That is precisely the paradox that the GP is bringing up. The PM is trying to sell apples to an electorate that wants to buy oranges, and is wrapping them up in marketroid rhetoric to keep the people from realizing that he isn't really addressing the actual problem. Par for the course in the rotten world of pre-election politics. If immigration is outlawed, only the outlaws will immigrate. Disclaimer: I am an "imported worker," only not from that part of the world.

Joking aside, I heard that the new Pope has a degree in chemistry, so maybe he is one of us (i.e., a nerd)?

Not only did the place have guns inside, it was also booby-trapped. Off the top of my head I can't imagine any reasonable justification for why somebody would rig his apartment so that a person attempting to come in would be blown to pieces, and then go away leaving the door ajar.

Jack D. Ripper, is that you?

Yes it is.

Do you really think so? Because the way I remember it, back in the 1940's Josef Stalin took advantage of the war to put puppet governments in every single territory that he could get his hands on (i.e., all of Eastern Europe). And before you even start arguing that those were not puppet governments, bear in mind that as soon as those countries were given free rein to decide their own fates, practically all of them ousted their communist regimes in a matter of months.

If Barry Manilow conquered it, it would become Nose Korea.

In Paraguay (South America), some time ago, cameras were installed to monitor traffic light violations, but shortly afterwards their use for this purpose was declared unconstitutional. The cameras are still there, and are sometimes used to collect evidence of other incidents like street violence and so on, but nobody will ever get billed for crossing a red light because of them.

If you believe anyone who provides a service sees you as ANYTHING other than a wallet with legs, you are wrong. The difference is, some people are afraid that the walking wallet won't come back if they don't give it an illusion of respect, so they treat it like they actually give a damn. But if they get an indication that it will never come back regardless of how well or badly it is treated, then they will lose interest and ignore it.

... My flying car (sitting at the wheel, of course).

Sometimes I choose whatever I want to wear to go out, and according to my wife my tastes in clothes are horrible, so whenever she has the chance she will make me go out in clothing of her choosing. Does that mean that this device would think I am two different people?

This is about embalming, it's not rocket science. Just how technologically advanced do you think the Venezuelans would need to be, to achieve what the Russians and Chinese did several decades ago? Or are you one of those ignorants bigots who think everybody in South America lives in shanty towns, just because that is how they see it on TV and movies?

Rock salt is for pussies. Live ammo FTW!

Trying to make everyone happy is an exercise in futility. Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, the audience. Pick two.

(Citation needed)