It seems this year we might have reason to beware the Ides of March

;A new Pope

;NK on the prod

;new highs in the DOW

;the impact of the Sequester in the US

;fresh incidents in the Israel/ Palastinian conflict

;cannibals in New York

The last one may be the most disturbing . The guy was convicted ;not for cannibalism.. but for expressing his cannibal fantasies on the internet .


Defense lawyers say everyone using the Internet should worry that their online words can end up in federal court after a jury concluded that a New York police officer's plans to kidnap, kill and eat young women he knew was more than Internet chatter.

At the end of one of the most unusual federal trials ever, a jury agreed Tuesday with the government that 28-year-old Gilberto Valle wasn't just fantasizing when he conversed online with others he had never met about killing and cooking his wife and others in a cannibalism plot.

"Yes, they should be cautioned," Valle defense lawyer Robert Baum said outside court of people everywhere. "It sets a dangerous precedent."

The larger principle at stake in the trial was that "people can be prosecuted for their thoughts," Baum said, pausing before adding: "And convicted, which is even sadder to think about."

New York Cop Convicted in Cannibalism Plot - ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/nyc-jury-reaches-verdict-cannibal-plot-case-18709938)

Oh for the want of finger food . Two cannibals standing in front of a campfire, one says to the other "I hate my mother-in-law" and the other cannibal says "That's okay; just eat the rice."
I'm sorry... I love tasteless cannibal jokes.

Appaently white smoke was seen coming ftom the Sistine Chapel.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/world/europe/cardinals-elect-new-pope.html?_r=0

Vive Papa . I am not that familiar with Jorge Mario Bergoglio; but I did have a feeling that the next Pope was going to come from either Latin America or Africa.

I hear he's an excellent choice. He's already got TMZ's feathers ruffled...


Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2013/03/13/new-pope-announced-cardinal-cardinal-jorge-mario-bergoglio/#ixzz2NSAtaZQg Visit the TMZ Store: http://tmzstore.com)
Anti Abortion, Same-Sex Marriage

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been elected the new Pope. He has chosen the papal name Pope Francis I.

Here are the facts:
-- He staunchly opposes gay marriage and abortion
-- He's from Argentina
-- He's 76 years old
-- He's the son of Italian immigrants
-- He's the first Latin-American pope... and the first from the Americas
-- He's known for his advocacy on behalf of the poor, primarily in his home country

As someone else said, apparently TMZ is surprised to hear the new Pope is Catholic.

He was appointed by JPII .That tells me he's likely conservative ;perhaps on the evangelical side.

Another good sign... my inner alarm went off when I heard he was Jesuit . That is the branch of priests that liberation theology came from. But apparently he steered clear of that .

Man of the people, reformer, evangelical, a holy man - those were the words I heard earlier

Perhaps a new beginning but putting the sinners among the priesthood on notice

A new Pope and the Higgs Boson (which should be renamed the Boson Higgs) all on the same day.
Higgs-Boson Discovery All but Confirmed at LHC | Video | Space.com (http://www.space.com/20233-higgs-boson-discovery-all-but-confirmed-at-lhc-video.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+spaceheadlines+%28SPACE.com+H eadline+Feed%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo)

Onward, upward, into the unknown, I told you to beware the Ides of March, what catastrophy will that unleash on the world

I hear he's an excellent choice. He's already got TMZ's feathers ruffled...



As someone else said, apparently TMZ is surprised to hear the new Pope is Catholic.

Gives me even MORE reason to like him even though I'm a Protestant.

You never know the Pope might be too, I hear he is an evangelical

Switching to the impacts of the sequester... The White House hinted it might cancel the annual Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. But Jay Carney would not answer questions related to the President's lavish leasure time travels and plans.

Related to this is the fact that some libs are beginning to get it.. This is Bill Mahrer commenting on his taxes .
"“You know what? Rich people – I'm sure you'd agree with this – actually do pay the freight in this country.....” ...“I just saw these statistics,”...“I mean, something like 70 percent. And here in California, I just want to say liberals – you could actually lose me. It's outrageous what we're paying – over 50 percent. I'm willing to pay my share, but yeah, it's ridiculous.”

switching to the impacts of the sequester .... The White House hinted it might cancel the annual Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. But Jay Carney would not answer questions related to the President's lavish leasure time travels and plans.

[/I]

Ah Tom I know you love to baste BO but think about this; those job creators who you want to protect from higher tax just might be sitting on cash reserves equal to the national debt. So here is an idea I know you will like, give them an ultimatum; either spend it in leveraging the economy or loose it ah la a Cypress contribution or hair cut. Very un american I know but somertimes others suggest solutions

I guess we can scrap the right to property too.

I guess we can scrap the right to property too.

No tom you still have the just compensation clause, think of my suggestion as a subsidy, a reverse subsidy, if you do something you loose nothing, I know Tom you love to subsidise the rich

Ah Tom I know you love to baste BO but think about this; those job creators who you want to protect from higher tax just might be sitting on cash reserves equal to the national debt. so here is an idea I know you will like, give them an ultimatum; either spend it in leveraging the economy or loose it ah la a Cypress contribution or hair cut. Very un american I know but somertimes others suggest solutions

That's EXACTLY why we have a second amendment...

Let the government here try that... and I can all but guarantee there will be an armed uprising and someone's Presidency will very likely come to a very abrupt end..

They have already done it here, but of course we have a FED, to keep us insulated. Our Fed has moved trillions and I bet you never saw a looey.

They have already done it here, but of course we have a FED, to keep us insulated. Our Fed has moved trillions and I bet you never saw a looey.

or we have Obamacare taxing the value of the sale of our home. Yes the Fed is part of the problem... Clete's suggestion is tongue in cheek (maybe )... But maybe not . The idea of taxing inactivity or non-commerce ;or a "tax " to force someone to engage in commerce was inconceivable to me before Obamacare .

Another of those unintended consequences of liberal/progressive policies, an underground economy?


Something fishy is going on in consumers' wallets. (http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/rick-newman/2013/03/18/the-new-underground-economy)

Household spending has held up surprisingly well in recent months, even though new taxes have reduced paychecks and other problems are holding back the economy. Incomes haven't risen by nearly enough to explain the entire boost in spending. Nor has the use of credit cards.

When your teenager starts wearing expensive clothes and flashing bling he couldn't possibly afford through his part-time job, you start to wonder where the money is coming from. Some economists are asking the same question about consumers who seem more flush than they ought to be. The answer may lie in the large "underground" economy that doesn't show up in official statistics.

There are always some businesses and individuals operating on a cash basis to dodge taxes, evade regulations or conceal illegal activity. Economists now speculate that the underground economy may have swelled during the last few years, given all the people who can't find full-time work at decent pay.

"Severe recessions have historically driven jobless Americans into the shadow economy," writes Bernard Baumohl of the Economic Outlook Group. "We suspect the destructive nature of the last downturn and the prolonged weak recovery pushed a record number of people into that murky world of cash transactions."

I suspect unless we shift from direction Obama is trying to take us the underground economy is going to grow.

You righties can't be that dumb can you? The underground economy has been alive ,well, and growing for more than half a century, and now you find out about it, and are outraged and blame the new guy for it. Or some liberal progressive conspiracy.

What will you do when you find out about the other economy the one that the rich and uber rich live in? What haven't heard? That's been going on even longer. America is haves, have not's, and will never gets, and all have been here a long time.

