Post Archive

Region: The Confederacy of Free Nations

History

Kalaron wrote:Well, I don't agree fully.

US public opinion was swayed to war due to the bombing of Pearl Harbour, but that was hardly the point where every American turned around and said "Alright, who the fvck do we gotta beat up in Europe?"

Admittedly, the public opinion was split between waging war and maintaining peace (I'm afraid WW1 kinda took the wizz out of European war for most Americans) before the event, but we went to war against Hitler for the same reasons as the Brits when Hitler declared war on us after Japan bombed PH.

To quote an American Soldier speaking to a captured German troop: "We're invading you to free you from the delusion of being a master race"

If we really want to split hairs, those nations went to war against Germany out of concern for their own security rather than a deep seated hate of Fascism.

Indeed, during the 1930s some members of Britain's nobility and Parliament even praised the Nazis...so the eventual point of why Britain's people waged war was the security, of the nation, which could be argued to have been the same reason America went to war seeing as our Convoys were being destroyed by German U-boats.

No, just like with WWI, we drew a line in the sand and said that war would take place if the Germans crossed it. In 1914 it was if they violated Belgium's neutrality and in 1939 it was if they attempted to expand their sovereignty into Poland as they had already done with Austria and Czechoslovakia. Sure, absolute wideshot big picture was security, but it was several times removed- Canada, South Africa, and Australia had to hardly worry about a German landing party large enough to conquer them in 1939.

The US sat on their hands throughout all this and said, "well, it's a war in Europe and therefore it is a European problem." Again, just like in WWI they needed something to directly threaten their self-interest to get involved. In 1914 it was the attacks on their shipping and the fact that their economy was being negatively effected because the world's economic epicentre was still based in London and in 1941 it was because they experienced a direct attack by a German ally. Security is not just the big picture, several times removed motivation here, it's the prevalent one.

I took a course in uni that examined how the US frames itself in the First and Second World Wars and compared texts from just before the war, just as they entered the war, and the period after. The adage that the victors get to write history is well and truly alive with the US as they, more so most in the 20th Century, attempt to frame themselves as the world's morality police after the fact when at the time of the conflict beginning you can see that their motivations are prevalently self-interest.

Yukona

Continental Commonwealths wrote:No, just like with WWI, we drew a line in the sand and said that war would take place if the Germans crossed it. In 1914 it was if they violated Belgium's neutrality and in 1939 it was if they attempted to expand their sovereignty into Poland as they had already done with Austria and Czechoslovakia. Sure, absolute wideshot big picture was security, but it was several times removed- Canada, South Africa, and Australia had to hardly worry about a German landing party large enough to conquer them in 1939.

The US sat on their hands throughout all this and said, "well, it's a war in Europe and therefore it is a European problem." Again, just like in WWI they needed something to directly threaten their self-interest to get involved. In 1914 it was the attacks on their shipping and the fact that their economy was being negatively effected because the world's economic epicentre was still based in London and in 1941 it was because they experienced a direct attack by a German ally. Security is not just the big picture, several times removed motivation here, it's the prevalent one.

I took a course in uni that examined how the US frames itself in the First and Second World Wars and compared texts from just before the war, just as they entered the war, and the period after. The adage that the victors get to write history is well and truly alive with the US as they, more so most in the 20th Century, attempt to frame themselves as the world's morality police after the fact when at the time of the conflict beginning you can see that their motivations are prevalently self-interest.

Except all three nations you just listed were parts of the UK, so noting that they didn't have to worry about being invaded is rather moot since their loyalty lies to Britain, who, though not in real danger of being invaded, could most certainly be attacked and damaged.

So, you're trying to say that the US is framing itself as a moral authority for the world, and distorts it's past actions in WW2 to fit that narrative....but that the UK cared enough about the world to prevent the spread of Fascism mainly because its wrong and bad (After being a friend of Fascism for years) rather than because they didn't want to see a more powerful Germany attack them?

All nations act in their self interest and so I doubt the UK went and said "Well listen here boys, I don't much care about you, Poland, but my men will die for you because I care about your sovereignty and democracy!" so much as "Us three nations [France, the UK, and Poland] will bite the tail off Germany as one to reduce the cost to all of us significantly!"

I'm not saying that the US didn't go to war for economic reasons too, but Hitler having Subs in the Atlantic -and declaring war on us- while we have Civilian ships and warships in the Atlantic is certainly a reason to wage war that falls into economic and security reasons.

TIL: Fleetwood Mac - Rumours turns 40!Really quite unbelievable that stuff made in the 80s and 70s is knocking on that age, time is the friend of no man. If none of you have heard of them, strongly recommend you read into them and give them a listen if you're a fan of rock and folk music.

Nuremgard, Jaslandia

Yukona wrote:TIL: Fleetwood Mac - Rumours turns 40!Really quite unbelievable that stuff made in the 80s and 70s is knocking on that age, time is the friend of no man. If none of you have heard of them, strongly recommend you read into them and give them a listen if you're a fan of rock and folk music.

Good band. Love quite a few of their songs. 80s has the best music.

Jaslandia, Yukona

Kalaron wrote:Except all three nations you just listed were parts of the UK, so noting that they didn't have to worry about being invaded is rather moot since their loyalty lies to Britain, who, though not in real danger of being invaded, could most certainly be attacked and damaged.

So, you're trying to say that the US is framing itself as a moral authority for the world, and distorts it's past actions in WW2 to fit that narrative....but that the UK cared enough about the world to prevent the spread of Fascism mainly because its wrong and bad (After being a friend of Fascism for years) rather than because they didn't want to see a more powerful Germany attack them?

All nations act in their self interest and so I doubt the UK went and said "Well listen here boys, I don't much care about you, Poland, but my men will die for you because I care about your sovereignty and democracy!" so much as "Us three nations [France, the UK, and Poland] will bite the tail off Germany as one to reduce the cost to all of us significantly!"

I'm not saying that the US didn't go to war for economic reasons too, but Hitler having Subs in the Atlantic -and declaring war on us- while we have Civilian ships and warships in the Atlantic is certainly a reason to wage war that falls into economic and security reasons.

