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Putin's Extremely Long, Very Weird Press Conference http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2014-12-18/vladmir-putins-surreal-press-conference

Excellent look at Toyota's nascent venture into hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. And incidentally the culture change in the return of a Toyoda to lead the company. The World's Biggest Car Company Wants to Get Rid of Gasoline http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2014-12-17/toyota-embraces-fuel-cell-cars-for-post-gasoline-future

You line up the travel and visas and I'll be happy to accompany you as far as the Malecón. No doubt someone there will be delighted to push you around.

Hmm...doesn't this really belong in the poop thread, AS?

I'm sure AXIOM would Agree ????

And the Coveted Snoop Sister Award goes to Ms Annie.... Damn, you're GOOD girl !

Here's my big ol bottom boy. :drool: :drool:

Merry Christmas, Mr. Putin http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2014-12-18/putin-gambled-on-russias-economy-ukraine-policy-and-lost

And cute, shirtless young hitch hikers anxious to practice their English. Don't forget the hitch hikers. More seriously, your unpleasant friend is echoing a lot of people. As cracks open in the exile block (& Obama demonstrated exactly how to hit its fracture lines), other interests are finding room to push forward more forcibly.

A virulently right wing acquaintance from high school tonight got into a dust up on Facebook defending the opening to his right wing compadres. His point was: China has already got far ahead of us in buying up, one way or another, the underdeveloped economic potential in South America -- do you really insist we eventually let them have even Cuba too? NYT has long editorialized, without using quite these words, that it is potentially a Mexican-priced labor force but of educated, high-skill doctors, technicians, etc.

But where will I find reliable power for my oxy gizmo? Now if MsAnn's hitch hiker wanted a chance to practice his English, I might just be willing to take my chances.

So far 75 years seems to be the absolute max life span for a commie regime with the average being some considerably less, so keep the faith, RA1. It always struck me as odd that same folks who intuitively understood that state socialism was not a viable economic model (not to mention a nasty system to live under) were the most passionately convinced that the only way to get rid of one was to attack it hammer and tong. Interestingly enough, a tong is one of those pincer looking thingies on the upper left. Who knew?

Not to be overlooked is the blunting of Russia's recent cosying up to our close neighbor. This may well have influenced the timing of the President's unexpected action. I bet those who are speaking out against the move are going to be marginalized pretty quick.

You simply do not know that. Resuming diplomatic relations is only the first in a long series of steps that will eventually benefit the Cuban boys economy immensely. I'd go just for the young boys, old cars, and ceegars.

RA1, Mr. Gross was a US contract agent arrested on a rather idiotic, designed to fail mission dreamed up by some air head James Bond wannabe back in the comfortable bosom of the CIA in Washington. He must have been an amateur because any spy with even a modicum of experience would have refused the assignment. My understanding is that after 5 years in a Cuban hell hole, he was on his last legs and had refused medical treatment rather than spend any further time under the care of the Castro brothers. He was saying that he'd rather be dead. We owed it to him to get him out. ---- As to the diplomatic recognition thing, folks can argue about that until the cows come home. Way too complicated for me to figure it all out. However it does occur to me that the 'average citizen of Cuba' does not seem to have benefited much from our non-recognition of his masters government nor does it seem likely he will suffer much from the presence of an American embassy in Havana (as opposed to the "US Interests" section now housed in the Canadian embassy building). But then who knows, maybe I'm just getting too old to see the obvious. Hell, I'm too old and feeble even to enjoy that weekend in Havana. Unless someone wants to volunteer to fly me & my oxy machine down in a private jet? And push me around Havana's Boys Town in a wheelchair. And supply a portable air conditioner. (Maybe Tampa Yanqui would be willing to lend us his. )

Which largely continues in place, alas, until Congress rewrites law. Kudos to the Executive in the meantime. And Il Papa. And, not to forget, Raul.