You really do need to get out more. We've been tying to pull your coat in these threads but you rather throw rocks and ignore facts so hope you're woke now.

Right back at you, Tal. You think trying to make the rich pay their "fair share" is going to make them more honest when it just gives incentives to avoid the system. You'd rather expand the tax rates instead of the tax base.

You keep trying to tell us that Obamacare is no obstacle to hiring and yet the evidence that it is just keeps growing. You think more regulations is the way to prosperity and yet more people are apparently willing to risk the underground economy to avoid your regulations and penalties.

Been telling you these things for a long time there, buddy. It's one of those ways you run out of other people's money to pay for your programs.

It's not outrage on my part, it's get a clue. People protect themselves FROM government overreach. Do you blame them?

or we have Obamacare taxing the the value of the sale of our home. Yes the Fed is part of the problem ... Clete's suggestion is tongue in cheek (maybe ) ...But maybe not . The idea of taxing inactivity or non-commerce ;or a "tax " to force someone to engage in commerce was inconceivable to me before Obamacare .

Tom my suggestion wasn't so much tongue in cheek as a way of kick starting a dormant economy. You see, Tom, when the return for business activity is less than the return you can get by leaving your money in the bank there are those who think taking the risk free rate preferable to taking risk, this is fine for mum and dad savings accounts but not for leading industries. So here's a different twist on the same thing, dormant funds in corporate bank accounts be deposited with the federal reserve with interest paid at the ruling rate which right now is zero %, a risk free investment; they may as well buy bonds.

Did you notice that Cypress has modified the levy to be more targeted so those with real money take a hair cut?

To all those who speak about insurrection when a government makes a decision they are elected to make I say the second amendment was not provided for this purpose

Tom my suggestion wasn't so much tongue in cheek as a way of kick starting a dormant economy. You see, Tom, when the return for business activity is less than the return you can get by leaving your money in the bank there are those who think taking the risk free rate preferable to taking risk, this is fine for mum and dad savings accounts but not for leading industries. So here's a different twist on the same thing, dormant funds in corporate bank accounts be deposited with the federal reserve with interest paid at the ruling rate which right now is zero %, a risk free investment; they may as well buy bonds.

Did you notice that Cypress has modified the levy to be more targetted so those with real money take a hair cut?

To all those who speak about insurrection when a government makes a decision they are elected to make I say the second amendment was not provided for this purpose

I am proud of the people of Cyprus for calling out the government when they tried that class warfare garbage . Theft is theft ,and when a government elected by the people do it ,it's worse because that gives a bad name to democratic governance . You think the money in the bank is ill-gained ,then there are legal remedies .

So here's a different twist on the same thing, dormant funds in corporate bank accounts be deposited with the federal reserve with interest paid at the ruling rate which right now is zero %, a risk free investment; they may as well buy bonds.

You make it sound like it's the government's money to play with.. it's not .If the government wants businesses to invest ,then there are ways to get it done without 3rd world tin pot dictator tactics .All you are doing is a prescription for capital flight.

You make it sound like it's the government's money to play with .. it's not .If the government wants businesses to invest ,then there are ways to get it done without 3rd world tin pot dictator tactics .All you are doing is a prescription for capital flight.

Yes Tom and it might fly to a country with stable government, real interest rates and industries to invest in. You don't want to use your money in the US we'll take it and make our industries hum.

As to Cypress, yes peaceful protest is a good thing and got the government to rethink rather than letting the EU do their thinking for them. A good outcome for both sides. Who can know if money originates from criminal activity outside a nation's borders but Cypress has become a haven for Russian mafia money so who cares if they take a hair cut, it is better than losing it all in a bank collapse and this might be a model for future bailouts making investors think twice about where they put their money. However it's all academic since the plan has been rejected for the time being

Rejected yes... but now some degenerate somewhere is now rolling that idea around in their head abut how to do it and make it sound like its patriotic to get mugged and offer to bend over and spread 'em willingly.

I suspect right now the mental midgets in the Owebama administration are making such plans in their back room right now.

That's the sort of thing someone like him would pull. Probably wouldn't see a real vote either just like Obamacare.

making investors think twice about where they put their money. they no doubt are making that decision now about banks in Cyprus. Doubt if the people who ran to the ATMs are likely to return any time soon.

Rejected yes...but now some degenerate somewhere is now rolling that idea around in their head abut how to do it and make it sound like its patriotic to get mugged and offer to bend over and spread 'em willingly.

I suspect right now the mental midgets in the Owebama administration are making such plans in their back room right now.

Thats the sort of thing someone like him would pull. Probably wouldn't see a real vote either just like Obamacare.

As I said in another thread your leading corporations are holding sufficient cash funds to repay the national debt. No doubt this hasn't escaped the administrations attention and I could conceive they would want to give these "job creators" a Cyprus hair cut, or at least an incentive to put that money to use in internal job creation.

What this tells me is your tax rates are too low

As I said in another thread your leading corporations are holding sufficient cash funds to repay the national debt. No doubt this hasn't escaped the administrations attention and I could concieve they would want to give these "job creators" a Cyprus hair cut, or at least an incentive to put that money to use in internal job creation.

What this tells me is your tax rates are too low

Yes, heaven forbid businesses - like people - protect their assets from the greedy bureaucrats in DC. What it tells me is not taxes are too low, it tells me government is too big.

Yes, heaven forbid businesses - like people - protect their assets from the greedy bureaucrats in DC. What it tells me is not taxes are too low, it tells me government is too big.

I'd like to see Australia RAISE their corporate taxes to the level ours are... and see if they feel the same.

In fact everyone should... ours is already the highest if not among the highest in the world.

I'd like to see Australia RAISE their corporate taxes to the level ours are...and see if they feel the same.

In fact everyone should....ours is already the highest if not among the highest in the world.

I can hear that band playing again, the Colonel Boggie March, I think it is.

It goes do dah, do dah, it's all the band could play, do dah, do dah, they played it night and day, DO Dah, DO DAH!

If you look at the effective rate not the nominal rate you will find the US effective corporate tax rate is much lower than Australia's
Report card on effective corporate tax rates - Economics - AEI (http://www.aei.org/article/economics/fiscal-policy/taxes/report-card-on-effective-corporate-tax-rates/)

The 2009 EATR shows you at 15.9% and us at 25.9% so much for the hard done US corporation who like the rich in the US don't pay enough in effective tax

I can hear that band playing again, the Colonel Boggie March, I think it is.

It goes do dah, do dah, it's all the band could play, they played it night and day, DO Dah, DO DAH!

If you look at the effective rate not the nominal rate you will find the US effective corporate tax rate is much lower than Australia's
Report card on effective corporate tax rates - Economics - AEI (http://www.aei.org/article/economics/fiscal-policy/taxes/report-card-on-effective-corporate-tax-rates/)

The 2009 EATR shows you at 15.9% and us at 25.9% so much for the hard done US corporation who like the rich in the US don't pay enough in effective tax


You really believe those fudged numbers? How about REAL tax rates instead of fudged effective numbers...

That's just like Owebama claiming unemployment numbers are down... when the unfudged numbers prove otherwise.

Fudged numbers are subject to too much manipulation to suit someone's desired outcome.

