I''ve failed my S483 run, curse me, curse my computer...

[QUOTE=rogue;326561]Why do so many people tolerate [URL="http://ca.news.yahoo.com/fleeing-islamists-leave-legacy-destruction-timbuktu-073255120.html"]this behavior[/URL]? :rant:

I'm referring specifically the destruction of historical artifacts.[/QUOTE]

It is heartbreaking. I feel the same way about the pillaging of Maya and other ancient cultures' sites in Mesoamerica.

EDIT: Of course, the Spanish priests burned all the Mayan codices they could get their hands on. Only four are known to remain. May you burn in your own imagined hell, Diego de Landa.

[QUOTE=kladner;326587]It is heartbreaking. I feel the same way about the pillaging of Maya and other ancient cultures' sites in Mesoamerica.[/QUOTE]

Welcome back! (?) :smile:

[QUOTE=kracker;326588]Welcome back! (?) :smile:[/QUOTE]

Thanks! It was great, but getting over a 14 hour time difference will take a while.

[QUOTE=rogue;326561]Why do so many people tolerate [URL="http://ca.news.yahoo.com/fleeing-islamists-leave-legacy-destruction-timbuktu-073255120.html"]this behavior[/URL]? :rant:

I'm referring specifically the destruction of historical artifacts.[/QUOTE]

A good solution to this might be for, say, the UN to declare zones around these regions, buildings, or artifacts, that belong to no sovereign nation. For example, the land within 100 meters of the pyramids in Egypt is not Egyptian soil, but "global" soil, sort of like a Worldwide Park. Any nation (regardless of whether or not they are the belligerent party to a war) caught defacing or destroying such "global" sites would be subject to UN sanctions. That *might* do the trick to keep these extremist warring factions off these irreplaceable sites and artifacts.

[QUOTE=NBtarheel_33;326631]Any nation (regardless of whether or not they are the belligerent party to a war) caught defacing or destroying such "global" sites would be subject to UN sanctions. That *might* do the trick to keep these extremist warring factions off these irreplaceable sites and artifacts.[/QUOTE]

I doubt that it would have prevented the US coalition in Iraq from setting up a major base with heavy ground and air traffic right next to the ruins of Babylon. The ensuing shocks and vibrations were said to be doing significant damage to the structures.

[QUOTE=kladner;326676]I doubt that it would have prevented the US coalition in Iraq from setting up a major base with heavy ground and air traffic right next to the ruins of Babylon. The ensuing shocks and vibrations were said to be doing significant damage to the structures.[/QUOTE]Further, anyone here know the meaning of the phrase "human shield"?

oh hum I'm feeling like beating up HP it appears that they let the same person who signed off for the box we had to reorder 3 times to get here, my computer once it was fixed, or at least that's what it seems like from what my mom said, unless she gave the wrong tracking number ( when you have more than one from trying to get the box in the first place it may be hard to keep them separate).

[QUOTE=NBtarheel_33;326631]A good solution to this might be for, say, the UN to declare zones around these regions, buildings, or artifacts, that belong to no sovereign nation. For example, the land within 100 meters of the pyramids in Egypt is not Egyptian soil, but "global" soil, sort of like a Worldwide Park. Any nation (regardless of whether or not they are the belligerent party to a war) caught defacing or destroying such "global" sites would be subject to UN sanctions. That *might* do the trick to keep these extremist warring factions off these irreplaceable sites and artifacts.[/QUOTE]
Alas, that nice-sounding plan is useless without the means and willingness to enforce it. And such enforcement would need to be (and seen to be) fair and unbiased. Good luck with that.

A very many good ideas though history have failed due to lack of a credible "or else", and / or clear biases in implementation.

[QUOTE=ewmayer;326937]A very many good ideas though history have failed due to lack of a credible "or else", and / or clear biases in implementation.[/QUOTE]
Hear, hear!

Look at the Soviet Union. You think they [I]wanted[/I] to become a corrupt and failed oligarchy from the start? I am not sure! I've seen many genuinly communist people with the noblest ideas, ...but of course not the people from the top - I know nothing about them. But the system as a whole? You bet, it was doomed to fail. In the words of Lenin, "Socialism is about checks and balances. (Социализм - это учёт и контроль.)" Checks and balances failed miserably.

Hope RDS makes a good recovery.

We seem to be dropping like fliss.

Many here may be unsurprized that I have liver failure.

Anyone heard from Richard (Cheesehead) recently?

Love to both friends and enemies,
David