1 engineer cat  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:22:48pm

Romney’s Historic VP

Never Have So Few Made Such An Historic Decision ForZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz

2 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:23:50pm

The Princess has found an MP3 for her player (we have portable speakers) that sound like someone going pee. For about five minutes.

She's been carrying it around and seeing if she could get people to notice.

Have I mentioned that her second favorite holiday is April 1st?

3 abolitionist  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:24:36pm

Wikipedia isn't going to appreciate this advocacy to politicize their site, even in jest.

4 Kragar  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:24:51pm

I honestly can't think of a single person who would be convinced to vote for Romney based on any of his current VP potentials, but I can imagine him losing votes because of them.

5 erik_t  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:25:45pm

re: #4 Kragar

I honestly can't think of a single person who would be convinced to vote for Romney based on any of his current VP potentials, but I can imagine him losing votes because of them.

I don't think this is unusual. Silver only found something like a 2% boost in a Veep candidate's home state, never mind elsewhere.

7 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:29:35pm

I think it will come down to either Portman or Ryan and the base may force him to pick Ryan. By choosing either one he reinforces his image as either someone who wants to return to the Bush era (Portman) or someone who really doesn't care about the middle class and the poor (Ryan). He's screwed either way.

8 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:30:12pm

I can't imagine why anyone would WANT to be the running mate.

9 wrenchwench  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:31:46pm
If the MP4 video doesn’t work for you, click below for the Flash version:

Image: funny-pictures-little-tiger-promises-to-eat-you-last.jpg

10 Obdicut  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:32:10pm

re: #7 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

I think it will come down to either Portman or Ryan and the base may force him to pick Ryan. By choosing either one he reinforces his image as either someone who wants to return to the Bush era (Portman) or someone who really doesn't care about the middle class and the poor (Ryan). He's screwed either way.

He's more screwed to independents by picking Ryan, who is the poster-child for cruel conservatism, but he'd lose more of the base by not picking Ryan or an equivalent heartless jerk.

11 Kragar  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:35:29pm

re: #8 SteveMcG

I can't imagine why anyone would WANT to be the running mate.

Why do you think so many of the early potentials said "Not interested"?

13 Obdicut  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:36:26pm

re: #12 Charles Johnson

Colbert is impish. He's really a troublemaker. I think people like him are useful in exposing weaknesses in the system. He's like a one-man Somethingawful.

14 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:36:26pm

re: #10 Obdicut

No matter who he picks I am sure that the Obama oppo research team has enough material ready to go in order to quickly flatten any bump Romney might get after making the choice.

15 Tigger2  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:37:15pm
16 HappyWarrior  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:41:06pm

re: #10 Obdicut

He's more screwed to independents by picking Ryan, who is the poster-child for cruel conservatism, but he'd lose more of the base by not picking Ryan or an equivalent heartless jerk.

I think that's the predicament he's in. It reminds me of McCain's situation really. Anyhow, I was hearing that it's down to Portman, Pawlenty, and Ryan. I think it will be one of the first two.

17 erik_t  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:42:15pm

re: #16 HappyWarrior

I think that's the predicament he's in. It reminds me of McCain's situation really. Anyhow, I was hearing that it's down to Portman, Pawlenty, and Ryan. I think it will be one of the first two.

Pawlenty would be a baffling choice. He never had any traction nationally, he has exactly as much charisma as Mittbot, and he's underwater even in his home state.

Of course, Romney's campaign has regularly been baffling.

18 Kragar  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:42:49pm

Missouri’s Deceptive Amendment 2 Passes: Will Lawsuits Follow?

Yesterday, Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 2, which passed with 82 percent in favor and 17 percent against. The vote margin is not surprising given the misleading language that accompanied the measure on the ballot.

Many who voted for the amendment probably thought they were merely protecting the right of citizens to express their religious beliefs, guarantee the right of school children to pray and require public schools to display the Bill of Rights.

In reality, Amendment 2 is not so benign. It opens the door for coercive prayer and proselytizing in public schools, allows students to skip homework if it offends their religious beliefs and infringes on the religious liberty rights of prisoners.

The biggest problem with Amendment 2, however, is that it’s so open-ended nobody really knows exactly what it will do.

For example, one provision mandates that the state “shall ensure that any person shall have the right to pray individually or corporately in a private or public setting so long as such prayer does not result in disturbance of the peace or disruption of a public meeting or assembly.”

Does it mean that all governmental meetings will feature group invocations or benedictions? What if one person’s “right to pray” intrudes on another person’s right to abstain from praying or to pray according to the tenets of her own faith? And what constitutes a disturbance or disruption?

No one knows the answers to any of those questions. That’s where the lawyers come in.

19 HappyWarrior  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:44:33pm

re: #17 erik_t

Pawlenty would be a baffling choice. He never had any traction nationally, he has exactly as much charisma as Mittbot, and he's underwater even in his home state.

Of course, Romney's campaign has regularly been baffling.

Yeah but he gets along with Mitt and I think Romney is someone who doesn't want his VP to overshadow him which is why I don't expect it to be Rubio or Jindal.

20 Kragar  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:44:35pm

re: #17 erik_t

Pawlenty would be a baffling choice. He never had any traction nationally, he has exactly as much charisma as Mittbot, and he's underwater even in his home state.

Of course, Romney's campaign has regularly been baffling.

Romney's campaign is more offkey than a choir of cats in mating season and misses the mark more than a blind dart player on free beer night.

21 Mattand  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:46:57pm

re: #19 HappyWarrior

Yeah but he gets along with Mitt and I think Romney is someone who doesn't want his VP to overshadow him which is why I don't expect it to be Rubio or Jindal.

That definitely leaves Chris Christie out. I'm still amazed about how conservatives outside of NJ think he's the second coming of Reagan.

22 engineer cat  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:47:50pm

as we see on msnbc, the picks are supposed to be down to portman, ryan, and pawlenty

i think ryan would be a disaster, and pawlenty not as faceless as portman simply because he is so outstandingly bland it hurts

so i'm betting on romney/portman

it's a kind of suburban/suburban flavored ticket

23 erik_t  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:48:13pm

re: #19 HappyWarrior

Yeah but he gets along with Mitt and I think Romney is someone who doesn't want his VP to overshadow him which is why I don't expect it to be Rubio or Jindal.

I agree with all of that, but at least Portman is well-liked in a must-win state. Romney's chances of needing and carrying Minnesota are microscopic.

24 HappyWarrior  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:49:36pm

re: #21 Mattand

That definitely leaves Chris Christie out. I'm still amazed about how conservatives outside of NJ think he's the second coming of Reagan.

I'm thinking Christie or my own state's Bob McDonnell will be considered by Mitt for AG. More likely McDonnell since Christie doesn't have the stupid one term limit law to deal with.

