Fatguy
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[quote=”streudel”][quote=”Fatguy”][quote=”lexxrobotech”]Heh, Welcome back Fatguy! :D[/quote]
Thanks, but the best welcome was having my post deleted in the “heros” thread….. :lol:[/quote]
And to think I thought Maurice actually realised how patronising he sounded and deleted himself. Can you believe I seriously thought Maurice looked around and figured out that this a sci-fi fan forum, not an annex of his website? Heheheh, what the hell was I thinking? 😆
[/quote]
Funny thing that, I was actually going to delete that myself but fell asleep and it was gone when I got up. Point of fact was that…..we have been here so many times before. Actually I have been deleting many post here lately, then the threads got deleted, but the seach engines still have the posts in their cache…..oh well. My five heros (hope this does not get deleted ):
1. Charlie Brown.
2. Gerald Ford
3. Kurt Godel
4. That Chinese guy who stood in front of the advancing tank in Tiananmen Square (sp)
5. Gandhi
There are five in no particular order. Sorry Captain Kirk is no hero in my eyes, he is a tool of others….. As for the censorhip, whatever…..people find a reason to do whatever they wish and justify it afterward. That is why I always look for constitutions that impose limits of these types of activities (but that is just me…..).
[quote=”lexxrobotech”]Heh, Welcome back Fatguy! :D[/quote]
Thanks, but the best welcome was having my post deleted in the “heros” thread….. 😆
[quote=”lexxrobotech”]I continue to bless this board with my comments at least once a week. That should be more than enough.
Although it does seem a little bit calmer. Maybe someone killed Fatguy.
*thinks*
It wasn’t me. It was the AMERICANS!
:P[/quote]
Ok Lexxrobotech…..you are off the list….. Somebody killed my computers and I have my suspicions. Gone now, such is the nature of Amercian news. All true and if anyone is still interested in that sorry tale go here: [url=http://fortressoffreedom.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=485]Cyber War![/url] That bit of misery (and BTW – they are all gone now…..safe to view!!!!!)kept me from actively participating at this venue for the past two weeks. Even today I spent six hours downloading all the files and backing up the database from our servers since these were lost on the attacks on my systems. Also I have less time and what time is left is taken up with reporting activites like the “Troll” interviews I did yesterday: [url=http://fortressoffreedom.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=488]Trolls Of Toronto[/url]. Someone tell me if that guy is packing a gun under his shirt…..
This weekend is a long one in the States and in the U.K. so things are slow right now. Plus the Canadians don’t want to feel left out so they deliberately avoid these venues so as to appear that we have lives….. 😆
[quote=”pet”]
Personally, I think it’s haughty to believe Earth has the only life in creation, or that carbon-based life is the only possible kind, but I don’t believe for a minute we have any flying saucers (or equivalent) visiting us. Wouldn’t they have better things to do than come down here and do donuts in a cornfield?
Pet[/quote]What is an “alien” life-form?
Try lowering your security/privacy settings in “internet options” in the “control panel”. And don’t forget to rasie them when you finish with the site!
Here is a picture of Fatguy Jr. if cloning becomes common place.
[img]http://fortressoffreedom.com/Fatguy1[/img]
Here is one of my eye:
[img]http://fortressoffreedom.com/Fateye[/img]
I ran across the show last night and watched it for two minutes….. Some woman was running down the isle….. 🙄
Hey you dudes! You better be hearing the man nosay!
There you are – sitting in front of your computer in your underwear on a Friday night, and eating the leftover crumbs from the bottom of the Kentucky Fried Chicken box you had for supper. Well, I am here to tell you to: Get With The Program! Sadgeezer needs your money if you want to continue your download of the “Tripping The Rift” Bimbo with the big boobs. Is that too much to ask my friends….. just a little money please….. What! No Money!
Look guys[size=18] Money[/size] makes the world go round, so get with the program!
insomnia…..
