[rondo]

Man, the news has plenty to report as of late. You have the election in the US, Kate Middleton's lack of attire and the pictures capturing this, and the insanity in the middle east. I thought I would make a thread where we can talk about anything nutty going on in the world.

First up, I'll start with the Middle East madness going on. You have a amatuerish film being created by a shady character. Muslims in the middle east catch wind of it and the riots begin. Israel and Iran are inching closer to war. 2012 is supposed to be end of times, according to some. Perhaps the middle east will be key to the end of it all.

[The Fujoshi]

World has always been like this-

Slavery circle

Creating viruses just to kill each other and for no other purpose

Spy wars and communist scare with Russia

Bombing each other over land, because our religion is different, over a war that started over 1000+ years ago.

Fighting over a piece of land that doesn't belong to you in the first place

Fighting because of difference in politics even though it's only a line between you two and you are the same race of people

Etc.

Anything with human beings=stupid, crazy, insane.

I'll take my trip to Mars but then it might be overrun by people too and the cycle starts all over again.

This post has been edited by The Fujoshi: 17 September 2012 - 08:19 AM

[Dark Stranger]

Don't forget west nile. Seems to have popped back up again because due to the lack of rain then excessive rain.

[rondo]

Dark Stranger, on 17 September 2012 - 12:33 PM, said:

Don't forget west nile. Seems to have popped back up again because due to the lack of rain then excessive rain.

West Nile in OH seems to have calmed recently...thankfully.

[The Fujoshi]

rondo, on 17 September 2012 - 01:03 PM, said:

West Nile in OH seems to have calmed recently...thankfully.

We had legionaries disease here.....at the same hotel as the teacher's conference ._.

[sentinel28a]

My opinion on the Middle East is that I'd be ashamed to say I was from there. Someone makes a crappy YouTube video and now we go burn an embassy? Hell, if I burned down a building every time YT pisses me off, I'd have flattened Chicago by now.

How does that make the Arabs look to the rest of the world? Like dimwitted children. Is that seriously all it takes to get them upset? It's a region-wide temper tantrum from people who have a hell of a lot of other things to be upset about. Lack of fresh drinking water, no rights for women at all, a dictator who is too busy robbing his own treasury, "holy" men who are so incompetent they think that Pikachu is a Jewish plot...but yeah, let's blame Israel or the US. Lots easier than taking responsibility for our own actions.

I feel sorry for the people who are just trying to live their lives and do the best they can, who aren't involved in these idiotic protests. Though I think if enough of them stood up and said, "Screw you! This isn't what Mohammed wanted!" we'd have less problems.

Europe's a mess too. The Greeks want everyone to pay for them loafing around, the French are raising taxes on the rich to the tune of 75% (yeah, that's going to just work out great for their economy), the Brits are desperately afraid of offending anyone except their own royal family, and the Germans are getting progressively more pissed off with the rest of Europe--which never ends well; this time the Germans actually have a point, though. The EU's on life support, and the best you can hope for is that the whole thing just quietly falls apart.

As far as Kate Middleton goes, the British tabloids have always been muckrackers. As satisfying as it would be if Queen Liz brought back beheading, Kate should know that there are cameras everywhere when you're a celeb, so keep your clothes on unless you're in the house.

Well...at least we still have football and anime.

Ben Da Mad Irishman
"And Walking Dead starts in a few weeks"

[rondo]

sentinel28a, on 17 September 2012 - 09:03 PM, said:

As far as Kate Middleton goes, the British tabloids have always been muckrackers. As satisfying as it would be if Queen Liz brought back beheading, Kate should know that there are cameras everywhere when you're a celeb, so keep your clothes on unless you're in the house.

Well...at least we still have football and anime.

Ben Da Mad Irishman
"And Walking Dead starts in a few weeks"

I really can't understand how they expect to have privacy out in the open, private beach or not. Being at a private beach does not guarantee one's privacy.

[sentinel28a]

rondo, on 18 September 2012 - 07:13 AM, said:

I really can't understand how they expect to have privacy out in the open, private beach or not. Being at a private beach does not guarantee one's privacy.

