Vapymid

Well, yes - that was difficult to imagine back then. Still, nobody really cares what is going on between Russia and its provinces. But everyone is scared witless that the Middle East may completely explode, so... Regards

Well, I agree - you can be within your rights yet either play nice or nastily. The rightfulness of it is the circumstance, your behaviour, though is your choice. But extradition does not usually apply to political crimes and things like treason. Regards

But in doing so the Americans will go against Iran, more than just Russia and they won't do that. The US will close their eyes on Assad now. They will do a deal with Russia and Iran. The first round of talks has failed but that's perfectly normal. There will be more now. The US doesn't have enough power in the region and more importantly - the will to use more power to force the issue by a military way and the Turks are not considered a trusted ally by anyone. Turkey has its own agenda and nobody likes it. Regards

The Turks won't have the balls to invade... And no one will support them - not the US, nor the UK or anyone else... And I can't see what can they possibly achieve by such a stupid move... So, no... Regards

Well, I understand America may not like Assange (I personally don't like him either) but the fact is - he is not an American and he owes nothing to the US in terms of obligations to keep American secrets secret. So, when a third party government officials are bribed or blackmailed into persecuting that guy for some made-up reasons, it is an unlawful interference. Regards

The one friend you told already - just give him a hint that you wouldn't mind if he spread the news around. That will take care of things on its own, you won't need to do a thing... And if your mother would do the same among the teachers - that will cover everything... Regards

Well, if it was on the mutual benefits basis - I would agree. But if you pay people in the other Government to do a deal with you which is against the interest of their country - formally, you are making what seems to be an arms-length deal but in essence it's corrupt. Oh, the US is not the only one like that. No. All countries with global ambitions are playing these games. The US has most money, though, so bribes the most too By the way - your example with TPB is good but Wikileaks and Assange is even better... Regards

No. They are not cancer... they are mosquitos... Annoying but irrelevant if you know how to fend them off... Regards

I was about to volunteer but then I realised - that pile of compost don't deserve that much attention... And certainly not the finest of Accursed Farms forumites spending the last few years of their lives on the American Death Row - because, if I meet any of those vermins, they are not getting away alive... Regards

I think it's a small fraction of music fans who need to feel, due to their own insecurities, that they are somehow superior to others for whatever reason. That they are concentrated on YouTube is probably a sign that their understanding and knowledge of that music is superficial at best. So - just ignore them and move on... Funny you mentioned that song by Asia. I remember very clearly holding the sleeve of the vinyl album in my hands in the early '80s, admiring the dragon, and that particular album, together with "And Then There Were Three" by Genesis were the first prog rock albums I've ever heard. And they've changed my musical life forever right the instant I heard them played. Regards

I don't know how to answer that question because in most cases the governments (the people in government, actually) are made to want it in a variety of ways (plenty of cash being the most obvious). And the governments in question are often only there because they are being propped up by the US - specifically to do what the US wants them to do. Ukraine, Georgia, Iraq - these are examples I know of from people involved. Afghanistan (present times), Vietnam, Taiwan - these are well known and obvious cases from open and declassified sources. Afghanistan (Soviet times), Libya, Syria - there it's a reverse situation where the US is acting against the local government. Regards

Well, how do I provide proof of that? Wait 60 years for archives be declassified, or something? But trying to argue that something is not happening just because a formal proof is unavailable... that's a bit naive, isn't it? Iraq, Afghanistan, Lybia, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries, Ukraine - all of those places where the US meddles ALL the time. Admittedly they are not the only nations to do that but they are one of the most powerful and unscrupulous. Oh, and once you mentioned - Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, Kosovo. "By request", hehe... Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan by request of the then Afghani Government too... Regards

You don't miss him. You miss the place he occupied in your life... And he had no right to occupy that place at all. And you're right to be angry. I hope for his own sake his path will never physcially cross with mine... Regards

You didn't lose anyone, Jeb. Because they weren't worth shit in the first place. All that's happened is you gained your life back and they can all line up in a circle and fuck each other. You ex - he isn't worth your nail clippings. It is a cause for celebration, not lament... But you know that... No, you're not! We'll see about that. Regards