Last weekend I spent the whole time in front of the computer. I spent possibly 2 to 3 hours way from it that weekend – apart from sleeping…..
I is sad…..
[quote=”Logan”]
Right now, as it is, we’re doing them a service by helping to advertise their shows, but if there was any hint of a commercial agenda they might take legal action (really we’d have to come to an agreement with them — just possibly they’d be willing to come to an agreement where they’d accept a slice of the pie if we were to charge a fee, but I wouldn’t even try to go that route).Sometimes I’ve felt that perhaps some of the producers of the shows might be willing/want to help finance this site (especially when it comes to making the guides), since we really do help market their shows… It’s a great advertisement for them. Of course we’re indebted to them too, since our site is dedicated to their shows, and that’s our passion. Thanks to them for allowing us to share their materials in order to enrich others. And they have shown some support when it comes to us trying to bring their shows to the attention of others, I believe.
Wonder how many people have bought DVDs because they were inspired by the guides and info on the shows here?
On the other hand, it’s not good to be beholden to those people, it probably would negatively affect the quality of the guides (we might be less critical, and this site should remain noncommercial on that front so we can remain impartial/unbiassed).[/quote]There is one point that really bothers me here. This site, the shows and fan sites definately take more than they give with regard to the program-website relationship – don’t kid yourself. Your audience comes here mostly based on an interest generated by a commerical show being advertised on networks supported by paid advertising.
If you were to run a site that had to produce it’s own “entertainment”, you would see how hard it is to get traffic. One person has a site devoted to a female star/model, and braggs that it is successful, well how much is the actress and show…..and how much is the owner of the website that never took one picture…..
It has to be said that for all the criticism that has been levelled at me – for example – look at how little of my posting ever owed anything to someone else’s labor…..
Try to start a unique service and sell it (I have, the only one of it’s kind, free and for altruistic purposes – a protection device for journalists), and see how hard it is to start up and get interest…..
I have another site where we get stories that other media won’t cover because they are unpopular; but the other “occasional” times when we have to comment on a popular subject – I get the highest hits every time and do relatively nothing…..I was feeding off someone else’s work….. Try to produce a newspaper with only volunteer contributors to stories they have to produce and many times fight with other reporters to get; then print that paper with no advertisers – the work and expense will show you what other people had to do before they hit it big with a popular show…..like the shows at this site.
Having said all of that; Sadgeezer is right in the end that a fan site is owned by the fans, that is why the commercial interests allow it. So charging for downloads of copyrighted material would clearly get one into problems. The banner advertising seem like the best approach as they do not “feed” off any of the shows on this website, and if the money truly goes just to maintain the site – I can’t see any problems arrising from it. The donations are another idea.
Taken to an extreme, we all feed off each other, I am just pointing something out to point to the best direction to take in funding the site….. Thanks to Logan, Pet, and TheFrey for their suggestions (they were not mine); as for my “own” original but negative input…..I got to be me!
Sorry about that Sadgeezer; I guess I read you wrong. I shall now put aside my secret plans to buy you out and turn Sadgeezer.com into one huge cash cow! 😈 😈 😈
And one other thing Sadgeezer: Sadgeezer.com is still your website. There is nothing wrong with some payback for all that hard work (especially if it is put back into the website). Do what you must to maintian the domination of your venue in it’s category…..or some other enterprising person will see your hestitation and take advantage of it…..thats business…..
Maurice Ali
Well Sadgeezer; you appear to be reaching the limits of the website as you manage it. One way or another you will have to decide whether to keep growing and produce the necessary capital to continue; or to do what you are doing now and cut back or keep your present size.
You always like to state that you are the largest on the web; so my guess is that you take the next step and start to use the website to finance itself.
