Comments on: Can We Stop and Ask for Directions? http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:50:41 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Loren Petrich http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/comment-page-1/#comment-96635 Loren Petrich Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:13:59 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/#comment-96635 The continuing rise of the Euro as an international currency. US dollars have long been a favorite international currency because of the strength of the US economy. But now it has competition in the Euro, and if such major financial players as the Saudis start favoring Euros, that could be a major blow to the dollar. And if that happens along with the development of major new therapies and technologies abroad, then it may be especially humiliating to Americans to have to pay much more than Europeans to get them. I know some people who have experienced this "funny money factor", as it might be called. Someone I knew once visited the two halves of Berlin in the mid-1980's, and he recalls that the official exchange rate for deutschemarks was 1 East German one for 1 West German one. But the unofficial rate was something like 20 East German ones for 1 West German one. The continuing rise of the Euro as an international currency. US dollars have long been a favorite international currency because of the strength of the US economy. But now it has competition in the Euro, and if such major financial players as the Saudis start favoring Euros, that could be a major blow to the dollar.

And if that happens along with the development of major new therapies and technologies abroad, then it may be especially humiliating to Americans to have to pay much more than Europeans to get them.

I know some people who have experienced this “funny money factor”, as it might be called. Someone I knew once visited the two halves of Berlin in the mid-1980’s, and he recalls that the official exchange rate for deutschemarks was 1 East German one for 1 West German one. But the unofficial rate was something like 20 East German ones for 1 West German one.

]]> By: Should I Really Use My Real Name? http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/comment-page-1/#comment-95617 Should I Really Use My Real Name? Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:28:58 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/#comment-95617 <blockquote>Stephen, PLEASE tell me you’re being sarcastic. If not, I will need to take a hammer and smash my forehead with it.</blockquote> I've got a hammer if you want to borrow it Kate.... ;)

Stephen, PLEASE tell me you’re being sarcastic. If not, I will need to take a hammer and smash my forehead with it.

I’ve got a hammer if you want to borrow it Kate…. ;)

]]> By: Kate http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/comment-page-1/#comment-95602 Kate Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:43:28 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/#comment-95602 Stephen, PLEASE tell me you're being sarcastic. If not, I will need to take a hammer and smash my forehead with it. Stephen, PLEASE tell me you’re being sarcastic. If not, I will need to take a hammer and smash my forehead with it.

]]> By: Stephen http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/comment-page-1/#comment-95539 Stephen Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:30:45 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/#comment-95539 Helloooooo people. If humans evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys? I swear, those scientists don't have a lick of common sense if they can't figure that out. Helloooooo people. If humans evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys? I swear, those scientists don’t have a lick of common sense if they can’t figure that out.

]]> By: stogoe http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/comment-page-1/#comment-95510 stogoe Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:35:42 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/#comment-95510 Maybe China will land on the moon, and take a wizz on the US Flag we left there 40 years ago (and then never looked back). That might jumpstart our interest in space and science again. Oh, wait. China will just leverage all our debt and cripple us financially if we try to do that. Fuck. Maybe China will land on the moon, and take a wizz on the US Flag we left there 40 years ago (and then never looked back). That might jumpstart our interest in space and science again.

Oh, wait. China will just leverage all our debt and cripple us financially if we try to do that. Fuck.

]]> By: grazatt http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/comment-page-1/#comment-95459 grazatt Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:55:15 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/#comment-95459 That cartoon is too true to be funny, now I am evem more depressed! That cartoon is too true to be funny, now I am evem more depressed!

]]> By: Jeff http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/comment-page-1/#comment-95270 Jeff Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:39:29 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/#comment-95270 Yes, America is due for another wake-up call. The USSR launching Sputnik back in the 50's triggered a nice little science explosion here in the USA. Now, though, America is back asleep... preoccupied with consumerism, religiosity, and a celebrity culture. Most scientists here are imported from other countries. The home-grown culture is definitely anti-science. I don't know what it will be, but somehow America needs to re-capture that sense of discovery. And I don't mean that "close your mind to the world and open it to God" type of discovery. Yes,

America is due for another wake-up call. The USSR launching Sputnik back in the 50’s triggered a nice little science explosion here in the USA. Now, though, America is back asleep… preoccupied with consumerism, religiosity, and a celebrity culture. Most scientists here are imported from other countries. The home-grown culture is definitely anti-science. I don’t know what it will be, but somehow America needs to re-capture that sense of discovery. And I don’t mean that “close your mind to the world and open it to God” type of discovery.

]]> By: I Could Use My Real Name But I'm Too Chicken http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/comment-page-1/#comment-95244 I Could Use My Real Name But I'm Too Chicken Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:39:12 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/11/27/can-we-stop-and-ask-for-directions/#comment-95244 Neither is my uncle ;) Neither is my uncle ;)

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