riddler
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Everything posted by riddler
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Military service requirement for US Presidency
riddler replied to nerdgirl's topic in Speakers Corner
Requiring military service would be less relevant than requiring a law degree for the POTUS, and would probably have even less of an influence. Having a law degree didn't stop Nixon from breaking the law at just about every opportunity; Requiring service wouldn't stop the POTUS from abusing the military. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD -
Said the ex-Nazi. OK, that was probably unfair. I know he and his family hated the Nazis and he only joined the Hitler-Youth because he was required to, and his family could not figure out how to run away. But it's still funny. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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2008 was the year man-made global warming was disproved
riddler replied to rushmc's topic in Speakers Corner
Well, we probably won't kill the rock part, and the water will likely exist in some state or another. But we definitely can kill everything resembling life (not just humans). In fact, we've done a pretty good job deforesting, overfishing, domesticating and replacing most of the natural life on the planet that existed long before we did, and that was all WITH conservation efforts. Can't take credit for killing the dinosaurs, unless you believe the creationist views. But most of the rest of it, we can. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD -
Just a year ago, I hadn't heard too many GOPers saying they wanted to get out of Iraq. In fact, McCain was saying we should be there for 100 years. If Obama had not been elected, partly on a firm withdrawal timeline, if McCain had won, would there still be a withdrawal of forces? I doubt it. Although we're not a democracy, and most of the time, we have very little say in the government, election years make a difference in American policy. When Clinton won his first term, Ross Perot took almost 20% of the popular vote, based largely on a platform of fiscal responsibility for the US. Although Perot didn't win, Clinton listened, and made a huge effort to balance the budget and reduce our national debt by half. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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Why don't you just go on record as saying that the majority of Americans are stupid and don't deserve to have a say in governmental policies? Bush seems to have been running things for the last eight years under the same pretense. This isn't science - it's government. Our opinion matters. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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In 1822, 189 years after Galileo's death, they "permitted" the view that the Earth revolves around the sun, but refused to admit that they were wrong in the first place. In 1992, 359 years after Galileo, John Paul II finally conceded that the Church was wrong, and conceded the argument. How long until they admit they're wrong about the age of the earth, I wonder? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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You must not be trying too hard: Several large polls, and a number of smaller polls spanning the entire course of the war suggest that people believe it was about oil. Even way back in 2002, before most Americans realized we were hood-winked, a USA Today poll said that the majority of Americans (55%) thought stabilizing oil was a primary reason for the Iraq war. Britains say oil was the primary reason for the Iraq war. Even the Iraqis under the new regime think it was about oil. By the way, here is Bush himself alluding to oil as a good reason to be in Iraq: Oh, and there's this, too: Even, the official reasons for the war are listed thus: Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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Not at all. I'm for American troops going into other countries, when their legitimate governments ask us to, and with the help of the United Nations. We're not lone gun that need to burden our taxpayers when no one else is willing, and when no one asked in the first place. Hook, line and sinker. The majority of Americans, Britons and the world disagree with you, with the majority of polls saying that oil was the number one reason for the invasion. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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Just so my intentions are clear - I'm not against the Navy, or people skydiving in the Navy. I think it's great - more people should jump. I'm just wondering how prevalent it is. In other words, how many Navy people have done any skydiving? 10%? 50%? Anyone have an estimate? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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We sure could've used your enthusiasm back when Pol Pot was murdering a million of his own people in the Khmer Rouge, and I don't hear you pining over the millions that have died in Africa from genocide, diamonds, etc. Most Americans don't give a ratt's butt about the atrocities going on in the world, unless we have another reason (like oil) to invade. Then it becomes a convenient excuse. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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Yeah, the Romans didn't convert their subjects in a measly seven years, either. The Roman empire was around for over 1,000 years. After a few generations of occupation, the majority of their subjects were converted. And John McCain said he thought we should be in Iraq for 100 years "if necessary". If necessary for what, do you think? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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If Iraq is a "true democracy", supported by the people, then American troops should be able to up and leave right now, right? I mean the country of Iraq couldn't possibly fall apart now if our 140,000 troops left tomorrow. Or are you one of those people that thinks we need a lengthy withdrawal to ensure a smooth "transition of power" ? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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A.K.A the US-sponsored puppet-government. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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If a trooper from a foreign invader is walking around my neighborhood with a machine gun, I'm sure as hell not going to throw a shoe at him. If he asks, I'll tell him how great his country is for "liberating" us - I'll even tell him his God is the one true God. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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And white people (aka Vikings) weren't in North America before the Native Americans! That was sure a good excuse to go take over and convert those soul-less heathens to the one true God. I don't think religion was the rationale for going into Iraq. But somehow I think that Bush feels that he did something great by bringing Jesus back to those people over there that are worshiping a false prophet. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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So we could bring Christmas there: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/21/iraq.christmas/index.html Ya know, since America is the new Roman empire, we could learn a thing or two from the Romans. After the Romans took over a new place, they didn't force their Gods down their new subjects throats. Instead, they just supplanted them with a different version that was kinda the same; Demeter became Ceres, Ares became Mars, etc. It made it easier for the new subjects to accept the new Gods. Maybe we could convert Muhammad to a new God that wears red pajamas and drives around in a winter sleigh pulled by reindeer? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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What he said was this Which is why I asked this There's a difference between credible and 100% true. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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There seems to be a lot of discussion about politics in this thread. Before people make snap judgments about him based on his politics, I recommend reading his November 2007 speech at Harvard about Global Warming trends: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/files/uploads/2007_11-6_Forum_(NXPowerLite).pdf Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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Do you agree with Bush or not? Is the Bible 100% true, or not? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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I think people need explanations for things they don't understand or can't cope with. Our egos want us to believe that we have control over things. Understanding is the biggest step to control. But our tiny brains will never understand everything in the Universe, and we don't have control over most things in life. Fabricating ideas, in order to feel some control, to satisfy our ego, is the solution that requires the least effort. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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I'd rather have six wind-tunnels Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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But a little higher on the same page, you just said If it is historical, where is the proof? In your very first post, you said this Still believe that statement? My original question was this - if only parts of the Bible are true (which has been stated by Bush, and I think by you), and everyone gets to decide for themselves which parts are true, doesn't that undermine the credibility of the entire religion? A religion which bases it's entire foundation on this supposedly historical book that seems to change a lot? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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Garmin Nuvi 880 - I just bought two of them. It has speech recognition, so you can ask it for directions. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
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Chrysler to Shut Down All 30 Plants for One Month
riddler replied to Gawain's topic in Speakers Corner
IIRC, at the start of that show, they bought an entire fleet of the same car for the "General Lee" car. I think they destroyed an average of two cars per episode Then there were all the cop cars ... Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD -
I don't agree that outsourcing manufacturing is a security issue. If 100% of our manufactured goods came from China, yes it would be an issue. But our outsourcing is diverse across many countries, and it would take a global coalition against the U.S. to shut down our income of manufactured goods. Now, if you're worried about a scenario where it's the U.S. against everyone else, then you have a good point. But I don't think things will ever get to that point. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD