minha_raposa

Wasn't reported before the war that they had around 13,000 missiles? Now they reportedly have more than 25,000. They really have rearmed, huh.

I thought I ain't getting enough sleep these days but apparently I'm getting enough sleep to miss quite important events. Gotta ask: When did we declare war against Islam? Can someone quote something that would point me to when and where that happened?

No one did, but they pass it off as if it were to infuriate the mindless masses.

They have one stated goal: Impose Islam on all of the world.

I think China will have a little issue with this idea when they come knockin on their door. Everyone keeps talkin bout the west n all... I'm sure a billion pissed off Chinese that have mandatory military training will be a force to be reckoned with.

I believe most EVERYONE in the world who has not been touched by the violence will be a force to reckon with when it comes to brass tacks. I'm not even sure Hugo Chavez will go for it and today he is there best friend!

I thought I ain't getting enough sleep these days but apparently I'm getting enough sleep to miss quite important events. Gotta ask: When did we declare war against Islam? Can someone quote something that would point me to when and where that happened?

You are correct. I mis stated my intent...Islamic terrorist. We are not at war with Islam and I appologize for implying that we are.

America's mistake(s) is/are that we are gullible to think that we can make a pack of rabbid animals sane or that we can force democracy in the Arab world. We can't. Nor should we try.

The old addage "actions speak louder than words" can be applied to everyone who claims Islam is a religion of peace. Certainly, without a doubt, gauranteed, and I emphatically agree that their are MILLIONS of PEOPLE OF PEACE within Isalm; however, those muslims who have the GREATEST IMPACT on the world (and peaceful muslims) are the savage spokespeople for this religion. They are the ones the world sees, and, as such, their minority is a majority. They cannot be defeated by the USA, nor can they be defeated by any other - including moderate, peaceful muslims. They have one stated goal: Impose Islam on all of the world. They will not rest until they have achieved the unachieveable. When the earth ends they will still be in violent Jihad!

Unfortunately, we can't win this war with Islam as long as we are dependent on their oil. We can't become self sustaining in our own consumptions until we stop thinking about lining the pockets of oil companies and invest in retrieving oil within our own lands and developing alternative resources. As long us Republicans remain consumed by greed for the dollar and Democrats continue to prevent development of our natural resources we will forever be tied to Arab oil. What will we do when the oil runs out...or when the Arabs decide NOT to sell us their oil? Our economy will be crippled! Hell, they don't need violent Jihad to defeat us - they only need to turn off the spigot.

The way I see it, there is but one way to win this war (without complete annihalation of the Middle East) and that is complete isolation of the USA from the Middle East. We must become self sustaining and until we do, we will remain over the barrel. If we can ever pull the proverbial head out of our asses and work together, as Dems and Repubs. will we be able to solve this problem. Only then can we say screw the diplomacy and implement a travel ban for Americans to the Middle East and Arabs to the USA without a damn good reason.

To hell with what the rest of the world thinks. No matter what the USA does we will be criticized by the world anyway.

I'm number 45 and in the top 25% of highest reported salaries.

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Leaders across the Muslim world demanded Pope Benedict XVI apologize for his remarks on Islam and jihad, unmoved by the Vatican's assurances that he meant only to emphasize the incompatibility between faith and war.

The torrent of rage unleashed by Benedict's comments in a speech in Germany stirred fears of violent anti-Western protests like those that followed the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

Two churches in the West Bank were hit by firebombs Saturday, and a group claiming responsibility said it was protesting Benedict's words. Scattered protests elsewhere, however, have been peaceful.

Benedict cited an obscure Medieval text that characterizes some of the teachings of Islam's founder as "evil and inhuman" — comments some experts took as a signal that the Vatican was staking a more demanding stance for its dealings with the Muslim world.

Well now...seems to me like the Muslim ACTIONS certainly give credibility to what the Pope said! Still, we NEVER, EVER see muslims proclaiming peace get get as fired up and protest against terrorists as they do against the non-muslim world.

This does not respresent the actions of any form of CIVILIZED society!

Say what you will. You're free to have an opinion. However, it's not the peaceful, everday muslims (the ones who are also being killed and terrorised by the terrorists) who are giving power to bin shaytaan. It's people like you.... who either know that Islam has nothing to do with them or their actions, or who just don't care to find out the truth, who give him and his devils their power. People like you want an excuse to hate anyone who's different from you. You can lay the blame on muslims if you want but it doesn't make it true.

