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JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#114476: Mar 4th 2016 at 2:42:56 PM

[up][up][up][up] You call being the first to land people on the moon not having a legacy? You call interconnecting the world like never before not having a legacy? Hell, the very internet you use is an American development. Plus we still have some time left to leave a legacy, unlike Europe.

[up] I always wonder how the space marines got started...

edited 4th Mar '16 2:43:28 PM by JackOLantern1337

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#114477: Mar 4th 2016 at 2:43:29 PM

[up][up] Just use all your idiots and lunatics as the first colonisation wave. That worked out so perfectly for us in the past.

edited 4th Mar '16 2:43:57 PM by DrunkenNordmann

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#114478: Mar 4th 2016 at 2:47:43 PM

Actually, bringing a gun onto a space colony isn't a bad idea necessarily to protect yourself from other colonists. Of course, hull breaches caused by firearms would be unbeuno (though actually not as disastrous as it sounds).

Which is why we need to invent better tasers/long range electroshock weapons.

Leviticus 19:34
Julep Since: Jul, 2010
#114479: Mar 4th 2016 at 2:50:22 PM

Europe is a retirement home for washed up ex empires that can barley hold onto the present, let alone look to the future. Call me when ESA, or any Euro Space agency or company can independently put a person into space. You landed a probe on an asteroid, we sent one to fucking Pluto, which I'm still convinced was stricken from the planet list because the Euro's were but hurt about their being a planet they didn't discover first.

'twas a comet actually, not an asteroid. If I were to troll, I would say that I am not surprised to see an American not knowing the difference.

Also, I like your pride at sending a probe to something that has, like the rest of the planets in the solar system, been named after a God from a European mythology.

to protect yourself from other colonists.

Somehow I think "space" is large enough for colonists to find different places to settle without having to kill each other over every resource. If space travel is just doing the same shit from Earth all over again, I am in no hurry to see the first colony.

edited 4th Mar '16 2:51:57 PM by Julep

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#114480: Mar 4th 2016 at 2:51:14 PM

[up][up][up][up]Only the first of those three counts as a US achievement... with a ton of help from foreign researchers. Wernher von Braun ring a bell?

I'm loving the Cultural Posturing here. Pass the Popcorn!

[down]That is so cool.

edited 4th Mar '16 2:53:11 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#114481: Mar 4th 2016 at 2:52:02 PM

The whole bringing a gun thing in space is funny because it's actually the Russians who do bring firearms into space with them.

Their return capsules usually end up in siberia so they bring a lot of survival gear, including a rather unique folding shotgun, with them for the return trip.

Oh really when?
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#114482: Mar 4th 2016 at 2:54:10 PM

[up][up][up][up][up][up] The Internet is a British invention, or at least the basis for it is, the World Wide Net.

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#114483: Mar 4th 2016 at 2:58:09 PM

You call being the first to land people on the moon not having a legacy? You call interconnecting the world like never before not having a legacy? Hell, the very internet you use is an American development

Compared to the invention of paper, fireworks, chemistry, taming of animals, sewage system or modern medicine, yeah, the first person to land into the moon is basically a zero to the left.

The internet was made by a multiethnical team instead of the "All 'merican" team.

It's ok. You guys can take credit for Jersey Shore though.

Just use all your idiots and lunatics as the first colonisation wave. That worked out so perfectly for us in the past.

What is the most hostile planet otu htere? Jupiter, right? I suggest we ship all ourcriminals out there and rename is space australia.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
rikalous World's Cutest Direwolf from Upscale Mordor (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
World's Cutest Direwolf
#114484: Mar 4th 2016 at 2:58:46 PM

[up][up][up]Because only having to worry about survival in space is for little wussy babies, I guess.

Also, I like your pride at sending a probe to something that has, like the rest of the planets in the solar system, been named after a God from a European mythology.
Come on, you can't give Europe points over the Yanks for something that predates the fuckin' colonies. People whose ancestors lived in the US before there was a US could trace their lineage back to that. That's like going "ha ha half your Supreme Court is Catholic and that's a European religion."

edited 4th Mar '16 2:59:30 PM by rikalous

Julep Since: Jul, 2010
#114485: Mar 4th 2016 at 3:00:59 PM

Compared to the invention of paper, fireworks, chemistry, taming of animals, sewage system or modern medicine, yeah, the first person to land into the moon is basically a zero to the left.

Let us be fair: in that bunch, some (or even most) did not come from Europe. But even less came from 'murica, so...

You could add mathematics, evolution biology or the wheel to the bunch too.