What?! It's not the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. They were sovereign countries, with the Statute of Westminster almost two decades prior giving them full autonomy over foreign affairs and their ability to abstain from entering the UK's wars if they so chose. This is why they had to pass their separate Acts of Parliament so as to join the war.

The point that we began with was whether the original Allies and the United States went to war in Europe for the same reasons. The Allies did so without having their own security directly threatened whereas the US required this to be the case before they bothered joining. Different reasons.

My additional point was that the US, with the benefit of hindsight, tries to a greater degree than others to falsely frame their involvement in both World Wars as being the result of a moral justification. I don't have the time to explain the intricacies of a course that included 45 hours of in-class discussion and about three times that in supplemental, out-of-class readings, but the overarching theme of which was that the US has drastically reframed history to give themselves a moral high ground with relation to the World Wars and that such a mindset has helped justify American interventionism to their own citizenry throughout the latter half of the 20th Century and into the 21st Century.

Yukona

Continental Commonwealths wrote:What?! It's not the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. They were sovereign countries, with the Statute of Westminster almost two decades prior giving them full autonomy over foreign affairs and their ability to abstain from entering the UK's wars if they so chose. This is why they had to pass their separate Acts of Parliament so as to join the war.

The point that we began with was whether the original Allies and the United States went to war in Europe for the same reasons. The Allies did so without having their own security directly threatened whereas the US required this to be the case before they bothered joining. Different reasons.

My additional point was that the US, with the benefit of hindsight, tries to a greater degree than others to falsely frame their involvement in both World Wars as being the result of a moral justification. I don't have the time to explain the intricacies of a course that included 45 hours of in-class discussion and about three times that in supplemental, out-of-class readings, but the overarching theme of which was that the US has drastically reframed history to give themselves a moral high ground with relation to the World Wars and that such a mindset has helped justify American interventionism to their own citizenry throughout the latter half of the 20th Century and into the 21st Century.

OK, so only the people felt a loyalty to their former countrymen, glad we've covered that.

To think the idea that the original allies -still drained from the aftermath of the depression and WW1-didn't feel threatened by a nation of people who had just taken two nations -Admittedly weak nations- by war, had a leader who promised glory for the German people, had just pulled their nation back from complete turmoil by placing a man into a near worshipped role, and had been known for developing new weapons to go around the rules keeping it from certain weapons literally requires one to either be mad or not have a memory of the terrors of the first world war.

My main point of argument is that Britain and the others felt threatened by the rise of Germany, and cared more about that then just about Germany being Fascist with the chance of it spreading to other nations.

As for the US, I'm not saying we were a great nation dedicated to preserving the good and just -only an idiot of the modern age would believe such-, but no nation was good during those days, including those members of the original allies.

Nuremgard

Goodness me. I kick-started a good discussion.

Kalaron

Nuremgard wrote:Goodness me. I kick-started a good discussion.

I'm just tired,

Like, me and Cont barely have an argument against each others points.

I don't know, was the last I'll write of it since I plan to write on the topic of ship design soon enough.

Nuremgard

[B]Per4Prez[/B] "Transparency & Stability!"

Hey, any of you got any specific questions about WW2?

Kalaron wrote:Hey, any of you got any specific questions about WW2?

What were the most effective helmets and uniforms of the war. I hope you pick the Danish M1923

Yukona wrote:What were the most effective helmets and uniforms of the war. I hope you pick the Danish M1923

The only real thing I can say is that each was typically equal in effectiveness.

So long as each was made effectively of steel and lacked a shot trap, the soldier would typically be expected to survive a pistol shot from 60 yards, while the most effectiveve uniform is far harder to define.

If we're talking about camouflage, then we should mention the fact that most outfits were terrible at that too...in fact, most outfits were just for easy identification, so everything but the German Outfit.

I doubt many of you can relate to my weird music taste, but the song "American Pie" is about a plane crash killing Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and Big Bopper. It's a really emotional story and the effect of his death kinda mark the end of the optimistic 50's and the beginning of the less favorable 60's. So just out of curiosity I check when it happened. It was yesterday. Just felt I need to share how harrowing and odd it is. Stay safe people.

Jaslandia

Yukona wrote:I doubt many of you can relate to my weird music taste, but the song "American Pie" is about a plane crash killing Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and Big Bopper. It's a really emotional story and the effect of his death kinda mark the end of the optimistic 50's and the beginning of the less favorable 60's. So just out of curiosity I check when it happened. It was yesterday. Just felt I need to share how harrowing and odd it is. Stay safe people.
If we draw a comparison of circumstance here, then I don't think there's much we can do in the way of staying safe if our plane is going down.

Unless by that you mean that we should just avoid planes entirely. To which I say: easy for those who can drive from one end of their country to the other in a matter of hours to say :P

Jaslandia, Yukona

Continental Commonwealths wrote:If we draw a comparison of circumstance here, then I don't think there's much we can do in the way of staying safe if our plane is going down.

Unless by that you mean that we should just avoid planes entirely. To which I say: easy for those who can drive from one end of their country to the other in a matter of hours to say :P

The iPhone really played with the present and past tense in my post. I don't mean stay away from planes entirely :^) - I just found it such a somber and powerful story. I mean, Buddy Holly was opening for Elvis, just moved into the rock and roll genre, recently married (his wife found out he died through the radio/TV and had a miscarriage). I mean, they found the guy's trademark glasses but a few feet away from the plane. The story is just so...tangible, you can't stay safe forever but as the song goes "drove my Chevy to the levee and the levee was dry, and the good ole' boys drinkin' whiskey and Rye, singing 'this will be the day that I die'". Well, the levee was usually where all the teenagers would drive out of town to and have races, make out, listen to 'new' music. It's just so fascinating and it's encapsulated in the brief propulsion of a man from near-obscurity to stardom and then to nothing in a matter of years. I know it's all a bit weird, I know, but the fact that it happened yesterday (uknowingly) as well just makes it all the more sad.

