PRAISEninJAH

What is your (Clarence and Robert) relationship now? Did you know each other in prison?

I have a hamster story you may enjoy. Sophomore year of college I adopted a hamster from an acquaintance who was not allowed to keep pets in her new apartment. When she gave me the hamster, who was promptly named Buddha (previous name was terrible), she informed me that he was quite sick and had a large tumor - thus insinuating that my tenure with Buddha would be brief. This was fine by me, I could give Buddha a good few months but wouldn't have to worry about moving with him in a year. So she drops off the hamster and leaves, and I decide to investigate the tumor. I pick up the little guy and am looking everywhere for a tumor but can't find one. I call the girl and ask her about it and she tells me to look towards the hamsters rear end on his underside. Well it slowly dawns on me that she thought the hamsters testicles were a tumor. Buddha lived for another 2 years, big balls and all.

Buddha story part 2 - this one is not as funny. I used to let Buddha run around the apartment under supervision and one day he plopped right into my shoe and fell asleep. I thought it was adorable so i call my roommate over and we start filming him sleeping in the shoe. All of the sudden he wakes up and startled himself so bad (I assume because he woke up in a shoe and not his cage) he started having a seizure and died. So I have this terribly morbid video of my roommate and I cooing over this chubby hamster sleeping...and it slowly transitions to us freaking out and filming his death.

Thanks for creating a safe place for hamsters! I have to ask a question so: What is your favorite breed of hamster?

There are some misguided/misinformed people in this thread downvoting you. I would like to personally thank you for being a strong voice in this conversation. Whether I agree with your proposals or not, I think it is incredibly important to not only acknowledge this problem, but offer solutions. There are many loud voices in this debate, but few offer such concrete plans.

Hello Matteo, Thank you for coming here today.

Have you seen an rise in your American market business over the past decade?

I am closely tied with the high-end cocktail scene in our city, and your cherries and liqueurs are a staple inventory item at every bar. There has been a resurgence of classic cocktails (sometimes called pre-prohibition cocktails in America) in America over the past 10 years or so - many of which feature your products. I am curious if the resurgence of these bars and drinks has dramatically effected your business.

Additionally, what percentage of your business does the American market represent?

An investment in education is an investment in the economic future of our country. Many people immediately oppose any plan that will cost them a little now, but could potentially benefit them (and their country) in the coming years. It is this sentiment that is making progress in education reform so slow and also why there are so many negative comments and votes in this thread. It is frustrating to witness.