This from the Holy Gospel of the left... the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/business/economy/03rates.html?_r=0

Our tax rate is 35% behind only Japan at 39.5%

smoothy haven't you ever heard of deductions? Rebates? incentives? You don't really believe the nominal rate is the actual rate paid, do you?

smoothy haven't you ever heard of deductions? rebates?, incentives? you don't really believe the nominal rate is the actual rate paid, do you?

Haven't you ever heard of numbers being fudges by selectively leaving things out.. or inflating them to reflect your beliefs... knowing most people don't have the abilities to disprove your invented numbers? When is the last journalist or publication that had people thrown in prison for publishing false information?

No smoothy we do not have a Department of Disinformation but obviously you do

No smoothy we do not have a Department of Disinformation but obviously you do

Oh yeah ;there is no attempt to control the news in Aussie .
News Ltd boss attacks 'Soviet-style' media reforms - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-13/news-ltd-boss-launches-scathing-attack-on-media-reforms/4570592)

We have enough news services for the truth to become apparent, after all this is all any of us can hope for

Government media watchdog ? Public interest test ? Sounds like you are travelling down the road to a Department of Disinformation to me . "all the news the government deems worthy to print" .

Don't think this is going to get up

Government media watchdog ? Public interest test ? Sounds like you are travelling down the road to a Department of Disinformation to me . "all the news the government deems worthy to print" .

Because we don't want our media degenerating into the type of media you enjoy over there.

Tut

Yeah all that choice! Can't have that... Pravda... that's the ticket !

yeah all that choice !! can't have that ..... Pravda ...that's the ticket !

If the stuff being posted here are examples of media, then we don't want this type of thing in Australia. We don't suffer from a media that tries to drive a massive wedge between the left and right. We don't have a massive divide between the left and right and we want to keep it that way. The worst of the stuff I have seen posted as news, panders to the worst type of populist tripe.

If the stuff being posted here are examples of media, then we don't want this type of thing in Australia. We don't suffer from a media that tries to drive a massive wedge between the left and right. We don't have a massive divide between the left and right and we want to keep it that way. The worst of the stuff I have seen posted as news, panders to the worst type of populist tripe.

Yes, a public interest media advocate sounds like the ticket (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/public-interest-advocate-would-only-serve-to-muzzle-the-media/story-e6frg6n6-1226599346882).

If the stuff being posted here are examples of media, then we don't want this type of thing in Australia. We don't suffer from a media that tries to drive a massive wedge between the left and right. We don't have a massive divide between the left and right and we want to keep it that way. The worst of the stuff I have seen posted as news, panders to the worst type of populist tripe.

The problem is that you don't think the people are smart enough to make their choices... let the government decide what news the public can see. Great idea !

The problem is that you don't think the people are smart enough to make their choices ... let the government decide what news the public can see. Great idea !

Which is amazingly like the DNC does using the lame stream media here...

You report what we tell you to report or we will take away your White house Press credentials... and yes.. the WHite house IS that petty they actually have threatened a number of journalists with doing exactly that.

Speaking of haircuts, California is going after a retroactive tax grab. Seems they've decided they want $120 million back in tax breaks that were taken advantage of years ago. Nothing like offering a break only to demand it back, plus interest.


California's top-end taxpayers -- already steamed over a recent hike in the nation's highest state income tax -- are now fuming over a new $120 million retroactive tax grab on small business owners.

In December, the state's tax authority determined that a tax break claimed over the past few years by 2,500 entrepreneurs and stockholders of California-based small businesses is no longer valid and sent out notices of payment.

"How would you feel if you made a decision, which was made four years ago, (and) you absolutely knew was legally correct and four years later a governing body came in and said, 'no, it's not correct, now you owe us a bunch more money. And we're going to charge you interest on money you didn't even know you owed'," Brian Overstreet told Fox News from his office north of San Francisco.

Read more: California businesses fuming over retroactive $120M tax grab | Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/19/california-businesses-fuming-over-retroactive-120m-tax-grab/#ixzz2O6wSos5v)

Nothing says "welcoming business environment" quite like a retroactive tax grab.

Speaking of haircuts, California is going after a retroactive tax grab. Seems they've decided they want $120 million back in tax breaks that were taken advantage of years ago. Nothing like offering a break only to demand it back, plus interest.



Nothing says "welcoming business environment" quite like a retroactive tax grab.

If they pull that off we should have retroactive elections and get rid of some politiions, the hell with elections not being due yet... ot the results of previous ones... Starting with HArry Ried, Nancy Pelosi Barbara Boxer and Diana Feinstein.

And Barrak Obama.

Good luck with a do over, righties!

What a load of old gobbligook, you know what they say? You are what you eat, or consume. No prizes for guessing what you guys are consuming

Good luck with a do over, righties!

Let enough businesses leave Kalifornistan for better parts and see how quick that can happen.

The Ides of March thing is coming true in Australia, right now the governing party; Labor, is voting on the leadership after speculation that has been running for a week and calls by senior members for a spill. It is unlikely Krudd (Brutus) to Julia's (Caeser) will return, Crassus (Crean) has been busy

The party knows it cannot survive the next election and tearing itself apart as it is doing will not save them

And it is all over and Krudd lives to continue his destabilisation. He will not be blamed for the electoral loss and will emerge triumphant after the election, he did the decent thing and allowed Julia to face the electorate, it cannot be said he goes back on his word I can't wait for his address over the corpse of caeser

Yes, a public interest media advocate sounds like the ticket (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/public-interest-advocate-would-only-serve-to-muzzle-the-media/story-e6frg6n6-1226599346882).

You mean this brief history of Australian and overseas journalism that is light on details, but takes the trouble to throw in a few Orwellian type of analogies.

The problem is that you don't think the people are smart enough to make their choices ... let the government decide what news the public can see. Great idea !



You seem to be a reflection of your media position on many issues. Taking the opportunity to draw a false dichotomy when ever possible. If you are going to draw a dichotomy then you may as well make it as gaping as possible.

You know the type of thing If we don't have a completely free press, then it must be a Soviet style operation.

The whole idea is to avoid drawing false dichotomies. The whole idea is to avoid creating a gaping rift between the left and right. You can have your style of media and we are happy to have ours.

What if there is a real rift? Should they not report it? Trust me there IS a real rift between left and right in the US. A war of ideas, and purpose.

You mean this brief history of Australian and overseas journalism that is light on details, but takes the trouble to throw in a few Orwellian type of analogies.

From what I've seen I don't see your media as being all that different from ours other than the reach your state media has. Among your independent outlets I haven't seen much but disdain for the proposed regulations. I wonder why.

What if there is a real rift? Should they not report it? Trust me there IS a real rift between left and right in the US. A war of ideas, and purpose.

You are pretty close to the mark. Except society didn't create the rift. The rift was created by the media.

Yes, they should report it and they do. Yes,it is a war of ideas, but it isn't a war of purpose. It is an ideological war.

The purpose Tut, is to set a direction for the future. The media is Americans too. Some are more biased than others.

From what I've seen I don't see your media as being all that different from ours other than the reach your state media has. Among your independent outlets I haven't seen much but disdain for the proposed regulations. I wonder why.

The right in Australia has every legitimacy to express disdain with the media legislation. The legislation will not get through without some modification.

Even if the legislation were successful it would make no difference. The procedure should be to present the information to the public in an objective way. This is never possible, but the media can make an attempt to follow this guideline. And usually does in most cases.

