News Stories

[Jinto]

Originally Posted by Kamui4356

Like I said, Yoko Takeo claimed the US government staged 9-11, or at least could have stopped it but allowed it to happen anyway, to get public support to invade Afghanistan because they wanted oil. My point there was the US government didn't need a 9-11 to make this case. They could have just focused on the Taliban's oppression to make a case for an invasion if they really wanted to invade. I was not attempting to provide a point by point discussion of what they would use to sell the war, just mentioning things off the top of my head.

Ah I get it now, so this is not your personal oppinion but what you believe would have been sufficient reasons for the USA to wage a war against Afghanistan. But I doubt sane people would see it that way (because of what I wrote in my postings).

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by Kamui4356

Perhaps, but the US already had that too, the attack on the USS Cole.

I think these two are too different, by level of destruction, world reaction, and citizen recognition, to substitute each other.

9-11 wouldn't have been necessary to sell the American public on a war.

though the greater the effect of a situation on the American public, the better...

how did they exactly calculate the American public's approval rating on this war? Where must it be based on?

[hinakatbklyn]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

1. in the US we would have give him a medal not a prison sentence.

2. he should have finish the job before calling the police

3. what happen to being able to defend his life, family and property against vicious criminals?

I went looking for a similar story before making a comment about self defense or taking things too far when it comes to home invaders or robbers.

Houston, Texas US, Late 2007: (rough summary)
2 burglars (allegedely) from a drug gang robs a place down south. Neighbor sees this calls the cops. He's in no immediate danger but he sees the guys taking off. He even told the dispatcher what he was going to do before taking his gun and finishing them off (while they were running away).

The interesting thing here is the businessman was faced with armed robbers and could have been killed along with the family. Self defense here (or more like defend first then attack) cost him 30 months. The other one was just a neighbor who was in no immediate danger and the robbers I believe were unarmed (the case could be made they worked for a drug cartel or any other dangerous syndicate). He got protests from advocates but no prison time.

It could be a case of different country, different sentence. The fact remains, if you stop the robber they run away what happens then? (a) will they run and hide never to be heard from again? (b) will they rob someone else where in a worse case scenario the next victim's family gets killed. In the case of (b) the people could say to the first victim "you should have stopped them" and that person would be labeled the criminal anyway (no win situation).

[MrTerrorist]

Alzheimer's risk linked to level of appetite hormone
Indian sect members vow to marry sex workers
Swiss minaret appeal goes to European Court

The Best News I read today:
Scientists crack 'entire genetic code' of cancer

[mg1942]

Loud commercials..... LEGISLATED!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...8436#34438436/


_{This law is too late, Billy Mays is dead.}

[Xion Valkyrie]

Originally Posted by hinakatbklyn

I went looking for a similar story before making a comment about self defense or taking things too far when it comes to home invaders or robbers.

Houston, Texas US, Late 2007: (rough summary)
2 burglars (allegedely) from a drug gang robs a place down south. Neighbor sees this calls the cops. He's in no immediate danger but he sees the guys taking off. He even told the dispatcher what he was going to do before taking his gun and finishing them off (while they were running away).

The interesting thing here is the businessman was faced with armed robbers and could have been killed along with the family. Self defense here (or more like defend first then attack) cost him 30 months. The other one was just a neighbor who was in no immediate danger and the robbers I believe were unarmed (the case could be made they worked for a drug cartel or any other dangerous syndicate). He got protests from advocates but no prison time.

It could be a case of different country, different sentence. The fact remains, if you stop the robber they run away what happens then? (a) will they run and hide never to be heard from again? (b) will they rob someone else where in a worse case scenario the next victim's family gets killed. In the case of (b) the people could say to the first victim "you should have stopped them" and that person would be labeled the criminal anyway (no win situation).

Well, it's Texas =P

Anyways, there was also that case earlier where a student killed an attacker with a Katana, and the Police decided not to press charges.

