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Don't listen to them. Paying off any debt with an interest rate above the savings rate is almost always a sound financial decision (high income individuals excepted).
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I will say this though: It is easier to claim that civilians are militants after the fact than it is to claim that militants are civilians. This is because part of the rituals that go along with fighting generally includes the recognition of sacrifice should they fall in battle (often done through eulogies or the creation of posters and videos about them). It is an expected compensation for their willingness to lay down their lives for their cause, and a major part of militant PR / indoctrination tactics. Thus if militant groups like the Al Qassam Brigade tried to pass off their dead as civilians, it would create significant internal problems for them when it came to the loyalty of their fighters and the sense of community that such groups depend upon.
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We often depend a lot on journalistic reportings, government figures, watchdog groups, and corroboration through investigations after the fact. As far as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict goes, one of the more thorough and rigorous collectors of such statistics and one not afraid to classify some of the dead as "unknown" if their status can't be verified is the Israeli organization: B'Tselem.
Both sides have incentive to manipulate data. Hamas has incentive to exaggerate the number of civilians dead, while Israel has incentive to label dead civilians as militants.
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This entire escalation of violence is nothing new. It has been pretty predictable and cyclical and it doesn't show much evidence of changing. The unity government was an important step, but it is hard to say how much this current disruption will prevent the unity government from taking future diplomatic action. Netanyahu cracked down on Hamas on purpose (one of the main contributing factors to the resumed fighting) because it was threatened by the unity government, and they have no intention of working with said government even once this fighting is resolved.
The only real difference here is that the international community seems more critical of this current operation than it was of the 2012 and 2009 fighting. Maybe that new pressure will help, but I'm not too hopeful.
Alright, another serious question: what is the methodology of counting the numbers of the dead, and how do they assign them civilian or militant status? This is difficult in any conflict. Impossible in others. We will never know for example how many people died in the DR Congo conflict, let alone how many were civilian and how many armed. We have some pretty good ideas based on well documented research, but that can only take us so far and in the end is an educated estimate. Likewise, in areas with strong government control against those they fight, we'll almost certainly never fully know how many civilians are killed. Russian soldiers in Dagestan for example tend to shoot up any car they think might be suspicious and then simply declare anyone found dead inside militants without any evidence. Or we invent new categories such as "suspected militants" or in Israel's case just Hamas never mind that Hamas employees could be someone like a civilian who dispenses food at a soup kitchen and has never held a weapon in their lives. |
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I am not sure what you mean by "discharge of priority debts is not a required precondition to corporate bankruptcy." I think you are confusing two opposites. A discharged debt is debt that goes away forever, without full payment. By contrast, a priority debt MUST be paid for a corporation to get a discharge. This is unlike an individual bankruptcy, where individuals can get a discharge without paying some priority debts.
Priority of employee wages and benefits is not determined by active petitioning--it's right there in the law. A corporation simply cannot get a discharge without paying them.
As for dissolution and reincorporation, sure, that's an option, but it does not give the company a discharge. Nor is it easy or automatic--in most states it takes years. Moreover, the new corporation cannot have the same assets or business as the old corporation without assuming its liabilities.
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This entire escalation of violence is nothing new. It has been pretty predictable and cyclical and it doesn't show much evidence of changing. The unity government was an important step, but it is hard to say how much this current disruption will prevent the unity government from taking future diplomatic action. Netanyahu cracked down on Hamas on purpose (one of the main contributing factors to the resumed fighting) because it was threatened by the unity government, and they have no intention of working with said government even once this fighting is resolved.
The only real difference here is that the international community seems more critical of this current operation than it was of the 2012 and 2009 fighting. Maybe that new pressure will help, but I'm not too hopeful.
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that all seems like cause for hope, no?
