Artysim

Reply to It all started with the Shah of Iran. in War on Terror JoeUser Forums

[quote]I think Arty is done. He has not bothered to show up and defend his faulty beliefs because he sees he was wrong and is ashamed to admit it. At least he learned something. [/quote] [quote]You think? What I don't understand is why he wanted to vilify the Shah. I can see why Khomeini would make up 100,000 victims. But why would anybody make up more?[/quote] Leauki and Paladin, You have my apologies for not getting back to you sooner. At this point in time I am work

Reply to So Much For Constitutional Protection in US Domestic Stardock Forums

[quote]Did all those talking points come from Moveon.org? The Act applies to non-U.S. citizens[/quote] No, actually it does apply to U.S citizens. And they're not talking points from a democratic website, as I repeatedly state I am not a democrat and have no love for that hypocritical party. In fact I'm not even an American!! If you actually read the act, there are areas that refer only to 'unlawful' enemy combatants, not 'alien unlawful enemy combatants'. The definition of simp

Reply to Take an Inch, take a mile, take a country, take a Continent in Politics Stardock Forums

Interesting article, Moderateman. As an aside, I'd like to point out that if this kind of 'peaceful' march occurred in Canada it could be prosecuted under hate-crimes legislation. The same legislation that has been insinuated to be an evil means of the government muzzling free speech. I'm not aware of the laws in Great Britain, but it sounds to me like these folks are just exercising their right to freedom of speech! (at least, this is the argument that's been used against me whenever I'

Alternative Energy Solution in Politics JoeUser Forums

In the debate over energy policy we keep hearing about how there are no viable alternatives to replace oil, coal and natural gas as fuel sources. Well, I've got a solution. Invest in space travel. I can tell many readers are now rolling their eyes, but you should know that the Chinese agree with me. In fact, that's where I got the idea from. The Chinese are making serious efforts to get men on the moon in the next decade. And they're not planning on going there jus

Reply to So Much For Constitutional Protection in US Domestic Stardock Forums

[quote]So I ask you, what was the point of the trial in the first place if the Pentagon can simply override the verdict by detaining for as long as it wants?[/quote] El-Duderino- The point of the trial is the same point that kangaroo courts hold in dictatorships across the world... to at least give the impression or image that there is a functioning, impartial justice system at work. You are correct that the Pentagon has the power to detain indefinitely regardless of the verdict

Reply to So Much For Constitutional Protection in US Domestic Stardock Forums

Mason, This is a good article! However constitutionally speaking I believe Americans have far more to worry about from the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which basically repeals the magna carta and habeaus corpus. In this little gem; - You can be seized at any time, for any reason, on the grounds that you are suspected of being an 'unlawful' combatant. Okay, so what is an unlawful combatant? Whatever the Administration says it is. But then they would have to prove you ar

Reply to It all started with the Shah of Iran. in War on Terror Stardock Forums

[quote]The Shah does NOT deserve being attacked by you.[/quote] [quote]That's why you are a liberal. And that's why you have to make up numbers to justify your stance.[/quote] [quote]You see, and that is what I don't get about liberals. You worry about every single prisoner of Guantanamo,[/quote] [quote]For the less liberal and more fact-inclined [/quote] Leauki, did I touch a nerve hmm? First off, why must you always boil everything down to liberal vs conserv

Reply to It all started with the Shah of Iran. in War on Terror Stardock Forums

Tee hee! I chortled a great deal throughout this article. The Shah as a good man? I guffawed at that one. Perhaps you are not familiar with the many unarmed civillian 'terrorists' that his Savak secret polic caused to disapear in the night, never to be seen from again? And for the record, it was not Jimmy Carter that caused the Shah to be overthrown. It was the people of Iran who rose up after decades of oppression and his military and police (those that stayed loyal to him) kil

Reply to Suggestions! in Fiction Stardock Forums

[quote]I was wondering if anybody could suggest some good, new reading material to entertain me! Stand-alone or series! Thanks![/quote] Depends on what kind of books you're into? Sci-fi wise my favorite author is Ian Banks (or Iain M. Banks) and his Culture series of novels. "Use of Weapons" and "Excession", "Look to Windward" and "Consider Phlebas" are all good ones in the series. My favorite was Use of Weapons.

Reply to Gah!! in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]It is big business - but hardly ancient in its current incarnation. Barely 100 years old (less if you subtract war years).[/quote] True. And in just that short amount of time look at the over-inflated boondoggle we've turned it into!! [quote]Here's a random uninformed thought. Rather than have one olympic city why not spread the games around the world? Obviously you need to have some games more centralize, ie all track and field sports need to take place in the same locat

Gah!! in Politics JoeUser Forums

So on friday the Olympics will be starting up in Beijing. Now I'm all for it- the games are an ancient and time honored tradition wherein every nation (well, most every nation) can send their best athletes to represent them in international competition. You know, all that utopian sentimental goo about us putting aside our differences and coming together in common brotherhood (sisterhood? sibling-hood?) to celebrate extraordinary athletics. You know, peace and lov

Reply to The Reality Behind ANWR in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]This is flat out wrong. The administration is begging industry to come up with alternatives that work. They were so desperate for alternatives they went against better judgment to push bio-fuels. It was a short sighted decision that is costing us big time.[/quote] The Bush administration has pursued bio-fuels, this is indeed correct. However, this is also part of a larger pattern that fits in with the administration's ideological views. Let's take a step back and look at this ob

