Tom Kirkman + 8,860 December 8, 2019 5 hours ago, James Regan said: thats my Niece, seriously...... Overly Attached Girlfriend (OAG) is your niece? Seriously? If true, no wonder you hated Mr. Ethanol so much. OAG was a parody, while Mr. Ethanol was a real life version of a parody. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 December 10, 2019 On 12/6/2019 at 1:21 AM, Marcin said: The approach of copying was and is being used by each and every country in history, also by United States. The reason of agressive US approach towards copying by China is that China is best in fast prototyping and immediate scaling up of production. Take wind turbines lately. Western turbine makers where happy with overpriced model of oligopoly. Then suddenly Chinese producers were able deliver unlimited number of turbines in 10s of GWs in months. When China starts doing what everybody was doing in the past US approach suddenly changes. In South China Sea artificial island building on Spratly atols was conducted for decades by all countries. All these countries managed to reclaim 40 hectares of land in 20 years and Taiwan built short airstrip and quasi military base. And suddenly came China and reclaimed 1000 hectares in 2 years and built modern military bases during the next 2 years. And suddenly this was unacceptable. Only unacceptable because China is making illegal claim to vast areas of ocean that it has no inherent rights to control. This has been the main reason that the rest of the world has become alerted to its plans for hegemony. The Belt and Road plans are with the cooperation of the nations involved but have also raised alarm due to the financial effect on the populations involved. Often those granting the permissions are not looking out for their own people but their own profits. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frankfurter + 562 ff December 10, 2019 On 12/5/2019 at 1:13 AM, Marcin said: @Rasmus Jorgensen I will first go a little bit off topic to back my premise that Trump is by some metrics the best US President since at least Eisenhower. Donald Trump is the first really succesful person turned politician and not professional politician turned US President. I think business experience is a very good background for becoming politician. List of US presidents, professional politicians are also divided into experienced and inexperienced at the moment of election: Trump - succesful businessman turned politician Obama - professional politician (inexperienced) Bush Junior - princeling from Bush Dynasty, professional politician (inexperienced), with short business career, Clinton - professional politician (experienced) Bush senior - princeling from Bush Dynasty, professional politician (experienced), short business career, Ronald Reagan - actor that became professional politician (experienced), Jimmy Carter - professional politician (experienced) Ford - professional politician (experienced) Nixon - professional politician (experienced) Johnson - professional politician (experienced) Kennedy - princeling from Kennedy Dynasty, professional politician (inexperienced) Eisenhower - military commander turned politician    agree entirely. business experience is useful. so what is Trump's record? hint: he failed at gambling, booze, and real estate.  1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frankfurter + 562 ff December 10, 2019 3 hours ago, ronwagn said: Only unacceptable because China is making illegal claim to vast areas of ocean that it has no inherent rights to control. This has been the main reason that the rest of the world has become alerted to its plans for hegemony. The Belt and Road plans are with the cooperation of the nations involved but have also raised alarm due to the financial effect on the populations involved. Often those granting the permissions are not looking out for their own people but their own profits. You have described things precisely, not for China, but for the USA. Who sent their soldiers to conquer Samoa, Mariannas, Guam, etc? Who invaded Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan? Who destroyed the democracy in Iran and installed the Shah?  Who carved up the Yugoslavia?  Who has kept troops in Europe for 70 years? Who ran the coups in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Brasil, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina? and much., much more.  1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,756 RP December 10, 2019 On 12/8/2019 at 10:01 AM, DayTrader said: I already brought him up Rob. You must have missed it as you were distracted by the magic and wonder of the toaster. Ah yes the toaster, on a par with Stephen Hawking and quantum physics surely!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Kirkman + 8,860 December 10, 2019 3 hours ago, Rob Plant said: Ah yes the toaster, on a par with Stephen Hawking and quantum physics surely!! How Quantum Physics Starts With Your Toaster  Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,756 RP December 10, 2019 6 minutes ago, Tom Kirkman said: How Quantum Physics Starts With Your Toaster  I did say it was on a par!🤣 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest December 10, 2019 Don't forget golf and the tyre Rob. Apparently some rubber in a circular shape surrounding some circular metal is up there with Newton. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,756 RP December 10, 2019 26 minutes ago, DayTrader said: Don't forget golf and the tyre Rob. Apparently some rubber in a circular shape surrounding some circular metal is up there with Newton. The tyre I can understand, it sure as hell makes the ride more comfortable. Golf - WTF is that all about? Just don't get its popularity, apart from the 19th hole of course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest December 10, 2019 Agreed mate, never quite understood it. I think Mark Twain said something like ''a game of golf is a good walk ruined''. So true lol, the added joke being people get on a buggy from hole to hole nowadays. So now it's just ''a good day ruined''. But it's Scottish so allowances must be made in terms of what's considered entertainment I guess? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,756 RP December 10, 2019 Haha How long have you been friends with James? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest December 10, 2019 Haha just few months ago mate, never met the guy 🤣 we email now and again, same as I do with Doug, Tom and Jan. James was the first to get in touch actually, on here, on the messenger randomly one day, saying a few have commented on my style to each other and to keep it up, so I like him. But his idea of national achievements is verging on retarded. He knows this. We all do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,756 RP December 10, 2019 🤣 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 December 10, 2019 8 hours ago, frankfurter said: You have described things precisely, not for China, but for the USA. Who sent their soldiers to conquer Samoa, Mariannas, Guam, etc? Who invaded Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan? Who destroyed the democracy in Iran and installed the Shah?  Who carved up the Yugoslavia?  Who has kept troops in Europe for 70 years? Who ran the coups in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Brasil, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina? and much., much more.  All of those instances mentioned were in response to communist, socialist or other undue incursions that required a response. We have stayed in Europe as part of NATO and especially because those countries have not built their own militaries to defend themselves. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob D + 562 RD December 10, 2019 9 hours ago, frankfurter said: agree entirely. business experience is useful. so what is Trump's record? hint: he failed at gambling, booze, and real estate.  https://www.trump.com/ Failed at Real estate??  Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob D + 562 RD December 10, 2019 2 hours ago, DayTrader said: Agreed mate, never quite understood it. I think Mark Twain said something like ''a game of golf is a good walk ruined''. So true lol, the added joke being people get on a buggy from hole to hole nowadays. So now it's just ''a good day ruined''. But it's Scottish so allowances must be made in terms of what's considered entertainment I guess? https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/28/golf-good-walk/ Not Twain John Feinstein's A Good Walk Spoiled is a must read for golf nuts like me. Golf involves drinking so it's not a totally ruined day! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk + 12 December 10, 2019 On 12/4/2019 at 2:01 PM, SERWIN said: Â Â I would have to disagree with that statement, under the Obama administration racial tensions are higher than they have been in years.... if that's true, it's because racists don't like being called out for being racist. Unless of course it's at a rally of racists. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boat + 1,324 RG December 10, 2019 It took till until about a month ago for US sanctions against China to just equal China’s sanctions against the US. So far little progress has been made in the outrageous trade deficit. Unless the numbers change by hundreds of billions the loud mouthed shuck will have failed. Kind of like N Korea and ending the Nuclear threat. All talk and bs with little substance. Even withholding weapons from the Ukraine to get them to dig up dirt on a political opponent failed. We have illegals shown scaling the new wall. That old man just isn’t having a good year. 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enthalpic + 1,496 December 10, 2019 On 12/7/2019 at 6:21 AM, Tom Kirkman said: Stop the presses! This latest scandal will surely be the end of Trump! How dare he !!! Ok that is funny, but also very sad if he really does insist on having larger shakers.  1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob D + 562 RD December 10, 2019 Welcome Kirk No need to start calling people racist when you have no clue who you're talking about. Most people also hate being called racist especially if they are not. This is a disagreement of opinions and you're using a flamethrower. And you're not correct according to CNN. No better friend to Dems/Obama than CNN right!! Most say race relations worsened under Obama, poll ... - CNN https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/05/politics/obama-race-relations-poll Oct 05, 2016 · Most say race relations worsened under Obama, poll finds - CNNPolitics A majority of Americans say relations between blacks and whites in the US have worsened under President Barack Obama… 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stephenk + 28 SK December 10, 2019 16 minutes ago, Boat said: It took till until about a month ago for US sanctions against China to just equal China’s sanctions against the US. So far little progress has been made in the outrageous trade deficit. Unless the numbers change by hundreds of billions the loud mouthed shuck will have failed. Kind of like N Korea and ending the Nuclear threat. All talk and bs with little substance. Even withholding weapons from the Ukraine to get them to dig up dirt on a political opponent failed. We have illegals shown scaling the new wall. That old man just isn’t having a good year. Well you can say one thing he did that the rest haven't he made everyone look at what has been done to us in the past and has not just thrown money at it to make it go away, No matter how you look at it there will be a lot of people who are watching how things are being done which should slow down some of the bull shit. But if I had to guess money always win out in the long run when it comes to DC and as far as China and NK go they both had to step back and try a new approach to deal with Trump and he been holding his ground with the both of them from what I've seen. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest December 10, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Boat said: That old man just isn’t having a good year. Whereas your precious Biden is having a belter. @Ward Smith this is pure unadulterated whataboutism and I don't care 🤣 Dunno where to start with the rest of your post mate LOL but I will try ... Edited December 10, 2019 by Guest Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest December 10, 2019 (edited) Ok, so with regard to China, the argument from what I assume are Dems here and from what I just read is ''ooh well China is still ahead / Trump accomplishing nothing''. Even if this were true, it sounds like the argument is ''ooh this seems a bit hard, let's not bother''. Trust me, it pains me to say this lol, but I'm pretty sure this is not an ethic that America was built on. I don't understand the Trump bashing to a point that I assume you agree with what he's doing, but as the results are maybe not there yet, you see it as an opportunity to criticise. Honestly this is just weird to me. Would you rather he didn't bother at all (like Dems didn't)? Would you rather your country was raped for a few more decades? Or am I wrong and you don't agree with what he's doing at all? (which wouldn't surprise me just because of who he is). Bare in mind no other president addressed this. You know this yes? Same with North Korea. The argument I just read above was literally ''haha they still have nuclear weapons''. Think about that for a moment. This is a fat evil maniac who right now is starving the majority of his own people, and if you travel outside Pyongyang and not on their fixed tours, you will see people in fields on their hands and knees clawing at grass and roots to eat. Is this an issue to you? No, of course it isn't, you are too busy saying ''haha'' to Trump. I do not understand it. You relish that this guy still has weapons as you can then, apparently with some sort of point, criticise Trump. Think about that. I do not understand honestly how you people do not realise that the TDS runs so deep that whatever this guy does, you will attack him. Yes he says dumb shit, yes he loves his twitter, blah blah. So what if he does?? Look at what the guy is trying to accomplish rather than mindlessly attack. Look at Libya. He had a campaign about bringing your guys home. The second he says we are pulling out, ''oh it's outrageous, he has blood on his hands''. If he kept guys there ''oh well he's gone back on his promises''. Do you not see this guys, that whatever he does he will be criticised? I'm not having a pop. If you don't like him, fine, I really don't care, but this 'whatever he does is wrong' shit is astounding to me honestly. Another example. Let's say the nutter in NK used these weapons and nuked some country to pieces. What would your reaction be? I'm guessing ''well Trump should have got them off him / well Trump's talks failed''. On the other hand, if Trump got NK to hand over every single one, what would you say? I'm guessing ''oh well Trump is clearly only friends with dictators''. This logic is insane to me seriously. Enthalpic this ain't at you, it's more to Boat because of what I just read. We've obviously had some Trump banter let's say in the past, but do you see my point? He has even made reference to ''haha, people are getting over the wall''. Well how many do you think there would be illegally getting in without a wall? I'm going to take a wild guess and say a lot more, but that's just me. If you don't like the guy, fine. Like I say, I couldn't care less. I don't live there and deep down I don't give a shit in all honesty how much you guys pay for stuff. Sorry. But this mindless attacking is so bizarre to me, because there are so many times where Trump could have 2 choices, and they are polar opposites, and Dems would attack, guaranteed, whichever he chose. It's nuts to me, and that is the definition of TDS. Edited December 10, 2019 by Guest Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk + 12 December 11, 2019 6 hours ago, Bob D said: Welcome Kirk.... I stand by my point. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frankfurter + 562 ff December 11, 2019 8 hours ago, Boat said: It took till until about a month ago for US sanctions against China to just equal C So far little progress has been made in the outrageous trade deficit. Unless the numbers change by hundreds of billions the loud mouthed shuck will have failed. Kind of like N Korea and ending the Nuclear threat. All talk and bs with little substance. Even withholding weapons from the Ukraine to get them to dig up dirt on a political opponent failed. We have illegals shown scaling the new wall. That old man just isn’t having a good year. "China’s sanctions against the US." ?? Please explain. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites