*points to the New York skyline*

*points to the Pentagon*

*points to a field in Pennsylvania*

*points to a few embassies in Africa*

*points to a barracks in Lebanon*

*points to the Philippines*
That's where we choked on any imperial dreams we might have had. We inherited the point role of the Middle East's former overlords *points at Europe*, though we've done nothing to earn the position. The only gripe that the Middle East might legitimately levy at us is our very beginning support of Israel. Is it your contention that that alone is enough to target American civilians? Is it your contention that that alone is deserving of making us their enemy? Is it your contention that it was the right thing for them to poke this sleeping giant? If this is your contention, then maybe you need to reconsider the history and the facts.

Americans are forced to focus on the world and intervene sometimes because the last two times we didn't, Europe reared its ugly head. We are the nation that Europe created and the rest of the world helped transform. You made us what we are today and we're a product of your actions. We as much reflect the world as we reveal ourselves.

I hate to do this in a thread that was suppose to be a solemn rememberance for a very traumatic event in America's history, but it would seem that other people are more intent upon hijacking this thread for their own selfish motives.

The world hates us, because Americans by and large mind our own business? Wow, that's just sad. We are not that controlling or nosey to care about your local issues. If you need help, ask for it. If you want advice, ask for it. You have but to ask; we will do what we can and do the best for what we can do.

Concerning the burning the Koran thing. Have you all missed the condemnations coming from every sector of American life? Have you all missed the condemnations being shrouded in every cause that hits most Americans' hearts? Condemning our troops to death - not a wise idea if you're an American. Burning a holy book (empathetically substituting our own holy books [scroll, etc.] in the Koran's place) - not a wise idea if you're an American. Burning the Koran has been emphatically called un-Christian and un-American.

What more do you want? No, we can't legally prohibit his actions; we have a constitution and we are bound to abide by it (no matter the circumstances).

Now onto me implying that the world belonged to the US. I said that my world and your world are both the world. I then said that the world stopped *SEE THESE WORDS HERE*for us*THOSE WORDS BACK THERE*. Is it so outrageous to say that everyone can claim the world 100% and accept that? We all simultaneously hold a 100% claim on the world. That claim is as valid for me as it for anyone else.

Can we please, please get back to the point of this thread?

Thank you all for making your posts and telling us where you were. To those who object to me asking "Where were you when the world stopped turning?" I would ask that you click on the YouTube link below that question which refers to a video featuring a song by Alan Jackson called, "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?"

The song's title made for a very useful question. It also captures the feeling among most (if not all) Americans (that were alive at the time) had that our world stopped turning for some period of time (whether it feels brief or longer) on that day. Our world is your world too. The world we all live in/on is Earth. When our world stops, the world stops (for us).

I accept that some people may have and pose an issue with the question, but respectfully ask that any real debate occurs on a different thread. Hopefully my explanation will help facilitate this.

Where were you when the world stopped turning?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq8PBdR3pg4

I was in my 6th grade reading class, front desk, 2nd row from my teacher's desk.

God bless those who have been lost to terrorism (victims or soldiers fighting against it); god bless those under threat of terror. God bless the hope for peace.

I have been working on a few pages on the wiki, when I have the time. One of the pages I have is the Omega's last war.

LCN/Fist vs ImagNum

& LCN/Fist/Omega vs SoL

Yes, all wrapped up into one post as that made the most sense to me.

78% of Americans are dissatisfied with the federal government.

Attention US Federal Government: YOU'RE FIRED!

Constitutional Convention FTW!


http://abcnews.go.com/...tus-quo/story?id=11570169

Pfft, Ohio and Michigan very nearly went to war with each other! Can these in-state rivals say the same? Noooooooo!

Ohio State > Michigan

Buckeyes FTW!

Congratulations Elvengirl and Revolver.

Shinigami, old friend, there's nothing wrong with me. All the people hate us because we're in the Greatest Rivalry in Sports.

*hops in Jet and bombs KeSSelaDaDarkAngel on her way home*

Mrford, you must specify: Ohio girl or michigan girl; compliment or insult.

Grudges can be deeply ingrained and some are only satisfied by the complete and total vanquishing of the enemy alliance. This has happened a time or two.

*evades KeSSelaDaDarkAngel's missiles and returns fire*

That's right, the season hasn't even started and we're already duking it out.

To heck with Michigan, I'm an Ohio State fan!

No, but the Omega is only one of the alliances I play in. I'm also in Pandora's Last Vikings in FFA.

