mikebike

37 minutes ago, sukhumvitneon said:

"People are not forced to join the military in the U.S" is a  true statement at the moment, yes.  But to say that the U.S doesn't have conscription or a draft, as user Credo said, is dishonest.  Why does Selective Service exist?  Theoretically, it could be activated tomorrow, which is the point I'm making about the idea of banning gun sales to people age 18-20.

The point you are laboriously making is that anything could happen tomorrow and you'll happily use that ambiguity of the future to defend your position.

The Selective Service System is a often incomplete and out-of-date database of potential draftees should the US enact draft legislation at some point in the future. Nothing more, nothing less.

I'm not convinced Jing...

I think the final outcome will be a hybrid autonomous vehicle for most regular users.

Commercial vehicles and long-haul busses/trucks may well be fully automated.

On 3/24/2018 at 5:18 PM, BobBKK said:

 

But they aren't his to release or not as they are the Administrations. But, this aside,  I'm not a fan of the 'stab you in the back' culture in fact I'm not a fan, and have lost respect for, the USA in general (not the people) but the culture which is divisive, nasty and full of lies at every turn.

On 3/25/2018 at 9:45 AM, BobBKK said:

 

Why?  they can ask what they want and if you don't like it don't work there.  What a world it is becoming where people will sign, promise and vow to keep stuff confidential then break that word for politics. Your comments are based on your bias not ethics.

I don't know why you keep drilling on about stabbing in the back, or breaking their word for politics, or loyalty or leave... The simple thing about NDAs are that they are meant to protect an entity from loosing secrets and valuable proprietary information. They are not meant to stop employees from reporting illegal or possibly illegal actions by said entity. That is ethics.

Why you continue to see this as a "loyalty" issue rather than a do-the-right-thing issue is baffling.

12 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Agreed they are not a TOP power, but they are demanding respect and given their nuclear program there really isn't a choice. Other countries see that and want the same (Iran, North Korea, etc.). 

True dat!

Nuclear or near-nuclear states are gonna get more military respect. India, Pakistan, even Japan and the BRICS nations etc who could be n-armed very quickly garner respect militarily.

The key to the final step of "superpower" is that military might combined with unimaginable economic power, regional and global influence AND the ideological will and desire to use all of the above to tilt the table in your direction. Only two nations can claim that ground for the foreseeable future.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

That's partly true. They aren't an economic powerhouse. However, due to their nuclear program they are still a major power. Also, Putin has played a weak hand very well as far as his adventures in Ukraine and Syria. The fact that Russia is now such a massive force in the Middle East is not to be sneezed at. 

Yes Ukraine (former Soviet satellite as mentioned)... and Syria... not a bad start but no greater power and influence than the EU and no one is calling the EU a superpower...

 You can add their UN veto etc to their nuclear arsenal... still leaves Russia a microscopically distant 3rd when it comes to global power and influence. 

Playing some good hands as your post cold war pot dwindles is not being a superpower - it is doing the best with what you are dealt in a world which has mostly left you behind.

2 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

 

Am I the only one that laments the passage of journalism that didn't contain headlines like "May have", "This is what what happened but here's why that doesn't matter"."Here's what you should think about that". and others of that nature. Just tell me what happened and I'll figure out for myself what I think about it.

No you are not, but those of you who make this lament may be the only ones not to realize the use of "may have" means "we think this is the case ATM and will continue investigating and give you more details as they emerge".

Obfuscated facts do not pop out like a birthed baby.

On 2018-03-21 at 1:25 PM, Morch said:

 

Many of the related arms deals (if not most) originated and were already in the works during Obama's term. We've been through that on previous topics.

Uhm... so that means they need to be carried through with? No one at home in the current admin to review and make their OWN decision? Just, "let's rubber stamp this shizzle, we can blame the previous administration if anyone questions us..."? That's your standard of excellence?

On 2018-03-20 at 10:28 AM, BobBKK said:

 

They are standard practice for decades, I signed one 15 years ago and are usual for senior staff or staff working in sensitive areas. Some are trying to suggest this is something 'new' it isn't.  It simply states "you will be working on sensitive issues or client confidentiality please confirm you will not reveal these to others and if you do so you will be subject to legal penalty'.  Trying to politicize this is wrong and if you sign it you should be held accountable if you break the promise. It's a contract. 

Nope, not new to try and silence any whistleblowers or literally ANY employee with a concern about how things are done... The fact that you see this as a "sensitive issues" relating to business secrecy (all hail the corporate overlords) rather than a "stifle any dissent" declaration is troubling for a self-confessed social democrat.

On 2018-03-20 at 9:53 AM, BobBKK said:

I'm a Bernie, pro-choice, life-long socialist so your stereotyping fails significantly and is part of the problem. You think you have the right to make moral judgments on behalf  'of the citizenry'   when in fact you are paid a salary to do a job. If you don't like it don't do it and if you feel your 'precious ethics' are compromised grow some balls and REFUSE to sign the NDA don't sign then get all righteous!  what has happened to the US these days?

