lizbeth, I am afraid we have even stricter rules . Ordinary people can not send food even home grown.We do have a little GM crops here but most is free of chemicals.

I also afraid I can not see you the wine. As stated it would be difficult here because of custiom checks. You will just have to come to Australia one day, I live near a wine growing region the Yarra Valley.

As far as Rudd is concern his approval ratings are still very high one year after his election. He does travel a lot and fights many causes. The opposition calls him Kevin 747 and having a war on everything.

The New World Order is in the making. The sky is falling,lol... On a serious note (no punn intented) It would not surprise me to see the g-20 come up with a common currency as it seems more likely the closer we get to a failed bailout of the auto industry and the further collapse of Russian markets. You are correct, interesting to keep an eye on..

I doubt that the US would give up the dollar and I doubt that the Europeans would give up the euro, so no comment currency. At most they would discuss give the dollar and the euro price parity temporary, but I am not sure if that would work out well; it would involve artificially inflating dollar value or greatly devaluing the euro.