Gorth

Is it the US presidents job to assassinate drug cartel leaders? I don't think it said that anywhere in his job description? He may wield the power to do so, but if he does so because he doesn't like said cartel leader, it's personal, not part of the job. Same thing goes for the Jan. 6th incidents. Starting an insurrection to seize power and overthrow the election was not part of his job. I'm sure there are some kind of electoral committees to ensure things happens by the book. He simply didn't like he was losing and wanted to seize power. Not part of his job description (ok, I've never actually read the job description and sometimes you get surprised). If he declares war on another country and a bunch of people gets killed, sure. That might be part of the job. Even if was more personal for Bush Jr. to avenge Bush Sr. blunders by fabricating reasons to go for war than any actual legitimate reasons (i.e. no threat to US citizens or security, he simply felt his family had been embarrassed). That one the voters will sort out, eventually. The ruling makes perfect sense in that regard. What is as clear as mud is what constitutes "the presidents official duties"?

A big name when I was a teenager in the early 80's... didn't include the obvious I love rock'n'roll because it's usually the only thing most people associate with Joan Jett (and she and her band did release quite a few albums)

@MedicineDan You've submitted something yet? I know you are no bad writer, on the contrary. Would love to see a contribution!

The downside of phone screens... sometimes stuff is just too fine print! (and no mouse pointer to hover over things)

The downside of getting old I guess... when I was young, the constant, imminent end of the worlds was a concern. Now... meh, big loss if humanity wipes itself out. A failed evolutionary branch similar to the Neanderthals?

@Bartimaeus & @majestic sorry about ruining the interesting conversation, but some things just has to go (and some posts makes no sense when "orphaned" without context)

Bernie would probably have steamrolled Trump in a debate, but he'll no more get the backing of the party than AOC would

Interesting observation in the animals... the process increases when they're sleeping. Maybe there is something about the importance of getting enough sleep?

Not saying it's going to happen, but I think a relevant question would be, what are those countries, that rely on the US Dollar as currency reserve, going to do if (that's the big "if", but lets as a thought experiment assume it could happen) the US economy completely disintegrates due to debt?

Not quite as much as I used to half a year ago, but I still play in an organized group on some week days (wvw, i.e. world vs world which is the large scale pvp). The banter alone in Discord is worth the price of entry

Looks like Arenanet is caving in to popular demand... at last as far back as I remember, people have been clamouring for "player housing" in the game. Looks like they listened... 10 years late, but they listened Do be fair, it looks like a number of neat ideas are getting added to it. I know I'll love that "collect all resources" button once it gets implemented!

Non football related news... Not sure who is going to win this year, but Bathgate won the 2023 World Championship in Bagpipes https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/news/bathgate-band-takes-the-title-of-2023-world-pipe-band-champions "It is the long-established Scottish pipe band’s first-ever World Champions win. Based in Bathgate, West Lothian, Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia fought off stiff competition from runners-up – and 2022 champions – Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band of Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Last year’s runners-up, Inveraray and District Pipe Band, finished in third place. This year’s ‘ultimate battle of the bands’, which took place over two days on Glasgow Green, attracted around 35,000 spectators. The highly-anticipated championships represent the pinnacle of the competitive pipe band calendar. The major annual event draws thousands of pipers and drummers to Scotland, reflecting the level of worldwide interest in our national instrument." edit: Same band, different event

Denmark claimed second spot because... less yellow cards. Seems like nice guys do finish second, if not last

Those things are always "what benefits us the most" kind of things. If there is more value/less cost in getting rid of him than detaining him, it's almost a given, they will give him an economy one way ticket to some former prison colony and focus on the important stuff at hand (like current domestic scandals and campaigning). Ethics and justice has nothing to do with it.

I remember that movie scaring the beejeebus out of me as a kid... I've been stomping on ants irrationally ever since

Just a small tribute to the late Meat Load

Hey look who's still around!... long time no see old friend. Hope you stop by for a chat every now and then

I've tried it a few times, but to be honest, as nice as crispy duck skin is, I prefer it with a bit more duck meat on it edit: in years past, I usually had Chinese food together with a Tawanese friend of mine when either living in or visiting Melbourne. He knew the decent places and often recommended what he thought looked nice. Not so much duck as beef and noodle combos with various sauces and seasonings. edit2: ...and dumplings, lots of dumplings!

I'm probably not stopping by Chicago anytime soon, but duck breast in orange sauce is delicious

I'm more interested in facts than faith to be honest and he's not going to convince me the local clergy in Denmark didn't co-opt the existing pagan Yule celebration at the end of December. Documented as far back as 5th century. The country didn't Christianize until the 12th century, like 700 years later (reluctantly at that, it took a few more centuries to complete) "In the Nordic lands, Yule (or “Jól”) was a significant winter festival. Vikings celebrated with feasts, boasting, and toasts to the gods, particularly Odin, who was associated with Yule", usually celebrated around winter Solstice (i.e 21st of Dec) Edit: feel free to create a "theological:debate" thread in way off topic, if interested in subject... it must be at least 10 years since we had one of those! An interesting history channel covering pre-imperial Rome. The rise of the city state and it's subjugation of first the neighboring Latin tribes and later their arch nemesis, the Etruscan city of Veii. https://www.youtube.com/@MagistraVitae The videos are not overly long and illustrated with cute little avatars illustrating events and personalities... I made it as far as the third Samnite war in 343 BC

Once upon a time, there was a great UK psychedelic blues rock band that moved to the US and replaced some of their staff with the locals. I remember Fleetwood Mac from the 70's and early 80's as just awesome rock music. For me, Tango in the Night was the beginning of the end. Mostly pop music. But before that... (deja vu warning, I may have posted one or two of those in years past) For me, approx 4:30 to 6:30 is just Stevie Nicks being one heck of a front "man" of a rock band. You can feel that she "feels it"

My own anecdotal experiences based on 30 years working as a developer, generalists always have it rough. Little demand and low pay. Specialists (I'm one of them) are typically in high demand and considerably better pay. The challenge is, the specialist areas in demand changes over the years....

I think the prefer to be called The Netherlands But I agree. I remember Denmarks match against them in the EC quarterfinals in 1992. Some ugly broken bones and ended careers there, courtesy of the Dutch thugs on the field. Enjoyed sending them packing even more than Germany in the final, that was just a bonus

Israel’s unrecognised annexation of Golan, the completely unlawful invasion and annexation of the Kingdom of Hawaii, China’s annexation of the country of Tibet… I’m sure there are more, but it shows the different standards of “international law” (I.e. might makes right)