There is no need to present the legislation as a false dichotomy. The legislation would not result in our media industry becoming a Pravda publication. This type of stuff is sensationalist, false and misleading.

The link you provided did make mention of a sensationalist editorial in one of its publication and the right defended itself by saying it was only suppose to be,"light entertainment with some humour".

The difference here is that newspapers(right or left) has the right to say these things in public, so long as they are prepared to take a public responsibility when they do.

Tut

The purpose Tut, is to set a direction for the future. The media is Americans too. Some are more biased than others.

A biased american now I didn't think there could be such a thing.

Our media is kept relatively straight by the fact that we can and do absorb media from beyond our borders thus it is difficult to suppress a story for long, our media is not the tame dog of the ruling party hoping for a bone

Editorials are just that, they aren't intended to be taken as objective reporting.

Whose talking abot editorials I can't remember when I last read an editorial

whose talking abot editorials I can't remember when I last read an editorial

Tut did, "The link you provided did make mention of a sensationalist editorial in one of its publication and the right defended itself by saying it was only suppose to be,"light entertainment with some humour"."

You may not read them but every Aussie paper I've browsed is full of them. The left here equates them with "news" for some reason. Editorials are by nature biased and I have no problem with that.

We believe in the free and open exchange of ideas... the left ;not so much.

we believe in the free and open exchange of ideasHave you ever perused the forums of right-wing websites?

I've viewed both left and righty web sites. They both can tend to be on the crude side.

So you see, it's not a "right is better" issue.

Yes it is ,because it's the left that wants to control it . I'm fine with it .

What??

Having comprehension troubles still? No one on the right is trying to silence others, the left not only tries on a regular basis they've expended much energy trying to legislate the free and open exchange of ideas. We believe in free speech, them not so much.

How are they trying to legislate against the free and open exchange of ideas?

Liberals have been trying to resurrect the Fairness Doctrine in some form for decades. We've discussed it here many times, they can't compete with conservative talk radio so they want it gagged or equal time, but mostly they just want it GONE (http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/10/opinion/fonda-morgan-steinem-limbaugh/index.html).

Liberals have been trying to resurrect the Fairness Doctrine in some form for decades. We've discussed it here many times, they can't compete with conservative talk radio so they want it gagged or equal time, but mostly they just want it GONE (http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/10/opinion/fonda-morgan-steinem-limbaugh/index.html).

And the same is true in Australia where Red Julia is just itiching for regulations to control the press.

so they want it gagged or equal time, but mostly they just want it GONE.Isn't that an editorial? Where's the legislation you referred to?

Isn't that an editorial? Where's the legislation you referred to?

I realize you're just trying to trap me but it never works out for you. The answer to both of your questions was in my post.


Liberals have been trying to resurrect the Fairness Doctrine in some form for decades. We've discussed it here many times, they can't compete with conservative talk radio so they want it gagged or equal time, but mostly they just want it GONE.

(Hint: notice the big heading at the link that says "CNN Opinion", hence my acknowledgement of what they "want"). Try and keep up.

Has it changed the law, or is it still in the hollering stage?

notice the big heading at the link that says "CNN Opinion", hence my acknowledgement of what they "want")CNN isn't a political party that can change law nor do they represent liberal platforms.
No law has been changed and Obama has been at the helm for how many years now?

Well that was a totally pointless response to my point.

Its no more pointless than you believing the church can stick its nose in the private business of its citizens.

Its no more pointless than you believing the church can stick its nose in the private business of its citizens.


His answer was irrelevant and misdirecting which makes it pointless, almost as pointless this straw man of yours you insist on repeating ad nauseum.

Its no more pointless than you believing the church can stick its nose in the private business of its citizens.

People attend a church by choice... if they don't agree with its policies they can find a different one...

So I shouldn't have to be bothered by the church when I am at work then either.

So I shouldn't have to be bothered by the church when I am at work then either.

In 36 years the church has never bothered me at work, how have they bothered you?

My employers never let a church bother the employees, and that should be the case of any worker no matter who the employee is.

So I shouldn't have to be bothered by the church when I am at work then either.

You aren't now... but if you work for the church then they have every right.

How about a certified taxpaying nurse in a religious not for profit hospital?

How about a certified taxpaying nurse in a religious not for profit hospital?

If it's a religious institution... its subject to that religious institutions guidelines.

The Atheists are free to open their own hospitals if they wish.

My employers never let a church bother the employees, and that should be the case of any worker no matter who the employee is.

Well that didn't answer the question at all.


How about a certified taxpaying nurse in a religious not for profit hospital?

The hospital is her employer, not necessarily her church. If I've said it once... if she doesn't like the terms of her employment she is free to find employment elsewhere.

and the same is true in Australia where Red Julia is just itiching for regulations to control the press.

They are responding to the debacle in Britain by striking first, but there are other issues here, there is a concentration of media ownership with the Murdoch press having a very big stake. Murdoch started in Australia. The legislation they brought forward was ill advised and rushed they know they had to act or loose the opportunity forever, This is a bad government and the debacle of the last few days underlines it. We will see the Little Red Fox off in September

Yup ,I've been following the story . Her ministers are going to do to her what she did to KRudd .

yup ,I've been following the story . Her ministers are going to do to her what she did to KRudd .

From your mouth to God's ears

But... but... but... aren't you proud that you finally have a women PM ? I'm liking it . Ministers quitting and KRudd saying he isn't going to bail her out .

"The only way to give our country the good government that we so badly need right now at a difficult time in the life of our nation is to have an election," "We cannot wait till September 14. If the Prime Minister was concerned about the party, if she was concerned about the country, if she was less concerned about herself and her own survival, there would be an election now." Tony Abbott... right on!

but ...but ...but ..... aren't you proud that you finally have a women PM ? I'm liking it . Ministers quitting and KRudd saying he aint going to bail her out .

"The only way to give our country the good government that we so badly need right now at a difficult time in the life of our nation is to have an election," "We cannot wait till September 14. If the Prime Minister was concerned about the party, if she was concerned about the country, if she was less concerned about herself and her own survival, there would be an election now." Tony Abbott .... right on !!

Let me answer that in a number of ways

Not this woman
Not a socialist or communist camp follower
Not a liar
Not a conneiving, two faced...

Krudd is his own worst enemy, an egomaniac who alienated his support base and then proved he didn't have the guts to loose a third time and so what we now have is a leaderless chook soon to have its head cut off,

I will be very happy when this experiement is over and we get back to stable Liberal government. We had this nonsense under Whitlam, we had it under Hawke and now we have it under Gillard. It is fed by media, probably Murdoch media. This demonstrates Labor is unfit to lead and they are being progressively thrown out in all states

Editorial cartoon (http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/national/editorial-cartoon-20111021-1mbup.html?selectedImage=0)

but ...but ...but ..... aren't you proud that you finally have a women PM ? I'm liking it . Ministers quitting and KRudd saying he aint going to bail her out .

"The only way to give our country the good government that we so badly need right now at a difficult time in the life of our nation is to have an election," "We cannot wait till September 14. If the Prime Minister was concerned about the party, if she was concerned about the country, if she was less concerned about herself and her own survival, there would be an election now." Tony Abbott .... right on !!

Hang on Tom. I understand that you are one of the few people who actually take some interest in Australian politics. I also understand that there is nothing you can possibly learn from us.On that basis I will be controversial just for the fun of it.

