Non-IT News Thread
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To compare to the US again, if you are familiar with the Canadian border, imagine if the US and Canada suddenly opened the border. No crossings, just wide open border. People would flood back and forth all the time. Cheaper gas down here, Beavertail pastries up there. You'd shop, eat, chill in the opposite country as easily as in your own. Not like we had it in the 1970s, way more open. Cross literally anywhere. No lines, no cops to talk to... nothing but a sign saying "welcome to Canada, eh?"
It would make for some cool movement. We've never had that, but it would be cool. The EU and CH have that today, and it is amazing.
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If Canada opened the border like that, Starbucks would cease to exist as everyone would get real Tim Hortons!
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
The Iowa example seems weird, but is because CH is in the middle of the EU, not an edge. So it is "objects" being "flown in directly" that are potentially leaving the confines of CH and going into the EU. Hence the bizarre example.
I understood why you used it. It is the same issue marijuana legalization in the US. EU has to police it just like neighboring states of Colorado.
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The city that would really be hit is Basel. Three borders run through the city. People who live there function as tri-nationals on a daily basis. It would be like having to cross one border to get your coffee, and another to go to the office, and a third to get home at night. Total nightmare.
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@pmoncho said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
The Iowa example seems weird, but is because CH is in the middle of the EU, not an edge. So it is "objects" being "flown in directly" that are potentially leaving the confines of CH and going into the EU. Hence the bizarre example.
I understood why you used it. It is the same issue marijuana legalization in the US. EU has to police it just like neighboring states of Colorado.
Almost. But add the bit about the airport, that's key. In CO right now, anything that leaves CO had to be made in CO. They can't ship marijuana in or out. (But they can produce it, so that's nearly unlimited.) But in the CH example, stuff flies over the borders and into the middle, then is free to travel around. So the source objects could come from anywhere, not only be created inside CH.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@pmoncho said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
The Iowa example seems weird, but is because CH is in the middle of the EU, not an edge. So it is "objects" being "flown in directly" that are potentially leaving the confines of CH and going into the EU. Hence the bizarre example.
I understood why you used it. It is the same issue marijuana legalization in the US. EU has to police it just like neighboring states of Colorado.
Almost. But add the bit about the airport, that's key. In CO right now, anything that leaves CO had to be made in CO. They can't ship marijuana in or out. (But they can produce it, so that's nearly unlimited.) But in the CH example, stuff flies over the borders and into the middle, then is free to travel around. So the source objects could come from anywhere, not only be created inside CH.
They law may state they cannot ship in or out but there is nothing stopping the people from doing so. By plane or car. No stopping the law breakers. Just like the CH/EU situation.
The only people the EU will be hurting is the law abiding folks. Especially those in the town you mentioned above.
Again, I am not saying CH can not/should not increase their gun laws to match the EU. The CH just shouldn't have a fist in their face to force them to do it to keep an accord going.
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@pmoncho said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@pmoncho said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@pmoncho said in Non-IT News Thread:
Plus the Swiss gun control laws don't hurt the EU one bit. It's the EU just being a prick.
They are believed to not just hurt the EU by jeopardizing security, many Swiss believe that they are causing problems in Switzerland.
That is fine. Then the Swiss can adjust their own laws. I'm all on board with that.
That's what they just did. This was totally voluntary from Switzerland. They took an internal vote and got an overwhelming majority at around 2/3rds that desired tighter gun control.
They did this because they had very very limited choice and the EU with their fist in their face.
In the beginning (based on limited reading), basically the EU said, "If you wanna play with us, you have to do A, B and C." Swiss state, "Sweet, I will do that so we a can all play together." Now we are playing for hours and hours and the EU comes back and says, "If you wanna keep playing (with mean grin and shaking fist) you have to now do D, E and F, RIGHT NOW, or GET OUT!"
That is how I see it. Top is all off, Swiss helped the EU more than the other way around.
OK sure, but I'm assuming they did that to their own citizens first - i.e. passed a new law in the EU for those higher restrictions... now that the EU has higher restrictions - they are requiring anyone else who still wants to play to conform.
Assuming Scott is right, and 2/3rds voted for it.. then clearly the people felt the tighter laws were worth what they are still getting from the EU, more than what they loose from the new laws. Otherwise, why didn't they just leave?
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@pmoncho said in Non-IT News Thread:
They did this because they had very very limited choice and the EU with their fist in their face.
They have every choice. They had the choice to join, and they are free to leave. No one forced them to do either. It's a voluntary association and it has rules. There isn't anything resembling bullying. It's as far from that as can be. No pressure, no fists. It's "if you'd like to join our club there are rules, and they might change over time"... then "if they change, you are free to choose to stay or go". It's as far from bullying as it gets.
Of course on the surface this is true, what we don't know is what happens behind the scenes.. is the EU pulling a trump on them and threatening to no do business with them if they don't stay in? who knows?
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@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
Assuming Scott is right, and 2/3rds voted for it.. then clearly the people felt the tighter laws were worth what they are still getting from the EU, more than what they loose from the new laws. Otherwise, why didn't they just leave?
I'm a Swiss American and it's been a topic that we've followed for years. In this case, I think a lot of the Swiss are happy that the EU was able to help them get the motion on the table.
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@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
Of course on the surface this is true, what we don't know is what happens behind the scenes.. is the EU pulling a trump on them and threatening to no do business with them if they don't stay in? who knows?
Calling it the EU is an oversimplification. It's actually the Schengen border zone and the only thing on the table is maybe a discussion of requiring a security check to control the movement of guns between the CH and the Schengen. It's Schengen membership in question, nothing actually involving the EU.
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It's common to refer to the Schengen as the EU, but they aren't the same thing. Examples include CH being in the Schengen but not the EU. And the UK being in the EU but not the Schengen.
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BBC News - How a new diet for gassy cows is helping the environment
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-48336239 -
Pakistani children worst affected in HIV outbreak
The first sign that something was wrong in the small southern Pakistani town of Ratto Dero appeared in February.
A handful of worried parents had taken their children to the doctor, complaining that their little ones could not shake off a fever.
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Iranian threats 'put on hold', says US defence chief
Potential attacks by Iran have been "put on hold" by US counter-measures, acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Tuesday.
The US has warned in recent weeks of a threat from Iran but has not given any details.
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@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Pakistani children worst affected in HIV outbreak
The first sign that something was wrong in the small southern Pakistani town of Ratto Dero appeared in February.
A handful of worried parents had taken their children to the doctor, complaining that their little ones could not shake off a fever.
That's awful
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Don McGahn: Former lawyer defies congressional subpoena
A former White House counsel has failed to appear before Congress to testify about Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, despite a subpoena.
House Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler has promised to take legal action. -
'Twin tornadoes' spotted in Oklahoma
Like gigantic lawnmowers, more than a dozen twisters hit Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, including two at once.
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Climate change: Global sea level rise could be bigger than expected
Scientists believe that global sea levels could rise far more than predicted, due to accelerating melting in Greenland and Antarctica.
The long-held view has been that the world's seas would rise by a maximum of just under a metre by 2100.
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@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Climate change: Global sea level rise could be bigger than expected
Scientists believe that global sea levels could rise far more than predicted, due to accelerating melting in Greenland and Antarctica.
The long-held view has been that the world's seas would rise by a maximum of just under a metre by 2100.
Time for that inland sea in the Sahara!
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