I don't find myself very hopeful no. It is nice to see that the trends have stayed the same which means that there is a larger window for opportunity for peace than I had hoped for, but the reality is that conditions within Israeli politics are no where near where they need to be in order for an honest peace process to take place that will lead to some sort of real engagement and results. In fact, they've only gotten worse over time with the rise of conservative parties in Israel, which has afforded them more ease in forming truly conservative coalitions to the point where the current Israeli government under Netanyahu doesn't even pretend to want a two state solution. It isn't their official stance at all. Netanyahu's official stance (which is also Likud's) is permanent occupation, and among his coalition that stance is one of the more moderate ones. |
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Ah, clicking on the data sets, I see there are other pictures, and there you can clearly see the desire for resistance among Gazans (expressed here as non-violent resistance) but not necessarily for conflict or the use of Qassam rockets. there tends to be Palestinian dissatisfaction over the issue of resistance, with Hamas engaging in unpopular rocket attacks and being seen as too violent, while Abbas can be seen as not resistant enough and too compliant with Israel to the point of being considered by some to be an Israeli puppet (not my opinion). The data also shows both safety concerns and corruption as key issues for Palestinians as well, which, as I said, was Hamas' main selling point in the last elections. Overall though, Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip was never supported by a majority of either Palestinians or Gazans.
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Corporations are specifically designed be liability shields. That's the primary reason they exist as a legal institution.
But like I said, you're missing the point. The point being made here was that people can normally file for bankruptcy (just like a corporation), but student loan debt is immune from bankruptcy (which is why I compared it to child support).
Corporations are liability shields and the sky is blue. How does that keep the corporation, in se, from paying its debts? As for bankruptcy, student loan debt is not immune (child support is though), it is just subject to a higher standard for discharge. Regardless, corporations do not owe child support or student loans, so there is no point to get because it's a pointless comparison. It is much harder and more expensive, though, for a corporation to get a discharge in bankruptcy than it is for an individual. Oh oh but corporations pay more to get a discharge -- oh but corporations are also discharging 82 times more money. Wait so you're telling me that you compared individual bankruptcy to corporate bankruptcy to illustrate that individuals can't get rid of certain kinds of debt? Well why would that matter? Corporations don't have those kinds of debt, so your point is moot Corporations can get a discharge through chapter 11, but they have to effectively liquidate all of their property to do it. Whereas an individual in a chapter 11 just has to devote disposable income to a plan in order to get a discharge. As for the debts comparison, I think you are actually agreeing with me, but again, I am having trouble understanding you. |
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It's tough for me to tell. Data is always hard to authenticate from Gaza and I haven't been as actively focused on the area as I have in the past. That being said, these numbers are pretty close to what they were back in 2006 with Hamas' takeover of the strip, and back in 2009 during Operation Cast Lead. So they match up with historical polling trends for Gaza's population. Palestinians in general, but more specifically for this case Gazans have long been predominately against Hamas' use of rockets to attack Israel. Where Hamas has received popular support among Palestinians is not in their terrorist activities, but largely through their provision of social services, the imagery that they were less corrupt than Fatah had been under Arafat, and their assertion that the recognition of Israel should be part of a peace process rather than a precondition to peace talks. These have always been Hamas' main selling points. |
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Tuition & Fees isn't real. It's a sticker price. Most private schools have "discount rates" in the 40% range. They use financial aid as a bargaining ship to get better students and improve their ranking. Only the international students an kids who barely get admitted pay the full freight.
The article posted above about the government exaggerating the cost of college from the NYT is pretty spot on.
Many of my friends work in higher ed in some way...professors, coaches, office work, etc. If a college costs $45k and you get 30% off, it's still overpriced at $30k. |
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Corporations are specifically designed be liability shields. That's the primary reason they exist as a legal institution.
But like I said, you're missing the point. The point being made here was that people can normally file for bankruptcy (just like a corporation), but student loan debt is immune from bankruptcy (which is why I compared it to child support).
