That sounds like a very nice gesture to a family who really needed the support.

Perhaps they need a "Ronald McDonald House" in Sofia. American fast food giant McDonalds actually does sponsor facilities (large homes, really) near hospitals where families with hospitalized children can stay at little or no cost.

Hi DA-
One more for you. Insure should be ENsure, but the distinction usually is not made in modern writing.
INSURE: protect against loss
ENSURE: guarantee, make certain
ASSURE: give confidence

I say that tongue-in-cheek because I don't like it when people are so focused on grammar that they miss the content of what was said. You made an interesting point in your post...

"As horrible as it is, truthfully now that we have meddled in Iraq, we cannot just gift it to Al Qaeda. We do have to insure some type of security and stability there…even though we are unwanted and hated…"

Your implication is that "post-meddled" Iraq is something better than "pre-meddled" Iraq was; i.e., now it's something too good to gift to Al Qaeda. The assertion that we shouldn't have "meddled there" in the first place could then be construed as a statement that you (y'all, not just DA) think we should have let Al Qaeda take it initially and saved ourselves the trouble of stabilizing it.

Does this mean that you think W has achieved something there? Does it mean that you see value in the increased stability in the region?

I'm just having fun. I respect your views, but I did feel the tug of a contradiction at the end of your post, so I wanted to ask.

jm

WW,
Be sure to let us know when you get that baby published! I am sure you'd have an interested audience here, myself included. Enjoy the process. I wish you luck.
jm

mo,
oh I don't know....
I think your mom's pretty hot for 80+.
She needs a MUCH younger man, one who's not past his shelf life.
hmmmm...
;)

mo,
"JM, what does DA know about me besides getting misty on all kinds of places when talking to me...
I am the nicest man and to prove it..."

Of course you are! I already know that. She'll come around. Some just take more time to understand your finer points.

gaaaaak.
Love,
jm :) (And you would NEVER let your mom sell herself, especially for only HALF a bread!)

Hi mo,
hahahaha!
I did. Actually, to tell you the truth, I thought you were a combination of Vas and hectic. Vas because of all the chest pounding Bulgarianisms and hectic because of your lack of punctuation that implied that you were typing along with all your might without breathing! I knew you were joking when you implied that there should be economic justice. (jk)

Glad you have your sense of humor back. DA was right, but not to that extent of course... you were not your usual charming and ahem extremely did I already say charming self for a while there!

love,
jm

Hey WW,
Did you ever finish that novel you were writing during NaNoWriMo or whatever that is called? (or were you editing, because you'd make a hell of an editor.)
jm

Hi mo,
I'm sorry. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know.
I'll sit quietly now.
jm (please, breathe!)

Oh come on, Bulerican.

"Tom,

Remeber, when I need lip from you I will scrape it off my zipper."

Sweetheart, you misspelled "remember."
jm

Hi DP!
Just one more word from me about the sneers, snipes, and the wide range of other insults seen here.

It is possible that more of the sneers were censored in previous years, but I'm quite comfortable in saying that today's forum is a much more hostile place than 2004's forum. Back then there were always a few who seemed to exist simply to smack others around, but they were by far outnumbered by the interesting people who had something to say about Bulgaria and much less vocal, I think. Nobody got that bent out of shape (for very long) if someone veered off topic or if their opinion wasn't intelligent enough, capitalist enough, Euro-friendly enough, etc. I still read the forum fairly often, but most days just leave me shaking my head and wondering, what's the point?

Perhaps it is just the season, but I do wish people would settle down a bit and afford each other at least a bit of civility. I'm really sick of reading comments about how stupid, ill-informed, ugly, inexperienced, trollish, (fill in the blank) "everyone else" is.

Best wishes for a pleasant and more tolerant year to all,
jm