http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/forums/show/54.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net Rant/rave and fume all you like; sorces are cited.


Barack Obama's 32 Month Report Card


by Rich Carroll


"Mr. Hope and Change" wants to create a nation humbled; humiliated, casting-aside capitalism and individual freedoms for one where we the people are government controlled. This would be a system that genuflects mediocrity, steals personal aspiration and opportunity, and punishes those who strive to succeed.


A gallon of regular gasoline the day Obama was inaugurated was $1.79 on average in the U.S. Today that price is $3.59, a 100.6% increase. The number of food stamp recipients has risen since Obama took office from 31,983,716 to 43,200,878, a 35.1% jump. Long term unemployment soared 146.2% during the same 32 month period from 2,600,000 to 6,400,000. Staggering hope and change isn't it?


American citizens living in poverty have risen 9.5% from 39,800,000 to 43,600,000, and the number of unemployed has jumped almost 25% from 11,616,000 to 14,485,000 as of August 31, 2011. The number of unemployed blacks has risen from 12.6% at the end of George Bush's term to 15.8% today, a 25.4% increase, and finally, our national debt is up 34.4% from 10.627 trillion to 14,278 trillion *


Keep these figures in mind as we recount the number of firsts for this presidency:


First President to refuse to show a valid birth certificate.


First President to apply for college aid as a foreign student, then deny he was a foreigner.


First President to have a social security number from a state he has never lived in.


First President to preside over a cut to the credit rating of the United States .


First President to violate the War Powers Act.


First President to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico .


First President to defy a Federal Judges court order to cease implementing the Health Care Reform Law.


First President to require all Americans to purchase a product from a third party.


First President to spend a trillion dollars on shovel-ready jobs and later admit there was no such thing as shovel-ready jobs.


First President to abrogate bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters.


First President to by-pass Congress and implement the Dream Act through executive fiat.


First President to order a secret amnesty program that stopped the deportation of illegal immigrants across the U.S. , including those with criminal convictions.


First President to demand a company hand-over $20 billion to one of his political appointees.


First President to terminate Americas ability to put a man in space.


First President to encourage racial discrimination and intimidation at polling places.


First President to have a law signed by an auto-pen without being present.


First President to arbitrarily declare an existing law unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it.


First President to threaten insurance companies if they publicly speak-out on the reasons for their rate increases.


First President to tell a major manufacturing company in which state they are allowed to locate a factory.


First President to file lawsuits against the states he swore an oath to protect (AZ, WI, OH, IN)


First President to withdraw an existing coal permit that had been properly issued years ago.


First President to fire an inspector general of Ameri-corps for catching one of his friends in a corruption case.


First President to appoint 45 Czars to replace elected officials in his office.


First President to golf 73 separate times in his first two and a half years in office.


First President to hide his medical, educational and travel records.


First President to win a Nobel Peace Prize for doing NOTHING to earn it.


First President to coddle American enemies while alienating Americas allies.


First President to publicly bow to Americas enemies while refusing to salute the U.S. Flag.


First President to go on multiple global apology tours.


First President to go on 17 lavish vacations, including date nights and Wednesday evening White House parties for his friends, paid for by the taxpayer.


First President to refuse to wear the U.S. Flag lapel pin.


First President to have 22 personal servants (taxpayer funded) for his wife.


First President to keep a dog trainer on retainer for $102,000.00 a year at taxpayer expense.


First President to repeat the Holy Qur'an tells us, and openly admit the early morning call of the Azan (Islamic call to worship) is the most beautiful sound on earth.


Remember that 32 months of Obama White House we the people have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our nation's entire history, as the Obama's plan their next extravagant vacation to the Indonesian Island nation of Bali .


Hope and change anyone ?????????


* sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Wall Street Journal, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Dept of Labor, Standard & Poors/Case-Shiller, Federal Reserve, US Treasury, Heritage Foundation]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429972/3915140.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429972/3915140.page GMT
http://comic.naver.com/webtoon/detail.nhn?titleId=350217&seq=31&weekday=

You just have to scroll down the page, but viewer discretion is advised. You have been warned.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429934/3914494.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429934/3914494.page GMT
[quote]The spring of 2012 approaches and with it the promise, after months of seeding with rumors and watering with anguished tears and vodka, that Ghostbusters 3 will finally take root, sprouting a whole new branch of the franchise that you can then jab into your eye. And as it’s been at least a few months since Dan Aykroyd has insisted that Ghostbusters 3 is happening and offered a dismaying glimpse into his cavalier attitude about it, Dan Aykroyd dropped by Empire to do just that, answering a few questions about the project—and, as always, creating a dozen more.

First up, some good news: Aykroyd says he is committed to luring Rick Moranis out of retirement for the project, saying that the finished script “would definitely have Moranis as a major component” before adding, “None of us would want to do the movie without having him as a participant." Indeed, a Ghostbusters movie without a key player such as Rick Moranis would be a total sham, and only serve to illustrate what a crassly motivated, hollow endeavor reviving the franchise has become. So thank goodness he won’t be doing that!

Because really, there will be plenty of that going on already, as Aykroyd is now also saying that the problem of continued holdout Bill Murray could be solved by simply having Peter Venkman played by “a different actor, a la Jack Ryan”—referring, of course, to how Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan franchise was passed from actor to actor without any noticeable box office damage or fan outcry, and to the way that Peter Venkman is similarly defined by his mission and not totally and indelibly shaped by Bill Murray’s unique personality. This strategy, at last, could address the complaints of Ghostbusters fans who felt that all of Bill Murray’s wisecracking was getting in the way of the serious business of ghost-busting.

Anyway, as with all “Dan Aykroyd says something about Ghostbusters 3” news, this remains purely hypothetical—much like Aykroyd’s response to the rare, non-Aykroyd-generated rumor that Murray recently shredded the Ghostbusters 3 script and returned it with a note reading, “No one wants to pay money to see fat, old men chasing ghosts.” That is definitely not true, Aykroyd swears, saying, “Bill Murray is not capable of such behavior. This is simply something that would not be in his nature. We have a deep, private personal relationship that transcends business. We communicate frequently and his position on the involvement in Ghostbusters 3 has been made clear and I respect that. But Bill has too much positive estimation of my writing skills to shred the work.” Just not quite enough to participate in it, endorse it, or even publicly acknowledge it—which is why Aykroyd will have to find a new deep, private, personal relationship with some other actor, one that definitely doesn’t transcend business.[/quote]

I can't imagine that going over to well.
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429926/3914331.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429926/3914331.page GMT
- The beep sounds like one long one and 2 short ones. I believe the problem is video card related.
- I've take out the video card and put it back in, still no display.
- I've taken out the power cable from the video card, which made the scream noise, and put it back in, so it's not power.
- I've put my video card in a friends computer and it worked. I put his video card in my computer and it worked. My video card does not work in my computer.
- I've tried a different slot, same result.
- I've tried taking out the RAM and putting it back in. Same result.

