The comedy that is public infrastructure in India keeps on giving: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-19060279
350 million people without power yesterday, 600 million without power today. 600 million is half the country's population and more people than any other country in the world, bar China. There is no power in the nation's capital. Oh how I wish the people boot out the Indian National Congress from power in the next election. They've made a giant hash of governing in the past couple of years.
Random News Article Discussion
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@cooldud_21:
The comedy that is public infrastructure in India keeps on giving: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-19060279
350 million people without power yesterday, 600 million without power today. 600 million is half the country's population and more people than any other country in the world, bar China. There is no power in the nation's capital. Oh how I wish the people boot out the Indian National Congress from power in the next election. They've made a giant hash of governing in the past couple of years.Sometimes I think India is too huge and too populated and too diverse to work as a state. That maybe it would be better split into a couple of nation states or something. Maybe even just two? Dravidia and Hindistan or something?
Not that Nepal is working out as it's own country….or Bangladesh...
Ehh what do you think.
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@Monkey:
Sometimes I think India is too huge and too populated and too diverse to work as a state. That maybe it would be better split into a couple of nation states or something. Maybe even just two? Dravidia and Hindistan or something?
Not that Nepal is working out as it's own country….or Bangladesh...
Ehh what do you think.
India is like Europe. Culture, language, food all change over the space of a hundred kilometers. The only reason we are a country is because the British colonized the million different kingdoms in the subcontinent and governed them as one entity. India is a collection of at least ten nation states, and even that is being conservative.
The problem with splitting India from within along regional lines (as opposed to the Partition of 1947, which was part and parcel of independence and was along lines of religion) is: where do you stop the division? Starting with the most obvious difference, North and South, as you suggest, seems like a logical start, given the whole Indo-Aryan vs Dravidian thing. But it doesn't stop there. Where would you group the Marathi and Gujarati speaking parts of Western India? What about Bengal? And the southern states are not the best of friends either. These two countries would fall apart in civil wars and worse before you can say "clusterfuck". And this is not even taking the rather troublesome North-East into the picture.
The problems with Nepal and Bangladesh are more ideological conflicts than a question of national integrity. Nepal is confused between the successful totalitarian model of its northern neighbour and the less successful chaotic democracy of its southern one. Bangladesh is struggling between identifying as the rallying nation of Bengali nationalism and being a hardcore Islamic state. -
Funny story: I normally don't vote period, but, this year, I am voting (for Obama, because I CAN NOT STAND mormon Romney). I know my vote–one single vote--doesn't count for much, but I'm doing it simply because I hate Romney.
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@The:
Funny story: I normally don't vote period, but, this year, I am voting (for Obama, because I CAN NOT STAND mormon Romney). I know my vote–one single vote--doesn't count for much, but I'm doing it simply because I hate Romney.
Actually that's not true. You're one vote could be extremely important, you live in one of the true swing states and one that has a pretty hefty amount of electoral votes in it for whoever wins it. So hell, I'm jealous of you lol, CT's one of the bluest states in the union these days, I might as well just vote for the local folks and not bother with the presidential.
Vote dude, you actually have some power with you here. Wield it!(you do live in Virginia right..lol)
EDIT: scroll down on the side here
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/
You'll see two map with some states highlighted in purple, look at the second one. There is a 4.7% likelihood that one vote could tip the scale in Virginia. Man…
I might actually live in Virginia one day if I work for the State Dep., Chrissie likes the name "Alexandria" lol. -
@The:
Funny story: I normally don't vote period, but, this year, I am voting (for Obama, because I CAN NOT STAND mormon Romney). I know my vote–one single vote--doesn't count for much, but I'm doing it simply because I hate Romney.
So if it was Christian Romney would that be more acceptable?
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yay my state is important!
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@Monkey:
Mormons are Christians.
Yes, they are…for the most part. Obviously they're not 100% though, as the are minor differences in beliefs (which I know you don't need explained to you), and in the eyes of the general public, Mormonism is as Christian as Catholicism.
My question to The Laughing Man is still relevant and still stands, and I'm still waiting for his response.
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@Nex:
Yes, they are…for the most part. Obviously they're not 100% though, as the are minor differences in beliefs (which I know you don't need explained to you), and in the eyes of the general public, Mormonism is as Christian as Catholicism.
And Catholicism/Orthodoxy is extremely Christian, one of the major faces of the religion, has more Christians than all of the Protestant sects put together? Nothing like the fringe-but-still Christian Mormonism?
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Olympic Badminton teams face charges due to allegedly "not using one's best efforts to win a match".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19074013# Sorry but what is this ? If they've already qualified for the more important rounds, as is my understanding, why is there an international incident being trumped up here ?
