Happy new year to all
According to mainstream media, this is the last year the world will live because the clocks in our computers will stop at December 22, (just like 12 years ago, the world will end in January 01 2000, according to some obscure Mayan prophesy. or it was backward? I don't know, it seems the same mumbo jumbo to me).
But while we are occupied paying attention to the media Chiken Little who yell "the sky is falling" every time they are bored, or had no real (and important) news to transmit, the scorpions are quietly sneaking in our pants, ready to sting us the first time we move.
http://www.osnews.com/story/25469/Richard_Stallman_Was_Right_All_Along
Comments anyone?
Carlos
Have the Mayans ever predicted anything that has happened - This is what I ask my kids
Secondly - Is the Mayan calendar correlated correctly to ours
Thirdly - Somebody is making money out of this.
I won't lose any sleep over it
:bg
Well, I have a Calendar on my desk that ends on Dec 31, 2012. Does that mean that the world will end at midnight on that day ? I guess according to the people who follow that sort of stuff and the makers of blockbuster thrillers that are infested with religious dogma then yes, according to the calendar on my desk the world is ending at midnight on Dec 31. The Mayan calendar is a cyclical mythological calendar, its current "Long Count" ends on Dec 21st, then it begins another cycle in the same way as my calendar begins a new one every Jan 1st.
And as an aside there is no Mayan prophesy or any record ever found that predicts that the world will end at the completion of the current Long Count, doomsday guys made that one up. It was probably supposed to be a great feast day though, maybe sacrifice a few thousand people and roast an Alpaca or two.
As for the article, only the techno-centric west is represented, the majority of people on this planet have no access to the types of technology that are talked about and so the premise is wrong, just another case of us thinking we are the center of the universe. The reality is that only about 30% of the world has access to the internet. Even allowing for the premise, information is not in itself dangerous, only the use and application of that information. Yes, the US has taken some massive steps backward in personal freedom in the last decade, but much of the world has taken steps forward. Hopefully, the people in the US will stand up one day shout "enough is enough" and demand that the government return the freedoms many have fought and died to establish. As for Stallman, I have no comment other than to say that I find him distasteful.
It really dosen't help that History channel is running a lot of this type of end of the world programs,if it isn't the Mayan calendar,its Nostradamus predictions. No wonder people are freaked from all the hype.
Quote from: anunitu on January 03, 2012, 05:44:05 PM
It really dosen't help that History channel is running a lot of this type of end of the world programs,if it isn't the Mayan calendar,its Nostradamus predictions. No wonder people are freaked from all the hype.
I haven't watched the history channel for a while, have they ended their 16 year continuous run of "Nazi Week" ?
Now its stuff about "Pawn brokers" or other reality stuff,cheap to make and sometimes thats all they show for a full day.
I remember all the hoopla and disaster we would face when 2000 was approaching and back then anyone with a brain knew it was bullshit.
As to the reference of the NDAA in the link. "While President Obama issued a signing statement saying he had 'serious reservations' about the provisions, the statement only applies to how his administration would use the authorities granted by the NDAA,"
In other words if my country elects a Republican President and its looking as if the Repugs could take the Senate and have full control of both houses, even if you are an American and you look like a terrorist you may just disappear.
Yep, America is full of pussies and we are going totally mad with fear of the bogyman!
By the way Carlos I believe you are a Mexican citizen if I'm not mistaken. What happens to someone there if the government believes you are a threat?
Quote from: Bill Cravener on January 03, 2012, 05:52:25 PM
I remember all the hoopla and disaster we would face when 2000 was approaching and back then anyone with a brain knew it was bullshit.
As to the reference of the NDAA in the link. "While President Obama issued a signing statement saying he had 'serious reservations' about the provisions, the statement only applies to how his administration would use the authorities granted by the NDAA,"
In other words if my country elects a Republican President and its looking as if the Repugs could take the Senate and have full control of both houses, even if you are an American and you look like a terrorist you may just disappear.
Yep, America is full of pussies and we are going totally mad with fear of the bogyman!
By the way Carlos I believe you are a Mexican citizen if I'm not mistaken. What happens to someone there if the government believes you are a threat?
New GOP Strategy Involves Reelecting Obama (http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-gop-strategy-involves-reelecting-obama-making,21113/)
QuoteAccording to GOP sources, the decision to cede the 2012 election to Obama came after rank-and-file Republicans agreed that grinding the president down to nothing and pushing him to the brink of insanity was far more in line with the Republican Party's core principles than actually controlling the White House, making laws, or governing the country.
QuoteFreedom in the future will require us to have the capacity to monitor our devices and set meaningful policy on them, to examine and terminate the processes that run on them, to maintain them as honest servants to our will, and not as traitors and spies working for criminals, thugs, and control freaks
...and after they will advise you to install Firefox from command-line and fight all the arising problems. Probably, that's a part of their supposed freedom vision.
Gotta love the onion for a first class Spoof of the political as well as all their other crazy stuff.
Well doomsday predictions will never go out of style it seems. On the other hand we don't need any Mayan calendar to tell us the world is going to shit. The true religion these days is that of pure greed, it used to be something bad (heck, even a mortal sin) but these days not only is no longer frowned upon, it's celebrated. You are supposed to try and take as MUCH as you can, not what you need. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Social safety nets paid by our taxes are being hollowed out, yet the taxes don't go down, instead they are used to finance tax cuts for the wealthy. Unregulated markets leading to monopolies and cartels, not to mention insane speculation again spurred by utter greed and when it fails, taxpayer money is used to not only save the institutions themselves but also to provide these greedy bastards with their bonuses. The US is fully corporate owned, and it's like they are no longer even trying to hide it.
