel at geraldine.amiel@dowjones.com

To: Box-By-The-Riviera™ who wrote (344605)	9/29/2007 8:44:46 PM
From: Secret_Agent_Man	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 436258

Common Sense My parents told me about Mr. Common Sense early in my life and told me I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but less and less as time passed by. Today I read his obituary. Please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance, for Common Sense had served us all so well for so many generations. Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing. Author unknown