[Aim Screename]

I still can't believe that it took me 5 dreaded years before I realized AOL was so crap, that I had to switch to something less crappy.

[An Interesting Exchange With A Misguided Soul]

It's human nature to deny anything that will create inconsistencies in one's world view. Suppose you could indeed convince this person, it would mentally wreck him. At least, this is what my experiences have shown me. It's no excuse, but it should be expected from any zealous person, despite their particular belief.

 

You're right it is human nature, but it's also human nature to recognize a wrongdoing. Kids being sent to their slaughter, you would think alarm bells would go off, not so with some people.

[North Korea Nuclear Test]

I don't think that japonese public it is ready for nuclear weapons and US were never willing to share nuclear tehnology to allies. If Japan becames a nuclear power and rearmes it will mean the end of US influence in Asia.

As it is Japan has to rely on US to counter the increasing threats from China and N. Correa.

I think that nuclear Correa it is not a major concern for US and they want multipartite negotiations because they don't want to act in case of failure.

 

I disagree, the Japanese public is notorious for being uninformed in politics, furthermore Japan & China hate each toher, China already has nukes, and Japan would like nothing more than to counter that, as well as emerging from the shadow of WW2. Japan will always need the U.S. to counter China and the rest of Asia giving it an edge over it's neighbours, just like England will always need the U.S. to counter the rest of Europe.

 

The U.S. main concern is China, an emerging superpower. The country that has most to lose from N. Korea going nuclear is China, it's very clear. Japan might or might not go nuclear, but the mere threat that the U.S. now has a legitimate excuse to arm Jaoan with nukes, will force China into concessions. Arming Japan with nukes is no longer a provocative action by the U.S., but self defense and a deterrent according to Japan & America, so China is really cornered now.

[Sieze The Day]

I was sheduled to fly to Toronto at around 10:30 pm on that day, I remember waking up early morining LA time to pack my bag, I was too lazy to do it the night before. Anyways, while I was packing the phone rang, it was my sister, I told her to bugger off cause I was in a hurry, so she said, "where do you think you're going, there are no planes to fly you there, turn on the TV". So, I did, and there it was in living color. While I continued my conversation with her, the first tower collapsed to my amazment.

 

Coincidentally, I rescheduled that same Toronto flight Nov 12, 2001, when the Queens plane crash occured, obviously, I had to cancel again, when I saw it on TV. Since then, I'm very wary booking flights to Toronto.

[War & Loss Of A Country]

It's to bad that this loss of power happened. Gradually all christian enclaves in the islamic world are destroyed.

This was the story of the greeks and armenians of Anatolia, copts in Egypt, the druz of Syria, christians in South Sudan or Eritrrea, russians from Cecenia and other areas of the empire etc.

In the same time strong and scary muslim communities are established thru out Europe, US, Australia etc

The end of the civil war and syrian overlords on Liban spell the end for a community that fail to fully unite and that had a smaller growth rate then the muslim. Maybe the extreme islamic opinions of both sunnits and shia made it harder to resist against their union.

 

 

You are very knowlegable Kosmo about the events taking place in the middle east. Yes, the Christians problem is disunity & greed, the last time the Christian resistance was truly united, it was under the leadership of Bachir Gemayel, my hero. Unfortunately, the Syrians didn't like his strength & unshakable patriotism, so they assassinated him on Sep 14, 1982. After his death, no one could fill his shoes militarily or politically, and there was much infighting and betrayel to claim the presidency, which resulted in one side collaborating with the Syrians, and that was the end of it for us.

[Debacle And Discombobulation Inversion]

Practice sipping soup through a straw now.

 

Thats something you don't wanna do after your wisdom teeth is out. Straws create suction, you'll be sipping your own blood mixed with soup. Pay no attention to Gaius, he's secretly trying to get you killed through your wisdom tooth

[Debacle And Discombobulation Inversion]

Welcome Antiochus, if you need some real life Chemistry and Physics classes, I'll take you to Lebanon next time a war breaks out, which probably won't be too long from now .

[Da Good Life]

How about 3 chicks or just a whole orgy of women, an infinite amount of them all on one bed, surely that would be the greatest life.

[War & Loss Of A Country]

Just where did all the Christians migrate?

 

Australia, Canada, Brazil, U.S., U.K. and France.

