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Yes, Europe and Asia are one continent, we all know that.
On the other hand... just the other day I watched a YouTube video which discussed continents and why Australia is a continent while Greenland isn't.
It concluded that the reason many people consider Europe and Asia to be different continents is due to cultural differences.
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Message Closed
modified 3-Feb-21 13:23pm.
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So Antartica is really just a strip of land going all about the outside edge to keep all the water in?
I’ve given up trying to be calm. However, I am open to feeling slightly less agitated.
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That's what they tell me.  
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PIEBALDconsult wrote: Europe and Asia to be different continents is due to cultural differences.
Well, that's a difficult argument for them to uphold.
I mean, if that were true then we'd have Quebec as a separate continent. Also, Red States viz-a-viz Blue States. China vs. Russia?
We all know how that ends up.[^]
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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... the sub-continent of Texas...
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PIEBALDconsult wrote: ... the sub-continent of Texass...
FIFY
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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PIEBALDconsult wrote: It concluded that the reason many people consider Europe and Asia to be different continents is due to cultural differences.
It's much older than that, Both "Asia" and "Europa" is old Greek and what the Greeks referred to as Asia is todays Anatolia.
Afrika is what the Romans called the land where the Carthagenes lived, which is todays Tunisia.
The meaning of the words have obviously changed since then.
The whole concept of continents is much newer than the names for them. Well, at least the ones mentioned above.
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Yup, the ancients couldn't study the planet from space and didn't know about tectonic plates.
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The theory of tectonic plates wasn't accepted until the 1960s. And even though he couldn't look at the Earth from space, Eratosthenes accurately calculated its circumference.
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Only by mistake:
Quote: It is remarkable that such accuracy was obtained in view of the fact that most of the "known"
facts and his observations were incorrect: (1) although it is true that the sun at noon is directly
overhead at the Tropic of Cancer on the day of the summer solstice, it was erroneously
concluded that Syene lay on the line. Actually, Syene is 37 miles to the north; (2) the true
distance between Alexandria and Syene is 453 miles and not 500; (3) Syene lies 3° 30' east of the
meridian of Alexandria; (4) the difference of latitude between Alexandria and Syene is 7° 5'
rather than 7° 12' as Eratosthenes had concluded.
From "Geodesy for the Layman"[^] pag. 6.
Some pople have genius even when they make mistakes.
Mircea
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Greg Utas wrote: The theory of tectonic plates wasn't accepted until the 1960s.
That is a deceptive generality based on the most narrow possible definition of "accepted."
«One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality is an even greater illusion than the world of dreams.» Salvador Dali
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Since I don't think politics could play a role, I will cite this[^]. The theory had been around for quite some time, certainly if you include its precursor of continental drift, but a theory usually doesn't gain acceptance until backed by some evidence.
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W∴ Balboos, GHB wrote: far-western Asia
You mean far Eastern Europe?
If you can't laugh at yourself - ask me and I will do it for you.
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Obviously, Europe and Asia are a single continent, Eurasia.
That makes 7 continents: Africa, N. America, S. America, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia and, the most important of all, Great Britain.
Also, obviously, until the Suez Canal was built, Africa and Eurasia were just one continent. Similarly, until the Panama Canal was built there was just one American continent.
There was originally only six continents: Great Britain, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, America and The Rest. Whether Britain and Ireland count as two separate continents is still disputed (by the Irish, mostly).
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
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I'd always assumed that the definition of a continent was based on geology, rather than geography. The "current" idea of where the Asia/Europe border exists seems very fluid; countries that in my youth were firmly considered to be in Asia are apparently now "European", including even Russia. When the Eurovision Song Contest accepted Israel as a contestant I was vaguely uncomfortable with it; when Australia was welcomed in, I realised the thing was a con. (Europe, not the ESC).
My assumption was that the Urals formed (as many mountain ranges do) a border between land masses / tectonic plates. That seemed to make sense, although didn't explain why the concept of Asia and Europe being separate continents dated back hundreds of years. Yet they're not, despite the Urals appearing perhaps to be a result of tectonic collision. So I have to agree that the distinction is purely for cultural / religious / political purposes. Further if continents were really to be based on tectonics, then the Caribbean would be a continent, as would the Philippines and, perhaps surprisingly, the Falkland islands. And the Pacific itself would be a continent.
On the other hand, I can't agree to the concept of "far-western Asia". Given that the world is centred (obviously) around London, Asia only extends a few hundred miles into the Western hemisphere but 8000-odd miles to the Eastern. At -1º longitude I obviously live in western Asia, but I'm not sure I could call it far western
The other "proof" that Europe isn't really a continent is that, unlike the true continents, it's name does not start and end with an "A". Definitive proof, eh?
Yet another reason for the EU to call it quits, though... 