So what do? I'm running a nvidia 8800 gtx alpha dog card. It's in need of an upgrade for sure, and I planned to do just that soon. However, what's odd to me is that the card works in my friends computer but not mine. A computer buddy of his said it might have something to do with the drivers, which I updated a few months ago I believe.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429899/3913690.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429899/3913690.page GMT
I have never agreed with something stated on Fox more than what has been stated by this man]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429897/3913679.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429897/3913679.page GMT
What has man wrought?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429892/3913517.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429892/3913517.page GMT fe times i loved watching fox news. He stands up for Ellen Degeneres and her life
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHEVu64pZsA&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429651/3909073.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429651/3909073.page GMT
Worst video game in history meets worst movie premise in history equals worst movie in history time infinity. It makes me wonder how the crew and cast were actually able to go through with it without laughing and/or weeping constantly.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429610/3908343.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429610/3908343.page GMT I'm doing an article (coursework piece) about libel on the internet, and if people who post libellous comments are worried about being sued or getting into bother. I was hoping to get peoples opinions on this. I felt that this community is full of useful people. I only need a few, but the more the merrier. I helps the cause if you run an outside blog/contribute, and understand what libel is. If you want to present your views, please could you PM me/post on this thread, answering the following questions (your comments will likely be published, but only as a coursework piece. IF published elsewhere, I would ask permission again :D ):

Name/age/Location: (important formal stuff, just the country would do if you don't want to be specific)

1)Have you ever posted anything that could be seen as libelous?

2)Were/are you particularly worried about getting into trouble with comments you make of other people/companies?

3)Have you ever experienced/known of threats of a lawsuit/Cease and Desists/removal of content?

4)Do you think the internet (as a collective body) is bothered about libel? If not, why?

Many Thanks, I will appreciate all contructive views.
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429601/3908273.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429601/3908273.page GMT Raw as it gets - "he's in deep trouble!"

Nothing more to say.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VI-M9Yw-28[/youtube]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429595/3908118.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429595/3908118.page GMT
Mine right now is Duel of the Fates by John Williams (commonly known as the music playing during the Darth maul lightsaber fight from Episode 1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt0UuNpUqK4]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429577/3907855.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429577/3907855.page GMT http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/whitney-houston-dead-at-48-at-beverly-hilton-on-eve-of-grammys-1.3522942

Didn't see a topic on this.

[quote]LOS ANGELES - Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday. She was 48.

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told reporters outside the Beverly Hilton that Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. in her room on the fourth floor of the hotel. Her body remained there and Beverly Hills detectives were investigating.

"There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent at this time," Rosen said.

PHOTOS: Whitney Houston through the years | Recent celebrity deaths

MORE: What's your favorite Whitney Houston song? | Recent obituaries

Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said Saturday that the cause of her death was unknown.

Houston's death came on the eve of music's biggest night — the Grammy Awards. It's a showcase where she once reigned, and her death was sure to cast a heavy pall on Sunday's ceremony.

Her longtime mentor Clive Davis was to hold his annual concert and dinner Saturday, and a representative of the show said it would proceed.

Houston was supposed to appear at the gala, and Davis had told The Associated Press that she would perhaps perform: "It's her favorite night of the year ... (so) who knows by the end of the evening," he said.

Houston had been at rehearsals for the show Thursday, coaching singers Brandy and Monica, according to a person who was at the event but was not authorized to speak publicly about it. The person said Houston looked disheveled, was sweating profusely and liquor and cigarettes could be smelled on her breath.

Two days ago, she performed at a pre-Grammy party with singer Kelly Price.

Rosen said police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston at 3:43 p.m. Saturday, and paramedics were already at the hotel because of a Grammy party. Paramedics unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the singer, the lieutenant said.

The Rev. Al Sharpton said he would call for a national prayer Sunday morning during a service at Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

"The morning of the Grammys, the world should pause and pray for the memory of a gifted songbird," Sharpton said in a written statement.

At her peak, Houston was the golden girl of the music industry. From the middle 1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world's best-selling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful, and peerless vocals that were rooted in the black church but made palatable to the masses with a pop sheen.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale."

She had the perfect voice and the perfect image: a gorgeous singer who had sex appeal but was never overtly sexual, who maintained perfect poise.

She influenced a generation of younger singers, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, who when she first came out sounded so much like Houston that many thought it was Houston.

But by the end of her career, Houston became a stunning cautionary tale of the toll of drug use. Her album sales plummeted and the hits stopped coming; her once serene image was shattered by a wild demeanor and bizarre public appearances. She confessed to abusing cocaine, marijuana and pills, and her once pristine voice became raspy and hoarse, unable to hit the high notes as she had during her prime.

"The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy," Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 interview with then-husband Brown by her side.

It was a tragic fall for a superstar who was one of the top-selling artists in pop music history, with more than 55 million records sold in the United States alone.

She seemed to be born into greatness. She was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, the cousin of 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin.

Houston first started singing in the church as a child. In her teens, she sang backup for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and others, in addition to modeling. It was around that time when music mogul Clive Davis first heard Houston perform.

"The time that I first saw her singing in her mother's act in a club ... it was such a stunning impact," Davis told "Good Morning America."

"To hear this young girl breathe such fire into this song. I mean, it really sent the proverbial tingles up my spine," he added.

Before long, the rest of the country would feel it, too. Houston made her album debut in 1985 with "Whitney Houston," which sold millions and spawned hit after hit. "Saving All My Love for You" brought her her first Grammy, for best female pop vocal. "How Will I Know," ''You Give Good Love" and "The Greatest Love of All" also became hit singles.

Another multiplatinum album, "Whitney," came out in 1987 and included hits like "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

The New York Times wrote that Houston "possesses one of her generation's most powerful gospel-trained voices, but she eschews many of the churchier mannerisms of her forerunners. She uses ornamental gospel phrasing only sparingly, and instead of projecting an earthy, tearful vulnerability, communicates cool self-assurance and strength, building pop ballads to majestic, sustained peaks of intensity."

Her decision not to follow the more soulful inflections of singers like Franklin drew criticism by some who saw her as playing down her black roots to go pop and reach white audiences. The criticism would become a constant refrain through much of her career. She was even booed during the "Soul Train Awards" in 1989.

"Sometimes it gets down to that, you know?" she told Katie Couric in 1996. "You're not black enough for them. I don't know. You're not R&B enough. You're very pop. The white audience has taken you away from them."

Some saw her 1992 marriage to former New Edition member and soul crooner Bobby Brown as an attempt to refute those critics. It seemed to be an odd union; she was seen as pop's pure princess while he had a bad-boy image, and already had children of his own. (The couple had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, in 1993.) Over the years, he would be arrested several times, on charges ranging from DUI to failure to pay child support.

But Houston said their true personalities were not as far apart as people may have believed.