Since I am not the most loved at this site, I will make the statement that I fully endorse your wish to keep things free around here; but I urge you to do the right thing and start to make this website pay for it’s own upkeep. The way to do this could be a separate thread, but I will make things easier for you, by saying this:
[b]Sadgeezer.com must start making money or it will collapse into itself! This site must become commercial if it is to continue! Everyone accept this fact and do not be too hard on Sadgeezer as it is his only option. It is his only option; so Sadgeezer – let me be the first to say I endorse any decision you make to finance this website and keep it viable. Time to forge ahead![/b]
Maurice Ali
You guys really make me laugh. Habib gets paid 4,000 dollars (not 35,000) for your 50,000 – 80,000 dollar tech position. I got worse news for you – he is probably better at it too…..
As long as you can export the work…..actually it is not exporting…..it is the global economy. You are just going to get used to a lower standard of living as the world evens out the wealth to the proles.
Such a smug attitude many Westerners have that they are the most intelligent and thus the most highly paid…..welcome to equal opportunity…..
As a Black Man – I spent 20 years in school only to find out North America would not employ me for anything but menial work; so I now laugh as you find out your “dream” job finally goes to someone with dark skin….. I drive a truck for a living…..safe for the next 20 years….. 😆
Wake up and smell the roses! You have to compete with the world on an equal footing….. How do you stack up? The same protectionism you speak about is no different than the discrimination I faced that prevented me from getting a nice job – Welcome to equality!
Personality are the characteristics that make a person stand out from the crowd for easy identification. The stronger the personality, the greater he/she stands out from the crowd, the greater the value of individualism, freedom of thought and so forth. I have come the the conclusion that ‘lone wolf” individualists are a miserable, lonely crowd. They do not require public acceptance and they can perform well at public speaking, yet be totally anti-social in small groups. They are the leaders and also the outcasts.
So of course Number Six and Number One could be the same if you use this form of construct; but that is just a metaphor for reality.
I really did not play the game of who is Number 1…..I had social issues to deal with at the time, and only looked at The Prisoner as a bolstering social icon at the time. The good looking, empty headed predictable people are the happiest, they are never alone, and they never feel like prisoners in their societies.
I got a ton of AOL users since my last post. Please let me/us know what you can and can not do on this latest version of phpBB2…..just curious (I have 2.06 with all the upgrades and security changes – 2.06c ). If you can’t post on Sad’s, e-mail me at maurice@fortressoffreedom.com. Sad’s board is supposed to be more accepting of AOL and this version (2.06) the worst…..I have no other way to tell…..
I got the same e-mails from another source…..they look legite but I was too lazy to open attachments…..lucky me…..
The problem is AOL and not mine…..nobody is holding a gun to the head of AOL subscribers. I have a long list of AOL users who viist me and only stay for a few pages ( probably the ones I made 8) ) and then…..”poof”….. This can be corrected…..don’t use AOL!
[quote=”Valdron”]I remain sympathetic to the Tremors franchise, and find a lot to enjoy in it. But I think that the premise was ultimately limited and that it simply wore itself out. It’s not more complicated.[/quote]
Agreed; I only like the movie version for the leading lady and the fact the local was a bit odd for sci-fi.
Ian Fleming said that the star of his novels were the villains and referred to Bond as “that cardboard cutout”. with only a boring monster for this series…..you pretty much limit your plot lines.
[quote=”Valdron”]I see this as just another variant take on Christ. This is the one, apparently, where Christ does a lot of suffering. The proof of divinity and moral superiority is in Jesus ability to take double helpings of whatever the bad guys are dishing out. I’m sure all those who trade on victimhood will get a big kick out of it.
On the other hand, if you want Christ as a story of faith and resolution, try Jesus of Montreal.
If you want to get it as a story of triumphing over temptation, try The Last Temptation of Jesus.
If you want the fun Christ with a committment to doing what is right, try Jesus Christ Vampire Killer.
And Just for the record, the Jesus Christ of the gospels never really existed. He’s a mythical person.[/quote]
But the bottom line here is that Mel Gibson’s version is the correct one; after all…..he is a movie star…..Just ask his dad…..
