Obama Asks Congress to Delay Digital TV Switch

[Ajani]

The bean counters in Washington don't have that view, they just count beans. (My wife would kill me right about now, she's a CPA).

Hence? I'm a CPA too and I've never counted a bean in my life... hell, I don't even eat beans... they give me gas...


I wonder if that was the best smiley to use, considering my statement about Gas?

[BradH]

I wonder if that was the best smiley to use, considering my statement about Gas?

I was waiting for something to happen...

[Rich-n-Texas]

Hence? I'm a CPA too and I've never counted a bean in my life... hell, I don't even eat beans... they give me gas...


I wonder if that was the best smiley to use, considering my statement about Gas?

Want my opinion Ajani?

[GMichael]

Want my opinion Ajani?

Say no. Please.

[nightflier]

The pissed-off-gun-toting Bush/McCain supporters aren't going to shoot anybody. I have to say, you have a binary, cartoon-like view of the political landscape that's as dark and extreme as pix's.

OK, I'll admit, I was being facetious; trying to insert a little light humor into it.

But I certainly don't consider myself an extremist with a "cartoon-like view of the political landscape," and absolutely nowhere near Pix's place on the spectrum.

The bean counters in Washington don't have that view, they just count beans. (My wife would kill me right about now, she's a CPA). I come down center-right on economics but foreign affairs is my thing. Given that, I couldn't in good conscience vote for either canditate this election, just couldn't do it.

Well that's odd, because if you did have foreign experience you'd realize that putting yourself center-right here, pretty much puts you on the extreme right in most other Westernized countries. Take for example your inability to vote for either candidate. Obama certainly had a more pragmatic, international, diplomacy-centered perspective than McCain's cowboy approach. Being undecided between these two choices on the foreign affairs front is not at all what I would expect someone who is knowledgeable in the field to be unclear about. If you're wondering, the foreign service corps and our military personnel, particularly the top brass, overwhelmingly voted for Obama and not McCain, according to the Economist.

Just so you know where I stand.

Well, actually, I can't quite figure that out.

Big O is asking for a 3-month extension but I don't think he cares either way. It's like his comments on the BCS poll, a little something to keep is name mentioned around the water cooler until inauguration day.

This is your speculation, and a very negative one at that. It's quite clear you don't like Obama. Well tough. Hes going to be around for the next four years at least. And so far, it sure looks like a whole lot of people are sick & tired of cowboy politics and can't wait for him to start, so he's riding pretty high right now with the mainstream American public.

There's a very important sports/performance element to politics & he's damn good at it.

Care to elaborate on that little gem?

Meanwhile, Verizon is saying hell no, make the switch because too much planning & investment has been scheduled around it.

Well of course, the one company that paid the most for their share of the spectrum is pushing for the government to go forward full bore. But that's just one corporation, and perhaps the one with the deepest pockets too. I doubt the other players are as gung-ho and ready to switch. Obviously from what others have been writing, the cable companies aren't all that ready.

[Rich-n-Texas]

OK, I'll admit, I was being facetious; trying to insert a little light humor into it...

No you weren't. You were challenged and crumbled like a house of cards!

(he he snicker snicker)

[Ajani]

Want my opinion Ajani?

Nope

[GMichael]

Nope

Tanx

[Rich-n-Texas]

Jerks!

[BradH]

Take for example your inability to vote for either candidate. Obama certainly had a more pragmatic, international, diplomacy-centered perspective than McCain's cowboy approach. Being undecided between these two choices on the foreign affairs front is not at all what I would expect someone who is knowledgeable in the field to be unclear about.

