WilliamColton

I didn't know Eric Clapton was so conservative.

This brings up the whole new can of worms that is cyber-warfare. It's still very little understood, and the field of dominance is up for grabs. The United States Military has admitted that it is far behind Chinese, N. Korean, and Russian cyber-warfare capabilities. The PRC actively uses its private sector computer specialists to continuously gain ground in the new, so called '5th dimension' of warfare. China has claimed that they will "win informationised[sic] wars by the mid-21st century", and they are more than capable of doing so without much competition from the US. And how do you stop it? As far as I know, there are no internationally recognized treatise on the topic of this (still hypothetical) warfare. We're back 1,000 years, playing with this new gunpowder. Now, as was then, the Chinese are at the forefront of innovation. S. Korea needs to step up they're game. PS: Thanks for embedding the source this time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE4OPMmdPsg So, this is obviously some sort of elaborate bit, right? An experimental stage piece satirizing race relations and fundamentalist Christianity? It's obvious she's not going to win the GOP nom, but the idea that she is running and has a following is terrifying.

Did you plan on commenting, or just rehashing the news cycle?

If Gibson had the money, they should pull a Walmart and pursue litigation that would cost millions and take years. But they don't, so they can't. What they should really do is close shop and move the operation over-seas, and see how kindly the Feds treat them then. If they were to do so, my American made ES-175 would tick up %30-40 in value, so we all win! (Except for freedom and business, but who cares about those trifling matters anymore?).

I'm not sure if English isn't your first language, or if you just use poor syntax, but I couldn't quite understand your question. I'll try to make out what I can. Can an "Energy War" happen in the future? Sure it can. I'm not into predicting the future, but natural resources have been central to many wars throughout history, so more wouldn't be surprising. I don't know what these rules are, or would be. Do you mean trade agreements or resource development contracts, or what? So long as the nations in question benefit from such cooperation, it will 'keep going'. Again, if English isn't your first language, I apologize.

I hate being that guy, but you really need to provide a source or link for these articles.

Apparently Craig Ferguson (of The Late Late Show, owned by World Wide Pants, Letterman's production company) received white powder in the mail today. Turned out to be harmless, but what's with threatening late night personalities lately?

Again, source or link, please.

I find Letterman one the least funny comedians working today. But props to him for not backing down.

Source or link, please. I recommend anyone watch The Vice Guide to Travel's special on N. Korea. It's both shocking and very funny. Shows the desperation of NK for adequate infrastructure, energy, and enterprise. I know it's available on Netflix Instant; and if you don't have Netflix....get with the program already.

No, I'm saying we shouldn't treat Israeli as the 51st state, period. But I'll take your point. Current practicality trumps long-term ideology at the moment. But if Israel were going to do anything substantive, with US aid in tow, they should take the cake and quell these long standing threats from the rest of the region. In that regard, I agree that taking back Gaza and occupation of the Sinai Peninsula is not only a favorable, but a very attainable goal for the Israelis. In other news, Tripoli has fallen.

1) Conscription isn't ethical under any circumstance, no matter how dire the need may be. 2) If the need truly arises, I don't think any one has any problem with taking up arms, so long as the cause is just, and the enemy true. Volunteer armies work. WC

But we do, so it does. I'm all for Israeli sovereignty, but not at our expense.

And guess who would get to foot the bill for that.

Nothing short of obliteration on either side will end this on going conflict. If such Israel action you describe should take place, it would be interesting to see the response not of Hamas, but of the rest of the Arab world. If Israel wants to do anything, they should do it while the rest of the Arab states are battling internal conflict. Why can't we settle these things with a vigorous game of badminton? On a side note, I just saw a reporter on Fox news covering the situation say "A popular saying here is 'all it takes to start a war is a rocket hitting a school'". How is that a popular saying? It's not succinct or clever.

I think I've got pretty good style... But I do agree that popular culture is inundated with an astonishing amount of bullshit.

I'm not saying they've gotten what they deserve, but they certainly couldn't have expected to get any more. Hiking along a highly militarized border in a war zone? Traipsing into a country without American consular or diplomatic relations? This means no rights or recourse. Did they think State Department Advisories were works of short fiction? This isn't comparable to a woman getting raped in a shady neighborhood. This is shear stupidity. Either that or they're spies.

For all of it's short comings, the Vice Guide to Travel is pretty entertaining and a great lesson in how to grease the skids. I recommend the specials on N. Korea and Liberia.

Shontarius Aikens FTW.

It will be interesting to see the official government response. I don't necessarily feel bad for these guys. Did they really think hiking in Iraq, along the Iran border, was a great idea? I'll be doing a stand-up comedy tour in N. Korea next month, wish me luck!

I think it was more at the lack of zeros. People throw this word 'trillion' out there like it's just some number that's more than billion, which is just some number than million (and there are plenty of people that have that kind of wealth, after all!). But few grasp exactly how much one trillion actually is. Here's a nice illustration: http://www.pagetutor.com/trillion/index.html A million seconds is 12 days. A billion seconds is 31 years. A trillion seconds is 31,688 years. I know this isn't rocket science, but even I lose sight of the shear magnitude of 14 trillion dollars. FOURTEEN TRILLION DOLLARS. FOURTEEN TRILLION DOLLARS

That's a shame. I wonder if he'll try to pull a Roarke. In other news, Odd Nerdrum is now the coolest name ever.

Already clarified.

I'm not well versed on the subject, but "Patent Trolling" strikes me as a large problem for the tech industries and inventors. Perhaps that's on the block, but knowing this administration, I doubt it. (Please don't grill me on the patent thing; I'm really uninformed on the problems facing patent holders/buyers. It may be dirty on these forums, but I first heard of it on "This American Life". Maybe someone can explain this further?) Regardless, I can't help but think that the gridlock won't hold out forever; but let's hope that what needs to be stalled remains stalled, and strides that need to be made (hopefully a republican with spine takes the oval) get made. If the trend among conservatives continue, I don't think a republican run board is out of the question, which will surely mean Reagan-like (anti-liberty) social legislation (unless a cat like Huntsman or Paul take it ) and maybe some positive economic legislation.