TS is back - woohoo!

[castalie]

What what what? Ooooh man!

M6 brought back The Sentinel!

I can't believe it, I thought we'd have to wait until next year for a rerun and they brought it back for the summer! YAY! Not daily anymore, but weekly - every Saturday apparently, but damn who cares, Jim and Blair are back! Woohoo *beaming*

That's the kind of news one likes to come home to - or well, one who's into TS obviously lol

Today has been really great, relaxing and everything - my cousin Julien is spending the weekend, and he's visiting my grand-father so I went out with Sandrine this afternoon. We went to the mall, and huh I sorta bought Master and Commander *g* So yeah, the purchase went faster than usual lol I just came back so didn't have time to watch it yet. I don't know what we'll do tonight, go out to the movies or stay in and watch it then. I know that Henry has a football game and that Julien will be his cheerleader, so he may come home late - we'll see *g*

Oh and I received Every Nine Seconds and Never Tear us Apart this morning, so I'm a happy camper *huggles fanfics-disguised-as-books*

And finally I received the refund for an item I bought at eBay that never made it home. I wasn't even upset, I just decided it was a sign I wasn't meant to have the necklace. The seller - whose name was Daniel btw, which doesn't have anything to do with anything, but still - was really cooperative, so it went well without too much hassle from either side...

Anyway, am now back home and savouring a white chocolate Magnum while I'm updating this, then I'm going to check the flist. So yeah, relaxing and lovely day all right *g*

Comments

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Tell me, is there ever only the four of you in your house? ;)

Also, a TS post, I thought you were getting as bad as me about poor Jim and Blair *g*

I need ice cream now...sigh.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Believe it or not, but there are actually only three people left in the house on a regular basis, and considering my parent's schedule, it's usually just me! *g* But huh yeah - we also sorta always have cousins spending the night or the weekend, granted lol

Yes, a TS post, a real one! Hopefully there will be more of them since TS on Saturday baby *g*

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

I have a present for you but I can't tell you what it is! and when you get it, you can't say what it is, okay? Because it is part of something that is going to several other people as well and they can't know what it is for a month.

[hint: QAF related-will send soon. *mwah*]

[castalie.livejournal.com]

OH GOODIE! A present! And a sekrit present at that!! *bouncing* Okay I won't say what it is when I'll get it, but I'll be able to squee anyway, right? Right?

And thanks in advance, this is so fucking sweet!! *kisses*

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

Oh you can squee your ass off babe. You're welcome!


**love and bunches of kisses**

[castalie.livejournal.com]

You're the best *kisses madly*

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

What do you think about this? Europe wants to thawp Americans?

Not that I disagree.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Well, there's definitely some truth in that. The US lost a lot of its credibility because of Bush's action in Iraq. The fact that he decided to do his will and bypassed the U.N. and diplomacy, made him really lose of the respect Europeans had for him - and I'm afraid it wasn't that huge to begin with. He was said to be illiterate and stupid *cough*

As it happens, it wasn't just Bush who took the brunt of European's discontent, but the whole US people, granted - but it was a Bush=Americans thing. See, Americans have the reputation of being arrogant and having this 'holier than thou' attitude that is really disliked in Europe ; "We're bigger, we're stronger, we know best, we rule the world and God is here to help us all." What Bush and his administration did just confirmed this stereotype/reputation.

The whole mess started after 9/11 - lots of countries in Europe had warned Bush that something big was going to happen, they gave lots of informations but nobody listened to them - people didn't forget about it here.

Another thing that 'finished' the deed so to speak was Bush's attitude toward France after Chirac gave his opinion and decided to go against him - so now, we couldn't even disagree, is that it? For a country that was so proud to be a democracy, it struck everyone as funny at best, ironical and fucking hypocrite as worst. It didn't help any.

Bush and his lovely administration lost everything when they cheated on Americans and made you believe that going to Iraq had a direct link to Ben Laden's activities - everyone in Europe knew it wasn't right, everyone in Europe knew the 'reports' were fake, and we had problems believing that Bush was actually capable of making everyone believe he was doing the right thing - the thing is, he did whatever he wanted without caring about anyone else's opinion and that really cost him his credibility and any respect people could have for him.

That said, I indeed heard Americans said they were afraid to come to Europe, or more precisely to France because they 'knew' they wouldn't be welcomed, and let me tell you it's a load of bullshit! There is no animosity against Americans as persons - France has some disagreement with the US, we're not happy about a lot of things, but it's directed at the Gvt and that's it.

Sure, we're sometimes pretty harsh towards Americans, but it's really the Gvt that is targeted - to tell the truth, *we* don't feel so welcomed in your country. Re : European newspapers carry accounts of outraged travelers to the United States who end up in handcuffs and overnight cells before being sent home for what turns out to be a simple mistake - it did not help - at all. After the whole case was 'solved' we started to make fun of the whole system, but believe me we were seething when we followed the affair. It sure put some people off going over there.