I'm not saying I have foreign policy experience, I'm just saying that's where my interest lies. I didn't vote for Obama because I disagreed with his domestic view, although at this point it's not entirely clear what his view really is. As for foreign policy, he was pretty much an open book as far as I could tell. I didn't fault him for having very little actual experience or deep knowledge of foreign affairs, what candidate ever did who wasn't a sitting vice-president? These things always come down to who the advisors are and, unfortunately, there's no way to tell beforehand. But McCain wanted to kick Russia out of the G-8 which was the depth of stupidity. When he said, "We're all Georgians now," I thought WTF?? Really? Then he ran around like a chicken with his head cut off during the TARP vote while Obama played the cool customer. Guess which behavior the markets like? McCain suffuered from being in Congress too long. The legislative way of thinking is not very useful in an executive capacity and it was hard to tell what he thought most of the time anyway. So I just said screw it. There was no mystery who was going to win anyway. Despite the media driven polls, you could see the electoral college a mile away.

[pixelthis]

I am not "anti gun".
Doesnt anybody on this board have any reading comprehension skills?
A libertarian once was asked how far the ownership of guns should go, and he replied
"well, if everybody was packin nukes there sure wouldnt be a 40% tax rate, now would there?".
I carried a gun for fifteen years as a law officer.
I like what Robert heinlein said about guns.
"You are a pink slug made up mostly of water, if you have a gun you are a pink slug
made mostly of water with a gun.
Guns are a tool and can be quite handy.
Liberals think they are a totem of evil(most liberals are like savages with a complete
set of supersitous beleifs).
I tell you one thing, without a means to defend yourself there is no political freedom
whatsoever.
The first thing tyrants do when they take over is confiscate the weapons.
The liberal eagerness to do so betrays their real agenda more than anything else.

[BradH]

This is your speculation, and a very negative one at that. It's quite clear you don't like Obama. Well tough. He's going to be around for the next four years at least.

I just realized that some of those quotes in your post with pix's name on them were actually mine so...I actually read them. I guess I should respond.

From your above quote it appears the proper speculation about everything Obama says would be the positive speculation. Got it.

There's a very important sports/performance element to politics & he's damn good at it.

Care to elaborate on that little gem?

Sure. Politics is partly a game that involves tactical and strategic performance. It's a very important part of politics too because if you suck at the game then you're not going to be successful. And Obama's damn good at that part. For example, he defeated the Clinton machine in the primaries and then co-opted them after he won so he wouldn't have to spend the next four years pushing back and triangulating around them. Once he locks in Hillary he throws on a layer of special envoys directly answerable to him so she's basically stuck with reforming the State Dept. And he knows she can do it too because they luuuuuuv them some Hillary at State. That might piss her off but she knows which side her bread is buttered on. That's strategic performance. The non-issue of the HDTV switchover is a small example. He's got bigger fish to fry but meanwhile he's letting the peeps know he feels their pain.

Obviously from what others have been writing, the cable companies aren't all that ready.

The cable companies don't have to be ready. They're cable.

[Rich-n-Texas]

I just realized that some of those quotes in your post with pix's name on them were actually mine so...I actually read them. I guess I should respond.

BradH, you have to read pixies posts carefully, he's brain dead when it comes to using the little tools that are there to help us with our posts.

[BradH]

BradH, you have to read pixies posts carefully, he's brain dead when it comes to using the little tools that are there to help us with our posts.

Well, sumpin' ain't right.

Who's on first?

[Rich-n-Texas]

Well, sumpin' ain't right.

Who's on first?

We've already had that discussion.. didn't make any difference. Some people, you just can't reach.

[Mr Peabody]

[QUOTE=pixelthis]I am not "anti gun".
Doesnt anybody on this board have any reading comprehension skills?
A libertarian once was asked how far the ownership of guns should go, and he replied
"well, if everybody was packin nukes there sure wouldnt be a 40% tax rate, now would there?".

* Huh? What's that mean?

I carried a gun for fifteen years as a law officer.

* It would seem as a law officer you'd know first hand what scum lurks in the streets and wouldn't be without your gun until death.

I like what Robert heinlein said about guns.
"You are a pink slug made up mostly of water, if you have a gun you are a pink slug
made mostly of water with a gun.

* You like that? Dr. Seuss wrote more profound words. What Heinlein wrote makes no sense at all. You need to read better philosophy. If he's a Libertarian no wonder they never gain traction as a party.

Guns are a tool and can be quite handy.