25 HappyWarrior  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:51:57pm

re: #22 engineer cat

as we see on msnbc, the picks are supposed to be down to portman, ryan, and pawlenty

i think ryan would be a disaster, and pawlenty not as faceless as portman simply because he is so outstandingly bland it hurts

so i'm betting on romney/portman

it's a kind of suburban/suburban flavored ticket

Yeah I think Portman is more likely than Pawlenty for the reasons underlined. However, Pawlenty has a blue collar background and Romney needs someone I think more folksy. If the two didn't dislike each other, Huckabee would be ideal. Another reason thing Portman has going against him is that he's not a firebreathing so-con. Rubio of course is a possibility but it would be a big gamble too since you know they want to avoid a Palin 2,0 and hell Rubio himself may be shrewd enough to realize that Romney's chances of winning aren't that good and may want to run in 2016 instead.

26 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:52:50pm

re: #21 Mattand

he's popular because he's a fat, loud mouth gas bag who has no filter and acts like an ass all the time. You know, like their idol Limbaugh.

27 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:55:42pm

re: #20 Kragar

Romney's campaign is more offkey than a choir of cats in mating season and misses the mark more than a blind dart player on free beer night.

The Romney campaign is nuttier than squirrel poop.

28 Mattand  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:56:03pm

re: #24 HappyWarrior

I'm thinking Christie or my own state's Bob McDonnell will be considered by Mitt for AG. More likely McDonnell since Christie doesn't have the stupid one term limit law to deal with.

Guarantee it won't be Christie. Like him or hate him, he's a smart political operative. Christie runs with Mitt and loses, he can kiss any future POTUS bid goodbye. He can see Mitt's campaign for the poison pill it is.

Along that lines, he's been making enough decisions here to establish conservative bona fides for a 2016 run; i.e., curtailing collective bargaining, waffling on teaching evolution, etc.

29 HappyWarrior  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:56:04pm

re: #26 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

he's popular because he's a fat, loud mouth gas bag who has no filter and acts like an ass all the time. You know, like their idol Limbaugh.

I think they see him as something close to what many Democratic activists saw in Howard Dean. Someone whose rhetoric is more popular than policy positions. I think Christie would struggle if he ever ran in a Republican primary for president though for similar reasons to Rudy Giuliani though Christie unlike Rudy is and has not ever been pro choice or gay rights either. And as weird as it sounds, I think he's too "urban" for the increasingly rural and suburban GOP.

30 dragonfire1981  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:56:09pm

On the plus side, Portman may actually make Mitt appear somewhat charismatic.

31 erik_t  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:57:25pm

re: #30 dragonfire1981

He's that bad? Is such a thing even possible?

32 Mattand  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:57:59pm

re: #26 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

he's popular because he's a fat, loud mouth gas bag who has no filter and acts like an ass all the time. You know, like their idol Limbaugh.

Tell me something I don't know :)

33 dragonath  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 2:58:57pm

re: #18 Kragar

Deceptive language or not, Missouri has been going to the hard right for at least a decade now. This is the state that barely passed a referendum against animal abuse and then had the legislature strike it down in a blatant favor to puppy mill operators.

34 HappyWarrior  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:00:17pm

re: #33 Fred Galt

Deceptive language or not, Missouri has been going to t

he hard right for at least a decade now. This is the state that barely passed a referendum against animal abuse and then had the legislature strike it down in a blatant favor to puppy mill operators.

Missouri seems to be losing its status as bellweather. I think Obama was the first presidential winning candidate to win the presidency while losing Missouri since Eisenhower in '56. After that it goes even further back.

35 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:00:33pm

It will be someone no one has heard of like they did last time with Sarah Palin. We be subject to another new irritating political celebrity.

36 HappyWarrior  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:01:06pm

re: #28 Mattand

Guarantee it won't be Christie. Like him or hate him, he's a smart political operative. Christie runs with Mitt and loses, he can kiss any future POTUS bid goodbye. He can see Mitt's campaign for the poison pill it is.

Along that lines, he's been making enough decisions here to establish conservative bona fides for a 2016 run; i.e., curtailing collective bargaining, waffling on teaching evolution, etc.

Oh yeah, I know Christie won't be VP. I just wouldn't be shocked if he were considered for AG or heaven forbid the USSC since the last thing we need is another judge with a pompous attitude. I think Christie would turn more people off than on if he ran nationally. Guy just has a huge ego and is a jerk.

37 labman57  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:01:37pm

I don't know what Mitt's problem is. If he chooses a running mate who doesn't give him a bump in the national polls, then he can simply hit his reset button and pick someone else.

38 Mattand  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:01:59pm

re: #29 HappyWarrior

I think they see him as something close to what many Democratic activists saw in Howard Dean. Someone whose rhetoric is more popular than policy positions. I think Christie would struggle if he ever ran in a Republican primary for president though for similar reasons to Rudy Giuliani though Christie unlike Rudy is and has not ever been pro choice or gay rights either. And as weird as it sounds, I think he's too "urban" for the increasingly rural and suburban GOP.

Your assessment makes sense, but like I said in #28, he's making decisions that should resonate with Bible Beltistan. Plus, if Romney loses, the GOP will need some sort of aggressive personality to rally around.

Whatever their misgiving will be, conservatives will do one of the things they do best: close ranks and march in step. And Christie provides that kind of bluster in spades.

39 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:02:26pm

I still don't get why the dog on the roof of the car hasn't caused more outrage. Even 2nd Amendment advocates would be upset, I would think. The ones I know cherish their dogs, but they seem to have a blind spot for it.

Really, if people are concerned about "death panels" and "reeducation" you'd think the guy who has no compassion for a dog would be more likely to do such things.

40 HappyWarrior  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:02:31pm

re: #37 labman57

I don't know what Mitt's problem is. If he chooses a running mate who doesn't give him a bump in the national polls, then he can simply hit his reset button and pick someone else.

Retroactive vetting!

41 Mattand  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:02:45pm

re: #36 HappyWarrior

Oh yeah, I know Christie won't be VP. I just wouldn't be shocked if he were considered for AG or heaven forbid the USSC since the last thing we need is another judge with a pompous attitude. I think Christie would turn more people off than on if he ran nationally. Guy just has a huge ego and is a jerk.

I think I'm 3 minutes behind you. Freaking time warp.

42 engineer cat  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:03:33pm

romney/christie

i wouldn't use that term/fuck you 2012

43 Mattand  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:05:09pm

re: #39 ggt

I still don't get why the dog on the roof of the car hasn't caused more outrage. Even 2nd Amendment advocates would be upset, I would think. The ones I know cherish their dogs, but they seem to have a blind spot for it.

Really, if people are concerned about "death panels" and "reeducation" you'd think the guy who has no compassion for a dog would be more likely to do such things.

As inhumane as the dog incident is, at best it's tangential to the campaign in general. It does say something about Mitt's personality, but things like his hiding his tax returns and refusing to talk about how he'd actually govern are more important.

44 HappyWarrior  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:06:47pm

re: #39 ggt

I still don't get why the dog on the roof of the car hasn't caused more outrage. Even 2nd Amendment advocates would be upset, I would think. The ones I know cherish their dogs, but they seem to have a blind spot for it.