You give those terrorists exactly what they want. Their goal is to spread hate and fear and you play right into it.

Like I said before, anyone who thinks osama bin shaytaan or any of those other terrorist groups have anything to with Islam is just feeding the frenzy of ignorance.

They want you to react out of fear and terrorise and kill innocent muslims for their actions. That is how they spread thru the muslim world using the violence the US commits as an excuse for their behavior.

When the US drops bombs on cities filled with innocent people to punish the whole group for a few rotten apples, it fuels the fire for those groups to recruit new members.

When the US gives money and arms to those who attack and actively seek to wipe out the Arab/muslim population, it adds fuel to the fire and encourages muslims in other parts of the world to hate it.

When the leader of the free world gets on TV to openly proclaim his war against Islam, it adds fuel to the fire and gives muslims throughout the world an excuse to hate the US.

You think the US is so innocent in everything? Pfft

First off, I don't hate anyone other than terrorists. Second, what you - for whatever reason (density?) - fail to comprehend is that the TERRORISTS HAVE TAKEN THE POWER FROM THE MAJORITY. Your kumbaya ain't killing people and therefore you have not one once of influence over world opinion. Peaceful Muslims make no impact because they are peaceful. Your religion is run by terrorist and even the peaceful muslims are much too thick to even see it.

Why don't you stop blaming the USA for all of the problems in the muslim world and realize that for thousands of years the muslims have earned the reputation of lunatics and barbarians.

Muslims need to stop with the poor victim syndrome, stand up and take responsibility for your faith and stop blaming everyone else. Can muslims NOT see the real world beyond the end of their noses?

Where the he!! did you she the leader of the free world proclaim war against Islam?????????? You need to show that as fact! You know danm well the President has NEVER proclaimed war against ISLAM!!! That if a filthy LIE and a spread of MISINFORMATION by MUSLIMS to incite hatred and discord.

...and you wonder why we think like we do!

WE did not blow up your mosques did we? We did not initiate this sh!t but we are going to finish it since the peacefull muslims are lacking the intestinal fortitude to do the job themselves!

AND...how come you (VP) avoid answering the question I asked? Why won't muslims rise up and take back their peaceful religion from the extremists.

As for you not being peaceful: I have all confidence that you are; however, you are in the minority. Forgive the analogy, but you are but a chiuahua defending your faith that is being run by a bunch of pit bulls.

And so I deserve to die for the sins of those who I am not like???

What do you expect us normal people to do about it? Your military can't stop them but normal every day people like me is supposed to lead an attack against murderers?

And, because we are also afraid of them we should die???

I'm sorry but that's the same mentality osama bin shaytaan has.

How can one defend these scum bags when they even kill their OWN brothers and sisters, women and children??

I don't hear anyone here defending them.

Let me get this straight...The Muslims citizens will come together and form a militia against the US armed forces, yet they are completely HELPLESS against 0.05% of their bretheren extremists? Pitiful EXCUSE!

I don't think anyone deserves to die except those who are terrorist. Unfortunately, that same 99.5% continues to allow the extremist to live amongst them and provides comfort and shelter. They use your brothers and sisters as shields! Hell...they even KILL there OWN children all in the name of God. That is one FUKCD up god if this is what the Islamic faith represents.

Yes, because you are afraid of them you should be willing to die so your faith can hold up its head again. You should be willing to die so your children do not have to be afraid of them. You should also be willing to die so others can live...so the REST of the world can live in peace.

Our troops volunteer for this very same priciple. Our citizens took over flight 93 KNOWING the would die so others could live. It is called courage. If all of the good Muslims (the majority) carry the same "what can I do about it" attitude as you, then the extremist (minority) wins. The minority has become the majority. Islam will be eternally lost.

VP, you come on here and Champion the cause of Islam like a designated spokesperson, yet when someone comments or questions, you seem to think it is directed specifically at you. It's not.

Most people (of any race and faith) prefer to avoid conflict (of any kind) and simply live a quiet life.

Absolutely agree!

Good Muslims often pronounce in private how "peacefull" they are, yet they take to the streets and PROTEST against America. The token Muslim Imam may even go on TV and proclaim a faith of peace but the MASSES do nothing other than proclaim America the "great satan".

