HeyYou

Wait inside Dragons reach for four days. See if you can exit then.

And that is EXACTLY why we CAN'T go into Iran currently. You also have more faith in the US government than I do. They have more than adequately demonstrated that they do NOT learn from history, or their mistakes. They do not understand the mindset there, and seem to think that inside every iranian, there is an american trying to come out..... nice thought, but, far from the truth. Our government doesn't even understand it's OWN people...... Any invasion will pretty much ensure a long-term presence there, with all the problems we have/had in Afghanistan/Iraq. Probably much worse.

I am under the impression that war is inevitable..... Doesn't matter who wins, within a year, two at most, we will be in another war in the middle east, either of our own doing, or, because Israel attacked, and we get dragged in to it. End result will be the same. The muslim world will have even more reason to hate america, the price of gas will skyrocket, the economy will tank, and we will descend into full-blown depression. Yep, I like run-on sentences. :D That will be a temporary increase in oil costs because.. war wouldn't be good for anyone in the short term, Iran's supply would slow or stop, which would bump the price> mostly harmfully to the EU, yeah that's what we need right now a crippling oil price increase in the EU. Anyway once Iran has been subjugated and it's government is mostly working to promote the US interest, That would secure the middle east oil under the hegemony of the US dollar very solidly, in the aftermath oil prices will be manageable for a longer period. Eventually the price will skyrocket indefinitely, since demand will continue to increase worldwide and sources will likely not. Prices would go up because people hate America, ie if they were trading in euros as a f*** you to the US, but once their resources are controlled and funnelled into the US currency, the Fed can keep printing more dollars> once oil literally dries up then it gets interesting. The dollar would definitely sink. Which would nearly half bankrupt China because of the massive debts owed to them in dollars, which would be worth f*** all compared to what they loaned out . Could be a couple decades off though. I don't know what the end game is though. It's clearly about economics and oil and not really about enough material for a single nuke. speaking of nuking things > http://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/ I think you are being overly optimistic. Look what happened in Iraq...... it was YEARS before oil production got back to even Saddam-era numbers... Iran is a whole 'nother fish. Those folks have been taught to hate americans for decades...... It'll be another Bushism.... declare 'victory' within just a few months.... but then we get to do nation-building with a serious terrorist problem for a decade. As soon as the first shots are fired, oil prices will soar... simply because of the location. (and it's a nice excuse for the oil companies to gouge us, with the appearance of legitimacy....) Also have to consider what Iran will do.... we aren't going to be able to cripple their military in the first five minutes. They WILL get their licks in, and what they choose to target, will determine how long the oil shortage lasts..... Imagine they decide to target various production facilities of american allies in the area? Wouldn't that be interesting??? Not only would we lose Irans production, but some neighbors as well. Not to mention that costs of shipping thru the straights would jump as well...... IF we can even get oil thru there.... That map is interesting........ Thanks for the link. :)

I am under the impression that war is inevitable..... Doesn't matter who wins, within a year, two at most, we will be in another war in the middle east, either of our own doing, or, because Israel attacked, and we get dragged in to it. End result will be the same. The muslim world will have even more reason to hate america, the price of gas will skyrocket, the economy will tank, and we will descend into full-blown depression. Yep, I like run-on sentences. :D

George was spot-on on a variety of topics. Politics and politicing being right there at the top of the list. I am truly surprised that some conspiracy theorist hasn't come out about the "plot to kill Carlin...." Nope. Nothing is going to change. The dems, and the repubbies are too entrenched in their 'my party, right or wrong, but MY party" mindset. The majority of americans are divided right down party lines, with each side accusing the other of being know-nothing idiots, that haven't the faintest idea how to solve the nations problems. I contend that NEITHER side has any INTEREST in solving the problems. They love to poke at the symptoms, (obamacare...) but outright refuse to recognize (publicly) and treat the underlying disease. Considering the above statement, leads me to the conclusion that your vote doesn't matter if you vote for either of the two major parties. You are just exchanging one set of problems for another. (with some overlap...) Unless/Until the american people do something different (voting libertarian would qualify), nothing is going to change, the situation is only going to deteriorate further, until we get to the tipping point, and THEN we will see some change. Unfortunately, it will start with a major economic collapse.....

There are way too many differences among humans for us EVER to all 'just get along'. Religion, political ideologies, and just plain stubborness will prevent it from ever happening on its own. The ONLY way for the world to unite would be because of some OUTSIDE threat coming down the pike. (I.E. alien invasion, or some such) Without the external stimulus, we will muddle along as we always have....

