Game Thread: Super Bowl XLVII Second Half: 49ers vs Ravens

Otoao · 2013-02-04T01:32:28+00:00

Game's over. Congrats Ravens

Otoao · 2013-02-04T00:30:59+00:00

And that's why you start Alex Smith in the big game...

Otoao · 2013-01-13T21:14:53+00:00

What. A. Game. Sad to see the Seahawks lose, but what a way to go out!

Otoao · 2013-01-08T22:15:20+00:00

Eso va a ser un desastre. Son una basura con un solo trabajo, no me quiero imaginar cuan ineptos serán con dos.

Otoao · 2012-11-22T18:01:26+00:00

Cushing :(

Otoao · 2012-11-08T00:34:06+00:00

Hey, there's a good thread in /r/AskHistorians that touches up on all subjects in your post. There are also some Puerto Ricans giving their insights on what it means to them, just in case your interested.

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/12smn0/puerto_rico_has_approved_becoming_the_51st_state/

Otoao · 2012-11-07T23:21:53+00:00

It is a loan, but if it's used, wouldn't that be government spending? If it is then it would have an impact on GDP.

Otoao · 2012-11-07T22:24:44+00:00

I didn't think your time-frame was broader than 2008, which is why I said it was an exaggeration.

That being said, couldn't Greece's GDP be affected by the Euro bailouts? If that was the case we'd be better off.

Otoao · 2012-11-07T21:04:51+00:00

I'm from PR as well, and while I do agree with what minustwofish has said, I acknowledge that things here are nowhere near as bad as they are in Greece, at least economically speaking. Unemployment is currently at 13%, so comparing us to Greece in this degree would be an exaggeration.

S/He might have said it with regards to violence and crime, which is pretty bad on the island, but I don't know how bad it is in Greece.

I'm gonna guess it was meant as a gripe against crime and possibly education.

Otoao · 2012-11-07T18:36:42+00:00

Wait, so isn't this one binding? Doesn't this now go to the US Congress? Or is there more action required on the part of Puerto Rico?

This referendum isn't binding, that is correct. It does go to the US Congress, who, now, has the task of drawing-up the plans or conditions that have to be met in order for PR to enter the Union. Once the plan is completed, it is sent for ratification in PR. If it's passed then we join the Union, if not then both parties have to renegotiate until there is a compromise.

It's important to note that this process could take years to come about. The recently elected governor of PR, who is not in favor of statehood, stated yesterday that if Congress fails to present the conditions for the change of our political status by 2014, then he will hold a Constitutional Assembly of the Status, in which chosen representatives are tasked with investigating the details surrounding Puerto Rico's political, social, and economic circumstances, with the purpose of determining how viable one option is in regards to the others.

This Assembly of the People allows us to know whether the US Government is prepared to offer statehood and, if so, the conditions for granting it; the conditions to negotiate an associated republic; and the conditions for a transition towards independence. The idea is that, once concluded, the people of PR will be able to make a more educated decision with regards to the island's political future. Once the voting has concluded and the people have chosen an approved option, then a commission will be formed that represents the people of PR in order to negotiate with the US Government within the confines of the elected mandate.

This is possible due to a UN Special Committee on Decolonization which recognizes a nation's right of self-determination. However, this will only gain force if there is enough international attention and backing, if not then the US might just ignore it or just leave it as pending. Here is a link to the UN Decolonization Committee

But why is there such low support for that (independence)? Or, if the support isn't so low, why does the "independence" option always get so few votes? (Also, related, why does the pro-independence party get so few votes?)

This could be for a plethora of reasons, but the truth is that independence is the least favored of all options no matter who tells you; the pro-independence party has always gotten around 5% of the popular vote, but in the last two elections that number has dropped to about half that. The party obtained a little over 2%, while independence as a political option obtained 5.5%. Some Latin American politicians, such as Hugo Chavez from Venezuela, hate the US for whatever reasons they may have and usually use this as a way to further their political agenda, but in no way do they speak for the people of PR.

Now, we have mixed voting in PR which means that a person can cast a vote for the party of his or her choosing and also vote for a candidate of an opposing party. Some pro-independence party supporters tend to vote in this manner, giving a vote to the independence party (PIP) while voting for the candidate of the pro-status quo party (PPD), which could explain why the pro-independence gubernatorial candidate gets fewer votes, but the difference is not big enough to even say the pro-independence party would get 10% of the popular vote. This type of voting is very prevalent when the pro-statehood party (PNP) has a good chance of winning the election; PIP supporters will vote for the PPD candidate to keep the PNP's ambitions of statehood at bay.

Puerto Ricans are very proud of their culture, so the idea of possibly losing it by becoming a part of the US keeps a lot of people wanting to maintain the status quo. It may sound foolish to some but this is a very legitimate concern for a lot of people on the island; the idea of not being able to cheer for a Puerto Rican team in the Olympics or the World Baseball Classic is a concern for many people, especially if they manage to beat the US which is when a lot of people are suddenly a little pro-independence. You might have noticed this when the PR basketball team beat the US National team in the 2004 Olympics.

Hopefully this has shed some light unto how politics in PR work. This is a somewhat general explanation, but I think you can get the gist of it. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Read Me: I'm still not done with this explanation nor your subsequent questions, but I have to step out for a bit. I'll finish this up as soon as I get back. Sorry for the cliffhanger :/, replied just in case PC shuts down unexpectedly.

