SkyDekker

Israel is probably in violation of more UN resolutions than any other country. Should somebody do something about that too?

No, but more boobies on TV would make me happier.

According to Wikipedia there were 84,767 recorded rapes in the US in 2010. 16% of rapes are recorded. Makes a total of 529,794. At a 5% rate of pregnancy, that's 26,489 children conceived due to rape. Might be a low percentage, but that is a lot of kids. As a side note and somewhat off topic, but maybe if you allowed the occasional boobie on TV, Americans wouldn't have such a penchant for rape.

So rare to see logic.

When you allow them to call their grandmother an old hag, since they have a constitutional right to free speech.

It is a difficult subject, one that got some press here in Canada last year. Somebody got in trouble for posting an add looking for a female roommate. It was deemed to be an Ontario Human Rights violation since it established discrimination based on sex/gender.

The problem is that people are makign assumptions and pretty wild allegations about what this actually is.

Numbers are getting matched against numbers. When information is wanted beyond the numbers, warrants are required. So, I am not sure how that relates to "get all in your shit". Also not sure how "the individual security of the People" is compromised by running numbers against numbers. To me the questions lies in subsequent warrant requests. There is a difference between: 1) this number keeps calling a number asociated with a terror organization, Mr Judge may we please find out who it is and what they are talking about. 2) this number keeps calling the Republican party (Democratic Part, communist aprty, local KKK whatever) we would like to know what they are talking about. I don't see the numbers as having rights, I see the people behind the numbers as having rights. It would appear the rights of those people are still protected.

Except some of those things do harm others directly. Obesity increases health care needs. Many obese cannot afford those health care needs. So either you do not provide them, or "society" pays for them, one way or the other. Drug use has the same impact. Smoking has the same impact. All the above impairments also lead to higher absenteism, which eventually leads to reduced productivity. This eventually hampers the economy, which directly impacts society. This libertarian, lessez faire attitude sounds so wonderful, doesn't it. It sounds as wonderful as system that would provide equally for everybody, so nobody would have to deal with hunger or poverty. It also sounds as wonderful as a completely free market that corrects based on the will and needs of society. All are nice and utopian. The "sweet spot" is probably somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately we have all become so polarized that we can only recognize the middle as the spot we are standing on.

As I understand it, the warrent does not authorize access to the content of the phone calls. Hence, they are not authorized to listen to the actual calls until a further warrant is applied for and granted. I can understand the concept and can see how it could lead to usable information in defending against attacks. Interesting that torturing people got mixed reviews, yet running phone data (not content) through algorithms is almost universally condemned.

The left getting their hands back on Toronto would indeed be a bad thing at this point. Ford got elected because it was time to "stop the gravy train". There is no doubt in my mind, that specifically The Toronto Star has been gunning for him. The Star is indeed a left leaning newspaper. However, Ford has not done himself any favours. He is a poor public speaker, comes across as a bully and seems to be completely unable to build any concensus. The way the Ford brother's are further handling this current issue very poorly. Should this be true, and I have my doubts at this point, then Ford does indeed need to step down. He then also needs support and help, not hand wringing and kicking when a man is down. I am very torn on the subject of Mayor Ford. I like most of his ideology, too bad he comes across as such a bumbling idiot.

Would all be very situation dependant for me. Can't say I have a hard and fast rule.

Psst! I'll let you in on a secret, everyone does. Don't tell anyone here. They all think they are totally objective thinkers without any bias or prejudice. It's a fucking joke. Actually I think most here fall in the grey areas between those two extremes. I know I have changed my mind based on things discussed and presented here. There are some die hards though...

If you posted an article from a source I considered crap, I wouldn't bother reading it. I would not whine and ask for additional sources, if I wanted to read something I considered more credible about a topic, I'd find it on my own. So basically, first you make up your mind and then you set out to confirm it.

Yes, that would have never happened there: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/may/15/iraq.usa1 Interesting how US military policy is to remove guns to reduce criminal activity, yet American conservative policy is to increase the number of guns to reduce criminal activity. Must have been a communist lieutenant general.

The US did it in Iraq. Ummm.... No. The army allowed each household to keep one rifle. Usually a full auto AK. And they confiscated the rest.. You would have instant cardiac arrest if anybody would suggest limiting US gun ownership to 1 firearm.

Might be some wisdom in a standard minimum curriculum, so religous schools cannot invent their own science and impart it on children. Obviously some parents don't have the wisdom to make better choices, leading to a country full of dummies. Other countries do it too is such a lame excuse. Other countries do it much better, maybe we can learn something is a much wiser stance. Now I understand how Gravitymaster came to be an honour student.

Broken is indeed a relative term. Companies who have strong internet sales have actually been expanding their bricks and mortar presence (Apple, Microsoft, etc). On the tax implications, they will get you anyways. There is a cost to running the country. How high that cost is per level (Municipal, County, State and Federal) is open for debate, but a cost there is. Hence, if one revenue source drops off, there will quickly be a new source opened. Just like there is an evolution in shopping, there will also be an evolution in taxation.

A higher education does not mean that someone has wisdom. Wisdom is what is needed to deal with social issues, not a PhD in physics. The wisdom that is taught in 4th grade in the US?

The US did it in Iraq.

When it occurs? So you are punishing people for something that may happen, or at least for increasing the odds of something potentially happening. Another one is open container laws, drinking while driving etc. Sounds like you are trying to suck and blow while being half pregnant.

•1 large garlic clove, cut in half •8 oz. of gruyere, shredded •8 oz. of jarlsberg, shredded •1 750 ml bottle of white wine such as Pinot Grigio or Chenin Blanc (don't use Chardonnay or Sauv. Blanc) Cooking wine works well, but it will make a saltier fondue. •2-3 tbs. cornstarch •3-4 oz. brandy •freshly grated nutmeg •1 firm baguette, cubed and toasted (important) •broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets •cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets •apple slices Rub the garlic around the pot and throw it in. Add the wine. Heat the wine on stove-top (it is much easier to fix it on the stove) till it starts to bubble. While waiting for the wine to heat, mix the cornstarch and brandy into a slurry. Add the cheese one handful at a time, stirring until melted before adding more. When all the cheese is melted, add enough of the cornstarch/brandy slurry to thicken (amount varies by batch). It should be slightly thinner than you think it should be--it will thicken as people dip. Grate nutmeg into the fondue. Transfer fondue into the set (my fondue pot is metal, so I can use it on the stove, but if yours is ceramic, you'll need a separate pot for the stove) Keep the burner under it set at medium-high so the cheese stays melted. If you lose a piece off the end of your fork, you have to kiss the person next to you. Personally I prefer fondue chinoise. If it has to be cheese, I'll take raclette over fondue.

Nope. But the legislatures of many states have decided that assaultive (and some other) crimes against seniors are more wrong. Some states' statutes work the policy into the offense itself, while others work it into the sentencing phase; 2 different approaches, same goal. The reason, of course, is that seniors are more vulnerable and less able to defend themselves than the stronger, sharper people who abuse and/or exploit them. Almost..... child-like..... hmmm.... Yup, so if it is ok to give a child an occasional slap/swat/tap to get your point across, you should be allowed to do it to a senior as well. Or maybe it is a better option to not allow it to be done to either group.

So no alcohol for criminals then. Should take their driver's license away too.

The same as the number of innocent people who have to die while you figure out who can be a responsible gun owner and who can't.