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Sounds about right to me. Don't go to the olympics if you plan to arse about with throwing matches to get better seeding
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@Monkey:
Actually that's not true. You're one vote could be extremely important, you live in one of the true swing states and one that has a pretty hefty amount of electoral votes in it for whoever wins it. So hell, I'm jealous of you lol, CT's one of the bluest states in the union these days, I might as well just vote for the local folks and not bother with the presidential.
Vote dude, you actually have some power with you here. Wield it!(you do live in Virginia right..lol)
EDIT: scroll down on the side here
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/
You'll see two map with some states highlighted in purple, look at the second one. There is a 4.7% likelihood that one vote could tip the scale in Virginia. Man…
I might actually live in Virginia one day if I work for the State Dep., Chrissie likes the name "Alexandria" lol.Yeah. I live in Virginia.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
@Nex:
So if it was Christian Romney would that be more acceptable?
I just put "mormon Romney", because I'm–to put it nicely--not a huge fan of the mormon fate; so, I won't lie, it is a point against him for me. (I'm somewhat religious myself--somewhat, meaning, I dislike churches, and, instead, practice my Christian faith in private). Though it wouldn't matter what religion Romeny follows, I would probably dislike him the same; I just don't like the man or his policies.
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@The:
I just put "mormon Romney", because I'm–to put it nicely--not a huge fan of the mormon fate; so, I won't lie, it is a point against him for me. (I'm somewhat religious myself–somewhat, meaning, I dislike churches, and, instead, practice my Christian faith in private). Though it wouldn't matter what religion Romeny follows, I would probably dislike him the same; I just don't like the man or his policies.
16 characters of contradiction.
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Mark my words, Romney will make a speech minimizing his LDSness at some point.
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@No:
Olympic Badminton teams face charges due to allegedly "not using one's best efforts to win a match".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19074013# Sorry but what is this ? If they've already qualified for the more important rounds, as is my understanding, why is there an international incident being trumped up here ?
Have you actually watched the match?
They didn't play at all. At all. They just tossed the ball at the net repeatedly to lose.
It was a complete insult and disgrace to the sport.
Not to mention insult to the Olympics in general, the international community, and their peers.They deserve no less than to be kicked out of the Olympics.
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Have you actually watched the match?
They didn't play at all. At all. They just tossed the ball at the net repeatedly to lose.
It was a complete insult and disgrace to the sport.
Not to mention insult to the Olympics in general, the international community, and their peers.They deserve no less than to be kicked out of the Olympics.
What's more it could be suspected even of match fixing, not just some janking with the system.
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Why did they lose repeatedly, out of spite?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19099676
The UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan has announced he is leaving his post.
In a news conference, he said the Syrian people "desperately need action" but criticised the UN Security Council for "finger-pointing and name-calling".
Mr Annan authored a six-point peace plan for Syria which was intended to bring an end to the fighting.
But the plan was never fully adhered to by either side and the violence has continued to escalate.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19107049
The United Nations says North Korea has requested immediate food aid after devastating floods last month.UN officials in Pyongyang said the need for aid was urgent after visiting flood-hit parts of the country to assess damage.
North Korea state media said that at least 119 people died and tens of thousands were left homeless.
Damage to infrastructure and farmland has affected the country's already dire food shortage problem.
The most badly affected areas are Anju city and Songchon County in South Phyongan Province, and Chonnae County in Kangwon Province, said the UN.
Residents in these areas are in urgent need of food supplies, as well as clean water, as wells have been contaminated by sewerage during the floods.
A UN spokesman in New York confirmed that the North Korean government has asked the UN to release emergency supplies such as food and fuel.
I'm really shocked NK would request help. It's just so out of character…
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Couldn't they have at least made it less obvious, what clowns
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So Belarus apparently expelled our diplomats, for reasons that may include us dropping 876 teddybears on them
http://news.sky.com/story/968644/belarus-expels-diplomat-after-teddy-bear-drop
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So Belarus apparently expelled our diplomats, for reasons that may include us dropping 876 teddybears on them
http://news.sky.com/story/968644/belarus-expels-diplomat-after-teddy-bear-drop
Yeah lol at this whole story. Must be so strange living in uber-politically modern Sweden and have somewhere that fucked so close.
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So Belarus apparently expelled our diplomats, for reasons that may include us dropping 876 teddybears on them
http://news.sky.com/story/968644/belarus-expels-diplomat-after-teddy-bear-drop
You pesky socialist Swedes showering decency in public again?
Shame on you. -
@Monkey:
Yeah lol at this whole story. Must be so strange living in uber-politically modern Sweden and have somewhere that fucked so close.
That reminds me of that saying; ''For american 100 years is a long time and for european 100 miles is a long distance''. Well thats not how it excatly went but whatever.
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That reminds me of that saying; ''For american 100 years is a long time and for european 100 miles is a long distance''. Well thats not how it excatly went but whatever.