[up] Well the whole point(less debate) is about having a legacy. You can't say that all the inventions coming before the 18th century did not count because the US "weren't ready".

edited 4th Mar '16 3:02:35 PM by Julep

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#114486: Mar 4th 2016 at 3:03:00 PM

I know. I am not posturing for Europe or comparing it to Europe. I am just saying that, relatively speaking, putting a flag on the moon achieved nothing more than bragging rights. It advanced no science, and we gained more from the process of trying to achieve that, than from the achievement itself, which is not the case for fire, paper, writing, gunpowder, etc. Once those happened, things slowly but inexorably changed.

I mean, even the NASA declared apollo a failure.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
EruditeEsotericist Since: May, 2015
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#114488: Mar 4th 2016 at 3:05:40 PM

Also, while America may have been the first to land on the moon, Russia were the first to actually get somebody into space.

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#114489: Mar 4th 2016 at 3:06:55 PM

About time he made it official. Now for the investigations of embezzling to roll over him in 5...4...3...

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#114490: Mar 4th 2016 at 3:09:14 PM

@Julep: Well, according to Beyond Earth, we'll mostly be fighting wars over issues of transhumanism. But I actually mean other colonists in the same colony as you (criminals, that is).

As for war in space: Space is big, but it's also mostly empty, with resources grouping into clusters spread out between each other. And, since space is such a wide area, it'll also be very difficult to police. Space Piracy will likely be very common once some morally-questionable (and likely desperate) spacefarers decide it's more pragmatic for them just to steal rather than make stuff themselves. Wise space-travelers will arm themselves against such pirates, and this is probably where space marines will actually become thing.

edited 4th Mar '16 3:11:43 PM by Protagonist506

Leviticus 19:34
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#114491: Mar 4th 2016 at 3:21:56 PM

Hopefully Space has only the mundane dangers we already know about and not any Space Oddities.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
flameboy21th The would-be novelist from California Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
The would-be novelist
#114492: Mar 4th 2016 at 3:26:48 PM

This thread really needs to get down to Earth.

edited 4th Mar '16 3:27:07 PM by flameboy21th

Non Indicative Username
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#114494: Mar 4th 2016 at 3:58:13 PM

Holy crap, six pages of responses to stuff.

I would move to Canada, but they're too left-leaning (which is why it's hilarious whenever a Republican says they'll leave the country)
I heard a lot of Republicans threatening to leave in 2012, too, yet they're all still here. I don't think there exist any countries that are more right-wing than the US that aren't filled with scary Muslims or dirty Mexicans, or Africa, and they just couldn't move to one of those places. Whereas us filthy lib'rals could be happy in a good number of other places.
remove the "natural born" bit from the requirements to run and run Schwarzenegger.
Versus Hillary or Sanders? For this election? Even with the stranglehold they have on state senates, that seems near impossible. They'd have better luck doing it to remove the Dem from office next time.
America and Canada should merge and become the Large United North American Republic.
But then where would I move to flee from Trump? England? Australia?
Apparently Kasich thinks Finland and Sweden are in NATO. Or he doesn't and still wants to arm them against Russia.
I'm sure Finland would be all too happy to accept our arms to keep Russia away.
That is the growing fear among the Establishment, that Trump one way or another is going to walk off with 25~40% of the party and form... something else.
If this happens, how long will the Republican party still survive?
Without those alliances, both sides of the split become effectively third party candidates with no hope of winning anything, ever
Not true. They would effectively rule each other out of the Presidency, and in most states rule each other out of landing Senators or Governors. But when it comes down to local landscapes, Congresscritters, mayors and city councils? You'll probably see real quick where one side of the split will take over, and the other will back out and wither away.
Our Soviet-shaming space dick has had a larger social impact than I thought.
I think I've found a new sig. cool
neither this planet nor this sun is going to last forever.
They'll last for far longer than we'll continue to match the current parameters of homo sapiens.
if we can't stabilize our economy before the sun explodes, we kinda deserve to be caught in the blast.
Can we use cheat codes?
the U.S does not have delicious costa rican Salsa Lizano so your amalgamation of the best things is an incomplete frankenstein's monster.
Sounds like Aszur has a firm plan to be a successful American entrepeneur.
Wernher von Braun ring a bell?
He was a great American! Vunce ze rockets go up who cares vere zhey come down / Zats not my department says Wehner von Braun!
The Internet is a British invention
Al Gore is British?

But meanwhile, back on topic: even though I posted a scathing critique of Kentucky in the LGBT thread, apparently the bill was worse than I thought, giving free rein not just to homophobes but also to racists and bigots of all stripes, so long as they're religious. Emphasis theirs.

A Kentucky Senate committee has passed a bill that would allow store owners and other providers of services to refuse to serve interracial couples, interracial families, or couples of different faiths. In addition, the bill would prevent the refused couples from seeking redress through the courts.

