The P/R-side Chat Thread v.2

[Scheavo]

Even in a thread about everything Obama, it's hard to carry on 5 different discsussions at the same time. It just get's confusing.

[Adami]

Even in a thread about everything Obama, it's hard to carry on 5 different discsussions at the same time. It just get's confusing.

But there aren't 5 different discussions, it's 1 discussion with 5 different sets of details.


Some people: Obama isn't the devil.
EV, Tick, Praxis and others: Obama is the devil.
People who don't care: Bush is worse.


That's it. And it always results in each side saying that the argument is pointless, but then somehow continuing for several pages. How many times have people said "Well this isn't worth arguing with you" or something along those lines? Hell, I'm pretty sure Tick actually retired from the forum 4-5 times in the past week or so.

[El Barto]

That's it. And it always results in each side saying that the argument is pointless, but then somehow continuing for several pages. How many times have people said "Well this isn't worth arguing with you" or something along those lines? Hell, I'm pretty sure Tick actually retired from the forum 4-5 times in the past week or so.

As I said a couple of weeks ago, most discussions in this forum won't accomplish much.  Nobody's going to convince EV that Obama isn't the Antichrist,  and nobody's going to convince Bosk that there is no God.  That doesn't make those discussions pointless.  Often time tangents arise that are interesting to discuss. 

[Adami]

I guess if you're really into American politics, then yea, this place may on occasion bring up a short lived tangent or two, but I tend to think there's a lot more to politics and religion than simply Obama and Jesus, respectively.

[Super Dude]

To add to that, there wouldn't be anything wrong with continued discussion if it didn't always end up in the same freaking place every freaking time.

[Super Dude]

I have inadvertently found what I can only call a horrifyingly misinformed left-wing radical: https://www.inthe00s.com/index.php?topic=43945.msg2706851#msg2706851

[Super Dude]

More fuel for the fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-usmvYOPfco

[El Barto]

More fuel for the fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-usmvYOPfco

Well that was civilized.

Truth be told, that's actually the plan for both parties since either way we're beholden to insurance companies to determine who can get treatment and how much they can receive.  Personally,  I'm pretty confident that if McCain had been elected, we'd be discussing McCaincare, and it would look identical. 

[Super Dude]

That's kind of the irony of it all: just as '08 elections were rolling around, Obamacare to be was proposed in the House by Republicans, not Democrats. The only reason they're shitting on it now is because Obama took their obscure bill and made it the centerpiece of his early agenda.

[TheVoxyn]

Watching a documentary about the Tea Party in the US. Obama would still be right wing here, so imagine how right wing the tea party seems for me  .



edit: I'm glad I never have to see someone like Glenn Beck on TV here.

[GuineaPig]

You do have Wilders.

[TheVoxyn]

You do have Wilders.

Yep, but he doesn't have a tv show and on most points he isn't as right wing as the tea party seems to be. And that's saying a lot.

[emindead]

I guess that back in the Cold War era, calling someone left-wing was today's equivalent to right-wing.

[GuineaPig]

Not really.  The former accusation implied treason.

[Super Dude]

Ahhh yes, back in the day when if you suggested the war on Communism was the least bit overwrought or believed the American capitalist system could use just a smidge of welfare, THEN YOU WERE A PINKO!

[YtseBitsySpider]

I golfed and had dinner with G.Gordon Liddy's nephew last night. This man was in Washington at the time the "shit" hit the fan(and had some very interesting details). Naturally once he told people who he was a big Nixon discussion ensued.
Fascinating time in American history.

[AcidLameLTE]

https://www.theonion.com/articles/kansas-outlaws-practice-of-evolution,2098/

 

[AcidLameLTE]

Wow. I don't really know what The Patriot Act actually allows the US government to do but I read this today:

Last week, Microsoft quietly confirmed that cloud data stored on its European servers can still be handed over to American investigators -- and the EU is none too pleased about it. As it turns out, the revelation has shed new light on a fundamental conflict between US law and the EU's Data Protection Directive -- an edict requiring that companies notify consumers whenever sharing their personal information. The bi-lateral Safe Harbor agreement calls for similarly strict protocol, but under the Patriot Act (which trumps all else), companies like Microsoft could be forced to hand over private data without informing targeted individuals. In response, some members of the European Parliament are calling upon legislators to take action and to implement safeguards that can't be overridden by third-party governments. It remains to be seen whether or not this leads to any new laws or transatlantic tensions, but if we've learned anything, it's that Europeans take their clouds very seriously.

And it's pretty shocking.

Source:

https://www.engadget.com/2011/07/06/microsofts-patriot-act-admission-has-the-eu-up-in-arms/

[Adami]

So I just found out that Iranian passports say "not valid in Israel" on them. I was curious if this was Iran's rule?

[Super Dude]

I would think so, given that Iranian foreign policy and rhetoric is very plainly anti-Israel. And I'm sure the Israeli government isn't complaining.

[Adami]

I would think so, given that Iranian foreign policy and rhetoric is very plainly anti-Israel. And I'm sure the Israeli government isn't complaining.

Well I'm just trying to make sense of the whole passport situation there, it's really confusing and hard to find definitive information on. I know if you have an Israeli passport, or a stamp entering or exiting from Israel, you can't go to like most Arab countries and a lot of African countries. I also know that Israel has no rule about passport stamps, meaning they'll let people in who have been to any country, although they may face some intense questioning upon arrival. However, several countries have their passports state that it isn't valid in Israel. It just seems weird that a country would actually legally ban its own citizens from entering Israel. I mean, Iranians can go to Israel.......I'm just curious what the passport situation is then, are they still Iranian citizens in Israel since their passport is apparently deemed ineffective by the Iranian government? Also, I dunno..........it's just super confusing. I'm not sure any other countries passports actually have a disclaimer in them about not being allowed into any other country.

[El Barto]

A few minutes of research suggests that Iranians probably shouldn't even bother trying to travel anywhere.  That sucks.  

It does appear that Israel recognizes Iranian passports as valid, though (even though Iranians claim them to be invalid), since they bother to stamp them.  It also appears that on your return, the Iranians will unperson you almost immediately because of that stamp.  

Edit:  as for the reason,  I suspect it's symbolic of their non-recognition of Israeli statehood.  What the disclaimer actually says is "not valid for entry into occupied Palestine." 

[Adami]

A few minutes of research suggests that Iranians probably shouldn't even bother trying to travel anywhere.  That sucks. 

It does appear that Israel recognizes Iranian passports as valid, though (even though Iranians claim them to be invalid), since they bother to stamp them.  It also appears that on your return, the Iranians will unperson you almost immediately because of that stamp. 

Yes, it's messed up. I have a friend from Dubai, she said if she goes to Israel on her UAE passport, Dubai won't let her back in.



But as far as I know UAE has nothing on their passport about it being invalid in Israel (or occupied Palestine, as they actually say). It just seems weird countries would make such an extreme law.

However I wasn't aware the Iranian passports aren't allowed in Egypt or Jordan. Not sure how enforced that rule is, but it seems strange.

[El Barto]

There's a list of travel requirements for Iranian citizens on WikiP.  Only a handful of countries will let you in without a visa (or give you one when you arrive).  Almost everybody wants you to get a visa in advance, and generally they'll just deny you. 

[Adami]

There's a list of travel requirements for Iranian citizens on WikiP.  Only a handful of countries will let you in without a visa (or give you one when you arrive).  Almost everybody wants you to get a visa in advance, and generally they'll just deny you. 

I'm mostly curious about the whole "not valid in occupied Palestine" deal. Iran isn't the only country who has that.

[Super Dude]

I thought this article was interesting, have at it: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/business/the-unemployed-somehow-became-invisible.html

[El Barto]

Austrian Man Wins Right to Wear Pasta Strainer in License Photo

In Austria one of the strangest fights for religious freedom has come to an end: Niko Alm, a self-described "Pastafarian," fought for three years for the right to wear a pasta strainer on his head in his driver's license photo.

His argument? Alm claimed he belonged to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and wearing the strainer was part of his religion.

Really, it only amuses me because the people who made him undergo psychiatric counseling will probably tell you that angels are real and that Jesus walked on the water. 

[Sigz]

 

[AcidLameLTE]

 

[chknptpie]

RAmen!

[Super Dude]

Really, it only amuses me because the people who made him undergo psychiatric counseling will probably tell you that angels are real and that Jesus walked on the water. 

True dat.

[Sigz]

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?!

https://www.news9.com/story/15084225/woman-mistaken-for-casey-anthony-attacked

[Super Dude]

Wasn't there a link somewhere around here calculating how much more likely you were to be killed by a cop than by a terrorist attack?

[El Barto]

Wasn't there a link somewhere around here calculating how much more likely you were to be killed by a cop than by a terrorist attack?

Check Sceavo's police state thread.  I think it was 9x.

[AcidLameLTE]

Wow at the second comment he/she made...