Continental Commonwealths

Yukona wrote:The iPhone really played with the present and past tense in my post. I don't mean stay away from planes entirely :^) - I just found it such a somber and powerful story. I mean, Buddy Holly was opening for Elvis, just moved into the rock and roll genre, recently married (his wife found out he died through the radio/TV and had a miscarriage). I mean, they found the guy's trademark glasses but a few feet away from the plane. The story is just so...tangible, you can't stay safe forever but as the song goes "drove my Chevy to the levee and the levee was dry, and the good ole' boys drinkin' whiskey and Rye, singing 'this will be the day that I die'". Well, the levee was usually where all the teenagers would drive out of town to and have races, make out, listen to 'new' music. It's just so fascinating and it's encapsulated in the brief propulsion of a man from near-obscurity to stardom and then to nothing in a matter of years. I know it's all a bit weird, I know, but the fact that it happened yesterday (uknowingly) as well just makes it all the more sad.

Not so fun fact: the circumstance facing Holly's widow you mentioned is a large part of the reason why police notify family members of their close one's death prior to releasing their names to the media.

Yukona

https://goo.gl/forms/8h1kZol7htvXm7r12

Hey, this quiz here...take it.

Kalaron wrote:https://goo.gl/forms/8h1kZol7htvXm7r12

Hey, this quiz here...take it.

Talk about Marine tactics in the Pacific theatre maybe?

Kalaron

Yukona wrote:Talk about Marine tactics in the Pacific theatre maybe?

If you'd like, sure.

Yukona

Percyton just posted a new Factbook! Learn all about the Arlesdale Railway and its miniature engines!

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=percyton/detail=factbook/id=765819

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, James The Red Engine

Percyton wrote:Percyton just posted a new Factbook! Learn all about the Arlesdale Railway and its miniature engines!

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=percyton/detail=factbook/id=765819

Looks great, Percy! I always enjoy finding out more about your nation. I also liked that little reference you put at the end.

https://youtu.be/6UiWhw0MZs8

Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton, James The Red Engine

Percyton wrote:Percyton just posted a new Factbook! Learn all about the Arlesdale Railway and its miniature engines!

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=percyton/detail=factbook/id=765819

Donald: Och aye, th' verra wee engines of Arlesdale!

Douglas: We've worked wi' them ever since they came tae Sodor, an' we've always bin impressed by their attitude an' wark ethic.

Donald: Praps tae ye, Percy, fur bringin' mair attention tae these admirable engines.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton, James The Red Engine

Jaslandia wrote:Looks great, Percy! I always enjoy finding out more about your nation. I also liked that little reference you put at the end.

https://youtu.be/6UiWhw0MZs8

Thank you! I'm glad you like it. Rex suggested I put that reference in at the end.

The Scottish Twins wrote:Donald: Och aye, th' verra wee engines of Arlesdale!

Douglas: We've worked wi' them ever since they came tae Sodor, an' we've always bin impressed by their attitude an' wark ethic.

Donald: Praps tae ye, Percy, fur bringin' mair attention tae these admirable engines.

Thank you! I've worked with the miniature engines a few times before, and I really liked them too. I talked to Millie (Director off the Bureau of Historical Information), and we agreed it was high time for us to talk about the Arlesdale Railway.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, James The Red Engine

Percyton wrote:Percyton just announced that he's running for Vice President! Learn all about his and Peng's campaign to bring adorableness to the Confederacy's government

Not taking no for an answer.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton

Continental Commonwealths wrote:Not taking no for an answer.

LOL! Well played! Gordon said I'm obligated inform everyone that the above is not an official government statement and does not reflect the King's current position, but I still appreciate your trick.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, James The Red Engine

Percyton wrote:LOL! Well played! Gordon said I'm obligated inform everyone that the above is totally an official government statement and definitely reflects the King's current position, but I still appreciate your endorsement.

Anytime, Percy!

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton

Continental Commonwealths wrote:Anytime, Percy!

LOL! Gordon is pretty annoyed at this point, but I liked it.

Gordon: "The thought of it! The purple one is making of mockery of us! If the press found those posts, could you imagine the public response? Everyone, including the investors, would get excited, but once we denied the reports, the markets would fall, and it would create economic instability. The last thing we need is instability. Do you realize what this could do to us, Percy!?!"

Personally, I think Gordon is overreacting, but Gordon will be Gordon.

Jaslandia, Continental Commonwealths, Penguania And Antarctica, James The Red Engine

Percyton wrote:LOL! Gordon is pretty annoyed at this point, but I liked it.

Gordon: "The thought of it! The purple one is making of mockery of us! If the press found those posts, could you imagine the public response? Everyone, including the investors, would get excited, but once we denied the reports, the markets would fall, and it would create economic instability. The last thing we need is instability. Do you realize what this could do to us, Percy!?!"

Personally, I think Gordon is overreacting, but Gordon will be Gordon.

"The Purple One"

Geez Cont, you secretly a super villain?

Jaslandia, Continental Commonwealths, Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton, James The Red Engine

Kalaron wrote:"The Purple One"

Geez Cont, you secretly a super villain?

I much prefer "The Purple One" to every nickname I've received thus far on this site.

Make this a thing.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton, James The Red Engine

Kalaron wrote:"The Purple One"

Geez Cont, you secretly a super villain?

I would have said 'Prince', but this works too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)

Seriously, if you type 'Purple One' into Wikipedia, it redirects you to Prince's Wikipedia page. I think I'm okay with that.

Continental Commonwealths wrote:I much prefer "The Purple One" to every nickname I've received thus far on this site.

Make this a thing.

If you say so, Purple Papa.

Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton, James The Red Engine

Jaslandia wrote:If you say so, Purple Papa.
Not having done it myself I can't be sure, but I would caution everyone against typing "Purple Papa" into Google.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Percyton wrote:LOL! Gordon is pretty annoyed at this point, but I liked it.

Gordon: "The thought of it! The purple one is making of mockery of us! If the press found those posts, could you imagine the public response? Everyone, including the investors, would get excited, but once we denied the reports, the markets would fall, and it would create economic instability. The last thing we need is instability. Do you realize what this could do to us, Percy!?!"

Personally, I think Gordon is overreacting, but Gordon will be Gordon.

If I were you, Percy, I'd show more respect for bigger engines. You're just a little tank engine.

Continental Commonwealths wrote:I much prefer "The Purple One" to every nickname I've received thus far on this site.

