Liam_snorkel said:
I agree Austin, like I said even if there was public support, it sounds like the U.S. is too far down the path to try to implement gun control.
Anyway back to the topic:
http://youtu.be/Td3luNjEKTs
That's one of the funnier episodes, and after getting to know you guys, one of the more relevant.
Bribie G said:
Last week I bought a six of Budweiser (King of Beers) and rather than approaching them with a sneering attitude I applied my knowledge of styles and brewing to do an honest assessment. Also I have a fairly comprehensive knowledge of the process that Bud uses, the quality of the ingredients, the beechwood strips, you name it.
They were the first beers of the day and I'd have to say that on balance it is an extremely well brewed beer, very well balanced as a quaffer. A wee bit stronger than most Aussie mainstreams and nothing really offensive about it.
Some alcohol warmth, very smooth grain balance and a short finish with just a hint of cleansing bitterness, as it's designed to have.
I'd drink it over VB any day. I'd be interested to try it on tap, if I ever get to the USA.
edit: it strikes me as fitting the same model as the UK "empty glass" mild ales such as Banks. You don't drink it as a rich craft beer experience, more as a thirst satisfier and a quaffer. The "empty glass" nickname came from the idea that the glass has become mysteriously empty and hey, mates, time for another round.
There's a reason it's popular, but with the resurgence of craft culture and the spike in homebrewing, I don't always see why.
Black Devil Dog said:
No, I don't think a law restricting guns in America would work. You want guns, well you've got them, 310 million of them actually and they're just the ones that are known to exist.
My understanding of firearms in the U.S is based on how many news articles I hear/read/see where school kids have been massacred, or innocent people going about their daily business have been gunned down by some nutter.
It seems that Americans are comfortable with the consequences of having so many firearms in the community, so it stands to reason that you wouldn't care.
It's called newsertainment for a reason. They sensationalize everything to the point of chaos, polarizing Americans, and clearly the world. If you're a victim of that, you do so willingly, and I don't know what to tell you.
Here's the facts so you know.
Violence in general has been on a decline since 1992 with no explained reasoning. This includes gun violence, but if you watch the major news networks you'd think every US is packing a handgun ready to start a race riot. We're not. We're actually a peaceful people for the most part. We do have an overall aggression to us, but when you're the melting pot of the world, you tend to be more a pressure cooker for the social woes and evils for humanity as a whole. We have to engage in who and what we are on a regular basis, because unlike the majority of the world we are watched, which is clearly indicated by the amount of wrong and biased information I'm presented when discussing my culture.
You know what comes through my TV about Australia? Nothing. Why is that? You have issues with immigration, you have issues with violence, in fact counter to my culture violence, and crime in general has been on the rise in Australia. What's up with that?
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/statistics-reveal-surge-in-crime-across-country-with-homicide-assault-public-order-gun-and-drug-offences-up-in-queensland/story-fnihsrf2-1226840030531?nk=f8568b74acfa97c377999c7385068b06
"Prohibited weapons offences rose by 8 per cent, sexual assaults by 7 per cent and abduction by 2 per cent."
But of course, that is limited research to prove a point. It could be down, I don't know, this article says otherwise and as it has a hot blonde chick beating a natives ass while drunk, I tend to believe it because it's what I
want to watch and what was readily presented to me, but just so I'm clear, all the violence, rape, and abduction happened while.... that's right, guns are illegal. I could say that the restriction of guns has lead to an increase in crime, but then correlation is not causation now is it?
Of course, our prison population is at it's highest, exceeding that of China. The majority of our incarcerated comprise a minority population (African Americans) and victimize non violent (drugs) offenders to produce a larger social issue. I'm not saying the US is free of crime, free of unjust persecution, or free of the social issues you're also seeing with your youth culture and it's total lack of attachment to community, but don't get side swiped into taking an opinion on something that
1. Sells papers.
2. Is overly sensationalized and quick to victimize a group (firearms owners) instead of the individual perpetrating it (the person responsible)
3. Does not propose a solution aside from solutions previously attempted that failed miserably.
This is a complicated issue, and at no time in human history has a complicated issue been made better through simplistic knee jerk reactions. We're keeping our guns. Don't want to come visit as a consequence to that? You're missing out. We've got a lot of really cool stuff, and no drop bears. I swear it.
I come here for your opinions. I very much appreciate you all, and the challenge to my beliefs. When we ceased to be challenged we cease to grow.
Slaughter all sacred cows. Nothing stands unchallenged. That used to be part of our "civic duty" as Americans. Not so much anymore.
I care very much. Don't negate my opinion because you don't agree with it. Don't minimize me to what you need me to be. My Daughter was the age of the kids killed at Sandy Hook. I sat in front of my TV and cried. For the lives lost, for the Parent's without children, and for a culture that felt it more important to sensationalize the actions of a crazy person turning it into a political issue than to tend to the needs of those who were harmed.
We're human beings first and foremost, Americans second. Don't let the cloak of nationality obfuscate your understanding of who and what we are.
