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Sean 
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
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 Posted - 11/06/2008 : 21:13:22
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quote:
Originally posted by duh Improper Username
quote:
Originally posted by S9�n
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Originally posted by ChocolateLady
...many Israelis feel that if they're going to play the "who started it" game, they really should look farther back than just prior to the last incident.
I agree 100%. Actually, a well-known philosopher from your part of the world saw the folly in the "he started it so I'll hit him back" approach a couple of thousand years ago. It's a shame that so many people (including many who claim to follow his teachings) have yet to learn this.
Hell must be freezing over. (Sean's reference to Jesus. Unless he was referring to Brian?) 
 Actually, this guy is on my list of "top blokes of all time". I'd call him a genius, and he was so far ahead of his time that millennia later people still have difficulty accepting the correctness of his teachings relating to society and human interaction. |
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MisterBadIdea 
"PLZ GET MILK, KTHXBYE"
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Posted - 11/07/2008 : 05:58:02
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I'll tell you what, I've been thinking a lot about this election, and I stumbled upon a theory about why McCain lost, something particularly revelant to this forum. Because, you see, the McCain campaign was rejected for the same reason that so many of my FWFRs get rejected: They go over the four word limit.
You see, since TV became the dominant medium, it has dictated the winner of the presidential election. The winner is always someone who plays better on TV than the other guy, and TV favors short, simple messages. The shorter the better. What you need to do in this world is give voters a compelling reason not to vote for the other guy, and communicate it in four words or less. "It's the economy, stupid." "Flip-flopper." Obama's four words were "more of the same." McCain's were "not ready to lead." But then he picked Palin and he couldn't use that message anymore, so he had to find some new words. But that put him over the limit, so he lost. |
Edited by - MisterBadIdea on 11/07/2008 06:01:27 |
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rockfsh 
"Laugh, Love, Cheer"
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BiggerBoat 
"Pass me the harpoon"
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Posted - 11/07/2008 : 16:06:39
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quote:
Originally posted by S9�n
Actually, this guy is on my list of "top blokes of all time". I'd call him a genius, and he was so far ahead of his time that millennia later people still have difficulty accepting the correctness of his teachings relating to society and human interaction.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." - Mahatma Gandhi
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silly 
"That rabbit's DYNAMITE."
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Posted - 11/07/2008 : 17:11:07
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quote:
Originally posted by BiggerBoat
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." - Mahatma Gandhi
"Buddha was not a Christian, but Jesus would have made a good Buddhist." - Ray Wylie Hubbard |
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Whippersnapper. 
"A fourword thinking guy."
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Posted - 11/07/2008 : 17:14:10
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quote:
Originally posted by BiggerBoat
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. " - Mahatma Gandhi
Naturally. He was a nice Jewish boy.
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Airbolt
"teil mann, teil maschine"
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Posted - 11/07/2008 : 22:57:34
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quote:
Originally posted by 9amalc
i am overwhelmed with emotion about the election of our next president. as some of you know, i work in the media and my job is to be neutral observer. but once i saw on Tuesday night that Obama had won Pennsylvania and Ohio and had more than 200 electoral votes, i couldn't stop grinning, and almost cried a couple of times in my office. and forget about trying to sing Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," or listening to MLK's i've-been-to-the-mountaintop speech.
i also have serious concerns for the president-elect. his will be the most scrutinized presidency ever. and i hate to think about it but i'm sure there are others out there who would like to see this presidency end ... ummm ... prematurely.
for now i'm gonna keep smiling and play Sam Cooke only when i'm alone.
There's been times that I thought
I wouldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come
Oh, yes it will
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Koli
"Striving lackadaisically for perfection."
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Posted - 11/08/2008 : 23:04:27
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duh said:
quote:
As one from a heavily agricultural state, I worry about how farmers will fare under Obama. On paper, most farmers may appear "wealthy" because of the value of their land and equipment. Yet, they have very little in the way of cash. Farming is something one does because one loves the life, not to become wealthy. Yet, their role is absolutely essential.
I was delighted to hear of Obama's victory (even though I found myself listening to his acceptance speech at 5:00am our time because our alarm was wrongly set  ), and I think he'll do a great job for the USA. However, I understand he supports the US Farm Bill (which McCain didn't) and is likely to be more of a protectionist on trade. This doesn't bode well for progress in the WTO talks.
I was delighted even though Obama's victory cost me �20. I'd bet on McCain winning, in case he sneaked it, because I thought that the �130 I stood to win if he did would cheer me up.
The result seemed almost too good to be true, coming just a couple of days after another mixed race man, our own Lewis Hamilton, took the Formula One World Championship. I'd like to think that black and mixed race people in the USA, UK and elsewhere will be inspired by their success and walk with a spring in their step after this great week. |
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w22dheartlivie 
"Kitty Lover"
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Posted - 11/09/2008 : 03:09:20
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There has been a lot of talk about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his trip to the mountaintop and his dream. As everyone can tell, I'm thrilled about this win, but I honestly didn't think it would happen in my lifetime. Apparently that was true for a great many people in this country. It's interesting, listening to the young people this week. (Oh. My. God. Did I just say that?? WHEN did that happen???) While I know that racism is alive and well around, I was pleased to discover that it isn't as ingrained as it once was.