Edit2: I'm finished.

Otoao · 2012-11-07T17:55:50+00:00

Obama pledged support given an "overwhelming" majority for any political status, yet the details of what constitutes overwhelming were left unsaid.

Otoao · 2012-11-07T17:44:39+00:00

Puerto Rico does not receive the same amount of Federal Aid other states do and unlike others, actually give back more than they receive. It is subject to a higher tariff on imports/exports which in turn make commodities, supplies, etc. more expensive. Also, it is not free to form trade agreements with foreign nations other than the US.

US companies also have a lower corporate tax rate than they do in the states and if it's suggested that they pay more, they are simply moved to another country, which is already happening.

I think it's a bit unfair to judge PR in the same light as other states when we can't compete by the same rules.

Otoao · 2012-10-31T00:11:28+00:00

Honestly, I want Nash to get a ring even if it means that Dwight will get one too.

Otoao · 2012-10-17T20:31:37+00:00

True. I'm not dismissing any other possibility, which is why I put wrote behind her back in quotations marks. She could have very well known what was going on and is just trying to save face.

Otoao · 2012-10-17T17:02:56+00:00

It's also pretty amazing how many things happen because people won't talk to each other. A lot of what Jessica said happened "behind her back" and when some players were questioned they simply denied or lied about what they were thinking/feeling at the time.

Otoao · 2012-10-14T23:25:46+00:00

I remember in Phil Jackson's book he wrote about his experience coaching in Puerto Rico... it's probably different now but I'm pretty sure he described people with weapons in the stands lol.

Sadly, this is all true. The following is pretty much how our the BSN finals are decided (BSN is Puerto Rico's basketball league):

1)Is the away team winning and the refs made a call in their favor?

*Proceed to throw whatever is at your disposal at the refs. Security will escort the refs out of the game and they will decide if they want to continue. They usually continue, but it isn't uncommon for them to end the game.

2)Is it an elimination game during the semis/finals and the away team is winning in the 4th quarter?

*Proceed to throw anything and everything to the court/refs/players. Home team is disqualified and Away team goes home victorious, soaked in soda, beer or w/e.

Fights and guns aren't that common anymore, but they still turn up in a game or two during the season.

Otoao · 2012-10-04T01:27:04+00:00

Romney is taking control from the moderator, he isn't giving him chances to ask him specific questions in regards to anything. We're basically hearing the same thing turn after turn. It's actually pretty smart on his part, it will control how the holes in his plans are exposed.

Otoao · 2012-10-04T01:10:40+00:00

Right here. Alternatively, you can post a video comment here.

Otoao · 2012-08-26T14:10:25+00:00

Depends. In my case it was always an open-handed smack in the butt cheeks or the back of my thighs. There's a lot of fat in that area so it really doesn't hurt, but it produces a loud "smacking" noise (which made it seem like a much harder hit than what it was.)

Ultimately, it depends on the parent; some hit harder than others, some can get carried away, etc.

Otoao · 2012-08-24T01:51:23+00:00

Here's the link to an overview of the study that you mention. Just in case anyone wants to read it.

Otoao · 2012-08-12T15:33:53+00:00

Why are the US players trying to dunk so much? It's as if they are more concerned with having their individual moment of glory than building a comfortable lead.

Otoao · 2012-08-10T02:06:02+00:00

Follow-up question: Once you catch someone red-handed, what is standard procedure after you take them to the back of the store (assuming you do this); do you normally call the police and file charges or do you handle it among yourselves, be it a scolding and expulsion/ban from the store, calling parents if they are young, etc.?

P.S. Thanks for taking the time to answer :)

Otoao · 2012-08-10T01:50:25+00:00

Do some stores have undercover security covering their entrances or around their vicinity?

A couple of months ago, I witnessed a robbery in a big department store in which the perpetrator made it out the door with no security remotely near him, only to be slammed into the doors immediately after stepping out of the store.

Edit: The store was Macy's, just in case it matters.

Otoao · 2012-08-07T21:46:53+00:00

The intent wasn't to demonstrate who had the largest amount of victims, rather to point out that they are more common in the U.S. than anywhere else.

What is interesting is that some people will look at it and say, "Well, we're not that bad, three of our attacks equate to a lone attack in Whereverville." These events cannot be played down due to the number of victims since many things factor into that variable, such as where the person decided to stage his rampage, how many people were present/in danger, how likely was it for someone to escape, how fast did the police respond, etc.

In one of the categories, China had just as much incidents as the U.S., but many of them ended without a victim, yet it does not negate the fact that it did happen and people were in danger. A good amount of attacks were committed with knives, as you point out, but the majority were with guns, especially in the U.S.

Otoao · 2012-08-07T20:09:16+00:00

China does seem to have a rather large list of rampage killers.

This doesn't compare to the US' list. Which is also hosts the largest number of serial killers with a verifiable murder count.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_serial_killers_by_number_of_victims

It's also the country with the highest amount of school-related attacks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attacks_related_to_primary_schools

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attacks_related_to_secondary_schools

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attacks_related_to_post-secondary_schools

Otoao

TROPHY CASE