Another thing, when the situation was so tense between France and the US, we used to see some of your programs and anti-French propaganda that occurred over there - it was pretty outrageous too. Things like that didn't really happen here - but then, I guess Americans like what is outrageous and shiny and scandalous. But that again didn't help either *g*

So yeah, Europe as a whole is happy to be getting stronger and stronger because we hope the US will have to recognise they're not so strong or so big anymore - and the relationship between our two countries sure suffered of the whole mess, but I can assure you it's more because of *Bush* than anything else.

Everyone here is hoping that you will do what you need to evict him and have a new president after the next elections - things will go back to normal after that, we're all sure of that *g*

And again, should you come here, you won't see any hatred or contempt directed at you for being American, promise *g*

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't really believe that French people in general think all Americans are wankers. That would the same as me going, oh, I can't talk to you because you're French. That would be incredibly stupid and make you all as bad as we frequently seem to be and I KNOW you are not.

I hate that America seems to be intertwined with Bush, since honestly, he was voted in by a non-majority that consisted of a quarter of the voting population anyway. He represents the scary part of Texas and that is about it. Redneck bigots shouldn't get to be in the highest office of our land.

I sort of blame Bush for 9/11 in as much as I don't think it would have happened if Gore had taken office. A lot of people, who are much smarter than me disagree, but I really can't get that idea out of my head. Eh. I, personally, am sorry at how our country acted towards yours before/during the war in Iraq. That was completely uncalled for, and a serious indication that we need to take notice that other people can/are/should be allowed to have their autonomy and not have to bow to our damn urges.

As for Bush's declaration that Iraq was involved in whatever, that was bullshit on all levels. I understand it pissed you guys off, and I respect that anger, but I am SO MUCH more up-set about that than I think you guys are? I knew he was lying. I had told everyone a year before that we were going to war, there was not a question, and when he said that, I knew it was untrue.

I think most people knew it was untrue, but the news media ran it, and since he said it in his goddamn state of the union address, everyone wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. No, I know you want to support your leader, but not when it is fairly obvious he is lying.

He did want to go to war. What we wanted and what you guys wanted didn't matter. I know that, and I hope it is well recognized that many many of us did not support his decision and that most of the people who did, did so out of an urge to support their country/leader, not because they felt it was important to go against the rest of the world.

I'm not that up-set that you don't welcome us when it happens. I understand that. No one should be treated like that and not respond. It doesn't improve the situation, but I can understand the urge. Yes, there is a lot of anti-french propaganda here. I'm not sure why? I'm not sure what Joss has against the French?

I'm happy for the Union and look forward to something powerful enough to keep us in check. I hope that the EU can look at the problems we have between our states and notice that we have similar problems in melding cultures as you guys do, though on a smaller scale. I also hope you guys are all able to keep your individual cultures. As much as I don't want a Jihad, I don't want a McWorld either.

We're trying to get him out of there, though I can't promise Kerry will be much better? He appears to be Bush lite but at this point? We're desperate. I'm very worried that he needs to undo quite a bit of damage. I want him to focus on North Korea, re-establish the ties the Clinton adminstration had there, and work on mending fences by putting us back into the Kyoto treaty.

There are several other treaties I would like to enter into, but I don't really need to list them right now. I'm hoping that when this is all said and done, we can admit we made a mistake in Iraq [though frankly, those people are goddamn nuts] and extend a hand of friendship to the EU. If not as a government, at least as a nation? Plus, it helps I think that most of us have ties in other countries like say, on the net, etc...It's hard to hate the people you talk to every day. :)

And that's okay, if I go anywhere, I'm telling everyone I'm Canadian. I watch so much TV from there I'm starting to say aboot anyway.

Thanks for the response, I really wanted to know what you thought of that. **mwah**

[castalie.livejournal.com]

As for Bush's declaration that Iraq was involved in whatever, that was bullshit on all levels. I understand it pissed you guys off, and I respect that anger, but I am SO MUCH more up-set about that than I think you guys are.

Oh I bet you are! I mean, *you* were the one lied to, and you knew it and couldn't do anything against it, and I totally understand how much more upset you were about the whole mess - I mean, in a way, you were a direct victim of their lies and deceit. I also heard about Americans who had to keep their mouths shut when they wanted to diss Bush and his decisions because their opinions weren't welcomed - is that true as well?

I hope it is well recognized that many many of us did not support his decision and that most of the people who did, did so out of an urge to support their country/leader, not because they felt it was important to go against the rest of the world.

Well, for one thing, we sometimes in Europe really feel sorry for Americans - we know you aren't all Bush supporters/fanatics and that you were as much a victim of his behaviours than we were in Europe - in a non-physical kind of way, I'm not even trying to compare the situation with what Iraqi or soldiers for that matter are going through, of course. I'm merely talking about attitudes and severed ties, and the like. And for another, we also know how strong patriotism is on a good day in your country, and when a country goes to war, I think people also has to support their soldiers - there's not much they can do, at least they can show their guys and girls that they're behind them.