I refuse to watch that movie as it would destroy the legend of MAD MAX!
I tend to stay away from religion as I know nothing about it. Talk to me about money and porn…..this I know something about…..
[quote=”Headgehog”]I’ve added another three commercials. You can find them at the same place as all the other [url=http://www.sadgeezer.com/html/index.php?module=My_eGallery&do=showgall&gid=101&p=]commercials[/url].
The three include a [url=http://www.sadgeezer.com/html/index.php?module=My_eGallery&do=showpic&pid=2843&orderby=titleA]long[/url] and [url=http://www.sadgeezer.com/html/index.php?module=My_eGallery&do=showpic&pid=2844&orderby=titleA]short[/url] version for Sci Fi’s Thursday lineup. Only the TTR part of the ad was included.
The [url=http://www.sadgeezer.com/html/index.php?module=My_eGallery&do=showpic&pid=2845&orderby=titleA]last ad [/url]is a long one with lots of great action footage never before seen.[/quote]
I hate to admit this to myself; but Headgehog has actually succeded in getting me interested in looking at this thing when it shows….. 😯 (and yup – I mean that).
[quote=”Logan”] Debate for me isn’t about trying to win, it’s not about competition, it is mostly about improving myself… As it’s said, “You can win all the arguments you want and feel good about always being right, but you will not have helped yourself in the slightest. Or you can give up thinking about who won and lost because, in truth, either you both win the argument or you both lose.”[/quote]
Unless it is in the political arena, the losers there really lose…..
With regard to the music…..I have been listening to Snap: Do You See The Light? I know I sound like a broken record…..
Sad’s site is definitely faster than at any of the other sites as far as I can see. If it is really because of the lack of other sites on the server, then this can only be the best thing to happen for the popularity of the site – Good move Sadgeezer!
My two cents. For me it is not the wandering IP address that presents a problem. I use dial-up with a new IP every time and never had a problem with phpBB2. Sad’s version was actually supposed to be better at handling AOL as opposed to the newer versions coming out of the php group.
I recommend that users avoid anything but IE. When I use old versions of Netscape, the hidden “php home” link on the top left is no longer hidden and appears as a “broken” link that is still usable; “img” photos present over script….. With all the other smaller browsers…..I would recommend that American users do not use these browsers as they flag you as someone suspicious; you really stick out like a sore thumb using these browsers and only the worst connotations go with using them…..nuff said….. If you have to use a non-IE browser for anonymity…..realize that even the designers of P2P look at this in legal terms in a Western judiciary…..but Homeland Security will see all this otherwise…..stick with IE. AOL is safe from scrutiny but all the crap that goes with it creates problems.
Personally, I am moving slowly away from message boards as their usefulness as a media tool is smaller than I originally thought. It is good as a venue when I was setting things up in my little corner of the universe, but a read only site (like so many other similar organizations to mine) seems the ultimate destiny….. I originally questioned the value of a message board and this assumption may now prove correct. They have their place and I will still use it for anonymous use, etc….. but much of what goes on at message boards is just chat….. So with regard to the AOL problems…..the correction becomes “not worth the time and effort…..”…..” (Oh, one other note of interest: Not only is the value of the board in question, but I just noticed on our new business cards that the entire website has been relegated to a “contact us…..” on the very bottom of the card….. My how times quickly change as the website was the “thing” and the message board was most important…..and now…..).
[quote=”Fatguy”]”Insanity is the failure to get your point of view across to another” – Anon
Actually I found Pet’s presentation far more interesting before Logan “spilled the beans”…..[/quote]
Oops….. Sorry Logan I should have put a smiley face at the end of that…..hope you did not take it the wrong way, and kudos to Pet for a job well done…..
“Insanity is the failure to get your point of view across to another” – Anon
Actually I found Pet’s presentation far more interesting before Logan “spilled the beans”…..