Maybe if America would stop killing innocent muslims in the world (or supporting when other terrorist organizations do it), peaceful muslims might stop protesting against it.

Maybe if you good Muslims would stop spending all of your energies grousing and trying to change the way Americans think about Islam, and take charge of your religion through your own actions, then perhaps Americans will eventually believe Islam is peaceful. Until then, you might as well just suck it up because the profiling and stereotyping will not and should not stop.

I have never killed or called for the killing of any innocent person... how are my actions non-peaceful?

ETA: Infedel... DUDE!!... your new siggy freaked me OUT man

WE did not blow up your mosques did we? We did not initiate this sh!t but we are going to finish it since the peacefull muslims are lacking the intestinal fortitude to do the job themselves!

AND...how come you (VP) avoid answering the question I asked? Why won't muslims rise up and take back their peaceful religion from the extremists.

As for you not being peaceful: I have all confidence that you are; however, you are in the minority. Forgive the analogy, but you are but a chiuahua defending your faith that is being run by a bunch of pit bulls.

Are all muslims committing or involved with these activities, I'll be the first to say NO, probably not even 99.5%. The fact is that the people trying to kill Americans are doing so in the name of Islam. Therefore it's only natural to target this group. If it was tibetan monks targeting American they would also naturally be targeted.

So it's OK to kill the 99.5% who aren't in order to get revenge on the .05% who are?

There is power in numbers! Why don't the 99.5% who aren't take the action and KILL the .05% who are???! It is a shame that that same .05% is destroying your entire religion and yet you allow it. That .05% is also responsible for the deaths of thousands upon thousands of YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS and you all stand idly by and LET it happen. Blame it on America. Claim they don't represent Islam, yet you both read from the same Quran. Extremist ideology comes from the same pages as your ideology. Stop being victims and fix this problem yourselves. Only then will the Great Satan go back to hell and live in peace

They are labeled in the name of religion because the PROCLAIM THEMSELVES in the name of Islam. If the good people of Islam do not LIKE the label, then DO SOMETRHING ABOUT IT...take back control of YOUR own faith!

I can proclaim myself to be a fancy-butterfly-winged-fairy but that doesn't make me one and it's not likely that you would believe I am one just because I said it.

Even if you were a fancy-butterfly-winged fairy noone would really give a rat's azz unless you went around blowing people up and proclaiming that all people of the world must become a fancy-butterfly-winged-fairy or suffer your wrath. Then we would become suspicious of all fancy -winged-butterfly-fairies and would we would stereotype them as well.

Any group...be they Christian, Jew, Pagan or those of the peach pit worshipping religion - ANY group that established a violent and pronounced history based on death and destruction in the NAME OF FAITH should be stereotyped and profiled until their actions continuously DEMONSTRATE PEACE.

Good Muslims often pronounce in private how "peacefull" they are, yet they take to the streets and PROTEST against America. The token Muslim Imam may even go on TV and proclaim a faith of peace but the MASSES do nothing other than proclaim America the "great satan".

QUESTION: Why the hell aren't the TV screens filled with all of the "peacefull" Muslims of the world taking to the streets by the millions protesting against the MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALIST??????!

They are against the USA doing anything about them, yet the peaceful variety does not believe in there faith enough, or simply lacks the courage to do the job themselves.

Maybe if you good Muslims would stop spending all of your energies grousing and trying to change the way Americans think about Islam, and take charge of your religion through your own actions, then perhaps Americans will eventually believe Islam is peaceful. Until then, you might as well just suck it up because the profiling and stereotyping will not and should not stop.

One bad apple spoils the barrel? Maybe, maybe not; however, when you get a barrel with one bad apple, you are certain to look much more closely at the rest before DECIDING they aren't bad as well? I know I would!

Edit: Sorry Jenn I didn't read all the way down to see that you already clarified the error there

To further clarify, and I think I can safely speak for most muslims here regarding this... I don't believe anyone here has issue with anyone speaking out against terrorism... we do it too... guess what? Muslims are afraid of terrorists too

It's when they are constantly labeled as 'islamists' or 'islamics' or 'radical muslims' or 'extreme muslims' that gets my goat. Why label them with any religion? They are not practicing Islam so why call them islamics? They are terrorists... plain and simple, nothing more. When we give them religion as a backing we open the door to many many evils.... a few examples I can think of right off hand... 1. prejudice and hate against anyone who truly practices that religion... 2. Further confusing the youth into believing those terrorist are doing something in the name of God and turning them into 'martyrs'... 3. Giving into the desires of the terrorists who want people to believe they are doing God's work.