Gillard makes Obama look like a centre right politician. So where is the extreme reaction to have a socialist party in power in this country? This is not a quiz question.

Obama isn't that far from her in the positions he'd adopt if he could. Why don't I make an extreme reaction?. She isn't my business . I'm content with poking fun of her naivety.

Obama aint that far from her in the positions he'd adopt if he could. Why don't I make an extreme reaction ?.... She aint my business . I'm content with poking fun of her naivety.

Sorry my fault. The question I wanted to ask you was why don't Australian's react in an extreme way? I am just interested in your opinion given the fact that you are probably the only person who takes any interest in Australian politics.

If you given an opinion I am not going to criticise it. Just interested.

Tut

In America, the very word socialism conjures up some very extreme image of fear and loathing held over I believe from the cold war. While our most successful social programs are indeed socialist in nature and intent.

Conservatives are intent on getting rid of or modifying them out of existence and privatizing the whole social safety net.

Conservatives are intent on getting rid of or modifying them out of existence and privatizing the whole social safety net.

I'm curious as to why tut gives me the third degree but seems to have no interest in grilling you over complete bullsh*t like this.

Sorry my fault. The question I wanted to ask you was why don't Australian's react in an extreme way? I am just interested in your opinion given the fact that you are probably the only person who takes any interest in Australian politics.

If you given an opinion I am not going to criticise it. Just interested.

Tut

I don't think we react in an extreme way at all.It's a cultural difference.. Here ;since our founding ,politics is a blood sport. There is nothing new in contemporary American politics that can't be found in anything post Washington's 1st term (when factionalism began defining the power struggle.)
I'd argue even before then there were sharp differences between Federalist and anti-Federalists . In fact ;as much as the revolution was a war against England;it was also a civil war in the colonies (a fact that doesn't get as much attention in the history books ).
So while we appear to be extreme from your perspective .This is really quite normal.

Well Tom I see you have made it all about you when the question was asked about us from your perspective. The fact is we had similar beginnings but very different paths and it wasn't that the seeds of rebellion weren't present, it is just that because of their experience with you the British weren't about to allow it to take hold and gain strength, Yes your revolution was a civil war and you gained a fortunate outcome. Because of the nature of this land and the sparceness of population we had to be cooperative and not fractious, we did not have the benefit of an erstwhile generous native population who would negotiate with you, This was for a long time a colony under martial law and only later became a haven for free settlers

I'm curious as to why tut gives me the third degree but seems to have no interest in grilling you over complete bullsh*t like this.

Thanks for a reminder. I will strive to be more consistent in the future.

Tut

Thanks for a reminder. I will strive to be more consistent in the future.

Tut

Was just curious.

Getting back to one of wonderful manifestaions of this Ides of March, what a novel solution in Cyprus; actually allowing a failed bank to fail! I wonder if it will catch on?

And I think the other part of the solution is innovative; giving the rich depositors who were benefiting from high interest rates a haircut. Risk is difficult to assess and soveriegn risk even more so, but they should have seen this coming, take a haircut or loose it all, not much of a choice and in any case they become investors in the bank

Everyone's happy when the rich get screwed . Still confiscation is theft by another name.

everyone's happy when the rich get screwed . still confiscation is theft by another name.

I would think that most people would be happy because they see this as an attempt to "screw" political corporatism. As far as I can see no one is "screwing" any one who can be considered genuine capitalists. If not, perhaps you can point out for me where the classical capitalists reside in the greater scheme of global economics and global politics?

Tom, isn't political corporatism an anathema?

everyone's happy when the rich get screwed . still confiscation is theft by another name.

I get happy when the screwers get screwed, now don't tell me you are on the side of the banks and the russian mafia? How republican of you

If you can prove to me that EVERYONE who is going to take a 'haircut' is Russian Mafia then perhaps I could go along with it. But you can't . Also ;if the banks were laundering criminal money they should go down anyway regardless of their solvency.

Tom, the Cyprus banking is many times bigger than their economy, how do you think that happened? The only people who will get a haircut are foriegners, those who cheat the tax system somewhere, not capitalists but cheats. Personally I don't care if they all loose because they took the risk and this is all about risk, I took a risk in 2001 and I took a haircut, was I involved, no! But I took a haircut anyway. I took a haircut in 2008, was I involved, no! But I took a haircut, now it is someoneelses turn, well hellauhah!

You think everyone using foreign banking is a tax cheat ? I do some of my banking with UBS .Does that make me a tax cheat ? Maybe people banked there because; unlike the US banks (where the Fed has been complicit in screwing depositors for a long time now) , they get a decent rate of return for their deposits .

And Cyprus is indeed the canary in the coal mine...
Cyprus bail-out: savers will be raided to save euro in future crises, says eurozone chief - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9952979/Cyprus-bail-out-savers-will-be-raided-to-save-euro-in-future-crises-says-eurozone-chief.html)
Raiding private bank deposits coming to a bank near you... The Obots assure us it can't happen here...

Hubba hubba... who do you trust ?

Why do people that complain about others that try to keep some of their money they worked hard to earn out of the clutches of greeding people that didn't earn it from taking it.

What's the difference between a politition that steals from productive workers to pay for their pet causes... and a Street thug that mugs well dressed people to support his pet causes?

The answer is nothing at all really.

Here is Stratfor's take on the EU money grab.


The more significant development was the fact that the European Union has now made it official policy, under certain circumstances, to encourage member states to seize depositors' assets to pay for the stabilization of financial institutions. To put it simply, if you are a business, the safety of your money in a bank depends on the bank's financial condition and the political considerations of the European Union. What had been a haven -- no risk and minimal returns -- now has minimal returns and unknown risks. Brussels' emphasis that this was mostly Russian money is not assuring, either. More than just Russian money stands to be taken for the bailout fund if the new policy is approved. Moreover, the point of the global banking system is that money is safe wherever it is deposited. Europe has other money centers, like Luxembourg, where the financial system outstrips gross domestic product. There are no problems there right now, but as we have learned, the European Union is an uncertain place. If Russian deposits can be seized in Nicosia, why not American deposits in Luxembourg?

This was why it was so important to emphasize the potentially criminal nature of the Russian deposits and to downplay the effect on ordinary law-abiding Cypriots. Brussels has worked very hard to make the Cyprus case seem unique and non-replicable: Cyprus is small and its banking system attracted criminals, so the principle that deposits in banks are secure doesn't necessarily apply there. Another way to look at it is that an EU member, like some other members of the bloc, could not guarantee the solvency of its banks so Brussels forced the country to seize deposits in order to receive help stabilizing the system. Viewed that way, the European Union has established a new option for itself in dealing with depositors in troubled banks, and that principle now applies to all of Europe, particularly to those countries with financial institutions potentially facing similar problems.

The question, of course, is whether foreign depositors in European banks will accept that Cyprus was one of a kind. If they decide that it isn't obvious, then foreign corporations -- and even European corporations -- could start pulling at least part of their cash out of European banks and putting it elsewhere. They can minimize the amount of cash on hand in Europe by shifting to non-European banks and transferring as needed. Those withdrawals, if they occur, could create a massive liquidity crisis in Europe. At the very least, every reasonable CFO will now assume that the risk in Europe has risen and that an eye needs to be kept on the financial health of institutions where they have deposits. In Europe, depositing money in a bank is no longer a no-brainer.