No kiddin'. Back in the 1960s some paparazzi put on scuba gear and swam several miles to get a shot of Jackie Kennedy sunbathing topless in Greece.

These people are relentless. If we could've convinced them that Osama bin Laden had topless shots of Princess Di, we would've found him by October 2001 at the latest.

Ben Da Mad Irishman
"Glad no one wants topless pics of me"

[Dark Stranger]

Wonder if they can make a federal law that says paparazzi can only get paid waitress sever wages. (which is like 2 bucks a hour). Maybe that'll make some dissappear.

[rondo]

Dark Stranger, on 18 September 2012 - 01:40 PM, said:

Wonder if they can make a federal law that says paparazzi can only get paid waitress sever wages. (which is like 2 bucks a hour). Maybe that'll make some dissappear.

Won't be possible. People will pay big money for juicy pics and if it has to be under the table, I'm sure that is how it'll be handled.

[Dark Stranger]

But if it's under the table wouldn't that be illegal? I mean why bother going to jail for tresspassing and taking pics when we all know there will be a sex tape out eventually. lol

[rondo]

Now I didn't say it was legal, ha!

Never the less, apparently a Chinese military commander openly said to be ready for military action. More chest beating?

Chinese General on being prepared for combat
China mentioned bond dump as a means of fiscal war against Japan


People should be aware that China could very well do a similar financial smackdown of the US, though has much more to risk in doing so.

This post has been edited by rondo: 19 September 2012 - 03:57 AM

[Dark Stranger]

Yeah, some trouble times indeed with china. Espcially if America does take any more action in the world agaisnt a country that is friends with China. They could finally buy America right out form under us if they wanted to.

[-JUNK-]

Yeah I don't get how a Youtube video has made some folks pretty mad to blow up an embassy.
But hey its how it turned out? If only some people in this world had some sense.
All hail the mighty Bill Nye, at least he has facts with him.
Wait... hmm..
Maybe this world is just too crazy for us civilized people.
About them Royal shots were talking about. Kinda not too surprising with how paparazzi are and all.

oh well, Personally with people would just get along but that is nowhere to even close going to happen.

Click Me oAo

This post has been edited by -JUNK-: 19 September 2012 - 02:08 PM

[The Fujoshi]

paparazzi get between 1k-5k per shot depending on what/who it is.

So yeah.

[rondo]

Looks like France wants to poke the bear as well.

[XenoBlade]

Dark Stranger, on 19 September 2012 - 04:33 AM, said:

Yeah, some trouble times indeed with china. Espcially if America does take any more action in the world agaisnt a country that is friends with China. They could finally buy America right out form under us if they wanted to.

It doesn't work like that. They'd lose a lot more money doing that (since we always buy their crap. Everything we buy....made in China. Why buy out your cash cow? You'd lose so much money. Not to mention, since many markets kinda revolve around our market, it would cripple the world markets.

Anywho less serious stuff. Nicki Minaj. Joke of the year is joining american idol (not like I ever cared for those kinda shows) screams desperate. Not to mention talent apparently not mattering lol

[The Fujoshi]

XenoBlade, on 19 September 2012 - 11:19 AM, said:

Anywho less serious stuff. Nicki Minaj. Joke of the year is joining american idol (not like I ever cared for those kinda shows) screams desperate. Not to mention talent apparently not mattering lol

Xeno that make me wonder if you watch American idol because I didn't even know that....but I don't watch tv outside of Hell's kitchen and Top chef/Master chef(?) with the blind asia girl winning. Now that was boss. She won because she was good, not because of her handicap.

Still that show sucked since Simon went off; even before then it sucked because it wasn't about talent but about the fans, media, and drama. It was a popularity contest rather than quality tv.

@Dark: Hmm it sounds like you are having the Red scare in 2012. I happen to like Russia so I guess that makes me a socialist. Hohohoho report me.

This post has been edited by The Fujoshi: 19 September 2012 - 11:56 AM

[XenoBlade]

The Fujoshi, on 19 September 2012 - 11:55 AM, said:

Xeno that make me wonder if you watch American idol because I didn't even know that....but I don't watch tv outside of Hell's kitchen and Top chef/Master chef(?) with the blind asia girl winning. Now that was boss. She won because she was good, not because of her handicap.