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by Slice of Life

You're being polemic. No, obviously not whatever personality test he is given. Though I'm willing to put more trust into the decision of a psychologist who's looking into the case in 10 years than any layman in front of his TV now.


What if I rape and kill someone. What if you got run over by a bus tomorrow. Risks have to be assessed and evaluated. There is no such thing as a no risk society.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6959728.ece

His first bride, Margaret Mackintosh, a teenager he married when he was 23, told how he raped her three times and seemed to “enjoy my fear”. When she dared to fight he stabbed her and left her to die. She was rescued by neighbours after her blood dripped through the ceiling. She refused to press charges, but Tobin was later jailed for an unrelated offence.
On his release he met and married Sylvia Jefferies, who later described him as “pure and absolute evil”. She obtained a lifetime restraining order against him after fleeing with their son. In 1989 he married Cathy Wilson, 16. After six months she fled his violent rages, taking their son, Daniel, with her to Portsmouth.

......
He swapped his council house to move to Margate, Kent. Among the possessions he had crammed into a van to take him on the 500-mile journey were two bin bags containing the two halves of Vicky’s body. When he arrived he buried her remains in the garden.
......
He then moved to Havant, near Portsmouth, where he raped two 14-year-old girl babysitters after slipping amitriptyline into their drinks. One girl managed to stab him in the leg before he beat her unconscious and raped her. With both girls unconscious he turned on the gas and left them to die. One girl woke up and they escaped. The beaten teenager spent six weeks on a life support machine before recovering.
......
While working as a handyman at St Patrick’s in Glasgow in 2006, Tobin met Angelika Kluk, a part-time cleaner at the church. The body of the 23-year-old Polish student was later found under the church floor.
.....
Detectives described Tobin as deeply egotistical — he told them to “p*** off” when asked about Vicky’s murder — and someone who enjoys the limelight. In interviews he referred to women in the crudest of terms — “She was a poke, that was it. End of story.”

1. do you feel peter tobin should ever be allow out of prison
2. if a prison pyschologist said Tobin has been reform and should be release, would you ever let him babysit your daughter (if you had one) or near any of your female relatives.

Is Charles Manson even in prison or in some mental facility? I though he is mentally ill. In any case, you can answer the question by yourself from what I wrote already.

Manson is in prison and will die in prison. He has been denied prole for the last 30 years and most likely baring a act of god will never be granted prole for the reminder of his life.

[ZephyrLeanne]

1. No.
2. No.
And. He should be hanged. And before you oppose the death penalty for him, think: One life for half a dozen broken ones? That's a steal!

[mg1942]

Obama's Push for Copenhagen Deal Could Violate Constitution

[Solace]

"Who will President Obama heed?" Vince Haley, vice president of policy at American Solutions for Winning the Future, wrote in an opinion article published in FoxNews.com. "The American people and our constitutional system of checks and balances, or the collection of dictators, tyrants, and most undemocratic heads of government convened by the United Nations in Copenhagen this week?

Yes, the President is actually in secret talks right now carving up the United States into new territories ruled by North Korea, Iran, and Bin Laden.

Why do people believe this stuff?

Also, American Solutions. Surprise, an organization headed by Newt Gingrich, proud supporters of "Drill Here Drill Now". Who knew it was more than a theme song for the clueless?

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by ShimatheKat

1. No.
2. No.
And. He should be hanged. And before you oppose the death penalty for him, think: One life for half a dozen broken ones? That's a steal!

those questions were directed at slice of life who somehow feels that anyone can be reform and as long as someone is willing to say they are reform should be let out of prison.

if anyone ever wonder if people can actually be born evil. i think this guy answer that question. if perter tobin ever did anything good in his life it was probably a accident.

[Terrestrial Dream]

Originally Posted by mg1942

Obama's Push for Copenhagen Deal Could Violate Constitution

Isn't this similar situation with Wilson and League of Nation?

