Not a Good Time, not a Good Future

[dalonzo9]

Many warning signs have been popping up with alarming frequency since I've returned home from the comfort of the Air Force military family. The economy here is getting worse and worse and has shown no signs of getting better. Not now, not soon

Comments

[larivee22]

>The next decade will see the end of the US as a major global player.

I don't think it'd be the end of us as a "major" player, just as "the" player. Maybe we need to decide if we really want to be "the" player. Maybe instead we should concentrate on living up on the things we're supposed to be about -- I really think this last decade wouldn't have been so hellacious if we'd had a little humility about something... or anything, for that matter.

But yeah, that meeting was awful. If they're about educating people I'm the Queen of the Nile.

[dalonzo9]

Yes, I think it's time the US stepped down from being THE player. 'Tis the antithesis of what we're supposed to be about, the whole democratic republic. Although we answered the call when it was necessary (intervention in WWII), we should have really gone back to being something less than the biggest hitter on the global block.

Taking a step back will change a whole heck of a lot... but it'll be better than being in the inevitably imperial role we've been suffering in.

And, yeah, that meeting was ridiculously offensive.

[theturbochrist]

Tsuboff, these are troubled times indeed. But worry not, mein fruend, for humans have weathered far more drastic changes in their lives and made due; tis's the perogative of the human spirit!

[dalonzo9]

What of we, Herr Peter? What profit have we to gain for our weathered troubles? What will come of our struggle through these trying times?

My spirit is battered. I see no glory nor honour in being part of the anonymous dead, given remembrance only for being part of a tumultuous contemporal upheaval.

[theturbochrist]

The glory shall be extolled of from the clanging of the bells, celebrating those who were masters and champions in their spirit and actions!

[saippuakauppias]

It sounds like you're trying to incite a rebellion.

I'm right behind ye, sir.

[dalonzo9]

Oh, I always sound that way....

[lordameth]

He does indeed.

On a completely separate note, check this out:
http://gamedunga.com/movies/cm/new-cm.html

The second of these two ads has been showing on the trains in Tokyo the last few weeks. I don't know if you can gather just from the images, but the words are basically this:

Metal, or Food?
Metal, or Phone?
Metal, or Proposal? (the girl says "won't you marry me?")
Of course, Metal!

I thought you'd appreciate.

[sleepysmurfette]

well if this lightens the blow - traffic is awful til a solid 730pm, southbound anyway.. and i think its ironically largely due to the whole flex-time thing, where not everyone has 8-4 or 9-5 anymore - was supposed to help traffic but like every big government idea just make things more shitty.

[dalonzo9]

Wow! Until 7:30!? That's pretty ridiculous. Oh, big government ideas....

[larivee22]

I actually heart flex time -- I'm not a morning person and adore being able to cruise on in at 11am and not be late -- leaving later dosen't matter because I'll be up till 2am anyway, might as well be productive.

[dalonzo9]

See, that's what I'd like.