Max Divergent

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Posts by Max Divergent

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  41

  American -vs- European travelers

  by Seven in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jwd, .

  i've noticed on more than one occasion comments such as this one made in mattnoel's post this morning within the us/patriotism thread: its also very much the world of america, people dont go outside except to canada and mexico.

  could it be that we are the only nation out of the long list of major western countries not to have legally mandated vacation days?

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  Max Divergent

  Well... I'm doing ok the moment by the look of things... 9 weeks* leave on full-pay and a free airfare each year which I can use as about 75% of an Round the World fare which we did last year (India and the US) and probably will again this year (US, Wales, Italy and Greece)...

  But inbetween times, we'll probably take the in-laws somewhere like this for a couple of days. This is 2 hours on the highway and 65km of 4WD track from our place...

  or for just a long lunch we'll go somewhere like this...

  still, we might just cop out and go to http://www.elquestro.com.au/ instead, that's an hour away...

  Mmm... a world of choices when you live in the middle of nowhere...

  Cheers, Max

  * Naturally, that's in addition to about 12 or so Public Holidays and an extra 2 days for flying time (and extra 5 days if you drive instead - in which case your fuel and accomodation are covered to the value of the airfare). Some who can juggle things take their 7.5 hours off-site work on a Friday for time to time and engage in some recreation or other... (Why am I looking for another job again????). Our current workplace negotiations centre on over-work and are claiming an extra 2 weeks leave. I'm serious.
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  A question for peaceniks and warmongers…

  by Max Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after all the discussion recenly and the seeming welcome the troops got in baghdad i'd be interested in your thoughts...

  q: would you support your country's government if they proposed committing troops and tax money to a long-term program with a coalition of the willing* to:

  1. remove all the very worst and most aggressive regimes from controlling sovereign nations by all necessary means which may include initiating war

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  Max Divergent

  Hi Realist - Thanks again for your interest...

  about NK...i think you underestimate them...they perhaps have already nukes and even without that...they have a highly trained army equipped with chinese weapons. have you seen their troops march?

  Well, yeah... they certainly look impressive, although in reality they may not be well enough trained or equipped to fight a modern war. I read recently that the government teaches the people that food aid they receive with the Old Glory stamped on the side is a supplication from the weak Americans to avoid being invaded and taken over by NK. Perhaps there's an element of bluff involved? On the economic side, well... there'd be change. Bring it on though. I'm told it would work.

  also the US is currently using 25% !!! of the worlds oil. without switching to modern technologies (my heart goes to nuclear fusion! ) i am afraid we would be in trouble.

  Mmm... getting a law up that reduces oil use and increases energu efficiency has a hard time in the Congress (or White House... or both... or...whatever) Mmm... Maybe the US could invade itself and free it from the grip of Exxon et al? (Just joking.... really....)

  would they advocate the war if bush would clearly say its all about oil, strategical reasons and the weapons industry? i don't think so.

  That's not really the point.

  Depending who you talk to it's either a law of nature or an ideological position that free trade and free market economcics are the right system for everyone everywhere and are always benificial for teaching, for reproving and for setting things straight with all the countries of the earth that don't have command economies (as dictator ruled countries tend to).... it's just how people are, they say.

  So, the oil benifits or bomb makers profits are useful, but the opening up of markets and the increase in the amount of available capital is massivly more valuable than that.Well, that's what the economic rationalists seem to say anyhow...

  Oh well, it's bed time for me...

  Regards, Max
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  18

  Cost of War

  by hippikon in

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  ive seen estimates that the war in iraq has cost so far $160,000,000,000 us

  imagine what you could buy with that kind of money

  1,600 hospitals

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  Max Divergent

  Simon - I'm shocked... are you advocating war on bad governments everywhere provided they have no oil reserves, are strategically worthless, and don't train or supply other bad guys?... Ok... Ummm....

  I don't know whether to be horrifed at your change to be this keen on war, or puzzle over how these could be fair criteria for the liberation of the people... or even what countries could fit these criteria AND have a government that'd qualify for removal... Oh well...

  Max
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  4

  A question for peaceniks and warmongers…

  by Max Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after all the discussion recenly and the seeming welcome the troops got in baghdad i'd be interested in your thoughts...

  q: would you support your country's government if they proposed committing troops and tax money to a long-term program with a coalition of the willing* to:

  1. remove all the very worst and most aggressive regimes from controlling sovereign nations by all necessary means which may include initiating war

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  Max Divergent

  Hi Realist - Thanks for your thoughtful response... Let me play devil's advocate for a moment....

  i assume you mean US lead but without US economical interests lurking behind the scenes?!

  Not at all... say free market economic interests are right up front. Economic interests have brought those of us in the West prosperity and a lifestyle of such luxury and freedom that it's beyond the imagination of most of the humans who've ever lived....

  This system works for people of all cultures. Why hide that those benifits are bing offered to the most oppressed and disadvantaged people on earth? How about ''The de Beers Battle for Zimbabwe'' or ''The GM-Daewoo Korean Conflict''?

  a) because some opponents are too strong...take NK for instance

  Are they really? When they aquire nuclear weapons then the cost of war will increase tremendoulsy, but they're still a 3rd world conscript army of poorly trained, equipped and fed troops. In any case, should it really matter given the outcome is (or is expected to be) global peace and prosperity?

  b) because wars are always faught for only one reason...economical interests.