Now we must ask ourselves why the Germans would have created this risk. One answer is that they were confident they could convince depositors that Cyprus was one of a kind and not to be repeated. The other answer was that they had no choice. The first explanation was undermined March 25, when Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem said that the model used in Cyprus could be used in future bank bailouts. Locked in by an electorate that does not fully understand Germany's vulnerability, the German government decided it had to take a hard line on Cyprus regardless of risk. Or Germany may be preparing a new strategy for the management of the European financial crisis. The banking system in Europe is too big to salvage if it comes to a serious crisis. Any solution will involve the loss of depositors' money. Contemplating that concept could lead to a run on banks that would trigger the crisis Europe fears. Solving a crisis and guaranteeing depositors may be seen as having impossible consequences. Setting the precedent in Cyprus has the advantage of not appearing to be a precedent.

It's not clear what the Germans or the EU negotiators are thinking, and all these theories are speculative. What is certain is that an EU country, facing a crisis in its financial system, is now weighing whether to pay for that crisis by seizing depositors' money. And with that, the Europeans have broken a barrier that has been in place since the 1930s. They didn't do that casually and they didn't do that because they wanted to. But they did it.

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/europes-disturbing-precedent-cyprus-bailout?utm_source=freelist-f&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20130326&utm_term=gweekly&utm_content=readmore&elq=476dc829c7944e0499e6bdb7f161582a

New EU motto, "what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine."

Seems Cyprus depositors could be getting more than a haircut, somewhere in the neighborhood of 40% (http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/03/26/cypriot-finance-minister-large-depositors-could-suffer-40-loss/) of their savings. That's no haircut.

That's what I don't get. The people were up in arms about a 10% grab. Then the EU said they would only go after rich people's money ;and still the people protested. Then a week later this move is made with hardly a peep of protest.

What part of this don't you get? The banks in question are on the brink of collapse, BANKRUPT! Because of bad investments. In a bankruptcy you might get back some of what is owed to you, if you are lucky. How is this different? Because some outside lender is involved? It doesn't change the facts. In a bankruptcy the solutions are not as public as this solution has been. Look, the market in kerosene tins looks pretty good right now (money buried in the back yard)

Ummm ;actually no surprise here... the Ruskie gangstas got their money out ,and it's Europeans that are getting fleeced .
Rich Russians Who Got Their Money Out Of Cyprus Are Taking It To New York's Real Estate Market (http://www.ibtimes.com/rich-russians-who-got-their-money-out-cyprus-are-taking-it-new-yorks-real-estate-market-1157897#)

Next stop New York: wealthy Russians hurry money from Cyprus to US | World news | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/27/cyprus-wealthy-russians-new-york)


The meltdown of the Cypriot financial system came as no surprise to well-connected, wealthy Russians, who bundled some of their money to the United States. "Many of our clients had a heads-up on this issue," said Mermelstein. "Cyprus had started having the conversations about what it was intending, and that's been going on for half a year."

That's why some wealthy Russians seemed insulted by the insinuation that the collapse of the Cypriot banking system this week caught them by surprise. Cypriot banks were suffering "substantial outflows" for weeks before the meltdown, according to the country's finance minister, Michael Sarris.

Seems Cyprus depositors could be getting more than a haircut, somewhere in the neighborhood of 40% (http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/03/26/cypriot-finance-minister-large-depositors-could-suffer-40-loss/) of their savings. That's no haircut.

I pulled my Euros out and had them converted to gold... sure gold might go down... but they can't take 40% of it if they tried in Europe..

How much did your 401k lose during the financial meltdown?

How much did your 401k lose during the financial meltdown?

can't speak for anyone else. Nothing... I shifted to a bond /money market account that had a guaranteed return about a year before the collapse. I thought that the stocks were irrationally over valued. That has been good for a while ;but as bond funds have dropped ,the guaranteed yields have been dropping . So I've slowly converted my 401 K to a lifestyle fund.
However ,had you been totally invested in stocks ;you portfolio temporarily took a hit . But in 4 years ,it has more than recovered (although I thing that the stock market is again becoming over valued... ) . Had I been in the lifestyle fund in 2008 ;and I left the money in it until now .The financial collapse would not be a factor in my portfolio performance.

That my friend was a great strategy, and no doubt a few of us thought the same way after negative growth from 1996 to 98. Rollit over to a guaranteed return. One question though was what made you wait?

How much did your 401k lose during the financial meltdown?

I don't watch it every day... stocks go up... stocks go down... a 401K is a long term investment... and not a day trade situation.

I was not in a position to manage my money until after 2000 . Before that I was in a profit share plan.Once in the 401-K I got aggressive for a few years and then got gun shy... I don't like peaks .I actually would've gone back into the market in 2009 except the guaranteed funds were paying out above 4 % returns (based on old bond prices... once they started maturing ,new bonds did not match the rate of return) .

I'm thinking that I'll let the lifestyle fund manage it now because I'm getting closer to retirement age and am becoming risk adverse. But there are other ways for us to take advantage. 1st the match by the employer increases the actual rate of return ;and 2nd the deferred income. I'm guessing you are about my age more or less. I am now using the "catch up" provisions . The 401-K has really become my primary saving mechanism since the Fed decided that Americans shouldn't save.

I never had a matching fund but even in the late nineties it was obvious it would take decades past my retirement targets to be in a position to leave my job. The markets were just not that strong for lower level investors.

But the rollover worked better for me. I am 59 now and was feeling the daily physical grind even back then. That was the biggest factor in my thinking back then. To be honest though I am still leery of any market investments because of the losses my friends took. Sure they are rebuilding now, but many of their grand plans were destroyed at the time.

They are in a holding pattern running out of gas.

The safest pattern Tal is to place investments in well managed interest bearing deposits otherwise market volatility will mean you won't sleep at night over several years you may find the returns similar to the allegedly higher earning investments

Depends on your age.If you adopted a strategy like Smooty when you are young ;then you pick good performing stocks ,and ride the waves. It all dollar cost averages in the long run .Yes as we get older ,shifting to less risky investments is prudent. That's another reason why I opted for the guaranteed return that invested in long term bond instruments . But now the yields are going down as the old bonds mature so that is why I'm shifting out of them .
Bottom line is that 401-Ks are very popular ,and lots of money is sitting in them making the Dems drool . Look for them to make a play on 401-K plans . After all ,the government has proven they are much better money managers

I also didn't mention in my post above... Is that money wasn't part of my 401K... but money I've had in a Euro account for a number of years... and being that country is on the list of those likely to pull that stunt... it didn't make sense to take the hit I would take on a currency exchange to get it where Obamas cronies could screw with it... particularly since the yields in banks overseas is way higher than those here thanks to the FED printing money like there is no tomorrow.


And no... I'm not rich by a longshot... they are fairly modest size accounts... and they aren't tied to a US ID #. Less risk than stock... way higher gain than Money markets... CD's or saving accounts here.

What I know is this I have only suffered loss since 2000 because men are stuffing about

Guess who else managed to grab their loot before the ship sunk... politicans ,Commies and unions... no surprise there .
These are the people dedicated to public service ,justice ,and equality .
ekathimerini.com | Cypriot banks 'forgave' loans to firms, MPs (http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_29/03/2013_490679)

What do you expect in that part of the world, the fix is always in

what do you expect in that part of the world, the fix is always in

Sort of like the scewing of bond holders of GM . That was another theft of property by the government ,and transfer to the unions.

