RENAMED: Roger is bored. Do something!

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I also think - just my opinion - that we have too many subforums for the current level of traffic on the board.  We don't have a hundred regular users anymore.  We have less than 30, at best.

This is an interesting observation,. Catching up on this thread, but quoting it so it doesn't sink. This ties into Cramulus' idea that we need to curate our content a bit more.

We need to what?

Organize shit better and more efficiently.  He's agreeing with you.

The only problem with fewer subforms I can see is, who grabs the shovel and moves stuff?

I was just thinking of smashing a few together.

[Luna]

I also think - just my opinion - that we have too many subforums for the current level of traffic on the board.  We don't have a hundred regular users anymore.  We have less than 30, at best.

This is an interesting observation,. Catching up on this thread, but quoting it so it doesn't sink. This ties into Cramulus' idea that we need to curate our content a bit more.

We need to what?

Organize shit better and more efficiently.  He's agreeing with you.

The only problem with fewer subforms I can see is, who grabs the shovel and moves stuff?

I was just thinking of smashing a few together.

Logical, and leaves room to break out again when traffic picks back up.

[Telarus]

Curate: to serve as curator  for: to curate an art exhibition.

The forum spaces we've carved out are fairly good for generating and discussing our content, but then it just sits there. I guess it's an odd thing to think of, because threads are inherently the "property" of everyone involved in the thread. 

But a process to present the content from some of the threads would help. I've been thinking about it, and a cyclical, iterative process sounds best.

I think the first thing to do would be to nominate threads for curation, and move them to a sub-forum for a while. Then whoever's interested has a space to collaborate with the others interested. Then the thread gets re-framed into a whatever (PDF, comic strip, etc, etc).

Then the final product gets put back into the subforum that the original thread came from, with a link to the original thread in the archive subforum.

[Edit] I'm in favor of smashing a few subforums together.

[Cain]

I am supposed to bring something in to class on Tuesday that reflects the current state of U.S. military imperialism.

I know I won't have any problems finding something, I'm just afraid to go look.

Tell Cain you wanna see it ALL, NO FILTERS.

Then, without reading, cut & paste it into word and turn it in.  It will be a race between the prof being hauled to the nut-hatch and you being hauled to some nameless navy brig as a "person of interest".

I'm not sure I can bring the shock, drugged up as I am, but if you want the basics:

Over 800 military installations spread over six continents.

More spending on military than the next 50 nations combined.

Over the past decade, has directly taken part in or supported wars and insurgencies/counterinsurgency in: Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Liberia, Uganda, Pakistan, Mexico, Kenya and Djibouti.

Has made it clear it will accept no constraints on its ability to act overseas (Obama and Bush).

Typically gets involved in conflcits which do not concern the "national security" of the USA but instead intervenes in conflict zones where control over vital resources and their transportation is a concern (if the US just wanted to secure oil, the cheapest way would be to buy it, but it's about oil ownership and transportation - especially preventing Russia or Iran exerting international influence via such measures).  Wars which support the wealth of the ruling class are a typical feature of imperialism dating back to the Persians, at the very least.

The USA co ordinates action and deals with the world more through its military than via its diplomatic and intelligence agencies.  The regional US commander is often deferred to as the ultimate arbiter of foreign policy in their region, above and beyond any state-level ambassador.  The only place this is probably not true is Europe, where face-to-face communication among leaders is more important.

While dressing up its wars in humanitarian guises, it is nevertheless the case that America's wars are about putting their proxies into power first and foremost.  Thus, in Afghanistan, the role of the warlords in plunging the country into civil war, a civil war that led directly to the rise of the Taliban, was overlooked in defeating the Taliban.  In Iraq, the US cooperated to put an Iranian-linked political party in power, in order to break the Sunni resistance.  It then sided with the Sunni resistance when it became clear that Shiite state power was growing too quickly, as was Iranian influence in the country.  It also coordinated with official enemies, such as the Mahdi Army, where it proved useful (such as when al-Sadr was "cleaning shop" in 2007-8, ie getting rid of those commanders who threatened his own power base).  In Libya, the torturing regime of Gadaffi was overthrown, but the new regime is now torturing former regime loyalists, as well as killing African migrant workers.  Thus, the concern is not human rights, but whether a leader is able to be pressured effectively into acting in ways the US approves of, ie; control of a foreign nation, or imperialism.

That should do for now.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Put my son on an early flight back to the Marines this morning.   

As of now, I get to see him 30 days a year for the next 5 years at least.

[LMNO]

Ugh.  Well, that's more that I was seeing my family when I moved out... Wow, I was really an ungrateful little shit, wasn't I?

[Cainad (dec.)]

Put my son on an early flight back to the Marines this morning.   

As of now, I get to see him 30 days a year for the next 5 years at least.

Condolences. My mom's in the Army, creeping up not-quite-fast-enough on retirement. We get to see her a lot more than that, but I know the feeling.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Ugh.  Well, that's more that I was seeing my family when I moved out... Wow, I was really an ungrateful little shit, wasn't I?

He's a family type.  Once he gets married and has kids, we'll probably hardly see him.

I was fairly surprised that while he was on leave, he spent about half his time with us.  I was expecting more like 20% at best.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Put my son on an early flight back to the Marines this morning.   

As of now, I get to see him 30 days a year for the next 5 years at least.

Condolences. My mom's in the Army, creeping up not-quite-fast-enough on retirement. We get to see her a lot more than that, but I know the feeling.

My dad was always on the research ship when I was a sprat.  Thing is, it's different when it's your kid.  I keep having to reminding myself that he knows what he's doing.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

From the a column by Dr. Theodore R. Van Dellen, in the Chicago Tribune.

The senior citizen who enjoys reasonably good health should stop talking about the miseries of old age, how no one loves him, and how much time he has on his hands.  There is no easier way to lose respect and affection than to become garrulous, obstinate, grouchy and quarrelsome.

So what am I supposed to do, JUST SIT HERE?  Don't you see this leaves me with NOTHING?

If the bastard hadn't died already, I'd have to punch him in his fat face.

[Luna]

From the a column by Dr. Theodore R. Van Dellen, in the Chicago Tribune.

The senior citizen who enjoys reasonably good health should stop talking about the miseries of old age, how no one loves him, and how much time he has on his hands.  There is no easier way to lose respect and affection than to become garrulous, obstinate, grouchy and quarrelsome.

So what am I supposed to do, JUST SIT HERE?  Don't you see this leaves me with NOTHING?

If the bastard hadn't died already, I'd have to punch him in his fat face.

Doesn't apply to those who are already grouchy and quarrelsome.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I'm SO bored, I'm not going to hate on anyone for a solid week.

For SCIENCE and shit.

[Luna]

I'm SO bored, I'm not going to hate on anyone for a solid week.

For SCIENCE and shit.

I am concerned that your head will explode.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I'm SO bored, I'm not going to hate on anyone for a solid week.

For SCIENCE and shit.

I am concerned that your head will explode.

I'll be fine.  What could go wrong?  I am in charge of my emotions, not some horrible elder God thingie.

I can do this.

[Luna]

I'm SO bored, I'm not going to hate on anyone for a solid week.

For SCIENCE and shit.

I am concerned that your head will explode.

I'll be fine.  What could go wrong?  I am in charge of my emotions, not some horrible elder God thingie.

I can do this.

Of course you can.  Just mind the blood pressure, is all.