"When you love, you love. I mean, do you stop loving somebody because you have different images? You know, Bobby and I basically come from the same place," she told Rolling Stone in 1993. "You see somebody, and you deal with their image, that's their image. It's part of them, it's not the whole picture. I am not always in a sequined gown. I am nobody's angel. I can get down and dirty. I can get raunchy."

It would take several years, however, for the public to see that side of Houston. Her moving 1991 rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl, amid the first Gulf War, set a new standard and once again reaffirmed her as America's sweetheart.

In 1992, she became a star in the acting world with "The Bodyguard." Despite mixed reviews, the story of a singer (Houston) guarded by a former Secret Service agent (Kevin Costner) was an international success.

It also gave her perhaps her most memorable hit: a searing, stunning rendition of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You," which sat atop the charts for weeks. It was Grammy's record of the year and best female pop vocal, and the "Bodyguard" soundtrack was named album of the year.

She returned to the big screen in 1995-96 with "Waiting to Exhale" and "The Preacher's Wife." Both spawned soundtrack albums, and another hit studio album, "My Love Is Your Love," in 1998, brought her a Grammy for best female R&B vocal for the cut "It's Not Right But It's Okay."

But during these career and personal highs, Houston was using drugs. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2010, she said by the time "The Preacher's Wife" was released, "(doing drugs) was an everyday thing. ... I would do my work, but after I did my work, for a whole year or two, it was every day. ... I wasn't happy by that point in time. I was losing myself."

In the interview, Houston blamed her rocky marriage to Brown, which included a charge of domestic abuse against Brown in 1993. They divorced in 2007.

Houston would go to rehab twice before she would declare herself drug-free to Winfrey in 2010. But in the interim, there were missed concert dates, a stop at an airport due to drugs, and public meltdowns.

She was so startlingly thin during a 2001 Michael Jackson tribute concert that rumors spread she had died the next day. Her crude behavior and jittery appearance on Brown's reality show, "Being Bobby Brown," was an example of her sad decline. Her Sawyer interview, where she declared "crack is whack," was often parodied. She dropped out of the spotlight for a few years.

Houston staged what seemed to be a successful comeback with the 2009 album "I Look To You." The album debuted on the top of the charts, and would eventually go platinum.

Things soon fell apart. A concert to promote the album on "Good Morning America" went awry as Houston's voice sounded ragged and off-key. She blamed an interview with Winfrey for straining her voice.

A world tour launched overseas, however, only confirmed suspicions that Houston had lost her treasured gift, as she failed to hit notes and left many fans unimpressed; some walked out. Canceled concert dates raised speculation that she may have been abusing drugs, but she denied those claims and said she was in great shape, blaming illness for cancellations.[/quote]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429571/3907756.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429571/3907756.page GMT
I'll start.

'Think i lost my girl
but i'll run it off.
Spending most my time,
Forgetting at all costs.

Found a midnight sound,
Found i love this town.
Strange you feel so low,
Then you feel so high'

Quite a long one but i love its simplicity.
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429564/3907572.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429564/3907572.page GMT btw i am her first boyfriend, we are both 16. sorry if you older folks are looking at this shaking your heads, but i really do think i love her. any answers? ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429558/3907447.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429558/3907447.page GMT
Now his star is on the rise and becoming a Tebow like celebrity. Any thoughts about this?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429399/3904701.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429399/3904701.page GMT
Link to a quick funny example of it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLDwQ52NnLE&feature=related[/youtube]

I swear to god his office is made of cans]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429350/3903604.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429350/3903604.page GMT
The secretary general of the UN has told Britain and Argentina it must stop escalating over the conflict.

What's are the views of the Dakkanauts?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9075189/UK-and-Argentina-must-stop-escalating-conflict-over-Falklands-says-Ban-Ki-moon.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9071305/We-will-defend-ourselves-Argentine-defence-minister-ups-the-ante-over-Falklands.html]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429326/3902940.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429326/3902940.page GMT
Just saw a rumour on Facebook saying that China are claiming that Kim Jong Un has been assasinated. I can't find any source for this with google, does anyone know anything more, or is it just a rumour?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429292/3902021.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429292/3902021.page GMT
I can only think of a couple possibilities but have heard nothing to confirm or deny any supposition.

* Syrian expatriates/refugees in Turkey and Lebanon who have connections to the opposition.

* Arab league countries who support the sunni ethnic group that makes up a good part of the opposition.

*Nato countries buying soviet style weapons and funneling them to the opposition covertly much like they did in the soviet invasion of Afghanistan via Turkey (part of Nato) and Lebanon (neutral)

Also whilst we're on it. If, worst case scenario. Nato finds itself at war with both Syria and Iran. Would Russia and China do anything/could they do anything to prevent that turn of events in the military sense. my feeling is that both China and Russia know their conventional armies are no match for NATO and are also seperated geographically from the region without Mhe means to move troops there. Which limits them to a threat of nuclear action which could only lead to MAD. I also think both governments have a nest of internal problems that limits their action even more. Aside from selling weapons and political pressure at the UN I don't think they would be a real issue. The biggest worry for NATO would be if countries where the Muslim Brotherhood (Egypt/Tunisia) has to some extent came to power would side with Iran and their fellow muslims against a [u]percieved[/u] Western crusade.

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429284/3901850.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429284/3901850.page GMT
[quote]In an attempt to address the lingering "Han shot first" controversy, Star Wars creator George Lucas may have only fanned the flames of fandom even more. You see, Lucas says Han Solo never actually fired first in his classic showdown with Greedo. Fans only wanted to think that. So basically it's all your own fault.

In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter (via /Film), Lucas said, "The controversy over who shot first, Greedo or Han Solo, in Episode IV, what I did was try to clean up the confusion, but obviously it upset people because they wanted Solo [who seemed to be the one who shot first in the original] to be a cold-blooded killer, but he actually isn't. It had been done in all close-ups and it was confusing about who did what to whom. I put a little wider shot in there that made it clear that Greedo is the one who shot first, but everyone wanted to think that Han shot first, because they wanted to think that he actually just gunned him down."
[/quote]

I'm stealing the quote from Cracked: "you will never love a woman as much as this man hates his fans".]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429222/3900525.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429222/3900525.page GMT
[i]By Scott Higham and Dan Keating, Thursday, February 9, 8:30 PM[/i]

The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee over possible violations of insider-trading laws, according to individuals familiar with the case.

Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), who holds one of the most influential positions in the House, has been a frequent trader on Capitol Hill, buying stock options while overseeing the nation’s banking and financial services industries.

The Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent investigative agency, opened its probe late last year after focusing on numerous suspicious trades on Bachus’s annual financial disclosure forms, the individuals said. OCE investigators have notified Bachus that he is under investigation and that they have found probable cause to believe insider-trading violations have occurred.

The case is the first of its kind involving a member of Congress. It comes at a time of intense public scrutiny of congressional ethics, with the House passing legislation Thursday to tighten rules against insider trading by lawmakers. The impetus for the legislation, a version of which passed in the Senate a week earlier, came from a “60 Minutes” report and a book mentioning Bachus’s trades, “Throw Them All Out,” by Peter Schweizer.