Well, since he won't be worried about getting RE-Elected..... He will be more willing to compromise with the repubbies in order to get things done. Quite frankly, I don't think Mitt is going to be good for the country as a whole. Certain parties will love him.... but as for the rest of us? Nope, we will end up taking the shaft so he can give more money to defense, and start another war in Iran.

Yeah, I hate it when that happens...... Here's hoping that your life is improving. :D

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from Magic. :D

I would bet that folks associated with the show have a really good idea of whether it is fake or not.....

I apologize, it really wasn't any of my business to ask what you meant by that sentence. :/ I didn't think it was because of personal reasons. I'm not really subtle when I speak or write in English. No harm, no foul, no worries. :D

Sounds like we're on the same page... I resent the EU for its undemocratic structure, its inefficiency, and the euro crisis. It did achieve some good things, but I don't think those couldn't be achieved without the EU in some fashion. I was not advocating for more EU in my post, hope you didn't think that. What I do think is that there should be some sort of political union between European countries to be able to stand high among other superpowers... kinda like a lobby on the international scene. If that makes any sense :P I just don't think countries like Germany, France, Italy or the UK will be able to remain influential on their own in the future. If there is any kind of revolt here in my country, it may be racially related... there's a lot of racial tensions here, people look for scapegoats for the economic crisis and minorities are a great target. :/ What do you mean you think you won't survive it? I am 51 years old, and have multiple sclerosis... I can still move around under my own power, but, a survivalist lifestyle, not to mention refugees from Detroit/Toledo, would do me in fairly quickly. :D Just the reality of the situation. I don't harbor any illusions I would live to a ripe old(er) age.

Some of the pics in here are just too cool. :) Makes me appreciate my pets more. (as one of my dogs begs for a cookie......) At one of my previous residences...... we were having a particularly cold winter, and I noticed there was a cat living in my garage..... I didn't worry about it overmuch, as I figgered everyone needs a place to live. Well, come springtime..... I noticed there was a significant jump in the cat population...... when it actually started getting nice out, and it was time for the annual garage cleaning, and prep for the next round of 'fix the vehicles'... I discovered, much to my dismay, that one cat, had turned into 17........ Holy smokes..... I was working on cutting up an old Jag, and a bunch of the kittens became curious, so my brother and I found ourselves surrounded by skittish kittens, that watched us closely, and meowed back and forth to each other.... We theorized they were discussing whether they could take one of us or not... as we would provide a pretty good meal for a day or three....... The following week, we caught as many as we could, and took 'em out to a friends farm, that had a mouse problem.... He doesn't any more.

I suspect at least initially, any society/settlement/village/whathaveyou, that comes out of any disaster that significantly reduces the earths population will more than likely be scavengers, living on the remnants of what is left. This would work best if disease, or natural disaster was the cause.... as cities would still be pretty much intact, and a fair bit of stored food/tools/materials would still be available. Now, if it was something like a strategic nuclear war....... cities would be smoking craters, and deathtraps, and available resources would be significantly harder to come by. Of course, population depletion would potentially be significantly higher as well..... certainly in the longer term.

China may not want to Rule the world.... they just wanna own it. :) And they are doing a fine job of buying it up too...

No, I really don't expect the american people to 'rise up, and throw off the chains of oppression'...... as it were.... we are too fat, dumb, and lazy to expend the effort. (with some exceptions.....) We will continue to go out and vote the same do-nothings back into office, so they can continue getting fat on the taxpayers dime, until the whole house of cards collapses of its own weight. Should be interesting...... Don't think I will survive it.

I have two dogs, and two cats..... (we just buried our third cat last week..... he was only three, and some strange disease.... he had never really been very healthy.) I don't really have a preference. But, I think I have a better relationship with my dogs, than my cats. Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.

Keep in mind, those 3.7 million people are all going to be hungry, and in search of resources, and you are not going to be able to help even a small percentage of them. The rest, will come in and take what they want, and then you won't be any help to anyone, as you will be dead.

Neither really..... I haven't cared for american foreign policy since the 90's. Our government is way too spend-happy with other peoples money. The politicians seem to be in it for what they can get for themselves... if they were actually to do what they say..... I would probably fall over dead from a heart attack..... but, I fall somewhere between the the parties. I am a firm advocate of the second amendment, but I am also pro-choice.... I think government sticks their noses into far too many places that it simply doesn't belong. Drug policy is actually counter-productive..... and both sides have their own pets they cater to, neither of which should be happening. (lobbyists...... the bane of useful legislation....)