Really, if people are concerned about "death panels" and "reeducation" you'd think the guy who has no compassion for a dog would be more likely to do such things.

All I know is this, if Obama did something like what Romney did to his, you'd be hearing from the usual suspects about how it's proof that he's a sociopath. I think the incident speaks volumes about Romney's personality but I think the bullying incident though is a greater indictment of his lack of character though.

45 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:07:01pm

re: #43 Mattand

As inhumane as the dog incident is, at best it's tangential to the campaign in general. It does say something about Mitt's personality, but things like his hiding his tax returns and refusing to talk about how he'd actually govern are more important.

I don't know. People are concerned about human rights now in a big way. I think a good indication of how a person feels about the intrinsic value of a life show by how they treat their animals.

If a person will mistreat an animal, they will mistreat a child or a woman. oh, wait, that only matters if the said child or woman are fetuses . . . .

46 jaunte  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:13:04pm

More insane knee-jerk opposition from the far right:

Rep. Steve King: "thinking about introducing a bill, which if it became law, would repeal everything Obama has signed into law."

47 engineer cat  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:13:11pm

re: #35 ggt

It will be someone no one has heard of like they did last time with Sarah Palin. We be subject to another new irritating political celebrity.

i would have to guess this is the most likely

i find that veep guessing is generally wildly off

something like the wedding gift thing: something old, something new, something wingnut, something bland

49 MittDoesNotCompute  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:18:47pm

re: #16 HappyWarrior

I think that's the predicament he's in. It reminds me of McCain's situation really. Anyhow, I was hearing that it's down to Portman, Pawlenty, and Ryan. I think it will be one of the first two.

All hail T-Paw!!!11ty

///

51 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:28:13pm

re: #12 Charles Johnson

Wikipedia Locks Pages of Possible VP Contenders After Stephen Colbert Wreaks Havoc

Saw that coming a mile away and was just going to post about it. I figured they would have no choice but to lock quite a few pages rather than see them wantonly vandalized by Colbert fans and others who heard of this at second hand like this post. It's a shame too, Wikipedia is a valuable and informative resource that constantly strives to update and correct itself and exclude any partisan language from it's pages.

While I love Colbert's satirical wit and dry deadpan delivery of what is usually purely facetious "leg pulling" on his part, this call for people to vandalize Wikipedia was uncalled for and rather shortsighted as to the consequences. Tens of thousands of "Man Years" of almost solely volunteer labor have gone in to making Wikipedia what it is. A T.V. host blithely calling out for it to be massively vandalized for no true purpose besides a few laughs does not strike me as particularly funny.

Old man "Harrumph" for emphasis...

52 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:32:15pm

re: #50 Fred Galt

I already pay a bit more for pizza because I like my local pizza places that tend to make a better pie than any of the chains, but even if I did buy papa john's 14 cents is hardly a bump price wise.

53 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:34:00pm

Looking at my bank account statement--some day I will tell my kids about the days when banks actually paid interest on account balances.

54 BongCrodny  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:35:38pm

The Vice-Presidential selection must be:

Somone who won't outshine the presumed Republican nominee, i.e., someone duller than Mitt Romney.

Whew. Stumper, eh?

55 engineer cat  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:35:52pm

re: #50 Fred Galt

Papa John's Pizza To Raise Prices Because Of Obamacare, CEO John Schnatter Says

After President Obama's health care law takes full effect, the slogan for national pizza chain Papa John's may need an update. Instead of, “Better ingredients. Better Pizza,” may we suggest, “Better health care. Pricier pizza."

Papa John's CEO John Schnatter says that Obamacare will result in a $0.11 to $0.14 price increase per pizza, or $0.15 to $0.20 cents per order, Pizza Marketplace, a trade publication, reports. (Hat tip: @dkberman via Twitter.)

Under Obamacare, the company, which is the third-largest pizza takeout and delivery chain in the United States, will have to offer health care coverage to more of its 16,500 total employees or pay a penalty to the government.

can there be any clearer explanation of how low prices are often only possible because of workers forced to accept sub par benefits?

if i were mr schnatter, i wouldn't be so quick to highlight publicly how papa john's exploits its workers

56 engineer cat  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:39:18pm

i've worked in plenty of restaurant kitchens, usually non-chain restaurants that couldn't acheive the economies of scale available to large chains

even though this was mostly 30 years ago or so, i remember that i got health coverage at these businesses

57 BongCrodny  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:43:51pm

re: #50 Fred Galt

That's about as bad as this:

Papa John's Pizza To Raise Prices Because Of Obamacare, CEO John Schnatter Says

According to Wiki, John Schnatter's net worth is $240 million, according to Wiki.

My net worth is, uh, somewhere around $240 million less than Mr. Schnatter.

But I'll tell ya what -- John, next time I get a pizza from Papa's, I'll add a QUARTER onto the tab -- you go right ahead and put that right toward your next $240 million, okay?

58 kirkspencer  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:45:13pm

re: #55 engineer cat

After President Obama's health care law takes full effect, the slogan for national pizza chain Papa John's may need an update. Instead of, “Better ingredients. Better Pizza,” may we suggest, “Better health care. Pricier pizza."

Papa John's CEO John Schnatter says that Obamacare will result in a $0.11 to $0.14 price increase per pizza, or $0.15 to $0.20 cents per order, Pizza Marketplace, a trade publication, reports. (Hat tip: @dkberman via Twitter.)

Under Obamacare, the company, which is the third-largest pizza takeout and delivery chain in the United States, will have to offer health care coverage to more of its 16,500 total employees or pay a penalty to the government.

can there be any clearer explanation of how low prices are often only possible because of workers forced to accept sub par benefits?

if i were mr schnatter, i wouldn't be so quick to highlight publicly how papa john's exploits its workers

Oh, it's worse. Papa John's is facing a class action lawsuit over underpayment of delivery drivers.

(note: the drivers were paid a bit over minimum wage but were responsible for all vehicle expenses. It's not quite as open and shut as some might wish. It's still an existing suit over underpayment of workers.)

59 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:45:35pm

re: #57 BongCrodny

I'm happy for the man's success. It's something most of us dream of. But what can you do with 240 million bucks? You can't live long enough to spend it.

60 Page 3 in the Binder of Women  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:45:41pm

re: #50 Fred Galt

That's about as bad as this:

Papa John's Pizza To Raise Prices Because Of Obamacare, CEO John Schnatter Says

Asshole. Such an asshole. They worry about China? They are making the workers of America live on the same scale as China's workers.

61 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:46:17pm

re: #59 SteveMcG

I'm happy for the man's success. It's something most of us dream of. But what can you do with 240 million bucks? You can't live long enough to spend it.

I think I could manage to do it in less than a lifetime.

:)

62 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:46:33pm

re: #58 kirkspencer

Oh, it's worse. Papa John's is facing a class action lawsuit over underpayment of delivery drivers.