Quote from: Vortex on January 03, 2012, 07:16:41 PM
...and after they will advise you to install Firefox from command-line and fight all the arising problems. Probably, that's a part of their supposed freedom vision.
?
The thing I found interesting in the article is how USA government is eroding bit by bit the freedom of their people using the scare of "terrorist", now is "legal" to arrest and detain people whitout court order and due proses.
Quote from: Bill Cravener on January 03, 2012, 05:52:25 PM
By the way Carlos I believe you are a Mexican citizen if I'm not mistaken. What happens to someone there if the government believes you are a threat?
yep Bill, I'm Mexican and here, if the powers that be think you are a treat, you just disappear ( and if you are lucky, reapear in a unmarked grave) the sad truth is, many Mexicans view USA as a shelter from gov wrath (this had noting to do with illegal immigration, this is another (thorny) issue) now we may have to flee to Canada, Europe or Australia. If thing go bad in USA can you imagine how things will be HERE?
Carlos
Quote from: donkeyI haven't watched the history channel for a while, have they ended their 16 year continuous run of "Nazi Week" ?
Now we have Ancient Aliens, with this dude
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gwd4sH9SOZU/TmQx2KnQaoI/AAAAAAAAAWg/dtNOFAIQCeo/s1600/gt.jpg)
His hair brought to you by Chaos Theory Hair Products.
Ghostly,
Some people talking about "Freedom" are supporting Linux. That was the point (http://www.masm32.com/board/index.php?topic=17975.msg151514#msg151514)
Quote from: donkey on January 03, 2012, 06:08:51 PM
New GOP Strategy Involves Reelecting Obama (http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-gop-strategy-involves-reelecting-obama-making,21113/)
QuoteAccording to GOP sources, the decision to cede the 2012 election to Obama came after rank-and-file Republicans agreed that grinding the president down to nothing and pushing him to the brink of insanity was far more in line with the Republican Party's core principles than actually controlling the White House, making laws, or governing the country.
Edgar,
At first I couldn't believe it, but now John McCain has confirmed that they want to keep Obama (http://www.examiner.com/charleston-democrat-in-charleston-sc/john-mccain-hails-president-obama-video) :dazzled:
lol - he almost got boo'ed :bg
Quote from: jj2007 on January 06, 2012, 11:49:18 PM
Edgar,
At first I couldn't believe it, but now John McCain has confirmed that they want to keep Obama (http://www.examiner.com/charleston-democrat-in-charleston-sc/john-mccain-hails-president-obama-video) :dazzled:
Well The Week In Review (http://www.theonion.com/video/feds-break-up-brutal-las-vegas-manfighting-ring,26976/) says Obama doesn't want to run anymore.
Quote from: donkey on January 07, 2012, 02:32:57 AM
Well The Week In Review (http://www.theonion.com/video/feds-break-up-brutal-las-vegas-manfighting-ring,26976/) says Obama doesn't want to run anymore.
Whom can you trust, Edgar, apart from Fox News? But it does sound plausible:
Sources (http://www.theonion.com/articles/obama-openly-asks-nation-why-on-earth-he-would-wan,26933/) within the president's new "One Goddamn Reason" campaign confirmed he is genuinely curious to see if one American citizen can tell him why leaving the White House isn't the best thing he could possibly do for himself and his family.
"I have a pen and some paper right here," Obama said Wednesday morning at a town hall meeting in Ohio. "Let's list the pros and cons of being president. Con: There are people out there who literally want to shoot you dead. Con: We live in a country seriously considering a Newt Gingrich White House. Con: You can help 40 million Americans receive health care, sign legislation that regulates a financial system run amok, give the order to kill Osama bin Laden, help topple Muammar Qaddafi's tyrannical regime without losing the life of one American soldier, end the war in Iraq, repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, stave off a second Great Depression, take out more than 30 top al- Qaeda leaders, and somehow everyone still calls you the next Jimmy Carter."
(by the way: what's wrong with Jimmy? IMHO he was one of the best and most intelligent presidents the U.S. ever had)
:bg
> (by the way: what's wrong with Jimmy? IMHO he was one of the best and most intelligent presidents the U.S. ever had)
Why do you think Ronny got in ? PS: It was with the help of the Crazy Ayotollahs. :P
The Republicans are in a panic, the Labor Department said Friday 01/06/2012 that employers added a net 200,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent the lowest since February 2009. The rate has continued to drop for 4 straight months now.
The hiring gains cap a six month stretch in which the economy generated 100,000 jobs or more in each month. That hasn't happened since April 2006. Economists forecast that the job gains will top 2.1 million this year. Manufacturing added 23,000 jobs as did the health care industry. Transportation and warehousing added 50,000 jobs. Retailers added 28,000 jobs. Even the beleaguered construction industry added 17,000 workers. Weekly applications for unemployment benefits have fallen to levels we haven't seen in more than three years. Holiday sales were really solid. November and December were the strongest months of 2011 for the bailed out auto industry as well.
Many businesses say they are ready to step up hiring in early 2012 after seeing stronger consumer confidence and greater demand for their products. If the jobs market continues to improve, as I believe it will, the Republicans will have to switch over to Obamacare bashing an Obama's desire to reduce our military spending. The military spending cuts are already upsetting the warmongering Republican Party.
Obama 2012 !! :thumbu
This is the thing about the economy. It's not so much about money or any real Physical property thats makes the economy get better or worse,it is perception that drives the economy. If we(the people) believe it is better,then it will be better. Strangely.our economy is a "Faith Based" system. If you tell everyone the economy is getting bad,then it will move in that direction. People stop spending,companys layoff to protect themselves,our little pink Arseholes pucker up and make us panic.