Corporations are liability shields and the sky is blue. How does that keep the corporation, in se, from paying its debts? As for bankruptcy, student loan debt is not immune (child support is though), it is just subject to a higher standard for discharge. Regardless, corporations do not owe child support or student loans, so there is no point to get because it's a pointless comparison. It is much harder and more expensive, though, for a corporation to get a discharge in bankruptcy than it is for an individual. |
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To conclude with the Israeli song, here is Shir Shel Rega Ehad (Song for one moment) by TACT. A notable member of TACT is Subliminal. It is a song about an Israeli Soldier who goes on a bus and pens his own death letter to his girlfriend. He tragically died in a suicide bombing that night on the bus and left the letter to his girlfriend. The song is about him, Yaakov Paz. That is the Soldier's name. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbHlg_-Llh0Zohar must be from the 60's or something ? Patent white leather shoes, disco suit and bling, orchestra and drunken dancers flouncing about. Even with his extensive practice and polished performance from hundreds of takes, he sounds like a strangled cat. He is not a patch on Paul Potts, the mobile phone salesman who was bullied as a nipper and not too confident, but he put on this performance the first time he got on stage ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA |
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I propose then a suitable compromise of praying / studying / working ...
Daily prayers should start with a cold dip at 5am, then another cold dip and prayer at 6am before starting work at 7am.
Prayer breaks and baptisms to be conducted every 2 hours during work, then after work at 5pm - another 8 hours working as a Rabbi till 1am.
Wearing the tefillin at all times, on your head, throat, heart, arms and legs and nodding and bowing to god at all times, all day long.
Also listening to the bible on your iPod as much as possible.
I myself am Jewish, but am secular. I identify with my secular Jewish identity but I do not practice the religion. So praying does not factor in to my work day. There are misconceptions of israeli culture that people are super religious or super praying but if you are from israel or live in israel this is not the case. There are even misconceptions of jewish culture that people are super religious or super praying but if you are jewish this is also not the case. Culture is basically "cult"ish, it tries to ensnare you in its cult ways, but even if you were born of hasidic parents and wore dreadlocks all your younger years, you could still end up to be a none cult like citizen, you could even become a punk porn star. |
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I wonder if it ever occurred to you that employers have no business denying ANY employee ANY approved drug, for ANY reason of their own. Especially when the insurance that covers said drug is paid for in large part by the employee, and as part of her/his earned compensation. That is wage theft. Incidentally, some of the drugs in contention are NOT abortifacients, technically or conceptually.
I'll start listening to this SHIT as soon as I start hearing the outcry about woodie-enhancing drugs and devices covered by insurances.
Nor do they. But some employers are taking a stand on furnishing drugs that violate their religious convictions, and that's what eats at radical feminists . Ginsburg is a liberal loon who puts her politics ahead of the Constitutions she swore to uphold and defend. If liberals cannot live within our Constitution, then let them rise up and take over America. You never came across a radical feminist in your life, dummy, and if you did you'd support stoning her. There is nothing "radical" about me OR feminism....I just get in your face and you don't like it. Nor is there anything radical about equal treatment. Just go back to enjoying your computer while the wife works. Ginsburg is still working at 83, not because she has to but because she wants to. As an atheist, I have an anti religious conviction. It is against my deeply held lack of religious belief to allow any employee to have a religious holiday, say anything religious, or wear any religious jewelry. I am very glad the supreme court is on my side. As a muslim, I have many religious convictions. It is against my deeply held religious belief that women should have equal pay as men. I am cutting all women's salaries to 50%. I am very glad the supreme court is on my side. As an indian, I have many spiritual convictions. It is against my deeply held spiritual belief that anyone should work for me without being high on peyote. I am very glad the supreme court is on my side. |
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Ventura is a scumbag...hope he doesn't get a cent from the widow and he should pay all court costs. Then go hide in the Northern Minnesota wilderness never to be heard from again.
Obviously, this is not an open and shut case or the jury would have been back by now. At least one of the jurors believes Ventura. At least. I think he's kind of a weasel myself, and I never voted for him, but I also think he was slandered and lied about by Kyle in order to sell more books. Whether that translates into any damages or recovery is another question, but . . . |
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I'm not sure its legal for a judge to order a jury to come to one conclusion and deny them the option of a hung jury. That said I think a hung jury is the best solution. it lets ventura's ego off the hook without taking money from the widow. It does however show that the deposition which some accused of being lies because "they didn't remember and if you can't remember you're lying" wasn't as powerful as some had thought it would be for ventura.