(note: the drivers were paid a bit over minimum wage but were responsible for all vehicle expenses. It's not quite as open and shut as some might wish. It's still an existing suit over underpayment of workers.)

In this case, we should have been paying more for our pizzas, if the cost didn't cover the drivers expenses.

Wait--aren't they supposed to get tipped, too?

63 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:48:39pm

Pizza delivery guy is one of the last jobs one can get without having to undergo a drug test (some stores --probably not big corporate types)

64 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:48:40pm

re: #57 BongCrodny

Yes because heaven forbid he take a bit of a pay cut to provide his employees insurance.

65 MittDoesNotCompute  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:49:56pm

re: #62 Mostly sane, most of the time.

In this case, we should have been paying more for our pizzas, if the cost didn't cover the drivers expenses.

Wait--aren't they supposed to get tipped, too?

That's why Pizza Hut and Domino's started adding a delivery charge to their orders a few years ago, to cover gas and insurance stipends, IIRC.

Those charges are not tips and they say so upfront in their ads and such; tips are always separate.

66 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:50:07pm

re: #64 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

Yes because heaven forbid he take a bit of a pay cut to provide his employees insurance.

Pay your people like they are Partners serfs is the key to success!

67 Page 3 in the Binder of Women  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:50:45pm

Last time I ordered pizza delivered (Domino's - try it again folks, the thin crispy crust is really good) The delivery drivers were not young. They were my age, 2nd job.

It's probably one of the most taken-advantaged-of jobs. And therefore, the most desperate for $ people will take it.

Makes me sad.

68 JamesWI  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:51:42pm

re: #57 BongCrodny

According to Wiki, John Schnatter's net worth is $240 million, according to Wiki.

My net worth is, uh, somewhere around $240 million less than Mr. Schnatter.

But I'll tell ya what -- John, next time I get a pizza from Papa's, I'll add a QUARTER onto the tab -- you go right ahead and put that right toward your next $240 million, okay?

I've always hated Papa John's pizzas. Now I'll have another reason not to order.

69 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:51:59pm

re: #67 Stanley Sea

Last time I ordered pizza delivered (Domino's - try it again folks, the thin crispy crust is really good) The delivery drivers were not young. They were my age, 2nd job.

It's probably one of the most taken-advantaged-of jobs. And therefore, the most desperate for $ people will take it.

Makes me sad.

In a way. It makes me somehow proud that people are willing to do what they need to.

70 BongCrodny  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:52:12pm

re: #59 SteveMcG

I'm happy for the man's success. It's something most of us dream of. But what can you do with 240 million bucks? You can't live long enough to spend it.

I don't begrudge him his money. Crying "woe is us" about prices when your business was successful enough to put 240 million big ones in your back pocket seems a wee bit ungrateful.

71 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:52:34pm

re: #67 Stanley Sea

I've seen delivery people in their 50's plus.

72 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:52:50pm

re: #68 JamesWI

I've always hated Papa John's pizzas. Now I'll have another reason not to order.

Being from Chicago, I never order corporate pizza unless I am out of town and want to be sure I get something, at least, edible.

73 Page 3 in the Binder of Women  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:53:11pm

re: #69 ggt

In a way. It makes me somehow proud that people are willing to do what they need to.

Oh hell yeah. I would tip way more than usual. Damn, lest it be me tomorrow.

74 engineer cat  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:53:51pm

Schnatter has thrown his weight behind Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney this election season, even hosting a campaign fundraiser at his Louisville-area mansion in May. "Don’t you love this country?" Romney, who attended, asked during the event. "What a home this is, what grounds these are, the pool, the golf course."

paid for by Workers With Sub Par Insurance Benefits local 12

75 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:54:04pm

re: #70 BongCrodny

I don't begrudge him his money. Crying "woe is us" about prices when your business was successful enough to put 240 million big ones in your back pocket seems a wee bit ungrateful.

I agree, but now that the economy is down, I think it sucks that the 1% won't suffer a bit so the rest of us don't have to AS MUCH.

Fuckin' modern day royalty --in their minds anyway.

76 BongCrodny  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:54:12pm

re: #63 ggt

I've been a legal secretary for 20 years and I've never had to take a drug test.

Of course, that likely explains why I've been a legal secretary for 20 years.

77 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:54:57pm

re: #73 Stanley Sea

Oh hell yeah. I would tip way more than usual. Damn, lest it be me tomorrow.

There, for but the grace of G-d, go I.

Seriously, so much of it is damn sheer luck.

78 Tiny Alien Kitties are Watching You  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:01:14pm

re: #55 engineer cat

OMGWTFBBQ! If I had known that giving healthcare benefits to Papa John's Pizza workers would cost me as much 20 cents more per pizza then I never would have supported Obama's Affordable Care Act in the first place!

The very thought that I have to pay an extra 20 cents for my $14.99 pizza that costs about $7 to actually produce is shocking and definitely a wake up call. All pizza lovers should march on the Whitehouse immediately and demand an end to government mandated healthcare!

///

79 compound_Idaho  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:04:23pm

re: #76 BongCrodny

I've been a legal secretary for 20 years and I've never had to take a drug test.

Of course, that likely explains why I've been a legal secretary for 20 years.

Many contracts I sign require that my business drug employees. The odd part is that there is no requirement to report results, just that I do the tests. What I do with the information is entirely up to me.

80 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:06:02pm

re: #79 compound_Idaho

you have a requirement to drug your employees? What drugs do you give them and if they are fun....can I have a job?

81 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:06:41pm

re: #79 compound_Idaho

Many contracts I sign require that my business drug employees. The odd part is that there is no requirement to report results, just that I do the tests. What I do with the information is entirely up to me.

If an employee that failed a test causes harm to one of your clients, I wouldn't relish your defense.

82 sattv4u2  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:07:09pm

re: #79 compound_Idaho

What I do with the information is entirely up to me
.

Roll them up and smoke them?

83 compound_Idaho  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:10:48pm

re: #81 SteveMcG

If an employee that failed a test causes harm to one of your clients, I wouldn't relish your defense.

I'm sure you are right. It does kind of put the liability ball squarely in my court.

84 Gretchen G.Tiger  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:12:33pm

bbl

85 allegro  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:14:19pm

This is pretty cool. Estimate your taxes under Obama and Romney's plan:

[Link: www.barackobama.com...]

Re-electing Obama means we can afford that extra 20 cents per pizza AND a good tip for the delivery driver a whole bunch o' times.

86 Origuy  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:14:59pm

re: #72 ggt

If your travels take you to the West Coast, try Round Table or Mountain Mike's. I know that Round Table gives their managers health benefits, I don't know about lower level. It's employee owned.
Don't know about Mountain Mike's. As far as I know, the owners stay out of politics. At any rate, both have better pizza that the national chains.

87 allegro  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:15:10pm

re: #85 allegro

This is pretty cool. Estimate your taxes under Obama and Romney's plan:

[Link: www.barackobama.com...]

