umdesch4's Semi-random Stuff

If you're like me, at some point you've bought a CD, only to discover that there's some other, better version of it...usually with a whole crapload of bonus tracks, or an assortment of hits that really represents what you think the 'greatest hits' should be, or remastered with way better sound quality...or whatever, right?

If I had a CD for every time that's happened to me, I'd probably have a 'second collection' of these that's larger than many people's entire collection (see my earlier comments about Japanese imports, in particular).

So somebody made website for me, I can hardly believe it!

Check this out:
The Ideal Copy

This isn't any kind of paid endorsement. I'm just too blown away not to share!

My prediction:

World War III will start within the next year, and possibly as early as this summer. The pretext will be targeted strikes against Iranian (alleged) nuclear weapons production facilities by American forces, backed by a small coalition of European and assorted other coerced western nations. This will escalate to include skirmishes in Venezuela, and confrontations in international waters between 'allied' forces, and whatever the 'axis' can muster, not to mention general chaos in the middle east.

The Axis will be comprised of China, former states of Russia (which will undergo partial reunification for the sole purpose of presenting a unified front against the allies), Iran (of course), and a smattering of other nations that want to keep their oil and freedom to develop nuclear energy and defence without US interference, and those sympathetic to the now-devastated Iraq.

Not counting any nasty surprises from 'rogue' nations with currently unknown WMDs, and of course the millions of human losses, the big casualties in this war will be:

- the US economy, which will be dramatically reminded that over a trillion dollars of it is owned by Chinese interests
- the European Union, which will divide under the strain of member countries who choose to participate vs. those who don't, combined with splitting of loyalties
- the UN, which will be revealed to have no power whatsoever

With little economic or military power remaining, the US will lose the support of reluctant coalition members, who will negotiate their own ceasefire and peace treaties. Succumbing to the internal protesting of the American public (fueled by a reinstatement of the draft, among other factors) and the near impossibility of fighting a unilateral war with dwindling resources, the US will be forced to concede, and suffer massive economic depression from which only it's biggest multinational corporations will survive relatively intact.

If anyone else who sees the plausibility of this scenario can outline for me some details I'm a little fuzzy on, such as the participation of countries like Isreal, Pakistan, and India (oh, and North Korea)...I'd appreciate it.

Remember, you read it here first! (and you won't see any of it on CNN) :(
umdesch4