metadigital

You can't support a system then dismiss the result. If the elections were truly fair and representative, and the result was one that was not as palatable for the unrepresented, then that's tough. (Otherwise you're looking at the Guardian advising readers to write directly to members of the Ohio electorate in a Presidential election and try to convence them to vote for someone ...) "

With that aspect, I agree. I always found it funny when no matter how many people I killed, some little punk would still mouth my sickly pale Dark Lord of the Sith character off. Reputation should have SOME effect. Look at someone like Bobba Fett. Most common thugs know his rep and wouldn't dare confront him. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ... Or Calo Nord ...

Nobody expects the Spanish ninja monkeys ...

H

I read a very good book a few years ago, and subsequently passed it on to my step-daughter (who is an accomplished flautist): G

Is that your impersonation of terrorism? It's very good . Yes, it is. If the US and the Brits didn't involved themselves in the Middle East after World War 2 in forming Israel and pretty much left those people ALONE. We wouldn't be in this mess now. We need to mind our own store and not interfere with others. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> And what did all those people die for in WW2, then? The US should have stayed out of WW2, minding their own store, and "not interfere with others" in Europe or the Pacific ...

Great links!

The Ottomans have placed the automobile in a special undercover enclosure, so that citizens from all over the hol lands, and beyond, may witness the marvel of Italian craftsmanship. (And also ensure that no hidden munitions, inside, would cause any damage, should the detonate.)

So Yoda is a Ninja ...

H

... Don't forget the +100000% Entertainer bonus ...

It's always the same minority of troublemakers who get all the attention. You're focusing exclusively on the 'great powers' - but the world is full of countries that are not great powers (the great majority in fact). Yes, I'm sure you can give me lots of examples of small wars between small countries, but I stick to my main assertion: most countries spend most of the time neither at war nor planning war. How far back into the past this extends is debatable, certainly. Civilization 3 simulates relations between great powers; it doesn't aim to represent a more complex reality. But I still find it fun to play it in strange ways. Thinking about it, I've probably spent more time playing this game than any other single game in my life. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No, it's not; those examples are just the most vivid and least able to be refuted. It's all about resources: if there are plenty to go around then there is not as much tension as when they are scarcer. Gold, oil, diamonds ... even the forecasted water wars, that are due any year now, e.g. especially when Ethiopia tries to damn the Blue Nile

That's not what I complained about. I'm merely observing the miserable state of ignorance we ALL live in, since no one has the truth in the big picture and everyone's experiences determine the facts they know. That's a terrible way to judge, and yet it is the way the world works. And no, checking up on facts do not help: a stroll through google will not give you the truth anymore than reading the newspaper will. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You are portraying an unnecessarily bleak and misrepresentative analysis of the world's information resources. Apart from certain unimportant specifics, facts about historical and political issues are well documented and analyzed, should you look in the correct places. I don't think a "democratic" (as in "universal access, no censorship") information source like the internet is the best place; better to use trusted sources, as the trusted information is what is required for value judgements. History books are a good start. Biographies of important historical leaders, and synopses of ideologies and philosphy are all good sources. It is even possible to research biased reports, as long as the bias is known and correlated to the information sources. Try harder.

Actually I was refering to in this country rather than abroad.Abroad I've only visited a Budist temple but that was actually a good experience. In this country I've generally gone as a guest of someone. And they see that as me being some sort of potential convert I guess.It's not so much being turned away as being trapped in a room with a salesman trying to sell you something. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Wow, sounds as bad as Christian fundamentalist evangelism ...

You are having some kind a party or what? And....can i come too(i will follow the rules)? :D <{POST_SNAPBACK}> *jumps up and down waving hand wildly* Me too! I wanna come! Take me, take me! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Launchie, you're so popular you're gunna need caterers, soon. (Baley can provide spam for everyone, but what about ddrinks?) I'm sure I saw the mods in WO-T just before, maybe Fionavr is catching up on reading the threads.

I guess I didn't notice those coverages since those are what I already know. Still, it wouldn't hurt if the media tries a little harder on balancing its coverage. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Part of the problem is there is no "Muslim Pope" or "Muslim Archbishop of the UK"; the organisational structure is not as hierarchical as the episcopals. Muslim Imams certainly preach tolerance in the Mosque, it's just the non-Muslims don't hear it ...

Strangely prophetic words ...

Well. The media blasts us with people in the Middle East dancing with AKs all day. You think that does not influence any one's view on the Muslims? Has the media ever introduced Muslims' true beliefs to us? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Actually, there have been a number of initiatives in Britain, for example. Recently there was a series on Sharia law, hosted by the senior Imams and commentators (like a high profile British journalist who has converted to Islam); strangely enough, Muslims are small "c" conservatives, who respect their neighbours (of all hue and belief), and whom seek fairness in all dealings. ( /sarcasm)

"Us" doesn't include any extremists. There are plenty who think that their particular brand of zealotry is okay, in a self-defence modus operandi, and terrorism is okay as a modus agendi. E.g. some animal rights and pro-life (sic) activists, ho think it is fine to threaten or even kill people in industries they do not like, or even supporting the businesses. ... And, ironically, they are becoming the very thing they fear and hate. Sadly, the irony is wasted on them.

The Hajj is the the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam; the pilgrimage to Mecca (the holiest city in Islam), Madinah, (the second holiest city on Islam, where Muhammad migrated to, the migration is called the Hijra). Jerusalem is the location of the Temple that houses the tomb of Abraham (the Great Patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam). Ironically the name "Jerusalem" comes from the Hebrew for "Heritage of Peace" - a contraction of "heritage" (yerusha) and Salem (Shalem literally "whole" or "complete") or "peace" (shalom).

Attempting to make political capital out of a tragedy displays you as a callous barbarian, no better than the sub-humans who thought that killing random innocent people irrespective of age, gender, class, religion or race, was an acceptable way to make a political point.

BBC details Emergency Hotline: 0870 1566 344 (to check on friends and relatives that may be caught in the incidents: dial your international access code, the UK country code "44", and drop the leading "0", when calling international). 6 bombs, 4 trains, 2 buses, minimum 33 dead, so far.

I'm sorry, what did the West do in Balkans? Step in and save the Muslims from the Serbian genocide squads? What was the problem there? Are you sick, or just perverted? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> [snip demented rant] <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hypocrite.

You're missing a lot. There were timed explosions, at this stage it looks like the perpetrators were aiming for maximum disruption, not loss of life (no clear idea of why, yet). It would have taken at least ten people just to set the bombs off; the first explosion diverted the people behind to the buses, where the first bus explosion went off.

I concur. Violence begets violence in an endless vicious cycle.