OnPoint by Keith Ng

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OnPoint: Google to Embargo China

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  • Danielle,

    All together now:

    Normal people don't do that kind of crap and so don't know of the other meanings.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Just thinking,

    I really think China is so self assured in its own might that it is not a benign force in the world but a disinterested one.
    The numbers show clearly that it is the economic power house of the world and will be in the forseeable future, as long as no buttons get pushed.
    The USA won't have a 100yr empire (I suspect I'll out live it), it will be subsumed by Brazil or an American Trade area.
    The grasp they hold on WMDs is scary though, as individual states might choose to break off (Texas) and the Nuke facilaties are based in the bible belt. Armageddonit.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    individual states might choose to break off (Texas)

    I don't know much in this crazy world, but I know that is *very* unlikely to happen.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Rob Thatcher,

    @Rich of Observationz

    You're right, certainly not the UK. But it was in the Yank's best interests to have a willing ally with this capability in the region. No joke, this kind of stuff goes on all the time. Retro-fitting Collins Class for long range missile capabilities? We have three already.

    Thats not the cool bit though (for me), they have a holographic grid showing the ocean floor in 3D. Tis truly sweet. =D

    Bstralia • Since Jan 2010 • 3 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    individual states might choose to break off (Texas)

    I don't know much in this crazy world, but I know that is *very* unlikely to happen.

    Yeah, Texas is quite firmly attached. I'd look at that wobbly bit on the bottom of Florida.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    If you're claiming any of that has been done by the US to their own citizens on any sort of organised scale than I think you're the one who should be supplying citations.

    The game some people are playing of "pick the best of these crappy overlords" seems rather bizarre. Can we go with the third option, "this is a stupid question, didn't Keith try and raise some interesting points about Google in China about 5 pages ago?"

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Yes, yes, Ok, I'm guilty as...

    Here's PCMAG article on the original topic, although nothing new I think.

    And here's one on Google apologising to the Chinese Writer's Association for copyright infringement. Now that's the kind of irony I could get excited about.

    Sorry if there are links to this above, but I lost the plot some time back, and this is the best I can do.

    PS. It's California that's going for secession. More Irony, on topic, the headline banner on that page was 'Learn Chinese Online with Beijing's Best teachers.'

    PPS Can I get some 'Fush 'n' Chups'. See below. I'm bending the time space continuum.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    The game some people are playing of "pick the best of these crappy overlords" seems rather bizarre.

    Although I am rather enjoying the retro '60's aspect of it.

    In the blue corner, Tom "Domino Theory" Semmens! Lean in close and smell the uranium on his breath!

    And in the red corner, Country Gio and the Fush! They don't give a damn, next stop Afghanistan!

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    Country Gio and the Fush

    That is brilliant. I salute you, sir.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • John Fouhy,

    @giovanni:

    Somebody alerted me to this earlier this morning - Things to remember while helping Haiti. Enjoy.

    We also need to help them embrace Jesus. Those naughty Haitians made a pact with the devil, back in the day, to help them overthrow the French, and things like this will just keep happening until they turn their back on Satan.

    Pat Robertson..who else?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 87 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    The game some people are playing of "pick the best of these crappy overlords" seems rather bizarre.

    Indeed. But fun. Don't make me relinquish my right to engage in pointless debate.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Just thinking,

    I'm using the 19thC as my guide.

    Texas retakes 1/2 of New Mexico and reinstigates the Confederacy (might miss out Virginia this time) or reinvents the Bible belt as a banolier of nukes.

    California asserts control over the whole Colorado River and States thereof.

    Go to war with each other for the control over the industrial might of Mexico.

    Yip this is pure fantasy stuff, but with a precedent.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    If we're going to go all 19th century, then my advice is be wary of the Prussian menace.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Yip this is pure fantasy stuff, but with a precedent.

    Also in the 19th century, the English Crown was a little worried that the French might move in on New Zealand. It was one of the reasons that the treaty got signed.

    Yet "French taking over New Zealand" is about as likely as your 19th century transported into 21st century USA.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    If we're going to go all 19th century, then my advice is be wary of the Prussian menace.

    And the spikes on their helmets! Vicious.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    I'm using the 19thC as my guide.

