Notice that the Supreme Court only ruled for the purposes of the tariff law.

On May 10, 1893, the US Supreme Court declared the tomato to be a vegetable for the purposes of the Tariff Act of March 3, 1883.

The Tomato is the state vegetable of New Jersey and Arkansas*. It is the state fruit of Ohio (tomato juice is the state beverage) and Arkansas*.

*Declared such in the same law.

On the idea of pizza being considered a vegetable, if it's a cheese pizza (with less cheese than is normal) and maybe a topping like chicken or something similar, then I would not have a problem with it. Pizza should not be considered a vegetable per se regardless of tomato content unless it's reasonably healthy.

School pizza doesn't qualify as reasonable healthy.

Want GE to pay its fair share of taxes? Simplify the tax code (eliminate loopholes, have only 1 or 2 taxes), lower corporate tax rates, and do other tax reform that makes it cheaper and easier for corporations to simply pay their taxes.

Frankly, Fooglmog, if you are that stupid and don't think that you need electrolytes (more than just water) after working out heavily, then no amount of legislation from Brussels or anywhere else is going save your life. Violate the laws of nature (inclduing nature's law against stupidity) and you will eventually die. That's how life works.

This edict should be repealed. If they issued an edict requiring a statement that water does not provide electrolytes should companies wish to make the claim that water can help prevent dehydration, then there would be less ridicule.

**Edit: Authors Note: Do not mean to imply that Fooglmog is stupid. "You" is meant to refer to noone in particular and certainly not Fooglmog.

The current economic situation is at least in part the result of:

1. The natural state of business (greed)

2. Government regulating where they shouldn't. (Forcing loans to people who can't afford them.)

3. Government not regulating where they should. (Allowing adjustable rate mortgages.)

4. Consumer's not thinking loans through. (Think interest rates are going to go down on adjustable rate mortgages? Come on, think a little.)


I could add that some industries were already stressed by unsustainable union deals

Two points:

1. The last time The Omega fought was over a year ago.
2. Questions regarding the wisdom of fighting should be considered both short term and long term. May we face more wars in the short term? I think the alliances arrayed on the other side would say that we will, but those decisions are left to the future. For the long term, we've made a move to actively help an ally out. You do not have friends in this game unless you behave like friends in this game. This means that on occassion all alliances must fight. We had allies asking for our help and our own reasons for fighting. Consider the consequences of not helping our allies where we could and already had reason to.

I don't control what other alliances do; I only help decide what the Omega will do. As for me, I will try to navigate this game to the benefit (both long-term and short-term) of the Omega. Sometimes these positions come into conflict, particularly when you must consider the needs of your friends for the benefit of your alliance long-term. We made our decision this set. Determining what the consequences of that decision will be is going to be what makes the game interesting in coming sets. We'll navigate the future the best we can.

The US used to think we could avoid conflicts that don't directly involve us, but then Germany tried to bribe Mexico and Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.

Waging a war on terror without taking out the most destabilizing force in the Middle East at the time (Saddam Hussein) would have been laughable, but the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan show the law of unintended consequences. Taking out the Taliban and Hussein was itself destabilizing.

My conclusion is that ultimately the west needs to allow that Middle East to fight their internal battles, so long as they keep the battles internal. Aside from making it clear that we stand with Israel, the US needs to focus on being beleiveable when we tell Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to behave themselves. Iran going nuclear should be considered a threat external to the Middle East. Right now, we're not believeable. Iran already understands that we can obliderate them, they just need to believe that we actually will if they go nuclear.

Confirmed,

Angel1
Omega HFA (if you can't see signatures)

The Omega is a netgaining alliance. We like to netgain in peace without causing too many waves where landgrabs are concerned. We go along and get along. For netgaining alliances, the greatest irritants are topfeeds and stock-stealing. These are among the things that drive netgaining alliances to war.

Imaginary Numbers, you fight every set. The victory in a set is the victory in war. After a war is over, you have nothing to gain by incessant landgrabbing and especially not by topfeeding or stock-stealing from netgaining alliances. Yet this is exactly what you have done to The Omega and to other alliances trying to netgain.

This set, I came to you with a proposal that I believed preserved for each of our alliances the best parts of what we desired. More landgrabbing and stockpiles would have been protected. You refused and offered us the same terms that you abused last set. You would have hit us with abandon and we would have been able to do nothing.