* Whatcha going to do when you need your tool, tool?

Liberals think they are a totem of evil(most liberals are like savages with a complete
set of supersitous beleifs).

* Who's "they"? Are you saying Liberals think of themselves as totems of evil? Now you say Liberals worship the devil? Isn't Supersitous an old folks disease?

Here's some philosophy for you.
" You took his land and you ate his corn.
And on his grave your land was born
You took his pride and fed him dirt
You wished him winter without a shirt
And you called this red man savage
After you crushed him, you helped him up
To let him drink from a empty cup
You gave him the navy without the fleet
You made him lick your hand and kiss your feet
You called this mad dog savage
Well I found a book one day
Looked up red and white to see what it say
One was a savage, the other unlearned
Like a look in the mirror, the tables were turned
Because history has named you savage.....
------J D Blackfoot

I tell you one thing, without a means to defend yourself there is no political freedom
whatsoever.

* Ah! I get it, Libertarians are for no political freedom, hence, no gun.

The first thing tyrants do when they take over is confiscate the weapons.

* Well you'll be a short order when they do

The liberal eagerness to do so betrays their real agenda more than anything else.:

Confinscating guns would be like sweeping sand from the beach. My take on gun control, I don't think criminals go into the local sporting goods store to buy their weapons. On the other hand, if their weren't any out here to steal.... Man, I hate when I debate myself. Let me and myself hash this out a bit and I'll tell you more later.

[Ajani]

A libertarian once was asked how far the ownership of guns should go, and he replied
"well, if everybody was packin nukes there sure wouldnt be a 40% tax rate, now would there?".

There also wouldn't be any life on the planet as the lunatic anarchists and religious extremists would have blown us all the f..k up decades ago....

Liberals think they are a totem of evil(most liberals are like savages with a complete
set of supersitous beleifs).

Another well reasoned and logical argument.

I tell you one thing, without a means to defend yourself there is no political freedom
whatsoever.
The first thing tyrants do when they take over is confiscate the weapons.
The liberal eagerness to do so betrays their real agenda more than anything else.

Guns are a tough call... being able to defend yourself with extreme violence makes it much harder for tyrants to take you over... but it also makes it much harder to have a civilized society.... Why does America have such a nasty reputation for School shootings and postal shootings and just shootings in general? because there are so many f..king guns... It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the more guns you have available, the more likely it is that lunatics and criminals will get their hands on them.... So the question is really: do you want a more civilized society (which could more easily be controlled by tyrants) or do you want a Wild West style society (where a tyrant would have little chance of making a play)?

[Rich-n-Texas]

"Guns don't kill people... people kill people"

In my mind, the REAL question is... why are there so many lunatics in this country?

(Disclaimer: This isn't a political post, it's a sociological post)

[Ajani]

"Guns don't kill people... people kill people"

In my mind, the REAL question is... why are there so many lunatics in this country?

(Disclaimer: This isn't a political post, it's a sociological post)

I can't believe I'm saying this about one of Rich's posts but: That's actually a profound question...

My suspicion is that there are just as many lunatics everywhere else... it's just about the ability of lunatics to access weapons of mass murder... In the Caribbean (and it seems parts of South America and Africa as well) we also suffer from having too many guns and ridiculously high murder rates...

As much as I understand and respect the right to bear arms.... I question whether it hurts more than it helps... one of the most ridiculous things that happened sometime back when I was living in Jamaica, was that criminals were deliberately targeting licensed firearm holders, in order to steal their weapons... Just think about how stupid that is... you buy a gun to protect yourself and deter criminals and it has just the opposite effect...

[GMichael]

Do more people really get shot in this country? Or is it that it just makes the news more often?

[Ajani]

Do more people really get shot in this country? Or is it that it just makes the news more often?

Yes... more people get shot in the US than in the UK or Canada... (even without running a Google search I'm willing to make that statement)... In some countries, it's very rare for someone to be shot & would actually get more coverage than in the US news...

[GMichael]

These are the rankings I found. The numbers are per 1000 people.