Re-electing Obama means we can afford that extra 20 cents per pizza AND a good tip for the delivery driver a whole bunch 'o times.

Actually it doesn't estimate the taxes but... go find out for yourself.

88 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:15:30pm

re: #85 allegro

This is pretty cool. Estimate your taxes under Obama and Romney's plan:

[Link: www.barackobama.com...]

Re-electing Obama means we can afford that extra 20 cents per pizza AND a good tip for the delivery driver a whole bunch 'o times.

What side of the tracks do you come from? They'll give anybody a computer these days.

89 allegro  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:17:26pm

re: #88 SteveMcG

What side of the tracks do you come from? They'll give anybody a computer these days.

Oh wow, did my fake numbers come up? LOL

90 Obdicut  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 4:51:37pm

Businesswoman Claims O'Reilly & Van Susteren Defamed Her

A businesswoman claims in court that Fox News stars Bill O'Reilly defamed her by calling her business "a con" and Greta Van Susteren by calling her "insane," and that O'Reilly's reporter compounded the insults by calling her a "little hippy dippy chick."

Aviva Nash and her business, Drum Café, sued O'Reilly, "O'Reilly Factor" reporter Juliet Huddy, Fox News and Greta Van Susteren, host of "On the Record," in Bronx County Supreme Court.

Nash describes herself in the complaint as a "hard working, legitimate small business owner, engaged in corporate training and team building."

She uses drums in her team-building and "corporate drumming" business, according to the Drum Café website.

She is not a "little hippy dippy chick," as Huddy called her on the air on July 24, Nash says.

Nash says that comment is "debasing, demeaning, humiliating, degrading, defaming and denigrating."

She claims O'Reilly defamed her on the same show, calling her business a "con."

O'Reilly claimed to be examining allegations of corruption in the General Services Administration in his July 24 show, Nash says.

She claims he showed a clip of her at a training session, and that O'Reilly and Huddy criticized what they called a $270,000 "21st century Kumbaya."

Nash claims Van Susteren defamed her on the July 19 broadcast of "On the Record," by accusing her of "stealing" and being "insane."

On Van Susteren's show, which also featured the Drum Café, U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham called the purchase of 40,000 sets of drumsticks a "blatant abuse," Nash says.

Van Susteren replied: "When you say 'blatant abuse,' I say stealing," according to a transcript attached to the complaint.

Nash seeks damages for defamation, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

She is represented by Richard Ancowitz, of Albany.

As much as I'd hate to have to attend a team-building drum session, it's no more of a con than any other motivational dooschmuckery, or a team prayer, for that matter.

91 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:03:20pm

I'm beginning to think that Romney actually was an absentee CEO at Bain because if he ran Bain the way he ran his campaign, he would've run the company into the ground.

92 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:05:41pm

re: #50 Fred Galt

That's about as bad as this:

Papa John's Pizza To Raise Prices Because Of Obamacare, CEO John Schnatter Says

What's most amazing is that this guy doesn't understand that most people would be ok with paying an extra dime and nickel if it meant Papa John's low wage employees could get health care. He thinks everyone is as mean, stingy and selfish a prick as he is.

93 austin_blue  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:05:49pm

re: #90 Obdicut

Businesswoman Claims O'Reilly & Van Susteren Defamed Her

As much as I'd hate to have to attend a team-building drum session, it's no more of a con than any other motivational dooschmuckery, or a team prayer, for that matter.

40,000 sets?

Not necessarily a bad deal.

[Link: www.americanmusical.com...]

94 darthstar  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:07:24pm

Anything interesting happen today? I went golfing with my folks and haven't been paying attention. Has Mitt Romney found a way to control the narrative yet?...wait...there's some cute gal in a green shirt arguing for Massachusetts health care...hm...on, and Rush is choking on a turd...okay...I guess that answers my question.

95 b_sharp  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:10:15pm

re: #94 darthstar

Anything interesting happen today? I went golfing with my folks and haven't been paying attention. Has Mitt Romney found a way to control the narrative yet?...wait...there's some cute gal in a green shirt arguing for Massachusetts health care...hm...on, and Rush is choking on a turd...okay...I guess that answers my question.

I just love me some cute chicks.

96 moderatelyradicalliberal  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:11:00pm

re: #94 darthstar

Anything interesting happen today? I went golfing with my folks and haven't been paying attention. Has Mitt Romney found a way to control the narrative yet?...wait...there's some cute gal in a green shirt arguing for Massachusetts health care...hm...on, and Rush is choking on a turd...okay...I guess that answers my question.

That "cute girl" didn't just argue for RomneyCare she argued for the concept of universal health care as well as any Democrat or liberal could. It will be a great campaign for the Obots. The fact that she said it on FAUX News makes it even more delicious. Rmoney's "reset" isn't going so well.

97 b_sharp  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:15:26pm

re: #93 austin_blue

40,000 sets?

Not necessarily a bad deal.

[Link: www.americanmusical.com...]

40,000 sets? That's about how many my brother went through, until he was gifted a set of 3/4" thick sticks by the music store.

98 darthstar  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:15:47pm

re: #96 moderatelyradicalliberal

That "cute girl" didn't just argue for RomneyCare she argued for the concept of universal health care as well as any Democrat or liberal could. It will be a great campaign for the Obots. The fact that she said it on FAUX News makes it even more delicious. Rmoney's "reset" isn't going so well.

Well, at least she'll soon be able to spend more time with her family.

99 Daniel Ballard  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:18:38pm

re: #92 moderatelyradicalliberal

Geez. Let me volunteer to pay a whole dollar extra, maybe then they can get PPO instead of HMO.

//sorta

101 jaunte  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:39:10pm

re: #92 moderatelyradicalliberal

What's most amazing is that this guy doesn't understand that most people would be ok with paying an extra dime and nickel if it meant Papa John's low wage employees could get health care. He thinks everyone is as mean, stingy and selfish a prick as he is.

John Schnatter: $2,745,220 annual compensation.
[Link: www.reuters.com...]

102 Page 3 in the Binder of Women  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:40:42pm
103 palomino  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:44:57pm

re: #102 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

Just think how much cheaper their pizzas would be if Papa John's didn't have that tyrannical minimum wage to worry about.

104 Page 3 in the Binder of Women  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:47:08pm

Papa John blew it. Really, what a shithead.

105 Sheila Broflovski  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:48:50pm

Stuff a sock in it Bryan.

106 Page 3 in the Binder of Women  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:49:21pm
107 Lidane  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:49:37pm

re: #91 moderatelyradicalliberal

I'm beginning to think that Romney actually was an absentee CEO at Bain because if he ran Bain the way he ran his campaign, he would've run the company into the ground.

I'm starting to think the rest of Bain wanted Romney as an absentee CEO because given his campaign instincts, he has no business savvy or skills to speak of except for having a lot of Daddy's money.

108 Sheila Broflovski  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:51:01pm

The DERP never ends.