“The Office of Congressional Ethics has requested information and I welcome this opportunity to present the facts and set the record straight,” Bachus said in a statement issued Thursday by his spokesman, Tim Johnson.

Omar S. Ashmawy, OCE staff director and chief counsel, declined to comment. “The office does not confirm or deny whether an investigation is taking place.” Chief counsel for the House Ethics Committee, Dan Schwager, also declined to discuss the case. “The committee doesn’t comment on specific matters or allegations,” he said.

OCE investigators are examining whether Bachus violated Securities and Exchange Commission laws that prohibit individuals from trading stocks and options based on “material, non-public” inside information, said the individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. The office also is investigating whether Bachus violated congressional rules that prohibit members of Congress from using their public positions for private gain.

In recent years, Bachus has made numerous trades, some of them coinciding with major policy announcements by the federal government and industries under his congressional oversight, according to a review of his financial disclosure forms by The Washington Post.

Most of his investments are for less than $10,000, and almost all involve options rather than stock purchases. The options allowed Bachus to buy or sell stocks at certain prices in the future — betting that the value of those stocks will rise or fall.

A Fidelity brokerage statement Bachus submitted for 2008 shows that he made $30,474 in short-term investments, many of them bought and sold in a matter of days, sometimes during the same day.

The former member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee made several options bets on railroads. While President George W. Bush’s fiscal stimulus bill was being crafted in summer 2008, Bachus bet that the stock of Burlington Northern Railroad would rise, and he cashed out that July for a $16,588 profit. In August, he made the same bet but lost $2,900.

On Sept. 18, 2008, at the height of the economic meltdown, Bachus participated in a closed-door briefing with then-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke. At the time, he was the highest-ranking Republican member of the Financial Services Committee. According to a book Paulson would later write, the topic of the meeting was the high likelihood of decline across the entire economy if drastic steps were not taken.

The next day, Sept. 19, Bachus bought “short” options, betting on a broad decline in the nation’s financial markets, and collected a profit of $5,715. Also that day, he cashed out options in which he had bet that General Electric stock would rise, and collected a $12,713 profit, before GE’s stock price started to tumble, The Post found.

The short options betting on an economic downturn were reported in “Throw Them All Out,” which was the basis of the “60 Minutes” story, which aired Nov. 13. Bachus criticized the reports, calling allegations that he engaged in insider trading “absolutely false.”

But the book inaccurately said Bachus bet on GE’s price to fall rather than rise. Schweizer acknowledged his mistake but said it made no difference to his larger point.

In a letter to the publisher, Bachus attacked the book for the mistake about GE. “The book is absolutely false and factually inaccurate when it states that I ‘shorted General Electric options’ and did so ‘four times in a single day.’ ”

He also said there was no inside information provided in the briefing by Paulson and Bernanke.

“The idea that I or anyone else needed this meeting to know our financial markets were in trouble is just laughable,” he wrote in the letter. “You would have to be living under a rock not to know by September 18, 2008 that the economy was in bad shape.”

He said a press conference held immediately after the briefing revealed what was discussed.

“This meeting was so ‘secretive’ that members of the press knew about it beforehand, were waiting outside the door, and a press conference was held immediately after the meeting to inform the public about what we discussed,” he wrote.

In October, Bachus bet on the market going up, but this time he lost $21,558.

Bachus said he gave up his “hobby” of trading when he became chairman of the Financial Services Committee after the Republican takeover of the House in November 2010. Although he has sometimes made money on trades, his financial disclosures indicate that his net worth has been cut in half during his time in Congress, declining from up to $2.3 million in 1995 to up to $1.1 million at the start of this year.

Bachus was elected in 1992. Before coming to Congress, he served in the Alabama Senate and worked as a lawyer. He is originally from Birmingham and lives south of the city in Vestavia Hills.

The Senate passed its version of the Stock Act last week. The legislation will make it easier for SEC officials to prosecute insider-trading cases against members of Congress, their staff and top officials in the executive branch. It will also require them to disclose all stock trades every 30 days.

Earlier stories in The Post and the Wall Street Journal described the lack of stringent rules governing Congress and the conflicts presented by assets owned and traded by lawmakers and their public roles. Post stories detailed the reporting weaknesses in the disclosure system, which cannot be electronically searched. The Stock Act requires electronic filing of disclosure forms.

Differences between the measures will be taken up in a conference committee.

The Office of Congressional Ethics was created in March 2009 in response to public criticism that the House Ethics Committee was failing to properly police its members.

The OCE conducts independent investigations into allegations of misconduct against members, officers and staff. However, its powers are limited. It cannot compel a member to cooperate with an investigation, and it does not have subpoena powers.

Once the office completes its investigations, the results are forwarded to the ethics committee. That committee has the final say on whether a violation has taken place and what sanctions, if any, should be imposed.


Staff writers David S. Fallis, Paul Kane and Kimberly Kindy and staff researcher Lucy Shackelford contributed to this report.[/quote]

[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rep-bachus-faces-insider-trading-investigation/2012/02/09/gIQA21Ui2Q_print.html]source article[/url].

Good on Congress. A toothless, near powerless agency found a guy to make an example of before they hit him with an investigation that promises no meaningful consequences (certainly, no criminal charges are even a real possibility, like would happen to one of the taxpaying serfs he rules over), and within a year they can all go back to doing the same thing. That's sort of progress!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429213/3900318.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429213/3900318.page GMT
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl1ujzRidmU[/youtube]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429199/3900126.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429199/3900126.page GMT http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/02/anti-gay-westboro-church-to-protest-at-powell-boys-funeral/1?loc=interstitialskip

What I want to do to these guys might be considered...unnatural.
[quote]
The anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church intends to picket the funeral of the two Powell boys murdered Sunday by their father, blaming their deaths on Washington state's legalizing of same-sex marriages, The News Tribune in Tacoma reports.

Occupy Seattle plans to counterdemonstrate.

Gov. Chris Gregoire is likely next week to sign the measure, which finished clearing the Legislature on Wednesday.

Margie Phelps, daughter of the Westboro Baptist Church's founder, tweeted Wednesday night that members of the small Topeka church will be at the Saturday morning service for Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5. She wrote that the protest is to "remind" Gregoire "they died because of her rebellion," a reference to her support of same-sex marriages, the paper writes.

Later, in a tweet referencing a news story about legalizing same-sex marriage, Phelps wrote, "This is why God's cursed you w Josh Powells blowing up kids."

Westboro came to prominence by picketing U.S. military funerals with provocative signs, which courts have upheld. The church, consisting mostly of the Phelps family, blames troops' deaths on U.S. tolerance for homosexuality.

Occupy Seattle said its members don't intend to disrupt the funeral, but want to "protect it from Westboro's abhorrent message," the News Tribune writes.

Follow the OS discussion on Facebook and Twitter.

