@Listos

Then you're already Westernized, and it doesn't matter. 

@Nemmy

But this is fun!

What if Obama was a plant from Al Qaeda, raised from infancy to become president so he could reduce America's military capability in order to soften global defenses so that the upcoming invasion by Al Qaeda's ally, the Martians, succeeds?

If you're wishing a happy Chinese New Year, you should do it in Chinese.  Otherwise, how would they know you're wishing them a happy new year? 

Simple answer to the question posed in this thread:

We should punish them by making a giant vacuum and sucking their heads off with it! 

(I guess this may not have been as funny when I misplaced this post in the Russia thread yesterday)

> sKoE )= wrote:

> World war 3 wont just be fought with nukes . Something you Americans don't understand...

Okay, let me try and explain this.

Let's assume the US and... hmm... Vatican City went to war.  The Vatican wouldn't be able to fire a shot at the US, because, assuming the US wasn't going to hold back, one nuke would flatten the country.  No capability for the Vatican to get a second shot in.

Same issue with China, only it requires more (lots more) nukes.  At some point, such an overwhelming first strike can be launched that the counterstrike is either stopped dead or made so weak that the remaining US forces can repel the offensive. 

> Gladiator wrote:

> BW, I understand where you're coming from, it's great that you're communicating your opinion, but I trust an intellectually smart person like Obama and other members involved in the decision. They have much more information, and qualifications of a person than we will ever have, we can form our own opinion based on what we hear in the media but the truth is there are people much smarter than you or me with access to more information than you or me who are making these decision for the good of the country. We need to at least trust these elected officials and at the least give them a chance to proove some of the media opinions wrong.

BW: A word of advice.  Copy this post and save it on your computer.  You'll know why later. 

Good! 

Gladiator, are those who disagree supposed to say "screw it, do whatever you want right now?"  Remember, just as Obama won the national election, local politicians won their local elections.  Bending over and letting Obama do whatever he wanted would contradict the reason why other politicians (senators, representatives) were elected, unless those people were elected because they agreed with Obama.

Obama's not a dictator, so the opposition should be represented in politics.

Oh, by the way, Hitler was elected.  Would you have given Hitler the first 100 days without opposition?  (i.e., the time he was declared a dictator, and started militarizing the economy?)

> [TI] Sitting Duck wrote:

> Of course it is the most expensive inauguration ever. It is eight years since the last one, and sixteen since the one before that. As time goes by goods and services tend to become more expensive, it is called inflation. Also, the world is a very different place than it was at previous inaugurations. I expect the level of security to be through the roof compared to previous events. This is the first new president since 9/11, which definitely changed the world forever in one way i.e. the amount of security at high profule events.

That would be true normally.  But goods and services aren't increasing in price anymore.  In fact, the economic slowdown means prices are decreasing.  It is called deflation.

As for the inauguration thing... eh... whatever.  I'm not an Obama fan, but who cares.  I'm not a 50 cent fan either, but that doesn't mean I think 50 cent should stop holding concerts.

Besides, it's an important event.  Hell, I honestly think every kid in the US should see the inauguration.  Why?  Because it's a freaking historical event!

Not to mention that, regardless of your politics, the leader of a country is supposed to be a rallying figurehead for the nation, much like Bush rallied the people behind the war in Afghanistan, Roosevelt rallied the people behind WW2, etc.  There needs to be a basic royalty-like respect for the President, only because doing otherwise would destroy the President's ability to rally the people in crisis situations.  I say the bigger the inauguration, the better.  And this is from and Obama opponent. 

Alright, let's go through your hypothetical.  But I will start with a disclaimer: Yes, I think the US and Europe are complete scum when it comes to agriculture, mainly because we subsidize production to export abroad, destroying local markets (oh, and food aid in non-crisis situations.  You wouldn't notice it, but when the US sends long term food aid to other countries, that nation's agriculture is devastated.  After all, why buy wheat from a local farmer when the US and Europe are handing out wheat for free?).

1: No statistics backing it up.  Considering that the US and Europe grow much of their own wheat, corn, soy, and other grains, I'm calling BS right from the start.

2: If the US and Europe buy out these local nation's production, why do they send it back in a Pringles box?  Duh! 
And even if they sent back the food in the Pringles box, that means two things:
A: Businesses are losing money anyway by keeping unsellable food on shelves, and they're screwed anyway, or
B: Some competition among businesses must exist, and the prices would be lowered to accomodate the fact that people would be more willing to buy food at a cheaper price.  One business would undercut the competition by a penny, causes competition, bam!  Problem solved.

3: And the rise of ethanol has absolutely nothing to do with a rise in food production?  You're also on the shit end of this argument.  I could find a dozen qualified articles agreeing with me on this point without even trying.

More later, I'm busy right now.

Matrix, there are more long-term processes going on with the sun than just that single 8-year cycle.  Sunspots is a big issue.  When there were no sunspots on the sun, the weather globally was significantly cooler (documented about 500 years ago).  Now there's a trend toward an increase in sunspots.