Random News Snippets

[Andy 60]

Those things have been around for a while. When they first came into use someone made a mobile phone ringtone on the same frequency so only young people could hear it. lol

But anyways, there wasn't such a big "oh no, this is terrible" when it was announced. Everyone was just like "at last we can get rid of the kids loitering outside the off-licence!"

[Ayingel 24]

i've known about that for awhile...

but it's bs because old people steal too...

[Andy 60]

lol, but old people don't walk around in big groups, hoodies and "look threatening". :roll:

[Andy 60]

Alright, Nanny State; enough is enough...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7247470.stm

:roll:

Edited February 16, 2008 by Andy

[TheUnknown 39]

It's not the state that's doing it. It's the "free" market.

[Andy 60]

It's not the state that's doing it. It's the "free" market.

Nope, my link didn't post, for some reason. Read my post again ;)

[TheUnknown 39]

Yeah, that is a bit ridiculous.

[Ana 15]

That really doesn't look like it'll help any. You can raise the price all you want, but if they want the nicotine bad enough, they'll find the cash.

I dunno. I find that policy change needs to be fueled by societal change, not the other way around. What they need is to teach an entire generation of young Britons that smoking is absolutely a dirty, nasty habit. Because I find nothing is more a kick-in-the-ass to people than when a five year old crossing the street holding his mother's hand looks up with giant eyes and says "That's bad for you and bad for me." THINK OF THE CHILDREN GOING AT ALL THE SMOKERS.

[Drake 53]

"You're murdering me, mommy! *cough hack wheeze*"

[Andy 60]

What they need is to teach an entire generation of young Britons that smoking is absolutely a dirty, nasty habit.

They've been trying that for years, lol.

They generally target teenagers in ad campaigns with nasty things like:

They recently raised the smoking age from 16 to 18.

Edited February 17, 2008 by Andy

[Princess 35]

LOL! I love the last one!

[Radioactive Isotope 29]

yeah, that last one is the best. :lol:

[TheUnknown 39]

That reminds me of this PSA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi-w4EnnJhM

[TheUnknown 39]

Some interesting overseas events:

Pakistan: Musharraf's party gets spanked: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/1...stan/index.html

Cuba: Castro resigns: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/02/...stro/index.html

[TheUnknown 39]

The Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas proves how petty they are by arguing that women should not get mammograms from the Komen Foundation:

http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/f...-support-komen/

[Andy 60]

So apparently we had an earthquake last night...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7266136.stm

I didn't notice... I was too busy being drunk and was on a giant trampoline anyway... :p

[Winters 0]

I have some friends who live in Manchester, I think it's Manchester, that felt it. Haven't talked to them though, I saw it on their Facebook.

[Drake 53]

The Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas proves how petty they are by arguing that women should not get mammograms from the Komen Foundation:

http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/f...-support-komen/

This reminds me of the billboard outside my apartment. I can't quite see it from my window but it says something like "9 months: The length of time it is legal to get an abortion in Canada. Have we gone too far?"

When I first saw it, I was waiting for the bus and I couldn't help just standing there with a look of sheer disgust on my face. How can it be legal to get an abortion up to full term? Like...the mother goes into labour and is in the delivery room when she says, "You know what, I've decided that I want an abortion instead." I don't believe it. It would be no better than the doctor pulling the baby out then shooting it in the head.

[Andy 60]

How NOT to commit a robbery:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7268653.stm

:lol:

[Radioactive Isotope 29]

:lol: nicely done, guys.

[Radioactive Isotope 29]

we can expect rice and other grain prices to skyrocket in the near future:

Empty global cupboards

Shortages are real. The Financial Times reports that rice stocks have fallen this year to about 70 million tons, the lowest level in 25 years and less than half the total held in global inventories in 2000. Wheat inventories, called "carry-overs" in the trade, are at 30-year lows even though world wheat production was actually up 1% last year. In the past year, reports show, wheat inventories in the European Union have plunged to 1 million tons from 14 million tons.

A leading Canadian fertilizer executive told analysts recently that according to his company's calculations, global grain reserves are "precarious," at just 1.7 months of consumption, down from 3.5 months of reserves as recently as 2000.

Now the really bad news is that we might actually have been lucky in the past few years, as global warming has lengthened growing seasons in the American Plains, sometimes called the Saudi Arabia of corn. BMO's Coxe notes that the U.S. Midwest has enjoyed 17 straight years without significant crop failure, the longest winning streak on record. If this fortunate run ends soon, we'll likely face a worldwide crisis.

Some researchers, including climatologist Elwyn Taylor of Iowa State University, believe it could happen this year, as La Ni?a conditions are emerging at a time when the Midwest has become vulnerable due to a drought creeping up from the South.

[Mara 29]

Yeah, I heard on the news popcorn is going up 15 cents.

[Radioactive Isotope 29]

Interesting article on the Mormon-Muslim relationship

i have to agree whole-heartedly. i took a world religions class last summer and we took a field trip to a mosque to listen to an imam, and i was amazed at how closely related our doctrines were. Islam really is a beautiful religion despite the bad rep the extremists are giving it.

[Drake 53]

Interesting. Maybe the two should merge. What would they call themselves? Morlims? Musmons?

Nah, I'm kidding.

I loved World Religions class. We went to a Muslim mosque, Hindu temple and Buddhist temple, then had a Sikh, Mormon and Jehovah's Witness come in to the class to speak. I learned a lot and it helped to strengthen my own faith.

[Jake Durron 23]

then had a Sikh, Mormon and Jehovah's Witness come in to the class to speak.

OMG I AM SO SORRY DRAKE!!!!!!! I used to be one of the latters and I swear I just want to hurt them all UGH.