mspart

Dragging a trailer or hauling a load as a work truck not so good. Need a portable charging station. If only Tesla could have developed his electricity through the air idea. mspart

https://hbr.org/2021/05/what-the-west-gets-wrong-about-china ... One thing hasn’t changed, though: Many Western politicians and business executives still don’t get China. Believing, for example, that political freedom would follow the new economic freedoms, they wrongly assumed that China’s internet would be similar to the freewheeling and often politically disruptive version developed in the West. And believing that China’s economic growth would have to be built on the same foundations as those in the West, many failed to envisage the Chinese state’s continuing role as investor, regulator, and intellectual property owner. ... Many Westerners assume that China is on the same development trajectory that Japan, Britain, Germany, and France embarked on in the immediate aftermath of World War II—the only difference being that the Chinese started much later than other Asian economies, such as South Korea and Malaysia, after a 40-year Maoist detour. According to this view, economic growth and increasing prosperity will cause China to move toward a more liberal model for both its economy and its politics, as did those countries. ... In China, however, growth has come in the context of stable communist rule, suggesting that democracy and growth are not inevitably mutually dependent. In fact, many Chinese believe that the country’s recent economic achievements—large-scale poverty reduction, huge infrastructure investment, and development as a world-class tech innovator—have come about because of, not despite, China’s authoritarian form of government. Its aggressive handling of Covid-19—in sharp contrast to that of many Western countries with higher death rates and later, less-stringent lockdowns—has, if anything, reinforced that view. Quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck. mspart

FIFY. mspart

Oh, he has a club now. mspart

You thought something that most others didn't agree with? Say it ain't so. mspart

You are perhaps the only person in the world that says China is not communist. You need to start a club. mspart

Oh, that's why Egypt has to be convinced to let aid in from their gate. But only stuff is going from Egypt to Gaza, not the other way around. Yeah, they just don't want to be seen as aiding Israel. Right. Keep on believing in fairy tales. mspart

So I lost track, did any left wing moron cop to owning an EV on this forum? Or was the question not clear? Maybe its that no one wants to be identified as a left wing moron. For the record, I don't own an EV. If I went that direction, it would be a hybrid so I could easily get recharged quickly and continue my trip. mspart

You can't convince Plasi or UB that China, North Korea, or Cuba are communist. mspart

This ^ mspart

Israel will not force them into Sinai. Egypt has to be willing and they have not been so willing. Jordan either. Every wonder why the closest neighbors won't let palestinians in? I think tent cities may be inevitable with the destruction Hamas has invited. Head of Hamas doesn't even live there in Gaza, he lives in Qatar, the little rat. Calling the shots from relative safety like the coward he is. mspart

This is unintentionally funny I think. mspart

Amendment I (1791) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. mspart

I think she is thinking of a bazooka or grenade or mortar. Talk about a moron. AR-15 shoots a 0.223 inch diameter bullet. I'm thinking a deer is quite a bit bigger than that. Heck I shot a deer with a 12 gage slug (0.729 inch diameter) in MN on a farm and we had plenty of meat leftover. mspart

Hey Willie - I guess no one on here is a moron. No one has admitted to owning an EV that I remember. mspart

Yes, this is a deal, except that this is not mainstream i don't think. I used to reload shotgun back in the day. It takes a lot of time and pays off in money if you reload a lot. I don't think it is really that cheap if you count your time. mspart

I disagree with nuance. 1. It is clear that mentally ill people have perpetrated the majority of mass shootings, at least in the last few years. Mental illness does not cause gun violence. But mental illness with gun possession increases the risk of such gun violence. That is incontrovertible. 2. If 15 people in the bowling alley or bar were armed, does anyone think that there would have been fewer firearm related deaths and injuries? I have to believe the shooter would have been challenged and fled or killed and there are fewer firearm related deaths. It won't reduce it to zero due to the element of surprise, but reaction will lesson the death toll. This just seems logical to me. People being armed in their homes only, would not have resulted in fewer deaths in this case in Maine, to the point of the copied quote. mspart

So let me get this straight. If you kill civilians, that is a war crime? Which war has been fought in the last 100 years that has not resulted in civilian deaths? Civilian death and property destruction is the main consequence of modern war. Israel is not targeting civilians. There is no other armed force that I know of that tries to avoid civilian deaths like the IDF. Perhaps US troops do similar. Certainly not Russian troops. So when Israel attacks, they have warned everyone what they are going to do. If civilians are present, they either were prevented from leaving or they are not really civilians. I see this as Israel having done their due diligence to prevent civilian deaths. Please show where Hamas has ever taken this tactic with regard to Israeli civilians. This is just one way to differentiate the tactics used and the intent of the two sides here. In my opinion, Hamas did not go to all out war, they went as far as to initiate an initial skirmish with civilians, not against armed forces. That is a war crime. Mowing down 270 youth at a music/dance get together is a crime, not just a war crime. Burning alive civilians in their houses is a crime, not just a war crime. What did they think would be the response from Israel? Did they think that Israel would roll over? I don't think so. I think they knew the response would be punishing and swift. I think the calculus was that other entities would come to help the fight. Hezbollah is certainly answering that call in a small way. But they were roundly condemned for their brutal and inhuman actions. And now Israel is prepared to take out Hamas as an entity. Is there a reason not to? Hamas' attacks have been constant over the years from Gaza. They had a sort of truce going on and apparently we and Israel relaxed about any violence. Then came 10/7. Israel is understandably incensed and their intent to eliminate Hamas now is also understandable. If Israel wanted to destroy civilians in Gaza, why have they historically provided, food, energy and fuel to Gaza? If Gazans and Hamas disarmed, what would be the result? Peace. If Israel disarmed, what would be the result? Annihilation. This again shows the disparate intent of the two. mspart

Hence Israel has repeatedly told Gazans to get out of the parts of the city that are going to be attacked. If Hamas prevents the movement, which they have done, then who is perpetrating the war crime? mspart

Using human shields is the MO of Hamas, and you say that is a war crime. Then why does a legitimate freedom fighter group like Hamas do this? Because they perpetrate war crimes as was displayed on 10/7. mspart

Just to ask the question - Is there any disagreement with the idea that mentally ill people should not possess firearms? If no disagreement, then that is a way forward that everyone can agree to and we should as a country move in that direction. If there is disagreement... mspart

If I am mistaken it is because most states have laws to this effect. If Maine does not, perhaps it is time to consider making a change and enforcing it. mspart

Not only that, but current electric production will not keep up with the demand of an all EV populace. Not only that, but an EV can't go as far as a gas car, takes considerably longer to recharge as opposed to gas up. Not only that, but EVs can't pull a trailer very far which is not manageable for businesses and truckers. Other than these little issues, they are great. My personal opinion is that hybrid vehicles are a better way to go at this time. At 50+ mpg, that is a good step forward while the other EV technology matures. My Passat TDI gets 40 mpg and I can get that to 44 mpg if I am careful with the throttle. This is on back country roads, not freeway driving. Mileage would probably be better on freeway. I use freeway infrequently. mspart

He was involuntarily committed for mental health issues. At that time, the judge could have taken away his firearms and be well within the confines of established law. Did the judge do that? He was a known firearms instructor, army reservist, etc. It seems that there are laws on the books not being enforced in the first place. So what is the answer to this? mspart

Yes, make sure they are only sanctioned BB games. Better yet, just don't play BB. Silly game that. mspart