  But what's wrong with that given that the free market economy brings benifits to everyone - it's unevenly distributed, but we're probably all far more prosperous than our parents were at our ages.

  c) it may be very debateable what is a bad regime and what isn't. depending on whom you ask....palestinians or israelis you will get different answers.

  True enough, this can be hard. But using this as an example... deal with them both. Enforce the Oslo Agreement by force if nessasary on which ever side dosn't abide by the timetable. Advances anyone? Cheers, Max
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  4

  A question for peaceniks and warmongers…

  by Max Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after all the discussion recenly and the seeming welcome the troops got in baghdad i'd be interested in your thoughts...

  q: would you support your country's government if they proposed committing troops and tax money to a long-term program with a coalition of the willing* to:

  1. remove all the very worst and most aggressive regimes from controlling sovereign nations by all necessary means which may include initiating war

  1. 
  2. 
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  Max Divergent

  After all the discussion recenly and the seeming welcome the troops got in Baghdad I'd be interested in your thoughts...

  Q: Would you support your country's government if they proposed committing troops and tax money to a long-term program with a coalition of the willing* to:

  1. Remove all the very worst and most aggressive regimes from controlling sovereign nations by all necessary means which may include initiating war

  and

  2. Attempt to reestablish those countries as economically viable and politically free societies?

  …assuming that:

  1. A majority of countries object to the program, as they do to the action in Iraq

  2. A prime motivation is assumed to be stimulation of global economic growth by opening new markets

  Could be interesting… Hope to hear from you

  Cheers, Max

  * Presumably US lead and UK backed

  Garwd... can't get the post right tonight!!!

  Nah... there's somthing up with the board... whole words are just going missing...
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  68

  Kingdom melodie haunting me

  by Vivamus in

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  2. friends

  omg, how horrible is this:.

  you know when you have a certain tune in your head, and you just can't figure out which one it is?

  well, i just figured mine out, its "hey daar al gij dorstigen, komt en drink het levenswater vrij".

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  Max Divergent

  Isn't it more like: 'HAY there-all you thuuuuuursty ones...

  Urghghhh....
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  180

  Posters that make an impact

  by JH in

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  what posters do you like the most on this forum and why?.

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  Max Divergent

  On 'ya Bruce!!!

  Here I was thinking about posting a popularity contest for the best, most impactful and all round super-poster with a low volume of posts (say, about 115 – 120 or so) over a long period of time (say since late 2001 – perhaps no later that November?) and who’s got a name that suggests maximal divergence from the WTS or similar….

  When **BANG**KABOOM** you, the Most Honourable Uncle Sir Dr Bruce QC OBE KBE OA PhD EtC ETal, A-Z, the finest poster of all time (you are now confirmed in this position for all time) pops up with yours truly's moniker amongst the uber class of all time posters (well, they are now anyway )….

  Most of us here are truely lightweights at undermining the tower compared to Alan, Max, Kent, JH Focus and your good self. (or even our indefatigable ozziepost)

  Well… how’s that, eh?

  But in the very next sentence you bring me back to earth with the sad reality….

  That said, people here do like playing with themselves

  So, up goes the fly again

  It’s chicken pizza for me with cheese, jalapeño and green peppers with pineapple (tinned, not fresh).

  Cheers,

  Max E. Divergent
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  90

  Know what makes me terribly sad about some on these forums?

  by Derrick in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i find something very distressing not to mention terribly sad about some of you people (and to those who are not one of these people i kindly ask to please don't fly into some "i'm so insulted!

  " snit as if i'm wrongfully referring to you).

  to those people i'm referring to i say: you rightfully hope for the british and u.s. military to destroy that saddam monster and its minions of mass-murdering/worshippers throughout iraq.

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  Max Divergent

  Is it acceptable to kill all 20 million Iraqi's and all 250,000 allied troops to impose a theocratic government upon Iraq* just because it's your God doing the killing? What makes me 'sad' is the irrational, emotion ridden thinking that comes out from 'some people' on these forums.

  * Not to mention the rest of the globe
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  25

  How Do The French Feel About Us?

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  earlier this week, british cemetries in northern france were vandalised by persons objecting to the war in iraq.. .

  a uk newspaper carried this report:.

  the showpiece cenotaph at the graveyard in northern france was smeared in red paint with the words: dig up your rubbish.

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  Max Divergent

  Well, this post dosn't want to go up.... Maybe Simon's programmed brevity into the board :-) No more that 10 words...
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  25

  How Do The French Feel About Us?

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  earlier this week, british cemetries in northern france were vandalised by persons objecting to the war in iraq.. .

  a uk newspaper carried this report:.

  the showpiece cenotaph at the graveyard in northern france was smeared in red paint with the words: dig up your rubbish.

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  Max Divergent

  These self-indulgent wankers can't even get the swastika right. They're ignorant of the history of their own country.