I say cut them off! Let them know that NO ONE believes they have anything to do with God! Not the muslims! Not the christians! Not the jews! Not the pagans! NO ONE!!!!

If you really want to be technical about it they are not even muslim because the things they do take them out of Islam... they are disbelievers. Don't give them Islam or any other religion.

They are labeled in the name of religion because the PROCLAIM THEMSELVES in the name of Islam. If the good people of Islam do not LIKE the label, then DO SOMETRHING ABOUT IT...take back control of YOUR own faith!

College football RULES!!!!

AUBURN TIGERS!!!! WAR EAGLE!!! (and ANYONE else in the SEC excluding Alabama)

The law states that anything that stimulates the genetalia is prohibited.

Does that include spouses?

I think if they had their way spouses would be banned! Here is a link that explains more about the law:

Sex Toy Law

wow,, the baptist church is indeed following some of the more radical teachings of islam

Yep, that's Baptist for you! I grew up Southern Baptist and It's what scared me away from that "pew jumpin" fanaticism! My brother is a life long deacon in the baptist church and even he thinks they are a bit extreme at times.

Ever heard of the Baptist sect that worships rattle snakes??? Psycho!

Baptist are responsible for having the sale "adult toys" outlawed in Alabama. The law states that anything that stimulates the genetalia is prohibited. Whack jobs!

And then will come the boycott of France for being the advocate of the devil...

Can't wait to have some freedom fries again..

Well, we all know that no matter WHAT happens in the world the french won't be there to help. They will be hiding under the sand Americans died on for their freedom.

Bring on them Freedom Fries!

And the US won't stop trotting out that old chestnut...

Give it a few years we'll be guilt tripping the Iraqis as well

What??? The ONE thing the world can count on is that NOONE can count on the French. Case in point: The French were *supposed* to lead the multi national force of 15k soldiers into Lebanon. Now they backed out and only offer 400!!??? Italy is now stepping up to the plate and has offered to lead the French ( who championed the effort by the way) turned tail!

Old chestnuts or not...the truth is the truth and the French are, well...

And then will come the boycott of France for being the advocate of the devil...

Can't wait to have some freedom fries again..

Well, we all know that no matter WHAT happens in the world the french won't be there to help. They will be hiding under the sand Americans died on for their freedom.

Bring on them Freedom Fries!

May sound silly, but are you buying a one-way or RT? The reason I ask it because I had the same problem bringing my wife from Brasil. I also found a RT to be a better deal than the one-way, and I was able to purchase the ticket for her here in the USA and avoid this same hassle you are dealing with. While you may waste the return portion (I hope), the cost is certainly insignificant.

For instance, I just made a OW vs. RT search on TAM for August 20 flying from GRU to MIA.

The OW portion cost R2.520,26 and a RT (returning on August 27) costs R2.5279,85. There is only about a R70,00 difference!

Again, if you do something like this, you CAN book from here and send the ticket to you SO.

###### luck and many congrats to you both!

I have read everything a hundred times. I read it all before I posted. But it is really overwhelming when you first start reading it. Also the search never really works for me. I have been searching for the panel physicians list and still not found it.

Yes some of the questions are clearly posted by people who did not read anything and that is annoying.

physicians for the medical for a k-1? i had to go to the consulate site to get those for nessa. pm me if you need help finding such.

perfect example of advice being given without knowing the question.

Cristy, to find a panel physician near you, or civil surgeon, go to THIS page and fill in the City, State, and ZIP code, or the district. It will give you a list of physicians in your area.

Isn't Christy asking about the panel physician and not (un)civil surgeon? That link you provided is a US civil surgeon locator. It's been a while for us, but I recall the panel physician is in the foreign location and used for the physical.

Nice link though, Roi...we did not know about it when we were search for the (un) civil surgeon last year.

Oh no! I have to feed my cat and clean her bowl! I can't leave her locked in a tiny cage all day and I can't leave her tied up in the yard with no shelter! Whatever will I do?

I'm sorry, I'm totally failing to see how there's anything wrong with this lawy ...?