109 Lidane  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:51:24pm

re: #103 palomino

Just think how much cheaper their pizzas would be if Papa John's didn't have that tyrannical minimum wage to worry about.

Pfft. His pizza is shit anyway. The only redeeming quality that Papa John's pizza has is the garlic butter dipping sauce, and that can be made at home in just a couple of minutes.

110 prairiefire  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:52:47pm

re: #104 Stanley Sea

Papa John blew it. Really, what a shithead.

Plus, he makes a shitty pizza.

111 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:54:12pm

re: #108 Learned Mother of Zion

The DERP never ends.

[Embedded content]

I wonder how much the "entitlement culture" actually subsidizes the low wages of workers. As I understand, productivity is at all time highs.

112 austin_blue  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 5:57:08pm

Well, the Beach Volleyball final is next up on NBC in the CST (LBJ IRT USA LSD).

I hear on good authority that America takes the Gold. Fuck Yah!

113 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:01:37pm

re: #112 austin_blue

Well, the Beach Volleyball final is next up on NBC in the CST (LBJ IRT USA LSD).

I hear on good authority that America takes the Gold. Fuck Yah!

Frickin' spoiler. I was just thinking about the titillation over the bikinis, I mean uniforms. I think they look okay, but the swimmers and divers are the ones that should be wearing the bikinis.

114 Gus  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:03:35pm

re: #110 prairiefire

Plus, he makes a shitty pizza.

Murican cracker crust pizza with American cheese and corn oil. //

115 MittDoesNotCompute  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:04:38pm

re: #104 Stanley Sea

Papa John blew it. Really, what a shithead.

Papa John has become the anti-Dave Thomas (of Wendy's) in no time flat with all of this hysterical crap over "ObamaCare" and his support of Romney.

In addition to pitching for and running Wendy's, Thomas championed the adoption charity that bears his name for at least the last 20 years of his life; Papa John went from potentially harmless CEO/pitchman to coming off looking like a greedy, heartless schmuck.

Good job there, Papa Jerk...

116 compound_Idaho  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:04:42pm

re: #101 jaunte

John Schnatter: $2,745,220 annual compensation.
[Link: www.reuters.com...]

$2,750,000 is a lot of money, but with 16,500 employees, that works out to $167/employee/yr, or $14 per month. Even if he gave it all up, that will not buy much health insurance.

117 Sheila Broflovski  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:05:04pm

re: #111 SteveMcG

I wonder how much the "entitlement culture" actually subsidizes the low wages of workers. As I understand, productivity is at all time highs.

118 austin_blue  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:05:32pm

re: #113 SteveMcG

Frickin' spoiler. I was just thinking about the titillation over the bikinis, I mean uniforms. I think they look okay, but the swimmers and divers are the ones that should be wearing the bikinis.

Dude, both teams are from the US...

119 Sheila Broflovski  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:06:39pm

re: #113 SteveMcG

Frickin' spoiler. I was just thinking about the titillation over the bikinis, I mean uniforms. I think they look okay, but the swimmers and divers are the ones that should be wearing the bikinis.

Bikinis are not hydrodynamic and therefore not favorable for water competition.

120 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:06:55pm

re: #118 austin_blue

Dude, both teams are from the US...

I know. I even know which team won. After twenty commercial breaks, I'll tell you.

121 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:07:17pm

re: #119 Learned Mother of Zion

Bikinis are not hydrodynamic and therefore not favorable for water competition.

And your point is...?

122 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:07:43pm

OK question...

There is a very important paper about Climate that just came out.

It nails - absolutely mathematically nails - that climate change is accelerating and getting worse at a rate much faster than was initially thought even a few years ago.

However, to make the slam dunk case, it relies understanding probability distributions - particularly Gaussians.

I want to share this paper and write about it, but I think it will be lost on people without writing a page about the mathematics. With the math though, it is a terrifying slam dunk.

Is doing a page on some probability theory and the nature of the bell curve something that people here will read?

123 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:08:14pm

re: #119 Learned Mother of Zion

Actually, that would be irrelevant if everybody had to wear the bikinis. THen maybe there might be an advantage to skimpiness.

124 Sheila Broflovski  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:08:47pm

re: #121 SteveMcG

And your point is...?

My point is that swimmers and divers should not wear bikinis, and they totally don't.

125 engineer cat  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:08:52pm
Bryan Fischer @BryanJFischer

Over 100 million Americans now on welfare. Too many takers, not enough makers. Past the tipping point?

Bryan Jonathan Fischer is the Director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association (AFA). He hosts the talk radio program Focal Point on American Family Radio and posts on the AFA-run blog Rightly Concerned.

too many bloviators, not enough workers building america

126 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:08:56pm

re: #122 LudwigVanQuixote

I dig math, but I've forgotten so much.

127 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:09:38pm

re: #126 SteveMcG

I dig math, but I've forgotten so much.

So if I spend a lot of time doing my best to write a refresher/explanation will you read it?

128 engineer cat  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:10:11pm

re: #116 compound_Idaho

$2,750,000 is a lot of money, but with 16,500 employees, that works out to $167/employee/yr, or $14 per month. Even if he gave it all up, that will not buy much health insurance.

what are the company profits?

129 Obdicut  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:10:16pm

re: #116 compound_Idaho

That doesn't count his non-salary compensation-- or his health insurance.

His non-salary compensation includes $7,564,480.00 in exerciseable stock options.

But you're right: the price of health insurance has exploded. We need to address it. The best way of doing that is the single-payer option, which will remove the parasitic profit layer from the health insurance companies, and the practices that distort costs. I also think we should change from fee-for-service model of physician payment to a more total care or medical home framework, since what we have in the US is a dearth of primary care and an overabundance of specialists-- and among the specialists, the compensation has little to do with the difficulty or importance of the work.

130 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:12:26pm

re: #127 LudwigVanQuixote

Sure.

131 Obdicut  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:13:16pm

re: #122 LudwigVanQuixote

The sad part is that what is going to convince people is shit like this:

Massive Fish Kill-Off in Midwest as Heat Raises Water Temps

But math education is always good. Be as brief as possible.

132 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:15:36pm

re: #130 SteveMcG

OK

re: #131 Obdicut

Brief is often the enemy of correct. However, I shall endeavour not to bore you.

133 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:16:40pm

I always liked math. One of these days I have to see what the deal is with pi.

134 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:17:00pm

re: #132 LudwigVanQuixote

OK

re: #131 Obdicut

Brief is often the enemy of correct. However, I shall endeavour not to bore you.

I wish LGF had an equation editor, that's what makes anything more ambitious than a basic tutorial here a bitch.

135 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:17:21pm

re: #132 LudwigVanQuixote

OK

re: #131 Obdicut

Brief is often the enemy of correct. However, I shall endeavour not to bore you.

And better is the enemy of good.

136 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:19:00pm

re: #133 SteveMcG

I always liked math. One of these days I have to see what the deal is with pi.

