Questions for our American friends

[Puhbear69]

Do you know that the children-book "Harry Potter" (of Joanne K. Rowling) is set on an index in libraries in a few US - states ?

The reportedly reason is "occultism" !

No further comment, but a big LOL !!!!

[diamelsx]

Originally Posted by Decadence

Just as the American news media doesn't reflect the views of most of the population, Hollywood doesn't reflect real America, either... It's so boring, nobody would watch.

I going to say this. Hollywood is more America than America cares to admit. If you poll the inhabitants of Los Angeles you will find that most of them are either transplants or no more than 2 generations removed from the heartland and a lot of times people go back. Being that I have lived in both places I will say that the contrast between Big city and small town is less distinguishable than advertised.

Originally Posted by Decadence

There are parts of America that you'd be better off not going into-- primarily the ghetto/slum areas of big cities.. but that's the case with not only Los Angeles and Chicago, but any big city like Hong Kong, Paris, London, Munich, wherever. There are areas along our southern border that are also quite dangerous.. the problems with the Mexicans and the drug cartels result in bad things happening all the time.

The Big city thing is a myth. Of the top 10 murderous cities by rate none have populations over a million ànd one only 2 (Baltimore, Detroit) have populations over 500,000. Not saying big cities are safe but listening to that line about small towns being safe could get your head knocked off. The southern border and the economically depressed areas both suffer from the insidious drug war being waged on them. They are basically no different than the Italians and Eastern European Jews of prohibition times, just it is almost year 50 of the current drug war while prohibition went barely past 15.

Originally Posted by Decadence

Overall, much of America is farmland, rural areas that are mostly peaceful. I live in a suburban area of a large Great Lakes city and I never look over my shoulder nor worry about getting shot when sitting on my front porch having a beer. My grandkids ride their bikes up and down the sidewalks without fear.

Being that most of the most murderous cities share the same characteristics that you live in you may reevaluate what make a place safe. You also may want to review what economic changes to America have on America in general.

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by Brian249x

I suspect that redwood forests gradually spread along the coast in Northern California and created the much wetter conditions found by the white man when he arrived here to settle in 1776.
"Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." - Mark Twain

The redwood forests did a lot about the weather. There are really only a few patches of dense old growth redwood forest left . . . most just south of the Oregon border. What's extraordinary as you enter these forests on a hot summer day is that the temperature drops-- a lot.

On a recent drive down 199, which runs between Crescent City, CA and Cave City, Oregon, I watched the car thermometer drop 25 degrees (F) as we went from the cleared areas into the dense forest. These trees are transpiring a lot of water on hot days-- so long as they've got enough water, they're effectively natural air conditioners (and humidifiers).

[Decadence]

Originally Posted by diamelsx

I going to say this. Hollywood is more America than America cares to admit. If you poll the inhabitants of Los Angeles you will find that most of them are either transplants or no more than 2 generations removed from the heartland and a lot of times people go back.

Since when is Los Angeles an accurate microcosm of America? As LA County is nearly 50% Mexican, I'm sure they are transplants..

Originally Posted by diamelsx

The Big city thing is a myth. Of the top 10 murderous cities by rate none have populations over a million ànd one only 2 (Baltimore, Detroit) have populations over 500,000.

So.. by this logic a town of 5,000 people that has one murder per year is just as dangerous as a town of 500,000 that has 100 murders per year.

There were nearly 40 people shot in Chicago over the weekend.. only 8 of them actually died. Your "murder by rate" bollocks doesn't really tell the whole story, does it?

Statistics can be made to make any point.. You honestly going to tell me that Pierre Part is no safer than New Orleans?

Originally Posted by diamelsx

Being that most of the most murderous cities share the same characteristics that you live in you may reevaluate what make a place safe.

Nothing to re-evaluate. Lived here over half of my life and have never been shot, stabbed, mugged, raped, carjacked, assaulted, or robbed. Never came close. Nor do I know anybody who has. You gotta go out of your way to have that happen.

[diamelsx]

Originally Posted by Decadence

Since when is Los Angeles an accurate microcosm of America? As LA County is nearly 50% Mexican, I'm sure they are transplants..

