kchsload

That's your opinion, I respect it and know many who share the same views. If I would have never lived, studied and worked in the country (I have no idea what your experience is with China), I too may have those same views, but I don't. Even though it looks very irrational from the outside, and especially from the Western point of view, the actions of Beijing and their leaders are not stupid but are in fact very rational and carefully thought out. Simply put, I believe you're using a Western prism to look at Chinese foreign policy and actions and consequently getting a distorted view. As for the three issues you mentioned, yes you're right, they exist, but the Chinese exemption is a multifaceted one and seemingly able to avoid disasters that would normally destroy the economies and societies of normal nations. Will this trend continue, who knows? But with a gradually slowing economy Beijing will become more susceptible to the normal rules of development and politics. There are measures and actions being put into place to mitigate the housing bubble, it has after all been predicted to burst 3-4 years ago. But again, that damn Chinese caveat has exempted China for the time being. As for importing oil, China is working on an admittedly impressive pipeline to move African and Mid East oil. It begins in a Myanmar port and runs through the country directly into Yunnan in southern China. This will allow them to skip the whole shipping oil through the Strait of Malacca thing and reducing the need for securing sea lanes and consequently the tension and competition for them.

Iraq v Kuwait has little to do with the US and China. Just one example, the PLA logistical capabilities are waaay behind their current military developments and are limited in their ability to project force, and even less able sustain it. Wars are fought because nations believe they have something to gain from it. China has nothing to gain and everything to loose in a war with the US/West. If Beijing were to lose that war, the CCP would risk looking illegitimate and unable to contain a revolution. Whats more, we are both in each other's top two import/export partners, that alone will prevent any major conflict as neither side can afford to lose what they have with the other. China does desire to influence her own region, and who here can blame her? She has major interests along her peripherals (this is not to defend Beijing, the ambitious and illegitimate claims over the S China sea or this new air defense region among others) and any other country in the world would be doing the exact same thing insofar as ensuring influence in their respective region. At this point China is her own worst enemy on the international stage, neighboring nations that once aligned with Beijing and received large amounts of Chinese investment as a result are becoming increasingly worried and looking towards the US as a counterweight to Chinese influence, (Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia etc.) and consequently ensuring a US presence in the region; just look at the recent typhoon response in the Philippines. I've sat in on meetings with top Chinese academics and former gov't officials, they hate the fact that we're in the way we are. I've seen them jump up and down and scream about US ops in the region and recite a mile long list of complaints, (surveillance flights 70 miles off the Chinese coast is a favorite topic to bring up). but we're not leaving the pacific. We provide too much to the region, i.e.,ensuring security of sea lanes that the Chinese actively use and anti-piracy and terrorism ops. While China is now in the beginning stages of conducting these routine missions themselves, many of them are being jointly conducted with the US and Western friendly allies. China is focused on China at this moment. I honestly believe that this latest move was largely made so Beijing and CCTV can and point and say to the populace (again) "look how strong we are, they fear us." Then, Mr. Chen, after watching that night's new, is going to go talk it over with his buddies at tomorrow's Mahjong game and all nod in agreement that China and the CCP is indeed strong.

China has no interest in fighting a war with the US or the West but the have every incentive to create the illusion,mainly pandering to their domestic audiences, that they are willing and able to fight that war.

Beijing just announced a rather large swath of the air space over the East China sea is now under their influence and control. Much of this a big "###### you" to Tokyo as this East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone covers the air space over a set "islands" (read: small rocks protruding from the ocean that are projected to contain large amounts of natural resources) that the several countries are claiming ownership of but are currently controlled by Tokyo. I can not overstate the amount of nationalism, from both sides, that is attached to these rocks. More so, the Communist Party has made this such an issue of this over the years that it risks a loss of legitimacy if these rocks are further secured by Japan. This has been a major issues since the '90's and one of many of the reasons China and Japan have such a hard time playing nice. Announcement of the Aircraft Identification Rules for the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone of the P.R.C. ( Source: Xinhua ) 2013-November-23 10:00 　　BEIJING, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of National Defense issued an announcement of the aircraft identification rules for the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone of the People's Republic of China. Following is the full text: 　　Announcement of the Aircraft Identification Rules for the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone of the People's Republic of China 　　Issued by the Ministry of National Defense on November 23 　　The Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China, in accordance with the Statement by the Government of the People's Republic of China on Establishing the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, now announces the Aircraft Identification Rules for the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone as follows: 　　First, aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must abide by these rules. 　　Second, aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must provide the following means of identification: 　　1. Flight plan identification. Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone should report the flight plans to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China or the Civil Aviation Administration of China. 　　2. Radio identification. Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must maintain the two-way radio communications, and respond in a timely and accurate manner to the identification inquiries from the administrative organ of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone or the unit authorized by the organ. 　　3. Transponder identification. Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, if equipped with the secondary radar transponder, should keep the transponder working throughout the entire course. 　　4. Logo identification. Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must clearly mark their nationalities and the logo of their registration identification in accordance with related international treaties. 　　Third, aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone should follow the instructions of the administrative organ of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone or the unit authorized by the organ. China's armed forces will adopt defensive emergency measures to respond to aircraft that do not cooperate in the identification or refuse to follow the instructions. 　　Fourth, the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China is the administrative organ of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone. 　　Fifth, the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China is responsible for the explanation of these rules. 　　Sixth, these rules will come into force at 10 a.m. November 23, 2013. Here's a map:

Hmm, a neo-conservative magazine lamenting Aslan. Interesting... "Aslan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in religions from Santa Clara University, a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop, where he was named the Truman Capote Fellow in Fiction. Aslan also received a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His dissertation was titled "Global Jihadism as a Transnational Social Movement: A Theoretical Framework"" He's a bit more qualified than the Weekly Standard would like to believe.The great thing about advanced degrees is that you have the opportunity to make it your own, for example my master's is in international relations although throughout my studies I didn't focus international relations, but rather Chinese military development. A PHD in sociology could very easily focus on religion without "religion" written on his degree. The point of my post was to show the blatant effort of Fox to create an issue out of an educated Muslim writing a book on a Christian god. Though I don't condone his choice of language on Twitter, those examples in your article were almost certainty cherry picked to promote the author's image of Aslan.

Hilarious Fox interview of Reza Aslan, the interviewer is digging hard and pulling accusations out of the dark, Aslan is handling like a boss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwWbPpFZ31s

Shit, I'm taking this same flight home next month.

In order to make that statement you'd have to argue that homosexuality is a choice, not innate. I, most logical people, along with the majority of researchers agree that it is a innate trait. Bu.. wha.. you just said... Huh? So they're born with it, again, using your logic god created them this way and put them on an express lane to damnation, but it's choice they make? Why would he decide to throw such a monkey wrench into his "perfect plan," I thought he loved all of us and wanted to save us? Do you realize that you're asking someone to not be themselves, to not do what is natural to them in order to conform to your ideals? Sorry hoss, but your definition of what's right and wrong is for you and your family to follow, don't apply your standards to others then tell them they're wrong. But then again, that's the foundation of religion, "be like me or burn in hell." I see it all the time here in Taiwan, the Mormons, the Jehovah Witnesses and other evangelical Christians, all coming over in order to alter the beliefs of a 5,000 year old society, delivering a message that essentially informs the Taiwanese that they've been doing it wrong the whole damn time! It's so nice and generous of the them to come over and correct them so they too have the chance to conform and be "saved." Oh, wait....

Damn shame the internet wasn't around during the Jim Crow era and civil rights movement, I'd love to be able to look back and see what the lay men of my father's and grandfather's generation would have written on forums like these about those issues. Much like our kids will be able to at us on BO.net, and wonder wtf were some of us were thinking and getting our information from.

I'd hardly call the position of homosexuals in our society "glorified." What you are speaking of is the fact that they are being praised for having the nerve to "come out" in a society where fear of reprisal is a very real threat. This is something you (I presume you are straight) and I have never had to worry about. So sure, publicly admitting who you are sexually and being honest with yourself and others about your orientation, when you know that it could affect just about every aspect of your personal and professional life, is something to be commended. Why is a gay man admitting he is gay equated to a straight man talking about how much he loves poon at work? They are two different scenarios. A gay man talking about his love of cock is the same a man talking about tits a work, they are probably both inappropriate conversations to have in a professional environment. The only double standard I see is the one where my friend can't marry his partner that he loves just as much as the next straight couple and is consequently denied hundreds of benefits that he would otherwise have if he were straight. That is a double standard. Yes, a man marrying another man is the same me marrying my dead 1st cousin while a wear a wedding gown doing so. You're right. Let's not get all Jerry Falwell.

Sigh, why is it either brains or ass? Miss Utah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlgqWeuhJj4

Galaxy is referring to the size of the wearer?

Should be interesting to see how China uses this drone and the others that are in development. A few months ago China was on the hunt for a group that killed 13 Chinese fishermen on the Mekong River, when they found the killers on the Chinese-Burma border they were contemplating using a drone fired missile but reportedly decided to use to special forces due to their concerns over effective drone use; not to mention the chance to parade the killers around and show their execution on live TV in order to show how hard the leaders are working for the people. An interesting point raised by The NYT was what will the US do if China decides to use these drones to kill what they've labeled as terrorists (Uyghur's, Tibetan dissidents or more of the above) outside of their own border. We've created a bit of a disturbing international norm in this sense. This could also put Taiwan on edge, especially if the stealth proves to be effective and allows the Mainland to survey from the air at will. They still have a ways to go, but are catching up rapidly.

Tie-down straps on MRAPS would never happen on AF jets, we weren't even supposed to use them for 7,500lbs HUMVEEs in the air-land world. The only items I recall using straps were on crew luggage, helos and small loose items like tow bars or engine stands. On the -17 we pulled out the 25k chains without even thinking about it for cargo like MRAPS, maybe some 10k chains for supplemental restraint. In the pics above they have straps going around what looks like some kind of mount in front of the side view mirror, no way they're getting much vertical restraint out of that, looks like it would snap off if it actually came under serious stress that a MRAP's weight could put on it. Same requirements in the C-17, but we use 25k chains and figure getting roughly 18,500lbs of restraint out of it .

What appears to be 20 pictures of one girl competing for Miss South Korea is actually, thanks to plastic surgery, 20 "different" girls: https://imgur.com/0MMzzLQ Before and after pics are even scarier: https://www.ilbe.com/1135790392