Remember you said that if they decide to start monitoring you and how you care for your animals. Far-fetched? Yes. However, that is what this law seems to allow. How else will they know that the size of any cages are adequate? That you feed the animal the proper amount, at the proper time, and that you're NOT using a plastic bowl?

Laws such as this provide far too much of an opportunity for governments to intrude and monitor what goes on in your own home. Yes, I believe that animals should be protected. However, I also believe in the right to be safe and secure against unreasonable searches and seizures in my own home.

As I said, a little far fetched. That's what people thought about taxes on your income at one time, too.

Cian-

You are correct. In this ANIMAL ordinance it also talks about the DEA and domestic violence, and how you can be searched and that any violation of this ordinance may constitute grounds for such things. I've also listen to attorneys talk about the potential searches fore animal abuse also presents probable cause to search for other illegal activities. Again, just another way for government to get in your house.

By the way...the author of this sad piece of work is a certifiable lunatic. Ms. Mayer (author) is also under investigation for ethics and corruption violations associated with her council activities. There is a massive effort underway to get this ordinance repealed altogether and are more reasonable legislation presented.

Oh no! I have to feed my cat and clean her bowl! I can't leave her locked in a tiny cage all day and I can't leave her tied up in the yard with no shelter! Whatever will I do?

I'm sorry, I'm totally failing to see how there's anything wrong with this lawy ...?

Remember you said that if they decide to start monitoring you and how you care for your animals. Far-fetched? Yes. However, that is what this law seems to allow. How else will they know that the size of any cages are adequate? That you feed the animal the proper amount, at the proper time, and that you're NOT using a plastic bowl?

Laws such as this provide far too much of an opportunity for governments to intrude and monitor what goes on in your own home. Yes, I believe that animals should be protected. However, I also believe in the right to be safe and secure against unreasonable searches and seizures in my own home.

As I said, a little far fetched. That's what people thought about taxes on your income at one time, too.

The entire section quoted above by minha_raposa actually refers to pet stores and animal shelters. Nowhere does it regulate how much space dogs and cats must have in private homes, what sorts of bowls they must have, or anything else. I repeat, the section she quoted does not apply to private citizens but only to pet stores and animal shelters.

Many other things on the site she linked to are false. For example, it says that you can be charged with animal cruelty for having your dog off-leash at a dog park. Now, I don't have a dog so I've never been, but I've never seen a dog park that didn't have a fence around it. And the law says your dog must be contained by a fence *or* a leash. So if the dog park is fenced, the dog can be off-leash.

Most of the provisions of the law are also not new. You've always been required to register your pet, keep its vaccinations up-to-date, not let it roam, etc. I've never lived in any city that didn't have laws requiring those things (and I've lived in seven cities in four states), even though very few people follow them.

Frankly, your full of sh*t, and apparently have NOT ready each section of the ordiance. These section are covered under BOTH parts of the ordinance. As for the website, you obviusly did not look for the actual ordinance link that I quoted from. I've been following this BS from the beginning, and apparently, you just got here and suddenly you are an expert on all things Albuquerque.

You need to go back and read the law because if you DID you would know that Pet stores are no longer allowed to sell dogs or cats (as you quoted above)!

You think it's cool and you know so much? Well, I can assure you that if not already, you WILL do something that violates this ordinance that constitutes animal cruelty under the ordinance which can result in probable cause for the government to come into your home.

Sorry, but I don't have time to debate your ignorance or put up with your sarcasm. I've nothing else to add with you. Take care!

... although you now have to get written authorization to have more than six pets in a household.

That will make me strike NM out of my list ... I wonder if you can have more than 6 fish in your aquarium ...

Seems like lawmakers in NM have nothing to do...

You got that right. Contrary to sparks, here are a few of the excerpts of this ridiculos ordinance.

ABQ Animal Ordinance

Environmental Enrichment. Owners shall provide safe products, appropriate for the species, that will stimulate mental, physical and grooming activities.

(A) Leash Law. All Animals, other than wild Animals not owned by any human, must be restricted at all times by either a Secure Fence, a Secure Facility, a Secure Enclosure, secured in the back of a pickup truck, inside a vehicle with proper ventilation, or be on a leash no longer than 8 feet long accompanied by a person able to control the Animal.

(1) Companion Animals kept in Cages or Crates indoors must be kept in a Crate, Cage or enclosure larger than that required for Boarding Kennels, Pet Stores and Animal Shelters in § 9-2-2-4 of this ordinance.