Strictly the judge's call, but it is not uncommon for the judge to ask the jury to give it another shot before throwing in the towel. A lot of time and money is invested in the trial. I would think after this long deliberation, the likelihood of them coming to a verdict is very small, and I'm a little surprised the judge did that, sent them back again. But I would guess he will dismiss them at the end of today if they don't reach a verdict. I'm not talking about the judge sending the jury back to try again, I'm talking about the judge telling the jury they cannot be hung. Reconsidering that statement I suspect it was just part of the jury instruction in order for them to return a verdict instead of telling them they can't be split. You think he can force them to come to a verdict? Really? That's really not possible. It is not unusual, like I say for judges to ask jurors to go back and give it one more try. It sometimes does result in a jury verdict. But I would be really surprised if he kept the jury going for much longer, and surely cannot ORDER them to come to a verdict. That's impossible, frankly. |
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I want to make a thread about the misconceptions of Israeli culture because I have seen, both online and offline, people who do not truly understand Israeli culture.
1.) In Israel, there are around 7.8 million people. About one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand are Arab Christians. 1.6 million are Arab Muslim. 6 million are Jewish. Out of those 6 million Jewish people, 3 million are European, 2.9 million are North African and Southwest Asia, and about one hundred thousand are Ethiopian. So about half of the Jewish people in Israel are from outside of Europe and the other half of the Jewish people in Israel are from Europe. Do not let anyone tell you that 90%+ of Israeli Jews are European. That is simply not true.
2.) Hebrew, a Semitic language similar to Arabic, is spoken in Israel. They do not speak Yiddish in Israel.
3.) Israel has Hebrew rap and Hebrew heavy metal music. Not everyone in Israel is super religious and shuns the media and pop culture. For the most part, except observing Shabbat (the Sabbath), Israel is a fairly secular country.
4.) The former President of Israel, Moshe Katzav, is of Iranian descent. The leader of the Kadima Party in Israel, Shaul Mofaz, is also of Iranian descent. There are many Jewish people of Sephardic/Mizrahi (Arab, Berber, and Iranian Jewish) descent in positions of political power in Israel.
5.) People say Israel expelled 700,000 Palestinians in 1948. Well, between 1948 and 1967, 1 million Jews from North Africa and Southwest Asia were expelled by Arab countries and fled to Israel.
6.) Not a misconception. But a fact. Miss Israel 2013 is of Ethiopian descent.
7.) Another fact. An Israeli company invented the first USB drives.
You have a nice list, but the above is inaccurate and carries with it problems besides. It is absolutely true that many Jews were expelled by Arab countries or fled pogroms / potential violence, but to simply attribute every immigrant that came to Israel from Arab lands as one that was forcibly expelled is completely inaccurate. If there weren't 1 million Jews living in Arab countries in that time period, then how did Israel's Sephardic/Mizrahi Jewish population go up from 1 million to 3 million by 2014? They had to first immigrate to Israel and then have a population boom. And when it comes to issues of human rights, if Hamas puts down its weapons, then there will be peace. If Israel puts down its weapons, then there will be no Israel. Is there a particular reason why you can't type "God"? If you draw a picture of god, or look god straight in the face or write god in full you might turn to stone ? |
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I'm not sure its legal for a judge to order a jury to come to one conclusion and deny them the option of a hung jury. That said I think a hung jury is the best solution. it lets ventura's ego off the hook without taking money from the widow. It does however show that the deposition which some accused of being lies because "they didn't remember and if you can't remember you're lying" wasn't as powerful as some had thought it would be for ventura.
Strictly the judge's call, but it is not uncommon for the judge to ask the jury to give it another shot before throwing in the towel. A lot of time and money is invested in the trial. I would think after this long deliberation, the likelihood of them coming to a verdict is very small, and I'm a little surprised the judge did that, sent them back again. But I would guess he will dismiss them at the end of today if they don't reach a verdict. |
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How many of those non-Jew citizens are treated as second/third class ?wot's with the hats and pony tails ? why do jews cut large chunks off the ends of their dicks ?
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