i am locked in for another 3 years with an option for 2 more

(frank) me
- watsonnostaw

*unzips*

A French hospital says retired Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is in critical condition after hitting his head during a skiing accident.

The Grenoble University Hospital Center says Schumacher arrived in a coma and underwent brain surgery after sustaining a serious head trauma.

The seven-time F1 champion driver fell while skiing in the French Alps earlier Sunday and was transported by helicopter to Grenoble.

One of Cuba's most distinctive anachronisms – roads full of classic cars from the 1950s – looks set to fade into history following the most sweeping relaxation of vehicle imports since the revolution.

For most of the past half century, Havana's traffic has been jammed with Pontiacs, Studebakers, Oldsmobiles, Chevrolets and Soviet imports as a result of tight domestic controls and US sanctions that made it difficult to buy parts and fuel.

Only officials, doctors and others with government connections or proof of foreign exchange income were allowed to purchase new imported cars. Everyone else had to make do with buying, selling and refitting cars made before Fidel Castro took power in 1959.

But in the latest of a series of economic reforms, the council of ministers headed by his brother – the current president, Raúl Castro – on Friday abolished the need for permission and opened up the car market to all citizens.

The Communist party's official newspaper, Granma, said the new regulations "eliminate existing mechanisms of approval for the purchase of motor vehicles from the state".

The measure was partly designed to overcome public frustration at the old regulations, which gave an unfair economic advantage to those who could buy cars and sell them on the black market, often at four or five times the original price.

Granma said the previous system created "resentment, dissatisfaction and, in not a few cases, led to speculation and enrichment".

In 2011, individuals were allowed to buy new cars provided they had permission from the authorities but with almost no new imports this has led to a waiting list of five years.

That approval process has now been lifted and the price will theoretically be set by the market, but state-run businesses will monopolise new car sales and a hefty tax – of up to 100% – may be levied on new models to fund public transport.

As a result, prices of new cars will be extremely high – by some estimates three or four times what vehicles cost in the US. But with more private businesses, increasing overseas remittances and more wealth for farmers, there is unlikely to be a shortage of demand.

Since Raúl Castro took power in 2008, his government has loosened controls on private enterprise and overseas travel, and announced plans to reduce the public payroll by half a million workers. Thousands of small restaurants and clothes shops have since opened up across Havana, more kiosks are visible along the highways and travellers now have the option of staying in small family-run lodges as well as state-run hotels.

The traffic is also slowly changing. Old US and Soviet cars (often with Japanese engines under the bonnet) are still very visible, but they now line up at lights alongside more modern vehicles, including a new fleet of Chinese-made public buses.

that was like the only cool thing about that dictatorship

too bad

that was like the only cool thing about that dictatorship

too bad
- -davies-

I went only once when I was 8 or 9 so don't remember much but I hear another very cool thing there is vacation without americans hahaha

I went only once when I was 8 or 9 so don't remember much but I hear another very cool thing there is vacation without americans hahaha
- dt99999

americans on vacation are indeed horrible. i try to pass for canadian or euro of some kind.

americans on vacation are indeed horrible. i try to pass for canadian or euro of some kind.
- -davies-

I point out I'm not Australian and they should be thankful for it.

americans on vacation are indeed horrible. i try to pass for canadian or euro of some kind.
- -davies-

Just wear a low cut semi-see through shirt and they wouldn't care if you were the son of the worse dictator the world has ever had.

Just wear a low cut semi-see through shirt and they wouldn't care if you were the son of the worse dictator the world has ever had.
- Lahey

this sentence is a mess, but the point is true

boobs really do have the power to both start as well as end wars

this sentence is a mess, but the point is true

boobs really do have the power to both start as well as end wars
- Crimsoninja

Not good news if you are dave. Ninja agreeing with me usually means I said something more solid than what would come from Rob Ford's mouth.

Just wear a low cut semi-see through shirt and they wouldn't care if you were the son of the worse dictator the world has ever had.
- Lahey

ok rodman

yeah i just am nice and don't act like an ass and people love us. but thanks for the scintillating advice.

yeah i just am nice and don't act like an ass and people love us. but thanks for the scintillating advice.
- -davies-

you could always do both

you could always do both
- dt99999

she's a pair of tight pants away from me trying to tag along on her next vacation (i'm an ass man).

Facebook in general, but in particular the people who feel the need to post every day about how 'blessed' they are and how wonderful everything is.

Facebook in general, but in particular the people who feel the need to post every day about how 'blessed' they are and how wonderful everything is.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

I post poop and pissing updates

*joins facebook*

*joins facebook*
- dt99999

Like you're not on it already.

"Oh today I went for a walk and the crossing light was on when I went to cross!" #blessed.

What crap. get (frank)ed positive energy assheads.

Like you're not on it already.

"Oh today I went for a walk and the crossing light was on when I went to cross!" #blessed.

What crap. get (frank)ed positive energy assheads.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

i use the threads on hockeybuzz for my facebook updates. (you're welcome)

i have never felt blessed in my life though. so i post poop about convenience stores and bumholes that i work with and stuff.

she's a pair of tight pants away from me trying to tag along on her next vacation (i'm an ass man).
- kicksave856

i fly everywhere though

what a strange word, everywhere

what a strange word, everywhere
- -davies-

feeling existential today?

what a strange word, everywhere
- -davies-