John Prezioso

Hey Grizzle, good to see you're back. While I don't buy into the whole 'sinister' side of the conspiracy theory aspect of this, I just think this is Bush making a really bad decision. On certain levels, I can see why he'd want to allow a Muslim entity such a high profile position - it makes a powerful statement that we don't in fact have anything against Muslim nations and that we are not the vile demons that a large majority of Muslims believe us to be. But the facts are simply that, rightly ot wrongly, hatred of the U.S. is so deeply ingrained into the average Muslim person that there is no amount of appeasement will suffice to change that. It's part of their very culture to despise us. Forget the miltiant Muslims, (of which there are many) go read the writings of even the most peaceful of Muslim sheiks and preachers. The U.S. is the "great Satan"; and any evil that befalls her is deserved. How do you change anyone's mind who thinks like this? More to the point, is it a worthwhile risk to make an attempt of this nature on a 'business' venture that gives a large entity with documented ties to terrorist activity as recent as 2001 such unprecedented access to such a vital U.S. enterprise? This deal is utterly wrong on 2 levels: First, it sends the wrong message. So a Muslim government that SAYS all the right things but does not back up its words with appropriate actions should be rewarded simply for supposedly changing its tune, even though it supported and aided the Taliban before and during the perpetration of the worst terrorist action ever taken on U.S. soil? This is a stance of WEAKNESS, and as my hero Ronald Reagan (Ronaldus Magnus) brilliantly said, it is WEAKNESS that leads our enemies to make bad decisions based on mistaken judgements, thus making us vulnerable to attack. Second, the turn over over management of terminals to a Muslim entity with ties to terrorism is a foot in the door, no matter how seemingly insignificant the foot might initially seem. How many of us really saw the danger that terrorists might infiltrate our society and train in our own flight schools to be able to carry out such an efficient operation prior to 9/11? The point is, things that cannot conceive of today may very well come about because of such an ill-advised undertaking. Any way you slice it, this is a risk. A risk that would yield no appreciable benefit to compare with the magnitude of the danger involved.

Racist? It's racist because I feel that we shouldn't turn over vital port control to countries comprised of entities that hate us and have supported terrorism? Definitely the dumbest thing I've heard all day. You seem really good at slinging mud, Jag, but not so good at backing up your argument. I don't pay any attention to the media; hell, I don't even watch any news, so the assumption on your part that I am "being played like a fine- tuned instrument" is misinformed, to say the least. Oh, and do yourself a favor and look up the defintion of racism, and post what you have learned. EDIT: Here let me help you. Racist: Discrimination or prejudice based on race. Now, not that you'd care, but I'll remind you that I said "Muslim foreign powers". I don't trust them, not because they are Muslim, but because of their actions. The UAE is an ally the way Yemen was considered an ally when one of our ships was attacked in a Yemeni port, killing 17 of my shipmates. Want to tell me how many of the 9/11 hijackers were from the UAE? Do you even know? If this was Bill Clinton doing this, you'd be all over him like a fly on dung. [ 02-24-2006, 04:58 PM: Message edited by: Prez ]

First of all, I don't like being called a liberal any more than you do, Jag, so I'd appreciate it if you kept that in mind. I have researched the issue as much as I care to. It's an ill-advised attempt at appeasement for the UAE, who ostensibly are our allies, but, like the Saudis, like us only as far as the monetary benefits of the relation with the U.S. will allow. They still despise us, they're just willing to set that aside for money reasons. If management of the ports gave no power to the UAE over them whatsoever, and nothing at all is going to change about them, then why do the deal at all? No, it's all wrong. Bush is wrong. Anything as important as US shipping ports being in the hands of a muslim foreign power in any shape or form is wrong on any level, as it's just inviting disaster. That's my opinion. quote:they spoke with the dock workers and they said they don't know what all the fuss is about 30% of all the ports are foreign run. As I said, it's not anything against foreign powers running the ports. It's MUSLIM foreign powers running the ports.

I heard a report today that Cheney may have been blitzed when this happened. Certainly would explain alot...

Well it's not that ports are being outsourced; it's to whom the ports would be outsourced to. I've been behind Bush on a lot, maybe even most things, but on this, he's flat out wrong. Newsflash: These people hate us anyway! What good would trying to appease them through bogus port deals do? Nothing. Call me prejudice; I don't care. NOTHING in this country should be in any shape or form in the hands of the UAE. I don't care if it's janitorial work in the bathrooms of the ports.

This is why I've been saying don't trust the media. About anything. At all. Whatsoever. NOTHING! They think their job is to shock you, to inflame you, to provoke you, to panic you, and to manipulate you. It's been a very long time since anyone in the media has performed their REAL freakin' task: to inform you.

The updater is your friend...

There's no doubt it's not a pick up and play type simulation. If you're in the mood for Soul Caliber-like action, of course UC:AWA won't sate your appetite. Most gamers will tire of the visceral, instant-gratification type games from time to time, and it's times like these when you can really sink your teeth into the cerebral BC/UC universe.