Well here is something for you:

e^(i*pi)= -1

137 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:20:18pm

re: #134 goddamnedfrank

I wish LGF had an equation editor, that's what makes anything more ambitious than a basic tutorial here a bitch.

wait, can we import LaTeX?

if not, I shall have to forestall my plans.

138 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:20:51pm

I once had to figure out a way to die cut a two dimensional rubber blank to wrap around a ball for molding. I did it in excel, and then I had to plug in x's and plot the resulting y's and convert them to come out on the page. It was a monster of a formula, but it worked on the first try. I was so proud of myself.

139 Sheila Broflovski  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:21:44pm

re: #136 LudwigVanQuixote

Well here is something for you:

e^(i*pi)= -1

That's my favorite equation, but I also like ʃex

140 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:22:25pm

OK Charles,

Is it possible to use LaTeX (or something like it) on these pages? What would it take to make say an integral show up?

141 austin_blue  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:22:38pm

re: #122 LudwigVanQuixote

OK question...

There is a very important paper about Climate that just came out.

It nails - absolutely mathematically nails - that climate change is accelerating and getting worse at a rate much faster than was initially thought even a few years ago.

However, to make the slam dunk case, it relies understanding probability distributions - particularly Gaussians.

I want to share this paper and write about it, but I think it will be lost on people without writing a page about the mathematics. With the math though, it is a terrifying slam dunk.

Is doing a page on some probability theory and the nature of the bell curve something that people here will read?

Actually, you might want to concentrate on a Poisson distribution curve for the northern hemisphere and highlight how skewed the numbers are.

142 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:22:59pm

re: #139 Learned Mother of Zion

That's my favorite equation, but I also like ʃex

awesome, so there are some TeX commands implemented here.

143 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:24:28pm

re: #137 LudwigVanQuixote

wait, can we import LaTeX?

if not, I shall have to forestall my plans.

If you're making a page you can put up whatever images you want in the main body. They won't be copyable as equations for the readers tho'.

144 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:24:36pm

re: #141 austin_blue

Actually, you might want to concentrate on a Poisson distribution curve for the northern hemisphere and highlight how skewed the numbers are.

Poisson is hard to teach without teaching Gauss first. I assume you mean in terms of storm frequency?

145 Sheila Broflovski  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:26:10pm

re: #142 LudwigVanQuixote

awesome, so there are some TeX commands implemented here.

That's just Windows character map.

146 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:27:14pm

re: #139 Learned Mother of Zion

That's my favorite equation, but I also like ʃex

That is just ex + C.

There is no way a sweet little bubbie like you would be making a math pun about how one becomes a sweet bubbie would she?

;)

147 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:27:39pm

re: #145 Learned Mother of Zion

That's just Windows character map.

I just saw that in a test.

148 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:28:12pm

re: #143 goddamnedfrank

If you're making a page you can put up whatever images you want in the main body. They won't be copyable as equations for the readers tho'.

So perhaps use equation editor and then what make an image file and import it?

149 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:28:38pm

re: #142 LudwigVanQuixote

I appreciate that you're trying to do something, so I don't want to get in the way. I'm actually going to have to come back later but I promise I'll check out your stuff. What I didn't get about pi was that I thought it was a measured quantity, as in d=2R(pi). If you could measure the diameter and radius you could calculate pi. But since pi has been calculated to thousands of digits, and I know there is no level of precision that will get you significant figures like that, there's got to be more to it. One of these days I'll wiki it I guess.

150 erik_t  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:28:55pm

re: #131 Obdicut

The sad part is that what is going to convince people is shit like this:

Massive Fish Kill-Off in Midwest as Heat Raises Water Temps

But math education is always good. Be as brief as possible.

Honestly, I feel like the fundamental challenge at this point is packaging. If you tell someone it's the end of the world as we know it, they are going to have a strong inclination to ignore the nasty data so that they can keep feeling fine.

I've got a postgraduate degree in STEM. I understand how science works. I have as great a faith in some level of AGW occurring as I do in the theory of elasticity, Kirchoff's laws, or Navier-Stokes, or band-gap theory. But you won't see me commenting much on AGW here.

Why? It's fuck-off depressing. God help me, I can't get myself to give it the time it deserves, either here or in my daily discussions with those around me. I know enough to know that shit's going sour, but not enough to know what we have to do to fix it. Top-level numbers that I hear (%CO2 reduction from Kyoto, for example) sound scary, regardless of whether or not they're achievable; even I have little context for them.

I feel like the best service that could be done by actual climate experts, in cooperation with the rest of the STEM community, is to address this latter. The marginal convincing power of one more temperature study, or even a fish die-off, is low (IMHO) compared to an explanation of the positive effect that could be achieved by Name Your Preferred Method. For instance:

Blablawhatever science indicates that a 20% CO2 reduction is needed to combat global warming. If the average American reduced their daily driving by four miles, it would result in a X% reduction. Turning up the thermostat 1degF in summer, and down 1degF in winter, would result in Y% reduction.

Things like that. Put these sorts of horrors in the context of things people can understand, and repeat that until the cows come home. Saying sorry, your grandchildren are going to live in a hellish wasteland is going to scare people into their shells much more than YOU can do your part to save the world by doing this and that specific things.

IMHO.

151 erik_t  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:29:52pm

And everyone runs off! Alas.

152 Daniel Ballard  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:31:11pm

re: #129 Obdicut

I'd like to add a suggestion to your good points. We should all have tax free MSA, Medical Savings Accounts. Or simply done, any cash spent on necessary medical costs is a straight write off. Every time I pay cash for a medical service it is a fraction of what any insurance company would be billed.

153 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:31:45pm

re: #148 LudwigVanQuixote

So perhaps use equation editor and then what make an image file and import it?

Exactly. If it's your page then you can upload it and it'll show up in the main body without needing a link.

Also, Charles has recently implemented a module for parsing various programming languages with color highlighting and command lines. I'm not sure if there's a tutorial on it yet though. Makes me think that an open source LaTeX editor might be doable in the future though if we ask really nicely.

154 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:33:14pm

re: #150 erik_t

What needs to be put into the discussion is that AGW denial is just about the most UNconservative position a conservative can have. Conservatives complain that liberals spend like there's no tomorrow. At the same time, conservatives want to consume and dump like there will never be a reckoning.

155 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:34:31pm

re: #153 goddamnedfrank
Could one just draw the symbols by hand, then scan it and post a jpeg or a png?

156 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:34:32pm

re: #149 SteveMcG

I appreciate that you're trying to do something, so I don't want to get in the way. I'm actually going to have to come back later but I promise I'll check out your stuff. What I didn't get about pi was that I thought it was a measured quantity, as in d=2R(pi). If you could measure the diameter and radius you could calculate pi. But since pi has been calculated to thousands of digits, and I know there is no level of precision that will get you significant figures like that, there's got to be more to it. One of these days I'll wiki it I guess.

While I figure out if it is even possible to write the sort of page I want to, I can say some things that might interest you about pi.

The definition of it is the ratio of circumference/diameter for a circle - where a circle is defined as the locus of all points equidistant from a central point.