Imaginary Numbers, your uNAP offer is not a pact offer; it’s an offer for you to abuse us in exchange for no wars between us. You should have thought that second part out a bit further. With no pact between us preventing it, we are free to declare on you.


The Omega declares war on Imaginary Numbers for just cause and in defense of LaF.

irc.gamesurge.net #Omega

ICQ: 314294818

MSN:

I'll be around for about two more hours. Then you'll have to wait basically until thursday.

Dibs brings a good point, withdrawing is just an initial reaction. After that, I want to know who did/caused issue and how to stop them.

(be it personal, local, national, or global), how do you respond?

Author's Note: This thread is not posted specifically for 9/11, though it did prompt actually posting this. In posting this, I'm also thinking of the events in Norway and other events (personal and otherwise).

My answer: Tragedy sends me into myself. National tragedies can sometimes prompt patriotic music (though headphones if I'm not alone). An introvert by nature, I become withdrawn instead of simply passive.

This was definately, within the purview of what western nations did, primarily an intelligence and air war. Perhaps more importantly, western nations have largely been able to stay out of ground operations. We didn't win this war, we merely disabled the Gaddafi regime and enabled the rebels. Yeah, fascinating insight into the intelligence element of the war.

I'm not against western nations (the US) taking the lead in invading and toppling various regimes (assuming they are justified), but the results are better and the aftermath easier when the people within those regimes take command of their own destinies and do most of the fighting. Make no mistake about it, Libya is in for some rocky times ahead; rebellions are not usually fought for short term improvements, they are usually fought for improvements over the long term.

No Topfeeds, no Land:Land. Simple really.

hi, I'll be on later today.

Around the Nasvhille area and the Murfreesboro area, I have generally found several features of an intersection with red light cameras.

First, the stop point in pulled back further. In TN, you only violate the red light when your rear wheels are ahead of the stop line. Most cars with only their rear wheels behind the line do not impede traffic crossing the intersection.

Second, left turns are only allowed with a left turn green light.

Finally, the camera is delayed after the light turns red to allow anyone in the intersection to get through before the cameras start taking pictures. I don't know this is true for certain, but I think it is.

If anyone wants to talk about similar such pacts, I have been developing some for Omega. Basically with the premise of allowing hits while people are still spending most of their resources to grow and then specifying specifics on how the normal retaling will go.

Did you hear about the Colorado earthquake?

Well, the lights flickered when I was at the Sandwiche Shoppe, but I don't think that was Earthquake related.

I really only want to comment on the US. You recall that the US tried to break up once already and was brought back together at gun point, but there are a few things that you don't say. First and foremost, the seceding states broke away on their own and without the consent of the other states or the federal government. Second, many northerners at the time were perfectly content to let the south secede...until South Carolina attacked Fort Sumter. Under the method I detailed (a Constitutional Convention), the states would decide to have a convention (2/3rds ask for a convention), they could then propose an Amendment to break the United States up, then 3/4ths of the states ratify the amendment, then the US breaks up. The states could decide to do this, and I think it is more possible now than it has been any time recently.

The civil war was caused by the illegal attempt to break the US up, a convention to amendment process would be perfectly legal.

I think we've reached an understanding. The part about on religion's superiority is where the honoring of other people's freedom of religion comes in. In respecting one another, people find similarities and compromise.

Ultimately it comes mostly to Christian religion. A significant part of America is not Christian and a common idea of what morality is and what moral issues should be legislated is where the multifaceted part comes in. Banning minarets? Not exactly what I would call respectful of Islam.

I think you confuse conservative Christians with extremist Christians. The Westboro Baptists vs Christian groups which go out to repair elderly people's homes.

Government, government, and more government actions. Do you really think that the government determines the character of a people? The people can't be bothered to take time out of their day to help others? The link that you showed me was about government's taking action, not the people.

Why not take the time to actually review the existing regulations. You are putting this all onto me and to the Republican Party. Do not the Democrats also have part of congress and do not they also have a responsibility to review the regulations. Isn't the purpose of congress to review regulations? Secondly, if regulations are redundant, why would we supplement them? The point is to make the regulations only as much as we need and to adjust them to exactly what we need.

10% was simply a figure for making one particular point, it's not necessarily the level required. Furthermore, I would be closing significant loopholes and thereby causing the wealthy to actually pay what they are "taxed" at. Warren Buffet has publically said that he pays a lower percent of taxes than his employees. That kind of vindicates the same rate idea when coupled with eliminating most loopholes.