This week, I sat down and watched 'Das Boot', one of my favorite war movies of all time. (And I've probably seen around 90% of what's out there, domestic AND foreign.) I guess I got the U-boat bug, 'cause I bought Silent Hunter 3 from D2D the next day. All I've got to say is, "Wow." Simply put, SH3 is like no war sim I've played before. What a fantasticly immersive simulation. I swear, you'll feel like Jurgen Prochnow as you man the bridge with your first officer in rough seas hunting allied tonnage. I couldn't help but feel that some people here might enjoy the game if they would try it, even if they have had no previous interest in sub sims. The feel of the sim is very similar to AWA in many respects. Definitely a 5-star game.

Battlestar isn't going anywhere - at least until it completes it's run by the colonists finding earth. Simply an awesome show.

Oy vey...

Very sorry to hear that Cruis-in. Just remember you have friends here you can talk to if you ever need it. If I could give one piece of advice, I would suggest that if at all humanly possible, you do whatever you can to make sure that both you and your wife (or ex-wife, as the case may be soon) remain active parts in your child's life. He will be the better for it. Good luck.

You have a certain flair in your writing, I'll give you that.

My advice? Don't re-marry! Just find a woman you hate and buy her a house. You skip alot of useless steps that way. (KIDDING!) I'm still working on my first, although my wife's a divorce salty dog.

If anyone thinks Israel will sit idly by while Iran, their evil neighbor who has called for Israel's utter annihilation, develops the very weapon that will do just that, you may just be nuttier than a fruitcake. In this case the U.S. may not have to do much. I believe that if it was necessary, the U.S. would take action against Iran, and be successful, but I think Israel will most likely end up doing most of the heavy lifting.

Dear Mr. DOOM Producer: It failed because you pissed on the lore of the universe and came up with some boring by-the-numbers rehash action claptrap flick. Moron.

Pretty good game - but what awful refereeing. The holding call that called back the pass to the one-yard line was atrocious. If that's what constitutes holding, than holding could be called on just about every lineman on every play. I agree that the reviewed Steelers TD was legit. But I can't swallow the offensive pass interference penalty that cancelled out the Seahaks first TD. My God, if that was a push, I'm Mike Holmgren. One of the reasons I'm not near the football fan I used to be is because of what a dominant force then ref's end up being in virtually every big game. I want to see a game won or lost by the players and not significantly impacted by the refs. I'm in no way a huge Seahawks fan, though admittedly I used to follow them when I lived in Port Orchard, Washington. I actually favored the Steelers by a hair after the first half. Any way you slice it, bad ref calls aside, it seems clear that the Steelers deseved to win. Congrats. Oh, and RACE BANNON IS MY DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is not a "War in Iraq was/was not justified" thread. However, this statement bears redressing: " There were no WMD's and no terrorists." Utterly false, and it has been proven as such. No WMD's maybe, but Iraq had terrorists and terrorist camps aplenty. Twisting the truth to fit your reality might be convenient, but it isn't right.

Part of the problem with being involved in any religion is that to some extent, you are viewed as part of a 'collective', not an individual entity. Almost as if some hive mind is controlling all of the followers of that religion. Every time Pat Robertson says something stupid, it reflects badly on all Christians, even though he doesn't speak for the vast majority of them. One needs to look no further back in history than the Crusades to see how horrific things are done in the name of religion. In the case of the Crusades, bloodlust, not salvation, was the driving force. Religion was just the thin veil used to justify atrocities. Call themselves what they will, these people were not Christians. What is going on because of some artist's doodle makes me sick. If I were a practioner of Islam, I'm sure I'd be pretty mad about the cartoon, but would I be enraged to the point of murder? If I were, could I truly even be considered 'religious'? I have read that some muslim groups have accepted the apology from the Danish government - these are the ones who I consider to represent Islam, such as it is. The people doing violence in the name of religion are vile hypocrites, and are acting like no better than animals. What kind of treatment do you really expect when you behave in this manner? Just as it was in 1100AD Christianity, it would appear a large majority of muslims have no right whatsoever to the ethnical claim they make.

Ditto!!! As far as friendly wagers go, I might be willing to agree that if the Seahawks lose, I'd make "Race Bannon is my DADDY!" my signature for 1 week, if you were willing to do the same if the Steelers lose!

Bad news - a last minute schedule change due to a co-worker injury (nothing too serious, as I understand) has killed my availability through the weekend and possibly beyond. The next few weekends are okay for me though, if you start planning further into the future (barring any further minor crises, that is). Sorry Marc and Jack.

quote: That's what is behind your noble cause, conveniently draped into your country's flag, given that there's always a share of the population who automatically shut its brain off as soon the patriotic chord is played...Yeah, quite removed from the "U.S. is the EVIL EMPIRE of the world" bandwagon that libs love to jump on.

I'm pretty sure I'll be able. I'll let you know for sure soon.

The funny thing is, in a learning environment, I wouldn't want to hear liberal bashing any more than conservative bashing. That's not what I'm there for. If you're not professional enough to keep your political opinions that no one asked for to yourself, then you are probably not fit for teaching. It gets old after a while, hearing the same crap everywhere you go. There is a time and a place for everything, which of course implies that some times and places are inappropriate for some things.

Different strokes... no law says everyone has to like the same thing.