Fans of that particularly epic sci-fi genre of space opera (think fleets of spaceships and big laser cannons) have long been prepared for the day when earth is ruled by one single, benign government. What's the point of our current world order, that inchoate mess of nation-states and petty geopolitical divisions, when we have far bigger fish — or alien planets — to fry? A host of television series, from Star Trek to Babylon 5 to the short-lived Space: Above and Beyond, all ensured that the political exigencies of our little rock in the solar system were managed by just one global entity: call it a federation or an alliance or even the U.N.
Read more here
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Canterbury economy rated five stars...
A construction boom has pushed Canterbury into the top spot, as the region with the best economy.
The latest ASB Main Report Regional Economic Scoreboard gives the Canterbury economy five out of five stars, knocking Auckland out of first place.
Our biggest city is now second, but it's still improving its economic performance thanks to an expansion in business activity, rising house prices, and strong population growth.
Photo: NZ Herald
Read article here
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Bob Jones: Buccaneer brag rubs salt into Scottish wounds….
"In the early 1980s, there was an attempt at a South Island independence movement, which quickly faded through lack of support. Had it happened, the South would have been greatly richer and the North poorer because of export and population differentials favouring the South."Read more here
Abba admit outrageous outfits were worn to avoid tax...
The glittering hotpants, sequined jumpsuits and platform heels that Abbawore at the peak of their fame were designed not just for the four band members to stand out – but also for tax efficiency, according to claims over the weekend.
Reflecting on the group's sartorial record in a new book, Björn Ulvaeus said: "In my honest opinion we looked like nuts in those years. Nobody can have been as badly dressed on stage as we were."
And the reason for their bold fashion choices lay not just in the pop glamour of the late 70s and early 80s, but also in the Swedish tax code.
Read more here
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
10 Separatist Movements to Watch in 2014….
2014 promises to be an earth-shaking year for separatist movements. In addition to already scheduled referenda in Catalonia and Scotland (more on them below), February will bring us the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, which is already proving to be a magnet for extremists with (sometimes very legitimate) ethnonationalist grievances (more on them below as well). There will also be at least one referendum in northern Californiaon whether particular counties want to split away to become the State of Jefferson. In fact, with Colorado and Maryland facing partition challenges as well, state-secession movements proliferated more in 2013 than at any time since the Civil War (well, maybe not, but it sure seems that way) (more on that below too).Read more here
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Nations smaller than Canterbury...
rank nation total area water area % water Source here
| 132 |  Estonia | 45,227 (17,462) | 42,388 (16,366) | 2,840 (1,100) | 6.28 | |
| 133 |  Denmark | 43,094 (16,639) | 42,434 (16,384) | 660 (250) | 1.53 | European territory (metropolitan Denmark) only, without Greenland and Faroe Islands.[Note 33] |
| 134 |  Netherlands | 41,850 (16,160) | 33,893 (13,086) | 7,650 (2,950) | 18.41 | Includes the special municipalities, but excludes other countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, shown separately.[Note 34] |
| 135 |  Switzerland | 41,284 (15,940) | 39,997 (15,443) | 1,280 (490) | 3.1 | [Note 35] |
| 136 |  Bhutan | 38,394 (14,824) | 38,394 (14,824) | 0 (0) | 0 | |
| 137 |  Taiwan | 36,193 (13,974) | 32,260 (12,460) | 3,720 (1,440) | 10.34 | [Note 36] |
| 138 |  Guinea-Bissau | 36,125 (13,948) | 28,120 (10,860) | 8,005 (3,091) | 22.16 | |
| 139 |  Moldova | 33,846 (13,068) | 32,891 (12,699) | 960 (370) | 2.84 | [Note 37] |
| 140 |  Belgium | 30,528 (11,787) | 30,278 (11,690) | 250 (97) | 0.82 | |
| 141 |  Lesotho | 30,355 (11,720) | 30,355 (11,720) | 0 (0) | 0 | |
| 142 |  Armenia | 29,743 (11,484) | 28,203 (10,889) | 1,540 (590) | 5.18 | |
| 143 |  Solomon Islands | 28,896 (11,157) | 27,986 (10,805) | 910 (350) |
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
National Anthem of Liechtenstein
High above the young Rhine
Lies Liechtenstein, resting
On Alpine heights.
This beloved homeland,
This dear fatherland
Rest of anthem here
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Lichtenstein built car...
A Lichtenstein-based research and development company – has released two teaser images of its upcoming QUANT e-Sportlimousine. It’s the first vehicle the firm has ever produced, set for an official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Read more here
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Paradise would be a place...
Paradise would be a place
where everybody has guaranteed employment,
free comprehensive healthcare,
free education,
free food,
free housing,
free clothing,
free utilities,
and only Law Enforcement has guns.
Believe it or not,
such a place does indeed exist….
It's called prison.
[Author unknown]
where everybody has guaranteed employment,
free comprehensive healthcare,
free education,
free food,
free housing,
free clothing,
free utilities,
and only Law Enforcement has guns.
Believe it or not,
such a place does indeed exist….
It's called prison.
[Author unknown]
Saturday, February 1, 2014
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