ABC News has a video interview with the boys' social worker about their final moments. After she dropped them off at their father's home for a supervised visit, Josh Powell attacked the boys with a hatchet before blowing up his gasoline-soaked house.

Logs of the social worker's 911 call show an eight-minute delay in sending sheriff's deputies to the house in Graham, Wash.[/quote]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429196/3900082.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429196/3900082.page GMT
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/business/energy-environment/2-new-reactors-approved-in-georgia.html

[quote]The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 4 to 1 on Thursday to grant a license to build and operate two reactors at a nuclear plant in Georgia, a crucial threshold for an industry that has not had a new start since 1978. [/quote]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429177/3899796.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429177/3899796.page GMT
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLWEpjYzYxE&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429139/3899084.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429139/3899084.page GMT Apparently, the movie is about Nazis who moved into space to escape defeat in WWII, then in the future they return with a space fleet. :D
I think the writers/directors took it seriously, but I can't tell.
Here's a trailer:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py_IndUbcxc[/youtube]
Thoughts?

Also, it's debuting in Berlin of all places...
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429130/3898930.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429130/3898930.page GMT [quote]
[b][size=24]Israel teams with terror group to kill Iran's nuclear scientists, U.S. officials tell NBC News[/size][/b]

[i]By Richard Engel and Robert Windrem[/i]
NBC News

Deadly attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists are being carried out by an Iranian dissident group that is financed, trained and armed by Israel’s secret service, U.S. officials tell NBC News, confirming charges leveled by Iran’s leaders.

The group, the People’s Mujahedin of Iran, has long been designated as a terrorist group by the United States, accused of killing American servicemen and contractors in the 1970s and supporting the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran before breaking with the Iranian mullahs in 1980.

The attacks, which have killed five Iranian nuclear scientists since 2007 and may have destroyed a missile research and development site, have been carried out in dramatic fashion, with motorcycle-borne assailants often attaching small magnetic bombs to the exterior of the victims’ cars.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Obama administration is aware of the assassination campaign but has no direct involvement.

The Iranians have no doubt who is responsible – Israel and the People’s Mujahedin of Iran, known by various acronyms, including MEK, MKO and PMI.

“The relation is very intricate and close,” said Mohammad Javad Larijani, a senior aide to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, speaking of the MEK and Israel. “They (Israelis) are paying … the Mujahedin. Some of their (MEK) agents … (are) providing Israel with information. And they recruit and also manage logistical support.”

Moreover, he said, the Mossad, the Israeli secret service, is training MEK members in Israel on the use of motorcycles and small bombs. In one case, he said, Mossad agents built a replica of the home of an Iranian nuclear scientist so that the assassins could familiarize themselves with the layout prior to the attack...[/quote]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429060/3897534.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/429060/3897534.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428949/3895890.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428949/3895890.page GMT
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt7dK62QdLM&feature=related[/youtube]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428947/3895872.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428947/3895872.page GMT
I saw this gem on Sunday via Netflix and laughed my ass off. It's a bit gory but tons of fun.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428943/3895838.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428943/3895838.page GMT

GAH! I needed to vent. Similar problems for anyone else?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428941/3895745.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428941/3895745.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428932/3895529.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428932/3895529.page GMT
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tnxzJ0SSOw[/youtube]

How about some Bourne without Jason Bourne?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVPpc4pk6RE[/youtube]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428928/3895453.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428928/3895453.page GMT
Also, what do you thinks going to happen to Zayne now that he has been drafted into the [spoiler]Mandalorians[/spoiler] by the [spoiler]Mandalorian Knights[/spoiler]. Do you think he might genuinely start to have his moral fibre eroded by the war? He seems to be a determined pacifist as is but I can imagine the above people being pretty annoyed at that.

Why would a [spoiler]jedi join the Mandalorians [/spoiler]anyway. Even if you were cast out of the council its difficult to imagine embracing the violent doctrine without being tempted to fall to the dark side. They probably lie in some sort of gray. Dark Horse Comics did that quite a lot with the Imperial Knights in Legacy era with their sense of duty and honour countering their warlike tendencies. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428926/3895441.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428926/3895441.page GMT
[url]http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/11045_Gamers_and_Depression.html[/url]


[quote]"A lot of highly-intelligent people are prone to depressions, and gamers seem particularly so. Someone recently theorized that this is one reason why games like World of Warcraft are so popular and so incredibly addictive for our people. They provide a form of social interaction while constantly giving the player a feeling of accomplishment, satisfying all sorts of needs in a typical depressive..." from Being Ted Knutson

Ted Knutson is a smart man. He touched on an issue that is sadly very prevalent in our gaming culture. Depression is a fact of life for many players, and quite a few don't even know they have it. Everyone from the top pros down to the most casual can be afflicted with this disease. It's an unfortunate truth that people who have a propensity for this kind of recreation and/or lifestyle seem to also have an extra susceptibility to this illness. The hope is to raise awareness of the symptoms of the disease, and the strategies for beating it.

Yes illness. Disease. Depression is definitely these things, not imaginary or laziness as some believe. Depression is an ailment of the mind. Some ignorant people, generally depressed folk themselves, have said depression is simply a matter of willpower. Some believe it to be an excuse to hang around the house all day, playing hooky and having fun. To these people, I suggest asking someone having a depressive episode if they're enjoying themselves. The answer might surprise you.

Actually, the major characteristic of depression is not enjoying life, of not deriving pleasure from what should give it. When some people think of depression, they think of sadness or grief. This generally isn't so. Grief, say from a loved one dying, is a logical response to tragedy. Furthermore, the feelings of sadness fade over time. Depression is recurring, and has nothing to do with logic.

I've heard it described that depression is like living black and white in a color world, and I think that's a pretty good description. Things are stark and absolute. Life is less enjoyable, interesting, and especially pleasing. Depression does not have to be negative feelings - a lot of the time, it's feeling nothing at all. Things like sex, family, even play go from satisfying and pleasurable to a chore, or a burden. The sufferer knows they're supposed to enjoy the things they used to, and they're ashamed they don't. Shame is not good for one's mood, which certainly doesn't help.

Remember Ferris Beuhler's Day Off? Ferris skipped school and had a blast. His buddy Cam did exactly the same stuff and couldn't enjoy it one iota. It was pretty heavy handed in the movie, but Cameron was depressed and his lack of being able to enjoy the things others did was a big symptom. Have you had periods of days or weeks where nothing was fun anymore? You can't make sense of it because it's not rational; it's a disease!

Do you blame the diabetic for a faulty pancreas? God, I hope not. Like the diabetic, part of your body does not function right, which in this case is your brain. Also like the diabetic, your quality of life does not have to suffer if you're diligent about due care.