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Drain the Oceans[^]
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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Could be worse... could be Belgium.
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All joking aside; the hospital I visit is near the border, and half the nurses are Belgian. And they more friendly than the Dutch.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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W∴ Balboos, GHB wrote: The basic reason that is probably the only "justification" is that the early map-makers (per current usages) were Europeans and thus, in their usual arrogance, needed to give themselves a special spot.
Ehr..
We do have one. Running economics. There's no US without Europe, and that's being kind.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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Eddy Vluggen wrote: There's no US without Europ
Let me clarify your slight error.
It is without the US you'd either have that (your) part of the world as part of the Third Reich or Satellites states of the Soviet Union.
Now, get back to stroking that inferiority complex . . .
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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W∴ Balboos, GHB wrote: It is without the US you'd either have that (your) part of the world as part of the Third Reich or Satellites states of the Soviet Union.
Look up why we got the Marshall aid after WW2.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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Eddy Vluggen wrote: Look up why we got the Marshall aid after WW2
Is this the part (wikipedia) that upsets you about the Marshal Plan?
Quote: The Netherlands received US aid for economic recovery in the Netherlands Indies. However, in January 1949, the American government suspended this aid in response to the Dutch efforts to restore colonial rule in Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution, and it implicitly threatened to suspend Marshall aid to the Netherlands if the Dutch government continued to oppose the independence of Indonesia.[81]
Damn anti-imperialists !
Without US, you'd have been swallowed by Soviet Troops. Except for the UK, what part of Europe was even left? What the US got out of WW II: gold-star families.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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W∴ Balboos, GHB wrote: Is this the part (wikipedia) that upsets you about the Marshal Plan?
Not upset. You depend on us, and without, the "US" would not have been. They'd lost to the Soviet Union.
W∴ Balboos, GHB wrote: Without US, you'd have been swallowed by Soviet Troops
We wouldn't, stop pretending you are our "saviours".
Try history, or bloody basic economics.
Where all movies show you as our liberators, you didn't want to get involved in WW2, tried to be neutral.
And now, we paying NATO for an enemy that doesn't exist.
The problem is American warfare. Never declared war, but not a year goes by that they not in a war.
I love 'muricans. Explained me NY pizza and Texan BBQ. There's no folk that gives more. But your military is an abomination, and part of the Drake-equation. And the world resists. If you confused about why, learn basic psychology.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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In no particular order:
Eddy Vluggen wrote: And now, we paying NATO for an enemy that doesn't exist.
First, of course, those living in the Ukrain would tent to differ. Those in Georgia, too. As a start. Meanwhile, if anyone profited from NATO it's you. US troops stationed in Europe allowed you to have smaller armies (saves money) and put those people to productive work (make money). For the majority of you, you've been living off the welfare of my taxes all your lives. Just in case you haven't noticed: perestroika and glasnost are dead.Eddy Vluggen wrote: Where all movies show you as our liberators, you didn't want to get involved in WW2, tried to be neutral.
Absolutely - you had those ![Elephant | [mastadon]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/elephant.gif) ing Nazi on the run! Of course - that's what your current movies show, right?
Eddy Vluggen wrote: The problem is American warfare. Never declared war, but not a year goes by that they not in a war.
and add to that your quote, worth a repeat at this juncture, Eddy Vluggen wrote: Where all movies show you as our liberators, you didn't want to get involved in WW2, tried to be neutral.
Apparently your viewpoint on the thing changes as is convenient. This is implicitly addressed below (vide post).
One thing about that which I hope cames to and an end: ing Europe sees a hot-spot and wants to know what us "Muricans" will do about it. Send your own children out to return in body bags. It's time you all grow up and take care of things yourself as energetically as you attack the huge "Murican" companies whenever your failed EU needs a few extra billion.
Really, not living in the UK, I saw BREXIT as a spectator sport. Now, however, seeing how you handle your own affairs - like getting COVID vaccines authorized - and those who wanted BREXIT are totally vindicated. You just love pronouncements and meetings and get-togethers. Sometimes, however, you need to do something that costs you . . . that lives up to the lofty perch you put yourselves on as leaders of pluralistic compassion and, well, we always see the same thing: Money Talks. Like Nord Stream. Scream about and condemn Putin's behavior, so long as doing something about it doesn't cost money. Rinse. Lather. Repeat.
So, next time a crisis exists, marshal a vast "Army of the EU" and set things right with your forces of enlightened goodness. (which, by the way, is expensive - so I guess that won't be happening). Stop looking to us to spend, as they say, "Blood and Treasure" whilst you sit on the sidelines and cheer us on - and later on, those like yourself will then find reason to condemn.
Actually - let me some this all up from a person living in a country that, in my opinion, has a lot of repair work ahead of it by giving you some advice: Don't tell anyone else how to sh*t until you learn to wipe your own ass.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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