News Stories

[mangamuscle]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

How good would our economy have to be to beat an orbital bombardment?

Healthy enough to build several Gundams

[willx]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

China's economic reach is many times bigger than that of Japan during 1989. China's crash won't just affect the US, it will be a global depression bad enough for an alien race to invade us.

No one ever believes me when I draw parallels between those situations -- tightly controlled stated directed industries just isn't good at efficiently allocating capital.

[ArchmageXin]

Originally Posted by willx

No one ever believes me when I draw parallels between those situations -- tightly controlled stated directed industries just isn't good at efficiently allocating capital.

The private industries are no better at allocate capital you know....I mean, if private Industry do a better job, we would never experience an economic crash.

Also, a lot of China's industries are designed to produce Jobs first, high profit second. So if a State Industry receive aid, they have to produce jobs in exchange.

U.S Banks received a ton of aids during the great recession, and they produced....well, not jobs anyway.

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by willx

No one ever believes me when I draw parallels between those situations -- tightly controlled stated directed industries just isn't good at efficiently allocating capital.

isn't that the pot calling the kettle black

[willx]

Originally Posted by ArchmageXin

The private industries are no better at allocate capital you know....I mean, if private Industry do a better job, we would never experience an economic crash.

Also, a lot of China's industries are designed to produce Jobs first, high profit second. So if a State Industry receive aid, they have to produce jobs in exchange.

U.S Banks received a ton of aids during the great recession, and they produced....well, not jobs anyway.

Oh, I believe in market failures, but there's a difference between regulation and direction. I am a firm believer in regulation and oversight (I hope I don't get fired, ha!). The economic crash involved failures in regulation as well as fiscal and monetary policy failures. So if anything, the economic crash is further evidence of government failures in allocation of capital. (see: Gov't housing, massive deregulation, etc.) Anyways, let's keep it short and sweet since we're outside "The Economics Thread"

I'm a big admirer of centralized control over sprawling bureaucracy when policy shifts are required. It's very good at "making a decision" and then following through. The problem is the system inherently lacks a "market check" (no, the market is not perfect, heck it's not even very good, but it's better than the alternative = "none") .. and by this I simply pose a simple question:

"Is investing in Steel industries a good idea right now?" -- Different investment managers will have different opinions. I have my own opinion. Some will be right and some will be wrong. Some businesses will survive and some will fail. I am aware of a few Chinese firms, being lent money by Chinese banks, that are directly funded and/or controlled by parts of the Chinese government .. that have made a very large bet and have continued to make very large bets on the industry. What are those loans worth right now? How do you tell someone in the government that they're wrong? Look at Japan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanes...t_price_bubble

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

isn't that the pot calling the kettle black

I'm an IBanker in Canada, but I don't vote Conservative! I vote Liberal! I believe in Universal Healthcare! I believe in Government Oversight! I believe in Market Failure! I'm Agnostic! I believe in preserving the environment! I gape at my horrifying tax bill but still love Canada! I believe in funding and government assistance for the underprivileged and grants/funding for scholarship and bursaries for further education! I am a pot and a kettle both and each respectively call the other black.

[Sumeragi]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

isn't that the pot calling the kettle black

I'm pretty sure Canada hasn't done much to wreck the world economy.

[Xellos-_^]

i thought Willx live in the NE area.

[AnimeFan188]

EU set to vote on blanket porn ban; internet freedoms at risk:

"The European Parliament will vote next Tuesday on a report that could lead to a
blanket ban on pornography in any form of media, not limited to advertising,
television, and radio, but also on the web.

In the process, it could have wide-ranging implications for freedom of expression
in the 27 member state bloc."

See:

http://www.zdnet.com/eu-set-to-vote-...sk-7000012221/

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by willx

Oh, I believe in market failures, but there's a difference between regulation and direction. I am a firm believer in regulation and oversight (I hope I don't get fired, ha!). The economic crash involved failures in regulation as well as fiscal and monetary policy failures. So if anything, the economic crash is further evidence of government failures in allocation of capital. (see: Gov't housing, massive deregulation, etc.) Anyways, let's keep it short and sweet since we're outside "The Economics Thread"

I'm a big admirer of centralized control over sprawling bureaucracy when policy shifts are required. It's very good at "making a decision" and then following through. The problem is the system inherently lacks a "market check" (no, the market is not perfect, heck it's not even very good, but it's better than the alternative = "none") .. and by this I simply pose a simple question:

"Is investing in Steel industries a good idea right now?" -- Different investment managers will have different opinions. I have my own opinion. Some will be right and some will be wrong. Some businesses will survive and some will fail. I am aware of a few Chinese firms, being lent money by Chinese banks, that are directly funded and/or controlled by parts of the Chinese government .. that have made a very large bet and have continued to make very large bets on the industry. What are those loans worth right now? How do you tell someone in the government that they're wrong? Look at Japan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanes...t_price_bubble

The problem is you can't, like any other big company. They continue to do stupid stuff and fire the underlings who tell them otherwise - it is pretty much a norm in this world of megacorporations.

My guess that it is a natural order of things for things to be built up big by geniuses then taken down by idiots.

I'm an IBanker in Canada, but I don't vote Conservative! I vote Liberal! I believe in Universal Healthcare! I believe in Government Oversight! I believe in Market Failure! I'm Agnostic! I believe in preserving the environment! I gape at my horrifying tax bill but still love Canada! I believe in funding and government assistance for the underprivileged and grants/funding for scholarship and bursaries for further education! I am a pot and a kettle both and each respectively call the other black.

Canada needs a new law on their bankers - one that suspends those with multiple personality disorder.

Originally Posted by Sumeragi

I'm pretty sure Canada hasn't done much to wreck the world economy.

Actually they did. By suppressing the French culture in Quebec that they no longer act as an economic point for France by producing French maid apparel.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Actually they did. By suppressing the French culture in Quebec that they no longer act as an economic point for France by producing French maid apparel.

Sorry to break this to you but the ''Nouvelle-France'' never produced much of anything related to maid clothing; it was mostly a source of fur and fish .

(Insted of associationg Québec with french maid, you might be interested to read about the ''Filles du Roy'' )

[Ithekro]

Well.....alien invasion would (in theory) unite the planet in common cause.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Well.....alien invasion would (in theory) unite the planet in common cause.

Or throw it into disarray when each government is trying to sell another out.

Originally Posted by ganbaru

Sorry to break this to you but the ''Nouvelle-France'' never produced much of anything related to maid clothing; it was mostly a source of fur and fish .

(Insted of associationg Québec with french maid, you might be interested to read about the ''Filles du Roy'' )

Fur and fish? Does it mean that New France actually produced *gasp* catgirls?

[Sumeragi]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Fur and fish? Does it mean that New France actually produced *gasp* catgirls?

Watch Kirara of GJ-Bu.

[Ithekro]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Or throw it into disarray when each government is trying to sell another out.

Well there is that problem.

[ChainLegacy]

Meh, I think we'll finally see beyond our differences once there's another even more different group to discriminate against... Not that I think that that discriminatory solidarity would do us any good if an aggressive species with the tech to travel to us came knocking...

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Canada needs a new law on their bankers - one that suspends those with multiple personality disorder.

His name eludes me, but I was listening to a fellow on public radio the other day who espoused the idea of becoming an investment banker and getting rich so you can purposefully donate half your money to select charitable causes. His point (which was very interesting) was that if you believe in a life of charity, you could actually accomplish a lot more this way than working for a non-profit or volunteering at a soup kitchen... quite thought provoking. Perhaps we'll see a new wave of bankers with noble intentions? I won't hold my breath, but I don't necessarily think willx is all that unique. My best friend from high school is a 'young' investment banker and doesn't fit any of the nasty stereotypes either.

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Fur and fish? Does it mean that New France actually produced *gasp* catgirls?

They produced lumberjacks and strongmen like Louis Cyr, so I think they'd fit more into an action shounen than whatever-the-hell genre catgirls originated from if you're trying to anime-ify them.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Fur and fish? Does it mean that New France actually produced *gasp* catgirls?

Don't think about cat, think more about bear, wolf or beaver .


Venezuela's Chavez to be embalmed for public view
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...92405420130308
It was really tempting to put this one on the ''silly new'' thread.

[Sumeragi]

Originally Posted by ChainLegacy

His name eludes me, but I was listening to a fellow on public radio the other day who espoused the idea of becoming an investment banker and getting rich so you can purposefully donate half your money to select charitable causes. His point (which was very interesting) was that if you believe in a life of charity, you could actually accomplish a lot more this way than working for a non-profit or volunteering at a soup kitchen... quite thought provoking. Perhaps we'll see a new wave of bankers with noble intentions? I won't hold my breath, but I don't necessarily think willx is all that unique. My best friend from high school is a 'young' investment banker and doesn't fit any of the nasty stereotypes either.

Only problem is, many lose that vision thing in the long run.

[LeoXiao]

China’s Paid Trolls: Meet the 50-Cent Party

Interesting interview of a wumaodang poster by Ai Weiwei regarding the subtler methods the CCP uses to maintain a loyal populace.

[ganbaru]

French army in Mali now in Islamist "sanctuary:" defense minister
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...9270CC20130308

[Irenicus]

Today is the worldwide International Women's Day.

Russia misses the point.

And to think the USSR was once far ahead of the West on feminism.

_______

As for this poor, vulgar male, I will celebrate by drowning myself in Yuri manga. Yes, that's it. Any excuse for a yuri binge is a good excuse.And I'm going to be such a girl today my little sister will doubt her bro's sexual identity. I think I'll start with ice cream. Then lilies. Then, um, equal pay and liberation and maternity rights.