Actually Scarto, MM is still around.

Sunshyne led steel when we broke our silence on perhaps the oldest grudge in the game...kind of? Oh well, I know several people that were in steel when that happened. They're good people.

So Sunshyne, are you coming back? Where do you plan to head? Good luck on whatever your ventures are.

Unfortunately, the dirty dishes at my home are FSing me in defense of ponerer's dirty dishes.

CS to come when I can get enough time to work on them...or when I can get my resident ally to wash the dishes.

Thanks Pang.

Hiya Dragonlance.

*Just doing my part to move AT to #1.

They didn't seem to get returne. I did not see the bushel count really increase. They just seem to be missing.

I didn't memorize exact numbers, but that's the rough idea, yes.

I was trying to return some oil barrels to my country at the time, but would also return 59m bushels. I had 123m bushels on hand at the time. Would this have been decay or a bug?

We need to talk quick. I ask that no further hits be exchanged between us until contact is made, under garuntee of adjusting the retal window to make up for down time.

ICQ: 314294818
AIM: Angel137379
MSN:
GCHAT:
IRC: #omega irc.gamsurge.net

Exactly, if LGers can't defend their land, they shouldn't have it.

Alicia is right of course, our policy applied to hitting more than once in 24hrs. At any rate, we have frequently and still frequently take only minimum retals against friends. Not that we have to, but it's a friendly thing to do. Enough to get the message across that LGing us is just bad gaming, but not so much so that it's ridiculous.

This last point is a reason for alliance-wide retalling.

Pain, Puerto Rico may not offer us much as a state, but it's not about what Puerto Rico offers us. It's about doing right by the people of Puerto Rico. First the Spanish Conquered them and then we seized them from the Spanish. I think the better question if you want to ask about giving them statehood is what does it cost the US. I think the costs would be negligible at most. Therefore, it's all about doing what's best for the Puerto Rican people. The Puerto Rican people deserve to decide their future for themselves. This is what they are owed.

Concerns about adding a 51st star are best left to designers and not the public. FYI: http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/...mages/c/cc/51starflag.png


For the Mods: I hope that my posting that link constitutes only referencing a 51 star flag and not a rules violation. Feel free to remove the link if it violates the rules.

They are just to keep the computer together.

As The Omega Minister of Foreign Affairs, I hereby endorse this system of retals for non-relation hits. With the provision that untaggeds/spam taggeds should tag up because we take special license with untaggeds/spam taggeds. Basically we follow 1:1 escalating retals for non-relation alliances, but in exceptional circumstances will seek to recover our land.

I support PDM and Rage in there scheme. I might do it if I weren't so darn lazy.

screws for my computer. I had to order som #3 x 3/8th" screws for my computer online because no store sold them. Anyway about half the cost was shipping. Would have preferred they send it USPS for a lot less, but oh well. Now my computer has screws everywhere it should.

This is the Alliance Server. Sure people seek to put individual efforts into the game, but in the end friends live and die with their alliance mates. Alliance-wide retals make some people who might be inclined to farm other alliances to think twice about it. Country:country retals is a ridiculous idea. At least on this server, the notion should be dropped and forgotten.

My IRON will to survive will help me succeed.

we Might even Deal in world wars again.

Well, then it's a good thing that my proposals could provide solutions for all our unincorporated territories. (FYI, the only incorporated territory the US has is uninhabited.)

I don't know how many of you are aware of the legal questions surrounding Puerto Rico, but let me give you a brief outline.

In November, 1953 Puerto Rico was removed from the UN list of non-self-governing territories by a vote of 20 yes-16 no-18 adstain.

Despite the US Congress passing legislation designating that they do not have the exclusive right to govern Puerto Rico, the US Supreme Court and two Presidential Task Force Reports have held that congress may pass legislation concerning Puerto Rico on any issue without the consent of Puerto Rico's legislature.

The problem exists that the US Consitution provides only the following ways to dispose of a territory:

1. Independence (example - the Philippines)

2. Statehood (example - 36 of 37 states following independence from Britain).

Any solution to the problem short of deciding between statehood and independence would require an amendment to the US Constitution. I propose two possible amendments



My Proposed Solution #1:
Preamble: Whereas it is the inherent right of all peoples to self-determination, but also the inherent right of nations to security, the following provisions for the transference of sovereignty in whole or in part to a territory already under the sovereignty of the United States are enacted.