Make this a thing.

It looks I'm not the only one who wants to be known for their color. As long as you don't call yourself 'The Red One', this is fine by me.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton

Continental Commonwealths wrote:Not having done it myself I can't be sure, but I would caution everyone against typing "Purple Papa" into Google.

I see no reason to be scared. I was brave enough to try it, and all I got was stuff about the father from the novel Purple Hibiscus. When I did an image search (which you would think would be more risky), I just got pictures of purple Smurfs and other purple things.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Hibiscus_(novel)

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=purple+papa

http://s15.zetaboards.com/COFN/topic/10061422/4/#new

Posted on the Kongo RP. Told ya I'd post!

Vista Major

Post self-deleted by Einsiev.

Einsiev wrote:Not to change everyone's topic, but I will be changing my nations name shortly. Just so you guys have a heads up and don't mistake me for a newcomer. XD

*Gasp*

Einsiev, Magnatronia

James The Red Engine wrote:If I were you, Percy, I'd show more respect for bigger engines. You're just a little tank engine.

I'm more than just a little tank engine, and I do show respect for bigger engines (well, at least most of the time). I was just saying that Gordon is prone to being paranoid and rigid.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Andromitus wrote:*Gasp*

Turns out it's not possible. Oi vey, I got a little excited.

I cannot comprehend how a woman can give birth to more than one child at a time.

Kalaron wrote:"The Purple One"

Geez Cont, you secretly a super [B]villain[/B]?

A little late, but I just thought of this:

https://youtu.be/PfYnvDL0Qcw

Percyton

Jaslandia wrote:A little late, but I just thought of this:

https://youtu.be/PfYnvDL0Qcw

So THAT was where it came from? Sir Robert Norramby e-mailed some sort of remix of that to the entire Cabinet, and I was a bit confused.

Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica

Percyton wrote:So THAT was where it came from? Sir Robert Norramby e-mailed some sort of remix of that to the entire Cabinet, and I was a bit confused.

Sounds like something Sir Robert/the Earl would do.

Penguania And Antarctica, Percyton

#Vista4Prez

[I]The Future Awaits...[/I]

(Dispatch and Website Coming Soon)

Vista Major wrote:#Vista4Prez

[I]The Future Awaits...[/I]

(Dispatch and Website Coming Soon)

post something on the gosh darn rp, it's getting heated dude and honestly i don't know what else to insult Andy with. No offense to Andy. He's a cool dude OOC

Vista Major

Magnatronia wrote:

post something on the gosh darn rp, it's getting heated dude and honestly i don't know what else to insult Andy with. No offense to Andy. He's a cool dude OOC

This gosh darn RP is gonna have Cyrus having a mental breakdown

Jk but fr tho

Magnatronia

Vista Major wrote:This gosh darn RP is gonna have Cyrus having a mental breakdown

Jk but fr tho

So much for your peace talks Vis, you might spawn a full on war lol

Vista Major, Magnatronia

Aldaur wrote:I cannot comprehend how a woman can give birth to more than one child at a time.

Biologically built for the strain of childbirth. Plus, Caesarean sections help in the process if it becomes too much of an issue.

Aldaur, Penguania And Antarctica

Pirate Kingdoms wrote:Biologically built for the strain of childbirth. Plus, Caesarean sections help in the process if it becomes too much of an issue.

Still quite a feat. If I was a woman I'd never have kids.

Aldaur, Penguania And Antarctica, Pirate Kingdoms

Nuremgard wrote:Still quite a feat. If I was a woman I'd never have kids.

I want someone to create a successful artificial womb so my wife wouldn't have to carry our baby.

Pirate Kingdoms

Aldaur wrote:I want someone to create a successful artificial womb so my wife wouldn't have to carry our baby.

Her body is designed to give birth. I'm sure she'll be fine.

Aldaur, Penguania And Antarctica, Pirate Kingdoms

Nuremgard wrote:Her body is designed to give birth. I'm sure she'll be fine.

Yea, but one of my greatest fears is that my wife would die in child birth. I also wouldn't want to put her through all the pains of being pregnant if I didn't have to.

Nuremgard, Jaslandia, Penguania And Antarctica, Pirate Kingdoms

Andromitus wrote:So much for your peace talks Vis, you might spawn a full on war lol

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Andromitus

Aldaur wrote:I cannot comprehend how a woman can give birth to more than one child at a time.

Well, they don't pop out all at once...

Jaslandia, Aldaur, Andromitus, Pirate Kingdoms, Yukona

Bearlong wrote:Well, they don't pop out all at once...

Well I mean, even carrying more than one is amazing.

Aldaur wrote:Well I mean, even carrying more than one is amazing.

How are you today, Aldaur?

Jaslandia, Aldaur, Pirate Kingdoms, Percyton

Bearlong wrote:How are you today, Aldaur?

Worried. Populism worries me.

Jaslandia

Aldaur wrote:Worried. Populism worries me.

It worries us all, comrade. Signposts and weathercocks and all that.

Jaslandia, Aldaur, Penguania And Antarctica, Pirate Kingdoms

Aldaur wrote:Yea, but one of my greatest fears is that my wife would die in child birth. I also wouldn't want to put her through all the pains of being pregnant if I didn't have to.

That's possible, but as long as you live in a developed country and are somewhat close to a hospital (or in a hospital already), the chances of that are quite low. Though, if you're really worried, you might want to have you wife give birth in Canada or some place like that, as the United States ranks 60th out of the 180 countries for maternal mortality (the current number for the U.S. is 18.5 per 100,000 births).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/maternal-deaths-in-childbirth-rise-in-the-us/2014/05/02/abf7df96-d229-11e3-9e25-188ebe1fa93b_story.html?utm_term=.bccee8eeecfb

Aldaur, Penguania And Antarctica, Pirate Kingdoms

Jaslandia wrote:That's possible, but as long as you live in a developed country and are somewhat close to a hospital (or in a hospital already), the chances of that are quite low. Though, if you're really worried, you might want to have you wife give birth in Canada or some place like that, as the United States ranks 60th out of the 180 countries for maternal mortality (the current number for the U.S. is 18.5 per 100,000 births).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/maternal-deaths-in-childbirth-rise-in-the-us/2014/05/02/abf7df96-d229-11e3-9e25-188ebe1fa93b_story.html?utm_term=.bccee8eeecfb

All those deaths are probably for poor people who can't afford good healthcare. I doubt it would be a problem for upper class individuals. After all, dictators come to the US for healthcare, not Canada :p As long as I have the money, it should be fine. It still scares me though.

