EDD
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Birthdate: January 16th, 1988 (20 years old)
Bio:
Bio:
A happily married fellow living a rather lazy *insert-nationality-of-your-choice-here* dream. Let's just say I'm a fan of my wife. We're a happy kickin' family (no toddlers as of yet, but I promise updates as the situation develops!)
Also, a note regarding the Sift - downvote more. Since the queue escape limit is becoming comparatively small due to the increasing amount of users voting, feel free to downvote stuff you feel mustn't be published. And please, do not get too upset if anybody downvotes your submissions - instead inquire politely as to any reasons for such a decision, if it's not already pointed out in a comment (I usually leave an explanation for my more guilt-inducing downvotes and so can you).
Science + Actionpack = my favorite channels' couple.
At least right after Sexuality + Gay.
Seriously though, I love this place and so should you. If you don't, odds are you're doing something wrong. Try stopping trolling, for instance ;) If the Sift's taking up too much of your leisure time - there's nothing I can help you with, unfortunately. It doesn't further my procrastination, really; worst "curse" of mine is regularlydownloading legally obtaining a number of TV-series for me and my spouse to watch :)
Cheers, EDD
Also, a note regarding the Sift - downvote more. Since the queue escape limit is becoming comparatively small due to the increasing amount of users voting, feel free to downvote stuff you feel mustn't be published. And please, do not get too upset if anybody downvotes your submissions - instead inquire politely as to any reasons for such a decision, if it's not already pointed out in a comment (I usually leave an explanation for my more guilt-inducing downvotes and so can you).
Science + Actionpack = my favorite channels' couple.
At least right after Sexuality + Gay.
Seriously though, I love this place and so should you. If you don't, odds are you're doing something wrong. Try stopping trolling, for instance ;) If the Sift's taking up too much of your leisure time - there's nothing I can help you with, unfortunately. It doesn't further my procrastination, really; worst "curse" of mine is regularly
Cheers, EDD
Member Since: 2007-05-11
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Favorite Sift: FALCOR!
Favorite Tags: battlestar galactica, bunny, wtf
Last Power Points used: 2008-08-28 • Available: 1 day 18 hours 39 minutes
Max Power Points: 1
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Favorite Sift: FALCOR!
Favorite Tags: battlestar galactica, bunny, wtf
Last Power Points used: 2008-08-28 • Available: 1 day 18 hours 39 minutes
Max Power Points: 1
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Member's Highest Rated Videos
It's really hard to be moral and try to get stars via comments. Jokes are the easiest way, but the most enjoyable ones are meaningful. But what with the current climate and the fact that this is predominately an american website means that any word or phrase that someone even THINKS might be anti-american gets downvoted faster than a snuff video.
I don't even remember sifting 3 videos, i thought i'd only done one.
In reply to this comment by EDD:
Yeah I said the same some 5 months ago. Now look at me.
Seriously, it would be very neat if you really got gold with more star comments than videos, I don't think anyone's done it before. Your bronze may even be precedent. This just shows you're a great addition to the community. I'm just nagging on you about the number of videos posted because submitting them compels one to spend more time here. And I'd like you to do just that
In reply to this comment by dannym3141:
I sift what i think is siftworthy! I don't believe in posting music videos just to get stars *cough cough*
And thanks!
In reply to this comment by EDD:
I see you got your first star - way to go. keep it up! Only be honest with me, now - are you really aiming to get your gold with more comment stars than videos sifted?
And thanks!
In reply to this comment by EDD:
I see you got your first star - way to go. keep it up! Only be honest with me, now - are you really aiming to get your gold with more comment stars than videos sifted?
My point about limited regional development is very valid in my nations case, it has alternated between cooperation with the West to cooperation with the Russians. Relations with the west were pretty much terminated once questions started to be asked about a violent government action against civilians in the province of Andijan.
Economically the nation has fared poorly, but you wouldn't think that reading the glossy magazines the president's daughter publishes, there are hardly jobs, the average wage is 100 dollars for professional doctors. The infrastructure is dilapidated, there is high organized crime, drug addiction and preventable diseases are running in number. Basic civil services are volatile in the capital, my home district had no power for the two days I spent in the Winter, its almost non existent in other cities and provinces.
Political power is held because of a mixture of cooperation with the West towards fighting terrorism, which our government proclaims it is fighting when its really a false flag for suppression of democratic movements and political dissent. A factor the US/UK has ignored while fixated on it's war against terror and need of a US airbase for actions in Afghanistan, both were kicked out when they questioned the Andijan actions.
There is massive diaspora of Uzbeks who now live overseas, this has created a huge brain drain, the highest education professionals being the most able to migrate, though there is a lot of low income earners who leave to Kazakhstan and Russia.
Other strange actions by the government like the mandatory imposition of Uzbek as a educational language along with predictable lack of investment has meant that education standards have fallen as well. There are no high level education books in my language, which is stupid considering Russian text books exist in abundance and was the defacto language of communication after 60 years of communist rule. Leading to a strange love/hate relationship politically with the Russians, we stopped using Cyrillic in favor of Latin for example. Russia however remains the largest ally of Uzbekistan politically.
It's sad and pretty insane to just count off the numerous way the country has become worse, am trying to think of some positives as well but its hard, most of the people who are doing well are doing well because of some hidden income from illicit activity or basically being one of the lucky ones in the loop to benefit, nepotism with regards to securing commercial contracts is common either exclusive distribution rights or simply the ability to reclaim private businesses via the government. Karimov's daughter has become a relative master at this, she has confiscated numerous businesses for her own lil' private empire. There are more goods I guess, but then again 80% of the population cannot afford them, nor can they afford the new high tech medical facilities opening up. Educational diplomas from some of the most respected medical institutions can now be bought for a few thousand dollars.