Religion and morality do not necessarily have any connection, to state that they do is as equally false as your statement that religion cannot have a connection to morality. The simple fact is that for many people religion is a source of moral guidance. Multifaceted and stable socities tend to be more moral than unreligious societies. How many Europeans count on their government to aid people in times of natural disasters? How many Europeans would take their own personal boats out to rescue flood victims? During the Nashville flooding, the government basically just set up sign up stations to keep track of the people going out to rescue other people (some doing so as their own homes were flooded). That's an example of morality that simply isn't as prevalent in Europe as it is in the US.


Just because the relevant industries are aware of the existing regulations does not mean that they do not need a review and that they should not be altered to appropriate levels and to reduce redundancies. If you want more regulations, first show us exactly what we really need. If you want to make a deal, don't be intransigent against dropping redundant or useless regulations.


It's is not to pay the same amount in taxes, it is to pay the same percentage in taxes. $100,000 * 10% taxes = $10k total taxes. $10m * 10% taxes = $1m total taxes. Two very different income levels and two different total tax burdens. Imagine that, fairness in taxation. Oh, one more thing. No loopholes, no exceptions. The only offsetting revenues would be the cost of a new home against the pay out of a sold house and other similar transactions for businesses. I understand this could get dicey, but if I am to make the provision for residential real estate, I must also make it for commericial real estate.

As to ViLSE: Your absolutist position cannot be assaulted. It must merely be sidestepped. Nothing that could be said against it will change your mind and it's therefore pointless to say anything at all against your position. I simply disagree with you.

I did not say that only religious people could have good morals or even that religious people did have good morals. I merely stated that the moral guide which religion can offer is not a bad thing. Furthermore, I specifically stated that all moralities had a right to influence the government. By stating, "as with all moralities," I acknowledged that morals are not just nurtured in religion or even religious at all. I also stated that religious morality can (not does) help build good nations.

Please actually read my post before you criticize it. Don't put words into my mouth that I have not said. If I had meant to say them, I would have.

**Important note: These views are mine alone and do not reflect Omega's position in any way, shape, or form.

As a young Republican, I have a few things to say about my politics.

Where it concerns Social Issues: I am opposed to abortion, but feel that there are many more important issues to deal with. For clarity, I oppose abortion except to save the life of the mother; I am undecided on whether abortion should be legal in cases of rape/incest. Abortion is pegged at the bottom of the line of issues to be addressed right now.

I am opposed to death penalty (life imprisonment instead) due to the remote chance that an innocent person could be executed. Better to send some to jail for life and give them the maximum time to prove their innocence if wrongly convicted than it is to execute an innocent person. This issue is pegged just slightly ahead of abortion. (Note the consistent point of view between abortion and the death penalty.)

I believe that religion and government should be able to influence each other (mostly indirectly), but not dominate one another. Our constitution does not protect the government from religion. It protects religion from the government and it is important to understand the difference here. Religion as a pillar of morality and rightness in the world should offer guidance and comfort to our leaders. Religious morality (as with all moralities) has the right to influence government within the confines of all other rights. When taken that way, it can help build strong nations.


To regulations: We need a comprehensive review of the regulations that already exist. Does anyone even know where we stand on regulations? Like other things we're not even at the starting point for regulating anyone. The starting point is knowing what regulations we actually need and how we need to implement them.

To taxes: Like regulations, we're not even at the starting point. Start by reviewing the taxes we already have, so that we know what's coming in and how much doing/getting taxes costs the people (or companies) and the government. Simplify the tax code, everyone pays the same rate. Certain environmentally damaging activities pay additional fees or taxes to operate (this allows for regulators and officials to mitigate the environmental damage and for otherwise uncompensated stakeholders to be compensated for activities which negatively impact them). Forestry regulations and requirements are an example of such fees, requirements, and taxes. On this note, a tree farm would be exempt from such requirements.

First, define what we need.
Second, determine what we have.
Third, adjust what we have to what we need.

I think the US has some serious organizational issues. They mostly revolve around the centralization of power in the US, but then there is a self correction for too much centralization in the US. The greatest risk the US faces is that the states come together against the federal government and decide that there's just not all that much holding them together.