It is what America is becoming. Latinos have move in and now are the main ones having kids. The demographic shift is real, LA is just ahead of the curve due to location.

Originally Posted by Decadence

So.. by this logic a town of 5,000 people that has one murder per year is just as dangerous as a town of 500,000 that has 100 murders per year.

There were nearly 40 people shot in Chicago over the weekend.. only 8 of them actually died. Your "murder by rate" bollocks doesn't really tell the whole story, does it?

Statistics can be made to make any point.. You honestly going to tell me that Pierre Part is no safer than New Orleans?

Think concentration I Chicagois like 80 proof hard liquor while a New Orleans is closer to a 151 rum. Sure there are less murders but because of the reduced area and population it means the danger is concentrated. You go to NO that 10 -20 block buffer zone you talk about in the cities you visit to go to sporting events is not there, you can literally catch it on the next block.

Originally Posted by Decadence

Nothing to re-evaluate. Lived here over half of my life and have never been shot, stabbed, mugged, raped, carjacked, assaulted, or robbed. Never came close. Nor do I know anybody who has. You gotta go out of your way to have that happen.

I guess I've been lucky not to have any of those things happen to me. One thing I have learned in this life is crime visit all zip codes you do not have to look for trouble and trouble does not always announces its presence.

[Arturo2nd]

Originally Posted by Decadence

Since when is Los Angeles an accurate microcosm of America? As LA County is nearly 50% Mexican, I'm sure they are transplants..

Nothing to re-evaluate. Lived here over half of my life and have never been shot, stabbed, mugged, raped, carjacked, assaulted, or robbed. Never came close. Nor do I know anybody who has. You gotta go out of your way to have that happen.

It is important to remember that in 1850 Los Angeles was nearly 100% Mexican. It is a mistake to assume that the 47% of Los Angeles County that is of Hispanic descent is predominantly of recent origin. Less than half of the Latino population of Los Angeles is foreign born.

Interesting fact: I served on a jury here in Oakland. Every person of the 100+ in the jury pool had been burglarized or robbed at sometime or other. In my case, my car was burglarized while parked near a BART station. I've also had my clothes stolen when I stopped to buy smokes on the way home from the laundromat and my car battery stolen in the days before interior hood latches became common. My current building is pretty secure, but I learned years ago how to guard against burglaries and avoid being robbed or mugged.

[Roubignol]

I look at few as possible the news. Because they are too depressing and they always speak about the side of our Occidental perspective of a "free market" democracy.

But honestly speaking, the troubles in Venezuela, that's one more time the USA administration that tries to help US Oil companies to put their hands on the Venezuelian petrol reserves or not?

[Puhbear69]

Originally Posted by xyzde69

I look at few as possible the news. Because they are too depressing and they always speak about the side of our Occidental perspective of a "free market" democracy.

But honestly speaking, the troubles in Venezuela, that's one more time the USA administration that tries to help US Oil companies to put their hands on the Venezuelian petrol reserves or not?

Sure ! With their so called "CIA".
I'm also sure in Brasilia last year !!

[palo5]

Originally Posted by Puhbear69

Sure ! With their ..."CIA".
I'm also sure in Brasilia last year !!

They interfere everywhere they can for at least the last 70 years. It's on public record, unfortunately for them. They can't deny it

The Donald was against this in his campaign. Do Americans think this is why he was elected, remembering Hillary was a typical war-hawk? Are Americans tired of war?

[diamelsx]

Originally Posted by palo5

They interfere everywhere they can for at least the last 70 years. It's on public record, unfortunately for them. They can't deny it.

Why deny when you can conveniently ignore?

Originally Posted by palo5

The Donald was against this in his campaign. Do Americans think this is why he was elected, remembering Hillary was a typical war-hawk? Are Americans tired of war?

Trump's election was more about the dissatisfaction people has with politics as a whole than Trump's policies or popularity which was one of the lowest in history on election day. Most people did not believe him on being non interventionist but at the same time they also did not trust both Hillary and the party and felt she was going to stab them in the back to fulfil her donor's wishes so a lot of people stayed home.