I'm so stupid, I signed up and got the Zot.

To: SunkenCiv; Harmless Teddy Bear; Turk2

The AKP sucks, there's no question about it.

The only good policies they've pursued, e.g. granting more autonomy to the Kurds, have been initiated with the goal of ingratiating themselves to the EU.

From my perspective there's not much tangible evidence that Erdogan and Gul are different-in substance, at least-from Necmittin Erbaken and his colleagues in the Welfare/Virtue Party.

33,421 posted on 07/08/2005 5:41:38 AM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham

To: Do not dub me shapka broham

And the attempt will fail. Turkey has been teased with membership (first, in the EEC or Common Market, now the EU) since, hmm 1960? The current supposed stumbling block is Cyprus, but that's just the pretext to reject Turkish membership.

33,422 posted on 07/08/2005 9:10:12 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (last updated by FR profile on Tuesday, May 10, 2005.)

To: SunkenCiv; Cacique; Eurotwit; Lijahsbubbe

Precisely.

The current Turkish government-to its credit-went out of its way to distance itself-and simultaneously exert pressure upon-its former puppet, figurehead ruler in N. Cyprus, Raouf Denktash, and give concessions to the Greek Cypriots, all to no avail.

If they think that Chirac et. al. are going to allow Turkish membership in the EU, they're deluding themselves.

33,423 posted on 07/08/2005 10:38:02 AM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham

To: Monkey Face; Tax-chick; LS; SandyInSeattle; cyborg; NicknamedBob; tiamat; Allegra; writer33; ...

33,424 posted on 07/08/2005 10:45:28 AM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham

To: Do not dub me shapka broham

On that we'll have to part company. There's no reason that Cyprus shouldn't be divided politically as well as culturally. There's no more reason for it to be politically unified than there is for the island of Hispaniola to be. Since 1960, the Greek Cypriotes have systematically and consistently rejected every solution to the problem that has been internationally brokered. The government of Greece has missiles and an airbase on the "independent" Greek portion of the island.

33,425 posted on 07/08/2005 11:30:36 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (last updated by FR profile on Tuesday, May 10, 2005.)

To: SunkenCiv; Muhammad Shams Megalommatis; ARCADIA

I still think that the UN proffered a reasonable, balanced, graduated solution to ending the state of political stasis on that island, or at least, the Turkish-occupied portion of it.

If you were to withdraw the two main belligerent parties, i.e. Greece and Turkey, there's no reason to believe that the two heretofore divided portions of the island couldn't be successfully integrated into one nation-state.

Clarides-in some ways-was a visionary leader, and he was punished for it by voters whipped into a chauvinistic frenzy, in no small measure because of blatantly partisan mainland politicians, like Papendreau.

I don't think that the situation in Cyprus is comparable to that in Hispaniola, whose two nations share an embittered, violent history-punctuated by the enslavement of one portion of it for over two decades, and repeated military interventions by one side or other during the 20th century-which isn't conducive to reconciliation.

The Greek and Turkish cypriots share a common cultural history.

If you were able to wall them off from the bigotry and petty political gamesmanship of their respective benefactors on either side of the Aegean Sea they would-in all likelihood-be able to unify in a-comparatively speaking-tranquil society.

Granted, it wouldn't be Utopia-in any sense of the term-but it would be a vast improvement upon the status quo.

33,426 posted on 07/08/2005 2:40:28 PM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham

The Isreali's have been known to stop a suicide bomber before they detonate by the proper application of high speed lead poisoning.

True but this does not appear to be the case here. These appear to be planted bombs rather then homicide bombers. Thus my comment stands that no matter how many armed people you have around you can't stop this type of attack. Homicide bombers maybe, 9/11 yes, but not a planted bomb.

Also, just like having a fire extinguisher, you never really NEED it until you do need it and by then it is normally much to late to go looking for one.

Now that we are in total agreement on. My Lady is never more then a foot away from me for that reason. If I need her I will need her NOW.

33,427 posted on 07/08/2005 3:09:31 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( We're all Londoners today.)

"I had a thought the other night about a laundry service in the Gold Rush."