1 Swaziland 30.70
2 Angola 24.44
3 Lesotho 22.33
4 Sierra Leone 22.26
5 Liberia 21.45
6 Zambia 21.35
7 Mozambique 20.29
8 Niger 20.26
9 Afghanistan 19.56
10 Djibouti 19.16
11 Central African Republic 18.04
12 Malawi 17.89
13 Zimbabwe 17.29
14 South Africa 16.94
15 Nigeria 16.88
16 Chad 16.39
17 Mali 16.16
18 Russia 16.06
19 Guinea-Bissau 16.05
20 Ukraine 15.93
21 Somalia 15.89
22 Rwanda 14.46
23 Bulgaria 14.30
24 Namibia 14.07
25 Botswana 14.02
26 Belarus 13.92
27 Sudan 13.64
28 Latvia 13.63
29 Burkina Faso 13.59
30 Estonia 13.35
31 Hungary 12.99
32 Monaco 12.96
33 Tanzania 12.92
34 Burundi 12.91
35 Gabon 12.59
36 Cameroon 12.41
37 Uganda 12.32
38 Republic of the Congo 12.28
39 Democratic Republic of the Congo 11.88
40 Romania 11.84
41 Ethiopia 11.83
42 Gambia 11.74
— Western Sahara 11.74
43 Croatia 11.66
44 Mauritania 11.61
45 Guinea 11.29
46 Cote d'Ivoire 11.17
47 Lithuania 11.12
— Isle of Man 11.02
48 Laos 11.02
49 Trinidad and Tobago 10.93
50 Germany 10.80
51 Moldova 10.80
52 Senegal 10.72
53 Czech Republic 10.69
54 Portugal 10.62
55 Italy 10.61
56 Slovenia 10.51
57 Greece 10.42
— European Union 10.39
58 Belgium 10.38
59 Kenya 10.30
60 Denmark 10.25
61 Sweden 10.24
62 Haiti 10.15
— Guernsey 10.09
63 United Kingdom 10.05
64 Finland 10.00
65 Poland 9.99
66 Austria 9.91
67 Spain 9.90
68 Equatorial Guinea 9.72
69 Benin 9.69
70 Georgia 9.51
71 Slovakia 9.50
72 Togo 9.48
— Gibraltar 9.46
73 Ghana 9.39
74 Kazakhstan 9.39
— Jersey 9.36
75 Norway 9.33
76 Japan 9.26
77 Burma 9.23
78 Bahamas 9.22
79 Uruguay 9.12
80 Nepal 8.97
— Montserrat 8.86
81 Macedonia 8.81
82 Netherlands 8.71
— Faroe Islands 8.67
83 Eritrea 8.63
84 Barbados 8.58
85 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8.54
86 Switzerland 8.54
87 Montenegro 8.51
88 France 8.48
89 Luxembourg 8.43
90 San Marino 8.37
91 Armenia 8.34
92 Azerbaijan 8.32
93 Madagascar 8.32
94 Dominica 8.32
95 Guyana 8.29
96 Malta 8.29
97 United States 8.27
— Greenland 8.23
— World 8.23
98 Saint Kitts and Nevis 8.19
99 Cambodia 8.16
100 Bangladesh 8.00
— Bermuda 7.98
101 Kiribati 7.97
— Puerto Rico 7.88
102 Pakistan 7.85
103 Yemen 7.83
104 Ireland 7.77
105 Comoros 7.76
106 Cyprus 7.76
— Aruba 7.65
107 Canada 7.61
108 Vanuatu 7.61
109 Bhutan 7.54
110 Argentina 7.43
111 Liechtenstein 7.42
— Mayotte 7.36
112 Bolivia 7.35
113 Korea, North 7.29
114 Cuba 7.19
115 Thailand 7.17
116 China 7.03
117 New Zealand 7.00
118 Tuvalu 6.98
119 Kyrgyzstan 6.97
120 Papua New Guinea 6.96
121 Tajikistan 6.94
122 Iceland 6.81
— Saint Pierre and Miquelon 6.81
123 Palau 6.73
124 Saint Lucia 6.71
125 Australia 6.68
— Taiwan 6.65
— Hong Kong 6.60
— Saint Helena 6.58
126 Mauritius 6.55
— U.S. Virgin Islands 6.55
127 Nauru 6.54
— Netherlands Antilles 6.43
128 India 6.40
129 Jamaica 6.37
130 Brazil 6.35
131 Grenada 6.31
132 Cape Verde 6.26
133 Indonesia 6.24
134 Seychelles 6.21
135 Vietnam 6.18
136 Mongolia 6.16
137 Peru 6.16
138 Antigua and Barbuda 6.14
139 Turkmenistan 6.11
140 Sri Lanka 6.07
141 Lebanon 6.06
142 Timor-Leste 6.02
143 Turkey 6.02
144 Sao Tome and Principe 5.98
145 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5.96
146 Samoa 5.84
147 Belize 5.77
148 Chile 5.77
149 South Korea 5.73
150 Iran 5.69
151 Fiji 5.66
— New Caledonia 5.64
152 Andorra 5.59
153 Colombia 5.54
154 El Salvador 5.53
155 Suriname 5.51
156 Morocco 5.49
157 Albania 5.44
158 Israel 5.41
159 Honduras 5.36
160 Dominican Republic 5.30
161 Uzbekistan 5.30
162 Guatemala 5.19
163 Tunisia 5.17
164 Philippines 5.15
165 Iraq 5.14
166 Tonga 5.12
167 Venezuela 5.10
168 Egypt 5.09
169 Malaysia 5.02
— Cayman Islands 4.83
170 Mexico 4.78
171 Panama 4.71
172 Syria 4.68
— French Polynesia 4.67
— Guam 4.65
173 Algeria 4.62
174 Marshall Islands 4.57
175 Federated States of Micronesia 4.53
176 Singapore 4.53
177 Paraguay 4.49
— Anguilla 4.39
— British Virgin Islands 4.37
178 Nicaragua 4.33
179 Costa Rica 4.31
180 Bahrain 4.29
181 Ecuador 4.21
— Turks and Caicos Islands 4.16
— American Samoa 4.13
182 Solomon Islands 3.81
— West Bank 3.70
183 Oman 3.68
184 Maldives 3.66
— Gaza Strip 3.53
185 Libya 3.46
— Macau 3.43
186 Brunei 3.28
187 Jordan 2.72
188 Saudi Arabia 2.49
189 Qatar 2.47
190 Kuwait 2.37
— Northern Mariana Islands 2.31
191 United Arab Emirates 2.13