Of course... Corporate entities are ALWAYS up front about their illegal practices and it is so easy to determine their corporate ethics BEFORE you sign on and learn their internal culture.

What world do you live in?

On 2018-03-20 at 9:49 AM, BobBKK said:

So to Rat on the United States of America is ok then?  you have a weird sense of ethics. If you SIGN an NDA then abide by it.

Yep. If you sign on to EvilInc with an NDA you better abide... Never - ever - worry about abuses or illegalities... Apparently Bob thinks its more ethical to abide by a NDA than to do the right thing.

On 3/19/2018 at 8:36 AM, BobBKK said:

No problem!  don't like it?  don't work there... many of us have signed NDA's in our career's and it's part of the 'deal' that should be considered before taking up employment. To join something with the intent to 'Rat' after they pay your salary, feed your kids and put a roof over your head seems, somewhat, shameful.

Yep. I love subjecting my free speech to faceless corporate overlords... oh wait, no I don't.... I started my own business(es) shortly after my first corporate gig began and I realized they wanted my soul and first born.

On 3/19/2018 at 7:49 AM, Boon Mee said:

Sounds like a capital idea! 

Too many leakers with their own personal agenda trying undermine the President. 

Yeah, that first amendment free speech thang is a pesky annoyance... best be rid of it altogether.

1 hour ago, lannarebirth said:

 

The interest rate is being raised as fast it possibly can be from the artificial ZIRP. It still remains a pittance. It is not being raised because of Trump's policies but because of The Fed's dual mandate of maximizing employment and stabilizing prices. Prices are m/l stable and employment (among those seeking employment) is m/l at full capacity.

 

The interest rate will get no where near where it needs to be before it has to start cutting again for the next recession that will inevitably come. None of that has anything to do with Trump, or Obama either for that matter.

Treat me like an ignoramus but how does your last sentence make any sense?

Are you saying presidential administrations have zero economic impact and that their policy decisions have no effect on how the Fed Res manipulate rates? 

15 minutes ago, manarak said:

I can't help but think about all these wasted resources when there already is one clear and indisputable source of evidence in the form of dashcam footage. Thousands of dollars spent for nothing - once the responsibility for the accident is clearly established, of what interest are the other facts? who pays for the autopsy and the hours of investigation into an accident that has already been elucidated?

The purpose of the "in-depth" investigations is so that insurance companies can proportionalize blame and therefore control costs and payouts.

17 minutes ago, stevenl said:

On average, how many km's per accident and how many per death? And how does this compare to the self driving cars?

 

Wouldn't surprise me if self driving cars are better in the stats.

Probably true. But the sample size would be proportionately microscopic at this point. I doubt any meaningful statistical significance could be claimed.

I have a gut feeling that ultimately self driving cars will be better than 60% of the human drivers out there.

15 minutes ago, BarnicaleBob said:

I think a lot of people are being a little too quick to judge this accident.  The police traffic homicide unit has not completed their investigation yet and it may take a minimum of two weeks or more to do so.  It is quite possible the pedestrian was at fault, but as I said the traffic homicide investigation is still ongoing.  One possibility could be the pedestrian was only a couple of feet ahead of the vehicle which was traveling at 65 kph and then suddenly stepped out in front of it, leaving no possible way or time for the vehicle to react.   Let's wait for the investigation to be complete before judging.

Why would it take weeks? Plenty of cam footage from the self driving vehicle.

Xi's biggest challenge is keeping the CCP relevant at home. The 100 years of humiliation has been drilled into the populace and he must walk a fine line between modernization and historical abuses of the Chinese people (as they perceive them) to maintain power over a vast and diverse population.

Banging the drum of nationalism apparently works well in democratic and socialist systems to fire up the base.

On 3/14/2018 at 7:06 AM, boomerangutang said:

I challenge anyone on this thread to name one American who would be worse than Trump - for negotiation with Kim. Similarly, can they name one prominent American (not counting Alex Jones, or Fox people) who is more anti-American.  What other American denigrates half the politicians in DC while showering praise on Xi, Kim and Putin? 

 

 

Latest news us that 45 will kill the Iran nuclear deal in April. That should inspire confidence in KJU prior to dearmement negotiations. Lol.

You couldn't make it up if you tried.

Nadan beach is 9km.... not more than 20 mins to Donsak pier by car. 60 mins to NST airport. Nightlife depends on what you are looking for. No "girly" bars but lots of places for drinks and socializing at night, even one or two late-night clubs.

Try the Suratthani FB group. Much more active than here.

This reporter needs some help with maths in the second paragraph.

7 Euro cities in top ten. One each for NZ, Australia and Canada.

Drunk, high, homeless, mentally handicapped zombie... strangely enough I have managed to avoid hitting any idiot pedestrian who has staggered, walked, lunged, or ran in front of any vehicle I was driving in my 40 years on the roads.

Unfortunately autonomous vehicles aren't up to my standards... yet. I'll keep an open mind but they are a few years off from being ready for prime time.