Posts by bolddriver21

Sam Alvarez4 said:The summit will proceed without... French President Nicolas Sarkozy, along with British and Spanish Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero..."
A ?...
What year is this link from...?

I just wanted you guys to see it as an example of what the Eastern Partnership actually looks like. I wasn't trying to be "current" here; I was looking at the status quo. Europe has been pushing this thing for ages. It’s a massive geopolitical strategic project that isn't going anywhere.

Europe wants to step up and help the Baltic states set up a buffer zone against Russia’s growing influence.
Belarus is just an isolationist dictatorship, and honestly, that's a whole different mess I'm not going to waste my breath on right now. Not yet.

Europe is trying to play protector for Georgia, which is basically just sitting out there in the wind with a target on its back from Russia and those collaborators in Abkhazia and Ossetia.
Then you've got Moldova, where they'll be offering support to push back against the Russian secessionist moves over in Transnistria.

The heavy hitters strategically would be Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. There's massive natural resources sitting there that Europe desperately needs.

Brian Baker4 said:

governments in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyiv, Moldova, and Georgia.

Wait, which country are we even talking about here?

U-Ukraine.

While everyone’s busy staring at Syria, the European Parliament just passed a resolution calling out Russia for those geopolitical power plays—basically trying to bully and sabotage countries in their orbit from getting any closer to the West.

In just a few weeks, the big players for the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius (http://www.eu2013.lt/en/vilnius-summit)) will be gathered, where Europeans are set to sit down with leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyiv, Moldova, and Georgia.
The actual outcome of this summit is probably going to be anyone's guess, though I'm sure the spokespeople will have some polished nonsense ready to go by then.

Eastern Partnership

Who knows if Kyiv will actually sign the Association Agreement?
Will Moldova and Georgia end up ratifying it?
And what does the future of European policy look like in the space surrounding Russia?

Back when the idea for the Eurasian Union first popped up in 2009, Belarus was mostly left out in the cold, Azerbaijan didn't give a damn, and Armenia just kept dragging its feet and nitpicking everything.

Fast forward to today, and Armenia is openly talking about joining the Eurasian Union.
Georgia is still weighing its options because Abkhazia and South Ossetia are firmly under Russian control. Tbilisi is stuck between a rock and a hard place, trying to balance things while eyeing NATO.

hollowranger61 said:I'm having a nightmare trying to log in—I put in my username and password (they're definitely right) and it basically tells me "thanks for logging in" (well, if it doesn't just redirect me, it gives me some tip about clicking a link).
The thing is, everything looks correct, I'm clearly recognized by the system, but lately I can't actually use the forums or send messages like a normal user. Help!

Maybe you should try changing hollowranger61 to hollowranger61 or Oklahoman?
This just isn't working out...

Get those afternoon workouts in if you want to crush it in the morning!

He’s just... I don't know, he's kind of a nothing actor. Just leaves you confused.

Sean Sanders81 said:California isn't dead yet... thank God.🙂

As for the Frontier, nobody even considers it a problem anymore because, well, it doesn't exist.
Another reason to thank God, I guess. 🙂

Cut the casual patriotism crap... both were illegal setups anyway.

boldscout11 said:Where can I pick up some dumbbells in Orlando?

Ah... in SF, huh?

Why does every single subforum show a member count? Like, what’s actually going on behind the scenes there... how do they even decide those numbers?

The same old American problems—the Frontier and California—they just never go away, even when they're supposedly settled...

mistycanyon6 said:Yeah. I’m not even sure how to put this into words anymore. I suppose I just dug myself into a hole too deep—and stayed there far too long—to simply climb my way out on my own. Whatever. I gave it a shot. At least I tried something. At least I managed to pull off one dream in this life. Actually, make that two.

And two days is nothing... don't sweat it, things are bound to get even messier before they get better.

God definitely isn't what those church folks try to sell you on.
The way they perceive God... honestly, it’s an insult to anyone with half a brain.
To them, God is just a convenient little alibi to justify living their best lives on everyone else's dime.

Lisa Garcia48 said:Look, man, your crisis isn't just about being single... You're getting hit from all angles: lack of motivation, money, drive, self-confidence, MY FRIEND... I’m telling you, fix those other areas first and finding a woman won't be the issue—especially if you sort out your finances :P

That last part is gold... "fix the finances." I believe it because it’s absolutely impossible.

mistycanyon6 said:It’s all quite pointless—feel free to lock this thread. There isn't anyone here who can actually help me.

ehej, buddy, slow your roll... you’ve got a serious, chronic issue on your hands involving a whole lot of people. and your plan is to just wander off to some place you've never even stepped foot in?

frozenheron7 said:I think this movie is absolutely top-tier, just like Borat.
It’s got that incredible sense of self-deprecation—it's just brilliant stuff.

Yeah.. but honestly, the cheap production value totally undercut Cohen's knack for playing the fool.

nimbleharbor10 said:

James Lee77 As I have stated before, there is an undeniable reality to the situation that many refuse to acknowledge. It isn’t merely about a difference of opinion; it is about the fundamental facts of how these institutions function. One cannot simply ignore the structural flaws inherent in our current system and expect a different outcome. We see it playing out in every major decision made by the City Council, where the influence of special interests often outweighs the actual needs of the public. It is a pattern that repeats itself, regardless of which party holds the majority, yet people continue to act surprised when the results align perfectly with the established status quo. To suggest otherwise is to ignore the very mechanics of power that govern us.
And besides, we really ought to take the front page into account as well. The New York Times On the day of the referendum. Honestly, it’s almost a shame the vote didn't pass, if only because I wanted to see exactly how they would have maneuvered around it. I have zero doubt they would have found a way to bypass it entirely.

When people start dragging both the Mount Rainier golf course controversy and the European Union debate into the same conversation, it’s worth pointing out a glaring logical contradiction in how these rules are being applied. If we were strictly following the regulations governing an EU referendum, that golf course on Mount Rainier wouldn't even be on the table. Conversely, if we were playing by the rules established for the Mount Rainier referendum, the EU issue wouldn't be part of the equation. This reveals a blatant institutional manipulation of the referendum process itself; there is a clear attempt to weaponize media pressure to steer the public toward whatever outcome the elites have already decided is most desirable.

You’re right that the rules were essentially rigged to serve the interests of the politicians, but at the end of the day, the reality remains: the voters didn't really step up to the plate. Instead of actually showing up and speaking their minds, they mostly just went along with the status quo or settled for doing nothing at all.

We ought to have a "No Way" party on the ballot—one that guarantees its members won't even show up to Congress, let alone cast a vote for anything. For those who feel the urge to cast a protest vote instead of just doodling Donald Duck on their ballot, they should vote for "No Way." By doing so, they effectively snatch a vote away from the rest of the field, ensuring the remaining parties are left fighting over a smaller majority of valid votes.

Got any actual, concrete proposals?

When Nietzsche actually broke down