bmags

"Europe was fed up with war to the point where it will never fight another war (France fought Vietnam after WWII, USA has fought many countries, GB has fought Argentina over Falklands and so on and so forth)" Completely beside the point. Obvious to the point of it not even being said, neither of those wars happened between European countries. Clearly, the phrase "Peace in the Middle East" inherently is saying peace...in...the...middle...east. So if Saudi Arabia declares war on Myanmar, that doesn't mean there isn't peace in the middle east. You're claim is that the Middle East is in no way comparable to Europe because of the religious origins of the middle east, and that it's history of fighting is even longer than Europes. I'm sure 100 years ago if you asked someone which region was to be so helpless in perpetual fighting, they'd say without Europe. They've done it forever. Their belief in the righteousness of their country and crown, led to the belief that they deserved all should they manage it. Land = power and money and glory for the country, expansionism shows the Godly superiority of the people and that God is looking down favorably on the country. And so it wasn't just that death they got sick of, it was a realization that these wars were preventing Europe from economic prosperity. While the EU will point to the EU as a symbol of cooperation and their peace, it is their economic deals and cooperation that have led to this 60 years of peace in western europe, with nothing remotely threatening that peace. They realized that war didn't help create trade lines in the modern world, it was destroying them. And so in the MIddle East, the enlightened economic countries we don't speak of. These poor, vastly illiterate are laying claims to ancient land disputes as a way of creating a source of power. And as I hear you lay the religious convictions for Israel, I just don't buy it. I don't buy it when you lay the claims, I don't buy it when I hear Israelis talk about Israel. For one, it comes across as too much chronology. One Jewish professor, not Israeli, when I was in high school talked to us, and gave us this analogy. It's like if you are sitting in a chair at a cafe, and get up to go get cream for your coffee, and you get back and someone is sitting in your chair, do you not have a right to kick them out? For real, that was the analogy, and I'm not saying this analogy is the end all be all and clearly this is the word of the Israelis, this professor, but its somewhat typical in when I hear Israelis talk on the manner too. It always comes across as so chronological. Like that argument is brought out to remind that the Israelis occupied that area once, and so it was given to them by God and necessary to their people. But I'm never convinced that they hold those religious forecasts to a higher plight than that of this was their home, and even if they got removed from it, it is still theirs. And so then you have Palestinians saying the same. Two groups, both with claims to the crown. If that doesn't sound like Europe, I don't know what to tell you. But, if ever these areas develop intellectually and economically, they'll get to the point where they realize how much these wars are costing them in many ways. You know a top reason for murders in general is embarrassment. And one of the reasons youths in the Middle East are so mad is because they feel looked down on by the West and feel anger and embarrassment because they feel that the region should be respected for when it was a thriving economic, scientific and intellectual center of the world. And it is embarrassing when, backed by the west, they can be removed from their land and then beaten so badly. Embarrassment and loss of dignity can be dangerous fuel that can spark some unimaginable results. And it's more than just getting sick of dying. It's the realization that this perpe

QUOTE (Soxy @ Jan 13, 2009 -> 08:33 PM) Yeah, I like him. I liked the Savages a lot. Really funny sweet movie (although I admittedly have a bit of a dark sense of humor). The ending was a tad saccarine--but overall I really liked it. I haven't seen Before The Devil Knows You're Dead--it's been on my list for a long time. I liked Doubt too, and I think the movie was a lot more ambiguous (as to the guilt of Father Flynn) because PSH is so good. That's good because that's how the actual play is supposed to be. Poor attempts at the play find poor actors unable to pull that off.

I disagree with you soxbadger. For one, you could say the same about the middle east. At the time of the crusades none of these countries technically existed as today. And further, many of the conflicts in Europe were about religion as well. And even with that statement about 3 major religions, only two of those religions are having conflict, and the religion aspect is a small part of it. While Jerusalem is always going to be a near impossible problem to solve, the main dispute is clearly the creation of israel on top of other peoples homes at the time and them being driven out, and fighting for that homeland. Within Islam, there are major groups fighting amongst each other, but even then its due to mostly historic claims of ancestry to lands and previous powers. So I don't really buy that it's about religion. It's about an undeveloped region feeding off the ignorance of its people by inciting them on others as a means to keep power.

