Despite the various social-economic factors vigorously analyzed by writers, editors, papers and bloggers, there are other real factors that are not known and are ignored outside of Greece and the Greek culture. That factor is called "havalé" χαβαλε or "yia pláka" για πλακα. Yes, we all agree that killing a young teenager is unnecessary, just as it is unnecessary killing each other in wars fueled by religious fanaticism or imperialism. Policy brutality is a problem, especially in these 'democratic' societies that use it to oppress the mass opinion. The problem also lies with the masses just as the Athens riots. These teenagers, kids and adults that choose to participate in the riots is guaranteed that are not ideological or want to change the world for the better. It is done for fun because in Greece you can get away with it as Greeks happen to enjoy almost unlimited liberties and are able to negotiate, argue their way through bad situations as their world is forgiving and relaxed. The "havalé" that the majority or these youths and adults are experiencing leads to the high they feel by getting away with it and later end up at the cafeterias, clubs, parties to laugh about it over some smokes. It is the mentality of a Greek hooligan and not ideologists that retreat in secret underground shelters planning the next steps of their global uprising and revolution. Notice the lack of riots for Darfur, Rwanda and Hunger that plagues our World. Then they can lead the revolution, but for now they are having fun and it will eventually fade away.

The Virtue laser eyes were new, looked very good in the package and were very promising to enhance the sensing of the paint in the Freak stock barrel of the Smart Parts Epiphany marker. This is paintball of course and any improvement in the equipment could give better performance to the play. This small board costs only $25 but replaces the stock one with better sighting and an impressive led light. We expected perfection, and mostly, if not every time, perfection as it is individually defined, does not exist. The board was almost impossible to install, did not fit right and it took an hour to put in. After several failed attempts we finally managed to jam it in. So this well advertised product did not match the dimensional specifications of the original part exactly therefore the ongoing trouble. We were fooled to expect perfection. Do not expect anything to be perfect since I am convinced that any condition or object or person have shortcomings. Therefore perfection is defined as the particular degree of tolerance applied to anything in order to be accepted as ideal despite its faults. This text is not perfect either but its meaning should came through...

Given everything that the current governing party has done to ruin this Country, it is only natural and logical to vote for something new, for change, for Obama. It will not be a bad decision since the Economy will improve with him, small business and middle class will greatly benefit, as a country we will do the right things for the environment and we might finally get out from this terrible, costly war. I predict that you will be able to read anytime thereafter and smile on how right it was. Obama will become President, but most importantly there will be a good Administration that will make good decisions and take proper action towards repairing everything. There will be still some trouble with the war, it might be slow to get out of it, and the Economy will take another five (5) years to recover. The results thought will be clearly felt for most of the American people that suffer today, and the World will once again cooperate with US to bring peace, where peace can be brought. No need for wishes, and certainly no need for praying, because the outcome is guaranteed, Obama wins and so will you.

As the World is undergoing the virtual disappearing of the existence of money , it is logical to question everything, not only authority. While we are spending our resources and funding into unknown locations of our Solar System and beyond, the earthly communities are losing the appetite to continue supporting such ventures. The wonder of our existence and of the possible existence of other beings being spores, bacteria or fully developed alien organisms might not be enough to overcome our need to get a job, pay the bills and make sure there is food for the family this and the next day. Nevertheless is still not enough of an excuse to abandon such scientific programs and deprive hard working minds and hands the chance to continue creating the foundation for new discoveries and understanding for generations to come. We should give it everything we got and take away from wars and arms to fund peaceful science and coexistence for the future Earth. Humanity of all ages will not forgive us if we do not continue full steam ahead towards finding that possible alien ocean, bacteria, rock, exoplanet or traces of our early or maybe alternative universe. Space? Yes!

I cannot but continue on this subject, as it has become part of our continuing daily battle to survive. The misguided approved the Bail Out to save large Companies that we are told we all depend on. No surprise that the package contained plenty of money for corrupt greedy executives that have no limit on how much they grab for themselves with multiple mansions, vehicles, planes, vacations and more stuff. How much stuff do they need to be satisfied? With the money they took and take they can finance entire villages and towns and run their economy to support hundreds, thousands of families, but no such great concept runs through their money hungry minds. AIG was put on life support and did not stop the ripple effect nor did the Bail Out that on the aftermath of a further depressed stock market we were post announced that it will take a long time to make any difference. We knew that, and actually we disagree since it will make no difference other than helping large corps and highly paid execs. It will not generate any new loans, working capital or pay the salaries for the small businesses and the small people, even though it is us that financed it. The mortgages will continue to fail and the World will suffer. We said it before and will repeat it that you have to let the capitalistic system work itself out the risk takers that went for big dough and immediate fast return on tricky investments. In the meantime can we please ease off the bad reporting in our records and credit reports since most of us are not responsible for this misery and lack of jobs, sales and loans?

Italy returned an important fragment off the Parthenon stolen by lord Elgin during the Ottoman empire's occupation of Hellas (Greece for some). That is an excellent gesture and another good faith and right thing to do from the World. The accumulated effect of legitimate returns from private collections and museums should apply enough pressure to the British to return to the Hellenes what is rightfully theirs. The Parthenon 'elginian' Marbles currently located at the british museum in London are actually and undeniably for the World to see, enjoy and feel their greatness. This can only be done in Athens at the original location where they meant to be by their creators. Italy, thank you for showing what it means to have honor.