“To Serve Man” – from the Twilight Zone/Outer limits – has two different meanings….. 8) Can’t think of any others that have not been stated before…..
Enjoy it while you can. As a Canadian born in the Prairies I can tell you that we had snow drifts over six feet, chains on tires (anyone remember those…..) and one month where the temperature never rose above minus 36 degrees.
I am in Toronto now but when I go to wash my car, the doors will not close properly because the locks will all be seized with ice and the outside of the car will have a sheet of ice on it (disappears when I leave it in the garage for an hour…..
1. The Master – Dr. Who. He is the perfect villian because he is the diametric opposite of Dr. Who.
2. The Borg – Star Trek TNG Once again, they are political opposite current Star Trek philosophy.
3. The Prisoner – The Prisoner Nuff said.
4. Prince – LEXX Pure evil!
5. Dr. Smith – Lost In Space He is lovable yet still a villian.
I say that the best space ship was the one in “Lost In Space”. Really “far out” ; and it had all the shiny metal and lights and gyroscopes and plexiglass of that era. The first show gave you a tour of the ship and the layout actually made sence.
Congrats Pet! You are a wizard with the computer, and an artist as well….. “Cool” stands the test of time…..like Jazz…..
Maurice
Me take on Nursewhen? I will think about it as my mother was a big B5 fan and thus I was force to watch (and yes…..they still hd no found a cure for bauldness in B5 era…..).
Maurice
SadGeezer…..I feel your pain. Constantly changing servers must feel like a never ending trip to the dentist…..
Maurice
[quote=”Logan”]
[img]http://www.sadgeezer.com/html/modules/My_eGallery/gallery/news/LogansSadgeezerOnBoard.jpg[/img]
quote]
Just when I thought the ‘Baby on board” fad had finally died…..
Remember this thread; so much has changed….. Sadly I see our world becoming more like The Prisoner and less interest in the TV shows that dealt with issues seen in the original series…..
Maybe if the “fans” were less interested in his personal life and more interested in his professional life…..then maybe you would know what he was doing in the “real world”. Do you really want to know what he is like in private….. 😈
[quote=”pinhead”]Maurice- I keep hoping that you’ll come to the aid of Canada’s most well known political prisoner, Ernst Zundel( he’s being held in a prison in the Toronto area, maybe you can get an exclusive jail house interview with him!).[/quote]
Lets see you pick another out of a population of over 30 million. We can’t let one idiot ruin the rights of millions; but that is what he did with the consequent introduction of “hate laws”. Now ordinary conversation can be “moderated” by those with “political connections” to silence others just stating an opinion. Leave the emotion of of human rights arguments…..”if it save one life”…..does not cut it with me.
Maurice
[quote=”thefrey”]…..and so here we all are until the next occurence. :)[/quote]
The next occurence…..just kidding 😉 :
[url=http://snitchreport.com]The Price Of Freedom Is Eternal Vigilance[/url]
Maurice Ali
One last note:
This thread has had some impact on me…..so I give you a Sadgeezer exclusive:
I have decided to commit my time and resources for at least the next ten years towards maintaining the fortressoffreedom.com and iaij.com websites.
These two sites will remain the most accessible websites on earth and soon will be available in a multitude of languages. The service will remain free as the idea of the half naked person with no money stealing away time on any computer to post his story and be validated as a journalist…..means much to me. That is what we represent, I am even toying with a prototype of the virtual press card that will dispense with the physical distribution of the card to areas in the world where this would be difficult.
We will remain users of the most advanced uncensorable, untraceable technologies for critical transmissions for people who live in oppressed environments (I will hold back on what some people consider oppressed environments…..hehehe). Presently, that tool is [url=http://fortressoffreedom.com/FreenetNews1]Freenet[/url].
I do all this because this cause is just and good; and because I love my fellow man. I thank you all for helping me make this decision, it is not fun to be the guy selected to “stick his neck out”, but someone has to do it…..only right is right.