As for EU --oh, Bush tried to give us some advice about it the other day btw, did you see? About Turkey. Poor guy should have kept his mouth shut *shakes head*-- anyway, about EU, well, we all hope we'll be able to fix everything that need to be fixed and we know it won't be easy, but apparently it's worth it *g* And Rome ne s'est pas faite en un jour, so worthy things take time sometimes *g*

Also, when you talked about how it helps I think that most of us have ties in other countries like say, on the net, etc..., well I so agree! For one thing it gave/gives us all a hindsight of what was/is happening for real inside our respective countries without media's biased interferences and for another it proved/proves to us that we're pretty much all in the same boat and that things are *definitely* different from what can be shown on TV *g*

You're the welcome, this was really interesting *g*

[nel-ani.livejournal.com]

M6 brought back The Sentinel!

*whimpers in jealousy*

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Sorry about that - well sorry for you, but huh damn happy for me of course *g*

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

I also heard about Americans who had to keep their mouths shut when they wanted to diss Bush and his decisions because their opinions weren't welcomed - is that true as well?

Yes. A lot of people had their careers hurt because *gasp* they dared to disagree with what he was doing. I can see the point about wanting to support the leader [I can not use the words support and Bush together in a sentence. I just can't.] but not allowing for dissenting opinions is very 1984 and that's what I think America should be about--protecting the minority from censorship.

We should disagree. A lot. Things move and change because of differences. We need to understand that if we can not continue to embrace the freedom we were granted, this will no longer be a country that attracts the kind of talent needed to continue on a positive path of growth.

For a mid-period there it was very up in the air, it was not proper to say anything negative about Bush, you were called unpatriotic, of course, I could give a shit, since I'm not all that patriotic obviously. I threaten to leave every other Thursday, but I still believe in American ideals as strongly as the next person, I'd like to think.

Yeah, it was the support the soldiers if not the government line for a long time, but that was hard. People were saying that you can't support the soldiers and not the war. That you couldn't say, well I disagree with what you are doing, but I support you in your actions anyway?

I'm not sure where I fit into that. I was honestly hoping that he wasn't lying, I knew he was, but I kept thinking, perhaps something will be found, so we can at least say, look, we did do this for a good reason. I don't want him validated but the thought that all this had to happen and who knows how many people are dead...with no justification. I don't know how to process that.

I really want us to leave there. Now. It would be a bad idea in as much as they are a mess and we got them into the mess, but we also have to say, look, this was not a good idea, and now we need to step back and re-evaluate. The country is a mess, and perhaps, needs to be allowed to seperate like Yugoslavia, or however the Iraqi people feel the problems should be handled.

I think the overall problem was a larger one that the British government carved up the Ottoman empire after it fell in a rather haphazard way and then the countries were held together by ruthless dictators. It's hard to have allegience to an ethnic group and a country when your ethnic group is being destroyed by the country.

We should have known that when we took Iraq over this sort of thing would happen. It was happened in Yugoslavia, and frequently in Africa. I am highly disappointed that it was not forseen that issues other than merely taking out a bad leader were going to arise.

I may have drifted off the point into a lecture, sorry. What I was getting too is, mainly, while I support the soldiers in as much as they are doing their jobs, and not to be faulted for that, I am completely and utterly against any other war effort being conducted there.

A very small part of me that doesn't want to admit it almost understands why the Iraqis are acting the way they are. I'm not sure why they are supporting Hussein, but fighting back I can see. I don't want it to happen, but if I was in their shoes, I'm not sure how much better I would react.

So thank you for saying behind the troops thing, but I'm losing even that as I keep seeing the extreme measures taking place. On both sides. Torture? Beheading? I know war is a dirty business, but jesus, why? What is that accomplishing?

Then we are supposed to re-build them, which we should since we wrecked them, but frankly, I don't want to do that either. That will be another scam, money going to companies who shouldn't get it to pretend to re-vamp something that didn't exist in the first place.

Oh my god, my reply was too long! I'm going to post the rest in another post. Cher help me.

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

This will not be the Marshall plan, it will be a farce. My patriotism dies a little more everytime I see someone invoke God into a political decision. People buy into this. Oh prayer is important because Bush says so? Well then, if you can't trust the opinion of someone who was a C student, a drunk, a cocaine user, and now a born-again [the scariest of all] then who can you trust?

Annnnd I'm getting off the point again. Sorry, that birth control thing torqued me to hell. I did not see Bush attempting to give advise to them, no. About Turkey?!? Bwhaha! Oh, since he certainly knows how to handle them. Yes. If he wasn't so important, this would be funny.

I think it is worth it, I look forward to you all being able to band together, especially since you guys seem to be leading each other forward, not backwards. Ireland has benefited tremendously from the EU and I'm hoping the countries joing now will enjoy the same growth.

I no longer trust the news media. When I have to hear things from people from say, France, Ireland, New Zealand, etc.. that involve my government before I hear it here? I'm done. I think building as many ties with each other as possible is the way of the future.

You never know what is out there if you don't look. Which doesn't mean I think we should waste a bunch of money building things on Mars. SETI is doing fine, thank you. **sigh** I always sound way more bitter than I am, you know? Education man, always the way to go. Always.

This was tres long. Damn. I do so much better in the middle of the night.