[Ajani]

The Rankings I found:

Gun Homicide (per 100,000)

Japan 0.03
Singapore 0.07
Taiwan 0.15
Kuwait 0.34
England/ Wales 0.07
Scotland 0.19
Netherlands 0.27
Spain 0.19
Ireland 0.30
Germany 0.21
Italy 1.16
Sweden 0.18
Denmark 0.23
Israel 0.72
New Zealand 0.22
Australia 0.56
Belgium 0.87
Canada 0.60
Norway 0.36
Austria 0.42
Northern Ireland 3.55
France 0.55
Switzerland 0.46
Finland 0.87
USA 6.24

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=147481

[Feanor]

These are the rankings I found. The numbers are per 1000 people.

1 Swaziland 30.70
...
97 United States 8.27
...
— Gaza Strip 3.53
...
191 United Arab Emirates 2.13

As for Gaza Strip, I suppose that only pertains to Palestinians shotting Palestinians.

[Ajani]

Seriously GM, something's wrong with those statistics you have there (you might want to double check that source)... granted my stats appear to be from a 1998 UN report, but even in 20 years the figures you have there just don't make sense... Jamaica has been in the top 5 murder rate for the last several years yet it is number 129 for shootings on your list ( I can't imagine all those murders are done with bare fists, broken glass and knives)...

Another link (updated to 2001):

http://www.guncontrol.ca/Content/international.html