Clearly the big news is the sudden and gradual withing days collapse of the capitalistic system that US depends on. There will be no Bailout for most US Americans since that $700 Billion will go to save the Banks, Holdings Companies and large Insurance Corporations. They argue that if we do not give them the money, the Economy will collapse with the Banks giving no credit or mortgages therefore inhibiting growth. Were have they been recently? Have they tried to get a loan or a mortgage the last few months or couple of years to see how impossible it is for anybody with small income (how do you define small? maybe less than $5 Million?) and any tiny blemish in their credit? Forget it, we do not get any help now, and by giving them $700 Billion we will still not be able to secure loans. The ones that feel the pain are the small businesses especially when they cannot pay their salaries, health insurance, business insurance, their vendors and Sales have diminished with extraordinary increases in energy, freight and raw materials. Include me in that mix since I know first hand, and of others in various Industries. So, we say NO to BAILOUT. Instead, rather than Socializing the System, do not intervene and let the Companies and people associated with those (mostly the well to do that will have plenty to continue) to collapse. It is simple, the thousands of small businesses created by the new wave of released professionals along with the existing small businesses will come in and feed of what the big Corps left behind and will eventually cover the Void. With this system, this is inevitable when there are uncontrollable profits associated with large Corps and their executives. Especially with a horrific government as this one that knows no boundaries in making revenue for their friends and hoarding cash. Hey Capitalists, play the game by your rules and do not regulate...

This should not be anything new for the Industry and the Country. Companies do not fail overnight but rather happens gradually and after years of losses and poor performance. Do not believe that they are surprised of this. They (Government and Executives) knew of this a long time ago, even though I would not know how long that is. They operate by constantly looking and studying the numbers. Cash Flow, Projections, Sales performance, Revenue, Assets. How can they possible miss it and only now realized therefore they go to bankruptsy and ask for help with our money? Many months or years ahead you will find out after some kind of freak exposure that they drew assets and money to unknown stealth destinations before they failed the Companies. And no way you cannot fix such Companies with great assets, cash and ability to operate even at smaller scale. Just give it to turnaround specialists (like my brother and I) and we can repair it in six (6) months the most. Cleaning up, negotiating and delivering hard news to people, vendors and government, is easy. No such luck though. They whine and get more money and more help and they keep their milliions, their mansions and their corporate jets, while the little people get stiffed. Thanks a lot America. That is fair, very fair.

The discovery of this exoplanet is an important step towards realization of the human beings that we might not be alone in the Universe, or even in our own Galaxy. While it does not appear to be able to support life, statistically we are collecting data to eventually support the theory of the existence of living organisms elsewhere. Do not expect nasty alien races that would attack Earth any time soon. If they have been here and could taxi themselves easily in and out our Solar system, they would have stopped by now to say hello in a fashion that it could be properly documented. Enough of those speculative signtings and experiences. As scientists or logical human beings we do not buy it, but many poor souls do and support a nice profitable niche market that could easily be included within the religious markets and their exploitation of the natural human instict to fear what they do not understand. While I am writting too much about this, let us look back at the discovery at hand. So do not expect slimy alien races that want to obliterate Earth, but rather organisms that have come to life and evolved in a different way that ours, but most likely with many similarities. Let us find an extraterrestial incect and celebrate life in our Universe! I cannot wait for the Europa submarine probes, the Enceladus robot landers and maybe some Martian microbes dug up by the Phoenix Lander. To conclude, hey Toronto Scientists, a job well done and thank you for this nice discovery.

Has everyone else noticed that in US there is no real coverage for the Paralympics? There are not many people that care and of course it is not a big money maker, so we do not get to see, hear or surf any coverage. That is unfortunate since there are extremely wonderful and worth of covering accomplishments by so many athletes with certain physical handicap. Anybody that made it to the Paralympics deserves a medal, and this country should have done more to show appreciation. Not everything they allow us to see, should be about money. It is now left up to the individual to search through our confusing electronic world to reach out and get a glimpse of what is happening in China. Watch some of the swimming where the same passion is felt as the regular Olympics, or watch anything to give hope and appreciation for these athletes that strive for life many times more than us 'regular' people.

As we already assumed, Tina Fey was the person selected to impersonate Palin in this new Saturday Night Live. A good performance really by both ladies, but not greatly funny, but I guess is hard to prepare the perfect comedy and satisfy all tastes, the ones that hate her and the ones that for some insane reason like Palin. Maybe when the writers work some better material for Tina Fey the new episodes will be better. As far as Phelps, that was a popular choice  even though not superb in comedy. But so what, given what he has accomplished he deserves a chance in comedy, drama and anything else he wants to try. Still, this episode did not manage to keep our attention too long. It seemed that anything else that you can do late at night was a better priority.

Are you kidding me? Now we will save the Lehman Brothers after paying for the other messed up Banks? If the executives re-invested their millions in salaries and bonuses in the Company and their employees this would not have happened. They used their authority and arrogance to eat, travel, entertain, spent on expensive homes, cars, clothes, clubs and now we are supposed to save them? Let them fail and see what it means to be hunted by creditors and get served at home with lawsuits. Do not take our money and give it to them with the hopes that it will stabilize this miserable economy that the rich destroyed; but without hurting them, of course. We say NO. Let them burn on the stick since they never cared if the little people suffer. I have an idea. What if we excuse all of the debt that the little people have and write off their balance of their real estate loans. That would solve the economy crisis, and the basis of this country, the Middle Class will get going with new small businesses, shopping, creating work and jobs for everybody.