Still that show sucked since Simon went off; even before then it sucked because it wasn't about talent but about the fans, media, and drama. It was a popularity contest rather than quality tv.

@Dark: Hmm it sounds like you are having the Red scare in 2012. I happen to like Russia so I guess that makes me a socialist. Hohohoho report me.

.....it's all over the internet and news.....I hate the talent show stuff. X factor, American Idol, Dancing with the stars and so on. It's not exactly hard to hear who is on american idol.

[sentinel28a]

The Fujoshi, on 19 September 2012 - 11:55 AM, said:

@Dark: Hmm it sounds like you are having the Red scare in 2012. I happen to like Russia so I guess that makes me a socialist. Hohohoho report me.

Nah, you're good. Russia is apparently making the jump from socialism into full-blown Stalinism anyway. Most socialist countries don't arrest rock groups for making fun of them, or assassinate political rivals. (Besides, there's nothing wrong with socialism as long as you can pay for it. Works great for small countries, for instance; Sweden's been kicking butt with it.) The good thing about Russia is that the Russians, I think, are starting to get that Putin wants to bring back the USSR--and they don't like it. Good for them; Russia deserves a better government, and they've never had one.

This thing between Japan and China is worrisome. Japan isn't going to back up, and neither is China. The US will of course support Japan (I hope), but right now China is pushing. They want to see how much they can get away with. If Japan folds and turns over the Senkakus, they'll next ask for the Ryukyus.

It's no coinkydink that China's doing this during a US election year, either. They want to press the candidates and see who reacts the strongest. Both Obama and Romney have reacted pretty strongly, with economic threats and such, but with what's happened in the ME, China may have the impression they can push Obama. Me personally, I think the US would back Japan no matter who's President--but it's a question if the Chinese think that too.

Ben Da Mad Irishman
"Interesting times"

[Dark Stranger]

Sent. Always beating me to my points and making it sound far more better then I ever could.

[sentinel28a]

Dark Stranger, on 19 September 2012 - 09:04 PM, said:

Sent. Always beating me to my points and making it sound far more better then I ever could.

8 years of college better amount to something!

(Sorry, DS!)

Ben Da Mad Irishman
"Let's not talk about what I owe"

[Steam_Loli216]

Now is about a good time for me to leave Japan, hahaha. San Diego, here I come.
Speaking of Russia, did you hear about how one of their subs was chillin' in the gulf of Mexico for a month and went undetected? Yep, big woopsie there. But what can I say. We monitor the crap out of them.

[rondo]

Heard about Nicki and Keith being the new judges. It is long overdue that AI was put out to pasture.

Wouldn't the treaty with Japan kinda push the US to back them? In all honesty, I think the US would be better off staying neutral until the last resort.

[sentinel28a]

rondo, on 20 September 2012 - 07:50 AM, said:

Wouldn't the treaty with Japan kinda push the US to back them? In all honesty, I think the US would be better off staying neutral until the last resort.

If Japan and China go to war, the US by treaty would be obligated to come in on Japan's side. More than likely China would attack Okinawa, the closest base to the Senkakus--but the bases on Okinawa are shared between the JSDF and the US military. Once Americans get killed, and they would, it's war.

Assuming China's leadership doesn't go bonkers and start tossing nukes, a new Pacific war would be fought mostly at sea. Japan and the US have a huge advantage in technology and training over China in that case, and that's before we add in the five or six carriers the US could commit to the fighting. China has been improving in tech and training lately, but they're playing catch-up. Moreover, US pilots know what it's like to be shot at; Chinese pilots don't. China also doesn't have allies in this game (Russia's not going to send their troops to die for China, unless Putin's crazier than I think he is). Japan isn't liked in the Pacific, but the PRC is loathed--the Philippines, India, Taiwan, and especially Vietnam all have bones to pick with China territorially. Moreover, given their track record, if the US gets involved, Australia might as well.

The scary part is if both sides decide to escalate to hitting each other's mainland. That can get out of control real quick. A missile strike on Yokosuka, Sasebo or Hawaii would merit a hurricane of cruise missiles against Chinese ports (the US has two cruise missile submarines stationed in the Pacific with 60 Tomahawks each). The problem with that, besides huge numbers of civilian casualties, would be the chance of escalation.