As far as personalities, they are all equally boring.

QUOTE (LosMediasBlancas @ Jan 11, 2009 -> 03:57 AM) That was my guess, but as I listened to it over and over, I don't think so. have you figured this out yet?

Oh bollocks, Stay positive isn't anything great. AC's album is a defining pop music moment. It's going to place on the billboard charts on VINYL for christ's sake. And it's wonderful.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Jan 13, 2009 -> 01:10 AM) Its funny how much better 09 is than 08 already. haha, AC would def. be #1 and Andrew bird would be #4 for me. I still do love beach house and titus andronicus.

haha, I laughed.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jan 12, 2009 -> 10:22 PM) Not with his knee problems already. Not saying it would be Uribe cash, but not Arod cash. Eh, Teixera just got 200 in this market for his top 5 production at 1b, you don't think Mauer will exceed that by a large amount?

hahaha TPM "You gotta love the candidates for RNC chair. Gay-rights activist and talk-radio host Michelangelo Signorile has posted an amusing piece of audio of Ken Blackwell during the Republican National Convention, telling Signorile that homosexuality is a compulsion that can be "restrained," and he's quite confident he would be able to suppress it within himself -- though of course he's never had any sort of problem like that. "I've never had to make the choice because I've never had the urge to be other than a heterosexual," Blackwell said, "but if in fact I had the urge to be something else I could have in fact suppressed that urge.""

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jan 12, 2009 -> 09:38 PM) I wouldn't like to have Mauer when its contract time no kidding. That position and that production...arod cash.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jan 12, 2009 -> 09:18 PM) There is a huge differnce between being partisan in the process and then not going against the DIRECT law that is written. Of course he can't sign it, it's VERY f***ing black and white in their law. This vote valid? For Coleman? Naaah. Looks like they checked two boxes. For Franken? OK, looks good, it was just an accident and they INTENDED to vote for Franken! Yes. That's what's happening. Do you remember all those sample controversial ballots that balta posted on here that we all guessed spiritedly on? They were pretty much all thrown out, including that check for franken, but write-in for lizard people, or anything where two boxes were filled in, like the one that said no. So how is that happening? The secretary of state and governor could sign a provisional certification to seat Franken while the legal challenges are done.

democrat secretary of state Ritchie who has muscled every election official into fixing the votes for Franken is being so partisan now as to refuse to certify Franken's election according to the law! "Minnesota law is very clear on when a certificate of election can be issued. Neither the governor nor I may sign a certificate of election in the U.S. Senate race until all election contests have reached a final determination. Even if the governor issues a certificate of election prior to the conclusion of the contest phase, I will not sign it."

Or just that Gupta would be a great communicator as Surgeon General.

I mean, we knew something was going to happen. All we were hearing in Sept. and Nov is how if something big doesn't happen soon the two state solution is dead in the water. Really, the Palestinians had their best shot with Olmert. Now, a total hawk is going to be elected, and there will for sure be no peace accords. Granted, his career was over, which allowed him a certain candidness, but he advised giving back land won in the war. You certainly won't get this if Netanyahu wins again.

I blame Joe the plumber

BS, Your avatar isn't showing up for me...

not much more to discuss on it since we missed the initial wave. They are both bombing the crap out of each other. It's not like RU-GA where there were concerns the Russians could keep moving north.

and wouldn't you want to make that man the face of your political party

has anyone seen let the right one in?

keep it up, this is hilarious.

LOL, accusing us of ignoring the facts

KW in the tabloid tribune today brushed aside the JG rumors, for what its worth.

happy its back!

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Jan 6, 2009 -> 10:43 PM) I do like the use of applied statistics and web site design. I also like an advanced artificial intelligence algorithms written by collegues of mine, but that doesn't mean they are a go to source for everything. WSJ factless editorials, on the other hand...gold