While I agree in that people love a good hype band wagon- I also think it's important to stress that just because a fallacy is at play doesn't mean restraint or caution shouldn't be explored. It reminds me of those anti drug campaigns where "little sally" kills her family and then herself because she touched "a marijuana." Its easier to her people to act by telling them there's immediate and terrible danger, but if observation contradicts that in their mind they instead will often dismiss what would be a valid concern as hyperbolic BS or propaganda. It's a good idea to be concerned with the environment and to do more with less, but selling it against an abstract concept of destruction that relies on a person even caring about what happens after they die or in their future is a better way to alienate most than convert them.

Stalin did have to die. His death was inevitable as was almost inevitable the slow slide into bankruptcy suffered by the soviets. It was his death which allowed glasnost and a change in economic policies to try and preserve the government which exposed the people to new ideas and things and allowed them the freedom to make a choice. Along the way pr stunts and acts of goodwill helped preserve peace while creating a foundation of trust and friendship which we could build on. As in most human relations you don't go from hating each other to being close friends or married in one act. You have to form trust and bonds, take them to a few olympics, buy them dinner, laugh at some dumb jokes and ignore a few stupid comments before you can take th

Daaaang.

Dresses with pockets are out there- just pretty rare. It takes a lot of searching but it's worth it imho (even though maybe more dresses with pockets, or pants with usable sized pockets, or just ones that aren't on the freaking pants or jacket as decoration and don't actually have freaking pockets...!!! Would be nice.)

North Korea is dangerous and has proven time again (especially in South Korea) they can't just be counted on to stay on their side of the line and behave. But reunification is a goal for many Koreans who 60ish years ago were one people not divided. This could be a step to that goal. The US and Russia aren't on the same terms as say the US and Canada are, but our two countries spent over 30 years with nukes at each other's throats and came this far in our relations. Much of what helped with peace and stability were "silly pr stunts" which helped show people we could get along, and apulled away the idea "they" were faceless killers out for our destruction and helped the exchange of cultures and ideas.

My money would be on France or Italy, but with Italy I'm not sure it's so much an "on paper" thing.

Lol. I wish. Most companies have a max you can save- it tends to be around 100 hours most places I've worked at until you've been there about 10-15 years and then some go up to closer to 200 hours. At my current job you can carry over 30% of your vacation one year to the next and the rest they pay out on your check, but you still max at 100 hours. In Germany I've heard its about 22 days a year, and most Europeans I've talked to seem to get somewhere around there. That would be rather nice. I'm just lucky since many places combine sick time and vacation time and give you 2 weeks still. I only get 3 sick days a year but at least they aren't part of my regular vacation time!

Thank you spookykink57. It's a little of both. Where I live I've had the opportunity to work and be friends with many Indian people since I was very young. That's helped me pick up a lot, but I always try to know as much as I can about the history and cultures of the world and around me so I also study things.

No, I do agree. That's why I upvoted and commented. Your scenario takes what is essentially "would you get paid $100k to take a free vacation most people would pay thousands for?" And turns it into an actual question. As a fun asides NASA was paying people $100k to stay in bed for 60 days awhile back.

Yeah. Unless you're just being melodramatic or have a SERIOUS disorder or very particular life responsibilities (must care for a sick lived one and can't be gone a month- blah blah) very few would say no to this. I would say no, but the reason is in my comment.

In India naming customs vary greatly in different areas and are adhered to more strictly by some. But in general "Patel" is a very common name like "Smith" or "Lee." Similarly Vijay or feminine Vijaya are based the same and may be closer to "Micheal."

Oh lord. I think it's like Beattie Juice and just by saying their names they show up.

I might not say unlikely. Possible but questionable. It's not so far to be doubtful but far enough in question that without more details I wouldn't rely on its credibility.

I was wondering the same thing. It looks like someone came in and got us both, but I can't figure out why? But yes. From what I could find it looks like there were news outlets that were already implicating bin laden in the attacks the day of. I haven't found any specific affiliates mentioned, and they re broadcast all day, so without knowing what time of day the OP watched and what network, this one could still be true or made up from all the evidence I've discovered this far.

Broadcast.

What an ignorant statement. The USA can't touch the cilvillian body counts of Japan, China, Germany or Russia in the 20th century. The UK, France, Italy, and USSR were meddling with empirialist intent in the Middle East before the USA, commodore Perry was meddling in Japan long before the US got there, the opium wars and colonies in Asia were not the USA. maybe the toddler USA doesn't need adult supervision but better role models than the lecherous old men she grew up watching. Maybe they didn't complain when they were the big bully at school but are suddenly "enlightened" when a bigger kid takes over the playground? Maybe they're still as dirty and as much a bulky as ever when they want something, but don't have the muscle to always get it? Maybe when it benefits them they're fine with the USA? Maybe they become that "nice" one that laughs hardest at the cruel joke but then says "omg- you're so mean" so people don't think they're as big a cunt as they really are?

It's not conclusive- the news could have reported it, they don't tend to wait on pesky things like "proof" or "facts" before they start going off. Since last night I did find a few mentions that some news networks were actually saying they believed bin Ladin to be at fault.

Bye bye frosted mini wheats, hello shredded wheat.

It was late September or later when they determined it was al Qaeda. I recall getting woken up to a phone call to turn my tv on PST and seeing the planes hit "live." I believe some news outlets were speculating it on that day though. That I can't say for sure, but it wouldn't be declared officially for another few weeks, it wasn't until way later that groups started claiming responsibility, but there were several government intercepts suggesting it was bin laden. I do want to believe this though, but admit it smacks of "and then everybody clapped..."

Lol, I'm laughing because at this point I must seem contentious for the sake of it but-. Technically I don't disagree- there's no one way to raise a child. Not trying to debate, just share perspectives. Can we agree we've seen each other's view point and part ways amicably having exchanged thoughts instead?