Assange holed up in London

[TommyGunn]

Ah benevolent despotism? Look how happy we keep our earliest? It amuses that amongst folk so concerned about their own liberty and infringements upon it so many are so free with the liberty of others. For me but not for thee.

"Our earliest??"  What the _____ are you ranting about?  
"It amuses that folk so concerned...."  Lacks a pronoun. WHO is "amused?"

Look, I didn't create the world.   I didn't wake up one morning and decide to place an expansionist evil empire on this planet and turn Russia into a sludgepot of communists whose greatest call-to-glory was going to be to spread their vile oppressive philosophy across the planet.   We did what we had to do to defeat it.   War, even COLD WAR is an ugly thing.  But I will defend to my death the concept that we were right to defeat communism, even if we did make a lot of deals with tinpot devils in some squalid corner of the planet.  The Soviets would never have stopped there, they'd have continued on ad infinitum until all was consumed.  
If you feel so bad there's some nasty tinpot dictators remaining, you are free to go take care of them.

Oh wait, I forget, now, we're not supposed to BE the "world's policeforce" we're supposed to keep our evil vile paws off all others because it isn't OUR business to impose "freedom" on a people ....it's OK if their leaders are killing the children, raping the women and turning the poltroonified peasants into a slave workforce.
Because if they wanted their freedom, THEY should rise up with their pitchforks and take out the AK-47 armed jackboots with their assault pitchforks.........
Oh well.  

[agricola]

Argentina's air force?   The four Typhoons that are stationed on the Falklands will likely splash them BVR.

Their surface fleet of destroyers etc. is semi-respectable, I'll give you that, but the Brit subs will just sink them if the risk from Exocets is going to be significant. My money's on the RAF and RN.

They may stick out their pinkies at tea time, but the British military is still REALLY good at killin' people.

Any excuse to post this, the best Newsweek cover of the past millenium:



:D

[HankB]

Good picture.

But that reminds me . . . was it true that the carrier had to shut down its radars when conducting air operations because of the electrical priming of the Harrier's munitions?

[Scout26]

I happened to be in DC with a bunch of British exchange students shortly after the Falklands War was over.  Every time we went out, they'd get pissed (in the British sense of the word) and start singing.....


"RULE BRITANNIA !!!   BRITANNIA WAIVES THE RULES !!!!......."

 

[Jamie B]

Sigh, the British.

Someone needs to tell them, again, that they do not rule the world.

[agricola]

Sigh, the British.

Someone needs to tell them, again, that they do not rule the world.

We do still rule Knightsbridge, though.

[Jamie B]

We do still rule Knightsbridge, though.

Yes, you do!

[seeker_two]

We do still rule Knightsbridge, though.

Yes....but you defend it with dull knives....

 http://thedailyeater.com/2010/02/stab-free-safe-kitchen-knives.html

[De Selby]

No, no.  You are thinking of John Walker Lindh, aka 'the American Taliban'.  We are speaking of the John Walker who was a Navy communications officer who spied for the Soviets from the 60's to the 80's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Anthony_Walker_(spy)

makes more sense now!

[HankB]

We do still rule Knightsbridge, though.

How long until the caliphate is established in Londonistan?

http://www.amazon.com/Londonistan-Melanie-Phillips/dp/1594031444

[agricola]

How long until the caliphate is established in Londonistan?

http://www.amazon.com/Londonistan-Melanie-Phillips/dp/1594031444

Yes, a religion that forbids alcohol is going to absolutely flourish in a nation that has more pubs per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

[roo_ster]

Yes, a religion that forbids alcohol is going to absolutely flourish in a nation that has more pubs per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

I would put Davenport, Iowa, up against any town in the British Isles in the pub-per-square-mile metric.

Of course, towns like Little Rock, Arkansas, bring down the national metric due to not having a decent pub in the whole dang city.  Quite the accomplishment, that.

[roo_ster]

makes more sense now!

We need to insist traitors take on mutually distinct names to prevent getting them confused.