Section 1: The Congress of the United States shall by simple majority vote of both houses of congress (and through reconciliation of the bills if necessary) propose the terms of sovereignty transference. The proposal shall be submitted to the states for approval or disapproval.

Section 2: The legislatures of the several states shall vote on approving the sovereignty transference. Upon the consent of 2/3rds of the states, the issue shall be submitted to the territory or territories in question.

Section 3: At this point the territory or territories in question shall be marginally independent of the United States. Marginal independence shall grant them the authority to seek outside advice and aid concerning a vote to approve or disapprove the terms of sovereignty transference.

Section 4: Whatever manner decided upon shall be uncorrupt and democratic; the president and/or his/her designated officer shall have the authority to challenge the sovereignty vote of the territory or territories in question. Jurisdiction for such a challenge shall reside solely with the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court shall have the authority to consider any precedent that remains democratic and undiscriminatory in their decision, including judgements of foreign courts in similar cases or judgements of international organizations on the case before the Supreme Court.

Section 5: Corrupted votes are invalid and shall be deemed not to have occurred at all. Both the territory or territories in question and the President of the United States or his/her designee shall have the authority to challenge a vote on the grounds of corruption and to seek restitution for money spent on the vote. The US supreme court shall have sole jurisdiction over such challenges. The burden of proof for declaring a vote invalid shall be civil. The burden of proof for restitution in corrupted votes shall be criminal.



My Proposed Solution #2:
Preamble: Whereas it is the inherent right of all peoples to self-determination, but also the inherent right of nations to security, the following provisions for the transference of sovereignty in whole or in part to a territory already under the sovereignty of the United States are enacted.

Section 1: The Congress of the United States shall by 2/3rds majority vote of both houses of congress (and through reconciliation of the bills if necessary) propose the terms of sovereignty transference. The proposal shall be submitted to the President of the United States to sign or veto. If vetoed, proceed to Section 2. If signed, proceed to Section 3.

Section 2: A presidential veto of a sovereignty transference proposal may be overturned by 3/4ths of the states' governors. Governors shall have three weeks to declare in support of the sovereignty transference proposal. If 3/4ths of governors have not so declared within three weeks then the veto shall stand unchallengeable. If the veto is overturned, proceed to Section 3.

Section 3: At this point the territory or territories in question shall be marginally independent of the United States. Marginal independence shall grant them the authority to seek outside advice and aid concerning a vote to approve or disapprove the terms of sovereignty transference.

Section 4: Whatever manner decided upon shall be uncorrupt and democratic; the President of the United States and/or his/her designee shall have the authority to challenge the sovereignty vote of the territory or territories in question. Jurisdiction for such a challenge shall reside solely with the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court shall have the authority to consider any precedent that remains democratic and undiscriminatory in their decision, including judgements of foreign courts in similar cases or judgements of international organizations on the case before the Supreme Court.

Section 5: Corrupted votes are invalid and shall be deemed not to have occurred at all. Both the territory or territories in question and the President of the United States or his/her designee shall have the authority to challenge a vote on the grounds of corruption and to seek restitution for money spent on the vote. The US supreme court shall have sole jurisdiction over such challenges. The burden of proof for declaring a vote invalid shall be civil. The burden of proof for restitution in corrupted votes shall be criminal.

Maybe give the servers rankings.

Primary: Rated Everyone
...
Alliance: Beware of Sharks! Untaggeds mercilessly attacked.

It takes time to set up a landgrab or retal properly and for many people that time is simply better spent elsewhere. In The Omega, we have several people on a list that automatically release any retals they are owed to the wider alliance.

My advice to LGers, pick your targets well and only hit an alliance once per 24hrs. In other words choose better targets and limit your liability.

For the record: This is strictly my personal opinion and in no way reflects any official or unofficial Omega position. My post is NOT a declaration of The Omega's position on this issue. If the Omega declares an official position, it will be posted appropriately.

http://omega.earth-alliance.org

The Omega is netgaining. We've got to take back our place in Viceroy's rankings.

Hey now, The Omega treats untaggeds well for the most part.

I have worked some on a Game Info page about the LCN/Fist/Omega* vs ImagNum*/SoL war

*Noting that The Omega and ImagNum did not engage in a war between each other.

If some other people could help on pages even a little bit once a week, then we can add some serious pages. We might even want to get some postings up about the wars and/or warring periods that had major consequences for the alliances of this game.

I trust Pangaea to be honest in game dealings. I further trust each admin to care enough about the consequences of abusing their power that they will choose no to do so. Having one's integrity challenged even in a relatively anonymous internet game would not be fun.

