8/10    Back on 8/5:
        "Pulitzer prize winning journalist breaks the lid on the illegal
        techniques the White House used to deceive the nation into supporting
        the Iraq War"
        I wonder why this post didn't follow up on 8/6 with, "book's sources
        deny": http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26050915
        \_ So your point is that the White House and CIA are denying the
           allegations?  I already knew that.
           \_ The sources named in the book are denying it.
        \_ I didn't see it. This is why I read the motd. -oop

8/10    "Some Opening Ceremony fireworks were fake"
        http://www.csua.org/u/m1v (sports.yahoo.com)
        "London's Telegraph newspaper reports that some of the fireworks which
        appeared over Beijing during the television broadcast of the Olympic
        Opening Ceremony were actually computer generated. But -- hold on --
        it's not necessarily as bad as you think."
        \_ I 100 percent support CGI fireworks on TV over real live
           fireworks

8/10    Obama shifts towards economic-based affirmative action.
        http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080810/pl_politico/12421
        'Obama said that his two daughters should not be given preferential
        treatment, owing to their relatively privileged upbringing, and has
        called for government to "craft" a policy "in such a way where some of
        our children who are advantaged aren't getting more favorable
        treatment than a poor white kid who has struggled more."'
        I think I'll vote for him.

8/11    Any theories as to why Russian and German athletics have fallen off of
        a cliff? Certainly all of their success could not have been
        because of doping? Could it? It's weird to watch the Olympics and
        see the Russians as an afterthought.

8/11    I'm thinking about getting an iPhone. The data plan I'm thinking
        of getting is $129.99 700 any time minutes for 2 iPhones. I
        understand that I'll also have to pay a lot of taxes. Realistically,
        how much will I have to pay per month? $129.99 + (tax tax tax) =
        ???? Like $150? $180? I want to know the exact BOTTOM LINE
        price, not some "Oh it will depend on tax rate and service
        charge and usage" type of crap.

8/10    Harvest of cash: Kern County agency buys public water low, sells high
        http://csua.org/u/m1y

8/10    No one really cares about what you think, dim. Fuck off.
        \_
        \_ Dude, you have unresolved issues. Did I fuck your girlfriend or
           something? I'm sorry. She told me she was single. BTW, your
           attempts at censoring me are juvenile, pathetic, and have no
           place on MOTD.
        \_ Dude, I fuck your boyfriend. I'm sorry. Actually, no. he
           told me he was single. BTW, your attempts at ridicuing me
           has no place on MOTD. No one should disagree with me.
           You're an ass! I feel like crying. WAAAA!    -dim
           \_ Ridicule me all you want. I'm mature enough to handle it.
           \_ Ridicule me all you want. I'm mature 3nough to handle it.
              I expect flames on MOTD. However, your junior-high antics
              are despicable. A world-writable MOTD assumes a certain
              level of maturity which you apparently lack.
              \_ This is a FREE COUNTRY and there's plenty of motd
                 in this FREE MARKET, go pick a market that you like
                 but don't force others to listen to your drivels.
              \_ Oh I am so hurt that I need to respond to the troll!
                 So hurt! BOO HOO! WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -dim
                 \_ Trolling is one thing. Deleting posts, modifying posts,
                    and profanity-laced personal insults are another level
                    of stupidity. MOTD has few enough contributors as it is.
                    Are you that bored? You need a girlfriend.
                 \_ Waaa!!                      -real dim
              \_ Anonymous personal attacks aren't really a sign of great
                 maturity, imho. If we all agreed with each other, the motd
                 would be a pretty boring place. -ausman
                    \_ Your worst sin, my following bitch: You're not funny
                       or clever. Read what you wrote. My aren't you proud?
              \_ If you assume anything on motd, you're a complete idiot.
              \_ Welcome to Libertarian motd. There are no rules or laws.
                 \_ Libertarianism is not Anarchy, but we're already over
                    your head now.
              \_ Sorry dude, calling some one out by name without posting
                 your own is just plain old troll behavior.  It's pretty
                 much the definition of immature.  -jrleek
                 \_ I posted more or less the same thing, but got my post
                    deleted. -ausman
        \_ What the hell is this about?

8/11    Why the heck did China want to have the Olimpics in Beijing anyway?
        Surely China has SOME nice areas...