[AJ Dual]

I would put Davenport, Iowa, up against any town in the British Isles in the pub-per-square-mile metric.

Just about anyplace you'd care to name in Wisconsin is not impressed with that.

[Strings]

>Just about anyplace you'd care to name in Wisconsin is not impressed with that. <

Y'all know what it takes to make a town in Wisconsin?

A gas station, 2 churches, and 4 bars. Population is just a bonus

[bedlamite]

We do still rule Knightsbridge, though.

I thought Arthur agreed to call it a draw ...

[Monkeyleg]

Having come from a suburb of Milwaukee, I was amazed when I met my wife (in 1968) at the number of bars on the south side of Milwaukee. In her area, there was literally a bar at almost every single intersection of main streets or cross streets. There were four bars in a 500 foot radius of her house.

[agricola]

Having come from a suburb of Milwaukee, I was amazed when I met my wife (in 1968) at the number of bars on the south side of Milwaukee. In her area, there was literally a bar at almost every single intersection of main streets or cross streets. There were four bars in a 500 foot radius of her house.

there are fifty bars in a square mile around Soho, though in only two of these will the beer be cheap enough to drink without the price of it sobering you up

[roo_ster]

there are fifty bars in a square mile around Soho, though in only two of these will the beer be cheap enough to drink without the price of it sobering you up

What is the general description of "pub" over there? 

In most the midwest towns we write of, they are properly known of as "taverns."  They have alcoholic beverages, but also serve some sort of limited victuals like sandwiches, burgers, etc. and be open from maybe mid-morning until late night.  Some will specialize in a particular chow, like ribs or BBQ.  As such, bringing in accompanied young 'uns during reasonable hours (for kiddos) is not a big deal.  The adult(s) and kid(s) eat a meal and the adult may or may not consume alcohol. 

Many small towns will lack a fast food restaurant, but have a tavern where one can get prepared food in addition to alcohol.  Most/many will consume alcohol while there, but it is not expected/required.

OTOH, in points south, many of the "bars" serve no or little food and bar minors from entry.

[Tallpine]

>Just about anyplace you'd care to name in Wisconsin is not impressed with that. <

Y'all know what it takes to make a town in Wisconsin?

A gas station, 2 churches, and 4 bars. Population is just a bonus

In Montana, a "town" is a bar and a post office.

The post office is optional.

 

[agricola]

What is the general description of "pub" over there?  

In most the midwest towns we write of, they are properly known of as "taverns."  They have alcoholic beverages, but also serve some sort of limited victuals like sandwiches, burgers, etc. and be open from maybe mid-morning until late night.  Some will specialize in a particular chow, like ribs or BBQ.  As such, bringing in accompanied young 'uns during reasonable hours (for kiddos) is not a big deal.  The adult(s) and kid(s) eat a meal and the adult may or may not consume alcohol.  

Many small towns will lack a fast food restaurant, but have a tavern where one can get prepared food in addition to alcohol.  Most/many will consume alcohol while there, but it is not expected/required.

OTOH, in points south, many of the "bars" serve no or little food and bar minors from entry.

Once upon a time (and not that long ago) pubs were all about the drinking, you couldnt get food in there unless it was served in a pre-sealed bag that was  attached to a piece of card behind the bar with other snacks.  Loads of them - especially in the countryside - are starting to become more like what you describe as a tavern, with varying menus and degrees of success.  

That said, very few if any of the Soho bars will be like that, they will all be about drink and sins associated with that substance.

[Monkeyleg]

I did a search on Google Maps for "taverns", and found 30 in a 1 square mile area of Milwaukee. That was in the north Water Street area, where all of the fashionable pubs are. If I search for "Milwaukee bars", I find more in that square mile area, so that part of Milwaukee is probably close to Soho. Of course, a lot of these places serve food as a secondary attraction.

[HankB]

In Montana, a "town" is a bar and a post office.

The post office is optional.

 

I've driven through parts of rural Iowa and Minnesota where some "towns" are not much more than a wide spot in the road, with competing bars across the street from one another.