Maurice Ali
I will actually defend TheFrey here as she was one of the early members of the site and helped build it to what it is today (correct me if I am wrong). Like what she has to say or not; she has given me a brief opportunity to present my venues and “angst”; by removing it from a convention thread and into the Pub (and I did apologize for doing that). We have locked horns on other issues which have developed into some memorable and productive discussion (and some not…..). I am a free speech advocate and welcome her input as she wishes to say it…..that is what it is all about…..is it not?
Re Frey: You have a valid criticism with regard to the “slap dash” display of the website. I noticed this when I started to sell the service to news organizations. I have therefore included a [url=http://fortressoffreedom.com/IAIJFAQ]FAQ[/url] and will try to streamline an introduction and such to the venue. You are correct in that I have no formal abilities as a journalist (though we now have legitimate members at the site now), that is why I don’t post on the tutorials (except for the who is a journalist thread). Verification is automatic with the first report or on our website…..no favoritism or politics there…..that is the point we are trying to make.
[quote=”thefrey”]Apparently a good global citizen is required to offer bogus media accreditation to people who just happen to have some minor writing skills and an active email address? : ) Get a clue.
You need something more than a poorly laid out web page to be able to give out accreditations. Now, should you wish to spend several years gathering writers, who do insightful pieces that are held to the highest standards of journalism that would be a start. Then you could gather a following that includes some real journalist leaders, and only then would you may be in a position to join an accredited writing group and offer media accreditation to your contributors. Right now? You are just a fruit loop with a printer and your accreditation is not worth the paper it is printed on.[/quote]
I had to sleep on this reply before making it but since a senior member of Sadgeezer.com has opened this issue…..I demand equal time:
A “global citizen” does not need any accreditation to be a journalist – it is their right as a citizen (and certainly not from the government) as laid out in the [url=http://fortressoffreedom.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=202]American Bill Of Rights.[/url] We do not verify any person as a journalist, they have to post a story for broadcast to meet the definition (you don’t need an active e-mail address to post or register at my site, you can do it all on the forums…..for those in oppressed areas where e-mail addresses are traceable).
I don’t know what “poorly laid out web pages” have to do with accreditations, but the [url=http://fortressoffreedom.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=176]web pages[/url] are simple so as to load on any computer from 386 up the the most advanced wireless handheld or phone with internet capability. Load times are under one second for all critical pages so it is functional under problematic dial-up in third world nations.
I may be a “fruitloop”…..but I do not have a printer….. 😆 and the accreditations are not on paper but on the [url=http://fortressoffreedom.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=220]web[/url] – here is mine: [url=http://iaij.com/8459537]Fatguy’s credential verification.[/url] The site is a serious one though…..and I have a contingency plan to extract any member who “legitimately” faces harm because we verified him as a journalist on our international database, under Canada’s refugee policy (the database and correspondence being used to validate that person’s claim as a legitimate refugee). I should tell you that the Canadian Government showed some interest in this idea and wanted me to incorporate under “not-for-profit” so I could apply for a government grant…..but, the site must remain in private hands as our philosophy demands it. Fortressoffreedom.com and IAIJ.com are [url=http://fortressoffreedom.com/IAIJMessage]altruistic projects[/url] run by a very small number of people who are committed to the ideals for free speech and free thought. I am proud to be associated with these groups and thus respectfully disagree with your opinion of the websites and their projects.
Maurice Ali – A man who signs his statements with his real name.
[quote=”FX”]…..and finally, don’t pull the nyc card on me, i moved here from nyc a month before 911, so obviously i have multiple friends and family there too,not to mention all the cops, firefighters, and ambulance personnel i worked with there daily… so do many of the people on this board; we all pulled together to help each other deal with the pain of it when it happened…this is, however, the first time you have claimed any kinship with the issue; you have proved my point, you bleat about us abuses but this is the first time you have, however remotely, mentioned the tragedy that made the environment ripe for these purported abuses to occur…[/quote]
Ok, I find it interesting that a guy who believes in rights and free speech and constantly praises the Constitution Of The United States…..seems to incite such angst from my neighbors to the south. I only wish privacy, freedom of expression and self-determination for all…..I guess that makes me a terrorist…..