I expect we are heading for a major fall. It will be led by the US, and the rest of the world will follow in a domino affect. Current policies are unsustainable, and no one seems to have anything new to offer. Just the same old tired formulas, that haven't worked in the past..... Not sure what makes the powers-that-be think its gonna work 'this time'......

Yes, incompetent short sighted politicians are responsible for the euro crisis. The way I see it, they either went too far or not far enough. They should have kept the different currencies or they should have created a real common market, not a bastardized one where each nation gets to make economic decisions that affect all the others. For instance, because of the Greeks badly mismanaging their economy the entire eurozone economy is threatened. It's not a single market, it's several hastily stitched together with no deep attempt at harmonization. Which is ridiculous. I love the idea of the euro, but they should really give more economic power to the EU if they want it to work (imo). And if they give more power to the EU, they should give the voters more power. We should vote for those who rule the EU, how ridiculous is it that Barroso has been president of the European Commission since 2004 without ever being elected by us? As for the idea of the EU as a whole in the context of globalization... honestly, I come from one of the "biggest" EU countries and I do not believe we stand a chance on our own, against China, India, Brazil, Russia or the United States. On the global scale, we're like microstates. I do love my country but I am under no illusion... on our own we'll just be trampled. I am not a Europhile, but realistically I think together European countries could be much stronger, the equal of China, the US and other superpowers. I'm just not sure the EU is going the right way about it. :( My guess would be "no", they are not going the correct direction.... The chief problem being.... the politicians don't wanna give up what power they have. Giving more to the EU, means they have less...... an no one in power wants to give that power to someone else. I suspect that the EU won't last. Too many financial issues in too many places, and the folks that benefited the most from their respective governments largess, don't wanna give it up.... the politicians there want to get re-elected... so, hang on to 'the old ways' as hard as they can, even when they know that doing so will only make things worse in the future..... I would almost think they were americans, what with the 'whatever makes me the most money RIGHT NOW, and to hell with the future." attitude...

None of the above.... Neither party is really good for america any more. They are all out for themselves, to see how much of the taxpayers money they can put in their pockets.

Seems a standard tactic of the right to paint anything obama does as "socialist"... it's simply a buzzword lately. I am real curious why it is that "obamacare" was painted as a socialist program, but, the very same style was used in Romneycare in Massachusetts.... but, that was the 'right thing to do'??? How do they reconcile that? In either event, both 'cares' are simply treating the symptoms of a larger ill. Both parties are poking around the edges of the problem, but, neither side is addressing the real problem. Jobs. America needs jobs. Put america back to work, and a fair few issues will simply solve themselves. (and I mean good jobs here. not the minimum wage, would you like fries with that kind.) In all reality, neither party really has a clue how to 'fix' the economy. The government simply cannot create jobs. At least, not sustainable, private sector jobs. They can provide an environment that is conducive to job creation, but, that's it. To think that giving the 1% yet more tax breaks is going to magically cause them to want to create jobs here at home, is laughable. It hasn't worked in the past, and it won't work now. There are too many motivations to create jobs ELSEWHERE via tax cuts, and 'free trade' for it to be even remotely plausible. American companies have built more infrastructure in foreign countries, than they have right here at home in the last decade. (and more...) What is going to happen when the situation in the middle east comes to a head? If we actually indulge ourselves in military action against Iran, do you think China, one of Irans staunchest allies, is going to give us a free pass on that? Right now, they control a significant percentage of our foreign held debt, and an even more significant percentage of our production capability. Personally, I think moving a lot of our production to places that are quite likely to be our enemies in a future armed conflict really wasn't the brightest move. And then there is Syria...... Both Russia AND China at one time were pretty friendly there.... We (the US) are supporting the Rebels.... whom are made up of various organizations that are mainly islamic in nature, and a fair few of them don't have a high opinion of the west..... We are working toward replacing a government that doesn't like us, with a government that hates us...... Quite similar to Egypt, where we turned on our ally... in support of a new government that REALLY doesn't like us, nor do they much care for our ally Israel...... Who thought that was a good idea?? Has the US become a "fair weather" ally? We will support you right up until your people revolt, and then we will turn on you like a rabid dog? There's a nice reputation to cultivate.....

Don't respond to the foolishness.

Either that, or some long lost relative of yours that never even existed. :) The medium would have no way of knowing. I bet they would be able to contact them anyway though.....