Reply to The Reality Behind ANWR in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]I like Canada, beautiful place, the people are nice too. IMO great and appreciated friends of the US, one of the few NATO countries to pull their share of the load and more. I hope you live close to the border so you can fill up cheaper, at least occasionally.[/quote] Thanks Nitro Cruiser! I believe that if we can all get past the scripted hologram that calls for left-leaning folk fighting right-leaning folk, we might actually be able to buckle down and tackle the real problems

Reply to The Reality Behind ANWR in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]What we believe is that this can help put us on the road to less dependence on foreign oil, a chance to seek out better alternatives and, well what the heck, possibly more money for our own economy since it would be "Made In America" and to me that's a good thing.[/quote] Again in echoing my comments to El Duderino I largely agree with you as well CharlesCS. However, in a situation like this one needs to look at the numbers and see how they'll affect things. I fully acknowledge

Reply to The Reality Behind ANWR in Politics Stardock Forums

El Duderino- [quote]So what we need is to increase our own domestic oil production for the short term so that we won't be as affected by world events in the price of oil. While we are increasing our domestic oil production (OCS, oil shale, and ANWR) we should be investing in alternative energies rather heavily. We need to spend time building an infrastructure to support those alternative so that we can wean ourselves off of oil.[/quote] I agree with you 100 %! Here is whe

Reply to The Reality Behind ANWR in Politics Stardock Forums

And as an aside, even though we produce all of our own oil and export 1.5 million barrels per day to the States, as Canadians we pay more for gas than you do!!!

Reply to The Reality Behind ANWR in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Here’s your truth, the do-nothing congress with there “I need instant gratification now” special interest groups pulling their strings are keeping us dependent on foreign oil. Hey they promised change in 2006 and we sure got it. Last poll I saw 70% of the people want to drill. Pelosi and Reid, voice of the people, ha what a joke.[/quote] Yes, and let's see how long your country could last without foreign oil. Let's see, you'd need to increase your current domes

Reply to The Reality Behind ANWR in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]So your argument is not to replace declining oil production? Great philosophy. If everyone would just stop replacing everything, cars, homes, light bulbs, etc. all our energy problems will just go away. It's called the Stone Age.[/quote] Actually, Nitro Cruiser, I never said that we SHOULDN'T replace declining production, nor did I even offer a solution in this article. All I'm trying to point out here is that there is no silver bullet that will make things b

The Reality Behind ANWR in Politics JoeUser Forums

There's been a lot of talk lately about drilling in ANWR and opening up offshore areas for further development. In this article I will address only the issue surrounding ANWR, as I don't have enough info about the moratorium on coastal development. The Myth: Drilling in ANWR will increase domestic production and lower the price of gas at the pump (eventually) By increasing domestic production we will also be less reliant on foreign oil. The Truth: Drilling in A

Reply to Dou you believe in the Free Market? in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Which countries have 'illustrated' this? [/quote] There's plenty! Chile is a great example. The military dictator Augusto Pinochet orchestrated a coup (sanctioned and aided by the CIA, although that is another story) in which the leftist president Salvador Allende was killed. Allende's policies were very popular with most folks at the time- he instituted price controls so that average people could afford staple food stuffs and utilities, and he nationalized the major cash

Reply to Offshore Drilling Is Bogus in Politics JoeUser Forums

Sorry also forgot to mention that on top of his little windmill he's looking into getting some solar panels on his roof. They're gonna cost him a couple grand after the installation is done, but it's going to cut his electricity bill by almost 70%. If he expands his battery plant, he'll only need to run off commercial power 1 or 2 days a week

Reply to Offshore Drilling Is Bogus in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Wind power is a waste of money at this point in time. Wind is not reliable, because of this you have to have diesel electric generators running 24/7 to provide the power which means you are still burning oil even when the wind turbines are turning. All they can do is sell the added energy from wind to the grid not replace a single generator, if fact you have to build more diesel generators. Where is the logic in that?[/quote] Gonna have to disagree here. Currently most major win

Reply to Dou you believe in the Free Market? in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote]Likewise, the US has never had a planned or command economy. I stipulated that yes, the US government has adjusted the market economy to differing degrees, but they never eliminated the free-market core of our most important industries. Contrast this with China, whose economy's core is planned by the government, and only recently have they allowed market forces to assert limited control over their industry. Is the glass 4/5s full, or 1/5 empty?[/quote] This is true. I do however

Reply to The Material Illusion in Current Events Stardock Forums

[quote]If you can tell me that those town are the same, I will eat this blog.[/quote] Nice! How exactly does one eat a blog? Does HTML cause heartburn??? [quote]Do you go to the Calgary Stampede? [/quote] Yep, this year I did. Took the gf too, it was her first stampede (not me) while it was fun I learned that I am no longer a little kid anymore. We went on two rides and I had to take a five minute breather from the nausea it induced.

Reply to Dou you believe in the Free Market? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Hee hee, looks like a tough crowd here Scotteh! I do however look forward to reading your thoughts on our so-called free market! [quote]2: How do you think the computer you are posting on got in front of you?[/quote] Well, considering that the fundamental inception of the P.C was carried out by hobbyists and enthusiasts who worked together and freely shared knowledge without worrying about patents and profits I think that is a poor example Daiwa. Yes, today the P.C in fron