    Oh, giant derail ahoy, but: yes. Me too. That was the bloodiest conflict in American history and (apart from a few 'south will rise again' nutbars and some separatist guys in huts in Montana) they are seriously, SERIOUSLY unlikely to want to go through it again. See, there was this bearded guy in a top hat (who may or may not have been gay, although this is apparently knowledge, bro) who said 'the union must be preserved', and he is still widely regarded as the greatest president the country ever had. Plus even if by some weird fluke this happened in some state or other, the federal government would *crush* secessionists with the increased power they've gained in the last 150+ years. There is no giant Doomsday Secession Scenario happening in the USA in the foreseeable future.

    The end of the American empire is what's happening now: they're overstretched militarily, the strains in the economy getting worse, their manufacturing base is gone, and anti-science fundamentalists and big businesses are running their debates and their government. This is the way the [empire] ends: not with a bang, but a whimper.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Just thinking,

    But 19thC transport has taken to (but not over) the USA with the use of corn for bio-fuel.
    The 20thC is the only centuary where we haven't used bio-fuels - hay, corn etc as a fuel for our (land) transport/animal feed.
    We're now in the bubble of over-shoot to collapse as far as fuel goes (put down that pin).

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

  • Just thinking,

    Danielle, I trust your right.
    America voted a Black Man President & I never thought it would happen.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

  • chris,

    So? Frankly I didn't find anything in that paper that was particularly sinister, or certainly nothing to indicate they were planning to utilise their 'overseas Chinese' as a forward offensive for military invasion.

    Neither did I, sorry mate, my angle wasn't clear. I was responding to Tom's suggestion that the PLA would naturally drop their lucrative deals and adhere to whatever CCP edicts. I meant to draw attention to key phrases such as;

    "semi-autonomous existence"

    "the PLA became extensively involved in creating a business empire including companies in areas not normally associated with the military"

    I see a case whereby 2 government officials on a stipend of $2000 a day worth of fine food and 美女 are going to have a hard job convincing high end army guys on a monthly salary of $50,000 that war is a better option than running KTV joints and brothels. ie that the fracture is significant enough that a call by the CCP to go to war would be met by some hearty resistance from the"military" (opposite to the US), but more so that the PLA's motives for engaging in actual warfare are almost nonexistant in light of the fact that it's been making billions for the last 20 years without any need whatsoever for military style invasion. Sorry for the lack of clarity there.

    Simply that a War economy would not necessarily benefit an organisation that flourishes in a peacetime economy.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Country Gio and the Fush

    That quietly made my day.

    The point I was making is that in the US dissent, debate and the mocking of the powers that be are the norm. In China? Not so much.

    And my point was that since all this ever-so-clever mockery and all that the marvellous free speech are powerless to prevent bombs raining on my head, I might just take the country that represses its dissidents but doesn't bomb me over the one that gives its dissidents cable shows but does. This whole utterly ridiculous debate is predicated on China taking on all the worst aspects of American imperialism without changing in any other respect. Let's wait until it actually happens, shall we?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Anyone who thinks visible dissent automatically means good outcomes for people in any country has not read enough Chomsky.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Yes! We have got to Chomsky. Now it's all on.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg,

    ..bombs raining on my head

    Oh man! How about that Wellington weather?

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    Yes! We have got to Chomsky. Now it's all on.

    I propose an alternative to Godwin's Law: as soon as Chomsky is mentioned in a thread, the thread is officially beyond being saved.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Just thinking,

    Pop +10m into the calulator and the Americas change a bit.
    http://flood.firetree.net/

    The Rep. of California is the only land boarder to Baja Cali. Mx and so asserts soverignty over it.
    This is done in part as a reaction to the loss of the San Diego Naval base and connection and control of Hawaii.

    Hawaiian Rep is reinstated and joins in Union with Pasifika (PNG, NZ, Australia and surviving Pacific Islands such as Fiji & Samoa).

    The Rep. of Texas and the Gulf of Mexico States are in full retreat from the sea and in search for land go into Mexico.

    China has lost Shanghai to the sea and with pressures of population and industry, liberates North Korea from another cycle of starvation.

    UAE is absorbed into the Nuclear state of Saudi Arabia.

    Vatican declares itself the Holy Sea.

    Due to the devestation of Sea Level rise, the Netherlands & Rugby League in the UK cease to exist.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

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