Trolley. A person may apply for a Trolley Permit as a means of restricting an Animal to one's property. Trolleys shall be used for no longer than nine hours in a twenty-four hour period. The animal attached to a Trolley shall be surrounded by a barrier sufficient to protect the Animal from At Large animals. The barrier shall be sufficient to prevent children from accidentally coming into contact with the chained animal. To use a Trolley, the Owner must have a valid Trolley Permit.

(1) Food. Mammals and birds shall be provided with uncontaminated, edible, nutritious food, which is of adequate quantity as to maintain the normal weight and condition of a healthy Animal. Additionally, the amount of food administered and feeding times must properly conform to the individual Animal's age and condition. Food should be stored in a rodent proof and insect proof container. Open food must be kept in covered, washable containers. Refrigeration shall be available and used for partially consumed cans of food. Food and water dishes must not be made of plastic and must be washed after every meal. There should be a designated area available to wash dishes with hot water and the appropriate disinfectant.

(2) Water. Mammals and birds shall be provided with constant access to a supply of Potable Water in sufficient amount as to maintain good health as required by the species whether the Animal is outdoors or indoors.

(B) Indoor - Secure Facility.

(1) Minimum floor space and other requirements for cats.

(a) Cats shall have a minimum of four square feet of flat floor space and twenty-two inches of vertical space.

(a) Dogs weighing less than 30 pounds shall have eight square feet of flat floor space and two feet of vertical space per dog.

(B) Dogs weighing between 30 and 65 pounds shall have 12 square feet of flat floor space and three feet of vertical space per dog.

© Dogs that weigh more than 65 pounds shall have 24 square feet of flat floor space and three feet of vertical space per dog.

(2) Adequate Shelter and shade. Animals that are not allowed free access to go inside a building must be provided with Adequate Shelter and shade. A structure that provides Adequate Shelter might not provide adequate shade: for example, a doghouse that protects the dog from wind and rain may be too hot inside when exposed to direct sunlight during the warmer months so shade must also be provided. Outside housing shall protect Animals from any extreme weather conditions that may be detrimental to the health or comfort of the Animals. Suitable drainage must be provided and there can be no standing water.

As for dogs... once the new HEART ordinance goes into effect, the city of ABQ regulate how you are allowed to play with your dog, what kind of (required) toys you are allowed give, what kind of bowl your dog is allowed to eat from, annual registration and fee requirements, etc.. Thanks Sally Maes!!!

Err. The requirements about toys and things like that were removed before the law was passed. And registering your pet has always been a requirement. The fees for pet ownership are not increasing, only the fees for having an unspayed/unneutered animal, and the number of litters per dog and per owner is limited.

For people who spay/neuter their pets like responsible owners, the only real difference is the microchipping requirement (and you can get the chip for $6 at the humane society to take to your vet to inject--or to inject yourself if you know how), although you now have to get written authorization to have more than six pets in a household. And the law also increased the amount of time shelters will hold pets before putting them down, which is surely a good thing.

Not true. look at my last post and the highlighted points. Straight from this absurd document. Personally I dont give a flip, but I KNOW Ms. Mayer 's ongoing BS she puts to council and she is a frigging NUT first class! Took 3 years to write this ordinance to. There is much more to this than I will go into here, but it does not JUST deal with protecting animals. It's as much about getting probable cause to enter your property for alterior reasons.

We moved to Santa Fe from Albuquerque last November for my work in Los Alamos. What I can tell you is Santa Fe is very artsy and eclectic. Like everywhere in New Mexico, it is very beautiful and you are centrally located to most anything you could ever want to do (except go to the beach). The weather here in New Mexico is virtually PERFECT year round...summers hot with very little humidity, nights cool 50's to 70's, and winters with temps that you don't freeze in with mountain snows and GREAT skiing. We are in the monsoon season right now so it may rain once a week or less. The downside to Santa Fe is the housing...very expensive, and not much nightlife; however, Albuquerque is only about 45 minutes south and it is a much, much bigger city and housing is significantly less. The downside to ABQ is the punk-### looser gang bangers!

As for employment...there are several high quality hospitals in ABQ and SF (Lovelace, Presbyterian and Women's Hospital, and the UNM hospital in ABQ). The area is also high tech with Intel, Sandia National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory and others such as Eclipse Aviation. If you are skilled, high-paying jobs are easy to find but most unskilled or those limited with skill typically work for a little better than minimum wage in ABQ. Santa fe has a "living Wage" that raises the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour.