I seem to recall that the folks who made the real money in the gold rush were guys like Levi Strauss, who sold stuff to the miners.

You could make old Levi a character in your book, perhaps giving advice to the laundress, but I'd draw the line on letting her be his inspiration, unless you're going for comedic effect. (One sentence -- now you know my problem as an author!)

Your laundry service could advance to being a major hotel. Sounds like it could be a good tale, especially if you either do the research to make it accurate, or just throw caution to the winds, and make it a rip-roaring tall tale!

33,428 posted on 07/08/2005 3:41:38 PM PDT by NicknamedBob (Mighty and enduring? They are but toys of the moment to be overturned by the flicking of a finger.)

To: NicknamedBob

We watched a documentary about the Gold Rush the other night. I doubt I'd include Levi Strauss, though.

The film said that, although a few miners made huge fortunes, the biggest winners were transportation companies and mining equipment suppliers. I read a children's book once about a boy who made a living selling kittens in Gold Rush Alaska!

33,429 posted on 07/08/2005 3:48:58 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("I am saying that the government's complicity is dishonest and disingenuous." ~NCSteve)

I wonder if they were for food...or bait?

33,430 posted on 07/08/2005 4:22:14 PM PDT by Monkey Face (Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)

To kill mice and rats, according to the story.

33,431 posted on 07/08/2005 4:27:48 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("I am saying that the government's complicity is dishonest and disingenuous." ~NCSteve)

Wolves and foxes eat those. But I guess they don't come into "town" to forage, huh? LOL!

How are you feeling, these days?

33,432 posted on 07/08/2005 4:29:49 PM PDT by Monkey Face (Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)

I think wolves and foxes would be dinner in a mining camp, if they got close enough! Or at least fur coats!

I'm feeling about the same. Sleepy, mildly woozy. It'll get better eventually.

33,433 posted on 07/08/2005 4:35:04 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("I am saying that the government's complicity is dishonest and disingenuous." ~NCSteve)

I think the wolves and foxes would probably be killed for the furs, rather than the meat, but I imagine if one got hungry enough...But on the other hand, wolves hunt in packs, so if starvation were an issue, I would think they would be eating each other. I don't recall ever reading or hearing about anyone eating their meat.

I think it would be like eating your dog...ick.

That woozy feeling is awful. I hate that. I sometimes get it for days, (but not from pregnancy.) It's a real deterrent to any plans, no matter how benign they are.

33,434 posted on 07/08/2005 4:44:35 PM PDT by Monkey Face (Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)

Asians eat dogs, and American Indians used to. It wouldn't surprise me for canine meat to be a commodity in Alaska ... even if the diner maybe didn't know what was in the stew :-).

The best thing about pregnancy, compared to other unpleasant conditions, is that you know it will end. So I have it easier than you.

33,435 posted on 07/08/2005 4:47:48 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("I am saying that the government's complicity is dishonest and disingenuous." ~NCSteve)

"...The best thing about pregnancy, compared to other unpleasant conditions, is that you know it will end. So I have it easier than you."

I have often said words to that effect: I wish I were pregnant. At least that way, I KNOW it would end.

33,436 posted on 07/08/2005 4:53:02 PM PDT by Monkey Face (Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)

Well, I'm shutting the computer down for the night. It's been overheating the last couple of days. Der Prinz needs to clean out the air filter when he gets home from camp.

I guess you'll just have to listen to the echo until somebody else shows up!

33,437 posted on 07/08/2005 5:33:59 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("I am saying that the government's complicity is dishonest and disingenuous." ~NCSteve)

LOL!

Not me! I've had the punies lately, and I'm not about to push my luck! I'm shutting down too.

I hope you feel better soon!

XO

33,438 posted on 07/08/2005 5:42:58 PM PDT by Monkey Face (Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)

To: Monkey Face; Tax-chick; NicknamedBob; Do not dub me shapka broham; Dead Corpse; King Prout

Another quiet evening in here.

33,439 posted on 07/08/2005 9:13:24 PM PDT by tuliptree76

33,440 posted on 07/09/2005 4:45:03 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("I am saying that the government's complicity is dishonest and disingenuous." ~NCSteve)

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794

THIS SITE IS ZOT!