This is the part where I wish I could explain the exact origins of depression, and how knowing its causes and effects on the brain has given modern medicine enough for a cure. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet. No one yet fully understands where depression comes from. There is almost certainly a genetic component to susceptibility. Sometimes life events can cause episodes, although the exact same event can have far different effects on different people. Hormones play an active role; a body going through puberty or after a woman gives birth can be rife with emotional issues. Generally speaking, it's a combination of many factors, which is why the root origin is so hard to pin down. Luckily, regardless of the causes of depression, there are actions anyone can do to help themselves. These are actions to take when you know you are feeling down. Only you knows what form your depression takes, so you're the one who must be vigilant about your care. It's tough, very tough, but it gets easier with practice.

Talk to someone you know and trust:

If there's one thing to take from this article, it's that depression is a real disease, not made up and not a character flaw. As such, there should be no shame in admitting you're going through a rough time. Tell someone you've known for years, whether it be a special relative or close friend, a clergy, whomever. There is no way the person should judge you. Instead, they'll be there for you when you're feeling down at that moment, and in any future episodes. And if they can't be available, odds are they'll let you know.

Telling someone how you're feeling is so beneficial for the path of recovery. Depression is a ridiculously internal disease. It's insidious because there are no obvious physical signs (like gambling addiction). What you can do is to make it external by talking to the people you care about. The support system is critical.

Talk to someone you don't know and trust:

Therapy can be hugely important to a great many people. Having a safe space, where you can get unbiased feedback from someone not in your day to day life is huge. A qualified therapist can also answer questions beyond the scope of this article, on topics like medication or CBT.

That said, it's important to find a therapist that's a good fit. Counselors are just people, who have their own style of doing things. If you're with someone and you're not feeling it, you have every right in the world to find someone new to talk to. This is always about what you need.

Medication:

I'm deeply unqualified to talk about prescriptions and drug therapy. In that vein, there's only one study I can share. The study found that people who didn't believe in the effectiveness of anti-depressants had far less to none of the positive effects of the drugs, and those that were believers had far greater benefit. So take that as you want, but for serious inquiries, speak with a psychiatrist or primary care physician.

Get outside:

As mentioned, depression is an internal condition. You need to go against your impulses of staying inside, playing games (see below), or whatever else. When you recognize that you're having a depressive episode, do whatever you have to change your surroundings. Taking a walk (and exercise in general) is excellent. Go to a bookstore or coffee shop and surround yourself with active, social people. Everyone craves human interaction, but the depressed person literally needs it.

Take action:

If you're stuck in your pajamas all day, the mere act of getting dressed can be therapeutic. You can start an art project, write in a journal, walk the dog; anything with some purpose. The afflicted have their thought patterns stuck in this void of no feeling and low interest. Conscious action is needed to break the cycle to get your life and moods back on track.

Let's say a man notices he's having trouble sleeping and losing appetite. Previous projects just seem like not worth the trouble. The kids want to play with him, but he just doesn't have the energy, even though the man usually loves to play with his children. This time though, he just wants to stay in bed and sleep all day.

Ideally, this man will recognize he's having a depressive episode and understand his instincts are not healthy. He, through some effort, showers and gets dressed. He then tells his wife, whom he sincerely trusts, that's he having a tough emotional time at the moment and he'd appreciate the support. Wife understands and decides on an impromptu grocery shopping trip, which the man agrees to.

At the grocery store the man decides to get a new cereal for the family. As he's mulling over the choices, he notices he's feeling a lot better. Later, putting away the groceries, he notices he's feeling better still. At the end of the day he plays with his kids, enjoys it, and sleeps a sound sleep.

The above scenario was fantasy, but it doesn't have to be. The necessary steps are recognizing the signs of depression and then taking action to deal with it.

Which brings us to the particular issue of gaming and gamers. Having talked with an awful lot of players over the years, it seems to me that there is simply a higher incidence of depression in our community. No one I've shared this view with has disagreed.

Why this is no one knows for sure, just like no knows why people get depression for sure. There are some speculations however. One is still the genetic component. People with higher intelligence seem to be more depression prone on average, as well as more likely to pair up with other smart, depressed people. So kids with smart folk are more likely to have the depression gene. Kids with smart folks are also more likely to play games.

Another is the much-discussed lack of social skills of Magic players. This would cause isolation and therefore a lack of support network, in addition to lower self-esteem. This idea has a lot of merit, although odds are it amplifies what's already there. It's certainly true that outgoing social people suffer from depression, and vice versa. Introversion and social awkwardness is not a guarantee.

Yet another possibility is just latent co-existing characteristics. That is to say, people attracted to the gaming community also have depressive tendencies. It's not cause and effect, rather it's a pattern of concurrence. Mr. Knutson believes gaming has draws for the typical depressive; this might also be true. Certainly, it keeps them here.

In the end, no one knows the whole picture. What is certain is that gamers have unique risks and unique solutions, compared to the population at large. Understanding both helps us a great deal.

From a solitary standpoint, gamers have a lot going for them. The internet is a great tool for avoiding boredom and getting a competitive thrill. Pogo.com, MSNZone.com, Magic Online, Party Poker, all are websites where you can sit in your comfy chair and play games to your heart's content. Unfortunately, this is a very double-edged sword.

Personally, I play worse when my mind is elsewhere. That means for someone suffering a low ebb, their skills deteriorate. That means they're more likely to lose, which doesn't feel good, so they repeat the process until they win, or just as likely, get angry and frustrated and upset. In reality, the person is looking for the positive feelings of a win because they're unhappy. But winning a game, or winning a pot, is a really artificial and ineffective way to go about this. When you base your emotional state on an event you can't control, especially when you're already in a bad place, well that's a recipe for trouble.

Instead, try to utilize the strategies from above. Get out of the house, and do something that doesn't involve the possibility of losing. If you must play a game, do it in real life with real people, and play for zero stakes. The social aspect has to be the most valuable prize.

Speaking of real people and competition, quite often a gamer's social network consists of very competitive people. This in itself is not a bad thing; often a person needs to be surrounded by winning-conscious people to improve. But when winning is not as important as just feeling good about life, these competitive people can make things worse. It's very possible that this group will see your emotional state as a vulnerability, rather than an opportunity to help a friend. If that happens, then you might be rife for exploitation, in the sense of doing something you'll regret. So much drug use and crime is done by a person looking to feel better, offered by people who had no interest in anyone but themselves. Simply put, when you're depressed you are vulnerable.

Finally, on the topic of vulnerability is the ultimate risk for a depressed individual, and the friends and family of the depressed person. It's this risk that turns depression from a disabling disease into a deadly one.

***Special note on suicide:

The most popular suicide spot in the world is the Golden Gate Bridge. Many people have jumped off this bridge with the desire to end their life, and most succeed. Occasionally, someone does survive the attempt, and when that happens, they talk to some doctors and therapists. A medical practitioner will ask what the jumper's thoughts were the moment they stepped over the edge. Invariably, it will be "I've changed my mind!"

Suicide and suicidal thoughts are no joke. Statistically speaking, you or someone you know has contemplated killing one's self.

