Major Terrorist Threat in UK-US discovered

[Alex]

Yes, can you live up to the level of professional dedication shown by Ed Norton in this photograph?

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

So I was just about to shut down when I heard (on nbc) that the airlines are charging passengers whose bags are over the weight limit due to packing their carry on stuff. Now that is fvcked up.

This is why I laugh when it's suggested that airlines could provide bottled water on board. They're in such deep financial water that they'll charge for anything. Heck, this is the perfect time to go ahead with their plans to charge to check any bags at all.

I'm still waiting for the day we all fly naked after a full cavity search.

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I'm still waiting for the day we all fly naked after a full cavity search.

What about spontaneous human combustion? - once the terrorists master that, we shall never fly again

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

but I still have to believe accounts relayed to me from those on the scene that are angry with our media's lack of recognition for their successes and misportrayal of the actuality of the events.

As I'm too fried right now to dig up a cite, I'll just put this out there anecdotally and you can take it for what it's worth.

I read an interesting interview with a CNN reporter who was in Baghdad, don't remember which one. He/she made the point that, many times, they are forbidden by the military to report good news. The reason given was that the military was afraid that if they reported that a particular sector was doing well, it would be targetted next. The reported stated that there is good news but that they are not allowed to report it.

I find that plausable and also think it sheds some light on the argument made by many on the right that the media is failing to report good news.

And I don't deny that there have been good things that have happened in Iraq. Sadly, I think those days are over though. I listened to military commander after military commander the other day state that a full blown civil war is a real possibility in the near future. That isn't media spin. That is what the people that are there are reporting. And right now, I trust what General Peter Pace says just a tad more than Rummy telling us that things are going great.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Baghdad is a mess. But look at the north. 200,000 Kurds were killed by Saddam, and that region is doing so well that they refer to themselves as Kurdistan and are even trying to promote tourism. Of the 14 provinces, 11 are doing quite well. Three are a mess.

Three huge areas are a mess.

I see what you're saying. But let's say a positive story about the Kurds comes out. It will last for a day on the CNN.com website and disappear. Why? Often it's more to do with the number of hits and the responses they get from people reading what they post, not what they are offering us to read. The media hits on certain aspects because that's where people's interests are. People like to hear about trainwrecks and read about them. Iraq is a trainwreck.

Example: On another site that focuses on Disney. One article got a lot of feedback (on the linked Discussion Board) regarding a gossip piece about Lindsay Lohan. Another article talking about picturesque parts of Disneyland Paris got little interest. The Lohan piece got more views and hits than many of the other articles on the site. So, should that site post more gossip about Lohan-types on their site? That's up to them, but if they wanted to maintain the hits they got from Lohan, they might. It's not that they don't want us to hear about Disneyland Paris, they do, but people want to read about Lohan.

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

Ok so I know this is an overwhelmingly liberally-biased message board, so anything that is said that could possibly be deemed as supportive of what is seen as an evil republican regime will be struck down with furious anger, but I'll play for a post or two anyway.

I think the people on this board, left or right, are very open to hear most everything people post. You're saying this board is close minded while labelling people on this board liberal, anti-Republican and angry.
Huh?

If you want actual accounts from someone there, then here's one: My sister dated someone who was stationed in Iraq. She's been there for a couple of years now. She said morale is low, most of the soldiers she comes into contact with think they are there for the wrong reasons, she's heard about our soldiers killing civillians for fun and for several months she was guarding a palace that has been converted into a club for military officers. There's an account for you.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

I read an interesting interview with a CNN reporter who was in Baghdad, don't remember which one. He/she made the point that, many times, they are forbidden by the military to report good news. The reason given was that the military was afraid that if they reported that a particular sector was doing well, it would be targetted next. The reported stated that there is good news but that they are not allowed to report it.

I find that plausable and also think it sheds some light on the argument made by many on the right that the media is failing to report good news.

Interesting, and it makes sense.

Wow - that could be the first time I have ever uttered such words about a post from MBC.

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

People like to hear about trainwrecks and read about them.

Goes with my dirty laundry comment. Good news isn't interesting.

[scaeagles]

This is why I laugh when it's suggested that airlines could provide bottled water on board. They're in such deep financial water that they'll charge for anything.

I think I'd pay the dollar for a bottle of water. I think most people would. If they can buy it for $5/case, sell the 32 bottles for $32, that's a nice profit.

And pretty much every flight includes beverage service in flight already, so I don't really find it to be that unrealistic.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Goes with my dirty laundry comment. Good news isn't interesting.

Totally. I mean, look at this site. Which thread got the most hits lately? The NA/Nephy love thread or Snowflake's new job thread? Uh, the NA/Nephy thread. People love to watch unrest, people fighting, etc.
Look at reality TV, people like to see controversy, people upset, people crying, people yelling. Yikes.

And getting back to the topic, I was so conflicted this morning. Romney got a lot of kudos for stepping up to the plate, going on the air and telling MA that the National Guard has been called on to protect the state. He even beat Bush to the airwaves. One one hand, I think that's great good for him. On the other hand, I'm thinking he's doing this to pimp himself as a Presidential Candidate for '08 and he's trying to get the Big Dig mess off the front page of the newspaper.

I'm skeptical about all this, too, in a way.

Cheney talked about Lieberman's loss the day before this story broke about the foiled plot. He said Lieberman's loss would encourage al-Qaeda types.

The attacks came in searing remarks from, among others, Ken Mehlman, the chairman of the Republican National Committee and Vice President Dick Cheney, who went so far as to suggest that the ouster of Mr. Lieberman might encourage “al Qaeda types.”

Source

This was the day before details of the plot were uncovered. I guarantee you he already knew about the foiled plot and still said what he said. I think that Cheney is clearly using this event for political purposes as we near the Nov elections.

And might I add that Bush is still on vacation. Yes, he can work from his farm. But it shows his country that he is concerned about this if he actually picked up and went back to DC.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Totally. I mean, look at this site. Which thread got the most hits lately? The NA/Nephy love thread or Snowflake's new job thread?

Well, part of that on this board is that good news isn't controversial nor worthy of discussion. It is great that Snowflake got a new job, but how much discussion is going to happen about it?

Snowflake: I got a new job
GC: Congrats!
SCA: What? Why the hell did you need a new job? What was wrong with the old one? Were you too lazy to do it right?
MBC: Why are you calling her lazy?
Snowflake: Sob! I'm not lazy
Alex: The exact definition of lazy may not perhaps be applicable here
SzczM: Did you quit because you are gay and there was discrimination?
Snowflake: SOB!

Ummm....no. Congrats to Snowflake, certainly (spoken as someone who is three days away from a new job himself), but once the congratulations are issued, there's just not that much more to say.

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

That smiley is freakin awesome.

I just realised you can combine it with heads too !





...sory, I'm a bit slow...