I actually don't think it'll come to that. China's economy would disintegrate in a war with Japan and the US; yeah, the Chinese could call in that debt, but while doing so would hurt Japan's economy and cripple the US', both effects would be temporary. China's economy would be devastated. The Chinese are not stupid and know this, so expect a lot of saber rattling and then a deal.

What can cause this to go nuts would be hardliners in both countries. (Not in the US. Neither Obama nor Romney would benefit from a war with China.) A lot of Japan right-wingers have been saying they're tired of apologizing for WWII; Chinese hardliners still want revenge for Nanjing. (I would think Hiroshima and Nagasaki balanced those scales, personally.) Both sides are whipping up their people. If they lose control of that...

Ben Da Mad Irishman
"Would rather not see HOTD become a documentary"

[rondo]

I just hope it doesn't come to that and it shouldn't. Some sort of peaceful solution should be possible and soon...but everybody seems to be protest happy lately.

[The Fujoshi]

sentinel28a, on 19 September 2012 - 06:17 PM, said:

Nah, you're good. Russia is apparently making the jump from socialism into full-blown Stalinism anyway. Most socialist countries don't arrest rock groups for making fun of them, or assassinate political rivals. (Besides, there's nothing wrong with socialism as long as you can pay for it. Works great for small countries, for instance; Sweden's been kicking butt with it.) The good thing about Russia is that the Russians, I think, are starting to get that Putin wants to bring back the USSR--and they don't like it. Good for them; Russia deserves a better government, and they've never had one.

This is news to me. I have to look this up. I considered moving there.

Yeah it's sad; Russia had so many issues in it's past history. I used to say the cold made them crazy, they are a big country, along with the fact that they are surrounded by a lot of other countries.

Japan wouldn't go to war but I could understand if China makes an example. Seriously it's a piece of land....

@Xeno: I only go on facebook to look at MMOs, so me knowing about American idol comes from my relatives. Unless it's yahoo news or on the 9 o clock, I wouldn't know about it in terms of the Hollywood scene.

This post has been edited by The Fujoshi: 20 September 2012 - 07:28 PM

[sentinel28a]

Russia, in its history, tends to have a massive inferiority complex. They were late to the Industrial Revolution, were the last European country to abolish serfdom, and they keep getting invaded. Russia always wins these wars, but it's usually only after millions of Russians die. They lost something like 20 million people in WWII, and fought only six months longer than the US, who lost around 150,000. The Russians like to brag about that to prove how tough they are, but I think deep down they wonder what the hell happened.

It's a shame, though, because the average Russian is a pretty nice person. Of course, that's probably true about most countries. I got to be good friends with a Vietnamese kid in college--his dad and mine probably shot at each other 40 years ago.

Of course, that kind of gives you hope for the human race.

Ben Da Mad Irishman
"We hope"

[The Fujoshi]

sentinel28a, on 22 September 2012 - 01:00 AM, said:

Russia, in its history, tends to have a massive inferiority complex. They were late to the Industrial Revolution, were the last European country to abolish serfdom, and they keep getting invaded. Russia always wins these wars, but it's usually only after millions of Russians die. They lost something like 20 million people in WWII, and fought only six months longer than the US, who lost around 150,000. The Russians like to brag about that to prove how tough they are, but I think deep down they wonder what the hell happened.

It's a shame, though, because the average Russian is a pretty nice person. Of course, that's probably true about most countries. I got to be good friends with a Vietnamese kid in college--his dad and mine probably shot at each other 40 years ago.

Of course, that kind of gives you hope for the human race.

Ben Da Mad Irishman
"We hope"

-Wants to secretly date a Russian-

Why can't most people do things like this Sent?

It could also be that Russia is one of the coldest countries next to Canada and Greenland. If I was around a cold country all the time and dealing with history problems I would be kind of off too.

[rondo]

Well, thankfully the Chicago teacher's union fiasco is over for the time being. Time to replace it with something else. Maybe this week will be a little more quiet.