8/11    Anyone have thoughts about what the US should do about Georgia?
        \_ Annex it as Georgia II.
        \_ Not much I'm afraid.  Especially since Georgia seems to have
           started it.  Russia was fomenting the battle, but when Russia
           is itching to attack you, don't give it an excuse!
           \_ Russia moved troops into Georgia, not the other way around.
              Doesn't seem fair to say Georgia started it.
              \_ You're right, that's quite right. But Georgia attacked
                 seperatists Russia was more or less explicity supporting,
                 and Russia has been itching to attack, because they want to
                 show off how "strong" they are.  Georgia didn't exactly start
                 it, but they did walk into a pretty well marked trap.
                 \_ Agreed.  Don't walk into that trap until after you actually
                    join NATO.  -- !OP
                    \_ I'm not sure I'd support them then, unless they cleared
                       it with NATO first.  This is pretty similar to the sort
                       of BS that started WWI. -pp
                 \_ So because they didn't let Russia simply annex South
                    Ossetia, it's their fault?
                    \_ I don't know enough about the situation to say.  I've
                       heard a number of contradictory claims.  But better to
                       lose one province than a whole country. -pp
                       PS: I'm not sure fault is interesting in this case,
                       since the question isn't really moral.  We know the
                       Russians are currently in imperialist dictatorship mode.
                       Certainly attacking is the Russians 'fault'.  But does
                       that matter? Do you want to get involved?
                       \_ Georgia is a good friend of the US, is our primary
                          flight path to Afghanistan, and has an oil pipeline
                          that carries 1 million barrels of oil per day.
                          \_ So, it that a 'yes I'd like to get in a war with
                             Russia,' or what?
                             \_ It's a "I think we might have to"
                                \_ Don't be stupid. Russia would crush us if
                                   tried to intervene here. 1M of oil is not
                                   enough to risk WWWIII over.
                                   \_ Mark my words: if no one stops Russia
                                      now (or at least steps up to face them
                                      via sanctions and condemnations),
                                      Russia _will_ reconstitute the USSR.
                                      \_ Okay, I will mark them. I think you are
                                         wrong, but we will find out in a few
                                         years. I am curious, do you think
                                      \_ Okay, I will mark them. I think you
                                         are wrong, but we will find out in a
                                         few years. I am curious, do you think
                                         Russia will invade Lithuania? Because
                                         I don't think so. Can you tell us
                                         how your other motd.prections have
                                         worked out so far?
                                         \_ Lithuania: no. Belarussia: perhaps.
                                            Ukraine: perhaps. My predictions
                                            on the motd so far: haven't tracked
                                            them. Bet: $1 to you if Russia
                                            doesn't annex Belarussia or
                                            Ukraine (or Georgia) within 5
                                            years.
                                            \_ If the only country they annex
                                               is Georgia, that hardly qualifies
                                               as "reconstituting the USSR" now
                                               does it. They would have to annex
                                               all or at least most of their
                                               former colonies, right? I
                                               actually think that Russia will
                                               only annex South Osseta and
                                               only annex South Ossetia and
                                               leave Georgia after they have
                                               been "taught a lesson." Within
                                               a few weeks, at most.
                                               \_ I'm trying to make the bet
                                                  measurable in terms of
                                                  winning; reconstituted USSR
                                                  may take more than five
                                                  years.
                                                  \_ How are you defining that
                                                     term?  Do you really see
                                                     East Germany and Poland
                                                     returning to Russian
                                                     control, on any timeframe?
                                                       -tom
                                                     \_ A fair question. No,
                                                        I'd define this as
                                                        core elements, not
                                                        satellite clients like
                                                        E. Germany, Poland,
                                                        Czechoslovakia, or the
                                                        Baltics.
        \_ A Russian general yesterday said Poland is opening itself to
           nuclear attack with a 100 percent possibility if it continues
           to host American base.  kewl!!!!!!!!!!
           \_ Damn! Maybe I should have included the Satellites in the bet!

8/11    Check out Bilbo's Hemisphere Of Happiness!
        http://bilbobiggty.blogspot.com/2008/08/check-these-out.html

8/11    http://www.theonion.com/content/video/chinese_officials_deadly_virus

8/11    the real story behind Isaac Hayes' death:
        http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,401321,00.html
        \_ Killed by Scientology!

8/11    Analysis: roots of conflict between Georgia and Russia
        http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4498709.ece
        \_ This is an excellent insight. Thank you.
        \_ this is pretty straightforward actually:
           - s. ossetia is de facto independent and allied with Russia
           - georgia takes s. ossetia by force, pokes Russian Bear in eye
           - Russia steamrollers georgia, makes them pay
           - Dubya yammers helplessly
           \_ You forgot: US foreign policy encourages Georgia to think we've
              got their back, infuriating Russia and encouraging Georgia to
              take unnecessary risks.
              \_ Sounds like its Taiwan policy.  (This is unrelated to which
                 side of the Straight is right and which side is wrong.)
                 \_ Yes and no.  We paid attention whenever Taiwan's president
                    went too far and defused any potential crisis before things
                    got out of hand.
              \_ You would think that the Georgian president got the memo
                 titled "Subject: Don't invade S. Ossetia!"  Unless the U.S.
                 foreign policy team wasn't very clear about that ...
                 Me:  Condi?  Fucking things up AGAIN?  What?  Did you think
                 yer buddy GEORGE was going to catch this?  Didn't you do your
                 dissertation on the Soviet Union and satellite states?
                 \_ More likely, Condi gave Georgia the green light, just like
                    Bush I gave Saddam Hussein the green light to invade
                    Kuwait. Bushco is trying to stir things up here to give
                    McCain a chance. I wonder what Act II is going to be.
                    \_ I think your tinfoil hat is a little too tight.
                       \_ After Kissinger's secret meetings with the North
                          Vietnamese and Reagan's Iran-Contra stuff, I really
                          don't think so. There is historical precedent.
                    \_ Condi's green light to Georgia:
                       Please go ahead and take over S. Ossetia.  We support
                       your efforts to get bent over and assfucked by Russia.

8/11    Check out Bilbo's Hemisphere Of Happiness! [NSFW-ish?]
        http://bilbobiggty.blogspot.com/2008/08/check-these-out.html
        \_ jesus christ.

8/11    Timeline:  Condi visited Georgia one month before its invasion of
        S. Ossetia.  Russia also gave warning of potential of large scale
        military conflict four days before invasion.
        http://tinyurl.com/5s4u2y (abc.net.au)

8/11    Ford Flex commercial-- wrong time (high gas price), wrong
        music (why the hell did they use a Hot Pocket food commercial),
        wrong setting (SUV market should tailor to suburban dwellers,
        not a fucking city that is shown). Fucking stupid commerical.
        \_ Gee, I thought from the name it was some flex-fuel vehicle.
           \_ Nope, just a fucking SUV. What a STUPID NAME.