When my sister had her daughter, way back in 1984, it was still quite overt here. The small town school system where we had graduated had been all-white since we could remember. Still, my sister enrolled Brooke in kindergarten, but with an eye toward transferring and paying the tuition to attend the rest of her school years in a nearby, larger, racially diverse town. My comment was to wait and let's see how things progress. As it turned out, there was never an issue with my niece's race. She was popular, active in school functions and seemed quite happy. She had never heard the N-word until she was 8 years old and was taking gymnastics lessons - in the nearby, larger, racially diverse town. I'm not sure what made the difference. Maybe it was because Brooke had always been there and her peers didn't see her as different. Maybe it was because my sister, fearful that my niece wouldn't be accepted, was very strict with her - to the point that I finally spoke up about it. Maybe because she was funny, smart, quite pretty, small and nicely built (geez, I hope that wasn't it, but kids can be fickle).
In any case, my goddaughter and I were discussing all the events of the week. She observed that the kind of racism she remembered from her younger days seems to be dissipated to near absence. The school has become more racially diverse and she doesn't hear the epithets that still were around 20 years ago. It's a great time in America. And what's all this about gasoline dropping from almost $4.00 a gallon to $1.98? What's THAT all about? |
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turrell
"Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh "
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Posted - 11/09/2008 : 04:24:33
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quote:
Originally posted by MisterBadIdea
I'll tell you what, I've been thinking a lot about this election, and I stumbled upon a theory about why McCain lost, something particularly revelant to this forum. Because, you see, the McCain campaign was rejected for the same reason that so many of my FWFRs get rejected: They go over the four word limit.
During an economic downturn the party in the White House has not been re-elected since 1900. McCain was even or ahead until Lehman failed and the market lost 30%. Add to that Obama's entirely compelling candidacy and a heavy pendulum shift after 8 years and the old man couldn't get it done. He should have been finishing up his second term instead of seeking his first - he had the wrong message for these times. That's my nutshell analysis. |
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turrell
"Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh "
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Posted - 11/09/2008 : 04:29:32
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quote:
Originally posted by wildheart9livie
And what's all this about gasoline dropping from almost $4.00 a gallon to $1.98? What's THAT all about?
Mostly a slight rebound in the value of the dollar - most of the increase in gas prices was due to a weakening dollar (fueled in part by our massive and growing budget deficit). |
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Mr Savoir Faire
"^ Click my name. "
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Posted - 11/09/2008 : 06:34:17
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I was hoping that Ron Paul would win. Failing that I pulled for Obama due to the investments I made in him.
I printed up 2500 bumper stickers a week before that say "Mission Accomplished: President Obama". I sold them all night in Times Square with a hired team until morning, where I stood in line and bought every copy of the New York Times I could (60 copies!). I even paid people to stand in line and buy copies for me.
I was surprised at how much I was able to sell the Times for.
However, to sell these products I had to pretend I believed in Obama. The truth is that I want to believe, but politicians in the US are crooks. It's nice to think change is coming, but Clinton offered Healthcare in 92 and 96 and Bush ran on an anti-war platform.
We'll have to see how he does as president. I'm hoping for the best, but we will have one party controlling the house, the Senate, The presidency, and soon the Supreme Court.
Don't get me wrong: I'm excited to have a black president. This is a true inspiration; especially considering civil rights were only forty something years ago. Also, I am tired of Europeans coming up to me (I street-vend in Times Square when I'm not doing stand-up comedy) and talking down about Americans as if I wasn't one; telling me how fat, racist, and ignorant Americans are. I'm not sure why there is this perception. The US has fantastic colleges and a lot more diversity than most places. If anyone could explain this perception, please do! Much obliged.
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w22dheartlivie
"Kitty Lover"
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Posted - 11/09/2008 : 07:11:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Savoir Faire
Also, I am tired of Europeans coming up to me (I street-vend in Times Square when I'm not doing stand-up comedy) and talking down about Americans as if I wasn't one; telling me how fat, racist, and ignorant Americans are. I'm not sure why there is this perception. The US has fantastic colleges and a lot more diversity than most places. If anyone could explain this perception, please do! Much obliged.
I suspect this is closely related to the portrayal of the British as having bad teeth and lousy food, the French being rude and elitist, and the Australians drinking Foster's beer, saying Crikey and mostly eating barbequed shrimp. Stereotyping? |
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Whippersnapper.
"A fourword thinking guy."
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Posted - 11/09/2008 : 12:41:49
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Hey Livie, Americans may have got us Brits wrong, but two out of three isn't bad!
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Airbolt
"teil mann, teil maschine"
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Posted - 11/09/2008 : 18:46:15
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One thing the US leads the world in - commentators who sound like WW2 superheroes!
I give you WOLF BLITZER and CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER! |
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It's a Great Day in America