Originally Posted by Solace

Yes, the President is actually in secret talks right now carving up the United States into new territories ruled by North Korea, Iran, and Bin Laden.

Why do people believe this stuff?

Also, American Solutions. Surprise, an organization headed by Newt Gingrich, proud supporters of "Drill Here Drill Now". Who knew it was more than a theme song for the clueless?

Excellent *in Mr.Burns tone*.

[Terrestrial Dream]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...021683/1/.html

Spoiler for space:

North Korea sharply revalues currency to curb inflation
Posted: 01 December 2009 1303 hrs


Photos 1 of 1

People pass in front of propaganda posters in central Pyongyang



SEOUL: North Korea has sharply revalued its currency by issuing the first new banknotes for 17 years in an apparent attempt to curb inflation and clamp down on black-market trading, reports said Tuesday.

The hardline communist government implemented the change Monday morning, causing panic and confusion in the markets, Yonhap news agency and other South Korean media reported.

Yonhap, reporting from the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, said the exchange rate for the new currency is 100 to 1, with old-denomination 1,000-won notes being replaced by new 10-won notes.

"Many citizens in Pyongyang were taken aback and in confusion," it quoted a North Korean source engaged in trade with China as saying.

"Those who were worried about their hidden assets rushed to the black market to exchange them for (Chinese) yuan or US dollars. The yuan and the dollar jumped."

South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper and the Daily NK, a Seoul-based Internet newspaper, carried similar reports.

Seoul's unification ministry, which handles cross-border relations, said it was checking the reports but noted there had been no official announcement in Pyongyang's media.

Cho Bong-Hyun, a specialist on the North's economy at Seoul's IBK Economic Research Institute, said the reported move was to tackle corruption and tame inflation.

"The sudden and bold manner the move was implemented indicates the government's intention to identify and send a warning to those who have amassed wealth illegally and unfairly," Cho told AFP.

Officially the North Korean won trades at 135 to the dollar. Cho said the current black market rate is between 2,000 and 3,000 but could soar to 20,000 if there is an acute dollar shortage.

The North issued new banknotes in 1949, 1959, 1979 and 1992 but the denominations remained unchanged except in 1959 when new notes were exchanged for old at a 100-to-1 rate.

Yonhap said the main aim appeared to be curbing inflation because the currency's value had slumped since economic reforms were introduced in 2002.

The reforms, to make wages and prices more realistic and introduce limited market freedoms, were largely rolled back in 2005. Authorities have lately been clamping down on free markets in an apparent attempt to reassert the regime's control.

Yonhap said the North may also have wanted to flush out funds from the underground economy, including money from citizens working abroad.

The country is mounting a national campaign to rebuild its crumbling economy by 2012, the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il-Sung.

Yang Moon-Soo, of Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, said authorities aim both to tame inflation and to trace citizens who have amassed wealth either legally or illegally.

Those who feared punishment would have to bury their illegally earned money, he told Yonhap. "There will be less cash circulating in the market and more government control of the people."

Daily NK, in a story datelined Shenyang, said Monday's move caused alarm in markets. "When the news spread in the jangmadang (markets), people panicked," it quoted a source in the northeastern province of North Hamkyung as saying.

A source in the western city of Sinuiju, on the border with China, told the paper: "Traders gathered around currency dealers. Chaos ensued when currency dealers tried to avoid them."

Chosun Ilbo said the revaluation was to curb inflation and tighten control over society before an eventual power transfer from leader Kim Jong-Il to his son Jong-Un.

"Prices have gone up too high since the economic reform measures taken on July 1, 2002," a source told Chosun. "The North Korean currency has been devalued too much, apparently causing the currency change."

- AFP/yb

so what would this mean for North Korea? It seems that people are not happy over this. I am hoping this would mean the regime is on the verge of collapse (well more than they usually are) and some dramatic reform must come in order for them to survive later on.

[justinstrife]

Originally Posted by hinakatbklyn

I went looking for a similar story before making a comment about self defense or taking things too far when it comes to home invaders or robbers.

