Is the US now a eunuch?

[silverfox]

Sad to see the last Shuttle mission launching today.

Budget cuts, yes. Russians to supply the International space station for the next two, if not three years. Unthinkable a few years ago.

The first black president has inherited a poisonous chalice.

Spend billions on space or on welfare? Keep being the protector of the free world or withdraw into isolationalism? The world is sitting on a fulcrum. Don't delude yourself that China will ride to the rescue.

The future prosperity of the world hangs in the balance

[paphio]

it is all very well all dulwichich todler learing mandarin...the chinese already speakek english, and all technical word are not going to sudendteliy be transalated into medarin are they

[silverfox]

Sorry Pafio, explain that to me again?

As I understand it Mandarin is the official language of China, in a country with hundreds of different dialects.

To have multiple variations of a language where different provinces can't understand each other is difficult for me.

I suppose, for me, it's like being in converastion with some Glaswegians or Geordies, even though they're speaking the same language.

[Thomas Micklewright]

So you think the Chinese will keep with English?

Yes I think American should run a policy of isolationism, their foreign policy has caused enormous problems. They need to concentrate on issues at home like health, business and crime.