When you are bankrupt you wind up under new management, it's the way capitalism works

Come on Tom, everyone knows the unions agreed to concessions in pay, and benefits.

GM union swallows cost-cutting concessions - May. 29, 2009 (http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/29/news/economy/auto_rescue/index.htm)


Seventy-four percent of UAW members voted for the contract, which will allow the company to cut costs and "eliminate the wage and benefit gap" with competitors, according to the UAW president and a statement from GM.

Obama (http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2012/10/17/Obamas-Auto-Bailout-Was-Really-a-Hefty-Union-Payoff.aspx#page1)
The U.S. government got 60 percent of the new GM (;the Canadian government got 12.5 percent, the UAW health care fund got 17.5 percent, and bondholders got the leftover 10 percent. In traditional bankruptcy ;the bondholder would've been the first considered ;not an afterthought.

So that's the rub huh, the rich guy didn't make as much profit off the top from bankruptcy like he always does.

Bummer. All those workers still working and retirees getting pensions stops the investors from profits. Why didn't they invest in making the company healthy?

Bummer. All those workers still working and retirees getting pensions stops the investors from profits. Why didn't they invest in making the company healthy?

Tal do you realise you are talking socialism. Workers owning part of the company, investors having to face up to losses

So you would destroy all the existing bankruptcy laws to achieve your utopian visions ?

No but I would change them to be fair. I mean forcing a bankruptcy to make investors rich and destroy the lives of MILLIONS is fair to you?

Last I checked those investors are still making money. And workers have a job.

Fair ? What skin do the workers have in the game ? They do a job and get paid .You think the bond holders are just a bunch of greedy capitalists who were ripe to be screwed. To hell with the retires who had money in funds with GM holdings .They don't deserve the protection of the rule of law either . In Obamanation ;the Emperor makes the rules ;even if they violate years of law .

I guess their lively hood and future isn't skin enough.

fair ? What skin do the workers have in the game ? They do a job and get paid .You think the bond holders are just a bunch of greedy capitalists who were ripe to be screwed. To hell with the retires who had money in funds with GM holdings .They don't deserve the protection of the rule of law either . In Obamanation ;the Emperor makes the rules ;even if they violate years of law .

I expect no one explained risk to you, stockholders acquire certain risk and so do bondholders. It is unfortunate that some securities are more risky than others, you want security invest in government bonds because any additional yield on other securities is compensation for risk.

GM was rescued, not for the benefit of investors but for the benefit of employees and the national economy. What was already lost was lost due to inept management. I expect it cost you some money, that's sad Tom but we all experience loss in these difficult times unless we become risk averse

GM was "rescued " as a political payback to the UAW . Ask the non-union employees of the GM chain if the government gave a rat's a$$ about them .$1 billion went to Delphi's union retirees, their non-union retirees nothing.
Ask the thousands of dealership employees who lost their jobs because they worked in dealerships owned by Republicans if the Obots cared about employees . The bailout violated every fundamental principle of America's bankruptcy code, undermined the rule of law, and cost taxpayers an extra $26.5 billion.
Had GM gone through chapter 11 ;the company and the employees would be on firmer ground. All the bailout was ,was picking the pockets of taxpayers and bond holders and giving that theft to the union.
Obama's own car czar Steve Rattner admitted, “We should have asked the UAW to do a bit more. We did not ask any UAW member to take a cut in their pay.”
Obama said “The free market has never been a free license to take whatever you want from whoever you can. It only works when there are rules of the road to ensure that competition is fair, open, and honest,”
Yes it does work when “the rules ” are honored.The GM bailout violated all the rules.

Well tom a few other things violated the rules too like selling junk Bonds around the world while giving the an AAA rating. WhatI see is the system is broken and unbridled capitalism isn't the answer. We have had this answer before there are winners and loosers

unbridled capitalism putting words in my mouth again ? The whole bankruptcy system is a form of regulating . Unbridled capitalism ;if it was ever truly practiced ,is something that happened well before the beginning of the last century.
Look ;I know our laws differ from yours . I just want us to honor our laws . You can do in your country as you wish.

GM was "rescued " as a political payback to the UAW . Ask the non-union employees of the GM chain if the government gave a rat's a$$ about them .$1 billion went to Delphi's union retirees, their non-union retirees nothing.
Ask the thousands of dealership employees who lost their jobs because they worked in dealerships owned by Republicans if the Obots cared about employees . The bailout violated every fundamental principle of America's bankruptcy code, undermined the rule of law, and cost taxpayers an extra $26.5 billion.
Had GM gone through chapter 11 ;the company and the employees would be on firmer ground. All the bailout was ,was picking the pockets of taxpayers and bond holders and giving that theft to the union.
Obama's own car czar Steve Rattner admitted, “We should have asked the UAW to do a bit more. We did not ask any UAW member to take a cut in their pay.”
Obama said “The free market has never been a free license to take whatever you want from whoever you can. It only works when there are rules of the road to ensure that competition is fair, open, and honest,”
Yes it does work when “the rules ” are honored.The GM bailout violated all the rules.

The UAW retired Union employees.got raped by Obama during the GM Bankrpucy... My Father was a retired UAW union employee... he died the year he retired... my 78 year old mother lost all of her medical and much of her survivor benefits... with that bankruptcy.

The retired WHITE COLLAR non-union employees kept all of theirs...

Beware April Fools also...

The racist menace? Muslims declare victory in fight over ‘anti-Islamic’ Lego (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/the-racist-menace-muslims-declare-victory-in-fight-over-antiislamic-lego-8555610.html)

Apparently 'Jabba’s Palace’ looks a little much like a mosque?

Steriotypes

Muslims as troglodytes isn't a stereotype... its a proven fact.

I think Jabba the hut is actually a capitalist steriotype not a muslim one but I see the likeness of the St Sofia mosque. The muslims are stuck in a time warp, just like some others I know, they choose to be there and to take offense at whatever the west does. They even take offense at their own because deep down they know their religion is flawed. When you can't laugh at yourselves you are in big trouble

Beware April fools indeed . I have been predicting that the Aussies will fall under the Chinese sphere of influence . It is happening even faster than I realized.

A month ago we pointed out that as a result of Australia's unprecedented reliance on China as a target export market, accounting for nearly 30% of all Australian exports (with the flipside being just as true, as Australia now is the fifth-biggest source of Chinese imports), the two countries may as well be joined at the hip.
Over the weekend, Australia appears to have come to the same conclusion, with the Australian reporting that the land down under is set to say goodbye to the world's "reserve currency" in its trade dealings with the world's biggest marginal economic power, China, and will enable the direct convertibility of the Australian dollar into Chinese yuan, without US Dollar intermediation,.

Thanks, World Reserve Currency, But No Thanks: Australia And China To Enable Direct Currency Convertibility | Zero Hedge (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-31/thanks-world-reserve-currency-no-thanks-australia-and-china-enable-direct-currency-c)

Beware April fools indeed . I have been predicting that the Aussies will fall under the Chinese sphere of influence . It is happening even faster than I realized.