If you are considering suicide, I'm sorry. You are in a great deal of pain. While I probably don't know you, I will still mourn you. I will miss you. You have other people in your life who will do the same.

From time to time, everyone will have a self-destructive thought. It's called the Thanatos impulse and while it's fairly normal, it's still a good indication of your mood. Recognize a thought like this when it occurs, and try not to put yourself in the situation that triggers these negative feelings.

On the other hand, if you have a plan, or have acquired an implement, or anything else that means more than just an occasional idle thought, listen carefully. You are in danger. You have a sickness that is altering your perception of the world. Be vigilant and recognize the dangers you face, or your illness could be fatal. Tell your friends, family, a counselor, anyone who will listen to how you're feeling.

Friends, your buddy is in danger. He has a disease that could be fatal. Your engagement could save a life. Talk to your friend. If you think he is suicidal, Ask Him. There is no shame in this. If your buddy says no, fantastic. Hopefully you can talk about why you had concerns. If he say yes, talk to him. Tell your friend how you honestly feel about the situation. Do not threaten, intimidate, coerce, logic, or any other method you have to force them to change their minds. It probably won't work, especially on any permanent basis. What will happen is that they'll know not to come to you with their problems in the future, which is the exact opposite of what you want. Respect their feelings, and hopefully they will respect yours.

If necessary, if you sense an immediate danger, call the police. Take the initiative and don't worry about being wrong. It's by far the lesser mistake.

***

The gaming community is exactly that, a community. While we may combat each other on the playing field, when one of us suffers we all do. Depression is a fact of life for many players, but that doesn't mean they have to do it alone. No one ever deserves to feel as bad as depressed people can, and it's only through ignorance they will. You as a bystander or a victim have the knowledge to help a person, a person who shares the same interests you do. Make a connection, help yourself and your community. We'll all be better for it.

For anybody looking for additional resources, I recommend Feeling Good by Dr. David Burns. It has some excellent information on personal therapies and actions, as well as an extremely comprehensive look at anti-depression medications.

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions. Best of luck to all.

-Noah Weil
NWeil@hotmail.com
[/quote]


]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428877/3894308.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428877/3894308.page GMT
My Great Grandfather fought in WW1 at Gallopi, France and Belgium.

He manage to survive a musterd gas attack which left him with only one lung and survive the war.

His Brother in law fought as well but sadly died when his force was ordered to go over the trenches.

He never spoke about the war which is understandble, Which is why I had to go through the NZ military archives to find infomation about him.

My great great Uncle happen to have been in the 2nd Boer War as a Bodyguard of the head general of the New Zealand forces deployed over there.

So does anyone else on Dakka have any family who have fought in a war(s)?

[color=red]Attention [/color] I in no way am glorifying war I'm mearly interested in the stories of familes who had fought in wars in the past.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428823/3893292.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428823/3893292.page GMT
Since the death of Prince Philip II and after the revolution and founding of the Republic of the Philippines, as a people have had the priviledge of carrying 'his' name for more than 3 centuries.

But do the Filipino wish to continue this?

Do Filipinos as a people wish to be forever linked with a Prince who in the history books was said that his first order as Prince was to do an "auto-da-fe" (wherein thousands upon thousands of the Arab-speaking Muslims who inhabited the Spanish province of Andalucia were all burned at the stake); that he and his father were said to have looted Rome and were eventually excommunicated by the Catholic Church under Pope Paul IV in 1552; who died of a disease (then called euphemistically a "social disease") now known as venereal disease, due to his 'way with women' (he was known to have had several wives and mistresses)? Don't you think My country and My compatriots deserve something better than that???

Years ago, the 'Philippines' name was proposed to be changed to Maharlika (the name is based on the values of nobility and spirituality). They say it was rejected due to its identification with a then deposed and now deceased dictator (aka Marcos). Some have proposed the name Katagalugan which was the name chosen by Bonifacio (the name highlighted our country's tropical archipelago). Other names mentioned were Kapatiran (emphasizing the nation as family) and Katipunan (the word itself means unification).

Many countries around the World have already reverted to their pre-colonial names (Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, etc.) Why must Filipinos be named not only after a Spanish monarch, but a dispicable one at that?

I for one would like nothing better than to change the name since Me and my Compatriots identity as a people will no longer be linked with a inept ruler but more importantly, our name won't be connected with our conlonial past (besides, I kinda like the name Maharlika, it does have a nice sound to it)!

Like the discussions on the the question of national language, discussions in my country's name can become emotional and even nasty. We need to consider this change since the succeeding generations of this country deseves a name we can be proud to call our own.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428822/3893260.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428822/3893260.page GMT ml of water??

I so want to make a proper Donburi I'm getting the Tonkatsu right but not the dashi well since I have no idea what dashi is supposed to taste like.

All I taste is a kind of fishy water followed by that bottom of your'e tongue weirdness of MSG

Thanks]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428797/3892826.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428797/3892826.page GMT
Enjoy ~8)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1HN9_681cs[/youtube]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428796/3892799.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428796/3892799.page GMT
A snippet of the full article.

[quote]Arizona's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a city council candidate with limited English language skills can be kept off the ballot in a largely bilingual town on the Mexico border.

A Yuma County Superior Court judge touched off a furor last week when he disqualified Alejandrina Cabrera, 35, from running for city council in the town of San Luis over what he called a "large gap" between her English proficiency and that required to serve as a public official.[/quote]

It will be interesting to see what comes of this.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428735/3891867.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428735/3891867.page GMT
But to be honest I never enjoyed reading Dickens, I found him too verbose, even for the time. But I did enjoy what he wrote about, and with lots of people putting stuff up on-line with his 200th birthday, I've probably enjoyed reading about Dickens more this week than I ever enjoyed actually reading his books.

I was lucky enough to be linked to George Orwell's classic essay on Dickens;
[url]http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/dickens/english/e_chd[/url]

[quote]His radicalism is of the vaguest kind, and yet one always knows that it is there. That is the difference between being a moralist and a politician. He has no constructive suggestions, not even a clear grasp of the nature of the society he is attacking, only an emotional perception that something is wrong, all he can finally say is, “Behave decently,” which, as I suggested earlier, is not necessarily so shallow as it sounds.

Most revolutionaries are potential Tories, because they imagine that everything can be put right by altering the shape of society; once that change is effected, as it sometimes is, they see no need for any other. Dickens has not this kind of mental coarseness. The vagueness of his discontent is the mark of its permanence. What he is out against is not this or that institution, but, as Chesterton put it, “an expression on the human face.”

Roughly speaking, his morality is the Christian morality, but in spite of his Anglican upbringing he was essentially a Bible-Christian, as he took care to make plain when writing his will. In any case he cannot properly be described as a religious man. He “believed,” undoubtedly, but religion in the devotional sense does not seem to have entered much into his thoughts. Where he is Christian is in his quasi-instinctive siding with the oppressed against the oppressors. As a matter of course he is on the side of the underdog, always and everywhere.