Well I mean some Americans live across the water from Cuba and Haiti, one's a communist dictatorship, the other has living standards as bad as sub-saharan Africa.
But something about Sweden/Finland to Belarus is even stranger to me.
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We scare our children with stories about how everyday eastern europe inches closer and closer.
If you don't behave the dicatorship will through baltikum and absorb you
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Chavela Vargas died today ;(
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7 dead in shooting at Sikh temple in Wis.
OAK CREEK, Wis.—At least six people were killed Sunday when a gunman opened fire at a Sikh temple near Milwaukee, and the suspected shooter later died in an exchange of gunfire with police, authorities said.
Police were called to the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in the suburb of Oak Creek, where witnesses said several dozen people were gathering for a service. Authorities found four people dead inside the temple and two outside, Greenfield Police Chief Bradley Wentlandt said.
Sunny Singh, 21, of Milwaukee, said a friend pulled into the temple's parking lot, heard shots and saw two people fall down. The friend then saw the shooter reload his weapons and head to the temple's entrance, Singh said.
The first police officer to arrive at the temple engaged in gunfire outside the building with a man police believe was the shooter, Wentlandt said. The suspect was killed, he said.
Tactical units went through the temple, and authorities do not believe a second shooter was involved, Wentlandt said.
It's unclear how many others were wounded. Wentlandt said he had been told the officer who exchanged gunfire with the suspect and another person had been taken to hospitals. He said the officer was shot multiple times and is in surgery and is expected to survive.
The spokeswoman for the area trauma center said three victims were being treated there, including one who was in surgery.
Jatin Der Mangat, 38, of Racine, the nephew of the temple's president, Satwant Singh Kaleka, said his uncle was one of those shot, but he didn't know how serious his injuries were. He was among those waiting for news when police announced the deaths.
"It was like the heart just sat down," he said. "This shouldn't happen anywhere."
Sukhwindar Nagr, also of Racine, said he called his brother-in-law's phone and a priest at the temple answered and told him that his brother-in-law had been shot, along with three priests. The priest also said women and children were hiding in closets in the temple, Nagr said.
Wentlandt did not identify the suspect or say what might have motivated the shootings.
Sikhism is a monotheistic faith that was founded in South Asia more than 500 years ago. It has roughly 27 million followers worldwide. Observant Sikhs do not cut their hair; male followers often cover their heads with turbans – which are considered sacred -- and refrain from shaving their beards. There are roughly 500,000 Sikhs in the U.S., according to estimates. The majority worldwide live in India.
Sikh rights groups have reported a rise in bias attacks since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Washington-based Sikh Coalition has reported more than 700 incidents in the U.S. since 9/11, which advocates blame on anti-Islamic sentiment. Sikhs don't practice the same religion as Muslims, but their long beards and turbans often cause them to be mistaken for Muslims, advocates say.
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Every Sikh I've met in US were gentle, tolerant and nice people.
I can't imagine why anyone would want to go on a hate shooting rampage on them. :(
And here goes the fuckers at WBC again.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/05/westboro-responds-to-wisc_n_1745173.html -
"They wear them turbans, they must be dirty Muslimist Arabics."
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I hate discrimination, because it's so ignorant.
I'm friend's with a Middle Eastern guy, who follows the Muslim belief system. A very cool guy, who, is no different from myself; sharing nearly all the same hobbies and likes.
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He's hiding a bomb under his turban or in one of his ten wives, it's a fact of all Muslimists
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I suspect this is one of those mass murders in which the killer was looking to end it with a police assisted suicide. He shot at and seriously wounded an officer before the other officer was authorized to use deadly force. It may have been inspired by the Aurora killings in some respect as well considering the surprise attack on helpless victims in a public place. The Sikh Temple was likely just chosen based on race and that the Sikhs in the temple were easy targets. Very tragic at any rate.
As someone who is a native of Wisconsin, I believe this will likely be measured up to the 2004 Sawyer County killings in which Chai Vang murdered 6 deer hunters and wounded 2 others. Those murders are still a bit mysterious and bizarre considering the lack of eyewitnesses that survived the ordeal outside of the killer himself and the likelihood the killer snapped after being asked to leave the private property.
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"They wear them turbans, they must be dirty Muslimist Arabics."
Looking forward to the bombing of a Lebanese Christian Church next.
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http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/romney-says-america-is-not-like-a-kibbutz/
Oh, Romney, you charmer.
Complicating things since 2009.
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http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/romney-says-america-is-not-like-a-kibbutz/
Oh, Romney, you charmer.
North Korea and South Korea's radically different cultures are why they are on radically different levels of development durrrr.
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Last week: The Jews are successful because of their culture. The Palestinians aren't successful because of their culture.
This week: Americans are successful because of their individualism and not because we work together. What do we look like? A bunch of Jews?