Houston, Texas US, Late 2007: (rough summary)
2 burglars (allegedely) from a drug gang robs a place down south. Neighbor sees this calls the cops. He's in no immediate danger but he sees the guys taking off. He even told the dispatcher what he was going to do before taking his gun and finishing them off (while they were running away).

The interesting thing here is the businessman was faced with armed robbers and could have been killed along with the family. Self defense here (or more like defend first then attack) cost him 30 months. The other one was just a neighbor who was in no immediate danger and the robbers I believe were unarmed (the case could be made they worked for a drug cartel or any other dangerous syndicate). He got protests from advocates but no prison time.

It could be a case of different country, different sentence. The fact remains, if you stop the robber they run away what happens then? (a) will they run and hide never to be heard from again? (b) will they rob someone else where in a worse case scenario the next victim's family gets killed. In the case of (b) the people could say to the first victim "you should have stopped them" and that person would be labeled the criminal anyway (no win situation).

Texas views things a little bit differently from the rest of the world. You have a right to defend and protect your neighbor's property. Hence why Horn didn't even get a slap on the wrist for killing the robbers.

It's where I plan on moving to should my dad move from California or pass away(he's the only thing keeping me in this state).

[Kamui4356]

Originally Posted by Terrestrial Dream

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...021683/1/.html


so what would this mean for North Korea? It seems that people are not happy over this. I am hoping this would mean the regime is on the verge of collapse (well more than they usually are) and some dramatic reform must come in order for them to survive later on.

Currency revaluations aren't that uncommon. They're usually a bad sign though. Of course look at Zimbabwe's currency and the massive inflation they've had. North Korea doing it once in 17 years with a 100-1 exchange rate isn't nearly bad as Zimbabwe's every few weeks with a 1,000,000 to one exchange rate due to hyper inflation.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Terrestrial Dream

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...021683/1/.html


so what would this mean for North Korea? It seems that people are not happy over this. I am hoping this would mean the regime is on the verge of collapse (well more than they usually are) and some dramatic reform must come in order for them to survive later on.

It depends. With less reliance on their local currency, the government might even eliminate their currency to minimal domestic use then trade technodollars with China.

At any rate, this could spell disaster for the rest of the world if NK gains a military foothold. They have a capability to conquer SK with sufficient technological advantage.

[Jinto]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

It depends. With less reliance on their local currency, the government might even eliminate their currency to minimal domestic use then trade technodollars with China.

At any rate, this could spell disaster for the rest of the world if NK gains a military foothold. They have a capability to conquer SK with sufficient technological advantage.

No, NK doesn't have the economical capabilities to last very long in a war of aggression. But I am sure FoxNews knows better.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Jinto

No, NK doesn't have the economical capabilities to last very long in a war of aggression. But I am sure FoxNews knows better.

Heheh . But don't forget that China uses NK as an avenue for their black market trade.

[ZephyrLeanne]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Heheh . But don't forget that China uses NK as an avenue for their black market trade.

I'm so sure. For comparison, DPRK spends nearly all its budget on the military in the name of Juche, and it isn't even near Singapore, which spends SGD10.6b (USD5.8b) and just 4% of its budget.

For DPRK it's SGD5b AND 95% of budget. Then again their police is Military Police...

[Narona]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

1. do you feel peter tobin should ever be allow out of prison
2. if a prison pyschologist said Tobin has been reform and should be release, would you ever let him babysit your daughter (if you had one) or near any of your female relatives.

1. No
2. No, and I'd send that psychologist to see a psychologist because you have to be mentally ill or foolishly idealistic and therefore dangerous to other people, to allow that kind of person to go out after all that he has done.

And I'll add

3. Would you allow death penalty or at least irrevocable perpetuity (no appeal) to such criminals

3.Yes. And if DP is chosen, bullet in the head + dig a mere hole and put the corpse inside just like that. Cost not must money, and good riddance.