And if we have learned anything from the Schiavo case, you have to appoint people you trust to see that your wishes are carried out, complete whatever paperwork you can and make sure ALL family members know what you want. No family should be pitted against each other with these types of decisions, but I'm sure it will happen again somewhere, since we don't live in that perfect world where everyone agrees with each other.

 

Terri Schiavo, RIP.

 

I have to think that this thing stopped being about Terri's wishes a long time ago, and started being about personalities, egos, and what not. It really is a shame it had to degenerate to a spectacle in which she was not allowed to die with dignity.

I happen to agree with Lainey. Make sure that your wishes are known beforehand. Don't put the burden on your family, or individual members to prove what you wanted or were thinking.

Also, make sure you have a will, and make sure it spells out your wishes clearly. Don't presume that others will know and/or see things the same way you do.

 

Something to think about, too, Little Table...Terri was only 26 when she suffered the brain injury....

 

Wills are a must, but are not generally read until after you have passed on. In addition to our will, our attorney recommended durable powers of attorney, health care proxies, etc., that way the person we name is the one who will make decisions for us in the event we cannot. As we have just seen, it's important to let other family members know what your wishes are as well.

 

Ulrich,

First, we are NOT going to ruin the already barren wasteland up in ANWR. Prudhoe Bay has proved that it can be done, and that's with OLD technology.

And yes, we will still be dependent on Middle East oil, especially when the economies of China and India pick up speed.

We need to be more creative--oil from shale, oil from ANWR, clean coal, AND (for example) the government contract that was awarded to Daimler Chrysler today to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology. Don't hamstring the U.S. economy, and by extension the world economy, for a slogan. Hell, I'd like to see good old nuclear power plants sprouting up everywhere--do you think Martin Sheen will let us do that?

The government is SUPPOSED to be looking further out than the next election cycle regarding security, economy, energy, and even Social Security. However, we've got almost half of the legislatures burying their heads in the sand about that problem too. If it keeps up, there will be even fewer donkeys in Washington after the next election.

edit: Here's a letter from Alaska's governor to neighboring Washington state--apparently neither senator from Washington (who oppose ANWR drilling) have accepted invitations from the governor to see the site first-hand. Interesting read:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opin...urkowski31.html

 

Nice Cordy

Hooray for the Governor of Alaska for telling it like it is.

fltsfshr

On another note. Right now right here in the middle of the Everglades is an oilfield. One multiple drill site alone is supplying over 6000 barrels a day.

If you know anything about oil...that's a lot from one well site.

The interesting thing is this crude oil is then pumped into an antiquated pipline that goes to Port Everglades. If this ever went, the glades would suffer immensely. In addition the gases are rich in hydrogen sulfides which are almost instantly deadly to breath so these wells have to burn off continously.

This is all passing right through the middle of the everglades restoration project. And we're all worried about Anwar.

There's a lot of continental shelf that can be drilled as well. I know many of the offshore rigs took substantial damage during last years hurricane season.. I don't see any oil slicks.

The technology seems to be already here to drill safely offshore. There's a lot of oil offshore that right now no one is allowed to drill.

Maybe if the Anwar deal goes, we can open up some more areas in the gulf.

fltsfshr

 

Sounds like you've got the right idea Flts,

I would love to shut that 6000 barrel/day operation down (grandfathered in somehow?) in exchange for safer, more eco-friendly drilling on the shelf.

Everybody happy?

 

Agree. Was out of town which means that I watch a lot of CNN in my hotel room. I was waiting for both Anderson Cooper and Larry King to break into that middle-ages chant of "Bring out the Dead".

 

Is this still a controversial thread ??

I am asking before I post something controversial.

I don't want to start any problems.