People are (finally) getting sick of it, my cousin is currently visiting me right now, he says that government criticism is pretty prevalent now among the taxi drivers (which are always a good indicator of the national pulse in my view). However I do not see a possible way for democratic and smooth hand over of power, it will either be violent and impose a new kind of despotic ruler who may or may not improve the nation in the same manner Kazakhstan has or not. In all likely hood a power struggle will take place when Karimov dies, with various lackeys stepping in, I don't think his daughter would be successful, the man is old and his days are numbered. But then again we have all seen how long people like Fidel stay alive. So you never know.
In reply to this comment by EDD:
But talking about inequalities in regional development, I'm guessing you can share some experiences, right? Trenin argues that smaller cities are also a lot better off now than they were ten years ago, but I suppose you're talking about the very far East and the countryside, yes? When was the last time you went to Russia or Uzbekistan?
This is something reflected now in the way Russia is dealing with Iran and Georgia. I still believe the economy is over reliant on oil and gas pipeline control from Central Asian nations going into European markets. Alternative pipeline development in Georgia is a reason I believe Russia is meddling in it's affairs, as an alternative gas line from Central Asia to Europe would hinder Russia's ability to control the market to it's benefit as it has been trying to do with Ukraine.
Economy development is nice and all but it doesn't correlate directly with political and democratic freedom, at the same time that Russia's economy is developing we have an entrenchment of power via the Nashi / United Russia Party. Putin's role in bringing Russia back has been hyped up, when in reality they are benefits of difficult economic decisions made by people under Yeltsin, which Putin reaped politically. Economic development has also been centralized in Moscow, its not like Serbia or any other Russian backwater is better off now on the same level.
People in Russia didn't want Putin to leave actually, he didn't change the constitution to validate a third term, but am sure he will after Medvedev is done, to me that is basically the return of the politburo in the high echelons of power in the Kremlin.
My view is pessimistic, as Putin represents that most dangerous element of human psyche, someone raised in the mystique and power of the old Soviet Union, trained by the KGB to watch it all collapse in 1991, now working to build up its power once again but not through democratization but through a return to centralized power.
This is of course the same kind of Managed Democracy we see in China, and every former Soviet State. The important factor uniting them being the illusion of simple 'consumer' freedom.
In reply to this comment by EDD:
In reply to this comment by Farhad2000:
I disagree with you Legacy, Putin is centralizing power under himself thus its a authoritarian regime. History proves that too much power concentrated in one singular person always leads to a collapse not a sprout of growth and progress. This is why Nazi Germany failed, why the USSR failed and why every despotic regime fails.
Furthermore it is not economic stability when a country is wholly dependent on its oil export revenue to sustain a military expansion that is slowly leading into a new cold war.
I'd really like to super-promote your comment right now.
Although to be fair, legacy had some valid claims - at least the idea that a civic society in Russia would eventually arise through strong consumer society is backed up by Dmitri Trenin's Getting Russia Right, which I am currently in the process of finishing translating.
Hope I'm not bothering too much by following up on old comments. If you're not bothered too much, what's your take on Russia nowadays - up or down? How likely we really lapse into a new cold war with all the recent bs going on?
In reply to this comment by EDD:
My German isn't good enough for me to actually attempt to translate, but it's a simple rhyme about Knut the orphan's daily activities and mischiefs (playing, getting dirty, going to sleep, etc.) and about how lovable and famous he is (that's very very very famous, especially in Germany, of course).
In reply to this comment by EDD:
Think you really might enjoy this one:
http://www.videosift.com/video/Umi-Says-Mos-Def
In reply to this comment by EDD:
I think you really might enjoy this one:
http://www.videosift.com/video/Umi-Says-Mos-Def
In reply to this comment by EDD:
I think you really might enjoy this one:
http://www.videosift.com/video/Umi-Says-Mos-Def
In reply to this comment by EDD:
I think you really might enjoy this one:
http://www.videosift.com/video/Umi-Says-Mos-Def
Loved this, but the audio and video quality could be a lot better...so here ya go: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5eo0_audioslave-cochise-video
oh and I hope you don't mind I shamelessly plugged my own video
Mintbbb 250 Diamond Party
In reply to this comment by EDD:
Thanks for suggesting fun stuff, it's what I like most, and I'm open to any other suggestions you may ever have for me!
Also, I just inducted you into my "Absolute best of likable folks" playlist a.k.a. my Hall of Sift fame. Having lurked here as much as I have, I feel comfortable saying you're a likable, good-natured person and your recent sarcastic anti-homophobia video was a nice addition to my playlist
Cheers, Ed
In reply to this comment by alien_concept:
Haha, ok. That's certainly not the best of him by a long way, you should check some of the other stuff out. He's incredibly dry, so it only suits certain types for sure
In reply to this comment by EDD:
That was actually the first time I saw anything by him. Thanks for giving me the nudge, seems to be a fun fella
In reply to this comment by alien_concept:
Ello EDD, you seem like the kind of waster who might upvote this little gem
http://www.videosift.com/video/Tough-Crowd-Zach-Galifianakis
http://www.videosift.com/video/Tough-Crowd-Zach-Galifianakis