I did want to point out that Albuquerque also recently passed a law increasing the minimum wage, and the cost of living here is *much* lower than Santa Fe. I love to visit Santa Fe, wouldn't want to live there.

Albuquerque is desperately seeking nurses, my apartment complex is full of new nurses from Oklahoma sent by a medical staffing agency (the agency puts them up here for 90 days while they find housing; some just move into other apartments in the complex).

We've had rain three times this week so far and that's less than it rained earlier in the month (it rained every day from June 30 through July 10; not all day every day, just that we got a thunderstorm every evening or morning); I thought Santa Fe was supposed to get *more* rain than 'Burque, not less?

I totally love Albuquerque, and in fact took my current job just so I could move here. It's got real character in a serious way, and it's gorgeous. And the cost of living is low, and the people are super-nice, and it's sunny all the time. (Okay, it's sunny *almost* all the time but we've had three thunderstorms this week.)

Oh, and the punk-### loser gang-bangers are pretty much only in certain parts of the city. Don't go there and you'll be fine. There's no danger to going to any of the cool stuff, if by cool stuff you mean downtown, Nob Hill, Old Town, museums, any of the parks [great hiking here, in a variety of environments, up at the top of the mountains, along the Rio Grande, through the Petroglyph Nat'l Monument...], NE Heights, NW Heights ...

Since you mentioned dogs: I've never lived anywhere as dog-crazy as Albuquerque. Everyone has dogs, nearly all landlords allow them, and the city has several off-the-leash dog parks.

I'll agree with you about ABQ...I lived there from 1994 until Nov. past, and would MUCH rather live there than SF. However, she was mentioning the liberal eclectic kind of area and I don't think there is any NM place more so than SF. You are very much correct about the "bad" areas but I have lived all over the NE heights and can assure you that you will also meet the punks in even the best neighborhoods. Its not that they do thing to your property so much as you encounter them in traffic situations. All in all though, the problem is not much different than you would encounter in other larger type cities...I just have a real adversion for the TYPE of fricking losser kid that we have here. No respect for anyone!

As for dogs... once the new HEART ordinance goes into effect, the city of ABQ regulate how you are allowed to play with your dog, what kind of (required) toys you are allowed give, what kind of bowl your dog is allowed to eat from, annual registration and fee requirements, etc.. Thanks Sally Maes!!!

I forgot about the ABQ living wage, but it does not go into full implementation for another year or so as it is a phase in kind of thing.

Bottom line: I am with Spark...ABQ is the better place.

Santa Fe, NM is very nice. My aunt lives in the mountains above, the Jimenez mountains, and it's breathtaking country. It's nice to be able to go to Santa Fe for the southwest feel then up into the mountains for hiking, skiing, waterfalls. I highly recommend Santa Fe. But it can be expensive and make sure you're moving into a nice area. White Rock is a very nice one.

With a fiance from the UK who lives literally next to the sea and with me being from the Great Lakes State it's not something that would work for us. We need to see water

Joey

We moved to Santa Fe from Albuquerque last November for my work in Los Alamos. What I can tell you is Santa Fe is very artsy and eclectic. Like everywhere in New Mexico, it is very beautiful and you are centrally located to most anything you could ever want to do (except go to the beach). The weather here in New Mexico is virtually PERFECT year round...summers hot with very little humidity, nights cool 50's to 70's, and winters with temps that you don't freeze in with mountain snows and GREAT skiing. We are in the monsoon season right now so it may rain once a week or less. The downside to Santa Fe is the housing...very expensive, and not much nightlife; however, Albuquerque is only about 45 minutes south and it is a much, much bigger city and housing is significantly less. The downside to ABQ is the punk-### looser gang bangers!

As for employment...there are several high quality hospitals in ABQ and SF (Lovelace, Presbyterian and Women's Hospital, and the UNM hospital in ABQ). The area is also high tech with Intel, Sandia National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory and others such as Eclipse Aviation. If you are skilled, high-paying jobs are easy to find but most unskilled or those limited with skill typically work for a little better than minimum wage in ABQ. Santa fe has a "living Wage" that raises the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour.