On the one hand that is all there is to it.

Literally all there is to it.

On the other hand, the implications of that definition are rather vast.

First in the context of the infinite precision needed to make a decimal expression for pi, that is only true on a plane.

Consider this:

Imagine you are constrained to live on a curved surface. Say the surface of a sphere. Its a big sphere compared to you, so locally it looks flat. If you make a small circle on the "ground" and measure the ratio, you get 3.14...

But suppose your circle is the equator. The your diameter line would be a half circle going through one of the poles, and pi would be 2 exactly.

157 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:36:01pm

re: #150 erik_t

STEM?

And the Navier-Stokes equations are something that I have a deep love/hate relationship with. I did a lot of work into turbulence.

158 palomino  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:36:02pm

re: #105 Learned Mother of Zion

Stuff a sock in it Bryan.

[Embedded content]

Notice the way Fischer phrases his tweet: "Obama wants homos to have access to the Boy Scouts." Having access of course means having the ability to indoctrinate these kids into the overarching gay agenda, a conspiracy whose goal is to gay-ify everything American. Of course this agenda only exists in Pastor Bryan's imagination, and those of millions of his followers and co-religionist extremists.

159 erik_t  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:36:56pm

re: #157 LudwigVanQuixote

STEM?

And the Navier-Stokes equations are something that I have a deep love/hate relationship with. I did a lot of work into turbulence.

Science/tech/engineering/math. Seems to be the term all the cool kids are using.

Turbulence is... deeply frustrating.

160 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:37:43pm

re: #155 SteveMcG

Could one just draw the symbols by hand, then scan it and post a jpeg or a png?

Yeah, that'll work too.

161 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:38:05pm

re: #153 goddamnedfrank

Exactly. If it's your page then you can upload it and it'll show up in the main body without needing a link.

Also, Charles has recently implemented a module for parsing various programming languages with color highlighting and command lines. I'm not sure if there's a tutorial on it yet though. Makes me think that an open source LaTeX editor might be doable in the future though if we ask really nicely.

I am thinking I am going to have to hold off on on this until I can spend some time then turning the equations into something uploadable.

162 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:38:36pm

re: #159 erik_t

Science/tech/engineering/math. Seems to be the term all the cool kids are using.

Turbulence is... deeply frustrating.

If you can come up with a Kolmogorov pun, I will salute you.

163 erik_t  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:42:44pm

Something something black power because get it 5/3 exponent and stuff...?

A Kolmogorov pun should be worth a fucking Presidential Medal of Freedom.

164 compound_Idaho  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:43:30pm

re: #152 Daniel Ballard

I'd like to add a suggestion to your good points. We should all have tax free MSA, Medical Savings Accounts. Or simply done, any cash spent on necessary medical costs is a straight write off. Every time I pay cash for a medical service it is a fraction of what any insurance company would be billed.

There truly are a number good approaches. We do not need to force everyone into a single payer system. I have used a catastrophic plan and an HSA for almost 20 years. Every year I put the premium difference in the HSA (well as much as is allowed). We've had a couple of health issues come up, but I now have well over $50k in that HSA account. Given my annual max out of pocket, doubt I will never go through all of that especially since the premium savings is almost as large as the max out of pocket.

I know it is not a good choice or even a choice at all for everyone, but don't take my freedom of choice away because it is not a good fit for everyone.

P.S. I have encountered a number of instances where the insurance company has been able to negotiate a price better than the one I can with cash in hand at the counter.

165 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:44:15pm

re: #163 erik_t

Something something black power because get it 5/3 exponent and stuff...?

A Kolmogorov pun should be worth a fucking Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Damn straight.

Did I mention the KAM shaft needs work on my car. But its not a Taurus.

166 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:44:56pm

re: #161 LudwigVanQuixote

I am thinking I am going to have to hold off on on this until I can spend some time then turning the equations into something uploadable.

Cool. FYI, I found the comment where Charles explains how to use the jquery syntax highlighter.

167 palomino  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:45:17pm

re: #109 Lidane

Pfft. His pizza is shit anyway. The only redeeming quality that Papa John's pizza has is the garlic butter dipping sauce, and that can be made at home in just a couple of minutes.

On one side, we have the hardship of paying 11 cents more per pizza. On the other, we have 40 million+ people who would get health insurance. Pretty easy for me to decide which side of that scale I come down on.

If I ever get to the point where I'm counting every penny, I'll give the pizza delivery driver 11 cents less to offset the higher cost of the pizza. Given the fact that he/she would now have health insurance, I don't think that person would mind the slightly smaller tip.

How many more idiot pizza barons are we gonna have to listen to during this election cycle? I feel like we've already surpassed our quota with Herman Cain and Papa John Shatner (or whatever the hell his name is).

168 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:47:01pm
169 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:47:25pm

re: #168 SteveMcG

[Embedded content]

Love it.

170 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:48:12pm

re: #166 goddamnedfrank

Cool. FYI, I found the comment where Charles explains how to use the jquery syntax highlighter.

Thank you!

171 palomino  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 6:57:08pm

re: #164 compound_Idaho

There truly are a number good approaches. We do not need to force everyone into a single payer system. I have used a catastrophic plan and an HSA for almost 20 years. Every year I put the premium difference in the HSA (well as much as is allowed). We've had a couple of health issues come up, but I now have well over $50k in that HSA account. Given my annual max out of pocket, doubt I will never go through all of that especially since the premium savings is almost as large as the max out of pocket.

I know it is not a good choice or even a choice at all for everyone, but don't take my freedom of choice away because it is not a good fit for everyone.

P.S. I have encountered a number of instances where the insurance company has been able to negotiate a price better than the one I can with cash in hand at the counter.

Maybe not, but the real problem (that even Obamacare doesn't fully address) is skyrocketing medical costs, which rise much faster than the overall inflation rate.

We pay overall as a nation nearly twice as much per patient as any other country. And we rank about 40th in life expectancy, behind nearly every developed country (including nearly all the allegedly tyrannical countries with universal care...yeah, those Canadians, what a bunch of dangerous radicals.)

Normally, on planet earth, if a system has double the costs and produces mediocre results, it's not considered a success.

172 SteveMcG  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 7:00:47pm

While I was surfing around the Tom Lehrer stuff on YouTube, I heard a good line: "He went from rags to riches, but always maintained an exquisite taste in rags."

173 abolitionist  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 7:09:02pm

re: #122 LudwigVanQuixote

[snip] Is doing a page on some probability theory and the nature of the bell curve something that people here will read?

I would. I once taught myself how to linearize cumulative distribution data sets, and then apply a form of least-squares best fit, as if fitting a straight line, to determine mu and sigma, for essentially any data one could assume was representable as a gaussian. It was analogous to eyeballing a "best straight line" for ogive data points on so-called probablility graph paper.

174 Almost Killed by Space Hookers  Wed, Aug 8, 2012 7:17:26pm

ok that did not work


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