Are 6 more or less than most countries? I know Mexico really has 2 big ones, Italy I think has 1 huge one controlled by Berlusconi and a few small ones.
note that 46th still translates as satisfactory situation. it's not like there are only 10 free countries in the world. i think the government interference issue at this level is far less important than the industry issues indicated in #1150. which in turn are less crucial than the relative (in)ability of populations to discriminate between good and bad sources. an important point i glean from the map however is that Best Korea's criticism of the South Side is the pot calling the kettle black.
I'm pretty sure the Scandinavian countries (in particular Norway) have rather huge media concentration, but they're at the top. Turkey and Iran, off the top of my head, have hundreds upon hundreds of media organizations, in a very Wild-West-ish setup. Turkey alone has so many "national" newspapers, it's hard to keep track.
being in Europe doesn't make you an EU member state Norway, Andorra, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland are not members, while Iceland is a candidate.
Yeah I know, I meant 14. Cause Andorra and Lichtenstein are de facto members for me. E.g. they use the Euro. Still a good record for a bunch of socialists.
andorra, monaco, san marino and vatican city all use the euro (before the euro they used the peseta, franc and lira; if any of them ever had their own currency it was a looong time ago) but liechtenstein uses the CHF.
I can't say I've seen it with "such frequency", just that I know what it is because I've seen it in the past. Probably some combination of learning German (and thus, about German-speaking countries), travels (never been to Switzerland, though), interest in soccer, and general curiosity. And using spreadsheets involving foreign currency; inevitably, on your way to whatever currency you need, you will likely pass or come in proximity to CHF. Lots of things, but nothing with any particular frequency.
sorry. switz is so close to lyon that on a crisp february morning like today, with the wind blowing out of the mountains, you can smell the nazi gold in the air.
No worries, i always like to learn something new. Is Nazi gold a standard currency in Liechtenstein too?
Looks like Snowden will have a place to stay if he goes to Scotland, more so if he they become independent from the rest of the UK I'm guessing http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-26243567 Intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden has been elected to the post of student rector at Glasgow University. The former US National Security Agency contractor fled from his homeland last May after revealing extensive details of internet and phone surveillance. He is currently staying in Russia where he has temporary asylum. The rector is the students' elected representative. Mr Snowden succeeds the Liberal Democrat's former leader Charles Kennedy. Mr Snowden beat three other candidates to the post - cyclist Graeme Obree, author Alan Bissett and Scottish Episcopal clergyman Kelvin Holdsworth. Previous rectors at the university include Winnie Mandela and Mordechai Vanunu.
It's time to hit back! Hope we also go for Washington. Or maybe Wall Street? Cheyenne Mountain? Silicon Valley? Germany Considers Counterespionage Against US .... Away from the public eye, the German government is moving toward implementing plans to turn its own spies against partner countries like the United States, putting allies on the same level as the Chinese, Russians and North Koreans. .... Now, pressure is growing for Germany to find its own answers to the questions Washington has been ignoring. "They're like cowboys who only understand the language of the Wild West," sources in Merkel's party say, referring to the Americans' intractability. .... A new chapter is coming, but it won't be quite as Kerry envisioned it. The Social Democrats are increasingly irritated by the Americans' apparent ignorance over just how sensitive Germany is regarding the NSA affair. "The Iraq war was tiddlywinks compared to the blow to our relations suffered through the NSA affair," says Dietmar Nietan, a member of the German parliament who has been active on the issue of German-American relations for years now. .... Recently, officials at Maas' Justice Ministry signaled to the Federal Prosecutor's Office that it would be incomprehensible to forego investigations just because few expect it to produce any results. "It cannot be that we go hunting for common handbag thieves but do not even attempt to investigate when the chancellor's cell phone has been tapped," Maas is reported to have said during an internal discussion. .... The plans for monitoring allies are already well developed. Section 4 in the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, where just 100 specialists had been employed, is to be significantly expanded. .... That too is one reason for the delay in Merkel's visit to Washington. Originally, March was considered, but now it is only said that the chancellor will make the trip "in the spring." Government sources say that Merkel will only make the trip once Berlin has reached a common position on intelligence. And when it is clear before she gets on the plane that she will be able to return with a clear success. Merkel needs a scalp. It remains unclear exactly what it will look like. http://www.spiegel.de/international...-measures-against-united-states-a-953985.html
The thing is the yanks, (and our lot tbh), are utterly shameless about it, still pretending that everything is perfectly above board and in order. Of course, when the patriot act allows them access to 'ANY TANGIBLE THING' in relation to 'terrorism', (and who judges that, exactly?), maybe it's not hard NOT to break the law.
Maybe you all can help the Iranian Navy that is supposed to be getting to USA territorial waters any day now.