As for public transporation, the bus services are very good in both SF and ABQ and they get you to most places you'd want to go. ABQ has also just established a new rail transit system that goes between the outlying towns and will soon go to Santa fe. Driving is fairly simple and the roads generally good when they don't have orange barrells everywhere. The drivers are another story altogether...the only advice I can tell you is DO NOT GO when the light turns green or you may well DIE, and DO NOT look at other drivers or even act like you are mad that they just ran you into a wall because it is a sign of "disrespect" and you may DIE.

Overall, life here is very good.

Good luck!

p.s.- check out the Monster.com job board. Presbyterian has 100's of jobs available for most every medical profession.

By the way... Santa Fe if OVERFLOWING with Liberals and hippies. You want Kumbaya then this is your town. There are even a few hippy communes around real close. Madrid comes to mind (an old mining ghost town revived by the artist and hipsters)

Maybe the civilians should not have allowed a terrorist organization to openly operate within its borders. Seems like a poor choice now, doesn't it?

Perhaps the civilians should not have elected terrorists to represent them in districts now under attack?

Show me one resource that proves this....YOU CAN"T because its FALSE. Do some research about the history of Lebanon.

If the civilians did not ELECT 23 Hizbollah then who did? Why did the UN pass resolution 1529 (?) requiring the government of Lebanon to disarm Hizbollah as a condition of Israel withdrawing 2000? And why can't the legitimate government of Lebanon get the terrorist out NOW? Because the legitimate government of Lebanon is a PUPPET of the governing masters of Hizbollah (Iran and Syria).

I feel bad for the citizens of Lebanon and Palestine, but people should wake up and realize that if you sleep with dogs, your going to get fleas. A government with elected officials who are tied to confirmed terror groups is DIRECTLY responsible for the actions of that terror group and is therefore a terrorist regime. As such, a terrorist government that attacks any other country becomes a legitimate target for reprisal.

There are not 23 Hezballah cabinet members...there isn't even one! The Lebanese government has been doing just that, they have been disarming Hezballah though negotiations since that time. This subject is extremly fragile as it would be a cause for a civil war which the government of Lebanon does not want.

Taken from the CIA fact book 2006

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held in four rounds on 29 May, 5, 12, 19 June 2005 (next to be held 2009)

election results: percent of vote by group - NA; seats by group - Future Movement Bloc 36; Democratic Gathering 15; Development and Resistance Bloc 15; Loyalty to the Resistance 14; Free Patriotic Movement 14; Lebanese Forces 6; Qornet Shewan 5; Popular Bloc 4; Tripoli Independent Bloc 3; Syrian National Socialist Party 2; Kataeb Reform Movement 2; Tachnaq Party 2; Democratic Renewal Movement 1; Democratic Left 1; Nasserite Popular Movement 1; Ba'th Party 1; Kataeb Party 1; independent 5

Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)

Source

How much power does parliament have?

Not much, experts say. "It's a mirror of society, and it's rare that parliament can move decisively on any issue," Murphy says. The 128 members of parliament are elected to four-year terms. In last year's parliamentary elections, the first since the Syrian withdrawal, seats in the parliament were divided between three main parties:

* Tayyar al-Mustaqbal (Future Tide) coalition, seventy-two seats. An anti-Syria opposition coalition led by Saad Hariri, a young businessman and son of the former prime minister. Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, joined forces with Walid Jumblatt— head of the minority Druze community and leader of the al-Taqadummi al-Ishtiraki, or Progressive Socialist Party—and several notable Christian politicians to create the coalition. Hariri and his group have strong backing from the United States, experts say.

* Amal Party/Hezbollah, thirty-five seats. Hezbollah, the armed Shiite militia backed by Iran, has wide political support in Lebanon's Shiite south, where it is credited with ending the Israeli occupation. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, formed a coalition with the Amal Party, a Shiite group led by Nabih Berri, a former military officer considered one of Syria's main collaborators in Lebanon. The Amal/Hezbollah group is now the main Shiite party in Lebanon.

* Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), twenty-one seats. FPM leader Michel Aoun is a Maronite Christian, former military commander of the Lebanese army, and former prime minister who spent fourteen years in exile. He returned to Lebanon in 2005, and his party made a strong showing in last year's election, polling strongly among Christians. The election results, along with Aoun's longtime reputation as a staunch opponent of Syria, have made Aoun the most influential Maronite leader in the country. He is often spoken of as a potential president.