To carry this to its logical conclusion one has got to change sides when the underdog becomes an upperdog, and in fact Dickens does tend to do so. He loathes the Catholic Church, for instance, but as soon as the Catholics are persecuted (Barnaby Rudge) he is on their side. He loathes the aristocratic class even more, but as soon as they are really overthrown (the revolutionary chapters in A Tale of Two Cities) his sympathies swing round.[/quote]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428732/3891772.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428732/3891772.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428726/3891668.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428726/3891668.page GMT
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1onHSr58es&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428701/3891332.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428701/3891332.page GMT
Germany-
Folliwing World War 2, there was an understandable desire, especially by the Soviet Union and Britain that Germany should never be able to threaten the peace of Europe. To achieve this Stalin began a forced deportation of Germans who hadn't been displaced during the war in what had until then been East Prussia and most of the German territory past the Elbe river. This land was incorporated into Poland and what is now the Russian oblast and naval base at Kalingrad/formerly Koinsberg. Obviously these lands have several generations of Russians and Poles living on them and nobody could concieve any reversal of an action taken 60 years ago. However, within living memory, thousands of people were removed from their country. These regions had been German, arguably since the 12th century and the arrival of the Teutonic order. They had then formed through union with the state of Brandenburg into the early modern political unit called Prussia. This state became the unifier of Germany and its sober protestant military culture was one of the crucial aspects of a new German identity before WW2. By the Argentinains logic these lands have every right to be in Germany. Such a suggestion is of course ludicrous for a whole multitude of reasons even though it is from a historical point of view far more valid than for the Falklands IMO.

Constantinople/Istanbul
A Hellenistic city called Byzantium was founded on the Bosphorus during the classical period at a time when most of Western Asia Minor was heavily oriented towards Greek culture. It could be argued that no Greek state existed at this point in history, but, you could say the same about Athens and Sparta. All had a similar civic culture and worshipped similar gods with a vague sense of cultural if not political unity. Under the Roman Empire, it, like much of the Empire in the East remained Hellenic in outlook and its poeple continued to speak Greek. Eventually, the Emperor Constantine made it his new capital, which he gave its name Constantinople. This would become the center of the Greek speaking Eastern half of the Roman Empire that survived the fall of Rome in the 5th century and would be called the Byzantine Empire by the West. Not only was it the heart of Greek culture and politcs for most of the medieval period, Athens and Thessalonika but provincial centers but was also home to the Greek Orthadox Church itself its heart symbolized in the great Cathedral of St Sophia. However, the world moves on. In 1453, the Ottoman Turks conquered the city. Upon doing so, the Sultan, desiring to make it his capital and a great admirer of Hellenic culture repopulated the city with Muslims and Armenians to give the city its multi-ethnic character. In the twentieth century, the Armenians suffered dreadfully during the Genicide and the Greeks were largely driven out after the newly independent Kingdom of Greece failed in the 1920s to reconquer the city. Today, Constantinople is one of the major cities of the country of Turkey. Again, no rational individual would suggest handing it back to Greece, nor to my knowledge are they asking; even though there is a great historical claim that runs for several millennia and has immense cultural significance.

What I'am trying to point out, is that Argentina cannot reasonably make the claims it makes when there is no global consensus or even a dialogue on the issue. There is not, nor can there ever be, because especially in the above cases they are hugely complicated by the fact that generations of ordinary Poles and Turks have lived on this land regardless of whether that land was once called home by Germans or Greeks. Its the present we should look to, not the dusty pages of the past.

Oh and one more thing. A BBC report just said the Argentina considers the Falklands a British 'colony'. There are two problems with this. One, it is not a military colony in the same sense as say, a US air force base since it is inhabited by a nine generation old civilian population. This would imply, taking colonial America as our case study, that the 'indiginous' people were displaced by an armed foreign agressor and now reside on land their forefathers inherited. A crucial difference must be stated however, Argetina is, far more even than Mexico, a colinal nation itself. It was part of the Spanish Empire and is ethnically a majority of white Iberian Italian and other European imigrants who arrived over the course of several centuries. Mexico have, by contrast, predominant Mestiso and Indian populations. The Argetinains, after gaining independence drove most of the Indian population in the South off their lands and used that land for cattle raising. This enabled Argentina to become grow immensely in agricultural production in the 19th century. Thus, the Argentinain state is the product of European colonialism itself, far more than most Latin/South American countries. Indeed Argetina is actually one of the two administrative units which rebelled against Spain in the 19th century (the other was Caracas-Columbia). As a result, the Argetinian state cannot claim its people to be indiginous at all to the Falkland islands.

Note-I do not wish, nor do I desire to offend anybody by profounding these views. I simply percieve the invokation of a historical case as being void of any relevance to the modern world and the terminology used by the Argentine government as being misleading. This is just about them wanting oil and fishing rights to the South Atlantic and Antarctica. This is largely based of various bits and pieces that I picked up during my History degree course on A History of the Americas.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428697/3891268.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428697/3891268.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428688/3891165.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428688/3891165.page GMT
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/court-overturns-prop-8-california-says-state-t-181451250.html]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428651/3890386.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428651/3890386.page GMT I got type 1 last year and It´s going well for me. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428620/3890004.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428620/3890004.page GMT
I have wondered how many people on Dakka have Aspergers Syndrome or other forms of Autism.

My mother who is a psychiatrist has had many clients who are Aspergers which ironicly all enjoy wargames ie, Warhammer/40k to which my mother says is one tell tale sign of Aspergers so I figured that thier maybe some on Dakka Dakka :)

I myself had been dioagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when I was 16 years old.

I use to have trouble fitting in at school when I was young. I would always get picked on and was in alot of fights and I didn't know why people didn't like me or why.

I couldn't play well with others, it wasn't until I went to a psychiatrist that I found out I have Aspergers Syndrome.

Life is alot better for me now I have manage to learn how to fit and be aware of my social problems and have been able to make good friends with people.

I can't say I don't hate having Aspergers Syndrome because its who I am and I've always had it.

I do wish I knew about it earlier on so I could have been able to fit in better at school but thats in the pass.

So Dakka is thier any others out thier with Aspergers or Autism?



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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/07/uk-maldives-protest-idUSLNE81600Y20120207

[quote]President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, widely credited with bringing democracy to the hideaway resort islands, resigned on Tuesday after weeks of opposition protests erupted into a police mutiny and what an aide said amounted to a coup.[/quote]

Also...

[quote]Meanwhile, Twitter user Alexander Brown said he was in the Maldives enjoying life.

"Maldives government overthrowing (sic) and im watching a Vogue photo shoot infront of me on Four Seasons ... very strange world."[/quote]]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428556/3888683.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428556/3888683.page GMT
Did the increase of new technology in the 90's lead to more blue on blue's (given the "newness" of the technologies and less time to understand/train with them) or

has technology improved identification methods, or

is it just going unreported?

Discuss...]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428547/3888542.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/428547/3888542.page GMT