[Something Beautiful]

No, you need to get struck by the lightning first before the evil omen can depart.

[In Re My Lord Pertinax]

You could have been a pious pastor my dear Gaius, if only someone had plucked your evilness away.

[Keep Your Mouth Shut]

I think it's ironic, ever since the fall of communism, big government has been on the rise in the U.S. You would think we learnt something from big government power, secrecy, inefficiency and conspiracy; it can only comeback to bite us private citizens. This ruling sends a clear and loud message, that if you mess with the government, we'll come after you, so better to keep your mouth shut.

 

These kind of laws are made in Russia, China or Cuba.

[The Destructive Nature Of Globalism]

Pertinax's comment on population is interesting too, and probably more relevant. What's better - to go back a few hundred years, without technology or free markets, when living successfully was a greater challenge; stay on the current course where we feel obligated to sustain an exploding population at the expense of the productive until the breaking point; or is there another solution? hmmmm.....

 

 

The exploding population continues to be encouraged through welfare programs, immigration and a global economy. If we take away welfare programs and severely tighten immigration, I truly think the population explosion will level off. A lot of people think thats inhumane, but I think it's being responsible.

[Leg Viii At Banna (in Conclusion).]

Great stuff.

[The Destructive Nature Of Globalism]

I agree with whats been said, but Ursus, what you see on TV and hear on the news everyday doesn't show the whole picture. Yes, the extremists are getting more extreme, but the daily life of Arabs has significantly changed in the last 20 years or so; people in general have opened up to western culture. All you have to do is travel to Dubai, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, even Saudi Arabia, there is an obvious change in people's mentality, whether it's in their professional life or personal, and society as whole has opened up. In Kuwait their will be women runnning for parliament for the first time ever, five women have been registered as candidates and the women population will be also exercising their voting right for the first time. This was unthinkable only 10 years ago, it's breaking a taboo. If you go to most countries in the gulf, you won't feel like you're in an Arab country in the traditional sense, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, other places Lebanon, Egypt, Morcco are all great examples.

[Contact Lenses Or Operation?]

O'k! I visited this clinic this week and had got some consultations.

I have different opinions about this clinic but all people who told me about it said that laser surgery is good here and I must not worry about it.

My operation will be the 28 of February. I'm sure about a good result for me.

 

Great news Lacertus, I'm sure everything will work out fine. After the surgery your eyes will be a little dry and sensitive to shiny lights, but don't worry it happens to everyone for about 3 weeks after the surgery. The surgery is very effective you will notice a significant improvement in your eyesight within 2-3 days and after about 2 months you should have 20/20 vision. It's amazing I'm very happy for you.

[Contact Lenses Or Operation?]

Thanks, tflex. I found some information about the Moscow clinic.

 

here

 

and I cannot do operation outside Russia for many reasons.

 

I understand, just make sure to find out everything you can about the clinic before you make a decision, maybe ask someone who has already been there and try to find out if the equipment they are using is new and if the doctor is experienced in laser surgery. Keep me updated.

[Sacred Beer]

I have recently read an interesting anecdote about a Picti chief cornered on a cliff face by an enemy who was offered leniency if he divulged he secret recipe for heather ale.

 

He chose to jump...

 

He did-but first he had has son killed as he feared the boy would not be strong enough to resist torture.

 

A very loving father.

[Contact Lenses Or Operation?]

Laser Surgery is the best scenario but I do not reccomend you entrust your precious eyes to a Moscow clinic, unless ofcourse it has a good track record. Does the clinic have a good track record?

 

If you plan on traveling sometime to western Europe I can recommend some excellent and well recognized clinics in England, France or Germany.

 

In the meantime try to avoid wearing lenses too much, I suggest you wear glasses in the meantime but ofcourse there is no harm in wearing lenses on special occasions. The problem with lenses is that overuse will make your eyes dry and thats not good for your retina. But don't worry about the lasik surgery, there is no pain involved, people usually get nervous before the surgery it's very natural. As for the ophthalmic microsurgery, I think there is no need for such an aggressive procedure at this point, I would avoid that. Lasik is an easier surgery and has a very high rate of success especially for people your age. But don't take any risk with your local clinic, your eyes and your health are the most important so you should only do it at a clinic you can fully trust and be comfortable with.