2010-07-19, 13:27 | Link #8281 | ||
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: USA
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Top Secret America - A hidden world, growing beyond control
Washington Post launches a new series of articles with accompanying website
The series (and website) is called Top Secret America: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/top-secret-america The first article was published today and has generated some controversy; it is called "A hidden world, growing beyond control" Quote:
In addition, one of the journalists did an interview today with Amy Goodman, here's a sample: Quote:
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2010-07-19, 16:32 | Link #8283 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Age: 35
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Yes let's let terrorism rule our lives? Hoover dam could be a "great" terrorist target does it mean we shouldn't have built it? The twin towers are the go to example of terrorism yet I don't see why we shouldn't have built them? Deciding to hand your life over to the threats made by terrorists is no different than living in world as a slave. Everything and anything can be a terrorist target, open markets, schools, sports arenas, so does that mean we should just hide in recluse to avoid the threat of terrorists? As one of the greatest American Presidents said "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
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2010-07-19, 17:11 | Link #8284 |
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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And car accidents. I'm pretty sure it's a good idea to fear those. Oh, and MST. Diseases in general, really. And poison. And bullets...
More seriously, while I don't know why Xion thinks that dam makes such a great terrorist target, I'm not sure "don't worry, be happy" is such a great counter-argument either. While it's a fact of life we can't do anything without running some sort of risk, it doesn't mean all risks are equal, and equally negligible. They should still be weighed against benefits, step should be taken to reduce them, and so on. |
2010-07-19, 17:33 | Link #8285 |
Pretentious moe scholar
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Age: 37
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Canada agrees to buy 65 fighter jets for $138.5 million per plane.
Okay, seriously... I'm sure that the F-35 will be a great fighter jet once it actually enters service... but isn't this more than twice the per unit cost of the most recent F-18 variant? And an untendered contract to boot?
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2010-07-19, 17:42 | Link #8286 | |
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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2010-07-19, 21:15 | Link #8287 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
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2010-07-19, 23:24 | Link #8289 | ||
Schwing!
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Central Texas
Age: 40
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Last edited by Mr. DJ; 2010-07-19 at 23:37. |
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2010-07-20, 01:52 | Link #8290 | ||
Moving in circles
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 49
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British author charged with criminal defamation in S'pore
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2010-07-20, 04:31 | Link #8291 | ||
Rawrrr!
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: CH aka Chocaholic Heaven
Age: 40
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While most of the other regions would be manageable to convert into Canton (if they decide for it of course), Baden-Wurttemberg on other hand would be much more of a problem due to it's sheer size: with about 10 Mio inhabitants it has a larger population than present Switzerland. If it were to join, I think it would be natural for it to be broken down to it's pre WW2 components: Baden, Wurttemberg and Hohenzollern. The issue of a super large Canton is not as much it's disproportionate weigh in elections, but that on the contrary, due to the Swiss System which accommodate Canton with populations ranging from 50000 to 1 Mio inhabitants on an equal basis, individual vote in a super large Canton would weigh less than a hundredth than the ones in the smaller ones, in the issue that concern Canton as well as Population majority (the most important ones). Quote:
On a tactical point of view, Baden-Wurttemberg or Insubria aside, all the other regions are prolongation of natural corridor or barriers, so there wouldn't be that much change in the defense apparatus, which if focused on a central redoubt and strategic passes. On the other hand, I don't know to what extent inhabitants of these areas are familiar to the fact that the boons of Swiss direct democracy and dynamic economy come with a price, and that is serving 270 days in the Army (I don't think it would a big problem for the Army itself to accommodate for even a doubling in recruits, as there are numerous facilities and units to be reactivated, after all, at some point of history we had a larger Army than Federal Germany). On an economic point of view, the comparison with East Germany falls short, as most if not all of these areas have a very similar economic setting: dense light industry, which makes several of them economic power houses in their countries, but so peripheral that some are better coordinated with the Swiss economy than their national economy. Plus, all the border see a massive influx of daily commuters to Switzerland, and one of Schengen's consequence has been a massive, almost instant brain drain over the neighboring countries (which has induced some resentment on both sides). On an administrative point of view, past signing posts changing and all, the big thing to deal with should rather be changing the political culture (especially in France I feel), and re-balance political competences toward the municipal level.
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2010-07-20, 07:07 | Link #8293 | |
Aria Company
Join Date: Nov 2003
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2010-07-20, 08:14 | Link #8294 | |||||
On a sabbatical
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wellington, NZ
Age: 43
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2010-07-20, 09:26 | Link #8295 |
Takao Tsundere Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Classified
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Frustration for the US soldiers who never went to war
I feel sorry for these brave men & women who wanted to be deployed but never did. I respect their decision to join the armed forces and hope they can serve their country on the front-lines one day. (PS. Please don't make a big fuss about it. I'm just giving my respect.) Liberal? Are we talking about the same thing? A Mindscrew for anyone who thinks they know what liberal really means.
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2010-07-20, 10:18 | Link #8296 | |||||
Rawrrr!
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: CH aka Chocaholic Heaven
Age: 40
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And precisely because of that, they feel rather prejudiced in the present status quo with only half the weight when cantonal majority is required. That might change if the addition of new Canton was to change the current balance. Quote:
Actually, even if it is way more manageable in size, that could also be a possible process in Alsace, especially since we consider the special history of Mulhouse with the Confederation. Quote:
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Actually, in some instance it could be beneficial for all communities, as some vital transborder projects are currently hindered by central government neglect. The French Genevois and Southern side of the Leman come to mind, where vital joint public transportation projects have been stalled for years. Quote:
Well, ultimately, it should be up to the peoples, notwithstanding the hypocrisy of those in Bruxelles and the other Capital Cities. Regarding the Swiss political side, I would admit that there is something of a provocative stunt in this motion, especially given the current context. But even so, I find it a beautiful idea for Europe and democracy, more so, it's an idea that has been in the air for years, if not centuries. Actually, prior to WW2, such was the fleeting dream of the Fathers of Europe. I think the reaction of one of my roommates from Savoy say plenty: "Nah that's crazy..." turning to "... wait, that would be doable! Actually, we would be way better in Switzerland.".
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2010-07-20, 12:58 | Link #8299 |
Not Enough Sleep
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: R'lyeh
Age: 48
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legacy of the Opium War,
I think majority of the pop in Singapore is Chinese decent and the after effect of the opium war is probably hanging the subconscious back there somewhere.
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Last edited by Xellos-_^; 2010-07-20 at 13:42. |
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current affairs, discussion, international |
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