P.S. FX: This is not an attack on you specifically…..just generalizing…..
[quote=”Headgehog”][quote=”Fatguy”]I believe that most people in the States live in denial about just how much their privacy and rights have been infringed. It is only when outsiders like myself balk at these new procedures and how they infringe on pleasant activities like Dragon Con…..that the unpleasantness rears it’s head.
Even Britain your ally in Iraq…..has less stringent policies regarding tourism and such…..except when the British travel to the U.S.A.. What follows is a quote from a friend who read this thread:
“Anyone in the UK renewing their passport after Oct 2004 will have to pay an extra £65 for a biometric coded passport to travel to US this only applies to travelling to the US an not any other country also it will mean having to go to the American Embassy for a visa . At the present time to enter the US involves being fingerprinted and having your photo taken at immigration. Also we are being forced because of US policy to have armed Sky Marshals on planes that are going to the US a plane destined for Washingtopn was cancelled on 4 days running while the passenger lists were being checked by US authorities who also want to know about payment details of the tickets bought for this flight . And we are supposed to be the USs closest ally . “[/quote]
Most people in my generation that I know of are well aware of how stringent security is becoming around us. At times it seems like the government is reverting to Nazi Germany in terms of security checks and other bombastic procedures. They ask to see our papers (ID) on the train, bus…
Speaking of the UK, which I just returned from about 13 hours ago, I did notice a huge difference with paperwork upon entering the UK and the US. The UK paper was just a simple: Name, home address, country of origin. I’ve had more trouble getting from Pennsylvania to New Jersey than I did getting into the UK. Returning home was much different. I had a much longer form to fill out, that asked a bunch of questions in addition to name, address etc. These include, are you carrying any food, plants, soil etc. And another question about how much (in $) stuff you’re bringing into the country. The food questions are for ecological/agricultural security. We do want to limit foreign lifeforms from entering the local enivronment and screwing it up even more. The money question, is for tax purposes. Seeing as how I only bought post cards, “I love London” tshirts, magnets and other tourist crap, it’s no big deal and customs could care less. They however don’t want me bringing major commercial items into the economy, eg designer clothes, electronics, alchoal, tobacco. Since I could resell these items here at a lower price, and have a small impact on the local economy. (Keep in mind that if one person does it, no biggie, but if 500 people do it, it is a major problem, I’m not going to discuss freshman economics here)
Any foreign national (I explicitly asked about this) entering the country has a few other forms to fill out. These are where are you staying, for how long, purpose of visit. The concern here is for immigration purposes.
I’m not defending the system per se, I do prefer the british system, but many of these controls do have a valid reason.
As for your friends comments:
1) fingerprinting et al, applies only to visitors with a visa. Citizens of the UK and most western European countries do NOT have to apply for a visa to travel to the states. Canada (aka the Suburbs)sure as hell doesn’t have to. In fact Canadians are treated as US citizens for customs paperwork purposes!
2) I’m not sure about this new encoded passport thing. US passports don’t have it so why should we require only England to have it?I must commend your friend on being turned away at the Canadian-US border. That is a real accomplishment! You have to TRY to get turned away at the Canadian border. Seriously, it the longest unguarded border in history. Much of it is serperated only by a small stone pillar every 50 ft in the woods. Some places it’s literally as easy as crossing a street.
And to add some more cynicism, Micheal Moore (a hero of yours?) had a show on TV ~10 years ago, where he proved how simple it was to get into/out of Canada. He had people crossing wearing “traditional Canadian outfits” like hockey uniforms with gear, Mountie uniforms, and even a two-man Canadian Moose costume.[/quote]Actually, no real arguments here except for the fact that the policies exempting Canadians and the British are not followed (as a local Canadian talk show host, carrying a British passport and citizenship card found out last Sunday 8) ).