But is it the extremists hi-jacking sub-cultures or sub-culture are born in the extremist circles and then go out into the mainstream? I always thought the latter... Personally, I don't like any of the genres you mentioned and I never had time for extremists (either right- or left-wing) so I'm not the best person to judge the causality here... The Prog rock isn't being obviously hi-jacked by anyone if you don't count maybe Neal Morse's religiosity, so... I'm quite content on that front But, in general, these are times when extremist views are flaring up, especially among the less educated, more easily manipulated youth, who always make fertile soil for "easy" solutions ideology. But it spills over on a broader scale too... Take UKIP or Cobryn's Labour... I am slightly surprised by the BNP and EDL though, they seem to be too quiet... Regards

Geez, what a day... Well, happy birthday everybody... Regards

Hehe, I have no idea who these blokes are and have no intention to find out - but it has made headline news on the BBC, so must be a big thing : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35470159 Regards

Yes, I think you're right - racism and xenophobia are similar in nature. Intolerance and fear of differences... Only racism uses the race as the discriminating factor and xenophobia - foreign origin and culture. Xenophobia is probably a milder but wider spread issue than racism, though... Nazis were racist and xenophobic, so were the Japanese. The Soviets were encouraged to be xenophobic towards nations outside of the Union, but not racist. Pretty much every isolationist regime is innately xenophobic, like the US before the World Wars... Xenophobia is growing in Europe in the face of a large influx of migrants from a totally different cultural background. Same is happening in the US... Regards

Awww... thank you! But... we'll be good - I promise! All that stuff about discipline I was talking about... This thread is now officially released back into general use! Move along, folks, nothing to see here, move along... Regards

Oh, man! I feel for you! That smell will never completely disappear... The little rascals, they show their displeasure that way... Still, it just looks in your eyes and meaows and purrs and you forget and forgive everything... @Jeb: Okay, sorry, I'll go in retreat for some time, to think and repent on my abhorrent behaviour... Also, in case you will still want to feed to me to that pack of wolves... *whistles a tune to himself and walks away in search of a sacrificial virgin* Might take me a while, though - they are not exactly thick on the ground these day and age Regards

Jeb, a tip first - put a steel bar inside the rolled magazine! Won't leave a bigger mark but will hurt way more About the pain I unfrotunately cannot tell... I think it's so individual - the perception of pain and threshholds... Some people can't stand their finger being pricked, some can break their arm and stand up and walk. But today, painkillers are widely use for childbirth, so I don't think you need to worry too much, unless you decide to not use them... Regards

Oh... wait, wait, wait... I'm forbidden from hugging you for entire week? Ah, sorry, I misunderstood - I think you only warn me off tickling you for a week (and then I can?) *hugs and doesn't let go* And don't even think about it!! Well done, my dear, now I really can't stop thinking about it. Regards

Even if you're tight and petite, normally, Mother Nature takes care of things. The birth canal stretches and the baby gets through, then the afterbirth. Everything then slowly goes back to almost normal... You might not feel quite that tight after all that. There is one "but" to it, though. The thing is how far you pelvis bones can spread and open. If the baby's head won't go through - it's a big problem. But - the obstetritians will be able to take measurements long before you even due to go into labour and if there is anything like that they will direct you to do a caesarean section. And the benefit of that is that you avoid all the pain and stretching in the first place. And it's very safe too.. Regards

That's not xenophobia. You are simply confusing the terms. That is simply a criticism of policies. That's all. Plenty of reasonable Americans think that the US is terrible for not having proper gun controls. Xenophobia = dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries. Disagreement with your government policies is not prejudice against or dislike of your people. Regards

That sure sounds like Hell to me... and if you stray from a designated celestial pathway into a wilder looking cloud you'll get a ticket for 100 years of counseling and reeducation and aroma therapy. Geez... I'll set the whole place on fire just to feel a whiff of smoke and hear the fire alarm... Now, though... that Lava pool looks decidedly fun... Oi, you, Red-Face! - don't even think of sneaking from behind - you bugger! Regards