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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#135776: Aug 19th 2016 at 3:21:43 PM

In non-domestic new apparently US planes had to be scrambled recently to stop Assad from bombing US special forces, even though Assad knows (via the US telling the Russians) that if such a thing happens the US will shoot back. [1]

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#135777: Aug 19th 2016 at 3:40:57 PM

Yeah, that US being super heavily urbanized ignores that it has vast, wide tracts of still-unused land.

I suspect that we'll be colonizing the moon before we have fully urbanize the US.

Leviticus 19:34
BonsaiForest Since: Jan, 2001
#135778: Aug 19th 2016 at 3:42:24 PM

By "urbanizing", I meant people moving to the cities. Not building more cities.

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#135779: Aug 19th 2016 at 4:01:34 PM

We country folk like our wide open spaces, fresh air, peace and quiet, and unobstructed views.

A neighbor of ours, who has a dairy farm, once received a phone call from a woman: "Your cows are mooing loudly in the morning and waking us up!"

He said, "Whaddaya want me to do about it, Lady? Go tell 'em to stop? Cows bellow when they need to be milked, and they need to be milked twice a day, every day. You don't like it? Move back to the city."

edited 19th Aug '16 4:09:16 PM by pwiegle

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RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#135780: Aug 19th 2016 at 4:13:50 PM

It's not a question so much of building more cities or moving people around as it is making transportation fast enough that traveling from the city to the countryside and back is just a quick little jaunt.

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#135781: Aug 19th 2016 at 4:27:24 PM

[up] See the Public/Mass Transport Thread for why this is such a problem.

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FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#135782: Aug 19th 2016 at 4:27:42 PM

That requires the US to be better about trains. I'm embarassed how bad rail is here.

EDIT- [nja]

edited 19th Aug '16 4:28:00 PM by FFShinra

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#135783: Aug 19th 2016 at 5:08:48 PM

Politicians have gotten away with serving special interests in this massive trade deal for too long. But if we expose TPP for what it is, we can stop these kinds of deals and never let another corrupt trade deal like this happen again.

The TPP is so corrupt it’s a stretch to even call it a trade deal.

Only 5 of its 29 chapters deal with trade issues, things like tariffs and quotas. The rest is about delivering on the wish lists of multinational corporations.

Pharmaceutical monopolies would be protected.[1] Environmental protections would be slashed.[2] SOPA-like censorship would threaten free expression on the Internet.[3] Good-paying jobs would be sent overseas.[4]

And then there’s the international shadow court that would be set up to force TPP countries to pay multinational corporations when they pass laws or regulations that may limit corporate profits.[5]

This wouldn’t only screw over taxpayers, it would also hurt small and medium-sized companies by making it harder for them to compete with the multinationals that would get this special benefit.

Just last week President Obama notified Congress that he would be sending them the final version of the TPP shortly.[6] And all reports indicate that he plans to do everything in his power to make sure it passes by then end of the year.

The White House and the lobbyists behind the TPP are desperate to get this finished before the public fully understands how dangerous and corrupt it is.

With everyone’s attention on the elections, they are working behind the scenes to set this up for quick passage. That’s why it’s so important that we get loud and call out the TPP for corruption now.

The TPP is the biggest trade deal ever. Its special-interest giveaways run more than 5,000 pages, and it would affect over 40% of the global economy. We need to sound the alarm right now before it’s too late…

edited 19th Aug '16 5:09:18 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#135784: Aug 19th 2016 at 5:18:48 PM

Source? also, there's a thread specifically for TPP.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#135785: Aug 19th 2016 at 5:22:46 PM

The TPP is, in fact, relevant to US politics, though. And yes, a source on that quote would be nice, Handle.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#135786: Aug 19th 2016 at 5:28:31 PM

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN10U1B3

While mostly just a piece about Trump and Obama making plans to visit Louisiana following its floods, one small part stood out as share-worthy, emphasis mine:

Trump told reporters he came to help out, joined by vice presidential running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, in a visit to a state that is typically a Republican stronghold in presidential elections.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards' office, however, had said Trump did not call to discuss plans.

