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This is a hilarious interview. How do stupid people get prominent jobs.

QUOTE (knightni @ Oct 10, 2009 -> 06:28 AM) You guys need to try http://www.swaptree.com/ if you have extra books, CDs, DVDs, and games that you don't want anymore. heard about this right before I left. Really want to try it out when I get back.

Really liked Sullivan's piece, who usually has a pretty good pulse on world politics : "I've had some coffee now. Reading through all the reactions, compiled by Chris and Patrick, there are two obvious points: this is premature and this is thoroughly deserved. Both are right. I don't think Americans fully absorbed the depths to which this country's reputation had sunk under the Cheney era. That's understandable. And so they also haven't fully absorbed the turn-around in the world's view of America that Obama and the American people have accomplished. Of course, this has yet to bear real fruit. But you can begin to see how it could; and I hope more see both the peaceful intentions and the steely resolve of this man to persevere. This president has done a huge amount to bring race relations in this country to a different place, which is why the far right has become so vicious in attacking him and lying about him. They know he threatens their politics of division and rule. He has also directly addressed the Muslim world, telling some hard truths, and played a small role in evoking a similar movement of hope and change in Iran, and finally told the Israelis to stop cutting their nose off to spite their face. I like Shimon Peres' statement, reprinted in a useful compendium of world reaction at the Lede: “Very few leaders if at all were able to change the mood of the entire world in such a short while with such a profound impact. You provided the entire humanity with fresh hope, with intellectual determination, and a feeling that there is a lord in heaven and believers on earth.” Mr. Peres, who won the peace prize with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat in 1994 following the Oslo Accords, added: “Under your leadership, peace became a real and original agenda. And from Jerusalem, I am sure all the bells of engagement and understanding will ring again. You gave us a license to dream and act in a noble direction.” Right now, we do not know where that direction will ultimately lead. We do know that we were facing a spiral of conflict that, unchecked, could have taken the world to the abyss. I see this prize as an endorsement of his extraordinary reorientation of world politics, and as an encouragement to see it through. In the midst of our domestic battles, and their ill-temper (from which I have not been immune lately), this is an attempt to tell us: look up for a moment, see how far we've come in pivoting away from global conflict, and give this man a break for his efforts and the massive burden he now bears. And, in the darkness that still threatens, know hope." http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_...world.html#more

QUOTE (Pants Rowland @ Oct 10, 2009 -> 06:03 AM) Thanks! What's a jib? Maybe, but our reach has only been around for a short period of time when compared to other great nations in history. I suppose it does not make the spread of our culture any less impressive, but is the ability to market ourselves an indication of the richness and attraction of this culture, or simply our ability to spin and spread our story? Thousands of years from now, when it's all covered in sand (other than the top of the Statue of Liberty, of course) will future archeologists be impressed with our civilization or will they simply be amazed at our skill producing plastic junk that still won't be fully decomposed thousands of years later? I really do not know the answer to these questions. Coming back to Tex's original statement, however, I am somewhat troubled how such a great nation, with the opportunity (and wealth) to leave an overwhelming legacy in so many fields, prides itself the most on having a strong military and reveres no citizens more than those in uniform. We take pride in "protecting" our citizens at home and abroad from alleged foreign threats, yet don't tackle real visible daily threats to our health and happiness such as pollution, poverty, obesity, food allergies, and most importantly ignorance. What's worse, is that ignorance has been given multiple new media and spokespeople to spread further. I do not know if any of this rant is related to the nobel prize, but the ignorant comments from all sides of the political spectrum today (not necessarily here), along with trying to explain the concept of peace got me wondering if we as a nation really try to spread peace at home and abroad. Well, I'm sure the historians will be able to tell a discernible difference in eras. In one era, goods moved slowly, politics moved slowly, and armies moved slowly, and America has ruled in the new era where everything can end at the push of a button. I think we deserve some credit for our relatively short dominance because I can't see someone dominating the world as the romans did ever again.

The ottoman empire's culture was not proliferated nearly the same amount as American culture is. Our reach is incomparable. Though we never "ruled" as many lands as England, no country has imported it's culture and business the way we have. None. So no, if it all crashed tomorrow we'd be far more than a historical footnote.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 08:09 PM) Kids get suspended from school and school activities all of the time now for things that don't happen on campus and not during the school day/year. This kind of stuff is really common actually. Truth. There's no rhyme or reason to school punishments. Kids on my lacrosse team all got suspended when someone lost their phone at lunch and there were pictures of them with beers.

per WSJ: "The selection process has become increasingly cumbersome as the aura around the prize has grown. There are now between 150 and 200 nominations every year: This year saw a record 205." So, his nomination isn't a surprise.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 04:38 PM) Obama has been speaking about peace the entire year, not sure why he couldnt win the award? Who cares that he was only President for 10 days, you can win the award and not be President. it was just the nomination, as well, and as I've stated, that was 8 days after his exec. order to shut down Guantanimo and he outlawed torture...not surprising you could get a nomination for that.