Bearlong wrote:It worries us all, comrade. Signposts and weathercocks and all that.

I wonder how this rise in populism will affect political theory afterwards. I feel like Hobbes, horrified by contemporary events and want to write a book on how to avoid it lol

Having been a Fascist, and spent so much time learning how to destroy, erode and cause democracy to collapse, I now know how to safeguard Our Republic and strengthen Our Constitution, which is now wholly necessary more than ever.

Out of curiosity, do they have nobility in Canada?

Good day. I am still alive.

DIP Readers' Survey

https://goo.gl/forms/MqGYZXTyCuHr2Yon2

[spoiler=Today is Feburary 5 and today are:]

Today is Feburary 5 and today are:

- Adlai Stevenson Day

- Constitution Day (Mexico)

- Crown Prince Birthday (Bhutan)

- Crown Princess Mary's birthday (Denmark)

- Did-You-Fart?-Day

- Disaster Day

- Dump Your Significant Jerk Day

- Kashmir Solidarity Day (Pakistan)

- Liberation Day (San Marino)

- Move Hollywood & Broadway to Lebanon, PA Day

- National Chocolate Fondue Day (United States)

- National Primrose Day (United States)

- National Shower with a Friend Day (United States)

- National Weatherperson's Day (United States)

- Runeberg's Birthday (Finland)

- Scout Sunday

- Super Bowl Sunday

- Unity Day (Burundi)

- Western Monarch Day

- World Nutella Day

- Yorkshire Pudding Day

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=This day in history:]

This day in history:

- AD 62 – Earthquake in Pompeii, Italy.

- 756 – An Lushan, leader of a revolt against the Tang Dynasty, declares himself emperor and establishes the state of Yan.

- 1576 – Henry of Navarre abjures Catholicism at Tours and rejoins the Protestant forces in the French Wars of Religion.

- 1597 – A group of early Japanese Christians are killed by the new government of Japan for being seen as a threat to Japanese society.

- 1778 – South Carolina becomes the second state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.

- 1782 – Spanish defeat British forces and capture Minorca.

- 1783 – In Calabria a sequence of strong earthquakes begins.

- 1807 – HMS Blenheim (1761) and HMS Java disappear off the coast of Rodrigues.

- 1810 – Peninsular War: Siege of Cádiz begins.

- 1818 – Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte ascends to the thrones of Sweden and Norway.

- 1849 – University of Wisconsin–Madison's first class meets at Madison Female Academy.

- 1852 – The New Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, opens to the public.

- 1859 – Wallachia and Moldavia are united under Alexandru Ioan Cuza as the United Principalities, an autonomous region within the Ottoman Empire, which ushered the birth of the modern Romanian state.

- 1869 – The largest alluvial gold nugget in history, called the "Welcome Stranger", is found in Moliagul, Victoria, Australia.

- 1885 – King Leopold II of Belgium establishes the Congo as a personal possession.

- 1905 – In Mexico, the General Hospital of Mexico is inaugurated, started with four basic specialties.

- 1909 – Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland announces the creation of Bakelite, the world's first synthetic plastic.

- 1913 – Greek military aviators, Michael Moutoussis and Aristeidis Moraitinis perform the first naval air mission in history, with a Farman MF.7 hydroplane.

- 1917 – The current constitution of Mexico is adopted, establishing a federal republic with powers separated into independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

- 1917 – The Congress of the United States passes the Immigration Act of 1917 over President Woodrow Wilson's veto.

- 1918 – Stephen W. Thompson shoots down a German airplane; this is the first aerial victory by the U.S. military.

- 1918 – SS Tuscania is torpedoed off the coast of Ireland; it is the first ship carrying American troops to Europe to be torpedoed and sunk.

- 1919 – Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D. W. Griffith launch United Artists.

- 1924 – The Royal Greenwich Observatory begins broadcasting the hourly time signals known as the Greenwich Time Signal.

- 1933 – Mutiny on Royal Netherlands Navy warship HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën off the coast of Sumatra, Dutch East Indies.

- 1939 – Generalísimo Francisco Franco becomes the 68th "Caudillo de España", or Leader of Spain.

- 1941 – World War II: Allied forces begin the Battle of Keren to capture Keren, Eritrea.

- 1945 – World War II: General Douglas MacArthur returns to Manila.

- 1946 – The Chondoist Chongu Party is founded in North Korea.

- 1958 – Gamal Abdel Nasser is nominated to be the first president of the United Arab Republic.

- 1958 – A hydrogen bomb known as the Tybee Bomb is lost by the US Air Force off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, never to be recovered.

- 1962 – French President Charles de Gaulle calls for Algeria to be granted independence.

- 1963 – The European Court of Justice's ruling in Van Gend en Loos v Nederlandse Administratie der Belastingen establishes the principle of direct effect, one of the most important, if not the most important, decisions in the development of European Union law.

- 1971 – Astronauts land on the moon in the Apollo 14 mission.

- 1975 – Riots break in Lima, Peru after the police forces go on strike the day before. The uprising (locally known as the Limazo) is bloodily suppressed by the military dictatorship.

- 1985 – Ugo Vetere, then the mayor of Rome, and Chedli Klibi, then the mayor of Carthage meet in Tunis to sign a treaty of friendship officially ending the Third Punic War which lasted 2,131 years.

- 1988 – Manuel Noriega is indicted on drug smuggling and money laundering charges.

- 1994 – Byron De La Beckwith is convicted of the 1963 murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers.

- 1994 – Markale massacres, more than 60 people are killed and some 200 wounded as a mortar shell explodes in a downtown marketplace in Sarajevo.

- 1997 – The so-called Big Three banks in Switzerland announce the creation of a $71 million fund to aid Holocaust survivors and their families.