This year's College Football season is probably going to be as known for general NCAA drama as for the football itself. My team (Ohio State) is set to officially vacate all 2010 season wins. The University of Miami (Florida) faces a possible death penalty (shutting down their football program for a season or more). What this past year is really showing is that for the biggest sports programs in the nation are far too venerated for athletic success.

As much as I like my college sports teams (Ohio State, Cincinnati, Xavier, and MTSU), all of the universities need to take long hard looks at their systems to prevent violations in the first place. Part of the solution may well be to relax some NCAA rules in an effort to preserve the remaining rules far better than would seem right at the moment.

I just want Ohio State to win their game against Michigan (they've also had violations recently) this season and to settle their rules violations. They need to come out and simply say no more.

Please direct questions/concerns about The Omega to Alicia or myself.

Henrik is taking a break from leadership and TheoSqua will be busy with real life.

PM me over AT if you prefer (it might be easier as I've never seen you online when I've been online; this also means that you're not seeing me when you're online).

Angel1,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Omega.

314294818
Angel137379 (AIM)
(MSN Chat).

This would be more used for Retals where L:L has been granted.

Let the players set a maximum amount of land for them to take from another player.

Country A hits Country B and sets a max land take of 1500 acres. The formulas say that Country A gets 2000 acres. The idea would be that Country A would get 1500 acres and the ghost acres associated with a 1500 acre LG.

Omega-Steel Wars. Those were great fun.

Disclaimer: My opinion in does not necessarily reflect the opinions of even a minority of Omegans; they are mine and should not be held against anyone that I associate with.

When it comes to abortion, there is one circumstance in which I cannot bring myself to deny a mother and her doctor the right to perform the abortion (this being when they are defending the life of the mother). Rape is horrible and not the fault of the mother, but I have yet to determine exactly where I stand on aborting children that are the progeny of rape.

That being said, in general pregnancy is the result of consentual sexual intercourse. It is a choice! Therefore, people should live with the choices that they have made. The most innocent among us should not have there lives ended before they are even born simply because someone wants to renege on a choice that they had previously made. If you don't want to become pregnant, use protection or abstain from sex or even use the morning after pill.

Abortion violates the child's body. That unborn child does not have a parasitic relationship to the mother; it is a symbiotic relationship. The child needs the mother and (in biological terms) the mother needs to procreate.

Abortion (especially later in pregnancy) is not the mother making a choice about her body, it is the mother choosing to commit infanticide. Especially late the pregnancy there's not a lot of difference between killing the child inside or outside the womb (after birth that is).

Yheti sighting! Hiya old friend. How's life? PS, you rarely post, so this sighting is valid.

Effectively one, I'll grant, but no more than that.

Sorry totte, Zygotic came back to ruin if for you.

Chipmunk or Rabbit?

BTW, this is the post I said I'd make in channel #zthome. Said I'd make it because of some family issues with my sister. I'm safe and I think she's safe.

wsly, peace for ten sets would be like peace for ten decades in real life. Never happen!

sorry guys, I'm at school full time and working nearly full time.

No no no. Dece should join The Omega. Meet new people, have new fun!

http://omega.earth-alliance.org

$1,500 please!

I'd settle for being able to watch a race or two on TV. D*** work schedule messes up watching racing for me. If NASCAR were easy, bad F1 and IndyCar drivers would dominate. *looks around at all the non-F1/IndyCar drivers*

Not that kind of wisdom...the kind that comes with being old...OldMEGA. It's intangible and you can only develop the ability to contain after many years. Being old, Omegans are in their prime years of wisdom.

$100 on Omega for the same reasons as Alicia and because I have insider knowledge that Omega has wisdom on our side.

Today, I'd go Democracy to destock, but hide as much as possible on the public market. If you have some non-agri tech, I'd sell that (instead of hiding it).

A few days ago I linked a bunch of pages. Got bored at school.

Hmm, so it took me 108 "Pages to Merge" category expander things to get to the point that it wanted to expand my window.

You may find this here: http://wiki.earthempires.com/...p/Category:Pages_to_merge

I suspect that my actually expanding these until this point will be filed under the wierd, crazy, and insane category of things to do when bored.

ConEmpires anyone?

Confirmed, Omegans are lazy. We like to have a one week vacation. Really just means that we actually have a week to devote to real life.

I wonder if the game will still be around when the kids that I'll eventually get around to having are old enough for me to allow them anywhere near this crazy lot. With me, they'll only be around one crazy person. To allow them near a thousand crazy people would be...crazy.