EHhhhh, Rwanda is a big black eye IMO for Clinton.

Shocked that Swayze never one for bringing peace to that road house bar devastated by violence. Thought they could award it post-humously.

For the record, I'd be in favor for any president from here on out to use their platform to help fellow american cities AND individuals in international competitions.

Pretty sure i've always seen him prefaced with Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela also: Mandela foundation welcomes the award! http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/article144428.ece

QUOTE (Pants Rowland @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 03:27 PM) I wasn't sure how to respond, but luckily the emoticon is described at "headbang" so that was all the guidance necessary. Perhaps I was too slow in my response. can't stop laughing, haha

QUOTE (Pants Rowland @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 03:22 PM) I think a merger is in order. You can post in the nobel thread, as long as it follows the original alphabetical game rules.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 03:16 PM) Hey he was the one who couldn't leave because of health care. I guess winning the Nobel and chasing the Olympics changes that? Like I said before it was stupid when McCain tried it during the election, and it was stupid of Obama to say. Of course no one is really bringing that up over and over again like during the election in the media... While I agree with your point, Obama was wrong to shield himself with that, This bill is really not at the point where it's in his hands (points for obviousness)...it isn't the time for him to make his play.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 03:13 PM) I didn't realize the President was responsible for creating the bill and approving it. Seriously! Jesus, here's when I want Obama to let himself known, when the bill goes to the house and senate to merge a single bill. And then he can make his deals for votes. WHY WOULD HE DO THAT NOW?

btw it looks like thunderbolt has beat out kap for hyperbole by a large margin. I mean, Kap looks like a nobel peace winner compared to thunderbolt. Love ya.

Seriously, Reddy, I know it's popular right now to be saying the Administration should be twisting more arms on health care, but I guarantee you health care has gotten as far as it has because 1) Dem majority 2) they've left it to the legislators. Congress has to do this a lot on its own. Now he's sending his team to twist the arms, and now is the time to, if he did it in conference, it would have been a mess. Congress is our legislative body. He set the Agenda, they have to sort out the bill. He is doing this the right way.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 02:52 PM) dude if you were paying ANY attention during the election, you'd know Obamania did exist. People voted for him without ANY knowledge of ANY of his policies. Hope they said. He's hopeful. And yes, I know that this sort of thing happens in many elections, but it doesn't get people who have NEVER voted before to register. That part was new. In any case, yes I know there has been criticism, but there has always been this air of "he can fix everything" about Obama. And one other thing is that he seems to like being a celebrity president and that adds to the "Obamania". I mean, commercials with him and George Lopez? Come the f*** on. How bout spend that day working on health care instead of shooting a dumbass commercial for a bad comedian. The election was a long time ago. Especially considering I'm dealing with the August town halls.

Jan 22 (two days after in office) Obama puts plans to end Guantanimo Bay The leading black eye on america, a site of torture and kafka-esque trialization was enough to get nominated. Since then, clearly this wasn't what should win the award, but the non-nuclear proliferation is a big step for the WINNING.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 02:48 PM) Would you like to miss the point anymore, or do you want me to step in and lead you in the right direction? Obama’s success is fueled by his image, the idea, that he gets rewarded for doing nothing, doesn’t help that. It severely hampers his prestige throughout the world, because every single rational man on the planet knows that he did nothing to deserve this award. No you are right, of awful things that could happen to a person, i've consistently stated that getting a 1.3 million dollar award along with a prestigious medal is among the top. I pray to GOD EVERYDAY to not let me win the nobel peace prize.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 02:44 PM) as a Dem, I'm thoroughly confused and slightly annoyed. I hate this kind of blind faith, and I thought we'd gotten past all the Obamania. But I guess we haven't quite... shame. Essentially with all this godliness we're heaping on Obama, it's going to be impossible for him to "succeed". How bout he's just a man. A very powerful man, but a man nonetheless. Not to mention one with a pitiful congress backing him up. But that's for another time. Yes, a very, very, very powerful man. The US president shapes world policy. Everyone has to react to how we are going to go about things. There's a reason the rest of the world knows so much about our political leaders. Can we stop acting llike Obamania exists? The guy is getting criticized way more than he is getting praised, this has been happening consistently for the past 4 months at least. CNN ran a fact check over whether his comparison to hitler was legit.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 02:39 PM) This is one of the worse things that could have happened for Obama. It completly reinforces the idea that he's famous for being "Not Bush." HAHA REALLY? THIS is one of the worst things that could have happened for Obama? Not an Israeli strike on Iran? Not another banking collapse? Not 20% unemployment? GETTING THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE ARE YOU SERIOUS!!

"he's a celebrity, not a leader" response: "tots, it's disgusting how many celebrities continue to get the nobel peace prize"

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 9, 2009 -> 02:31 PM) But a lot of the left probably would have been. They certainly were when he was nominated. There was also a campaign to get BUsh nominated.