"We welcome him to (Louisiana), but not for a photo op," the governor's office said in a statement, urging Trump to volunteer or make "a sizable donation."

Trump told reporters he believed Obama should have cut short a vacation on Martha's Vineyard in New England to visit the area of flood devastation

edited 19th Aug '16 5:29:22 PM by sgamer82

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#135787: Aug 19th 2016 at 5:40:42 PM

[up]Money talks, bullshit looks for a camera to glam in front of.

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Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#135788: Aug 19th 2016 at 5:41:34 PM

The Governor of Louisiana was on Rachel Maddow last night and said that he was receiving all the Federal support he needed and urged Obama not to come to the state for a couple of weeks. The reason: a visit would draw on hundreds of security personnel and other state resources that are desperately needed right now for rescue efforts.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#135789: Aug 19th 2016 at 5:54:53 PM

There's no real reason for a president to personally visit a disaster area other than a photo op. They don't need to actually be there to help coordinate aid.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#135790: Aug 19th 2016 at 5:58:18 PM

[up]I think the sitting president has a little more justification than a candidate. Photo op or not, I think people take some comfort in their leader coming to see them personally. That said, in with Edwards, let them get most of the cleanup work done first

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#135791: Aug 19th 2016 at 6:01:47 PM

@Fighteer: He kind of has to, otherwise Trump is going to use it against him. Regardless of what the governor has to say.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#135792: Aug 19th 2016 at 6:22:24 PM

Iunno, I don't think it'll be as effective against Obama (who isn't even running against Trump) as you fear. Obama has basically nothing to gain from trying to keep up with Trump in any measure at this point.

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#135793: Aug 19th 2016 at 6:33:32 PM

So remember how we kind of wistfully thought of how many of Trump's supporters would fail an "extreme vetting process" in the form of an ideological test? The Daily Show with Trevor Noah decided to find out.

edited 19th Aug '16 6:41:03 PM by ironballs16

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#135794: Aug 19th 2016 at 7:00:51 PM

Auditor: The United States Army’s finances are so jumbled it had to make trillions of dollars of improper accounting adjustments to create an illusion that its books are balanced.

Any group who acts like morons ironically will eventually find itself swamped by morons who think themselves to be in good company.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#135795: Aug 19th 2016 at 7:07:13 PM

The disgusting irony in that one guy was astounding. I don't get how blaming Bill's infidelity on Hillary or referencing Monica Lewinski in that manner doesn't come off as disrespectful, and that this guy doesn't see it just makes me want to slap someone. It was also amazing how he didn't realize that the interviewer got a zing in against him.

edited 19th Aug '16 7:07:47 PM by AceofSpades

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#135796: Aug 19th 2016 at 7:22:36 PM

In a bit of unrelated news, I was shocked today to get a campaign flyer from my representative, at taxpayer expense (aka congressional franking privileges). And since it is less than 90 days to the election, that violates multiple ethics rules. It's interesting to see something so blatant firsthand.

I'm tempted to submit a complaint to the Office of Congressional Ethics, although I don't think it will make any difference since said representative is already under investigation for more serious ethics issues.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#135797: Aug 19th 2016 at 7:35:38 PM

If you don't mind telling us, could you name said Representative?

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
#135798: Aug 19th 2016 at 8:45:46 PM

And now you all see why I've decided against opportunism - Trump Supporters are by and large uninformed, utter louts. Its like watching a parade of idiocy, that segment.

Honestly none of the Trump Supporters they talked to should be fit to hold a flag let alone enter the country.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#135799: Aug 19th 2016 at 8:48:29 PM

[up] On the other hand, nature of the beast means they would cherry pick the funniest/worst responses, I'd think.

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#135800: Aug 19th 2016 at 9:07:32 PM

Auditor: The United States Army’s finances are so jumbled it had to make trillions of dollars of improper accounting adjustments to create an illusion that its books are balanced.

Ugh - I know there used to be the joke about the "2,500 dollar toilet seat", but I figured that was the DOD hiding covert project spending and/or rushing to meet the budget crunch at the end of the year, not "Oshit, we've gotta get the books balanced. Hurry hurry!"

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"

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