- 2000 – Russian forces massacre at least 60 civilians in the Novye Aldi suburb of Grozny, Chechnya.

- 2004 – Rebels from the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Front capture the city of Gonaïves, starting the 2004 Haiti rebellion.

- 2008 – A major tornado outbreak across the Southern United States kills 57.

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Famous Birthdays:]

Famous Birthdays:

- 1626 – Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné, French author

- 1788 – Robert Peel, English lieutenant and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

- 1804 – Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Finnish poet and hymn-writer

- 1808 – Carl Spitzweg, German painter and poet

- 1840 – John Boyd Dunlop, Scottish businessman, co-founded Dunlop Rubber

- 1878 – André Citroën, French engineer and businessman, founded Citroën

- 1900 – Adlai Stevenson II, American soldier, politician, and diplomat, 5th United States Ambassador to the United Nations

- 1914 – William S. Burroughs, American author and painter

- 1915 – Robert Hofstadter, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

- 1921 – Ken Adam, German-born English production designer and art director

- 1943 – Nolan Bushnell, American engineer and businessman, founded Atari, Inc.

- 1949 – Kurt Beck, German soldier and politician

- 1961 – Dietmar Bär, German actor

- 1969 – Michael Sheen, Welsh actor and director

- 1985 – Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese footballer

- 1992 – Neymar, Brazilian footballer

[/spoiler]

Quote of the day

Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm schizophrenic, and so am I.

- Oscar Levant -

Note: Penguania_And_Antarctica assumes no responsibility or guarantee for correctness of any given information. Any recourse to courts of law is excluded.

Nuremgard, Tserra, The United Providences Of Perland, Yukona

Aldaur wrote:Out of curiosity, do they have nobility in Canada?

Well yes, their head of state is a Monarch. However in terms of peerage (Sir, Dames, Lords, Earls, Barons) not anymore. No new titles have been awarded for decades from what I know.

There may be a few hereditary one still around from the "Good old days of Empire" though. Same with Australia and new Zealand.

Aldaur, Yukona

Everestopia wrote:Well yes, their head of state is a Monarch. However in terms of peerage (Sir, Dames, Lords, Earls, Barons) not anymore. No new titles have been awarded for decades from what I know.

There may be a few hereditary one still around from the "Good old days of Empire" though. Same with Australia and new Zealand.

During that period of royalty in Canada, were they directly controlled by a Viceroy from the homeland empire? or was it ruled by a separate King who answered to the higher royalty?

Aldaur

Andromitus wrote:During that period of royalty in Canada, were they directly controlled by a Viceroy from the homeland empire? or was it ruled by a separate King who answered to the higher royalty?

I'm fairly sure the role of Governor General, acting on royal prerogative, was established some time in the mid 1800s. And just to note, in a monarchy there is never "separate King", it will always be a governor or lower form of nobility.

Aldaur

Andromitus wrote:During that period of royalty in Canada, were they directly controlled by a Viceroy from the homeland empire? or was it ruled by a separate King who answered to the higher royalty?

It seems the Canadians are still unable to cut the apron strings from Mummy Britain. It's quite bizarre having a foreign monarch as your head of state but hey ho, whatever works for them.

Aldaur

Alrighty, so, I figure that I still might finish at least one sperg this weekend, and that'll be ship design.

Naturally, I won't describe all the parts of designing a ship, I have neither the time nor the knowledge to speak of that, so I'll instead focus on some problem childs that keep popping up in NS, specifically Stealth, Firepower, and Tonnage.

[Spoiler]

The first thing to learn about Stealth is that it doesn't give you invincibility or invisibility, it makes it harder to see you on Radar or open seas but that isn't even a sure thing depending on the way your ship is "stealthed".

The most obvious way is also the least effective...and the cheapest. Camouflaging your ship just about the minimum work that can be put in, and it's only effective at very long ranges with the enemies radar off.

If an enemy has the resources to put an air patrol up, you'll be seen, and god forbid you fight a numerous enemy.

The second type is also massively ineffective, but you won't spend as much time praying in it. A small radar signature design is exactly what it sounds like, everytime the enemy sends out a ping, most of the ping bounces away from the enemy as though you weren't there.

I'll be frank, unless you really want to try your luck, don't do this option alone because, while it's a nice idea to make a frigate look like a corvette, you'll still lose the battle against five ships.

Our last option is cost-ineffective but decent, and I don't have much to say on it.

A stealth coating works by absorbing the ping of the enemy radar, it won't get all of it by any means, but it will make you seem like a fluctuation on the screen if the Operator doesn't recognize the pattern.

Now, the natural thing any one would do is try to bring all three of these to bear on the biggest, strongest, capital ships to sail the ocean blue...the Battleship and the Carrier

[B] Stop that.

Neither ship type is characteristic of stealth, and adopting them would ruin the capability of them to do their job.

Ignoring that the day of the battleship is over, ignoring that the reduced cross-section would be hell on actually carrying planes and the design would need to be even [I]longer[/I] than its counterparts, ignoring that your carrier is gonna light up those radar screens when it launches aircraft, the enemy could build two or three carriers to your one and simply beat you numerically.

Stealth is for frigates and below, don't go over the line please.

Now then, on to firepower...

Don't bring the battleship back, the guns on it can reach at most twenty miles away while a cruise missile from a VLS tube can reach out over three hundred miles away.

For shore bombardment, you can either make a new ship with only battleship guns or call in the Airforce to hammer the beach with death.

...that covers that?

Now, Tonnage is just a fancy way to say how heavy your ship is, and what might seem terrible can be overcome by a good powerplant and motor, but be careful not to fall into spiral from the weight-to-power-to-fuel-to-weight problem. And don't make a super massive capital ship, you'll waste your money and saliors when you witness the whole thing go up in flame from a number of cruise missiles.

[/Spoiler]

That should cover it, anyone have questions?

Aldaur wrote:Out of curiosity, do they have nobility in Canada?
No. There has been much debate over this when our country was still young, with a great deal of our first Prime Ministers being knighted (Alexander Mackenzie notwithstanding, and R.B. Bennett having been made a Baron), but it grew rather unpopular in the beginning half of the 20th Century.

