War is very ugly. So is the spirit of your post.

V-22s were in service in Iraq when I was there in 2008. Saw them takeoff while our Chinook crew was fixing a fuel leak at BIAP.

I feel for you. I'm curious how it has ruined you. Three guesses:

1. You had to move and kept the mortgage to avoid eating a loss
2. The house requires costly repairs or maintenance
3. The monthly costs exceed what you can currently afford, possibly from a lost job or ARM loan bubble

Our house has lost market value but we're not moving. The P&I, taxes and insurance amount to about the same as we'd pay to rent. Unless something drastic occurs we're riding it out. I realize that isn't an option for many.

Generations typically span 20 years. Boomers are generally considered to be those born between 1945 and 1965. So, yes, GP is a late Boomer.

I don't disagree with your comments about Best Buy's own role in its downfall. However, at the bottom of the slippery slope of failing retailers is Walmart, who survives by undercutting all its competition via massive scale. Walmart is certainly not known for its knowledgeable sales people and great customer service. The only other tech option locally (Minneapolis, MN area) is Microcenter, but there's only one on my side of town and it's a much farther drive than BB.

Geeks like us will always buy our niche components (e.g. graphics cards, HDDs) online. But I do make the occasional visit to Best Buy for accessories such as keyboards, mice, and headphones that I want to touch before buying. I did the same at CompUSA, CircuitCity, and countless other deceased stores. It's a shame they have to charge tax when the base price is the same as Amazon's. Retailers have a legitimate complaint that buyers do their hands-on research in-store then order online to get a better price. If stores didn't charge tax this wouldn't happen nearly as often.

So consumers are criminals, while laws benefiting sales at some companies over others are defended. Your unquestioning acceptance of the status quo is interesting.

We all hate paying sales tax. But giving Amazon a pass on tax while brick-and-mortar stores must charge tax is a significant contributor to the demise of retailers such as Best Buy.

You're just apologizing for the Democrats' lack of backbone. The Republican majority is not large enough to explain the complete lack of attention on Gitmo. Again, the President wants it open or it would be closed. If you have evidence to the contrary please post a link.

Jousts I've seen (at renaissance fairs and in movies) ride on the right angling their lances while protecting the body with their shields. The shield would be useless if riding on the left.