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Yes, what a monolithically affluent society America is
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It's starting to sound like another World War. lolz…
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@The:
It's starting to sound like another World War. lolz…
What is?….....
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@Monkey:
What is?….....
This whole Syrian Government vs. Syrian Rebellion, and larger nations (though I don't count Iran as larger; they just wish they were) choosing a side they want to see come out on top. Heck… Didn't Russia even recently move some battleships close to Aleppo?
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@The:
This whole Syrian Government vs. Syrian Rebellion
This sort of proxy war thing was all over every inch of the Cold War. It never resulted in a third world war then, and it's DEFINITELY not going to now.
Russia is an impotent trash heap whose Professional Election Manipulator in Chief is more scared of Punk Rock bands with funny names calling him out domestically than anything else. Modern Russia is all image and slight of hand. -
But he looks so manly and intimidatingly badass and just the appearance makes it look like he's killed a dozen "rebels" with bare hands in his KGB days.
So all is forgiven.
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But he looks so manly and intimidatingly badass and just the appearance makes it look like he's killed a dozen "rebels" with bare hands in his KGB days.
So all is forgiven.
See that's the funny though. The longer he keeps dicking around the Kremlin, the more his manly image degrades, no one is supposed to rule that long, counting Medvedev it's been about twelve years of Putin, and it's gonna be at least sixteen, more likely twenty more.
He's going to start looking like a old man, poetically enough, he already does look much older than before.
The longer he greedily clings to power, the more visually he'll reflect that.
If I wasn't so sad for the Russian people I'd love it for the literary quality. -
@Monkey:
See that's the funny though. The longer he keeps dicking around the Kremlin, the more his manly image degrades, no one is supposed to rule that long, counting Medvedev it's been about twelve years of Putin, and it's gonna be at least sixteen, more likely twenty more.
He's going to start looking like a old man, poetically enough, he already does look much older than before.
The longer he greedily clings to power, the more visually he'll reflect that.
If I wasn't so sad for the Russian people I'd love it for the literary quality.Why do I get the feeling Putin's gonna end up like Brezhnev, old, drunk and incontinent ?
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It seems Belarus have ordered Sweden to close its embassy in Minsk. Swedens envoy Stefan Eriksson had first been expelled for meeting the with the Belarus opposition and because Sweden had given books containing material on human rights to a Belarussian university.
! > Belarus has ordered Sweden to close its embassy in Minsk by the end of the month, days after it expelled the Swedish ambassador. The incident is the latest dispute between Belarus and western nations, in particular EU states that have challenged the former Soviet country and its longtime leader, Alexander Lukashenko, over a perceived stifling of human rights.An EU spokesman, Sébastien Brabant, reiterated the 27-member bloc's "grave concern" over the decision earlier this month to bar the Swedish ambassador and said it was "urgently seeking clarification" over Minsk's latest move.
Sweden said its envoy, Stefan Eriksson, had been expelled because he had met the Belarus opposition and because Sweden had given books containing material on human rights to a Belarussian university.
Belarus, however, said it merely chose not to extend the envoy's accreditation, but added that Eriksson's activities were aimed at the "destruction" of Belarussian-Swedish relations.
Sweden responded by barring the Belarussian ambassador from entering Stockholm and asking two Belarussian diplomats to leave.
Sweden's foreign minister, Carl Bildt, tweeted that Lukashenko's "fear of human rights (is) reaching new heights".
"Lukashenko has now chosen to step up the conflict with Sweden even further," he wrote. "The purpose is most likely to make it as difficult as possible for the various co-operation programs we have (there) concerning – not the least – civil rights and freedom."
The Belarussian foreign ministry said it viewed its measures as "merely a principle of reciprocity"
since it had no choice but to close its embassy in Stockholm after its senior staff were told to leave. "Such circumstances make it impossible for the mission to maintain its normal functions," it said.
Lukashenko, known in the west as "Europe's last dictator", has ruled Belarus's population of 10 million since 1994, repressing opposition groups and independent news media while preserving a quasi-Soviet economy with about 80% of industry in state hands.
The latest diplomatic row comes weeks after a pair of Swedish activists were reported to have used a plane to drop hundreds of teddy bears bearing human rights messages into Belarusian territory.
Lukashenko fired two generals over the incident. Bildt, however, said there was no word that the toys were connected to the expulsion.
! Source:http://news.yahoo.com/belarus-orders-sweden-close-embassy-112704150.html -
"Banning ideas makes them go away, I learned this from all of history, where banning ideas has made them go away. That's why my history books are blank!"
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J](http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/marijuana-and-memory-study-shows-its-not-good-news-20120809-23wm8.html)ust for the hell of it. It's news, but I still don't know why. I thought everyone knew this. Shouldn't come off as surprising for anyone, at least not for those who don't smoke pot.