Thanks, World Reserve Currency, But No Thanks: Australia And China To Enable Direct Currency Convertibility | Zero Hedge (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-31/thanks-world-reserve-currency-no-thanks-australia-and-china-enable-direct-currency-c)

So what we are saying is the american's don't get their cut. Tough isn't it. Actually you should think of the Australian dollar as a reserve currency it is directly negotiable in a number of countries and worth more than the Yankee dollar. Look we are going to grow food and other agricultural products for China, we don't see this as negative thing, they have a market that is opening very quickly to high end products which we have an ability to meet and they aren't as queesy about certain things as you are and certainly not as protective. You had the opportunity to do the right thing with the FTA and you screwed us like you do everyone

so what we are saying is the american's don't get their cut. tough isn't it. actually you should think of the Australian dollar as a reserve currency it is directly negotiable in a number of countries and worth more than the Yankee dollar. look we are going to grow food and other agricultural products for China, we don't see this as negative thing, they have a market that is opening very quickly to high end products which we have an ability to meet and they arn't as queesy about certain things as you are and certainly not as protective. you had the opportunity to do the right thing with the FTA and you screwed us like you do everyone

You need to get over yourselves... or at least pay more attention to how China REALLY treats its subjects.

You need to get over yourselves....or at least pay more attention to how China REALLY treats its subjects.

We are not Chinese subjects, we trade with them, would you have us ignore them and leave the field to you? IIt doesn't work that way. We opened diplomatic dialogue with China while you were still playing cold war

we are not Chinese subjects, we trade with them

Bwaaaaahahahaha... yeah... for now... but not forever.

Bwaaaaahahahaha.....yeah.....for now.....but not forever.

So you may not last forever yourselves, nothing lasts forever

so you may not last forever yourselves, nothing lasts forever

Talk to Taiwan... and Japan... for that matter talk to the People in HongKong.

Yeah... you should love them when they decide to flex their muscle...

Exactly... soon their hegemony will draw you into their geopolitical sphere of influence.

I have been in China, travelled the country so I know first hand. What I didn't see is the oppression you think is taking place everywhere. Tibet might be a different case. China is an emerging giant and therefore cannot be ignored. Strong trading relationships are important and we will forge them with India too. What is it they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer

One of our own members, Fr.Chuck, moved to China. He loves it.

One of our own members, Fr.Chuck, moved to China. He loves it.

Yes I've spoken with Chuck

I have been in China, travelled the country so I know first hand. What I didn't see is the oppression you think is taking place everywhere. Tibet might be a different case. China is an emerging giant and therefore cannot be ignored. Strong trading relationships are important and we will forge them with India too. What is it they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer

Talk about burying ones head in the sand...

I'll bet the People of Tibet have something to say... and Taiwan.

Look I have no objection to the people of Tibet and Taiwan deciding for themselves whatever China might say but you have to remember history and part of it is the defense the west made in these cases. The west did not defend Tibet and it is now part of China. The west has defended Taiwan to some extent and it remains outside of China. Any conflict over there could involve big changes in the political landscape and I could see China trading off NK for Taiwan. China has no traditional claims to NK but they do to Taiwan

I have been in China, travelled the country so I know first hand. What I didn't see is the oppression you think is taking place everywhere.
Ask the Uyghurs
Organs Seized From Uyghurs (http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/seized-01092013163346.html)
Ask the Christians
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_YUgSyiG6aIWUpXdWwtWVJWb00/edit?usp=sharing&pli=1
Ask the workers in Foxconn
Riots, suicides and more in Foxconn factories - CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-57520067/riots-suicides-and-more-in-foxconn-factories/)
Ask the people who's property has been seized .
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/24/world/asia/land-dispute-stirs-riots-in-southern-china.html?_r=0
Ask the women who have been forced to have abortions
Chinese woman forced to have abortion after second pregnancy - NY Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/chinese-woman-forced-abortion-pregnancy-article-1.1096014)
Ask Ai Weiwei ,the artist who designed the Bird's Nest stadium for the Olympics and then was beaten, prosecuted and held in secret detention for his efforts to expose China's oppression of its people.

I could go on ;but you get the idea . I'm sure your visits to China are quite santized .

I could go on ;but you get the idea . I'm sure your visits to China are quite santized .

Not at all I travelled freely without minders of any kind, was searched at the border and allowed to proceed, was questioned by police and allowed to proceed, may very well have had a watcher on more than one occasion for a short time but nothing was sanitized or directed. I saw few police and even fewer military in a journey of 3,000 kilometres. There is more I could say, but I will say the chinese were very helpful and courteous

The point is; things happen in many parts of the world and may very well happen there but you cannot take the reported incidents we see reported and extrapolate that into a nation under siege. I'm sure even the US is a peaceful place despite the thousands killed every year with guns

Clete,

I'm more likely to believe someone who's been there than someone just surfing for links.

Never mind the reality people AREN'T free to travel ANYWHERE they want in China any more than they are in Vietnam... you still aren't in Russia. YOu WILL be followed.. and you WILL be watched... and if you DO go certain places you WILL be stopped.

But then... its always the left that defends them...

The right wing vacuum chamber doesn't allow for different ideas or complete facts. The good news is they are a shrinking minority in an ever growing progressive country.

The right wing vacuum chamber doesn't allow for different ideas or complete facts. The good news is they are a shrinking minority in an ever growing progressive country.

Yeah... right... as shown by the TOTAL lack of coverage for Obamas blunders... or ANY real criticism of anything he has ever done by the left wing run Pravda... that doesn't have the balls to just say they are the DNC propagandists... because they don't have the courage to admit it.

The country hasn't gotten more progressive... the Progressives have become more narcicisstic and arrogant... and their control of the media to spread lies and misinformation make the old Pravda jealous.

Nice propaganda, from inside the vacuum.

Well March has come and gone and what are we left with. NK seems to be the continuing theme but all else is resolved
The sequester grinds on
Governments have not fallen
The stock market has not fallen
The catholics are pondering the actions of their new leader
The rhetoric flows in so many ways

The sequester grinds on... and the Obots learned that you can threaten to furlough meat inspectors ;but if they did ,they would be negligent... So the Prez and Veep scheduled more vacation time ;and Zero announced today he'd take a 5% hair cut.

The NORKS have ramped it up beyond the normal Kim blowing out their a$$ rhetoric
There is no place to put investment money except the stock market bubble .

Pope Francis is interesting . Don't think he will tinker with doctrine .


Cannibals NY have gone back to being just plain corrupt crooks . First we learn that we have been voted the least free state in the union ;then we learn that NYC Tamney Hall Dems want to make NYC the most politically corrupt city . To wrest that from Chi-town... now that would be an achievement .
N.Y. politicians arrested in alleged mayoral race bribe scheme | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/02/us-usa-politics-newyork-idUSBRE9310FH20130402)

Yes interesting that BO is showing his solidarity with those affected by the sequester, I would be more impressed if he took an unpaid furlough, a month would be appropriate.

If I were over there Tom I think I would be putting my investment money in a kerosene tin in the back yard but everything is not that bad, I managed to sell some shares at a profit during March and bought myself a new car so having done my bit for the economy I continue to contemplate what to do with those other holdings in loss

Everyone here isn't suffering Clete, some are doing very well.

Yes Tal I'm sure the other 47% are, as always

Only the Democrats that are the recipients of Owebamas reckless spending are doing well... the rest of us who are actually paying those bills are doing worse.

Are you finding out how the other half lives smoothy? I doubt it. Life has been tough we have all had to change what we do in the last few years so don't expect me to have sympathy for fat cats