when I look at the rescue operation they don't seem to have many people pulling rubble from each building

and most of the people pulling the rubble are using their bare hands

it seems much less sophisticated than a rescue operation in Japan (where tney have much bigger earthquakes) or even China (where you see thousands of people poring over each building)

for a first world nation in an earthquake zone it seems like italy should be far more ahead of the game

they can't blame it on the size of the earthquake either

No 1 American Dreamer…first of all you are an idiot…second of all I guess you don't know or care that most of the villages in that region are on the tops of mountains and hard to get to, the buildings old and crumbly…third yes Japan and China have better rescue teams but they are also bigger countries with more people and therefore more resources to have that kind of thing. Give me a break with your holier than thou attitude.
It's a horrible thing to happen anywhere and I am pretty sure the Italians aren't "blaming" it on the size of the earthquake…even a little tremor can do a lot of damage.

@Jane:

I actually lived through two major California earthquakes and while I am just a humble lawyer with a Harvard Law degree (which by all means still permits me to be an idiot) I did listen to several BBC telecasts where the issue of Italian earthquake preparedness were raised and everyone in the telecasts agreed the Italians are completely absymal when it comes to earthquake preparedness: they have done next to nothing compared to other rich first world industrialized nations to prepare for this kind of an earthquake.

Anyone who has traveled to Italy…and I go to Milan on business from time to time and my law firm has a Milan office…knows that services, transportation, the hospital system in Italy are all abysmal by any European standard. And not just in Southern Italy.

It is a shame you have to resort to calling me an idiot instead of making a solid argument against me. Just turn on the BBC tonight and see for yourself: the earthquake response readiness in Italy sucks.

@Jane:

first of all the towns in italy are not "on the top of mountains"

anyone who thinks any town is "on top of a mountain" is an idiot in my book

i would agree that the italian response to this emergency has been mediocre at best

this earthquake occurred at the epicenter of italy's earthquake zone so you would at least hope school buildings and hospitals were in earthquake resistant buildings but they were not

this reminded me of the recent earthquake in china where the buildings housing children were the poorest quality construction

@american dreamer: You're a lawyer and you don't capitalize or punctuate??!! Sad!

@Dan:

i only surf the internet when i'm drunk on appletinis which makes correct spelling or capitalization difficult

American Dreamer, I can tell you are a sucessful attorney, your rebuttals here today are top notch, and clever.

Besides, surfing and commenting on the internet is akin to relaxing in sweat pants at home. You have to wear a suit and use correct spelling and capitalization while at work. There is a big difference, DAN @#5, Gah.

Also, American Dreamer, next time your in Milan, can you pick me up a nice pair of shoes, size 38 I think? (american size 6)

Italians might not have the earthquake preparedness thing down, but they make great shoes.

Dude can't even spell "pouring" Attorney my ass!

Let me help you with that Dan, think about my analogy:

commenting on gossip sites: wearing sweats at home: casual

working as an attorney in the office, using correct spelling and capitalization: wearing a suit: proper.

Or think of it this way: what do you think the legal secretaries and paralegals do?! Correct the spelling and capitalization of the attornies.

You may want to look it to this line of work Dan. Your eagle eyes for spelling and capitalization could be made profitable for you.

Just a thought.

@That No Name: Hey, your thinking is fine if you want to appear illiterate. That's your business. Defending the dumbing down of America could be YOUR cause!

Dan, that's a GREAT idea!

I think I'll start with some sort of grass roots resistance to "Grammer, Spelling and Capitalization Nazis" that take issue with comments on websites and/or blogs.

Maybe we can get big like PETA or something.

@That No Name: Good for you. Why don't you start with teachers, the biggest Nazi's of them all? Grammar is spelled this way, BTW. I can see why you are so passionate about illiteracy!

pore? ?/p?r, po?r/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [pawr, pohr]

–verb (used without object), pored, por?ing. 1. to read or study with steady attention or application: a scholar poring over a rare old manuscript.
2. to gaze earnestly or steadily: to pore over a painting.
3. to meditate or ponder intently (usually fol. by over, on, or upon): He pored over the strange events of the preceding evening.

I like your suggestions Dan. I really appreciate you attention to this!

But I think I should start small.

For example if a teacher were to go ape-nazi on someone's spelling on a gossip blog, then I would resist them as if they were any other Grammar (Thank you so much for catching that!)
Spelling and Capitalization Nazi.

I think I'll stick to resisting the GSCN in the areas that are casual in nature, like a gossip blog, not were such things as grammar and spelling and capitalization are vitally important, like a classroom or a court room.

What say you, Dan?

Yes, that's exactly what I did, go ape Nazi. Later, tard.

Oops, Dan, did you get offended at one of my hypothetical "for instances" with the ape nazi reference? I didn't have you in mind AT ALL. I don't know why you personalized it.

Anyway, thanks for playing along. Later, indeed.

ok so wat age are use? 2
i wud think not
so stop fitin over silly things.

my frend was in that earthquake. and we stil havnt found out news from her.
so rite now she cud be dead or alive. but all use care about is the dumbing down of america.
pathetic

think of all the families hu are rite now goin thru the pain of losing a loved one.. how wud u feel.

this isnt a battle of hus smarter. it shud be a battle to help as many ppls lives as possible