Titled, apparently without any sense of irony, “an act relating to the protection of rights,” SB 180 creates a state-wide group of “protected activities” and “protected activity providers,” then proceeds to cover those so protected with immunity from any laws by any governmental body anywhere, and states that people so covered cannot be fined or charged with any crime.

Who are these persons so protected, and what are the activities so protected? Let’s look at the precise and clear language provided by the bill:

''“Protected activities” means actions by people commissioned, employed, hired, retained, or otherwise used by the public or the government to provide customized, artistic, expressive, creative, ministerial, or spiritual goods or services, or judgments, attestations, or other commissions that involve protected rights; “Protected activity provider” means a person who provides protected activities; and “Protected rights” means the rights of persons to be free from governmental actions that impair, impede, infringe upon, or otherwise restrict the exercise of any right guaranteed by the United States Constitution or the Constitution of Kentucky, including but not limited to a person’s right of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and right to peaceable assembly.''

So, if you are hired to provide “customized, artistic, expressive, creative, ministerial, or spiritual goods or services, or judgments, attestations, or other commissions,” then you are protected!

Custom jewelry? Protected. Juggling acts? Protected. Blogging? Protected. (Cool!) Artists and musicians? Good to go. “Expressive goods or services”? I have no idea what they are, but those are protected too. All ministers, no matter what they say or do? Protected.

What is the point of this, the worst-written bill in the history of legislation? To allow persons to refuse service to anyone, at any time, as long as they can say that the persons requesting the services offend their religious beliefs.

And if you think this is only about some Christians refusing to sell to Teh Gay, guess what – this bill makes possible exactly what we led with: refusing service to interracial, interfaith, atheistic, Muslim, divorced, or pretty much any other kind of people.

Think we’re exaggerating? It took only ten minutes with The Google to find churches in Kentucky who oppose interracial marriage. Think their members would like to be able to refuse service to interracial couples?

How about refusing service to Muslims? Or people who look like Muslims? Or people who just look different, because who knows, they might be Muslims? Or refusing to fill a prescription for an anti-depressant, because my religion teaches there is no such thing as depression? Or refusing to sell a house to an atheist?

This bill is a disaster, both in its language and its intent. And, it is a dangerous bill. I have written a longer piece about this use of “religious freedom” on my personal blog, so I will just quote one section:

In this case, though, the argument is not about one person’s practice of their faith. It is about that person’s understanding of right and wrong causing harm to another person.

And now we come to why this is not only wrong, but dangerous. This use of the “religious freedom” argument is so blatantly illogical and prejudiced that it makes reasonable people just throw up their hands. As it spreads and is not called out by the so-called religious leaders across the country (and indeed is cheered on by some of them), it causes non-religious people to assume that religious people are not only incapable of serious thought, but are actually dangerous to society.

Senators, please pull this bill. It is a bad bill that promotes discrimination, that will damage our state, and in the end will actually be dangerous to the very people you are trying to protect. Kill SB 180.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#114495: Mar 4th 2016 at 4:29:22 PM

The other North American countries (Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America (If you count them as part of the North America continent)) don't get any respect, either.

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#114496: Mar 4th 2016 at 4:33:11 PM

remove the "natural born" bit from the requirements to run and run Schwarzenegger.

And thus legitimising Barry's presidency, which they would never do.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
wehrmacht belongs to the hurricane from the garden of everything Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
belongs to the hurricane
#114497: Mar 4th 2016 at 4:42:12 PM

[up] Are they still not over that? I mean, you're allowed to dislike him, but he had a two-term presidency fair and square.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#114498: Mar 4th 2016 at 5:10:26 PM

A little something I came across today I thought folks here might enjoy:

Brent's Letter to the President: "You Saved My Life"

"I did not vote for you. Either time. I have voted Republican for the entirety of my life. I proudly wore pins and planted banners displaying my Republican loyalty. I was very vocal in my opposition to you — particularly the ACA. Before I briefly explain my story allow me to first say this: I am so very sorry. I was so very wrong.

"You saved my life. My President, you saved my life, and I am eternally grateful.

"I have a 'pre-existing condition' and so could never purchase health insurance. Only after the ACA came into being could I be covered. Put simply to not take up too much of your time if you are in fact taking the time to read this: I would not be alive without access to care I received due to your law. Thank you for serving me even when I didn't vote for you. Thank you for being my President."

JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#114499: Mar 4th 2016 at 5:15:01 PM

[up] Because I'm so dam cynical I'll assume this was written by some White House intern as a propaganda peace.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#114500: Mar 4th 2016 at 5:16:08 PM

Are they still not over that?
Have you not been paying attention to Trump? There's still people upset about the fucking Emancipation Proclamation. A seriously large chunk of his primary voters.
The other North American countries
Canada, Mexico, and South Mexico?note 

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

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