To be quite honest, while I may not know about the other admins, I am willing to reserve judgement until proof comes to light one way or another. This isn't a negative for the other admins because I generally apply the "trust, but verify" standards to people I don't know. I assume that people will be honest about what they know, but not that they necessarily know everything that would impact either me or their conclusions.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

As a conservative, I feel that we need to:

Healthcare reform - limit insurance paperwork, eliminate nonsense lawsuits and limit liability in those cases where lawsuits are reasonable (because many of the awards are unreasonable), go after price gouging drug companies, allow insurance across state lines

Social Security reform - SS Tax paid on 90% of everyone's income because when first passed the SS Tax was applied to 90% of the total American income. Remove the SS Tax funds to their own account. Social Security should belong to the people collectively and not our government. The government may administer the program, but they should not take money from the program.

Children's Welfare reform - ease the process of adopting children (especially the financial burden upon prospective parents). Introduce 3 strike rule to parents who lose custody of children. In some cases no strikes should be assessed, but in cases of child abuse (severe abuse) 3 strikes should be assessed. A third strike would eliminate a parents right to their child. The child would no longer be theirs and if they want the child back, they would be forced to go through the adoption process. Deadbeat dads should have one year to try to be a part of the children's lives. After that if the mother permanently loses custody, then the children are eligible for adoption and the father should not be allowed to interfere in an ongoing adoption. Want to father children, be a part of their lives or live with the consequences of not acknowledging them when you should.

Welfare reform - welfare should be a contract. You agree to work to better yourself and we help you do it. Should you spend two years not meeting the standards of bettering yourself, then you are off of welfare permanently. I believe that we should do more for welfare recipients, but demand more from them too. It's time to break the cycle of poverty.

Education reform - repeal No Child Left Behind. Institute general testing for K - 5th grades and continue reading/literature/writing tests through the 12th grade. We don't need to test every year after 5th grade either, say 7th, 9th, and 11th grades you test them. Or maybe split some of the tests up. Oh and do whatever is within the power of the respective levels of government to kill the "Whole Language" method of learning to read. "Whole Language" created No Child Left Behind in President Bush and that's turned into a nightmare for schools. It was right to attempt to kill Whole Language but the execution was unconstitutionally cruel.

Defense Spending - end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as quickly as possible and then don't land troops in countries for a while. First of all, I think that, with Iraq and Afghanistan fought, we simply have no need to land troops in another country (invasion) for the forseeable future. Secondly, we just plain need a break from major invasions. Third, after the wars some DOD spending could be spread over a greater period of time. As to other defense spending concerns, I think we need to audit the DOD and where fat exists trim it. It may simply be a case of freezing DOD spending at current levels or maybe we'll be able to cut come.

Farm subsidies - let's not pay farmers to not plant acres. Instead we shoud identify a plant that can both rejuvinate the soil and provide a crop that could be donated to hungry people around the world. No subsidies for tobacco farmers (if any exist)

Pollution - CO2 credits and market should be created. Nuclear energy must be expanded. Wind energy should be put up whereever viable. Could we put wind turbines on top of some buildings? Solar panels everywhere! I heard of this one solar material that could be used like a roofing material. Increase fuel efficiency standards on cars. Oh and any future cash for clunkers deal should allow dealers to swap the "clunker" for an even worse car; that way the people who can afford new cars (whom frankly probably have pretty good cars) will take advantage of cash for clunkers and then the dealer can turn around and give that car to a less wealthy person who has a real clunker. The real clunker could then be killed and life is a lot better; not to say that I support another cash for clunkers, but if they did they could think it out a lot better.

Conserve water - lower sales tax on native plant materials. Plants native to the area will be better able to survive it and plants in and native to a desert environment will use less water. Local is beautiful people, do your landscaping accordingly. Governments should encourage better stewardship of the land. Educating people could do a lot of good.

that's it for now.

Good luck TIE and LCN.

Omegans are hereby called to charge the mountain of networth and associated ranks. Deliver crippling psychological blows to those alliances that netgained the set out. The fight is done, our swords may be dropped, and we may chain ourselves back to our trees!

For the Glory of Omega!

Netgaining out the set ftw!

Angel1,
In clarification of some misinterpreted words that poor judgement allowed to be made.

To be clear: The Omega intends to surprise some alliances with higher than expected netting efforts given the long war that we slogged through this set.