As it stands, no Canadian peerage system exists and the recognition of Canadians given Britiah peerages holds no official weight. So, you may be a Canadian who is a Duke in the UK, but if you appear in the Canadian House of Commons there is no obligation to refer to you by your peerage title.

The Queen is our Head of State (not the Governer General, as is often said, who is simply our Vice Regal representative) and we have an official Act of Succession, but our recognition of the greater royal family as being nobility in Canada isn't official by any means.

Aldaur, Yukona

I never thought I'd say this but if our choices are Vista and Perland, I endorse Vista Major for President.

Vista has always been eccentric and we seldom agree on anything but he has has the courage to try to serve our community in multiple regions. Perland has only proven to me that he is able to follow orders and directives from our current President. He may be able to be a capable president but I have not seen any indication that it will be true. In Vista, we have an interesting but still dedicated and proven choice. If these are the candidates, that is how I feel.

Vista Major, Yukona

Humpheria Major wrote:I never thought I'd say this but if our choices are Vista and Perland, I endorse Vista Major for President.

Vista has always been eccentric and we seldom agree on anything but he has has the courage to try to serve our community in multiple regions. Perland has only proven to me that he is able to follow orders and directives from our current President. He may be able to be a capable president but I have not seen any indication that it will be true. In Vista, we have an interesting but still dedicated and proven choice. If these are the candidates, that is how I feel.

I wasn't aware loyalty and discipline were a bad thing? But nonetheless, I'm not going to win. I retract my bid for President.

The United Providences Of Perland wrote:I wasn't aware loyalty and discipline were a bad thing? But nonetheless, I'm not going to win. I retract my bid for President.

I think what Humph is trying to say is that you've been a figure head in an administration that he fundamentally disagrees with/dislikes. In my opinion (regardless of the context of this situation), being able to think on your feet and be your own man is discipline.

The United Providences Of Perland

Yukona wrote:I think what Humph is trying to say is that you've been a figure head in an administration that he fundamentally disagrees with/dislikes. In my opinion (regardless of the context of this situation), being able to think on your feet and be your own man is discipline.

That's what I don't get though e.e I've pretty much just done my own thing. The only thing I've really been ordered to do is send out a few regional TGs, and promote the mentor-ship program.

Humpheria Major wrote:I never thought I'd say this but if our choices are Vista and Perland, I endorse Vista Major for President.

Vista has always been eccentric and we seldom agree on anything but he has has the courage to try to serve our community in multiple regions. Perland has only proven to me that he is able to follow orders and directives from our current President. He may be able to be a capable president but I have not seen any indication that it will be true. In Vista, we have an interesting but still dedicated and proven choice. If these are the candidates, that is how I feel.

Why, thank you

The United Providences Of Perland wrote:I wasn't aware loyalty and discipline were a bad thing? But nonetheless, I'm not going to win. I retract my bid for President.

Verily, you kid!

The United Providences Of Perland, Yukona

Humpheria Major wrote:I never thought I'd say this but if our choices are Vista and Perland, I endorse Vista Major for President.

Vista has always been eccentric and we seldom agree on anything but he has has the courage to try to serve our community in multiple regions. Perland has only proven to me that he is able to follow orders and directives from our current President. He may be able to be a capable president but I have not seen any indication that it will be true. In Vista, we have an interesting but still dedicated and proven choice. If these are the candidates, that is how I feel.

Hey, I agree with Vista as President (Dude is as dedicated as anyone I've seen, and he has the mental strength to acknowledge when he's wrong) but can we avoid the drama for a few more days?

The United Providences Of Perland wrote:That's what I don't get though e.e I've pretty much just done my own thing. The only thing I've really been ordered to do is send out a few regional TGs, and promote the mentor-ship program.

I think his point is that, on those actions, typically debate has gotten nothing done untill you were ordered to reverse the decision.

I'm seriously neutral here, but I think that's what he means.

So hey? Can we avoid the drama?

Vista Major, The United Providences Of Perland, Yukona

Continental Commonwealths wrote:The Queen is our Head of State (not the Governer General, as is often said, who is simply our Vice Regal representative) and we have an official Act of Succession, but our recognition of the greater royal family as being nobility in Canada isn't official by any means.

What would you replace the monarchy with?

Aldaur, Continental Commonwealths

Nuremgard wrote:What would you replace the monarchy with?

We wouldn't? But if we did abolish the monarchy, we'd likely just vest the Head of State duties mostly in the Prime Minister. Our Head of State is ceremonial, so they don't have any de facto power.

The Prime Minister could attend all the state visits instead of splitting them with the Governor General, Cabinet could be sworn in by a Supreme Court Justice likely still at Rideau Hall, and we wouldn't need to pretend as though our Head of State is the highest ranking military officer.

Nuremgard, Aldaur, Yukona

Continental Commonwealths wrote:We wouldn't? But if we did abolish the monarchy, we'd likely just vest the Head of State duties mostly in the Prime Minister. Our Head of State is ceremonial, so they don't have any de facto power.

The Prime Minister could attend all the state visits instead of splitting them with the Governor General, Cabinet could be sworn in by a Supreme Court Justice likely still at Rideau Hall, and we wouldn't need to pretend as though our Head of State is the highest ranking military officer.

Basically just have it be like America where our president is both the head of state and head of government.

Aldaur

Continental Commonwealths wrote:We wouldn't? But if we did abolish the monarchy, we'd likely just vest the Head of State duties mostly in the Prime Minister. Our Head of State is ceremonial, so they don't have any de facto power.

The Prime Minister could attend all the state visits instead of splitting them with the Governor General, Cabinet could be sworn in by a Supreme Court Justice likely still at Rideau Hall, and we wouldn't need to pretend as though our Head of State is the highest ranking military officer.

I'd be fine with the Prime Minister of an independent Scotland being head of state too. That or have a ceremonial President elected by Parliament.

Aldaur

The Royal Republic Of Kumania wrote:Basically just have it be like America where our president is both the head of state and head of government.

Well, the relationship between the Prime Minister and Parliament and the President and Congree would still be wildly different, but in this small instance, yes- similar.

