“A Discourse on the American Revolution: Myth and Reality”

James · Post by **James** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 3:53 pm

Please....young people....LondonPete has left the thread.....

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/021227.html

Nonius · Post by **Nonius** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:00 pm

well, I can see this is going nowhere. Can we start some other surprising, paradoxical thesis then?

something wild.......concerning america n sheah.

James · Post by **James** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:36 pm

America = Ramming Speed!

Nonius · Post by **Nonius** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:46 pm

ok, that is fairly paradoxical in nature. Can you outline your thesis on why America= Ramming Speed? You may start with something like, "Imagine you are in a Tireme and a Roman general is barking out orders to increase the warship's momentum. You row and row and row until you feel that your heart is about to explode. the general barks out 'Ramming Speed', and you feel like slicing his body in two...why do you feel this way? Is it the enslaved feeling of being chained to the hull and unable to escape upon being rammed by a Macedonian ship in the heat of battle? Is it because you are Jewish prince-turned Roman slave, all because you wouldn't turn in the names of those few patriotic denizens of Judea to your ex-friend whose mouth waters over your sister....phucking bastard...NO.....it is because, in a word....Ramming Speed=America!!!!"

kr · Post by kr » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:35 pm

something wild - concerning America

that indeed is the problem, not enough good conspiracies going on, lemme see if I can think of a few

- 'rendering' suspected terrorists

- rotten finances

- the collapse of american culture

oh wait, the last one's not a conspiracy, actually... it's... obvious!!!!

gee why can't they just forget about CNBC, let's watch QVC, we're all traaaders here

James · Post by **James** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:25 pm

We have an intersting "History" dialectic unfolding in the USA over the next ten years.

Do we build a big enough army to be able to threaten everyone on the planet like loan-shark Mafia thugs and default on our debt and just have everybody go '*gulp*' "okay" ?

Or can policies that will sustain 10 - 11% annual growth be put in place so that the economy will grow at a higher exponenat than the debt service bill due in 2015? keep in mind, most places that have economies that grow at 10%+ per year are,.... how shall we say?.... not pretty when it happens. kiss the environemt goodbye.

Or do we puss our way out and just run the printing presses?

Probability anyone?

Nonius · Post by **Nonius** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:43 pm

see, all empires fall...yes, indeed....think of the Roman empire, yes, indeed....see, America has seen its day, yes, indeed....yes, things are going down the toilet, it is a house of cards....see, and there is no democracy, just look at the elections....hahhaa, losers....anyway, yes, America is going to get sucked into a big black hole and, see, those terrorists...they're like, like, like, the Barbarians, yes, exxacly like the barbarians who invaded Rome...yes, america is just like rome, and you know, empires fall and stuff....

kr · Post by kr » Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:58 pm

ok, we now have the topic: The Decline and Fall

where is that motherfucker LP? essay please

re: kiss the environment goodbye, there is a great story in this week's Deal about some chancy private equity guys who BOUGHT A MEDICAL NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP - LITERALLY - and were then PRESSURED BY LOCAL POLITICIANS to ADMIT WASTE OF A MUCH HOTTER RADIATION CLASS THAN THE DUMP WAS DESIGNED FOR

but these USEC bonds over here haven't been a bad investment, I'd buy more if I could... just think of the arb, company folds and you are sitting on all this uranium - oughtta produce a sweet recovery, surely our russian connections can make a market, no?

Nonius · Post by **Nonius** » Sun Apr 03, 2016 3:01 pm

an ancient thread.

was knocking back a pint at my local, which has Texels Skummkoppe on tap. Then the ol' web drill-down tendency ensued. Happened upon John Paul Jones, whose connections to Britain, America and Holland (and Texel Island in particular) are a bit colourful..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones

my favourite passage in the wiki link is this:

"The wind having shifted, Ranger recrossed the Irish Sea to make another attempt at raiding Whitehaven. Jones led the assault with two boats of fifteen men on April 23, 1778, just after midnight, hoping to set fire to and sink all Whitehaven's ships anchored in harbour (numbering between 200 to 400 wooden vessels), which consisted of a full merchant fleet and many coal transporters. They also hoped to terrorize the townspeople by lighting further fires. As it happened, the journey to shore was slowed by the still-shifting wind, as well as a strong ebb tide. The spiking of the town's big defensive guns to prevent them being fired was accomplished successfully, but lighting fires proved difficult, as the lanterns in both boats had run out of fuel. To remedy this, some of the party were therefore sent to raid a public house on the quayside, but the temptation to stop for a quick drink led to a further delay."

deeds · Post by **deeds** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 3:30 pm