[quote=”Sasha”]You know, I just get so sick of hearing all the whining. If you have to be photographed and fingerprinted to come here so what??? If you are not guilty of anything it shouldn’t matter.
Whine whine whine.
But just as soon as someone blows up a building it’ll be criticism as to why we didn’t protect everyone.
I don’t hate muslims. I don’t hate christians. You are all entitled to your own beliefs. I just hate the people that use their religion to try to make the world your own.
I have always been a middle-of-the-road voter. I have voted democrat and voted republican. Depends on the candidate and what I believe is necessary in that office at that time.
My peronal opinion is that a Democrat in office at this time in history puts our country more at risk from terrorists. THAT is more important to me than whiners who don’t want to be photographed and fingerprinted coming into the country. If I have to be photographed and fingerprinted going to another country, fine. It’s their rules and I AM VISITING THEIR COUNTRY. I follow their rules.
Sorry – felt the great need to vent. I don’t post here often, but I do read the board. And frankly, all Maurice’s whinings get on my last nerves.[/quote]
Thanks for the reply. I have noticed that Americans live in a sheltered “media world”. Sure I protest the official policy set by the United States…..but that policy is the best of all worlds for non-whites.. Your policies are racist and I would never be allowed entry into your country (even though I am a born and raised Canadian)….I have proof. Furthermore, if one was not born in Canada…..but a Canadian citizen traveling on a Canadian passport, I could be shipped of to some foreign country like Syria and tortured and held for twelve months and not have the Americans tell the Canadians what had happened to him:
[url=http://torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1074035410792]The Canadian Experience[/url]
My uncle is a member of the International Olympic committee and offered free trips to my parents to some games in South America…..however my father was concerned that they may be shipped off to a foreign country on stop over…..so they did not go (they did go to the Manchester games and sat a few seats away for the Prince of Wales…..no problems on that one).
The picture taking and finger printing is onerous enough…..but that is the least of us our worries; Being sent to a hostile country against you will and not being able to tell your family or inform Canadian authorities of your whereabouts in a very real possibility. This issue was supposedly resolved at the Summit Of The Americas.
Re FX:
[size=18]I Am Not Muslim.[/size]
My mother was Catholic, I married a Catholic and was married in a Catholic Church. My two sisters are Catholics. I never said I was Muslim, you (possibly had) made that assumption based looks and my last name. My fight for rights applies to ALL members of society, including yours. The reason I started my website was because a U.S. soldier friend of mine could not post his photos from Iraq.
You mention inconvenience for a few as justification for the protection of the collective. This goes against traditional U.S.A. policy that: “Rights must apply to all or they mean nothing”. – Remember that one…..
I have many family members that live in New York – did you know that….. 911 was a tragedy and it would be unsympathetic to not understand some policies in the immediate post 911 time. However, years have past and I still see CNN “terrorist” documentaries two and a half year old….. What is the threat potential – not as high as your government thinks.
My friend in the UK is blond haired and blue eyed and that person is fighting those policies. Many in the States see this as a racial/religious issue, that is the first problem – others do not (at least until they enter the States).
You in the States have be sold a lie from your government – I hear this time and time again from Americans that are too afraid to state this publicly. 911 was used as an excuse to invade a secular society called Iraq due to economic concerns proposed by Cheney(sp) over ten years ago. The Patriot Act and the others were used to promote nationalism and suppress dissent toward the war and to suppress the media. The Democrats ran a commercial comparing Hitler to Bush. While I think this is grossly inaccurate …..we should remember that Hitler burned the Richstade(sp) and used it as an excuse to curtail civil liberties and invade other countries.
Americans can still get their rights back and become good global citizens. It all starts with what each of you Americans do in the voting booth this coming election.