Nuremgard wrote:I'd be fine with the Prime Minister of an independent Scotland being head of state too. That or have a ceremonial President elected by Parliament.
Abolish the monarchy just to elect another ceremonial figurehead that the taxpayers have to pay and pay for? No thanks!

Aldaur

Continental Commonwealths wrote:Well, the relationship between the Prime Minister and Parliament and the President and Congree would still be wildly different, but in this small instance, yes- similar. Abolish the monarchy just to elect another ceremonial figurehead that the taxpayers have to pay and pay for? No thanks!

At least it would be elected. Right now our head of state is the head of state because she fell out a particular vagina.

Aldaur

Nuremgard wrote:At least it would be elected. Right now our head of state is the head of state because she fell out a particular vagina.
Point of order: that she is the product of some particular spunk whose bearer happened to be married to the person whose vagina she fell out of.

Aldaur

Continental Commonwealths wrote:Point of order: that she is the product of some particular spunk whose bearer happened to be married to the person whose vagina she fell out of.

See how ludicrous it is? I'd rather spend money on an elected president than some rich woman with a stupid title.

Aldaur

Nuremgard wrote:At least it would be elected. Right now our head of state is the head of state because she fell out a particular vagina.

Damn.

Aldaur

Yukona wrote:Damn.

It's true.

Aldaur

Nuremgard wrote:See how ludicrous it is? I'd rather spend money on an elected president than some rich woman with a stupid title.

Or- or, and hear me out- we don't spend any money on ceremonial figures! If your only job is to sign passed legislation (or literally just nod your head once in the Senate) and to visit other Heads of State- two jobs that can easily be done by other people who are otherwise assisting with the functioning of the state- maybe we don't need that person!

Layoff due to redundancy! Addition by subtraction!

The Royal Republic Of Kumania, Aldaur

Continental Commonwealths wrote:Or- or, and hear me out- we don't spend any money on ceremonial figures! If your only job is to sign passed legislation (or literally just nod your head once in the Senate) and to visit other Heads of State- two jobs that can easily be done by other people who are otherwise assisting with the functioning of the state- maybe we don't need that person!

Layoff due to redundancy! Addition by subtraction!

Hence why I'd be fine combining the roles of head of state and head of government in the Prime Minister.

Aldaur, Continental Commonwealths, Iloiada

Regarding the vacant seat of the Chief Justice, I have been speaking to several members of our region asking them if they would want to have this kind of honor in serving our fellow citizens.

So far the first person who has accepted my nomination is [nation=short]The Royal Republic of Kumania[/nation]. Looking forward to your messages.

The Royal Republic Of Kumania, Continental Commonwealths, Tserra, Iloiada

Also looking at the poll the procedures of appointing a new MoJ is underway.

Continental Commonwealths, Iloiada

Hm, I can't believe that I am saying this, but I am moved by your messages asking me to run for re-election. While I said that I am not considering going for it, I realize that my Administrations good job should not settle for less. Our region should not settle for less.

Therefor, I make public my intentions to run for re-election. May our region thrive as it already is.

Continental Commonwealths, Iloiada

Latrovia wrote:Hm, I can't believe that I am saying this, but I am moved by your messages asking me to run for re-election. While I said that I am not considering going for it, I realize that my Administrations good job should not settle for less. Our region should not settle for less.

Therefor, I make public my intentions to run for re-election. May our region thrive as it already is.

Ha! Finally some good news!!!!

Best of luck to you President! :D

https://img.clipartfest.com/b01497658364f3e8c9fce1abee314be8_andris-biedrins-animated-clipart-cheering-crowd_640-360.gif

Latrovia

Iloiada wrote:Ha! Finally some good news!!!!

Best of luck to you President! :D

https://img.clipartfest.com/b01497658364f3e8c9fce1abee314be8_andris-biedrins-animated-clipart-cheering-crowd_640-360.gif

Thank you, Iloiada :)

Iloiada

Latrovia wrote: messages asking me to run for re-election.

Those exist?!

Latrovia, Yukona

Bearlong wrote:Those exist?!

I know, I am surprised as much as you are

Bearlong wrote:Those exist?!

Don't make the mistake I did, I busted his balls about it in Discord and we all spent the past hour or so going from "why are you so easily offended" to "Lat is simply refusing to take part in another stupid argument engaged by Kalaron" - said by Lat himself, bless his soul

Kalaron

Latrovia wrote:I know, I am surprised as much as you are

Seconded

Yukona wrote:Don't make the mistake I did, I busted his balls about it in Discord and we all spent the past hour or so going from "why are you so easily offended" to "Lat is simply refusing to take part in another stupid argument engaged by Kalaron" - said by Lat himself, bless his soul

Bless me, oh Lord! xD

Yukona wrote:Don't make the mistake I did, I busted his balls about it in Discord and we all spent the past hour or so going from "why are you so easily offended" to "Lat is simply refusing to take part in another stupid argument engaged by Kalaron" - said by Lat himself, bless his soul

Mate it was pretty stupid.

How dare I react when he say that I made propaganda against his bill, or apparently called it evil because I said it didn't have a real point.

Like, really though, I'm bad because I showed people his bill and how it didn't do anything for us really, how dare I use a basic right guaranteed in our region.

Yukona

Kalaron wrote:Mate it was pretty stupid.

How dare I react when he say that I made propaganda against his bill, or apparently called it evil because I said it didn't have a real point.

Like, really though, I'm bad because I showed people his bill and how it didn't do anything for us really, how dare I use a basic right guaranteed in our region.

https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/crying-on-sofa1.gif?w=801&h=450

Latrovia wrote:https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/crying-on-sofa1.gif?w=801&h=450

Do you remember when Vista started reacting to debate with memes, I do.

I also remember how ineffective it was.

Kalaron wrote:Do you remember when Vista started reacting to debate with memes, I do.

I also remember how ineffective it was.

There's no reason for me to debate, I kinda got used to you and accepted you as you are. My goal is to make this region greater than it already is and that means that I will have to face every difficulty (both external and internal) but I promise to you and everyone that, our region will never go down. The road for us to be better is in front of us.

Assembled with Dot's Region Saver.
Written by Refuge Isle.